Ultimate Family Fun for All Ages in Atlanta in 2026

By Mary Welch

Last Updated January 27, 2026

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Don’t you wish you had a dollar for every time someone says kids grow up too fast and to enjoy them while they’re young? Fortunately, Atlanta has a variety of family-friendly activities perfect for spending valuable time together — even moody teenagers will enjoy them. 

A Stage for Little Ones 

Goizueta Stage for Youth and Families recently opened at the Woodruff Arts Center to provide year-round programming for preschool-age children in partnership with the Alliance Theatre and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. With reasonable ticket prices, thanks to the Imagine Endowment, the 300-seat theater will feature plays such as “The Great Ant Sleepover,” which is a world premiere musical about courage, and “Into the Burrow: A Peter Rabbit Tale,” a delightful family musical featuring original songs and characters from the Beatrix Potter tales. The stage is intended to be a transformative space for Atlanta’s youngest patrons, with thoughtfully curated, year-round programming that will positively impact their development. 

Family Interactive Challenges 

Rain outside, or just want some good old-fashioned family fun? Well, Atlanta is the place for you. There are several interactive spots where you can get a bit competitive yet still enjoy the day. For instance, try your hand at darts at the Flight Club (children must be 12 and older and accompanied by parents), or head to the nearby Puttshack for a game of video miniature golf. There are several escape rooms, including Beat the Bomb where you can get blasted by paint, foam or slime if you lose. How about pickleball at the Painted Pickle? But if the family can’t decide on the activity, no problem. That’s where Your 3rd Spot is perfect. It features more than 100 games and experiences — everything from bowling, video games and hoops to curling and corn hole.  

Find more fun at Atlanta’s Bowling Alleys.

Fresh Food and Fun 

Farmers markets are family fun for all ages. For those who enjoy cooking, there are vegetables, meats and fruits as fresh as can be, while those who enjoy… well… sampling, have the opportunity to try out local cheeses, honey, fruits and drinks. Of course, there are food trucks, entertainment and local crafts, all of which add to a joyful, fun day for all — including the family dog. There are several farmers markets throughout Atlanta, including at East Village, Freedom Farmers Market at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, Grant Park, Morningside and Peachtree Road. You’re supporting local farmers and craftsmen while enjoying the benefits of farm-to-table eating. 

What’s New at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights 

Bigger and better than ever, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights reopened its doors after completing a $57.9-million expansion. The 24,000 square feet of new space includes six new galleries, one updated gallery, three classrooms, flexible event and meeting areas and interactive experiences. Among the new galleries are the “Committed Life: The Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection” and “Change Agent Adventure,” a gallery for children younger than 12, which is designed as a secret headquarters for change agents with interactive activities that will build civic skills and curiosity about justice. Please note that this gallery will open in April 2026. 

Tiny Doors Hunt 

Go house hunting — for little doors. Local artist Karen Anderson Singer designed 30 teeny-tiny doors around the city, each one different and magical. Tiny Doors ATL is a wonderful interactive art project that’s perfect for a family scavenger hunt to find them. A bonus is that you’ll get to see Atlanta’s varied neighborhoods while admiring and enjoying public art. Go to the iconic Jackson Street Bridge and find Tiny Door 23, which honors civic leader Ann Curry, or Door 10E in Grant Park, which is the only door that opens (so far). Each seven-inch door is designed to reflect the spirit, architecture and other elements of the community.  The doors are free, wheelchair accessible and public. 

The Beat Goes On 

There is nothing better than live music from local musicians to get your toes tapping and your head nodding to the beat. If your kids are older and you want to enjoy real blues, head over to Blind Willie’s in Virginia Highland or Northside Tavern with its house band, Mudcat. Both are great dive bars, and sometimes well-known musicians pull up and jam (but no promises).  

Midtown’s Smith’s Olde Bar has seen stars grace its two music rooms as well as local talent. Not to name drop, but David Bowie, Train, Janelle Monae, Jennifer Nettles, Chris Stapleton and Kings of Leon all have played there. And, while we’re still name-dropping, greats such as John Mayer, Shawn Mullins, Justin Bieber and Sugarland all played at Eddie’s Attic as they started their careers. You just might see tomorrow’s stars today. For jazz lovers, try the Red Light Cafe in Midtown, where jazz plays every Wednesday. 

Explore more places to enjoy live music.

Omakase  

If there is a trend in Atlanta’s dining scene — and one that the MICHELIN Guide certainly supports — it is omakase dining. One-star favorites, such as Hayakawa, Mūjo, O by Brush and Omakase Table, all offer the experience of several out-of-this-world small bites. Other restaurants that offer the omakase experience include MF Sushi, Chirori, Umi and Nakato. 

Although they are not called “omakase,” other restaurants also offer curated tasting menus. Georgia Boy, a secret space behind Southern Belle in Virginia-Highland, offers a multi-sensory taster experience (as well as a vegan option). Bacchanalia, Lazy Betty and Atlas also have tasting menus.

Yes, the experience is a splurge, so you may want to save it for family celebrations — but it’s worth it and memorable.

Hurrah for History 

Atlanta has a lot — a lot — of history, and the best way to experience and learn about it is with our museums. Walk through time at the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, where you explore Georgia’s plants and animals that call — or called — Georgia home — including dinosaurs that lived here in the Mesozoic Era. 

The Michael C. Carlos Museum, located on the Emory University campus, takes you on a historical journey around the world, where you’ll explore the art and history of world cultures from Africa, the Americas, ancient Egypt (complete with mummies), South Asia, and ancient Greece and Rome. 

But if you want to spend a day wrapped around history, the Atlanta History Center is the place to go. See everything from the Cyclorama, which tells the story of the Battle of Atlanta, to the story of golf great Bobby Jones. Newly opened is the Goizueta Children’s Experience, a 5,000-square-foot space that features an immersive, multi-sensory experience for “crawlers” (ages 1-3) to second-graders (ages 6-8). 

Ride a Bike 

Yes, it’s fun riding around the cul-de-sac, but how about getting out the bikes, including those with training wheels, and having a family ride? Yes, we all know that the Atlanta Beltline is a biker’s favorite, but there are many other trails. Many of the area’s parks, such as Piedmont Park, Chastain Park and Stone Mountain, have bike paths. In fact, the Freedom Park Trail connects Virginia Highland to Inman Park (wave to the Carter Center) and then connects with the Stone Mountain Trail that can take you all the way to Stone Mountain. Of course, there are lots of potential stops on the way — everything from nearby downtown Decatur and Krog Street Market, to places for a much-needed break and refreshments. 

Explore the Ultimate Guide to the Atlanta Beltline.

Other great bike trails include Sope Creek Park, which is especially kid-friendly, Arabia Mountain Trail, the Silver Comet Trail, where you can ride across a 500-foot trestle, and Sweetwater Creek State Park. Not sure you want to buy bikes just yet — no problem. There are plenty of places where you can rent a bike for the day and see if biking is the next family favorite activity. 

Art Galleries 

Atlanta has world-class art museums, but its galleries showcase a wide variety of art, too. Located in Miami Circle, IDEA Gallery is a contemporary art gallery featuring artists such as Carolyn Propst, Clive Banks and Neil Marshall. Another go-to gallery is Mason Fine Art, which for the past 30 years has shown a diverse selection on contemporary art with a focus on Southern artists and, in particular, self-taught artists. Also located in Miami Circle, the gallery shares its space with Marcia Wood Gallery. Spalding Nix Fine Art opened in 2003 and focuses on contemporary artists from the Southeast, especially women. 

FIFA World Cup Fun

Yes, FIFA is coming to Atlanta, and eight international semi-final soccer matches will be hosted at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The countries with teams playing in Atlanta are: Cabo Verde, Haiti, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Spain, South Africa, Uzbekistan, the European Play-Off D Winner, and the Intercontinental Play-Off 1 Winner.

Even if you don’t have tickets, you can cheer on the teams as there will be a FIFA Fan Festival at Centennial Olympic Park as well as at the hundreds of sports bars and restaurants around town. If soccer isn’t your thing, don’t worry. Atlantans love sports, and there are always the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Dream, and Atlanta United (sorry, that’s soccer) to watch, along with college sports.

Find more cool things to do with the family in Atlanta using our 50 Fun Things to Do and See in Atlanta. If you want a ready-to-use itinerary, use our 2-Day Family Fun guide.

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 January 22, 2025