The Bluebird Patch

Because kids are just as excited to ring in the New Year as their parents—but need to be in bed before   midnight —Stone Mountain Park is set to host an early New Year’s Eve Celebration. During Stone Mountain Christmas on   Dec. 31 ., Stone Mountain Park will operate the Christmas event as usual ( 2 – 9 p.m. ) and ring in the New Year with additional fireworks, snowfall and early countdown. Immediately after the Snow Angel Snowfall and Fireworks Finale, the New Year’s Eve activities will begin with costumed characters, music and dance-a-longs. At   8:59 p.m.   the early countdown will begin and when the clock strikes   9 p.m.   snow and fireworks will usher in the New Year.

The city of Marietta always goes all out for the holidays. We recently had the opportunity to visit the Historic Marietta Square. The heart of the square has been transform into a nostalgic Winter Wonderland.  “ The Square often resembles a Hallmark movie on a regular day...to see it transform into a winter wonderland and to be able to share that feeling with everyone is truly amazing.”  The Marietta Square has an open-air ice skating rink, the cutest Santa’s Workshop, and a multi-story Christmas Tree. For New Year’s Eve celebration they are doing a “cow drop”. The way it works is that basically you buy a Chick-Fil-A mini plush cow to be drop near NYE target. The four closest cows win a year of Chick-Fil-A!  The Historic Marietta Square is an easily accessible, unique urban destination located just 5 minutes from I-75 with  an abundance of FREE parking. For metro-Atlanta residents or tourists who want a place to gather and enjoy Intown Culture with Sma...

Tickets Available for $16.99 / $4.99 Kids 12 & Under; Discounted Prices for IKEA FAMILY* Members Atlanta, GA (December 3, 2015) – IKEA invites the public to celebrate this holiday season with a traditional Swedish Julbord buffet in our IKEA Restaurant on Friday, Dec. 11, 2015. The all-you-can-eat smörgåsbord will include several courses of Swedish holiday favorites such as holiday ham, smoked salmon, meatballs with lingonberries, and much more. Tickets are available for only $16.99 per person or $4.99 for kids 12 & under. IKEA FAMILY members’ tickets are $12.99 per person or $2.99 for kids 12 & under. Julbord is a classic Christmas dinner in Scandinavian countries. The word “Julbord” is made up of two parts: “Jul,” meaning Yule (synonymous with Christmas) and “Bord,” meaning table. The traditional, three-course Swedish Julbord is a highlight of Swedish cuisine, consisting of local and family specialties. The spread typically begins with a variety of fish as the first...

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the World of Coca Cola in Atlanta. The interactive home of Coke launches its holiday celebration today with lights, photo opps galore, me orable gifts, a letter-writing Coca-Cola Polar Bear and more.“The World of Coca-Cola is a favorite holiday destination for fans of all ages from around the world,” said General Manager of Retail and Attractions for the World of Coca-Cola Russell Jacobs. “We are always planning new ways to surprise and delight our guests, and we’ve put together a list of our top ten reasons to spend the holidays with us this year.” Guests can: Mail friends personalized letters from the desk of the  Coca‑Cola Polar Bear  inviting them to the attraction Give a one-of-kind holiday gift that friends and family will always remember Savor the season with signature beverages like Gingerbread Coke and Mistletoe Flow starting the  Friday  after Thanksgiving   Snap and share selfi...

Looking for a memorable experience with out-of-town relatives? There’s no better place than Six Flags Over Georgia Holiday in the Park! Their magnificent shows and street entertainment provide all of the best holiday tunes to get you into the Christmas spirit.  Experience our festive shows, dozens of Christmas trees, more than one million LED lights and meet Santa Claus. Stroll through Peppermint Plaza, the North Pole and snowy Main Street Christmas (with a little help from a snow machine)! Walk through a mistletoe tunnel or journey back in time to simpler days of Christmas past with Retro Christmas USA.  To buy tickets, check schedule and plan your visit please visit: holiday.sixflags.com/overgeorgia

Looking for something to do with out-of-town guests and the out of school kids during the week of Thanksgiving? The Fox Theatre has a list of family-friendly shows to keep the entire family happy. Kickoff the holiday season with a great lineup of shows, including: Cirque Dreams Holidaze – Nov. 25 & 27! Now in its 7th year of multiple simultaneous touring productions, Cirque Dreams lights up the 2015 holiday season with its critically acclaimed holiday stage extravaganza… Cirque Dreams Holidaze , a new cirque show…Broadway musical… and family Christmas spectacular all in one!

I remember my first Christmas at Stone Mountain . We just moved to Georgia, and were feeling downhearted, due that all of our family and friends were overseas. Spending Christmas in a new city with small children can put a lot of pressure to a young couple. You always try to make sure your children are happy and healthy, specially during a time where you are supposed to celebrate with your loved ones... but you can only do so much. I'm thankful Stone Mountain Christmas helped us forget about all the things we left behind and showed us all the beautiful things awaiting us. The beauty about Stone Mountain Christmas is that it transports you to a place full of magic, love and Christmas cheer. This is the perfect place to take your family for a holiday getaway.  You can watch live shows, ride a train, buy gifts, take pictures with Santa, build a snowman, zoom down the 400-foot hill all together in family-sized tubes, or just go alone as a single rider. Is just a gr...

NETworks Presentations, LLC  is pleased to announce casting for Atlanta engagement of  ELF THE MUSICAL .  The show will play  December 2 - 6  at The Fox Theatre as part of the Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta 2015/2016 season. The cast will feature  Daniel Patrick Smith  (Buddy),  Maggie Anderson  (Jovie),  Harper Brady  (Michael),  Ken Clement  (Santa), Michael Fisher  (Store Manager),  Drew Martin  (Mr. Greenway), Gabrielle Mirabella  (Emily),  Audra Qualley  (Deb),  Nicky Torchia (Michael), and  D. Scott Withers  (Walter). The cast will also include  Joseph Fierberg,   Spencer Glass,   Shane Hurst, Ashleigh Junio ,  Erin Kei,   Caitlin Lester-Sams, Tyler Logan, Katie Lomardo, Nicole Pavone, Emily Jeanne Phillips, Benjamin Rivera, Brandon Stonestreet, Jake Swain,  and  Mia Wienberger. Based on the beloved 2003 New L...

With more than one million LED lights Six Flags Over Georgia is the latest attraction in Atlanta to debut this holiday season. “Holiday in the Park®” is an all-new holiday event at Six Flags Over Georgia with Santa waiting at the North Pole. The park is beautifully t ransform  into a winter wonderland with dazzling Christmas trees, exclusive holiday shows and many of the park’s most popular rides now through January 4, 2015 on select days. “ Our Six Flags Over Georgia family is proud to present a holiday spectacular sure to create memories for guests of all ages for years to come,” said Six Flags Atlanta Properties park president Dale Kaetzel. “Holiday in the Park, coupled with the largest expansion in park history with the all-new Hurricane Harbor water park, has made for a special 2014 season, with many more special celebrations to come.” If you have been thinking to visit Holiday in the Park at Six Flags Over Georgian here's out top 10 favorite things a...

Looking for a new holiday tradition to start with your family this year? Here is a wonderful idea that will lift the spirits of all the sick and injured patients at Animal Emergency Center of North Fulton. Make a holiday card for sick and critical pets at their hospital. They will hang these thoughtful cards in the hospital during the holiday season, as well as post them on their social media pages. Animal Emergency Center of North Fulton are caring and compassionate with every pet that comes into their hospital. Here is your chance to show a little TLC to each sick pet they have hospitalized. Partner with your church, classroom or scouts group to show the love you have for pets. They have even provided a little template for you ; make sure they know who created each card so they can give a shout out on their Facebook page! Going on now until the end of the year! The Animal Emergency Center of North Fulton is located at 900 Mansell Road, ...

The holiday season begins with the return of Atlanta Ballet's Nutcracker  The Fox Theatre. Bring the whole family for an enchanting and memorable event that keeps the spirit of the holiday season alive, starting at only $115 per person! The Melting Pot have the best seats for highly anticipated shows at The Fox Theatre, including THE NUTCRACKER and MICHAEL W. SMITH & AMY GRANT CHRISTMAS! If you're looking for a date night, family outing or Girls Night Out, The Melting Pot have amazing dinner-and-show packages including a three-course fondue experience and premium seats at The Fox Theatre! ONLY A FEW SEATS LEFT! UPCOMING DINNER & SHOW PACKAGES Space is very limited! The Nutcracker Saturday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. Dinner is immediately following the show Seating is within the first 15 rows of the Orchestra Section Package is priced at $115 per person

Atlanta's Most Heartwarming  Christmas Celebration November 8 - January 4  Christmas at Stone Mountain Park is back with new shows, new 4D movies, festive music, snowflake funnel cakes, new holiday characters and over two million lights. S tart a new tradition and create memories that will last a lifetime for your kids...and you. My family had the chance to preview  all the new things the park has to offer and we were blown away with the attractions. Here's what to expect if you are visiting this year:

Come see Paula's live show at the Atlanta Symphony Hall in Atlanta, GA on Nov 16 and get a heaping helping of Paula's recipes, some good old-fashioned fun and lots of laughter. Join Paula as she demonstrates how to make her favorite seasonal dishes, shares family stories and plays cooking games with her fans. Some lucky audience members will even get to join Paula on stage! Want to win two tickets? Leave us a comment below and register your entry on our giveaway  widget . A random winner will be selected on November 13, 2014!

Annual celebration features FREE festive fun at The Village  Amphitheatre with Christmas parade, tree lighting,  “Elf” movie screening and more! Santa Claus is coming to town! Mall of Georgia invites local families and friends to ring in the holiday season with its annual Santabration event on Saturday, November 8 from 5-9 p.m. Presented by AutoNation Toyota and Fiat, this spectacular celebration welcomes the arrival of the man in red with plenty of fun and festive activities! Attendees can look forward to a Christmas Parade, performances by the Academy of Performing Arts Superstar Dancers, the 50-foot tree lighting and a special Movies Under the Stars screening of “Elf” on an impressive 55-foot screen. Guests are welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Come early, grab a spot and experience this jolly holiday tradition with the entire family!

Georgia based nonprofit, Lift Up Atlanta, Inc. anno unces its Annual Christmas Extravaganza to benefit homeless women and children. The event will be held December 6th, noon – 6pm, at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall Building, 2405 Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville, GA. The Gwinnett County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall will be transformed for the day into a 25,000 square foot Winter Wonderland filled with holiday activities for the entire community to participate in.   The Christmas Extravaganza will include:  An entertainment stage featuring live, home-grown local talent Holiday shopping at over 40 vendor booths, all selling unique, homemade crafts and treats Santa for the kids Face painting and games for the kids A free “Taste of Christmas” dessert bar, featuring holiday sweets

Spirited Solo Performance Captures the True Meaning of Holiday Season The annual holiday classic, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, is returning to Aurora Theatre for its eighth consecutive year, November 28-December 21. In true storytelling fashion, audiences travel back to 19th century England for an incredibly personal and moving one-man version of the cherished story that grasps the true meaning of the holiday season – the joy of giving. Starring Aurora veteran Anthony P. Rodriguez as the cold and bitter Ebenezer Scrooge with direction by Tony Brown, audiences are invited to rediscover Dickens’ oft-told tale that has touched hearts for more than 150 years. “ Many think of A Christmas Carol as a huge theatrical production, but the beauty of our version is the simplicity behind it,” said Anthony Rodriguez, Aurora Theatre Producing Artistic Director. “Before the novel was brought to stage, Dickens actually read the story at...

Join Santa’s lovely bride for a fun hour of storytelling and cupcake decorating! Children also will make a bag of reindeer food to take home for Rudolph’s Christmas Eve visit. This event is designed for children ages 12 and younger, and at least one accompanying adult. “ Story Time with Mrs. Claus” is available every Saturday and Sunday beginning Nov. 22 through Dec. 21, 2014.  There are two Saturday sessions to choose from:  1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and one Sunday session at 1 p.m. The cost is $11 per person ages 2 and older. Taxes and service fees are additional. Reservations are required for each person attending.  Children must be accompanied by an adult.  Ages 2 and younger are admitted for free but require a “free child’s ticket” when placing the order.  Father  Christmas , a.k.a. Santa, is available nightly for photos, 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.inside the Fantasy In Lights  Christmas  Village...

 On Nov. 29., jolly St. Nick will be hosting a cookies and photos party at the zoo Be here when Santa makes his first stop – Zoo Atlanta! Bring the little ones for a personal visit with Santa and a professional photo. Warm up with hot chocolate and cookies, and kick off the holiday season with costume characters, festive crafts, animal encounters, music, and games. Space is limited. Register online by Friday, November 28 to reserve your space.  Reservations are available in one of four time slots: 8:30 a.m.  (Members only)* 10:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. Details here:  http://ow.ly/DuhQG