Things to do with kids in Atlanta, GA
Checked · All times are local Eastern Time (Atlanta time)
Coming up in Atlanta: Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, 5K, Mile & Dash (Nov 26), Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (puppet show, from Nov 11), Garden Lights, Holiday Nights (from Nov 14) and 5 more events. 9 always-open places, led by Zoo Atlanta, Georgia Aquarium and Fernbank Museum of Natural History. Prices and hours come from each official site.
Thanksgiving events in Atlanta
Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, 5K, Mile & Dash
- When
- Thu, Nov 26 · Half marathon 7:45am, 5K 8:15am, Mile 8:25am, Dashes from 8:25am
- Cost
- 5K $50 through Nov 20 ($55 at number pickup); half marathon $140 through Nov 16; Mile and Dash prices on the registration page
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Atlanta Track Club’s Thanksgiving morning race outside Center Parc Stadium, with a Mile for ages 6 and up and Dashes for ages 3 and under (8:25am) and ages 4–6 (9:15am); Mile and Dash runners get a medal and beanie. It sells out, and there is no race-day registration (Mile and Dash numbers can be picked up race morning).
✓ Checked Oct 26, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Christmas & holiday events: lights and tree lightings
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (puppet show)
- When
- Wed, Nov 11 – Sun, Dec 27 (38 performance dates Nov 11–Dec 27) · Showtimes vary by date (see site); 60 minutes
- Cost
- Tickets from $22
- Ages
- Ages 4+ · Indoor
The Center for Puppetry Arts’ holiday run of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, a one-hour puppet show recommended for ages 4 and up.
✓ Checked Oct 26, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Garden Lights, Holiday Nights
- When
- Sat, Nov 14 – Sun, Jan 10 (Nightly Nov 14–Jan 10) · Nightly until midnight (last entry 11pm); timed tickets
- Cost
- Separate timed ticket (see site); Night Light tickets after 9:30pm from $19.95 for adults; children 2 and under free; parking $20
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
The Garden’s holiday light show, now in its 16th year: the Imaginary Worlds mosaiculture dragon returns to the Skyline Garden, plus Nature’s Wonders, a giant curtain of light and sound. Tickets must be bought before the day of your visit.
✓ Checked Oct 26, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Lantern Parade & Lighting Celebration at Piedmont Park
- When
- Sun, Nov 22 · Lantern-making 3:30pm; parade 5pm, then the lighting
- Cost
- Free and open to the public (registration encouraged)
- Ages
- All ages · Outdoor
Piedmont Park Conservancy’s Light Up the Season kickoff: a lantern-making party at 3:30pm, then a 5pm lantern parade led by the Seed & Feed band from Greystone around Lake Clara Meer to the Meadow, where the park’s Great Tree, menorah and kinara are lit.
✓ Checked Oct 26, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Celebrate Hanukkah at Children’s Museum of Atlanta
- When
- Sun, Dec 6 · Noon
- Cost
- Included in museum admission
- Ages
- All ages · Indoor
A Hanukkah musical performance on the CMA Stage with Michael Levine (“Mr. Michael”), music producer of the original Pete the Cat books, with songs and stories families sing and dance along to.
✓ Checked Oct 26, 2026 on the organizer's official page
New Year's events in Atlanta
New Year’s Bubble Bash at Children’s Museum of Atlanta
- When
- Thu, Dec 31 · Sessions 9:30–11:30am, 12:30–2:30pm and 3:30–5:30pm
- Cost
- Separate ticket: $25 non-members, $10 members (prices rise the week of the event)
- Ages
- Ages Young children with a grown-up · Indoor
A kid-friendly New Year’s countdown with bubbles, dancing, a live DJ and the museum’s bubble-wrap countdown. Three play sessions, each with its own countdown (11am, 2pm and 5pm). Non-member tickets go on sale Nov 17.
✓ Checked Oct 26, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Storytimes
Toddler Rhymes and Storytimes (ages 3–5) at Central Library
- When
- Wed, Oct 28 – Wed, Dec 16 (Wednesdays (not Nov 11 or 25)) · 10:30–11am
- Cost
- No fee listed
- Ages
- Ages 3-5 · Indoor
Wednesday-morning stories, rhymes and songs for ages 3–5 with their grown-ups.
✓ Checked Oct 26, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Mommy, Daddy, and Me Storytime (ages 0–3) at Central Library
- When
- Tue, Nov 3 – Tue, Dec 15 (Tuesdays (not Nov 24)) · 10:30–11am
- Cost
- No fee listed
- Ages
- Ages 0-3 · Indoor
Tuesday-morning stories, songs and movement for little readers ages 0–3 and their grown-ups.
✓ Checked Oct 26, 2026 on the organizer's official page
Always-open family places
Most popular first: zoos, aquariums and museums, then nature spots, parks and libraries. Prices come from each official site; "Not stated" means the site doesn't list one.
Zoo Atlanta
- Price
- Date-based ticket prices (see site); children under 3 free
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas: weekdays 9am–5pm (last entry 3:30pm), weekends 9am–6pm (last entry 4:30pm); the giant pandas’ new Panda Grove opens Nov 6
✓ Price verified Oct 26, 2026 · source
Georgia Aquarium
- Price
- Date-based timed tickets (see site); children 2 and under free
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Downtown aquarium next to Centennial Olympic Park; dolphin and sea lion presentation reservations are free and made on the day of your visit
✓ Price verified Oct 26, 2026 · source
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
- Price
- Online, most weekdays: adults (13–64) $25.95, children (3–12) $23.95; weekends $27.95 and $25.95; includes a giant-screen film and free parking
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Dinosaurs in the Great Hall plus outdoor WildWoods and an old-growth forest; open daily 10am–5pm (some areas closed for renovations)
✓ Price verified Oct 26, 2026 · source
Center for Puppetry Arts
- Price
- Not stated. See the official site.
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Puppet museum and family puppet shows; Tue–Fri 9am–5pm, Sat 10am–5pm, Sun noon–5pm, closed Mondays; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and Dec 28–Jan 3; free parking in the rear lot
Piedmont Park
- Price
- $ (estimated price level)
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Atlanta’s big central park with playgrounds, including the Noguchi Playscape; open 6am–11pm; restrooms 8am–6pm
Atlanta Botanical Garden
- Price
- Not stated. See the official site.
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Midtown garden with the Lou Glenn Children’s Garden and the Fuqua Conservatory; open Tuesday–Sunday (closed Mondays); Garden Lights, Holiday Nights runs Nov 14–Jan 10
Centennial Olympic Park
- Price
- $ (estimated price level)
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Downtown park with the Fountain of Rings, which runs water and light shows set to music
Children’s Museum of Atlanta
- Price
- Tickets from $19.95
- Best for
- Ages 0–8 (our guidance)
Hands-on museum downtown: Mon, Tue, Thu and Fri 10am–3:30pm, Sat–Sun 9:30am–4:30pm; closed Wednesdays. Doc McStuffins exhibit through Jan 10
✓ Price verified Oct 26, 2026 · source
Atlanta-Fulton Central Library
- Price
- $ (estimated price level)
- Best for
- Ages 0–17+ (our guidance)
Downtown library with weekly storytimes on the 4th floor; no free parking (MARTA Peachtree Center Station is closest)
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do with kids in Atlanta this weekend?
Zoo Atlanta, Georgia Aquarium and Fernbank Museum of Natural History are open most days, but we don't have an Atlanta event listed for this weekend (Oct 30–Nov 1). Next up: Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, 5K, Mile & Dash (Nov 26) and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (puppet show, Nov 11).
What time is trick-or-treating in Atlanta?
Sunset on Halloween in Atlanta is at 6:45 p.m. Atlanta doesn't list official trick-or-treat hours, so plan around dusk.
What are free things to do with kids in Atlanta?
These are free according to their official sites: 1 upcoming event in Atlanta, including Lantern Parade & Lighting Celebration at Piedmont Park (Sun, Nov 22).
Where can kids play indoors in Atlanta when it's too hot or rainy?
We list 5 indoor places in Atlanta: Georgia Aquarium (Date-based timed tickets, see site), Fernbank Museum of Natural History (kids 3–12 $23.95), Center for Puppetry Arts, Children’s Museum of Atlanta (Tickets from $19.95) and Atlanta-Fulton Central Library.
What Thanksgiving events can I take my kids to in Atlanta?
We list 1 Thanksgiving event in Atlanta: Invesco QQQ Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon, 5K, Mile & Dash (Thu, Nov 26). Our Thanksgiving weekend guide for the Atlanta area has more nearby.
Where can I take my kids to see Christmas lights in Atlanta?
We list 2 holiday light events in Atlanta, 1 free: Garden Lights, Holiday Nights (Nov 14 – Jan 10) and Lantern Parade & Lighting Celebration at Piedmont Park (Nov 22, free). Our holiday lights guide for the Atlanta area has more nearby.
Are there storytimes or regular kids' programs in Atlanta?
We list 2 everyday programs in Atlanta: Toddler Rhymes and Storytimes (ages 3–5) at Central Library (Wednesdays, not Nov 11 or 25) and Mommy, Daddy, and Me Storytime (ages 0–3) at Central Library (Tuesdays, not Nov 24).
What is there to do with toddlers in Atlanta?
We list 7 places and 1 event in Atlanta that welcome kids under 2, including Mommy, Daddy, and Me Storytime (ages 0–3) at Central Library (Nov 3 – Dec 15), Zoo Atlanta, Georgia Aquarium and Piedmont Park. See all 8 above. Age ranges for places are our own guidance.
What are the big family attractions in Atlanta?
The best-known family attractions we list in Atlanta are Zoo Atlanta (Date-based ticket prices, see site), Georgia Aquarium (Date-based timed tickets, see site), Fernbank Museum of Natural History (kids 3–12 $23.95) and Center for Puppetry Arts. They're listed first under always-open places.
How much do Atlanta family attractions cost?
Prices from the official sites for 2 places in Atlanta: Fernbank Museum of Natural History (adult $25.95, kids 3–12 $23.95) and Children’s Museum of Atlanta (Tickets from $19.95). Confirm before you go; prices change.
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How we build this page: each event comes from the organizer's official website and shows the date we checked it. Prices marked verified were copied from the venue's official site; others show an estimated price level or "Not stated". A place is called free only when its official site says so. Read how we verify listings · Arizona weekend search.
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