Courtesy of the Chattahoochee Nature Center.
Through 6/5
The Swan: An Ugly Duckling Tale
Where: Center for Puppetry Arts
When: 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. (Tuesday through Friday); 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday); 11 a.m. (Saturday only)
Cost: $20.50 ($10.25 for members); free for kids under 2
What: Enjoy this sweet tale of what happens when the apple falls very far from the tree. Based on Hans Christian Anderson’s The Ugly Duckling, and performed by Théâtre de Deux Mains of Montreal.
Through 6/30
National Parks Adventure
Where: Fernbank Museum of Natural History
When: Various
Cost: $13 for adults; $11 for children (plus the cost of museum admission)
What: The National Parks Service celebrates 100 years in 2016, and this IMAX film—narrated by Robert Redford—lets you experience the beauty of their caves, canyons, wetlands, mountains, and more.
Through 7/10
The Dapper Comes to the Walkers
Where: Atlanta Contemporary
When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday); 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Thursday); 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Sunday)
Cost: Free
What: See artist Dapper Bruce LaFitte’s meticulously detailed drawings of New Orleans school marching bands.
Through 7/21
Wild Music
Where: Fernbank Museum of Natural History
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Monday through Saturday); 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Sunday)
Cost: Free with admission ($18 for adults; $17 for students; $16 for kids 3 to 16; free for kids 2 and under)
What: Fernbank’s hands-on exhibition explores sound and music in nature. Hear the sounds of whales and underwater earthquakes; compose and play your own song; learn more about how birds communicate; and more.
Through 7/30
Movies Under the Stars
Where: Mall of Georgia
When: 6:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
What: Bring a blanket for the free family concert and movie series, which kicks off on May 28th with Minions. Films begin at dusk, but show up early for live bands and bouncy houses. Food and drink will be available for purchase, too. For more outdoor movies, check out Candler Park’s Flick-Nic, Duluth’s Flicks on the Bricks, Mableton’s Movies at the Mable, and Atlantic Station’s Movies in Central Park.
Through 7/30
Pancakes, Pancakes!
Where: Alliance Theatre
When: 10 a.m. (Wednesday through Friday); 11:45 a.m. (Tuesday through Friday); 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday); 11 a.m. (Saturday only)
Cost: $15 for adults; $8 for ages 6 to 17; free for ages 5 and under
What: See the world premiere play based on Eric Carle’s kid-favorite picture book, then head across the piazza to check out the High Museum’s exhibition of Carle’s original hand-painted collages.
Through 7/31
Charlotte’s Web
Where: Serenbe Playhouse
When: 11 a.m. (Friday and Saturday); 2 p.m. (Sunday)
Cost: $20 for adults; $15 for students; $10 for kids under 12
What: See this adaptation of E.B. White’s classic children’s book in Serenbe’s picturesque farm, surrounded by live animals.
Through 7/31
teamLab Future Park
Where: Mall of Georgia
When: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Monday through Saturday); 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Sunday)
Cost: $12; $8 for kids ages 3 to 13; free for kids 2 and under. Adults must be accompanied by a child.
What: Japanese art collective teamLab brings this 3,7000-square-foot interactive art exhibit—which they describe as a “digital playground”—to the Mall of Georgia. The seven hands-on works include Sketch Aquarium (explore a virtual underwater world); Sketchtown Papercraft (turn crayon drawings into 3D paper sculptures); and Light Ball Orchestra (create a sound and light show by touching beach ball-sized globes).
Through 8/14
Creatures of Light: Nature’s Bioluminescence
Where: Fernbank Museum of Natural History
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Monday through Saturday); 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Sunday)
Cost: Free with admission ($18 for adults; $17 for students; $16 for kids 3 to 16; free for kids 2 and under)
What: You’re likely familiar with fireflies (aka lightning bugs), but nature is home to a whole host of other glowing creatures. Learn more about light-producing organisms by walking through their habitats in this exhibition.
6/3-5
Toddler Takeover
Where: Woodruff Arts Center
When: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Friday and Saturday); 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Sunday)
Cost: $30 per adult; free for kids under 5; $5 for older siblings
What: True, $30 ain’t cheap, but this special arts festival for children up to age 5 offers a lot of bang for your buck. Come for infant and toddler tours of the High, art-making and yoga classes, Eric Carle story times, kid-friendly theater and music performances, and more.
6/3-11/27
Tiovivo
Where: Sifly Piazza at Woodruff Arts Center
When: All day
Cost: Free
What: Kids can climb and slide inside these four Instagram-ready structures by sculptor Jaime Haydon, each shaped like a familiar object like a pig or a bell, and painted with bright polka dots, stripes, or zig-zags.
6/4
Festival of Chariots Parade
Where: Downtown
When: Noon
Cost: Free
What: This traditional Indian festival has roots dating back nearly 2,000 years. Watch as a huge, ornate chariot—flanked by musicians and dancers—is pulled by ropes over 100 feet long from Woodruff Park to Centennial Olympic Park.
6/4
Dunwoody Soap Box Derby
Where: First Baptist Church in Dunwoody
When: Opening ceremony begins at 8 a.m., and the race kicks off at 9
Cost: Free
What: Cheer as kids go flying in homemade racers, in hopes of competing at the world championships in Akron, Ohio, in July.
6/4
Dolly Parton
Where: Infinite Energy Center
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $55 to $95
What: The larger-than-life country superstar brings her scaled-down “Pure and Simple” tour to Atlanta. It’s Parton’s first major North American concert series in 25 years, so this is a rare chance for the whole family to enjoy a live rendition of classics like “Jolene.”
6/4-5
SummerFest
Where: Virginia Avenue between North Highland Avenue and Park Drive
When: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Saturday); 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Sunday)
Cost: Free
What: Get to John Howell Park early (around 9:15 a.m.) on Saturday for the Tot Trot race for children under age 7, then head over to the western edge of the park for crafts and games at the KidsFest. There will also be two music stages (find a handful of young performers, including Burke Connolly Academy Irish Dancers, at the acoustic stage), an artist market, and plenty of eats.
6/4–5
Flying Colors Butterfly Festival
Where: Chattahoochee Nature Center
When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Saturday); noon to 5 p.m. (Sunday)
Cost: $12 ($8 for members)
What: Watch as hundreds of butterflies are released into the air, then grab a nectar stick and see if you can lure a painted lady inside the (admittedly sweltering) butterfly tent. Afterward, cool off with a treat from King of Pops.
6/5
Shirley Franklin Day
Where: Center for Civil and Human Rights
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: $15 for adults; free for kids 18 and under
What: Stop by for crafts, games, stories, and other activities alongside former Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin, whose vision helped shape the Center for Civil and Human Rights.
6/6-7/23
Roswell Puppet Series
Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center
When: 10 a.m. (Monday through Saturday) and 1 p.m. (Wednesday and Friday only)
Cost: $5; free for kids under 2
What: This summer’s series kicks off with Hansel and Gretel and ends with Jack and the Beanstalk, with a new show beginning each week.
6/7-7/17
The Little Pirate Mermaid
Where: Center for Puppetry Arts
When: Various
Cost: $20.50 ($10.25 for members); includes admission to the Worlds of Puppetry Museum
What: Finally, a play that appeals to your Jake & the Neverland Pirates fan and your Ariel fan. An adventurous mermaid princess hops aboard a pirate ship in this production for ages 4 and up.
6/10
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Where: Fox Theatre
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $8
What: Life moves pretty fast. So take a moment to stop, look around, and introduce your kids to the never-gets-old John Hughes classic at this screening, part of the 2016 Coca Cola Film Series.
6/10-12
Southern Fried Gameroom Expo
Where: Renaissance Atlanta Waverly
When: 4 p.m. to midnight (Friday); 10 a.m. to midnight (Saturday); 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Sunday)
Cost: $20 to $30 per day for adults ($15 for kids); $60 for a weekend pass ($30 for kids)
What: Want to show your kid how much fun it was to grow up in the 1980s? Old-school game enthusiasts can check out more than 250 arcade, pinball, and console machines, take part in a pinball or video game tournament, screen cult films like The Last Starfighter—and meet its star, Lance Guest.
6/11
World Oceans Day Party
Where: Georgia Aquarium
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Cost: Free with admission ($39.95 for adults; $33.95 for kids ages 3 to 12; free for kids 2 and under)
What: Learn about life below the surface and how we can help protect the Earth’s oceans with a day of special activities and fun. Party with turtles and sea lions, play recycling and sustainable fishing games, pop in to the family photo booth, and more.
6/11
Westview Summer Solstice Celebration
Where: Westview Village
When: Noon to 8 p.m.
Cost: Free
What: Okay, so it’s technically taking place one week before the longest day of the year. But you can still get into the summer spirit at this neighborhood festival featuring a barbecue grill-off (attendees must purchase tasting “passports” to sample the food), artists market, live DJs, and pet costume parade.
6/11-12
Meet the Holidays: Dragon Boat Festival
Where: Children’s Museum of Atlanta
When: 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cost: Free with admission ($14.95; free for babies under 1 year)
What: See a performance from the Atlanta Chinese Dance Company, make your own floating dragon boat, and participate in a Chinese fan dance.
6/11–18
Atlanta Cycling Festival
Where: Varies
When: Varies
Cost: Varies
What: Some of our favorite highlights of this weeklong celebration: kids bike-riding clinics; a doughnut-fueled ride between Revolution in Decatur and Sublime in midtown; an after-dark “Moon Ride”; and a spin down the Silver Comet Trail followed by an overnight camp-out.
6/11-8/14
Out of the Box: The Rise of Sneaker Culture
Where: High Museum of Art
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: Free with admission ($19.50 adults; $12 ages 6 to 17; free for kids 5 and under)
What: Sneakerheads get fine art validation at the High’s new exhibition examining the shoes’ social and cultural currency. Expect to see kicks from top fashion designers, the deep archives of shoemakers like Adidas, Nike, and Converse, and private collectors like Darryl “DMC” McDaniels.
6/12
Streets Alive
Where: Downtown and midtown
When: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Cost: Free
What: A 2.7-mile stretch of intown artery Peachtree Street closes to traffic from Edgewood Avenue to 17th street. Show up at 4 p.m. for the bicycle parade—sure to be impressive during the middle of the weeklong Atlanta Cycling Festival.
6/15-19
Toruk: The First Flight
Where: Infinite Energy Center
When: 7:30 p.m. (Wednesday through Friday); 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. (Saturday); 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. (Sunday)
Cost: $35 to $128
What: Inspired by the movie Avatar, this Cirque du Soleil show imagines what life was like on planet Pandora thousands of years before the film takes place.
6/17
Decatur Beach Party
Where: Downtown Decatur
When: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Cost: $15 for adults ($12 in advance); $10 for kids ages 4 to 12 ($7 in advance); free for kids ages 3 and under
What: Sixty tons of trucked-in sand transform Ponce de Leon into a veritable shoreline. Adding to the entertainment: A kids boardwalk, live music, a DJ-led dance party, funnel cakes and umbrella drinks, and a Ninja climbing wall for attendees ages 13 and up.
6/18
Babe the Gallant Pig
Where: Center for Puppetry Arts
When: 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Cost: $10.50 (free for members)
What: That’ll do, pig. The Center for Puppetry Arts screens the beloved 1993 talking animal adventure; tickets include admission to the Worlds of Puppetry Museum.
6/18
Sandy Springs Lantern Parade
Where: North Springs United Methodist Church
When: 7 p.m.
Cost: Free
What: Sandy Springs hops onto the lantern parade bandwagon with this inaugural walk to Morgan Falls Park. Themed “Take It To the River,” the parade will feature a floating alligator lantern gliding down the Chattahoochee.
6/18
Juneteenth Parade
Where: Mozley Park
When: Noon
Cost: Free
What: Last year marked the 150th anniversary of this holiday commemorating the end of slavery. The parade, which honors African American history and culture in the Southeast, runs from Mozley Park to the campus of Morris Brown College.
6/18-19
Juneteenth
Where: Atlanta History Center
When: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Saturday); noon to 5:30 p.m. (Sunday)
Cost: Free
What: In addition to the parade (above), the History Center hosts two days of museum activities, immersive theater performances, and crafts around the themes of freedom and family history.
6/19
Superhero Day
Where: Fernbank Museum of Natural History
When: Noon to 4 p.m.
Cost: Free with admission ($18 for adults; $16 for kids 3 to 12; free for kids 2 and under)
What: Superhero capes and tights are de rigueur for a day of crafts and activities, plus a costume contest and live DJ. Admission is free for dads and other uniformed “community heroes” (fire fighters, police officers, EMTs, and military personnel).
6/19
Father’s Day Car Show
Where: Stone Mountain Park
When: 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Cost: Varies
What: Spend Father’s Day at Stone Mountain among 1950s-era Mustangs, Camaros, Chevys, and other classic roadsters.
6/21-26
The Wizard of Oz
Where: Fox Theatre
When: 7:30 p.m. (Tuesday through Thursday); 8 p.m. (Friday and Saturday); 2 p.m. (Saturday only); 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. (Sunday only)
Cost: $30 to $75
What: Adapted for the stage from the MGM film, this production includes your favorite songs from the Oscar-winning musical, plus new tunes by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
6/25
Slide the City
Where: Centennial Olympic Park
When: 9 a.m.
Cost: $13 to $99
What: It’s baaaaaaaack. The 1,000-foot mega waterslide, which came to Decatur last September, hits downtown’s Centennial Park. BYO float.
6/30–7/3
Big River
Where: Marietta’s Theatre in the Square
When: 8 p.m. (3 p.m. on July 3 and 10)
Cost: $30 to $45
What: See Huck, Jim, and Tom Sawyer on stage in this production of the Tony-winning musical based on Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
