Things to Do in Atlanta Thanksgiving Weekend 2026

By Mary Welch

Last Updated November 6, 2026

Football games and leftovers are wonderful, but let’s face it, you have a holiday weekend in Atlanta. It’s time to make the most of it and enjoy all that the ATL offers. Here are a few ideas.

Visit Atlanta’s Top Museums and Attractions

Always wanted to check out our world-class museums but didn’t have the time? No worries. This is the weekend.

The Georgia Aquarium is open on Thanksgiving, and no timed entry is required. Enjoy hundreds of species and thousands of animals, then step into the all-new Santa’s North Pole Village, a winter wonderland filled with playful activities and holiday fun. The aquarium is located at 225 Baker St.

Just a few yards away is the World of Coca-Cola, where you’ll learn about the world’s best-known brand and hometown favorite, Coca-Cola. Other places to check out include the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, the Atlanta History Center, the High Museum of Art (which recently celebrated 100 years) and Zoo Atlanta.

Volunteer and Give Back in Atlanta

Several organizations assist others during the holiday weekend. Check out Hosea Helps, the Atlanta Mission, Open Hand Atlanta and Meals on Wheels for a start.

Or help a four-legged friend by fostering a dog or cat for the weekend. LifeLine Animal Project, PAWS Atlanta and the Atlanta Humane Society will be delighted to lend you one of their guests for the weekend, and you may just may fall in love and adopt a new best friend.

Find volunteer opportunities in Atlanta.

Run the Atlanta Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon

The 2026 Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Half Marathon, 5K and Mile & Dash takes place on Thanksgiving, starting at 8 a.m. at Center Parc Stadium at Georgia State University, 755 Hank Aaron Drive. Hosted by the Atlanta Track Club, the course winds through historic local neighborhoods such as Old Fourth Ward, Inman Park and Little Five Points.

Cheer on Atlanta’s Sports Teams

The traditional rivalry between the University of Georgia Bulldogs and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets takes place in Athens this year. But we’re sure the highways will be packed Saturday with Atlantans driving to the game at Sanford Stadium, 100 Sanford Drive, in Athens. If you don’t go, watch the game at a restaurant or bar. We guarantee just about every establishment will have the game on television.

If basketball is your preference, the Atlanta Hawks host the Boston Celtics on Nov. 7 at State Farm Arena at 8 p.m. Georgia Tech’s basketball team will also hit the court Saturday at McCamish Pavilion at 1 p.m.

Check out all sporting events happening in Atlanta in November.

Catch a Concert or Live Show in Atlanta

The Fox Theatre will present The Stray Cats, with support from Midnight Cowgirls, on Nov. 27 at 8 p.m. The Stray Cats, featuring Brian Setzer, put rockabilly music back on the charts in the early 1980s.

Elf in Concert, along with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, will be at Atlanta Symphony Hall Nov. 28 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 29 at 3 p.m. Elías Medina, one of Mexico’s most respected singer-songwriters, will captivate audiences with his performance Sunday at 8 p.m. at the Buckhead Theatre.

Rush, the Grammy Award-winning Canadian rock band, will bring its unique sound to State Farm Arena Wednesday and Sunday, both at 7:30 p.m.

Relax and Recharge at Atlanta’s Best Spas

Plenty of places around town can help you de-stress from all the holiday activities. Get a facial, have your hair done or spend a day swimming, working out and enjoying a steam before topping it off with a relaxing massage to release all that tension.

Among our favorite spas are those at the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta, The St. Regis Atlanta, Waldorf Astoria Atlanta Buckhead, Exhale at Loews Atlanta Hotel, Aviary Beauty + Wellness in Summerhill, InterContinental Buckhead, The Whitley, Nobu Hotel Atlanta and The Spa at Signia by Hilton Atlanta.

Check out Atlanta’s Must-Try Spas.

Explore Atlanta’s Parks, Trails and Neighborhoods

Nothing is more fun after a day or two of indulging in great food than taking a walk, either by yourself or with family. While Piedmont Park is the largest, Atlanta has parks all over town where you can get some fresh air and work off a few calories.

Or just wander through neighborhoods such as Little Five Points, East Atlanta or Virginia-Highland and people-watch. If you’re in the mood for nature, head out to Sweetwater Creek State Park or Panola Mountain State Park. Of course, if you want to combine your walk with shopping and a bite to eat, the Atlanta Beltline is for you.

Check out our guide to hiking and backpacking in Atlanta.

Shop Atlanta’s Best Stores and Holiday Markets

Speaking of shopping …

Enjoy some retail therapy and get your holiday shopping underway at Atlanta’s top malls, such as Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza, as well as Krog Street Market, Ponce City Market, Atlantic Station and Buckhead Village. Also, wander through locally owned stores at Miami Circle, the Bennett Street District, Virginia-Highland, Little Five Points, Summerhill and Westside Market Midtown for unique gifts. Check out our Buckhead shopping guide.

The fourth annual Piedmont Holiday Gift Market returns to Piedmont Park on Saturday and Sunday. Presented by the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces, the market features more than 100 artists offering unique, handcrafted gifts. Shoppers can browse original works by painters, photographers, sculptors, glassblowers, leatherworkers, metalworkers, jewelers and other craftspeople, all accompanied by holiday music and hot cocoa.

Discover Atlanta’s Most Instagram-Worthy Spots

Gather your family and friends, take pictures and film yourselves enjoying our city. Take a few shots of your food at our restaurants and bars (the MICHELIN Guide recently released its latest list), pose in front of landmarks such as the Rodin sculpture at the Woodruff Arts Center or the Fox Theatre marquee, capture the vitality of Little Five Points or take group shots in front of the Atlanta skyline from the rooftop at Hotel Clermont, The Roof at Ponce City Market or Bellyard Hotel.

Ride SkyView Atlanta for perfect videos. You don’t even have to post them; the fun is taking them.

Experience Atlanta’s Holiday Lights and Christmas Events

Make your Christmas list and tell it to Santa as you get your picture taken with him. Santa is making the rounds all over town so that you can find him at places such as Lenox Square, Phipps Plaza, Atlantic Station, Zoo Atlanta and the Georgia Aquarium.

What better way to ring in the holiday season than with some good old-fashioned ice skating? Several rinks will be open throughout the season, including the largest one at Atlantic Station.

If you want to see lots of holiday lights — and we mean lots — visit the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s annual Garden Lights, Holiday Nights, which lights up the holiday season with more than 2 million light bulbs.

IllumiNights: A Lantern Festival at Zoo Atlanta, presented by Georgia Power, is bigger and better than ever, featuring hundreds of brilliantly illuminated wildlife lanterns and captivating displays that celebrate nature’s beauty and magic after dark.

Magical Nights of Lights at Margaritaville at Lanier Islands, Stone Mountain Christmas and Ellipse Park at Atlantic Station will all be aglow in holiday glory. And don’t forget that more than 200,000 LED lights are wrapped around more than 100 trees along Peachtree Street.

Ultimate Guide to Holiday Lights in Atlanta.

Play Golf, Go Bowling and Try Indoor Racing in Atlanta

Thanksgiving weekend is a perfect time to work on your putting, get a turkey (bowling, we mean) or put the pedal to the metal. City of Atlanta golf courses will be open Thanksgiving weekend, as will indoor venues such as Five Iron Golf (right by the North Avenue MARTA station), Puttshack, Topgolf and Back Nine Golf.

Check out our Ultimate Guide to Golf in Atlanta.

Bowling is always fun for the whole family, so head out to Midtown Bowl, The Painted Duck, Your 3rd Spot or The Painted Pin.

Feel the need for speed? Try racing simulators at F1 Arcade Atlanta at Interlock or Andretti Indoor Karting & Games. But if you want the real deal, the Porsche Experience Center is the place to get behind the wheel of a Porsche and enjoy a driving experience on the track or with simulators.

Mary Welch is an award-winning writer who has reported on the maturity off Atlanta’s culinary and hospitality scene as well as its growth as a sophisticated international city. Her byline has been seen in local and national outlets such as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Travelgirl, Global Atlanta, and American Lawyer covering topics such as travel, business, cars, law, hospitality and education. She co-authored a book with Chuck Leavell, the keyboardist for the Rolling Stones and a Georgia tree farmer, on the future of the American forest.

Originally Published October 7, 2025