Winter break is one of the best parts of the year for kids in school, but it can be a nightmare for parents who haven’t properly planned for their youngster’s newfound free time.
Luckily, in a city the size of Atlanta, there are plenty of activities that allow parents to get in some quality time with their children during the holidays. In an attempt to keep parents sane this winter break, we have compiled a list of some options that will make the time with your kids a little chiller.
Celebrate the season of giving
The holidays are about much more than unwrapping gifts and being free from school, so the winter break allows for ample time to teach those lessons. Celebrate the holiday and spread some joy by taking meals and gifts to unfortunate families, singing Christmas carols at nursing homes or in your neighborhood or by making cookies for the firefighters, police officers and mail carriers who work through the holidays.
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Stone Mountain Christmas
Georgia’s iconic landmark is holding its holiday celebration every weekend and all school holidays through Jan. 6, with 2 million dazzling lights, opportunities to take photos with Santa and Rudolph, live holiday shows, a nightly Christmas parade, the Enchanted Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony with Snow Angel, Santa’s high-flying entrance and “The Polar Express 4-D Experience” movie. Galactic Snow Tubing is back until Feb. 24, with 18 tubing lanes and a snowy play area.
$34.95-$79.95. 1000 Robert E Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain. 770-498-5690, stonemountainpark.com.
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Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks will play the Washington Wizards on Dec. 18, in the all-new State Farm Arena with carolers singing and Santa Harry, the team’s holiday mascot, returning in a special halftime performance at the annual holiday-themed game. Looking for some post-Christmas action? The Hawks will host the Indiana Pacers on Dec. 26. On Dec. 29, the Hawks face the Cleveland Cavaliers with hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd performing at both halftime and postgame. All three games start at 7:30 p.m.
On Jan. 6, the Jr. Hawks will host their first Game Day Clinic of 2019 for all boys and girls, ages 6-14.
$24 and up with the Game Day Clinic costing $75 (ticket to that night's game against the Miami Heat is included). 1 State Farm Drive, Atlanta. 1-866-715-1500, hawks.com.
Center for Puppetry Arts
In addition to its world-renowned regular programming, the Center for Puppetry Arts has gotten into the holiday spirit by hosting its annual production of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” that is based on the classic television special through Dec. 30, and “Squirrel Stole My Underpants” by the Gottabees of Boston Jan. 2-6.
$12.50-$29. 1404 Spring St. NW, Atlanta. 404-873-3391, puppet.org.
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Children’s Museum of Atlanta
The Children’s Museum of Atlanta has kicked off its Celebrations in Light programming (runs throughout December except Dec. 15, 22, 29 and 31), which allows kids to celebrate the holidays with decorations, interactive performances, music, crafts, stories, winter-themed science demonstrations, special story times and visits to Santa’s workshop to make gifts. Its feature exhibit, “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: A Grr-ific Exhibit,” was created by Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh in partnership with the Fred Rogers Company and runs through Jan. 6. From 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30-4 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, the center will host a New Year’s Bubble Bash for little ones who can’t stay up to watch the ball drop. Each session will feature a countdown to 2019, a family-friendly DJ, dancing, party favors, confetti and bubbles.
$12.95-$18.95 with the New Year's Eve Bubble Bash costing $10 for members and $20 for nonmembers. The museum closes at 1 p.m. on Christmas Eve and is closed on Christmas Day. 275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive NW, Atlanta. 404-659-5437, childrensmuseumatlanta.org.
Legoland Discovery Center Atlanta
Legoland is celebrating the season every Saturday and Sunday in December with its Holiday Bricktacular, which grants the opportunity to build and take a Lego holiday puppy, enjoy meet-and-greets with favorite Lego characters, snap a selfie with Rudolph from the Center for Puppetry Arts and experience the winter takeover in Miniland. At noon on New Year’s Eve, Legoland will host a balloon drop with over 600 balloons, and a “2019” group Lego build that will be displayed throughout the year, as well as give out a complimentary New Year’s trinket to keep.
$24.95-$37.95. 3500 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta. 404-848-9252, atlanta.legolanddiscoverycenter.com.
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