Cool Things To Do in December in Atlanta
Published November 14, 2023
Last Updated December 7, 2023
December is a great time to be in Atlanta. The list of cool things to do seems endless. There’s unparalleled shopping, great themed entertainment, holiday light displays galore and wonderful restaurants where you can enjoy a cocktail and relax for a minute or two.
College Football: Three Big Games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium
SEC Championship
The University of Georgia Bulldogs take on the University of Alabama Crimson Tide at 4 p.m. Dec. 2 in the SEC Championship game. Even fans who don’t have tickets can get in on the action during the Dr. Pepper SEC FanFare Friday from 1 until 7 and Saturday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. The T-Mobile Championship Concert featuring Darius Rucker happens at noon on Saturday. Rucker, whose hit songs include “Wagon Wheel,” “Alright,” and “Beers” and “Sunshine,” will take the stage in Building B of the Georgia World Congress Center during the FanFare. The concert will be featured live during the SEC Championship edition of Marty & McGee Presented by Old Trapper. SEC Nation Live occurs from 1 until 4 p.m. The SEC East Pep Rally starts at 1:15 p.m., and the SEC West Pep Rally starts at 1:45 p.m. In addition, there will be new interactives and attractions, along with fans favorites like celebrity quarterbacks, pep rallies and more.
Cricket Celebration Bowl
The Cricket Celebration Bowl featuring the Howard University Bison from the Mideastern Athletic Conference and the Florida A&M Rattlers from the Southwestern Athletic Conference kicks off at noon on Dec. 16 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Ahead of the game, fans can enjoy the Coca-Cola Fan Experience in the Georgia World Congress Center International Plaza from 8:30 until 11:30 a.m. On Dec. 15, ESPN Events will host the inaugural Band of the Year Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The competition features the nation’s top marching bands from historically black college and universities.
Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl features two of the nation’s top-10 teams, which will be determined by the College Football Playoff selection committee. The game starts at noon on Dec. 30.
Long regarded as the official kickoff of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, the football-themed parade, which steps off at 8 a.m. on Dec. 30, will feature floats, bands, classic cars, cheerleaders, mascots and much more. The parade starts at Centennial Olympic Park and Baker Street and concludes at FanFest at the Georgia World Congress Center.
The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl FanFest runs from 8 a.m. until noon on Dec. 30. The indoor fan experience features 200,000 square feet of interactive attractions including punting, passing and kicking games, obstacle courses and zip lining. There will be sponsor displays, sponsor sampling, merchandise and live entertainment. The highlight of the FanFest will be the pep rallies featuring the cheerleaders, bands and mascots from both participating schools.
Leapin’ Lizards! It’s Annie
America’s favorite redhead (Sorry, Lucy.) comes to Atlanta with “Annie, ” the Tony Award-winning musical. See it at the fabulous Fox Theatre Dec. 5-10. As part of the Regions Bank Broadway in Atlanta season, “Annie” tells the story of singing in the face of adversity, guts and guile. Get your tickets today — not tomorrow.
A Wonderfully Bizarre Bazaar
Get your holiday shopping completed Dec. 16 with unique gifts from local artisans at the Indie Studios’ Holiday Bazaar. The culturally based shared workplace, located on Ottley Drive, will also have food truck eats, holiday-themed beverages, carolers and photos with Santa.
The Black Nativity
One of Atlanta’s favorite holiday traditions is “The Black Nativity: A Gospel Christmas Musical Experience,” an adaption of Langston Hughes’ original Broadway “song play.” The show, which you can see at The Ferst Center for the Arts at Georgia Tech, brings the real meaning of faith and love to the stage.
Jewish Culture Events
Neranenah, the Southeast’s cultural event series with roots in Jewish culture and musical traditions, offers two programs in December. An “Evening of Light” with cantor Gideon Zelermeyer at the City Springs Studio Theater, is a family-friendly festivity with music that includes pieces from his collaboration with Leonard Cohen. At the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, “Musical Intersections” will explore the Black/Jewish experience. Dara Starr Tucker and Joe Alterman offer a rich program of live performances, storytelling and provocative dialogue.
Gamer Alert: DreamHack Coming to Atlanta
DreamHack Atlanta is a three-day gaming lifestyle festival where gamers can meet their favorite creators and streamers, enjoy professional panels and workshops, participate in cosplay and watch a variety of Fighting Game Community tournaments. The Georgia World Congress Center will be packed with variety of activities including DreamHack Artist Alley that offers an array of comic, pop, cosplay, original work and pure creativity. Be there Dec. 15-17.
Practice your Double Axel
Time to lace up the skates and hit the rink. There are plenty of places around Atlanta to enjoy ice skating. Many have hours for general skating as well as skating for adults only. Among the rinks are Park Tavern by Piedmont Park, Skate the Station at Atlantic Station and Skate the Sky at the Roof at Ponce City Market. Find details here about Where to Go Ice Skating in Atlanta.
Shop Till You Drop
The holiday season is a license to shop — and shop and shop. Fortunately, Atlanta is a shopper’s paradise. The city offers some of the county’s best malls —Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square — as well as neighborhoods where local artisans offer a variety of items perfect for under the tree. Check out the shops in Virginia-Highland, Little 5 Points, Ponce City Market, Shops Around Lenox and Krog Street Market. Also, look into the gifts shops at Atlanta attractions such as the High Museum of Art, Atlanta Botanical Garden and Georgia Aquarium.
Light the Night
Atlanta will be a blaze of lights as hotels, restaurants, neighborhoods and businesses celebrate the holidays with trees, menorahs, gingerbread men and Santa’s reindeer all aglow. Here’s Where to See Holiday Lights in Atlanta.
Try your Luck at Open Mic Night
Art Out Loud Open Mic Variety Show on Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard holds an open mic night at least once a month. Smith’s Olde Bar, one of Atlanta’s most historic music venues, brings Open Mic Comedy, hosted by Angel Contreras, every Wednesday.
Peter Rabbit Hops into Town
The Alliance Theatre presents the world premiere of its new musical, “Into the Burrow: A Peter Rabbit Tale,” through Dec. 23. Featuring beloved characters from the classic Beatrix Potter tales and a variety of original songs, this new tale encourages us to acknowledge our fears and work together to overcome challenges. As the neighborly forest animals gather in the rabbit’s den – under Mr. McGregor’s Garden – for a surprise party for Peter, the animals soon realize Mr. McGregor has terrible plans for the land around Peter’s burrow. Uh-oh.
Dine at new restaurant
Almost every week there are new restaurant opening announcements in Atlanta. On the Westside, Culinary Dropout opened, featuring American comfort food such as slow-braised 36-hour pork ribs, fish and chips, and soft pretzels with provolone fondue, as well as signature cocktails.
For those with a sweet tooth, Colony Square brings the Cupcakin’ Bake Shop, which plans to open mid-month. Little Sparrow and Bar Blanc, by famed Atlanta chef Ford Fry, features French culinary twists with dishes such as poulet frites, glazed sweetbreads and aleppo shrimp. Bloom Bar, an Afro-themed cocktail bar and restaurant with a Ghanaian vibe, opens on the Westside. Urban Wings is opening its third location in East Atlanta.
Holiday Theater
Who doesn’t love a holiday story — or three or four or five?
Atlanta can’t get enough of a good holiday story so check out our theater scene with such delightful performances of “Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet” at the Fox Theater. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra gets into the holiday spirit with “’twas the Night Before Christmas,” “The Jinkx and DeLa Holiday Show,” “A Charlie Brown Christmas” and Handel’s “Messiah.”
The Horizon Theatre will present “Madeline’s Christmas” while the Variety Playhouse offers up “Holiday Hootnanny 12.” Don’t forget the classic, “A Christmas Carol” at the Alliance Theatre and also at Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse.
It’s not holiday-related, but anyone who has studied French in school knows the story of the Little Prince who teaches a World War II flyer some life lessons. So venture over to the Synchronicity Theatre for a delightful experience.
Cirque du Soleil Presents “ECHO”
Kick off the holiday season with the return of the fantastical, colossal and unimaginable world of Cirque du Soleil. Cirque du Soleil’s “ECHO” features poetry, stage-craft and daring acrobatics and technologies — all of which come together to present a story about evolution and symbiotic unions. The hold-your-breath performance takes place at Atlantic Station.
Holiday Pop-ups
Buckhead’s cheeriest pop-up, The Blind Elf, makes its magical return as The Blind Pig Parlour Bar temporarily transforms into a festive gathering spot brimming with loads of merriment throughout the holidays. Guests enter a wonderland of over-the-top décor and twinkling lights to discover a variety of warm and chilly holiday-themed drinks, candy cane shots, beer, wine, and bubbles to ensure a spirited mood.
Inman Park mainstay, Amore e Amore, goes overboard with the decorations as Mama Gale and Professor Giovanni transform the Italian ristorante into a whimsical winter landscape with every corner — actually every inch — decorated with decorations and seasonal delights.
The Battery Atlanta will host the second annual Tinsel Tavern pop-up with an explosion of — you guessed it — tinsel. Tre Vele is bringing back its Jingle Bar, a rooftop patio that will be transformed into a holiday wonderland. Visit the Best Christmas Pop-Up Bars in Atlanta for Festive Holiday Fun.
Celebrate World Holidays at Fernbank
Winter Wonderland: Celebrations & Traditions Across the World returns to Fernbank Museum of Natural History for the 14th year to showcase decorated trees and holiday traditions across the globe. Spanning two floors, the exhibit tells stories contributed by local consuls and community partners, filling the museum with arts, crafts, symbols and ornamental displays. Some of the countries represented include: Sweden, Norway, Mexico, Argentina, India, Kenya, Japan and the Philippines.
For even more December things to do, check our calendar of events.
Journalist Mary Welch writes business and lifestyle stories for local and national publications.
Discover More
Get to know Atlanta, and discover the best things to do around the city.