Welcome to 2024! Now that the holidays are passed, you may be looking for things to do in January in Atlanta.This is your monthly guide to free and cheap fun in the chilly month of January.
It’s an overview of the annual events, followed by a day-by-day listing of January events that are FREE, cheap, or substantially discounted.
REMINDER:
Before making plans for a restaurant, special exhibit, concert, trampoline, or spa treatment, make sure to check Groupon for a deal! You can often save 50% or more.
January in Atlanta: top things to do this month
Below the spotlighted events, you’ll find a day-by-day listing of January events.
Enjoy these free museum days
• The High Museum Art hosts its Second Sundays FREE day on January 14, 2024. PLUS the Access for All FREE day is Wednesday, January 17, 2024.
Details on Second Sundays at the High
Details on Access for All free days at the High
• The Museums On Us program offers free admission to Bank of America cardholders at four metro-area museums on January 6th and 7th. This includes the High Museum, Tellus Museum, Atlanta History Center, and Center for Civil & Human Rights.
Details on Museums On Us
• Sunday Funday is a FREE drop-in day for families at the Carlos Museum. It’s happening on January 7, 2024.
• The Marietta History Center hosts its FREE monthly Family Fun Day on Saturday, January 20, 2024.
• These museums are offering free admission, some with special programming, over the MLK Day holiday weekend?
- National Center for Civil and Human Rights (free day is Jan. 13)
- Atlanta History Center (free day is Jan. 15)
Celebrate Three Kings Day (Dia de los Reyes)
The 12 days of Christmas end on January 6th each year. The day is known as Three Kings Day, Dia de Los Reyes, Epiphany, and Twelfth Night. It marks the event of the three wise men arriving at the stable in Bethlehem.
View our list of Three Kings Day celebrations
If you’re looking for traditional Rosca de Reye, we suggest visiting one of the many Panaderias (Hispanic bakeries) along Buford Hwy — or google for one near you.
Meet the dinosaurs at Jurassic Quest
Coming to the Cobb Galleria Center from Friday, Jan. 26th through Sunday, Jan. 28th.
And thanks to a Groupon deal, you can save up to 25% on tickets.
What to expect:
- Experience a huge herd of animatronic dinosaurs created with paleontologists to be lifelike and detailed.
- Enjoy fun activities: dinosaur rides, giant fossil dig, inflatables, fossil science exhibit, “Triceratots” soft play area, and MORE!
- Walk through the Cretaceous, Jurassic, and Triassic periods.
- Meet the babies that hatched at Jurassic Quest – Cammie the Camarasaurus, Tyson the T-Rex, and Trixie the Triceratops.
- Climb aboard some of the largest rideable dinosaurs in North America.
Last call for holiday lights!
Act quickly and take advantage of the Value Days discount for Garden Lights, Holiday Nights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The lights are on through January 14, 2024, and prices drop after the holiday rush.
You may also want to visit one of these light displays, now that the lines are shorter:
- Lakeside Lights Spectacular runs through January 15, 2024 at Lanier Islands.
- Illuminights Lantern Festival at Zoo Atlanta runs through January 14, 2024.
- Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland in Marietta runs through January 7, 2014.
Play in the snow… or on the ice
The Snow Island winter fun park is open at Lanier Islands on weekends through February 25, 2024. You can play in the snow, tube down a huge snow hill, ice skate, and more.
You can also visit a seasonal ice rink — most stay open through the MLK Day holiday, which is January 15 in 2024.
These include:
- Park Tavern
- Avalon on Ice
- Ice Days in Olde Town Conyers
- Atlantic Station
Cheer on the home team at Braves Fest
Support your hometown team at this fan event! The Braves Fest takes place on Saturday, January 27th, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Truist Park and The Battery.
Admission is FREE, but you need to reserve your ticket for entry.
The event is family-friendly.
It features live entertainment, on-field activities, baseball clinics, merchandise, food, and more! Players and coaches will be on site.
More info
See a temporary attraction before it’s gone
Check out one of these special exhibitions in 2024.
- Repticon — Jan. 6th & 7th at the Gwinnett Count Fairgrounds
- Boat show — Jan. 11 to 14 at the World Congress Center
- Model Train show — Jan. 27th & 28th at the Southern Museum (Kennesaw)
- Enchanted Woodland Trail — thru Feb. 28th at Chattahoochee Nature Center
- The Immersive Van Gogh Experience — thru Feb. 26th at the Exhibition Hub Atlanta Art Center
- Illuminights Chinese Lantern Festival — thru Jan. 15th at Zoo Atlanta
- Tutankhamun: His Tomb & Treasures — at the Exhibition Hub Atlanta Art Center
Make a plan for MLK Day
Honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and celebrate the spirit of peace.
Martin Luther King Day is on Monday, January 15, 2024.
Every year, we put together a huge list of special MLK Day events and observances.
Take a winter walk
The January weather is fickle in Atlanta, but there are often plenty of days suitable for walking or hiking — just dress appropriately.
On Wednesday mornings, you can join a group walk at Mason Mill Park.
The walks are about two miles and are lead by a guide, starting at 10 a.m.
You don’t even need a reservation!
more info
Here’s a short list of some of our favorite winter walks to do on your own:
- Stroll around the lake and thru the woods at Murphey-Candler Park
- Visit old homestead ruins in Mary Scott Nature Park
- Use the paved trail at the Peachtree Creek Greenway
You may also be interested in:
- Subscribe to our daily newsletter and stay in the know!
- Metro Atlanta area Farmers Markets, listed by day of the week
- Free and cheap things to do this week
- Local daily deals from Groupon
- Atlanta on the Cheap events calendar
