Once in a lifetime

Celebrate a Season of Magic in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park



by Sherron Kines-Hodge

 Atlanta’s Piedmont Park is all decked out for the holidays.  Thousands of lights illuminate the historic park in midtown Atlanta each evening.  A Season of Magic transforms the park into a spectacular winter wonderland that will delight Atlanta residents and visitors.

Visitors may stroll through the park for free during the evenings and enjoy the lights, or they may choose several seasonal activities at a nominal price.  Children will love riding the old fashioned carousel, with the Legacy Fountain light show as a backdrop.  Carousel rides are $3.  Adults may enjoy the holiday beer garden or the horse drawn carriage rides.  Piedmont Park is the only Atlanta park offering carriage rides this season.  Carriage rides are available daily from 5-10pm.  Tickets are $20 for adults and $60 for groups of 3-5.  The rides start from two locations: Magnolia Hall near the Tennis Center and Park Tavern at the corner of 10th Street and Monroe Drive.

Families may try out their athletic skills at the Piedmont Park Ice Skating Rink, which is open from November 21 through February 28, 2012.  The rink is located in the Garden Tent at Park Tavern.  The tent is heated for comfort with piped-in music and rink-side dining.  Tickets are $15 and include skate rental.  Day and night skate sessions are available.  
Adults are invited to the Jingle Mingles on Wednesday nights through December 21.  The $15 cost includes a special complimentary cocktail, a D.J. and music, classic table games, and holiday themed crafts.  Jingle Mingles take place in Magnolia Hall from 6-10pm.

Piedmont Park’s Green Market will finish its 2011 season on Saturday, December 10.  Attendees can buy seasonal items and enjoy music by local musicians.  The kids can make eco-friendly seasonal decorations from recycled materials.  The Green Market is held at the 12th Street entrance gate.

The Atlanta Botanical Garden is located adjacent to the northwest side of the park off Piedmont Avenue.  This holiday season the garden is hosting its own special light show- “Garden Lights, Holiday Nights.”  Visitors will walk through a dazzling display of nearly one million energy efficient LED lights.  The Great Lawn will feature a unique color changing light show choreographed to holiday music.  The Fuqua Conservatory is illuminated by low voltage lasers, giving off an unusual “Avatar” effect of green dots.  

Train lovers will enjoy the G-scale model train display set in an outdoor landscape.  Tickets for Garden Lights are $18.95 for adults and $ 12.95 for ages 3-12.  Food and beverages will be available for purchase during the light show.  Garden Lights runs through January 7, 2012 from 5-10pm.
Enjoy both the Season of Magic in Piedmont Park and Garden Lights at Atlanta Botanical Garden this December.  It’s a spectacular way to ring in the holiday season. 


Sherron Kines-Hodge is the Director of Sales at the Hampton Inn and Suites Atlanta Airport Hotel.  The Hampton Inn & Suites Atlanta Airport Hotel is just north of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and just southwest of downtown Atlanta. The hotel is two and a half miles from the Georgia International Convention Center and four miles from Atlanta Expo Center.

For more information visit: http://www.AIRPORTHAMPTONINN.COM