Where to enjoy holiday festivities and college football in downtown Atlanta

We are just weeks away from the 55th annual Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl! Kickoff will be at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Dec. 31. Tickets are currently sold out, but if you’re on the hunt for tickets, resale tickets are available here.

CHECK OUT: 10 of the best bars to grab a drink near Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Players and fans have so much to look forward to this month ahead of the College Football Playoff Semifinal. Whether you live in metro Atlanta or are coming in from out of town, we have curated a list of events leading up to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

The Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center is the place to be ahead of the big game! The best part is that you do not need to be a hotel guest to attend!

Holiday Tree Lighting

Enjoy delicious Christmas cookies, hot chocolate, pictures with Santa, and joyous sounds from the Osborne High School Choir on Friday, Dec. 2, during the Omni’s Holiday Tree Lighting. The event is free to attend and will take place in the South Tower lobby from 5-8 p.m., with the tree lighting taking place at 6 p.m.

SEC Championship Game

If you’re looking for an unmatched game-day experience, check out the Bloody Mary bar from 9 a.m. to noon at VUES lobby bar in the Omni’s south tower on Saturday, Dec. 3. There will be plenty of TVs for game-watching fun!

Omni’s Peach Bowl-Inspired Cocktail Exhibition

Your Saturday afternoon is booked! On Dec. 4 at 2 p.m., in the Omni’s Vues Lobby Bar, the Omni’s Peach Bowl-Inspired Cocktail Exhibition will feature Atlanta-based bartenders from Atlanta’s Rellies MOYA 2022 bartender qualifier competition and their winning cocktails. Each contestant will introduce themselves and their winning cocktail before kicking off the creation of their Peach Bowl entry cocktail. The winner will then be announced and will have their cocktail featured on the Omni’s menu year-round. This event is free to attend, but you can reserve a spot here.

HBCU Cricket Celebration Bowl Welcome

Gourmet pies, A step show, a pop-up shop of gourmet pies made by a former Jackson State University student, and a Divine Nine welcome event? Count us in! On Friday, Dec. 16, in the Omni’s Vues Lobby, you can catch all of that and more during the HBCU Cricket Celebration Bowl Welcome. Time TBA.

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and NYE Casino Night Bash

Celebrate the ultimate NYE bash in style at casino night! All the fun will take place on Dec. 31 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Omni hotel. Enjoy casino games, a live band, plenty of culinary dinner options, a wine and beer open bar, one specialty drink ticket, and breakfast the next morning in the grand ballroom. For ticket information, click here.

Omni Atlanta Hotels at CNN Center

In partnership with the Atlanta Public Schools media relations team, Omni Atlanta Hotels at CNN Center conducted a search for a junior sideline correspondent, giving one talented Atlanta student the dream opportunity to represent the hotel during high-profile college sporting events taking place just steps away from the Omni hotel leading up to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

After fully vetting candidates, the Omni selected Midtown High School senior Finn Estella as its junior sideline correspondent. Whether Finn is on the field as Midtown High’s lacrosse captain or filming his next episode of the sports news segment, he’s always about having new experiences.

Currently a senior in high school, his motto has been “whatever you are doing, make sure you are having a good time doing it.” After his first year at Midtown High School, he was named captain of the lacrosse team and wrestling team and had a lead role in the musical “Mamma Mia.” Although this was his first part in a school production, he won Most Improved Actor of 2022. He’s also the anchor and co-producer of his school’s weekly sports segment, “Sports Splash.” He started writing for the show, and over the course of just a few months, he began directing it, then hosting the show himself.

Despite his hectic schedule, he still finds time to go out with friends and likes to go thrifting on weekends. He plans on playing lacrosse at Clemson once he graduates from high school. Be on the lookout for Finn as he reports on the best ways to enjoy the college football experience this month.