Recently, I was the delighted to be invited back with my family to experience Stone Mountain Christmas. Last winter, we played at Snow Mountain, but hadn’t yet gotten to see the magic of Stone Mountain Christmas, so of course we jumped at the opportunity to go. Suffice it to say, it is now on my list of family-friendly things to do in Winter in Atlanta!
From the whimsical sing-along Christmas train ride with The Gift (my Thomas-loving son’s favorite, of course!), to the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer in 4-D (seriously, 10 minutes of fun and cuteness!), visiting Santa, the great variety of live performances peppered throughout, or my daughter’s absolute favorite: meeting the Snow Angel – there’s something for everyone at Stone Mountain Christmas. The evening is topped off with the Snow Angel Fireworks Finale.
New for the 2017 season: a 36′ Christmas tree featuring snippets of It’s a Wonderful Life, as well as the live show Christmas in the City, that takes guests on a high-energy musical journey featuring Christmas classics from around the country. My kids enjoyed participating in the show Twas the Night Before …A Christmas Caberet.
How can you make the most of your time at Stone Mountain Christmas this holiday season? Here are my top tips for doing so:
Making the Most of Your
Stone Mountain Christmas Experience
- Map it out and plan ahead. You can check the park’s schedule for events before heading out. Since some shows and some events are scheduled out, a plan will prove helpful. (This coming from someone who had no plan either night we visited!) Also, some of the lines may have a long wait, so you’ll want to factor that in, if you plan to ride the train or visit Santa, for example. Perhaps have at least one member of your party stand in line, while other members get a bite to eat, go potty, etc.
- Do Snow Mountain, too. We did not have the opportunity to do both, but if you can, it’s SOO worth it. Spend your morning and/or afternoon tubing and playing in the snow, and then spend your evening basking in the holiday spirit at Stone Mountain Christmas. Again, this will require planning ahead of time, since you have to make reservations for Snow Mountain. The combined ticket for the two events offers a little savings, so it’s nice to knock them both out.
- Spend the night! After you’ve concluded your night with the Snow Angel Snowfall and Fireworks finale, opt to stay at Stone Mountain. If you’re brave enough, camp out. I’m not brave. I thoroughly enjoyed the comforts of the Atlanta Evergreen Marriott, which boast a heated indoor and outdoor pool! The majestic lake view we awoke to was stunning during our stay, and I highly recommend staying if you can.
- Pack accordingly. For some reason, on the night we went, I failed to understand what upper 40 degree temps would feel like. My daughter was fine in her coat, but in a lapse of judgement, my son had only his jacket. Thankfully, since we were staying the night, I had his PJs in the van, so he wore his PJs underneath his regular clothes, as an added layer of warmth. (I just had to tough it out with my jacket!) Also, I do not like carrying my purse around when I’m out and about at places like this. Instead, I carry a drawstring backpack, where I keep a pack of baby wipes, water bottles, and small snacks on hand. (You can bring your own food and beverages in to the park – but I highly recommend getting a loaf of the warm, freshly baked cinnamon bread. Ok, at least one loaf! It’s at the Base Camp BBQ. You’re welcome!)
- Embrace the spirit of the season, y’all! Because there’s something for everyone at Stone Mountain Christmas, this should be easy to do.
- Discount tickets are available for Gas South customers. Additionally, it’s super-easy to upgrade your existing ticket on the day of your visit to a membership, which pays for itself after two visits. If your family enjoys all there is to do at Stone Mountain all year long, then this is certainly an option to consider. And right now, go with Groupon. You can get a ticket for Stone Mountain Christmas for just $21 or get a combo pass to Stone Mountain Christmas and Snow Mountain for just $34.95! You can also check here for discount tickets, too.
- Finally, if you cannot make it out before Santa, no worries – Stone Mountain Christmas will be around through January 3.
Let me know if you’ve made it out to Stone Mountain Christmas this year – I’d love to hear your thoughts. Also, make sure to check out all the other fun family-friendly things to do in Atlanta this winter!
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--Barbara
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