20 free things to do in metro Atlanta in December

The holidays are in full swing, and Atlanta is ready to sleigh the season with a flurry of festive fun! As December’s crisp air blankets the city, it transforms into a sparkling winter wonderland, brimming with free activities to fill your days with holiday cheer. We’ll unwrap 20 enchanting and cost-free ways to make your December unforgettable, filled with cozy moments and the undeniable charm of Atlanta’s holiday spirit. Bundle up and let the festivities begin!

Sunday FUNday: Bodhi Day Celebration - Michael C. Carlos Museum (Emory University)

Celebrate enlightenment with a creative twist at Sunday FUNday’s Bodhi Day Celebration! Enjoy a mindful journey through art, craft a heart-shaped Bodhi leaf, and snack on a sweet treat.

Location: Druid Hills - 571 South Kilgo Cir. NE; Website: carlos.emory.edu; Date: Sunday, Dec. 1; Time: Noon to 4 p.m.

CHILL: A Winter Pops Concert - St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church (Druid Hills)

Experience the cool sounds of winter at CHILL, the Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra’s Winter Pops Concert, featuring Vivaldi-inspired art and a heartwarming coat drive benefiting Lost-n-Found Youth, an Atlanta nonprofit supporting homeless LGBTQ+ youth.

Location: Druid Hills - 1790 Lavista Rd. NE; Website: facebook.com; Date: Sunday, Dec. 1; Time: 3 p.m.

Holiday Lights Season Opening - Brook Run Park (Dunwoody)

Kick off the holiday season at the Holiday Lights opening at Brook Run Park, featuring 100,000 twinkling lights, an Arctic Safari theme, hot cocoa, and ceremonial lighting. Then enjoy this dazzling display nightly throughout December.

Location: Dunwoody - 4770 N Peachtree Rd.; Website: dunwoody ga.gov; Dates: Sunday, Dec. 1 (Opening) and nightly display until Tuesday, Dec. 31; Time: 4 - 8 p.m. (Opening) and 5 - 10 p.m. (Daily)

Nightly Tree Shows - Colony Square (Midtown)

Colony Square is shining brighter than ever this holiday season, with nightly tree lighting shows where the magnificent tree sparkles to life each hour with festive lights and music!

Location: Midtown - 1197 Peachtree St. NE; Website: colonysquare.com; Dates: Saturday, Dec. 2 - Monday, Dec. 25

Festive Flicks at The Forum - Peachtree Corners

Celebrate the holiday season with festive cheer at The Forum’s Festive Flicks, featuring beloved classics like “Elf,” “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” and “The Santa Clause.”

Location: Peachtree Corners - 5155 Peachtree Pkwy.; Website: theforumpeachtree.com; Dates: Every Tuesday until Christmas (Dec. 3, 10, and 17); Time: 4 - 6 p.m.

Light Up Brookhaven

Brookhaven’s annual Light Up celebration features holiday tunes, food trucks, a 40′ Christmas tree lighting, and Santa’s grand arrival by helicopter!

Location: Brookhaven - 3493 Ashford Dunwoody Rd.; Website: facebook.com; Date: Wednesday, Dec. 4; Time: 6 - 9 p.m.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Trivia - Atlanta Hard Cider (Marietta)

Get ready to “Clark” your way to victory at National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Trivia, where you can prove you’re the ultimate fan by testing your knowledge of this festive classic.

Location: Marietta - 1010 Roswell St. NE; Website: atlantahardcider.com; Date: Wednesday, Dec. 4; Time: 7 - 9 p.m.

In-Store Kids Workshops - The Home Depot (Multiple Locations)

Join The Home Depot for this month’s Kids Workshop, featuring a Holiday Snow Globe crafting event for children (while supplies last).

Locations: Atlanta Locations; Website: homedepot.com/kids; Date: Saturday, Dec. 7; Time: 9 a.m. to noon

Frosty Fun - Duluth

Experience the magic of Duluth’s “Frosty Fun,” featuring a snow playground, Santa visits, Grinch trivia, snow globe photo booth, ice carving, cookies and cocoa, mini golf, and a New Year’s Eve noon celebration—all packed into festive events throughout December!

Locations: Duluth - Town Green / Parson’s Alley; Website: duluthga.net; Dates: Throughout December (Dec. 7, 14, 21, 23, 27, 29 and 31)

Holiday Spirit 2024 - Oakland Cemetery

Get into the holiday spirit at Oakland Cemetery, featuring photos with Santa, live music, a wreath sale, a festive market, and more!

Location: East Atlanta - 248 Oakland Ave. SE; Website: oaklandcemetery.com; Dates: Saturday, Dec. 7 - Sunday, Dec. 8; Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Hot Chocolate Crawl - Buckhead Village District

Sip, stroll, and savor the season at Buckhead Village’s Miracle on Peachtree Hot Chocolate Crawl, where festive flavors, live holiday music, and dazzling tree lighting make for a sweet holiday escape! Get your free tickets here.

Location: Buckhead - 3035 Peachtree Rd.; Website: livablebuckhead.com; Date: Saturday, Dec. 7; Time: 4 - 7 p.m.

Sparkle Sandy Springs

Sparkle Sandy Springs lights the night with a dazzling parade, twinkling holiday houses, live music, snow machines, and a festive tree and menorah lighting. It’s a winter wonderland you won’t want to miss!

Location: Sandy Springs - 1 Galambos Wy.; Website: sandyspringsga.gov; Date: Sunday, Dec. 8; Time: 4 - 8 p.m.

Holiday Plaza Party - North Avenue MARTA Station (Midtown)

Join the Midtown community for a plaza-perfect holiday party outside the North Avenue MARTA Station, featuring festive music, cheerful carolers, free hot cocoa and empanadas from El Viñedo Local, and a raffle packed with fun prizes!

Location: Midtown - 713 W Peachtree St. NW; Website: midtownatl.com; Date: Thursday, Dec. 12; Time: 4 - 6 p.m.

Bonfire and Marshmallow Roast - Decatur Square

Gather around Decatur Square for a blazing good time at the annual Bonfire + Marshmallow Roast, featuring a roaring fire, free marshmallows, and plenty of ooey-gooey fun.

Location: Decatur - 509 N McDonough St.; Website: visitdecaturga.com; Date: Thursday, Dec. 12; Time: 6 - 8 p.m.

Lifetime Fitness on The Green - Phipps Plaza (Buckhead)

Sweat in style at Life Time’s Ugly Sweater Bootcamp on The Green at Phipps Plaza, where fitness meets festive fun, because nothing says “holiday hustle” like breaking a sweat in your coziest (and quirkiest) knit!

Location: Buckhead - 3500 Peachtree St. NE; Website: simon.com; Date: Saturday, Dec. 14; Time: 10 a.m.

Snow Day at ACC - Alpharetta City Center

Embrace the frosty fun at Alpharetta’s Snow Day, where snow flurries, holiday treats, family-friendly activities, and a festive photo booth create a picture-perfect winter wonderland. Let it snow!

Location: Alpharetta - 2001 Commerce St.; Website: awesomealpharetta.com; Date: Saturday, Dec. 14; Time: Noon to 2 p.m.

Tacky Sweater Party - From the Earth Brewing Company (Roswell)

Grab your ugliest Christmas sweater and join the fun at From the Earth Brewing’s Tacky Sweater Party, featuring Pigs on a String’s acoustic take on Pink Floyd classics for a night of free festive tunes and nostalgic vibes!

Location: Roswell - 1570 Holcomb Bridge Rd.; Website: ftebrewing.com; Date: Saturday, Dec. 14; Time: 8 p.m.

Posada Navideña - Plaza Fiesta

Celebrate the season with a festive flair at Plaza Fiesta’s “Posada Navideña” Celebration, where lively dancing, piñatas, food, and all the holiday bells and whistles bring a Mexican tradition to life!

Location: Chamblee - 4166 Buford Hwy. NE; Website: plazafiesta.net; Date: Sunday, Dec. 15

Menorah Lighting - Ponce City Market

Celebrate Hanukkah at Ponce City Market’s Menorah Lighting Ceremony, featuring live music, entertainment, and festive refreshments to brighten your holiday!

Location: East Atlanta - 675 Ponce De Leon Ave. NE; Website: poncecitymarket.com; Date: Thursday, Dec. 26; Time: 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

New Year’s Eve Bash - The Battery Atlanta

Bid farewell to 2024 and welcome 2025 at The Battery’s New Year’s Eve Bash, featuring a family-friendly early countdown with a baseball drop, live music, fireworks, and a spectacular midnight confetti show! Check out more holiday events here at The Battery.

Location: Cumberland - 800 Battery Ave. SE; Website: batteryatl.com; Date: Sunday, Dec. 31; Time: 6 p.m. to midnight