There is snow place like Children’s Museum of Atlanta! Families are invited to celebrate and learn about a variety of holidays with the Museum’s annual Celebrations in Light programming throughout December. Family-favorite Sockefeller Plaza skating is back for kids to grab their favorite pair of socks and glide around the 200-square-foot rink. Children and families are encouraged to ring in the new year at the Museum’s beloved Bubble Bash. Learners will explore a variety of holiday traditions through art, science, design and seasonal on-stage performances. PAW Patrol: Adventure Play, an interactive exhibit based on the hit preschool series PAW Patrol, continues, giving guests an opportunity to run rescue missions and work as a team to overcome challenges in a fun and immersive environment. 

December Special Programming:

Celebrations in Light
Thursday, Dec. 1 – Saturday, Dec. 31
Children’s Museum of Atlanta welcomes families to explore light, joy, winter and wonder all season long with special performances from different holiday traditions!

Building Blocks Early Learning Program
Weekdays only during sessions A and B
Best for ages 1 to 5, these special programs facilitated by trained professionals in play-based activity. The Building Blocks Early Learning Program promotes preschool and kindergarten readiness with programs that align with the Georgia Early Learning and Development Standards for preschoolers. Activities this month target motor skills and spatial awareness.

CMA On Stage
“A Thing Called Snow” Storytime + Reindeer Games
Session A: 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon / Session B: 2 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Science Bar
Snowmakers can learn about water molecules in action as they freeze water creating ice in an instant. As part of the Building Block program, little ones will light up the night as they explore simple circuits and create twinkling lights!
Session A: 9:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. / Session B: 1:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. 

Innovation Station
Kiddos take on the ultimate winter challenge and design a sled using the engineering design process and test it out on the CMA slope! Building Blocks Learners will use blocks to build their own snowman to snow-off their motor skills during weekday sessions only.
Session A: 9:45 a.m. / Session B 1:45 p.m.

Art Studio
Guests have the opportunity to create unique art pieces from three different holidays to highlight how lights shine through as an important part of each celebration. Artists will choose what they create with options like a paper Kwanzaa kinara, Hanukkah menorah handprints or a Christmas suncatcher to celebrate all that is merry and light!
Session A: 9:45 a.m. / Session B 1:45 p.m.

Full Radius Dance
Sunday, Dec. 4
Families are invited to join in for "Hjol," to celebrate with a special performance from Full Radius Dance. "Hjol" is an Old Norse word, meaning wheel and identifies the moment when the wheel of the year is at its lowest point, the winter solstice!

CMA On Stage
Full Radius Dance Performance
Session B Only: 3 p.m.

Homeschool Meet-Up
Monday, Dec. 5
Homeschooled students are encouraged to explore seven hands-on exhibits and four education spaces with interactive programming while meeting other homeschooled students. Groups with more than 10 students may book at the group rate by calling Reservations at 404-527-3693. Admission is free for Museum members.
Session B Only

Celebrate Christmas: Mrs. Claus
Saturday, Dec. 10
Parents and children will listen to the world-renowned First Lady of Christmas, Mrs. Claus at the CMA Stage for a special seasonal story time and photo opportunity!  

CMA On Stage
Mrs. Claus Storytime
Session A: 11 a.m. / Session B: 3 p.m.

Celebrate Hanukkah: Michael Levine
Sunday, Dec. 11
Families once again can come together at the CMA Stage as guest performer Michael Levine leads interactive songs and stories about Shabbat, holidays and Jewish customs, while subtly introducing experiences with Jewish wisdom that reaches to all age levels.

CMA On Stage
Hanukkah Performance by Michael Levine
Session A: 11 a.m. / Session B: 3 p.m. 

Celebrate Las Posadas: Alma Mexicana
Saturday, Dec. 17
Visitors will find Alma Mexicana Danza Folklórica at the CMA Stage to help lead the festivities through traditional dance. Together, guests dance through the different regions of Mexico to learn about traditional Posadas.

CMA On Stage
Traditional Mexican dancing with Alma Mexicana Danza Folklórica
Session A Only: 11 a.m. 

Celebrate Christmas: Callanwolde Dance Group
Tuesday, Dec. 20
Little ones will show off their moves and ring in the holidays with a wonderful performance from the Callanwolde Dance Group set to the soundtrack of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”
Session A Only: 11 a.m.

Celebrate Kwanzaa: Djoli Kelen 
Wednesday, Dec. 28                                                                                                                              
Kids are invited to celebrate Kwanzaa with Djoli Kelen in an incredibly unique dance performance that celebrates community and lovingly shares African dance, music, culture and the arts.
Session B Only: 3 p.m.

Bubble Bash
Saturday, Dec. 31
Children’s Museum of Atlanta is hosting a special kid-friendly New Year’s countdown with tons of laughs, dancing, games and more. Guests can enjoy live music from the DJ, design a Peach Drop, DIY bubble solution and ring in the new year with the yearly bubble-wrap-popping tradition!
Ticketing information can be found here.
Session A:9:30 – 11:30 a.m. countdown at 11 a.m. / Session B: 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. countdown at 2 p.m.

Sensory Friendly Sessions
Sunday, Dec. 4
Families with children on the autism spectrum or with sensory processing disorders are encouraged to join the Museum’s 2022 Sensory Friendly Sessions! On select Sundays during Session A, kids can enjoy a playful, hands-on experience with a sensory modified setting, limited admission and sound and lighting adjustments to ensure safety and comfort. Stage programming will not be available during Sensory Friendly Sessions.
Session A Only: 9:30 a.m.

Continuing in December: 
Continuing through Jan. 8, 2022 
PAW Patrol: Adventure Play, an interactive exhibit based on the hit preschool series PAW Patrol, which is produced by Spin Master Entertainment and airs on Nickelodeon, gives visitors an opportunity to run rescue missions and work together to overcome challenges in a fun and immersive environment. In this exhibit, guests will learn how to combine their skills to problem-solve together and save the day. At the Adventure Bay, kids will join a group of eight rescue pups with inspired real-world jobs like a fire fighter (firedog Marshall), police officer (police pup Chase), construction worker (Rubble), fearless pilot (Skye) and more. Just as the heroic pups, who believe "no job is too big, no pup is too small," work together to protect the community on the TV show, families work together to save the day with a can-do attitude at the Museum. In the process, kids learn about different jobs within a community and how those real-life professionals coordinate to keep people safe and happy.