# 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.

- Last checked: 2026-10-26
- 3 places’ holiday hours; 13 dated outings
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/atlanta/christmas-break/
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/atlanta/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/atlanta/llms.txt

## Open or closed: Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1

- **Children’s Museum of Atlanta**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 25: closed; New Year’s Day Not listed. Their page says: “Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day; closed Wednesdays August–June” Source: https://childrensmuseumatlanta.org/plan-your-visit/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Zoo Atlanta**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 25: closed; New Year’s Day Not listed. Their page says: “Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day” Source: https://zooatlanta.org/visit/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Georgia Aquarium**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Open, 9am–6pm; New Year’s Day Open, 9am–6pm. Their page says: ““Georgia Aquarium is open 365 days a year, with daily entry ending half an hour before closing.”” Source: https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/visitor-information/ (checked 2026-10-26)

## Christmas Eve

- **The North Pole Magical Experience** at 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. 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: https://stonemountainpark.com/activity/events/the-north-pole-magical-experience/ (checked 2026-10-30)

## Between Christmas and New Year’s (Dec 26–30)

- **Garden Lights, Holiday Nights** at Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309. When: Nightly Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027. Time: Evenings until midnight (last entry 11pm). Price: Dated tickets; 2 and under don’t need one. Official page: https://atlantabg.org/plan-your-visit/atlanta-garden-calendar/garden-lights-holiday-nights/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **IllumiNights at Zoo Atlanta** at 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: https://zooatlanta.org/event/illuminights/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Stone Mountain Christmas** at 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. A Kids’ Early New Year’s Eve runs Dec 31 with a countdown at 9pm. Official page: https://stonemountainpark.com/activity/events/stone-mountain-christmas/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Lights of Life** at 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: https://www.life.edu/about/lights-of-life/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Avalon on Ice** at Avalon, 400 Avalon Blvd, Alpharetta, GA 30009. When: Nov 22 – Jan 18. Price: Not listed. Official page: https://experienceavalon.com/events/ (checked 2026-10-26)

## New Year’s Eve and Day

- **New Year’s Bubble Bash** at Children’s Museum of Atlanta, Downtown. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. 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. Three sessions, each with its own countdown. Official page: https://childrensmuseumatlanta.org/events/bubble-bash/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Noon Year’s Eve at Five Forks Library** at Gwinnett County Public Library – Five Forks Branch, Lawrenceville (Gwinnett County). When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11am–noon. Price: Free. An early-learning party for ages 0–5: bring the family for a “noon” year’s countdown. Official page: https://gwinnettpl.libnet.info/event/17454464 (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Noon Year’s Eve at Grayson Library** at Gwinnett County Public Library – Grayson Branch, Grayson (Gwinnett County). When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11:30am–12:30pm. Price: Free. For ages 0–5: music, stories and a countdown to noon. Official page: https://gwinnettpl.libnet.info/event/17437958 (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Noon Year’s Eve at Hamilton Mill Library** at Gwinnett County Public Library – Hamilton Mill Branch, Dacula (Gwinnett County). When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11am–noon. Price: Free. A New Year’s celebration just for little ones, ages 0–5. Official page: https://gwinnettpl.libnet.info/event/17491736 (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Garden Lights, Holiday Nights** at Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309. When: Nightly Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 10, 2027. Time: Evenings until midnight (last entry 11pm). Price: Dated tickets; 2 and under don’t need one. Official page: https://atlantabg.org/plan-your-visit/atlanta-garden-calendar/garden-lights-holiday-nights/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **IllumiNights at Zoo Atlanta** at 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: https://zooatlanta.org/event/illuminights/ (checked 2026-10-26)
- **Stone Mountain Christmas** at 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. A Kids’ Early New Year’s Eve runs Dec 31 with a countdown at 9pm. Official page: https://stonemountainpark.com/activity/events/stone-mountain-christmas/ (checked 2026-10-26)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
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## FAQ

### What’s open on Christmas Day in Atlanta with kids?
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.

### What can we do with kids on Christmas Eve in Atlanta?
On the calendar: The North Pole Magical Experience.

### What’s open on New Year’s Day in Atlanta?
Children’s Museum of Atlanta (Not listed), Zoo Atlanta (Not listed), Georgia Aquarium (Open, 9am–6pm).

### What can we do with kids on New Year’s Day in Atlanta?
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.

### What is there to do with kids between Christmas and New Year’s in Atlanta?
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.

### How do you check these holiday hours?
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](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).