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What an exciting holiday weekend celebrating festive cheer! Holiday Spirit at Oakland brings free tree lighting and Santa photos Friday and Saturday, while Pancakes & Booze celebrates its 10th anniversary Friday with 100+ artists at Underground Atlanta. Add in Atlanta Women's Expo, Santa Speedo Run Saturday, Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus 45th anniversary concerts, and Christmas Together with Amy Grant at Fox Theatre—plus SEC Championship Alabama vs Georgia Saturday and the Falcons facing the Seahawks Sunday.

Atlanta continues transforming with Concorde Career Colleges bringing 700 students to Lee + White in 2027, Buckhead's PATH400 advancing with three parks totaling 16 acres, and Publix closing Atlantic Station December 27. Our dining scene celebrates November's openings including Luella steakhouse, Close Company from Death & Co, and Bar Ana, while Roshambo pivoted to lighter fare and Raging Burrito sold to longtime customer Ben Kori.

From Walmart launching drone delivery to Atlanta ranking #4 most fun in America and MARTA rebranding to SEC District station, this week captures our momentum. Speaking of community—our annual Coat & Socks Drive runs through December 21, collecting coats and new socks to support Lost-n-Found Youth ending homelessness for LGBTQ+ youth. Drop off donations in Reynoldstown. 💛

Whether you're catching The Nutcracker, cheering at the SEC Championship, or dropping off donations, Atlanta proves why our blend of innovation and community attracts people worldwide. Ready to explore the ATL?

Serenbe Holiday Market | Holiday shopping with local artisans, food, and drinks
📍 Serenbe, Chattahoochee Hills | 📅 Wed, December 4 - Fri, December 6

Holiday Spirit at Oakland | Free two-day celebration with community tree lighting, holiday market, photos with Santa, live music, and guided tours
📍 Historic Oakland Cemetery, 374 ML King Jr Dr SE | 📅 Fri, December 5 - Sat, December 6

Pancakes & Booze Art Show | 10th anniversary underground pop-up with 100+ local artists, 500+ artworks, free all-you-can-eat pancakes, live DJs, and body painting—21+ only
📍 Underground Atlanta | 📅 Fri, December 5

Holiday Shopping Spectacular | Craft and vintage market
📍 Yaarab Shrine Center | 📅 Sat, December 6 - Sun, December 7

Atlanta Women's Expo | High-energy weekend with hundreds of vendor booths, crafting, free makeovers, massages, beauty treatments, celebrity meet-and-greets, seminars, fashion shows, and wellness pavilions
📍 AmericasMart Atlanta | 📅 Sat, December 6 - Sun, December 7

Atlanta Santa Speedo Run | Charity run in holiday swimwear benefiting Joining Hearts nonprofit—noon festivities, 2 p.m. run
📍 Politan Row at Colony Square, Midtown | 📅 Sat, December 6

The Atlanta Opera Holiday Performance | Beloved holiday songs and stunning vocals in the Luxury Wing—free and open to all
📍 Lenox Square | 📅 Fri, December 6

Tuesdays in the Field: Full STEAM Ahead | K-12 homeschool program exploring marine biology and STEAM with hands-on activities and exclusive Aquarium access
📍 Georgia Aquarium | 📅 Tue, December 9

Marietta Square Art Walk | Monthly arts celebration with gallery openings, pop-up artists, live music, and dining
📍 Marietta Square | 📅 First Friday of every month

Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus 45th Annual Holiday Concert | Musical journey around the world featuring Carol of the Bells, Feliz Navidad, Silent Night, and Franz Biebl's Ave Maria—celebrating 30 years at Cathedral of St. Philip
📍 The Cathedral of St. Philip | 📅 Fri, December 5 - Sat, December 6

Atlanta Ballet: The Nutcracker | Full-length holiday ballet
📍 Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre | 📅 Fri, December 6 - Fri, December 27

Christmas Together with Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith & CeCe Winans | Big Christmas concert
📍 Fox Theatre | 📅 Fri, December 6

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: Deck The Halls | Holiday orchestral concert
📍 Atlanta Symphony Hall | 📅 Sat, December 6

Brandy & Monica: The Boy Is Mine Tour📍 State Farm Arena | 📅 Thu, December 4
Lauren Daigle📍 Fox Theatre | 📅 Thu, December 4
Xavier Omär📍 The Masquerade (Hell Stage) | 📅 Sat, December 6
Gunna📍 State Farm Arena | 📅 Sun, December 7
Burna Boy📍 State Farm Arena | 📅 Mon, December 8
For King + Country's A Drummer Boy Christmas📍 Fox Theatre | 📅 Mon, December 8

🏈 SEC Football Championship: Alabama vs. Georgia – Saturday, December 6 (Home)
🏀 Atlanta Hawks vs. Denver Nuggets – Friday, December 5 (Home)
🏀 Georgia Tech Men's Basketball vs. Monmouth Hawks – Saturday, December 6 (Home)
🏀 Kennesaw State Owls vs. Georgia State Panthers – Saturday, December 6 (Home)
🎾 The Atlanta Cup - Sabalenka vs. Osaka and Shelton vs. Kyrgios – Saturday, December 6
🏈 Atlanta Falcons vs. Seattle Seahawks – Sunday, December 7 (Home)
🏒 Atlanta Gladiators vs. Jacksonville Icemen – Sunday, December 7 (Home)
🏀 Georgia Tech Women's Basketball vs. Norfolk State Spartans – Monday, December 8 (Home)

🎓 Concorde Career Colleges leased 47,300 square feet at Lee + White's 929 Building for its first Georgia campus, planning to host up to 700 students in healthcare education programs including nursing, dental, and patient care training. Opening in 2027, the school joins the Ogle School, global headquarters for Carbice and JTEC, Grady Health's outpatient center, and Keller Williams' upcoming regional office at the West End district.

🌳 Buckhead's PATH400 trail project moves into its final phase with three park developments totaling 16 acres: Old Ivy Park ($2.8 million estimated cost), 9-acre Mountain Way Common under the highway overpass, and 5-acre Loridans Park featuring historic Lowery-Stevens Cemetery from the 1850s. The City of Atlanta is using Moving Atlanta Forward bond dollars to create construction documents, with final designs ready early next year.

🛒 Publix Super Markets closes its Atlantic Station location on December 27 after two decades, marking a significant change at one of Atlanta's busiest retail centers. Real estate giant Hines intends to reimagine the space and introduce new options for the community while facing the challenge of attracting a new tenant to replace the long-standing grocery anchor.

🍔 Roshambo in Peachtree Battle ditched its modern diner identity for lighter, fresher American dishes with global influences including more seafood, salads, and bowls. The restaurant stopped serving lunch in 2024 and pivoted to become a neighborhood clubhouse honoring locals' desire for "a thoughtful alternative to Houston's" while keeping comfort staples like fried chicken and burgers.

🍴 November brought a wave of Atlanta restaurant openings including steakhouse Luella in Buckhead's former Ivy space, Close Company cocktail bar from Death & Co on the Eastside Beltline, and Bar Ana in Poncey-Highland as a dual-concept coffee shop and late-night dessert bar led by pastry chef Claudia Martinez. Hotel Phoenix opened at Centennial Yards with French-Southern restaurant Zephyr, while Lewis Barbecue opens December 8 at Ansley Mall.

🍹 Experience the holiday magic at Atlanta's top festive pop-ups, featuring themed cocktails and enchanting decor, from the cozy ski chalet vibes of the Blind Pig to the lively Jingle Bar. Don't miss out on the best of the season in our city’s bars, perfect for holiday cheer, selfies with Santa, and unique drinks—all highlighted in this guide to the spirit of Atlanta nightlife this winter.

🌯 Decatur resident and investor Ben Kori purchased Raging Burrito & Taco from retiring owners Scott Herman and Parham Savadkoohi. The longtime customer and first-time restaurant owner takes over the popular Tex-Mex spot with 130-seat garden patio on Decatur Square, opened in 1998 and known for margaritas and generous portions.

🚁 Walmart has launched a groundbreaking drone delivery service in metro Atlanta, enabling customers to order household items and groceries, bypassing the area’s notorious traffic. This innovative service, operated by Wing, promises quick deliveries from six Walmart locations, allowing residents to receive their packages in as little as 30 minutes, while aiming to reduce road congestion and emissions.

🎉 Atlanta proudly ranks as the fourth most fun city in America according to WalletHub's annual analysis, showcasing its vibrant offerings that cater to entertainment seekers without straining the wallet. Factors like festivals, variety of dining, and recreational activities helped ATL outperform renowned party hubs like New Orleans and Austin, earning its spot among the top five cities ahead of Las Vegas and Orlando.

🏟️ MARTA has officially rebranded the GWCC/CNN Center station to SEC District station, a name reflecting the evolving downtown landscape and aiming to enhance clarity for riders. This change, aligning with significant developments like the Centennial Yards project and upcoming global events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup, underscores MARTA's commitment to modernizing its transit system.

⚽ The U.S. Men’s National Team gears up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a series of high-profile pre-tournament matches, including two games in Atlanta against Belgium and Portugal. Fans can expect thrilling matchups as the team prepares to face some of the world's best, with tickets going on sale soon.

Our annual Coat & Socks Drive is officially underway, and we’re excited to continue collecting donations throughout the month to support Lost-n-Found Youth, an Atlanta nonprofit dedicated to ending homelessness for LGBTQ+ and all sexual minority youth.

📅 Ongoing Now through December 21
📍 Drop-Off Location: Reynoldstown

🧥 Items We’re Collecting:
- New or gently used coats
- New socks

Your donations help keep Atlanta youth warm this winter, and we’re so grateful to everyone who has already contributed. 💛

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