Christmas break 2026Atlanta · City in a Forest

Christmas break with kids in Atlanta, 2026.

What to do with kids in Atlanta over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by three museums, zoos and play places: three say they’re open on Christmas Day and three on New Year’s Day. Plus six dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.

The quick answersChecked
Open on Christmas Day?Children’s Museum of Atlanta, Zoo Atlanta and 1 more.3 of 3 openAnything on Christmas Eve?1 dated outing.1 outingsDec 26–30?Garden Lights, Holiday Nights and 4 more.5 runningNew Year’s Day?Open: Children’s Museum of Atlanta, Zoo Atlanta.3 open

Last checked · 3 places checked · Every listing links to its official page. How we choose

Dec 24 · Dec 25 · Jan 1

What’s open over Christmas in Atlanta

Holiday hours from each place’s own page, side by side. Many are standing rules (“closed Christmas Day”) that hold year to year, but a quick check that morning is worth it.

PlaceDec 24Dec 25Jan 1Source
Children’s Museum of AtlantaTheir page says: “Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day; closed Wednesdays August–June”Christmas EveNot postedChristmas DayOpenDec 25: closedNew Year’s DayOpenNot listedHours page ↗ · Oct 26
Zoo AtlantaTheir page says: “Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day”Christmas EveNot postedChristmas DayOpenDec 25: closedNew Year’s DayOpenNot listedHours page ↗ · Oct 26
Georgia AquariumTheir page says: ““Georgia Aquarium is open 365 days a year, with daily entry ending half an hour before closing.””Christmas EveNot postedChristmas DayOpenOpen, 9am–6pmNew Year’s DayOpenOpen, 9am–6pmHours page ↗ · Oct 26

“Not posted” means the place’s own page doesn’t say. Call or check the morning of.

Day by day

The break, one day at a time

Pick a day to see what’s on. Many places close early on Dec 24 and Dec 31, so check each card’s times.

Christmas Eve

Thursday, Dec 24. Many places close early, so check each card’s times.
Nov7to Jan 3

The North Pole Magical Experience

Stone Mountain Park · 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain, GA 30083

When
Select dates Nov 7, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
Time
Timed tickets, mostly 4–8pm; about an hour
Price
Price on the ticket page

Good to know: A guided hour that starts with cocoa and a family photo, then rides the Skyride to Santa's Workshop on top of the mountain. It needs its own timed ticket, separate from Stone Mountain Christmas, and strollers stay at the bottom. The summit runs about 20 degrees colder.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem

The days in between

Saturday, Dec 26 to Wednesday, Dec 30. Light displays and holiday rinks still running.
Nov21to Jan 17

IllumiNights at Zoo Atlanta

Zoo Atlanta · 800 Cherokee Ave. SE, Atlanta, GA 30315

When
Select nights Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 17, 2027
Time
5:30–9:30pm (last entry 8pm)
Price
$20.99–$24.99 ages 12+; $17.99–$19.99 ages 3–11; 2 and under free
Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
Nov7to Jan 3

Stone Mountain Christmas

Stone Mountain Park · 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain, GA 30083

When
Weekends and holidays, Nov 7, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
Time
Christmas parade 6pm; tree lighting 6:30pm; drone show after
Price
Price on the ticket page

Good to know: A Kids’ Early New Year’s Eve runs Dec 31 with a countdown at 9pm.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
Nov26to Dec 31

Lights of Life

Life University · 1269 Barclay Circle SE, Marietta, GA 30060

When
Nightly Nov 26 – Dec 31, 2026
Time
Sunset (about 5:30pm) to about 9–10pm
Price
$15 per car, paid at the entrance
Official page ↗Checked Report a problem

New Year’s Eve

Thursday, Dec 31. Noon countdowns and early celebrations (the full list is on our Noon Year’s Eve page).
Dec31Thu

New Year’s Bubble Bash

Children’s Museum of Atlanta · Downtown

Time
Sessions 9:30–11:30am (countdown at 11), 12:30–2:30pm (countdown at 2) and 3:30–5:30pm
Price
$10 members, $25 non-members; separate ticket

Good to know: Three sessions, each with its own countdown.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem

New Year’s Day

Friday, Jan 1.
Nov21to Jan 17

IllumiNights at Zoo Atlanta

Zoo Atlanta · 800 Cherokee Ave. SE, Atlanta, GA 30315

When
Select nights Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 17, 2027
Time
5:30–9:30pm (last entry 8pm)
Price
$20.99–$24.99 ages 12+; $17.99–$19.99 ages 3–11; 2 and under free
Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
Nov7to Jan 3

Stone Mountain Christmas

Stone Mountain Park · 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain, GA 30083

When
Weekends and holidays, Nov 7, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
Time
Christmas parade 6pm; tree lighting 6:30pm; drone show after
Price
Price on the ticket page

Good to know: A Kids’ Early New Year’s Eve runs Dec 31 with a countdown at 9pm.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem

Open on New Year’s Day: Children’s Museum of Atlanta, Zoo Atlanta, Georgia Aquarium.

Rainy-day backup

Indoor places to try

These don’t post holiday hours yet, so check before you go. More on our indoor play page.

Keep planning

More for little kids in Atlanta

November: things to do in AtlantaEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in AtlantaEvery dated listing for the month, by weekFree things to do in AtlantaFree days, free events and places that never chargeFree museum days in AtlantaFree days, Museums on Us and EBT discounts, with who gets inIndoor play in AtlantaIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with pricesLibrary storytimes in AtlantaBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branchIce skating in AtlantaHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and pricesThanksgiving weekend in AtlantaParades, turkey trots and what’s open on ThursdayNoon Year’s Eve in AtlantaKid-friendly countdowns, home by napChristmas parades in AtlantaParades and tree lightings with dates and start timesChristmas trains in AtlantaPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in AtlantaBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flaggedChristmas markets in AtlantaChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hoursThis week in AtlantaDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday

Good questions

Christmas break in Atlanta: the FAQ

Children’s Museum of Atlanta (Dec 25: closed), Zoo Atlanta (Dec 25: closed), Georgia Aquarium (Open, 9am–6pm) post that they’re open on Christmas Day.

On the calendar: The North Pole Magical Experience.

Children’s Museum of Atlanta (Not listed), Zoo Atlanta (Not listed), Georgia Aquarium (Open, 9am–6pm).

On the calendar for Jan 1: Garden Lights, Holiday Nights, IllumiNights at Zoo Atlanta and Stone Mountain Christmas. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.

Garden Lights, Holiday Nights, IllumiNights at Zoo Atlanta, Stone Mountain Christmas, Lights of Life and Avalon on Ice. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.

Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 26, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. How we choose and check.

Holiday plans every Thursday.

One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in Atlanta, through the holidays.

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