Pink Pig Memories

Readers remember the iconic Pink Pig ride

By Collin Kelley

Riding the Pink Pig has been a holiday tradition since 1956 when it launched as an indoor monorail then called the “Snowball Express” – hanging from the ceiling of the toy department at the old Rich’s Department Store in downtown Atlanta.

For a generation of kids, squeezing into the Pink Pig after it moved to the roof of Rich’s department store in 1965 was as important as a visit with Santa Claus.

The up-close view of the giant Christmas tree and the glittering city skyline would put anyone in the holiday spirit. The coveted “I Rode the Pink Pig” sticker was worn proudly on coat lapels during lunch at The Magnolia Room inside Rich’s or for a treat at The Varsity.

When Rich’s closed in 1991, the Pink Pig moved to the Festival of Trees at the World Congress Center before moving to its final home in 2003 on top of the Macy’s parking deck at Lenox Square.

The Pig’s two cars were called Percival and Priscilla. Percival retired to the Atlanta History Center, but Priscilla continued to make the holiday rounds at Lenox until 2019. The attraction was put on hold in 2020 due to the pandemic. In September, Macy’s announced

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at 5:30 p.m. Just before 6 p.m., there will be a countdown to light the 52-foot tree on the West Retail Roof. There’s also the Atlanta Santa Speedo Run, Dec. 11, 12-4 p.m., and Smiles for the Season holiday breakfast, Dec. 12, 8-10 a.m. with special characters and a visit from Santa. Visit colonysquare.com for more.

Rialto Center for the Arts

The 24th Annual Gala Holiday Concert,

presented by the Georgia State School of Music, is slated for Dec. 5 at 3 p.m. Tickets range $14.45-$36. Christmas

with Calabria Foti and Bob McChesney

will feature masters of vocals, violin and trombone on Dec. 11, 8 p.m. Tickets range $39.10-$81. Info and tickets are available at Rialto.GSU.edu.

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Leslie Odom, Jr.’s The Christmas Tour

will spotlight the talents of the awardwinning vocalist, songwriter and actor on Dec. 15, 8 p.m. The ASO’s schedule includes much more, including Holiday Concert at Reinhardt University, Dec. 15; Holiday Concert at North Avenue Presbyterian Church, Dec. 16; Handel’s Messiah, Dec. 17-18, Holiday Concert in Madison, Georgia, Dec. 17, and

New Year’s Eve Celebration at City

Springs, Dec. 31. Tickets and details at atlantasymphony.org.

Fernbank Museum

Fernbank After Dark: Holiday Party is for adults 21+ to enjoy an after-hours holiday get-together with drinks and live music on Dec. 10, 7-11 p.m. For more info, visit fernbankmuseum.org.

Variety Playhouse

A Very Dave Barnes Christmas will feature singer/songwriter Dave Barnes playing music and sharing his wit on Dec. 18, 8 p.m. The tickets range $29-$59. The 10th Annual Holiday Hootenanny, benefitting Atlanta Habitat for Humanity, has a musical line-up that includes Randall Bramblett and Jim Lauderdale among many others. It’s slated for Dec. 19, 7 p.m. Details and tickets are available at variety-playhouse.com.

The Wren’s Nest

For the holidays, artist Tokie Rome-Taylor’s photo exhibition One Day Soon Come celebrates Black children of the south. The work puts them at the center, to see their connections, cultural richness, and belonging within history. The free event runs now thru Dec. 31. Details at wrensnest.org. ◄Zoo Atlanta

IllumiNights at the Zoo: A Chinese

Lantern Festival is happening nightly through Jan. 16 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. featuring more than 80 animal lanterns – some up to 20 feet tall. Tickets and more details at zooatlanta.org.

Bellyard Hotel

Ring In the New Year with a special New Year’s Celebration at Bellyard Hotel on Dec. 31, 8 p.m.- 1 a.m. Tickets cover two cocktails, dinner and dessert buffets, and a champagne toast at midnight. There will be a cash bar. Only 115 tickets are available to the public, but guests who stay at Bellyard on 12/31 can purchase the tickets, $100 per person, for 50% off. Call (404) 806-8333 or visit bellyardhotel. com to find out more.

◄Cathedral of St. Philip

The Brass Holiday

Concert is Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. featuring members of the Atlanta Symphony Brass. For tickets and information, visit cathedralatl.org/ concerts.

the Pink Pig would not return. We asked readers to share their memories of the Pink Pig. Here are a few. “I rode the Pink Pig at Rich’s Downtown throughout my childhood. It was always the highlight of the Christmas season. I remember cherishing the sticker I received after the ride. So long, Pink Pig. Thanks for all the rides and good memories.”

– Auntie Shun

“Ah, the view of all those toys through your little window! I can’t think about riding the Pink Pig without thinking of the lighting of the great tree, atop the crystal bridge just as the singer would hit the high note in ‘O Holy Night.’”

– Karen Head

“When we first moved here in the 70’s, we rode it downtown. It was the whitest thing ever! We were really confused about the fuss of it.”

– Theresa Davis

“Riding the Pink Pig was such a fun experience. I remember going with my first grade class on a field trip to ride the Pink Pig and then having a picnic in a small nearby park. I met some of my college classmates my freshman year (fall of ‘87) at Rich’s to experience the Pink Pig one more time. Squeezing our adultish bodies (and booties) into the old girl was quite a hoot. Good times!”

– Cliff Smith

“My father took my younger sister and me to ride the Pink Pig in 1957 or ‘58. He was holding our hands as he led us to Priscilla. I assumed he would get on with us, but when he didn’t, I was scared to death. Then I looked down and saw him looking up at us and finally realized it was just going in a circle on the ceiling, we’d soon be back on the ground.”

– Cathy Tolan Curlette

“I rode the Pink Pig for the first time in 1976 during a first- grade field trip to Rich’s where we also saw Santa Claus. I don’t think you could get away with a field trip like that nowadays.

Seeing the giant Christmas tree just outside the window and the buildings of Atlanta was so awe-inspiring as a kid. I went back in 1990 before the grand old store closed and managed to squeeze onto the Pink Pig as an adult. It was hilarious how tiny and cramped it was inside, but it was worth the effort.

The ride wasn’t the same once it moved to Lenox, but Christmas won’t be the same without the Pink Pig.”

– Tina Miller

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