Welcome to 2026! 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.

Below, you’ll find an overview of January events, plus activities that are free, cheap, or discounted. Sometimes we throw in a splurge alert item that we think is especially notable.

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.

Even if you’re not going to the Peach Bowl game, you can head to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl FanFest at the Georgia World Congress Center.

FanFest takes place from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday, January 9, 2026.
It is FREE to attend, and open to everyone. 

If you’ve never been to FanFest, it’s a giant indoor fan experience featuring 200,000 sq. feet of interactive attractions, like punting/passing/kicking games, obstacle courses, and zip lining.
More info

Enjoy these free museum days in January

• The Georgia Aquarium offers you FREE admission on your birthday — so all of you January babies are in luck!
Details on the Aquarium offer
Can’t go for free on your b-day? Check out this Groupon deal!

•  The High Museum of Art hosts its Second Sundays FREE day on January 11, 2026.
Details on Second Sundays at the High

• The High Museum also hosts its FREE Access For All program on Wednesday, January 14, 2026 — you need to register in advance for this one.

•  The Museums On Us program offers FREE admission to Bank of America cardholders at SEVEN metro-area museums on January 3rd and 4th. This is the highest number of participating museums we’ve ever seen!
Details and full list of participating venues for Museums On Us

• The Marietta History Center hosts its FREE monthly Family Fun Day on Saturday, January 17, 2026.

• These museums are offering free admission, some with special programming, over the MLK Day holiday weekend:

• Atlanta History Center (free day is Jan. 19 – reserve here)
• The National Center for Civil & Human Rights (more info)

Stone Mountain Christmas + North Pole Experience

Running thru Jan. 4, 2026
Stone Mountain Park

If you missed this joyful, bright attraction in December, you have a few chances to visit in January. This year, the Skyride is recreated as North Pole Experience — and you can add a ticket to your Attractions Pass at a steep discount, thanks to a Groupon deal.

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.

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 11, 2026, and prices drop after the holiday rush.
Find discounts for holiday light shows that are still running in January.

Play in the snow… or on the ice

The Snow Island winter fun park is open at Lanier Islands on weekends through February 25, 2025. 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 19, 2026.
These include:

• Park Tavern
• Avalon on Ice
• Ice Days in Olde Town Conyers
• Atlantic Station

See a temporary attraction before it’s gone

Check out one of these special exhibitions in 2026.

• Repticon — Jan. 3 and 4 at the Gwinnett Count Fairgrounds
• Boat show — Jan. 9 to 12 at the World Congress Center
• Model Train show — Jan. 24 & 25 at the Southern Museum (Kennesaw)
• Enchanted Woodland Trail — thru Feb. 28th at Chattahoochee Nature Center
• Illuminights Chinese Lantern Festival — thru Jan. 18th at Zoo Atlanta

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 19, 2026.
Every year, we put together a huge list of special MLK Day events and observances.

Hang out with alpacas

Every Saturday & Sunday in January
Creekwater Alpaca Farm
2812 Centerville Rosebud Rd SW
Snellville, GA 30039

This Gwinnett County farm is open to the public on weekends. You can tour the farm, browse the shop, and hang out with these fascinating animals.
Get more details

Experience the magic of a Candlelight Concert

Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations around metro Atlanta.

These are live performances in intimate venues, lit by flickering candles. The concerts range from iconic classical music to tributes to pop artists like Adele and Queen.
More info and tickets

Take a scenic drive

Get away from the bustle of the city without going far from home. The South Fulton Scenic Byway has been called the loneliest road in metro Atlanta — and it is so gorgeous, you won’t believe you’re still in Fulton County. Enjoy the winter landscape from the comfort of your car.
Get the route details

Buy local at winter farmers markets

There is a farmers market happening somewhere on nearly every day of the week. Check out our full schedule of markets, organized by day of the week and location. We also let you know which markets double EBT dollars.
Find a farmers market near you

Get outside for some woodland walks and easy hikes

• Cobb County Trail of the Month program will meet at Discovery Park (Mableton), on January 10, 2026. Register in advance.

• Group walks at Mason Mill Park are lead by a guide, on 2nd Saturdays and 4th Wednesdays in 2026.

• Here’s a short list of some of our favorite shaded walks to do on your own:

• Stroll around the lake and thru the woods at Murphey-Candler Park
• Visit old homestead ruins on the nature trail at Mary Scott Nature Park
• Walk the paved trail at the Peachtree Creek Greenway