Passing through town
Big shows, festivals, and one-weekend wonders rolling through metro Atlanta. Blink and they’re gone — that’s half the fun!!
Downtown Decatur · Decatur — music, food, and room to wiggle
A free, family-friendly celebration of African, Caribbean, and African American culture on the Decatur Square, with live reggae, Afrobeats, hip-hop, dance, and art from 2 to 10 PM. Kids head straight for the Children's Village, packed with hands-on arts and crafts for all ages, while grown-ups browse vendors and African cuisine.
Legacy Park · Decatur — dinner solved, no dishes
A rotating lineup of food trucks parks on the big lawn at Legacy Park every Tuesday evening in September, 5 to 8 PM. Free to come hang out — you just pay for dinner — with music and plenty of room for kids to run while you spread out blankets and chairs.
Peachtree Street · Downtown — every superhero your kid can name, marching
Atlanta's biggest parade rolls down Peachtree Street with thousands of costumed superheroes, stormtroopers, wizards, and floats — pure spectacle for kids who love dress-up. You watch free from the sidewalk downtown, no convention badge required; arrive early, because roughly 75,000 people turn out. Starts Saturday at 10 AM sharp.
Stone Mountain Park · Stone Mountain — 400 craft booths and a mountain
More than 400 artists and crafters fill Stone Mountain Park's Special Events Meadow, and kids get their own Fun Zone with bounce houses, face painting, sand art, and games — plus a Children's Entrepreneur Market on Saturday and Sunday where young makers sell their own creations. Festival entry is included with a parking pass ($20 Thursday, $25 Friday–Sunday).
Gas South Arena · Duluth — princesses on skates, at 5-year-old volume
Disney's newest skating spectacular brings favorite characters to the ice at Gas South Arena with dazzling effects, big projections, and plenty of sing-along moments. Tickets start around $37, and every child age 2 and up needs their own seat. Weekend shows include 11 AM and 3 PM matinees — handy for little ones!
Downtown Decatur · Decatur — a whole street of books, kids' track included
Downtown Decatur turns into a giant book party: author talks, signings, exhibitor booths, live music, food, and kids' activities sprinkled throughout. Friday evening hosts the Keynote and a kid-focused Kidnote, then Saturday is the big festival and street fair day. A great low-key outing for early readers and book-obsessed tweens alike.
BeltLine Southwest Trail · Atlanta — note the new route this year
Thousands of handmade glowing lanterns float down the trail after dark, and anybody who brings a lantern can join the back of the line. It's free to watch and free to walk in, and this year it follows an extended route on the Southwest Trail rather than the usual Eastside. It starts after sunset, so plan on a carrier or stroller and a late bedtime for little ones.
Stone Mountain Park · Stone Mountain — Halloween with the scary parts removed
Daytime is the gentle version — pumpkin play, characters and not a single jump scare — and then after sunset the Crossroads area lights up with giant carved jack-o'-lanterns and glowing dinosaurs. It's ticketed, and the nighttime laser show costs extra on top. It only runs on select dates, so check the park calendar before you make the drive.
Jim R. Miller Park · Marietta — the midway will find your wallet
Metro Atlanta's biggest fair: barn animals, blue-ribbon baking, a midway and every fried thing on a stick. There's a gate admission charge, but a lot of the stage shows and exhibits inside are free once you're through the turnstile. Weeknights open at 4pm and Saturdays run 10am to midnight — Saturday morning is the calmest stretch with little kids.
Town Green · Duluth — funnel cake counts as breakfast
Downtown Duluth fills up with craft booths, food stalls and a Saturday-morning parade, with a kids' area on the Town Green. Admission has historically been free, though we'd confirm on the festival's own site before you load the car. Parking goes fast, so aim for a shuttle lot and go early.
Stone Mountain Park · Stone Mountain — pumpkins with strong opinions
Daytime is the usual park lineup plus fairy-tale shows and outdoor exhibits, including a three-little-pigs showdown staged on a 1940s train. After dark it turns into a glowing pumpkin parade and glow-in-the-dark walkthroughs, pitched not-so-spooky so little kids can handle it. It's a paid park attraction, so check ticket options before you go.
Zoo Atlanta · Grant Park — trick-or-treating past an actual Komodo dragon
On five October days (the 17th, 18th, 24th, 25th and 31st, 9am to 4pm) the zoo adds trick-or-treat stops, costumed characters, photo spots and themed entertainment to a regular visit. Costumes are welcome and it runs rain-or-shine, though a downpour can delay some activities. It's included with general admission, and free for members and kids under 3.
Atlanta Botanical Garden · Midtown — twelve feet of straw and glitter
Dozens of handmade scarecrows built by schools, families and local businesses are scattered along the garden paths, which makes for an easy scavenger-hunt walk at whatever pace your kid sets. This year adds invitation-only 'Supersized Scarecrows' up to twelve feet tall on the new Great Lawn Garden. Scan the QR code in the Hardin Visitor Center to vote for a favorite; it's included with daytime admission, no separate ticket.
Plaza Fiesta · Atlanta — last call for the big top
Newnan · Coweta County — reptiles and princesses, same fairground
A classic county fair with rides and fair food. The lineup also includes a kids' rock concert, a princess concert and a reptile show. Check the fair's own site for hours and prices before you go.
Riverdale Town Center · Riverdale — two weekends of spinning
Carnival rides and fall activities for the whole family across two weekends. Prices and hours weren't confirmed, so check with the organizers before heading over.
Atlanta Motor Speedway · Hampton — pace yourself on the funnel cake
A full state fair with rides (including a kiddie-ride section), shows and fair food. Pricing wasn't confirmed, so check the fair's website before you go.
Downtown Norcross · Norcross — little Picassos welcome
Wander the art booths while the kids head to the interactive Kidz Zone. Admission wasn't stated in the listing, so confirm before you go.
Cumming Fairgrounds · Cumming — eleven days of fair food
A country fair with amusement rides, fair food and live performances. Confirm hours and ticket prices with the organizers before you plan your trip.
Children's Museum of Atlanta · Atlanta — purr-fect for Gabby fans
Gabby's Dollhouse fans get cat-themed crafts and activities. Sessions run 9:30am–12:30pm and 1:30–4:30pm. It's listed for ages 4–8 and included with museum admission.
Brookhaven Park · Brookhaven — lunch is a passport stamp
Food and culture from around the world, plus kids' activities like inflatables and train rides that are listed as free. Festival admission wasn't stated, so confirm before you go.
Children's Museum of Atlanta · Atlanta — costume required, sugar optional
An evening of costume parade, DJ and creepy-cool crafts, 5:30–7:30pm. It needs its own ticket, and advance tickets are required. Listed for ages 4–8.
Big Springs Farm · Woodstock — pick a pumpkin, then a better pumpkin
A weekend pumpkin patch in Woodstock, open through Oct 25. Check the farm's own site for hours and pricing before you make the drive.
Stone Mountain Park · Stone Mountain
Dance, culture and crafts over four days at the park. Details weren't available on the homepage, so check the park's site for the schedule. Likely a better fit for older kids.
Atlanta Botanical Garden · Atlanta — your tiny vampire gets a runway
The Goblins Runway is the star: little ones in costume get their moment, 10 AM–4 PM. It's aimed at younger kids. Admission wasn't confirmed, so check the garden's site for tickets.
Chattahoochee Nature Center · Roswell — bring a flashlight and a brave face
A flashlight-lit scavenger hunt through the woods after dark. Hours are 6–10 PM on Oct 23 and 24, and 5–9 PM on Oct 25. Better suited to bigger kids, and pricing wasn't confirmed.
Children's Museum of Atlanta · Downtown — marigolds, markers and mini artists
Atlanta Botanical Garden · Midtown — millions of lights by night, tiny trains by day
Worth the wait
Holiday magic is already queueing up!! Pop these on the calendar now and act surprised later.
A behind-the-scenes exhibit of real puppets and sets from stop-motion favorites like Rudolph, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, with hands-on elements showing how animators bring puppets to life one tiny movement at a time. Admission includes all the Center's exhibitions and free onsite parking.
Center for Puppetry Arts · MidtownA faithful puppet-stage adaptation of the beloved 1964 TV special, complete with Christmastown, the Island of Misfit Toys, and that famous glowing nose. An Atlanta holiday tradition for ages 4 and up — Create-A-Puppet Workshop and all museum exhibitions included. Runs November 11 through December 27.
Center for Puppetry Arts · MidtownAtlanta Ballet's young second company dances a trimmed-down Cinderella under the Fox's famous fake starry sky. The shorter running time makes it a friendly first ballet for kids who can sit still for about an hour. Ticketed, and there are only two performances.
Fox Theatre · MidtownCostumes, daylight hours and zero jump scares make this the gentlest Halloween outing in town for toddlers and early elementary kids. It runs the two weekends before Halloween plus Halloween day itself, and it's included with zoo admission. Come in costume and arrive at opening — the treat stations back up by midday.
Zoo Atlanta · Grant ParkA homeschool day built by the Aquarium's education team for K–12 families, with guided activities through the galleries from 9am to 1pm. Registration is required and the sessions fill well in advance. Check the Aquarium's event calendar for pricing and which activities match your kid's grade band.
Georgia Aquarium · DowntownHeads up: this is the touring "Magical Christmas Ballet," not Atlanta Ballet's own Nutcracker — same theater, different show. Two performances land right at Christmas, including a Christmas Eve slot at the Fox. Ticketed; buy through the Fox rather than a resale site.
Fox Theatre · MidtownScrooge, three ghosts and the yearly excuse to make everyone wear a nice sweater. It's a full-length evening production with some genuinely eerie moments, so it lands better with older kids than with preschoolers. Runs six weeks, which makes weekday matinees easier to snag.
Alliance Theatre · MidtownA brand-new family musical that throws Wonderland and Neverland into the same story, premiering here before a Broadway run. It's far out on the calendar, but worth marking now if your kids like big-scale theatre. Watch the Alliance season page for on-sale dates and family pricing.
Alliance Theatre · MidtownGoblins, Bowie-era magic and a live band at 7:30pm. Best for bigger kids. Tickets are required, so check The Eastern's own site.
The Eastern · AtlantaA holiday classic with a Cirque twist, and reportedly Cirque du Soleil's first holiday-themed show. Tickets are required. The listing came from an aggregator, so confirm dates on the Fox's site.
Fox Theatre · MidtownThe Muppets meet Dickens at the Wadsworth Auditorium. Showtimes and prices weren't listed, so check with the venue.
The Wadsworth Auditorium · NewnanA singing crocodile takes the stage at the Alliance. Tickets are required. Check the Alliance's site for the recommended age.
Alliance Theatre, Goizueta Stage · MidtownMore than two million lights and a dozen-plus performances. It requires a daily attractions ticket or membership. Runs through Jan 3, 2027.
Stone Mountain Park · Stone MountainSnowflakes, flowers and spinning stars, with a live orchestra. It runs 2 hours 8 minutes including intermission. Tickets required.
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre · Cobb Galleria areaThe Alliance's 37th production of the Scrooge-meets-ghosts classic. It's a good fit for bigger kids. Check the Alliance for tickets.
Alliance Theatre · MidtownA countdown at 9 PM with fireworks, wrapped up well before midnight so kids can still get to bed. Tickets are required.
Stone Mountain Park · Stone MountainThe Kidlanta Star
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