INTOWN FOR THE HOLIDAYS

An eclectic guide for events all month long

By Collin Kelley INtown Editor

Parades, concerts, shopping bazaars, ice skating and the dropping of a giant peach to welcome in 2015 are all on tap as the holiday season moves into overdrive. Here’s a rundown of upcoming events around Intown.

The Children’s Christmas Parade

Presented by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, the 34th annual event begins at 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 6 along Peachtree Street from 16th to 5th streets in Midtown. There will be floats, giant helium-filled balloons and marching bands and, of course, Santa Clause. If you can’t get out to the parade, it will be aired on WSB-TV. For more information, visit choa.org/parade.

Rink is also open daily through Jan. 19 from 4:30 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thrusday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $12 per person for a 90-minute session, including skate rental. For a full schedule of operating times, visit centennialpark.com.

Atlanta Ballet’s The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker returns to the Fox Theatre Dec. 11-28. The whimsical holiday tale takes 20 pounds of snow, eight tons of scenery, lighting, and props, and a 38-foot-tall Christmas tree to make the magic of Clara’s unbelievable story come to life. More than 200 of Atlanta’s young dancers will join the Atlanta Ballet professional company for the extravagant production live with the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra and the Georgia Youth Choir. For tickets and information, visit atlantaballet.com.

Global Gift Market

Christmas with the ASO

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra marks the season with a series of special events, starting with Handel’s Messiah on Dec. 4-5; Christmas with the ASO featuring more than 400 musicians to create Robert Shaw’s “Greatest Story Ever Told” on Dec. 11 and 13; A Very Merry Holiday Pops featuring holiday classics and a visit from the Grinch on Dec. 1920. For a schedule and to buy tickets, visit atlantasymphony.org.

purchase and visit one of several cash bars for your favorite libation. For more, visit atlantahistorycenter.com.

Winter GlassFest

Janke Studios in the Old Fourth Ward will host the 14th annual GlassFest on Dec. 13 from noon to 6 p.m. at Studioplex. There will be glassblowing exhibitions, flameworking demos, live music, kid’s area, refreshments and market for unique glass gifts. For more information, visit jankestudios.com.

Or VeShalom Hanukkah Bazaar

Or VeShalom Synagogue, 1681 North Druid Hills Road, will host its 39th event on Dec. 7 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with Sephardic/Mediterranean cuisine and booths featuring local art, jewelry, crafts, used books and much more. Admission is $3 at the door.

Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus Holiday Concert

Ring in the holidays with the AGMC’s 34th annual holiday concert at Buckhead’s The Cathedral of St. Philip on Dec. 5 at 8 p.m. and 2 and 8 p.m. on Dec. 6. This year’s theme is “Tied Up With Strings,” and will feature string quartet accompaniment for traditional carols, up-tempo holiday favorites and more. Tickets are $45 at voicesofnote.org.

Holiday In Lights/ Ice Rink at Centennial Park

The Downtown park will be decked out in thousands of lights and decorations through Jan. 19. The Ice

On Sunday, Dec. 7 and 14, Covenant Presbyterian Church in Buckhead will host its annual Global Gift Market in the church’s Fellowship Hall. Beautiful, hand-crafted gifts from Haiti and around the world will be offered for sale, along with gift cards and fair trade food products and baskets. In addition, women served by Thistle Farms in Nashville will offer natural body care products. The Global Gift Market will be open to the public from noon to 4 p.m. on Dec. 7 and noon to 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 14. Proceeds from the Global Gift Market will support the efforts of Ten Thousand Villages and the LaGonave Haiti Partnership. For more information, visit covenantpresbyterian.us.

Christmas at Peachtree Road UMC

Experience Christmas at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church with two free events beginning Dec. 7 at 5:30 p.m. with Carols by Candlelight: A Christmas Sing-a-long and The Many Moods of Christmas on Dec. 14 at 5:30 p.m. featuring the Chancel Choir, The Georgia Boy Choir, soloists and orchestra. On Dec. 19-20 at 7 p.m., the church will host Christmas with The Georgia Boy Choir. Visit georgiaboychoir.org for more information and to purchase tickets. The

Atlanta Santa Speedo Run

Strip down to your Speedos or skivvies for the sixth annual event on Dec. 13. The starting line is at Hudson Grille, 942 Peachtree Street in Midtown, at 2 p.m. (registration and merry-making begins at noon). The year’s beneficiary is Everybody Wins Atlanta, a nonprofit that helps children learn to improve their reading skills. To register, visit atlantasantaspeedorun.org.

Atlanta History Center’s Candlelight Nights

Step back in time and experience Christmas past with a candle-lit stroll on Dec. 4 and 18. Visit each of the three historic houses to experience how Southerners celebrated Christmas during the pioneer days, the Civil War era, and the 1930s. Guests experience holiday traditions of years past with interpreters and special activities. Enjoy food for

Peach Drop at Underground Atlanta

More than 175,000 people are expected at Underground Atlanta for the 26th annual New Year’s celebration. Activities begins at 11 a.m. on New Year’s Eve with music and family events, including carnival rides, music and an arcade. The main event, the dropping of the 800-pound peach at midnight, will be followed by fireworks, and other festivities until 4 a.m. For a full schedule of events, a list of musicians playing on the different stages, and a live countdown to 2015, visit peachdrop.com.