Children’s Museum of Atlanta Celebrates the Magic of the Holidays with Festive Fun throughout December

 

Children’s Museum of Atlanta continues its holiday celebration with annual “Snow Days” activities to inspire joy and creativity. In December, the Museum invites families to explore festive traditions, including Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa, through interactive performances and story times. Family favorite Sockefeller Plaza is back for little ones to glide around the cozy rink. Children will also discover the scents of the season at the Science Bar. Culminating the celebrations, Museum goers will countdown to 2025 with the annual New Year’s Eve Bubble Bash. The Wallace and Gromit: Get Cracking! exhibit continues through January 2025.

December Programming
​Snow Days
​Through Dec. 31

​Visit the Museum to continue the holiday festivities celebrating the long-standing traditions of Las Posadas with Alma Mexicana Danza Folklórica and Kwanzaa with an interactive drum and dance performed by Djoli Kelen. Little artists can dive into hands-on activities like making winter crafts and enjoying weekly toddler story times. The month wraps up with the Museum’s annual New Year’s Eve Bubble Bash, a fun-filled countdown celebration with dancing, games and bubble-wrap-popping excitement!

 

CMA On Stage
​11 a.m. (weekends only) “The Snow Dancer” by Addie Boswell + Snow Ball Fight
​1 p.m. Skiing Expedition
​3 p.m. “The Snow Dancer” by Addie Boswell + Snow Ball Fight

 

Art Studio
​Bundle up for a Solstice Art adventure while staying cozy on snowy days cutting, gluing, and folding to create winter masterpieces. Future Picassos can make their own mittens or craft fun snowmen, all while developing fine motor skills and boosting creative thinking. Younger children will enjoy making soft, colorful mittens, while older artists can design papercraft snowmen to decorate and display. The fun concludes with a “chill” story time!

 

Sockefeller Plaza
​Thursday, Nov. 21 – Thursday, Jan. 2

​Step into Sockefeller Plaza where little ones will slip, slide and sock-skate in to winter fun! Jane’s Innovation Station transforms into a mini skating rink made of soft, snowy white tiles, surrounded by a friendly fence to keep the fun on the rink. Kids can kick off their shoes and glide around in socks, showing off smooth moves and silly spins. Daring dashers and tiptoeing twirlers alike will find Sockefeller Plaza the place to sock-skate and commemorate the season in style.

 

Science Bar
​Monday, Dec. 2 – Thursday, Jan. 2

​Young scientists are invited to embark on a "Winter Smelly Science" adventure, diving nose-first into the fascinating world of scents and memories! Through a sensory journey, kids will uncover how tiny odor molecules dance into noses, sending signals that awaken cherished memories in the brain. With essential oils and a nose for discovery, children will try to sniff out signature winter aromas that bring to mind snowy days, festive gatherings and cozy fireside nights.

 

Los Posadas
​Sunday, Dec. 8
​Noon

​Families are invited to a Las Posadas celebration, a cherished Mexican tradition that follows Mary and Joseph’s journey in search of shelter. Alma Mexicana Danza Folklórica joins the stage with swirling skirts and spirited steps, bringing this holiday story to life. Guests can join in the joy, dancing in the vibrant rhythms of the season!

 

Hanukkah & Christmas Observation
​Sunday, Dec. 15

​Gather to celebrate the season by exploring the rich traditions of Hanukkah and Christmas through festive performances and activities. With the warm glow of the menorah and the merry melodies of Christmas, children will be filled with glee and wonder all day long!

 

CMA On Stage
​11 a.m. Hanukkah special performance by Michael Levine
​1 p.m. Atlanta Women’s Chorus performance of “The Muppet Christmas Carol”

 

Kwanza Observation
​Saturday, Dec. 28
​Noon

​Families are invited to honor Kwanzaa with an interactive drum and dance performance by Djoli Kelen! Experience the vibrant traditions and stories of Kwanzaa through music and movement.

 

Bubble Bash!
​Tuesday, Dec. 31; Tickets are $10 for Members and $25 for Non-Members

​Ring in the New Year – a little early – at Children’s Museum of Atlanta’s annual Bubble Bash! Families and kids will dive into a dazzling countdown event full of dancing, games, giggles, and more. Groove to the DJ’s beats and get ready for the ultimate bubble-wrap-popping celebration! Guests are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance. Walk-up ticket availability is limited, and ticket prices will increase Thursday, December 26. Purchase tickets at childrensmuseum.org.

 

Play Session A: 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.; Countdown at 11 a.m.
​Play Session B: 12:30 – 2:30 p.m.; Countdown at 2 p.m.
​Play Session C: 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.; Countdown at 5 p.m.

 

Building Blocks
​Weekdays
​10 a.m. - noon

 

Artsy Mondays
​Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30

​Little artists will paint their way into a snowy, hands-on activity, using pom-poms in a fun new way to create beautiful winter scenes. This engaging experience allows early learners to explore the feel of ‘snow’ and texture through sensory play and joyful mess-making. The fun wraps up with a cozy toddler story time at noon.

 

Tinkerin’ Tuesdays
​Dec. 3, 10, 17, and 24

​Build and experiment with floating cities, where toddlers and caregivers work together to design their own towering skyscrapers on water. This hands-on activity fosters resilience and patience as little architects test different ways to stack and balance foam blocks, constructing individual floating structures. Playtime will conclude with a cozy toddler story time!

 

Messy Thursdays
​Dec. 5, 12, 19 and 26

​Ready, set, roll! Tiny tots will roll, swipe, and splatter their way to colorful creations while developing fine motor skills and learning to use fun tools in play. This sensory-filled session is all about creating art and making a mess, all while building grip strength and coordination. The fun finishes with a toddler story time, making it a perfect morning of artistic exploration!

 

“Jammin” Fridays
​Dec. 6, 13, 20 and 27

​Toddlers get rockin’ with the Musem’s special Friday Jam activity in the Art Studio as families’ favorite hits are chosen and little ones play with instruments!

 

Jane’s Innovation Station will be transformed Dec. 2 – Jan. 2 into Sockefeller Plaza.

 

Continuing in December:

 

Through Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025
​Wallace and Gromit: Get Cracking!

​The Children’s Museum of Atlanta’s newest exhibit, Wallace & Gromit: Get Cracking!, transports visitors to the cozy North England home of the cheese-loving inventor Wallace and his loyal dog, Gromit. Visitors can step into their whimsical world, where they can blast off in Wallace’s rocket to the moon, fix the broken Autochef and design their own cracking contraptions. This interactive exhibit is designed to spark creativity and build problem-solving skills by encouraging children to tackle STEM-based challenges in fun and engaging ways. Ideal for ages 3 to 9, the exhibit also includes a “tot spot” for children under three. The exhibit is proudly sponsored by Georgia Natural Gas, with additional support from the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and Fulton County Arts & Culture.

Museum Admission: ​Tickets are available to members and guests online, by phone and in-person. Babies 11 months and younger and members are admitted for free. All daily programs and exhibits are included in the price of admission. For more information regarding ticket and membership options, visit childrensmuseumatlanta.org.

Museum Hours: ​The Museum will operate in a timed entry model where guests can visit between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Museum is closed on Wednesdays, with the exception of the Wednesday preceding Thanksgiving. Please check the Museum website to confirm hours of operation.