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.

Latest posts by Elsa

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

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Wed, 12/03/2025 - 10:18am

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

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!

35 Best Things To Do in Atlanta with Kids December 2025, According to Mommy Poppins Editors

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Sun, 11/30/2025 - 12:15pm

Enjoy Halcyon Holiday Magic at this annual Alpharetta event featuring live music, performances, and beloved characters...including Santa! Photo courtesy of Halcyon

Christmas lights, Hanukkah celebrations, and holiday activities are in full effect for December, and that's just the beginning of things to do in Atlanta this month!

December in Atlanta starts with Christmas tree lightings all over town, including those in Decatur, Sandy Springs, Woodstock, and Brookhaven. As the month continues, Atlanta families get into the holiday spirit with Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows. Mid-December brings Hanukkah and eight nights of celebrating with events including Chabad Intown's various menorah lightings. After all those holiday and Christmas gifts are ripped open, ring in 2026 with family-friendly, daytime events like the New Year's Eve Bubble Bash at Children's Museum of Atlanta.

And from all of us at Mommy Poppins, have a happy and healthy holiday season and new year!

Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2025 in Atlanta: Parades, Turkey Trots, and More Things To Do

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Tue, 11/25/2025 - 10:00am

Head to The Battery Atlanta for the annual tree lighting ceremony on Saturday, followed by an outdoor screening of Rise Of The Guardians as a part of the Xfinity Movie Series on the plaza screen. Photo courtesy The Battery Atlanta

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

Atlanta families have lots to be thankful for this year, including so many fun events this Thanksgiving Day weekend. Check out FREE Thanksgiving weekend events like Decatur's Santa on the Square, Snellville's Christmas Tree Lighting & Parade, and The Battery Atlanta Tree Lighting. Thanksgiving weekend kicks off with exhaustingly fun turkey trots, including awesome runs in Alpharetta and Marietta. After your jog and Thanksgiving feast, enjoy the many holiday events in Atlanta, including amazing Christmas light shows like Marietta's Lights of LIFE and Woodstock's Holiday Lights event.

Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at Mommy Poppins!

55 Free Holiday and Christmas Events in Atlanta for Kids

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Sun, 11/23/2025 - 10:48am

Sparkle Sandy Springs puts on a free parade and beautiful display of lights on December 7, 2025. Photo courtesy City of Sandy Springs

Atlanta is jam-packed with tons of free Christmas events and holiday activities, so don't let the winter holidays put a crimp in your wallet! Mommy Poppins wants you to experience the magic of the season without worrying about pricetags with our list of the best FREE holiday events in Atlanta. Our guide covers everything from holiday lightings and festivals to Christmas parades and holiday markets, as well as free places to pose with Santa, lighting displays, and even carriage rides!

Veterans Day Weekend 2025 in Atlanta: 20 Best Things To Do With Kids

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Wed, 11/05/2025 - 10:21am

Honor U.S. veterans and pay tribute to this country by heading to the Atlanta History Center on Tuesday, November 11. Photo courtesy Atlanta History Center

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

It's Veterans Day weekend and families have lots of opportunities to celebrate and pay tribute to those who have served in the military with parades and events in Atlanta. A big favorite is the Georgia Veterans Day Parade, which travels through Midtown along Peachtree Street on Saturday. Six Flags Over Georgia celebrates local heroes and military with their new event, DC Heroes Fest, happening every weekend through November 30. It's beginning to feel a lot like the holidays in Atlanta, with some of our favorite seasonal events launching this weekend, including Stone Mountain Christmas and the gorgeous Cirque du Soleil Luzia.

27 Best Things To Do in Atlanta with Kids November 2025, According to Mommy Poppins Editors

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Fri, 10/31/2025 - 11:05am

Enjoy a day full of holiday activities followed by the epic Christmas tree lighting at Avalon on Sunday, November 23, 2025. Photo courtesy of Avalon

November brings plenty of things to do, as Atlanta gears up for holidays from Veterans Day to Thanksgiving and full steam ahead to Christmas. Don't miss our favorite kid-friendly events and activities in Atlanta this November!

November in Atlanta means lots of fall fun with outdoor festivals like Chastain Park Arts Festival and Chomp & Stomp in Cabbagetown. Don't miss the 44th annual Georgia Veterans Day Parade in Midtown on November 8. Then suddenly, it's holiday time with tree lightings and popular events like Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at Atlanta Botanical Garden and Stone Mountain Christmas. We are especially excited about a new holiday event this year, Light Up the Season at Piedmont Park -- this new Atlanta tradition features a 50-foot holiday tree, a menorah, and a kinara that will shine bright over our city all season long.

Our Atlanta Fall Guide is full of ideas for family fun in November like farm destinations and cool getaways. We’re adding more events to our family activity calendar every day, so check it often. Get our picks for every weekend in your inbox—sign up for our newsletters!

Halloween Weekend 2025 in Atlanta: Trick-or-Treat, Halloween Parades, and More Things To Do

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Wed, 10/29/2025 - 11:15am

These are the last days to celebrate Pumpkins at Callaway, which includes a corn maze, glowing pumpkins, and much more. Photo by Rebecca Leffler

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

Kick off Halloween weekend on Friday with fun Halloween events and of course, trick-or-treating! On Halloween, march through downtown Newnan for the annual Munchkin Masquerade; head to The Battery for Truck or Treat; and enjoy a safe, spooktacular Halloween in Acworth with the police force at the popular Safe-O-Ween. The party continues through the weekend with Trick-or-Treat on The Roof at Ponce City Market on Saturday, and the Chastain Park Fall Arts Festival both Saturday and Sunday!

From all of us at Mommy Poppins, we wish you a fun, safe Halloween!

The Best Hotels in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, TN for Families

Submitted by Elsa Simcik on Sun, 10/26/2025 - 12:00pm

Stay right on Dollywood's property at the DreamMore Resort & Spa.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee and its neighbor, Pigeon Forge, offer a wonderful mix of outdoor adventure, yummy Southern food, and tons of family fun (Dollywood, here we come). Just read our post about 73 Fun Things To Do in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, TN to see all of the kid-friendly activities in these eastern-Tennessee mountain towns. It's no surprise, then, that there are also a ton of family-friendly Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge hotels with amenities like water slides, playgrounds, kids' activities, and on-site restaurants.

Tip: Check Sevierville, TN, just north of Pigeon Forge for more accommodations options.

Read on for our list of the best Gatlinburg hotels and hotels in Pigeon Forge, TN for families. While you're in vacation-planning mode, be sure to also check out our Family Travel Guide for more ideas for fun family getaways.

Elsa Simcik

Latest posts by Elsa

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