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Holiday Parades, Tree Lightings, and More Things to Do this Weekend in Atlanta with Kids

Head to Sandy Springs for Sunday's holiday parade, live music, and menorah and tree lighting at Sparkle Sandy Springs. Photo courtesy City of Sandy Springs
Head to Sandy Springs for Sunday's holiday parade, live music, and menorah and tree lighting at Sparkle Sandy Springs. Photo courtesy City of Sandy Springs
12/3/25 - By Elsa Simcik

Looking for the best things to do in Atlanta this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend! 

The holidays are in full swing with Christmas tree lightings this weekend, including awesome events in Acworth, Roswell, and Suwanee. We love FREE Atlanta holiday events because they include seasonal fun like hot chocolate, kids' activities, and Santa photo ops. Bonus: Kids who meet Santa on Saturday at Christmas in Crabapple receive FREE professional pics! This weekend also brings fun Christmas parades in Woodstock, Powder Springs, Sandy Springs, and more. Read on for even more fun things to do this weekend in Atlanta! 

More Things To Do in Atlanta This Week With Kids

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OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Best Things to Do this Weekend in Atlanta With Kids

Ten Days of Holiday Happenings in the DTL

Lawrenceville - FREE
Through Saturday, December 6
Lawrenceville hosts ten fun-filled days to ring in the holidays. Each day offers a different event starting with The Lighting of the Great Tree on the lawn of the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse on Thursday, November 27.  READ MORE

Holiday Lights at Brook Run Park

Dunwoody - FREE
Opening weekend! Through December 31
Families love this free month long light display at Brook Run Park. This year's theme is Cosmic Wonderland.  READ MORE

Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting - Powder Springs

Powder Springs - FREE
Friday, December 5
Pose for a free photo with Santa following the Christmas parade and tree lighting in Thurman Springs Park. Complimentary cookies and hot cocoa, in addition to live entertainment, provided. READ MORE

Holiday Hoopla in Chamblee

Chamblee - FREE
Friday, December 5
Head to downtown Chamblee on December 5th from 5-8 PM for their 7th annual Holiday Hoopla festival featuring a Christmas tree lighting, menorah ceremony, special performances, holiday stories, sweet treats, pictures with Santa, pet photos with the Grinch, and much more! READ MORE

Johns Creek Holly Jolly Block Party

Johns Creek - FREE
Friday, December 5
Bring the family to watch the lighting of the 40-foot tree located at Johns Creek City Hall. This free event also includes visits with Santa, live music, holiday llamas, and more. READ MORE

Roswell Christmas Tree Lighting

Roswell - FREE
Friday, December 5
The City of Roswell launches the holiday season with their annual Lighting of the Christmas Tree at Heart of Roswell Park on Canton Street, between Norcross Street and Magnolia Street. The free event includes choral performances, hot chocolate, fire pits and s’mores, a visit from Santa Claus, and of course, the tree lighting.  READ MORE

Santa's Arrival in Acworth

Acworth - FREE
Friday, December 5
At this annual Acworth celebration, families wait for Santa to arrive and enjoy live performances, the festival of trees, and a reading of The Night Before Christmas by Acworth's mayor. Stay for the lighting of the tree and photos with Santa. (Parents take their own photos for free!) READ MORE

Polar Express Night at The Avenue West Cobb

Kennesaw - FREE
Friday, December 5
The Avenue West Cobb hosts Polar Express Night on Friday, December 5 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m in partnership with Barnes & Noble. The evening will be filled with family-friendly festive fun, hot cocoa and a reading of the holiday classic The Polar Express. READ MORE

Holiday Spirit at Oakland Cemetery

Downtown
December 5 & 6
Everyone is invited to Holiday Spirit at Oakland, a free two-day celebration featuring a community tree lighting on Friday evening, holiday market, photos with Santa, live music, holiday guided tours, and family-friendly activities. READ MORE

Jolly Holly Days & Market in Suwanee

Suwanee - FREE
December 5 & 6
Families will want to bring their little ones to this annual event at Town Center Park in Suwanee. On Friday evening from 5-9pm, Santa arrives to greet children, pose for photos, and collect wish lists. Several school choirs will provide musical entertainment, and Santa will light the holiday tree.  READ MORE

Christmas in Crabapple & Tree Lighting

Milton - FREE
Saturday, December 6
The City of Milton hosts this quaint holiday event in historic downtown Crabapple at the Broadwell Pavilion. There will be face painting, Christmas tunes, a balloon artist, and a chance to decorate cookies and ornaments.  READ MORE

Deck the Hall in Duluth

Duluth - FREE
Saturday, December 6
This annual event has grown from a tree-lighting ceremony to an all-day extravaganza. Visitors to the Duluth Town Green enjoy music, winter activities, and carolers.  READ MORE

Family Saturday at High Museum of Art

Midtown
Saturday, December 6
Families head to the High on the first Saturday of each month to experiment, play, and make art in studio workshops and learn about art on view through gallery tours. READ MORE

Free First Saturday at Dunwoody Nature Center

Dunwoody - FREE
Saturday, December 6
Join Dunwoody Nature Center staff on a family walk around the property. Every month is a different theme.  READ MORE

Halcyon Holiday Magic

Alpharetta
Saturday, December 6
A ticket to Halcyon Holiday Magic allows your child photo ops with Minnie and Mickey Mouse, Elsa and Anna from Frozen, the Grinch, and of course, Santa! The fun-filled event includes crafts, face painting, and musical entertainment. READ MORE

Kennesaw Holly Days Parade & Pictures with Santa

Kennesaw - FREE
Saturday, December 6
The holidays kick off with the Holly Days Parade in downtown Kennesaw at 11:30am. From 12:30-2:30pm, Santa will be at Depot Park for free walk-up photos. You can also reserve a 4-5 minute Santa session with a professional photographer later in the afternoon for $15, which includes a digital download.  READ MORE

Miracle on Peachtree Hot Chocolate Crawl

Buckhead - FREE
Saturday, December 6
Sip delicious hot chocolate while you shop in Buckead during the holidays. The hot chocolate crawl includes festive music, twinkling lights, treats, and of course, hot chocolate. The event is free, but registration is required. READ MORE

2025 SEC Football Championship

Downtown
Saturday, December 6
Watch The Georgia Bulldogs v. The Alabama Crimson Tide in this year's SEC Championship game, held in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. READ MORE

Winter Fest at Atlanta History Center

Buckhead
Saturday, December 6
Get into the holiday spirit with a festive day of fun, memory-making, and wonder at Atlanta History Center! The campus transforms into a winter celebration featuring seasonal activities for all ages. READ MORE

Cookies with Santa at Zoo Atlanta

Grant Park
December 6 & 7
Bring the family for a personal visit with Santa and a professional Santa photo to remember the moment. While you wait for your turn with Santa, enjoy cookies, hot chocolate, holiday crafts, and of course, holly jolly photo opportunities for all.    READ MORE

Atlanta Ballet's The Nutcracker

NW Atlanta
Opening weekend! December 6 - 27
Atlanta Ballet brings The Nutcracker to life at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Yuri Possokhov's production uses striking costumes, immersive video projections, and bold sets to provide a magical night of this holiday classic. READ MORE

Holiday Market at The Battery

NW Atlanta - FREE
Sunday, December 7
 Head to the The Battery for an afternoon of seasonal fun at their Holiday Market. Browse unique vendor booths filled with handcrafted, one-of-a-kind gifts.  READ MORE

Sparkle Sandy Springs

Sandy Springs - FREE
Sunday, December 7
Visitors to Sandy Springs City Springs enjoy a parade and a beautiful display of lit, miniature homes (around all month long). Following the parade, families are treated to both menorah and tree lightings.  READ MORE

Woodstock Christmas Jubilee and Parade

Woodstock - FREE
Sunday, December 7
The City of Woodstock kicks off the holiday season with their Christmas Jubilee & Parade of Lights. The parade starts at Woodstock Elementary School on Rope Mill Rd. and travels down Main St. to Sam’s Club at Highway 92. After the parade, folks walk over to The Park at City Center to visit with Santa, see the tree lighting, enjoy kids' activities, decorate cupcakes, and more.  READ MORE

More Fun Things Do in Atlanta with Kids

Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows in Atlanta

Visit Christmas light shows and holiday light drive-thrus for family fun! READ MORE

Best Neighborhood Christmas Light Displays and Holiday Lights in Atlanta

These Christmas lights are so bright, you may need holiday shades! READ MORE

48 Places to Take Pictures with Santa in Atlanta & Picture-Perfect Breakfast with Santa

Take pictures with Santa at these Atlanta spots! READ MORE

27 Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in Atlanta for Kids

Enjoy Christmas events and holiday fun in Atlanta. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

City of Chamblee City Hall
Acworth Community Center
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
Holiday Lights in Cumming

About the Author

Elsa Simcik
Elsa Simcik has been freelance writing for 20-something years, covering a hodgepodge of fields--health & fitness, human interest stories, and even dating. After becoming a mom she segued into writing for local magazines and websites, focusing on parenting, fun things to do with kids, and travel. The travel part is fun, but not as glamorous as it sounds, because it's traveling with kids. Still, she'll take it.
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