Winter Festivals in Georgia:
Fun things your family can do during your Christmas break
Guest blog by Ayisha Shelley
Many parents mistakenly think that once winter comes along, families will have nothing to do besides stay warm and cozy indoors, making arts and crafts and decorating the house for the holidays. Aside from the occasional family winter vacation, we try not to stray too far from home, and this severely limits the fun we can have in the season. Of course, there’s plenty to be done in the winter and dozens of things that you could try that will keep your family busy and get you into the Christmas spirit. Here are just a few of our favorite winter festivals in Georgia.
Gingerbread Village Competition, Savannah
2015 Gingerbread Village Competition; Credit: SavannahHarborFoundation.com
Check out the Gingerbread Village Competition in Savannah. The competition includes adult (18 & over) and student (17 & under) divisions, and is open for anyone to participate. This spectacular display in the lobby of The Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa is free and open to the public November 28th through December 30, 2015.
Magical Night of Lights, Buford
Magical Nights of Light, Lake Lanier; Credit: LanierIslands.com
Take the family out to Buford and enjoy Magical Nights of Light, a winter adventure in the Lanier Islands where you and your family can take part in sledding, and tubing, and even visit Santa’s Holiday Village. With miles of lights, visits with Santa, holiday shopping, carnival rides and more, Magical Nights of Lights offers a truly magical experience for the entire family.
Fernbank Winter Wonderland, Atlanta
Winter Wonderland at Fernbank Museum; Credit: ExploreGeorgia.org
For a more educational trip, take the family down to the Fernbank Museum of Natural History to see their Winter Wonderland exhibit: two floors of festivities showcasing Christmas and winter celebrations from around the world. “Twinkling with lights, glimmering with color and shining with a variety of cultural objects, more than 30 trees and other displays recognize the diversity of celebrations, holidays, traditions and events from around the world,” they say.
Festival of Trees, Macon
Festival of Trees at Museum of Arts & Sciences; Credit: GatewayMacon.org
The Museum of Arts and Sciences in Macon is hosting its 29th annual Festival of Trees, a series of fundraising events benefiting the museum, open to the public through Jan. 15, 2016. This event was recently named a TOP 20 Event in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society. Visit the Museum of Arts & Sciences during normal business hours and see some of the most beautiful Christmas trees to be found anywhere on the Southeast!
Of course, there are also plenty of other choices for ice skating and winter sports, opportunities to watch some of the best choirs in the state perform Christmas songs, and even the chance to see Disney characters come to life in Disney’s family shows. There’s plenty to do in Georgia in the winter, and you should never feel stuck indoors. For more ideas, visit exploregeorgia.org.
Ayisha Shelley had always hated being told she couldn’t go out in the winter, and that “there’s nothing to do out there anyway,” by her parents, so now she’s making the most of her time and taking her nieces everywhere she can for fun times in cold weather! A technophile who’s learning to expand her horizons, she’s always on the lookout for new experiences.
