CHRISTMAS & HOLIDAY FAMILY FUN GUIDE 2020

'Tis the season! It has been a challenging year, but there is still joy to be found in the holiday season. Below are some winter holiday events for 2020. We will continue to update this article as more events are added.

Please double check websites or call before going out as details, registration, and safety precautions are ever changing during the health pandemic. Many events have limited spaces and require reservations. 

If you have a holiday event you want included, please email beckys@macaronikid.com.

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at Atlanta Botanical Garden (November 14 - January 17): Garden Lights, Holiday Nights, presented by Invesco QQQ, returns in 2020 with new safety protocols and spectacular lighted sculptures from the blockbuster exhibition, Alice’s Wonderland Reimagined. With extremely limited capacity and masks/social distancing required, Garden Lights, Holiday Nights runs nightly through Jan. 16, advanced tickets required.

Image Credit: Atlanta Botanical Garden

Tickets are on sale for the 10th annual Garden Lights, Holiday Nights  Atlanta’s favorite seasonal tradition.

This year’s show, presented November 14 – January 16, will provide a far more intimate experience than in years past with plenty of “room to glow”. That’s because in an effort to promote social distancing during the pandemic, nightly guest capacity will be significantly limited with all timed tickets available only online.  Visitors to what’s traditionally an extremely popular event will be able to spread out among the Garden’s 33 acres for what could be their most enjoyable experience ever at Garden Lights, Holiday Nights.

In 2011, when the Garden decided after years of planning to launch a holiday light show, the result was not only the start of a new wintertime attraction for guests but also a holiday tradition for both Atlantans and tourists from throughout the Southeast.

“This show has been in the planning stages for years because we wanted it to be unique and innovative – an elegant winter wonderland,” Mary Pat Matheson, the Garden’s President & CEO, said 10 years ago. “The intent is to throw a sparkling veil over the landscape, transforming how people perceive gardens, particularly the trees.”

Since then, nearly 1.5 million guests have passed through the Visitor Center and into the Garden to stroll the Canopy Walk, gaze at Ice Goddess, roast some s’mores, marvel at the model trains, dance to the Orchestral Orbs and grab a selfie at the Poinsettia Tree.  Families and grandparents. Teens and date-nighters. Tour groups and office partiers.

If it sounds like a crowd, it was. That, however, was before a pandemic struck the country last spring, and phrases like “keep your distance,” “wear a mask” and “wash your hands” became the new normal. This year’s light show will emphasize all of those safety measures and much more to ensure visitors enjoy a worry-free experience.

To celebrate the show’s anniversary, here are 10 things to look forward to:

1. Mark your calendars for October 1 when tickets go on sale at Atlanta Botanical Garden. Look for a timed-ticketing system much like is used for visiting the Garden during regular daytime hours.
2. Look for all-new colors – emphasizing purple, green and aqua – as the Garden purchases new LED lights every three years.
3. Check out your favorite giant plant sculptures from the current exhibition, Alice’s Wonderland Reimagined costumed in lights instead of annuals, such as the Red Queen, the White Rabbit and the Phoenix.
4. Don’t miss Ice Goddess’s new locks. Her chilly blues, silvers and whites have been warmed up with pinks and greens in a nod to spring and the promise of hope.
5. Enjoy a new soundtrack at Nature’s Wonders, the vertical, musical light display descending over the Canopy Walk. Depictions of volcanic eruptions, summer thunderstorms and tranquil sunrises are choreographed with nostalgic classics.
6. Reminisce with perennial show favorites like the Great Lawn’s Orchestral Orbs. Be ready to capture those little ones dancing on video!
7. Grab a hot chocolate and head over to Alston Overlook for taking in the Holiday Model Trains.
8.  Document your annual visit with that traditional photo in front of the Orchid Center’s Poinsettia Tree. Don’t blink and say “cheese”!
9. Toast the holidays with a libation in the Skylights Lounge while grooving to the beats of a deejay and drinking in commanding views of the city.
10. Satisfy hungry appetites after all that walking with dinner at Longleaf restaurant (Reservations recommended at (404.876.5859).

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights is only located in Atlanta.  

A new online timed-ticketing system that limits visitor capacity, as well as extended hours, allows guests to enjoy the Garden while maintaining social distancing.

The Gainesville Garden also will offer extended hours when it reopens Sunday, Tuesday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Friday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. The garden is closed on Mondays.

The Atlanta Botanical Garden hours are March 10 - October on Tuesday - Sunday from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. And from November - March 9 on Tuesday - Sunday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. *Hours may vary due to special events.

Tickets are available for purchase online only at Atlanta Botanical Garden with a timed entry for ensuring the safety and enjoyment of guests during a crowd-free experience.

The Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Gainesville is located at 1911 Sweetbay Drive in Gainesville, GA 30501. They can be reached by phone at 404-888-4760.

The Atlanta Botanical Garden is located at 1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309.  They can be reached by phone at (404) 876-5859.  

Follow the Atlanta Botanical Garden on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube. Follow in on the fun by using the #AtlantaBG.

Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Over Georgia (November 21-January 3): Six Flags Over Georgia is continuing its new holiday tradition as it extends its season with the addition of Six Flags Entertainment’s annual holiday festival — Holiday in the Park. More than one million LED lights and dozens of Christmas trees will create the perfect magical atmosphere this holiday season.

Holiday in the Park® returns to Six Flags Over Georgia—the Thrill Capital of the South—beginning November 21. This holiday wonderland is more spectacular than ever with 16 intricately themed areas, 30-holiday rides, dazzling live shows, and festive seasonal food, all combining to make Holiday in the Park the most magical time of the year.

Holiday in the Park features the return of guest-favorite holiday thrills and enchanting

• More lights than ever before - more than 1 million
• Biggest menu of holiday treats we've ever offered
• More glowing campfires and S'mores locations
• Updated holiday games with new prizes
• Exclusive ticket bundles
• Holiday Bear toy drive
• Beautiful stained glass nativity scene

Holiday in the Park operates on select days from November 21, 2020, through January 3, 2021. For more information, visit Six Flags over Georgia.

Six Flags Over Georgia 2021 Season Passes are on sale now and provide unlimited visits to Holiday in the Park and all of 2021. 

Six Flags Memberships include all of the benefits of a Season Pass, plus more than 50 additional benefits, such as unlimited soft drinks, preferred parking, walk-on passes for rides and exclusive waterpark seating. Members can also participate in Six Flags Membership Rewards, a new loyalty program that allows guests to earn valuable prizes for just for riding rides, seeing shows and having a great time at the park.

Please view the Six Flags over Georgia's COVID-19 Health & Safety Protocols.

Parking should be pre-purchased prior to your visit. Cash is not accepted for parking.

Six Flags Over Georgia is located at 275 Riverside Parkway, Austell, Georgia, 30168.  Follow Six Flags Over Georgia on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Use the #sixflagsovergeorgia.

License to Chill Snow Island at Lake Lanier(Opens November 6): Take the crew snow tubing, get your skates on and practice your figure eights at the ice rink, hop on the carnival rides, make snow angels, warm up with s' mores and hot cocoa, and shop in Santa's Workshop. Don't forget to stop in and let the little ones tell Jolly Ole St. Nick what they hope to find under the tree.

Margaritaville's License to Chill Snow Island will open its doors on November 21st. Take the crew snow tubing, get your skates on and practice your figure eights at the ice rink, hop on the carnival rides, make snow angels, warm up with s' mores and hot cocoa, and shop in Santa's Workshop. Don't forget to stop in and let the little ones tell Jolly Ole St. Nick what they hope to find under the tree.

Most exciting, however, is this year’s Parrot Mountain snow slide, which is bigger and better than ever! See below for a few quick facts on the snow ride -

• 575 feet long *that's almost the length of TWO football fields combined!
• Eight stories tall
• Eight lanes wide
• The new magic carpet is 2x the size as last year to accommodate the new and improved Parrot Mountain slide

Please visit Margaritaville at Lanier Islands to purchase tickets.

Margaritaville at Lanier Islands is located at 7000 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford, Ga 30518.  Margaritaville at Lanier Islands can be reached by phone: 770-945-8787 or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest,Twitter, and YouTube. Follow #MargaritavilleatLanierIslands to learn more!

Margaritaville Lakeside Light Spectacular at Lake Lanier (November 20-February 21, 2021): Kick start your holidays with a visit to Margaritaville’s all-new Lakeside Lights Spectacular for a night of nostalgic wintry fun. The Lakeside Lights Spectacular will take you on a magical walk through an amazing lighting extravaganza with festive seasonal music. Great for the whole family!

Image Credit: Lake Lanier Islands

Welcome to the all new Lakeside Lights Spectacular!

Officials with Lanier Islands have decided to end the drivable Magical Nights of Lights after nearly thirty years, replacing them with a walkable light show. Magical Nights of Lights has played so heavily in the holiday traditions of countless families around the South, and while it is sad to say goodbye to the Magical Nights of Lights,  there is excitement in the air anticipating this new Spectacular event for the 2020-2021 holiday activity.

The new Lakeside Lights Spectacular will feature a walkable holiday lights tour set to holiday tunes. The show is in continued partnership with Safe Harbor.

Kick start your holidays with a visit to Margaritaville’s all-new Lakeside Lights Spectacular for a night of nostalgic wintry fun. The Lakeside Lights Spectacular will take you on a magical walk through an amazing lighting extravaganza with festive seasonal music. Great for the whole family! Guests will have the opportunity to stroll through the new display and pick up either hot cocoa or cocktails along the way. There will also be chances to pay a socially distanced visit with Santa, ride carnival rides and participate in other holiday-themed activities.

Lakeside Lights Spectacular will open for the first night on November 20 and run nightly through January 5. Then the show will switch to weekend-only nights until February 21.

Please visit Margaritaville at Lanier Islands to purchase tickets.

Click here for more information: https://www.margaritavilleresorts.com/margaritaville-at-lanier-islands/attractions/margaritavilles-lakeside-lights-spectacular

Stone Mountain Christmas (November 14-January 3): Each day of Stone Mountain Christmas, you can enjoy park attractions including Summit Skyride, Scenic Railroad, and more! Then, immerse yourself in holiday magic with evenings full of festive music, millions of dazzling lights, spectacular shows and visits from some of your favorite holiday characters!

Image Credit: Stone Mountain Park

Located on 3,200 acres of natural beauty, a dazzling and exciting holiday season begins Nov. 14 at Stone Mountain Park. A family-favorite tradition, Stone Mountain Christmas is Atlanta’s most heartwarming celebration filled with festive music, millions of dazzling lights, captivating shows and visits with popular holiday characters.

Photo: Santa’s float during Snow Angel’s Christmas Parade at Stone Mountain Park

A family-favorite tradition, Stone Mountain Christmas is Atlanta’s most heartwarming celebration filled with festive music, millions of dazzling lights, captivating shows and visits with popular holiday characters.  

New this year, celebrate the spirit of the season with a special viewing of a Christmas Lasershow. Wander through the Musical Frosted Forest surrounded by beautiful lights, sights and sounds. Marvel at the Enchanted Tree Lighting Ceremony and catch the exciting new Snow Angel’s Christmas Parade on the laser lawn! The all-new parade features seven new whimsical floats and a cast of 40 performers including 10-foot tall candy canes, walking snow globes, Christmas trees and more.

Take in an all-new magic show and enjoy special meet and greet opportunities with some of your favorite North Pole friends including Santa, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer® and Bumble. Hear the true meaning of Christmas aboard the Sing-A-Long Christmas Train and the evening with Angelina the Snow Angel as she as she takes flight and creates one last magical snowfall! Discover Stone Mountain Christmas Nov. 14, 2020 through Jan. 3, 2021 every weekend and school holidays.

For tickets and information about Stone Mountain Christmas, please visit www.stonemountainpark.com.

 In order to provide safe outdoor entertainment, Stone Mountain Park is reducing and managing its daily attractions capacity. The park is implementing a number of new safety measures based on the guidance of health officials including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and appropriate government agencies. Guests are encouraged to review important health and safety procedures at the following link before visiting park attractions: https://www.stonemountainpark.com/PlaySafe

 Listed in Frommer’s “500 Places to Visit with Your Kids Before They Grow Up” and cited by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as one of “35 Natural Wonders in Georgia You Must See Before You Die.” 

Stone Mountain Park is located 16 miles east of downtown Atlanta. To get to the park, take I-285 to Exit 39B, Hwy. 78 East. Stone Mountain Park is at Exit No. 8 on Hwy. 78. More information regarding Stone Mountain Park attractions and hours of operation is available by calling 1-800-401-2407 or by visiting Stone Mountain Park.

For tickets and activity schedules, visit Stone Mountain Park.  Follow Stone Mountain Park on social: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.   You can also follow using #stonemountainpark.

World of Illumination at Six Flags White Water parking lot in Marietta (November 13-January 3): Sugar plum fairies. A gigantic gingerbread village. Sweets as far as the eye can see. World of Illumination presents Candy Rush, the world’s largest holiday drive-through show, highlighting a 40-foot tall candy cane trio and animated Christmas characters. This mile-long drive-through show features nearly two million lights — a must-see treat for the entire family.

Image Credit: World of Illumination

To my family, Christmas is not complete without seeing a great light show. Because many events have been cancelled this year, outdoor light shows are the perfect way to get in the holiday spirit! 

There are several terrific light shows around town and this year marks the grand opening of a new one: Candy Crush by World of Illumination in Marietta, Georgia. This is the biggest animated drive-through light show in the world. 

Sugar plum fairies, a gigantic gingerbread village and sweets as far as the eye can see, World of Illumination Candy Rush, has them all plus a 40-foot tall candy cane trio and animated Christmas characters. This drive-through show features nearly two million lights that dance to all of your favorite holiday music.

And the best part of it all is that you can enjoy the entire 2-mile long show from the safety and comfort of your car.

The Candy Rush drive-through animated light show is open from 6 to 10 PM nightly through January 3rd, 2021. Don't miss this must-see treat for the entire family!
Tickets are sold online only and are $35 per vehicle during the week and $45 per vehicle on weekends.

For more information about how to reserve a spot at this epic light show, check out the website or Facebook Page.
Address: 250 Cobb Pkwy N, Marietta, GA 30062, USA

WORLD OF COCA-COLA

Image Credit: World of Coca-Cola

The most wonderful time of the year has begun at World of Coca-Cola! Now through Jan. 1, the attraction is showcasing its holiday best and welcoming guests into a true winter wonderland. The twinkling lights, larger-than-life decorations and seasonal beverages are all back as part of World of Coca-Cola’s annual celebration.

“We recognize that this holiday season is going to be different,” said Joanna Hobday, Group Director, Retail Operations and Administration. “At World of Coca-Cola, we are grateful to be able to provide a safe and immersive outing for families and friends who consider Coca-Cola a special part of the holidays. In a year of change and challenges, we invite everyone to come experience the holiday cheer for which World of Coca-Cola is known – and that we all need more than ever.”

Be sure to check these can’t-miss attractions off your list when visiting  World of Coca-Cola this season: 

1. Merry and Bright Season’s Greetings: From their first step into Pemberton Place, guests are transported into a holiday spectacle as they walk through a 28-foot-tall ornament of lights. The glittering lights and giant ornaments dotting the lawn set the scene for the rest of the experience that continues inside. 

2. It’s Beginning to Smell a Lot Like Christmas: We all know those scents that immediately transport us back in time, especially those associated with favorite holiday memories. How does smell work, and why does it trigger such vivid recollections? Scent Discovery, World of Coca-Cola’s newest exhibit, offers insight into the science of smell and puts noses to the test. Guests are challenged to identify a variety of aromas, several of which they likely consider scents of the season. Guests will also uncover beverage recommendations based on – you guessed it – their favorite scents. 

3. Tales of Christmas Past: Though most people aren’t traveling much these days, A Coca-Cola Christmas Celebration takes guests on a trip to far off places and even back in time. The temporary exhibit showcases historic, seasonal Coke ads and artifacts from around the world, including Coca-Cola’s newest cinematic holiday spot, “The Letter.” Don’t forget the big man in red at the History of the Coca-Cola Santa exhibit.  

4. Seasonal Sips: The flavors of the holidays are here! Visit the Taste It! beverage lounge where small groups are led through curated samplings designed to allow guests to safely enjoy limited-time, holiday beverages – including Shortbread Coke for Thanksgiving and longtime favorite Gingerbread Coke for Christmas – as well as drinks from around the world. Don’t forget your smartphone! QR codes are displayed throughout the exhibit to share fun facts and tidbits about the beverages. 

5. Lights, Tinsel and Polar Bears, Oh My!: The perfect holiday snap is at your fingertips, so be sure to smile with your eyes. Guests can pose in front of festive displays or take a socially distant selfie with the grinning 7-foot-tall Coca-Cola Polar Bear. Tacky sweaters welcome. Share your photos with family and friends on social media using #WorldofCocaCola, and you might even be featured on the attraction’s social channels! 

6. Gifts for Your Nice List: Bring your holiday shopping list with you and check off gifts for family and friends while you’re here. There’s something for everyone: from chefs to fashionistas, collectors and athletes. Those who prefer to shop from the comfort of home can check out CokeStore.com for even more holiday goodies. Don’t forget to sign up online to get the scoop on promotions and special offers throughout the holiday season!

The health and safety of employees and guests are World of Coca-Cola’s top priorities, and the attraction has adjusted its operations in compliance with guidelines from health and government authorities. Face coverings are required for all employees and guests over the age of 2, and capacity has been reduced via time-stamped admission tickets to promote social distancing. Thermal temperature scans are conducted for employees and guests upon entry, and cleaning routines have been enhanced throughout the attraction. More information is available online.

Visit and see why World of Coca-Cola is a holiday attraction that simply can’t be missed this year. 

About World of Coca-Cola

An integral part of downtown Atlanta’s fabric for more than 30 years, World of Coca‑Cola has welcomed guests from six continents, more than 100 countries, all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Join over 25 million people who have visited the Atlanta attraction and experience the history of the world's most famous beverage brand at the dynamic, multimedia home of the 134-year-old secret formula for Coca‑Cola. Get closer than ever before to the vault containing the secret recipe, view more than 1,200 historic artifacts and get a behind-the-scenes look at the bottling process. Take a trip around the world in a thrilling 3-D movie experience, take a photo with the Coca-Cola Polar Bear and tempt your taste buds with beverages from around the globe. 

World of Coca‑Cola is located in Pemberton Place, adjacent to the Georgia Aquarium in downtown Atlanta, and is accessible via the Peachtree Center or CNN/World Congress Center MARTA stations. Consumers with questions may call 1-800-676-COKE or visit our website at www.WorldofCocaCola.comto purchase tickets. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/WorldofCocaCola, on Instagram at instagram.com/WorldofCocaCola and on Facebook at facebook.com/WorldofCocaCola.

Lights of Life Seasonal Celebration at Life University (November 26-December 31):  The Life University (LIFE) campus is being decorated for the annual Lights of LIFE seasonal celebration. Cars, trucks, vans and buses cruise through the spectacularly illuminated campus each year, often stopping along the 1.5-mile drive to enjoy an array of seasonal entertainments. As in year’s past, pony rides, train rides and the petting zoo will also return, as will our concession stand, offering seasonal drinks and snacks for purchase. 

The Lighting of Avalon - a 12 Day Celebration (November 22 - December 3): Kick off the holiday season at Avalon, replacing our annual one-day tree lighting event with 12 days full of smaller, festive, fun events for the whole family! At 7 p.m. each night during the 12-day celebration, guests will be dazzled by a spectacular light and fireworks show around Avalon’s 40-foot tree.

Fantasy Lights at Callaway Gardens (November 20-January 4): One of National Geographic’s Top 10 Light Displays in the world. Christmas Village, holiday characters, ride through the dazzling illuminated forest.