Atlanta in November - Essential Trip Planning Guide

Atlanta in November is a bit of an “off” month in Atlanta. It’s sort of cold – ish. And it’s right before the very busy holiday season. 

Kick off the holiday at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens' Holiday Lights.

However, some of Atlanta’s best holiday events launch in November and it’s a great time to get in before they get too crowded! 

On this page you'll find:

Atlanta in November - Holiday Events 

Atlanta in November is a great time to kick off holiday events, many of which kick off in November and it's a great time to see them before the crowds ramp up in December.

My very favorite holiday event is Garden Lights in the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. The already beautiful gardens are decorated with literally millions of lights – in sculptures, decorations, and just all over. It’s spectacular. The display kicks off 11/13 – but tickets go on sale 10/1. You need a separate ticket from the regular Botanical Garden ticket. It is one of the best things to do in Atlanta in November.

Holiday Lights at he Atlanta Botanical Gardens.

Santa starts visiting Atlanta in November. The best Santa – in my humble opinion – is the one at Rhodes Hall, a Victorian castle right on Peachtree in Midtown. I love this Santa the most because the setting is just gorgeous, he (and his merry elves) is on-point in dress and manner, there are all sorts of other activities for the kids and, as a bonus, it’s a fundraiser for the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. Santa arrives 11/20 and appointments fill up fast.  

The best Santa is at Rhodes Hall.

Of course, Thanksgiving is in November, and many hotels and restaurants offer special meals if you’re visiting or don’t want to cook!

Atlanta in November - Sporting Events

November is a quiet month for sports – baseball is over, NCAA football is winding down, and NBA basketball hasn’t started yet. But there are a couple of marquee matchups in November. 

The Atlanta Falcons play the New England Patriots  on 11/18 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets play three games at home in November: 11/13 against Boston College, 11/20 against Notre Dame and 11/27 against in-state rival the University of Georgia in the annual game called “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate.” 

Atlanta in November - Music

Atlanta’s amazing music scene will be in full swing in November, at venues large and small. You can see the full month here.

My picks for concerts include:

• George Strait and Eric Church – 11/5 Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• Twenty One Pilots – four dates in four venues! 11/2 at Center Stage Theatre, 11/3 at The Tabernacle, 11/4 at Coca-Cola Roxy at The Battery Atlanta, and 11/6 at State Farm Arena
• The Rolling Stones – 11/11 Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• The Wallflowers – 11/19 Variety Playhouse

Atlanta in November - Art & Culture

Atlanta has a wonderful array of options for art and cultural events, from theatre to museums. 

The Fabulous Fox Theatre will have two standout shows in November, Bill Maher 11/6 and Fiddler on the Roof 11/9-11/14. 

The Woodruff Arts Center in Midtown features the Tony Award winning Alliance Theatre. The holiday favorite, A Christmas Carol, debuts 11/13. 

The Center also houses the High Museum of Art which features some wonderful permanent collections. Also, admission is free the second Sunday of every month!

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra also is housed here; there are several classical and pop culture shows. 

Check out some of the other theatres in Atlanta, including Center Stage, 7 Stages, Horizon Theatre and Actors Express for more independent options – some of which are streaming versus in person. 

For some virtual art, check out the Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience at Pullman Yards. Housed in a circa-1900 manufacturing plant and train depot, the exhibit showcases Vincent Van Gogh’s life. But the best part of this exhibit is the 20,000 square foot light and sound display of his amazing work. Buy the extra virtual reality ticket, too. This event is scheduled to be in Atlanta through 2021.

The Illuminarium on the Atlanta BeltLine is a virtual reality safari experience, featuring hi-res images, laser projection, 3D audio and other sensory experiences – including scent. On weekends there’s a bar – unsurprisingly. Tickets start at $35.

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