I love that upon waking, one of my toddler’s first questions (among many!) is, “Where are we going today?” Especially since one of my biggest fears after finding out I was expecting baby #2, was wondering how I would ever be able to leave the house again?! Now, I don’t think twice about loading up my littles to paint the town!
We’re prepping for vacay around these parts and the temperatures are already sweltering so we will be lying low this week. We’ll probably hit up a story time or two and the Decatur Beach Party if it’s not too hot. (It’s Atlanta in summer after all) If you’re itching to get out with your little ones check out this week’s list! It includes Fathers Day activities around town for dad too, so let him pick an outing too!
THIS WEEK ONLY
Decatur Beach Party
June 17
5-11pm
Downtown Decatur
W. Ponce de Leon Ave & Church Street
678-553-6573
$12-15 at the gate; ages 4-12, $7-10; ages 3 and younger, free.
Celebrate summer during Decatur’s annual beach party. Families can build castles with sand toys in 60 tons of sand. Children’s boardwalk features games, activities, inflatables, and more. Food and drinks are available for purchase.
Juneteenth at Atlanta History Center
June 18-19
Atlanta History Center, 130 West Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta
FREE!
The two-day Juneteenth celebration focuses on the appreciation and commemoration of emancipation from slavery in the United States. There’ll be performances of The Order of Freedom and Clay: Palm to Earth, storytelling, demonstrations and culinary conversations with food historian Michael W. Twitty.
Father’s Day at Georgia Aquarium
June 19
Georgia Aquarium
Dads receive half off their general admission ticket with purchase of one full price adult, child, or senior admission on Father’s Day. Dad’s half-price ticket must be purchased at the ticketing window upon arrival. All other admissions may be purchased in advance online.
Father’s Day at Zoo Atlanta
June 19
800 Cherokee Ave, Atlanta, GA 30315
404-624-5600
This Father’s Day, Dads enjoy FREE admission with the purchase of any full-price child’s or adult’s general admission ticket. Discount valid only on Sunday, June 19, 2016; may not be combined with any other offer or promotion. The offer is valid online or at Zoo Atlanta Admissions.
Father’s Day Celebration at The Children’s Museum
June 18-19
11am-4pm
275 Centennial Olympic Park Drive, Atlanta
404-659-5437
Read The Night Before Father’s Day by Natasha Wing, make Dad a special key holder to take home, decorate baseball caps for Dad, and enjoy sports with Dad. Ages 1 and older $12.75
STORY TIME
Circle Time with Ms. Krista at Little Shop of Stories
June 16
11:00 a.m.
133 E Court Square # A, Decatur, GA 30030
404-373-6300
FREE!
Circle Time with Ms. Krista includes songs and interactive play, in addition to fun, age-appropriate stories. The group will meet in the gazebo on the Decatur Square, just a short walk from the store, during the summer months. This event is best suited to children 3 and under and will not take place in the event of inclement weather. Babies are welcome! Click here for more info.
Evening Story Time at Little Shop of Stories
June 16
7:00 p.m.
133 E Court Square # A, Decatur, GA 30030
404-373-6300
FREE!
If you missed circle time earlier in the day, you can load up your pajama clad little ones in the evening to enjoy a special story time and snack each Thursday at 7 p.m.
Story Time in the Garden at Toomer Elementary
June 22
9:30 a.m.
Toomer Elementary School, 65 Rogers St., NE, Atlanta
FREE!
Story time takes place every Wednesday at 9:30am in the Toomer garden. Kids can listen to stories, dig in the dirt, water the garden, and play with friends. All ages are welcome (2-6 years old is the target age).
Toddler Time with Mrs. White at Northside Library
June 22
10:30-11 am
Northside Branch Library, 3295 Northside Parkway, NW, Atlanta 30327
FREE!
Story time includes fingerplays, nursery rhymes, songs and board books. Appropriate for pre-schoolers. Click here for more information.
On Your Mark, Get Set, Read! Storytime at East Atlanta Library
June 21
10:30 a.m.
400 Flat Shoals Ave. SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
404-730-5438
FREE!
Tuesday’s storytime is geared for toddlers ages 3 and under. Storytime is in the meeting room. Afterwards, visit the children’s section of the library, where you can cuddle on a cushioned window seat with your toddler and a big pile of board books or get creative with the crayons and free coloring sheets available. There’s plenty of parking in the library lot or on the street.
Preschool Pals Story Time at West End Branch Library
June 21
10am
525 Peeples St., SW, Atlanta, GA 30310
FREE!
Enjoy theme-based story time and hands-on craft activities.
ARTS & CRAFTS
Toddler Thursdays at the High Museum
June 16
11am-3pm
High Museum
1280 Peachtree St., NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
Enjoy the museum’s new, themed family programs, this month with Eric Carle’s collage art! In conjunction with Toddler Takeover, the High Museum of Art will offer in-gallery tours just for toddlers (15 months–3 years) and their caregivers. Take part in a guided tour on the second and fourth Thursday of each month during Toddler Thursday (11 a.m.–3 p.m.). For more info, click here.
Family Fun at Woodruff Arts Center
June 19
Sundays 1-4
1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
FREE!
Bring the entire family to the Woodruff Arts Center on Sunday afternoons for a day of playing music, theatre games, crafts, instrument petting zoos, and more. The event is free, but online reservations are required. Click here to register.
This reservation puts you in a drawing for a chance to win a High Museum of Art Family Membership. For information about parking click here.
Drop in Art at Treehouse Kid & Craft
June 18
Every Saturday 10am
533 W. Howard Ave., Suite A, Decatur
470-355-8305
$12
Enjoy weekly activities including painting, drawing and sculpting inspired by the seasons, holidays, nature, artists or community happenings. Suitable for children ages 2-5.
RUN & PLAY
Kids Day at the Atlanta Dream
June 22
10 am-12pm
Philips Arena
Tickets start at $14
Bag lunches permitted. Face painting, balloon artist, kids sports zone and more. For more info, click here.
Tot spot at Atlantic Station
June 21
10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
1380 Atlantic Drive, NW Atlanta, GA 30363
404-410-4010
FREE!
Each Tuesday morning, Atlantic Station’s Central Park transforms into every child’s dream playground! Toddlers can enjoy games, storytelling, toys, music and appearances from very special guests.
Fountain of Rings Splash Pad
Everyday
Centennial Olympic Park
Free!
The Fountain of Rings is the centerpiece of Centennial Olympic Park and is one of the most recognized and photographed landmarks in Georgia. The free Fountain of Rings show plays four times a day, 365 days a year, at 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. To view any schedule changes, click here.
COOKING
Young Chef’s Academy
Participating locations
$35 per class
Classes each week are centered on a monthly theme. Learn the basics of cooking in Kinder Cooks or try the Junior or Senior Chef classes in Marietta, North Druid Hills and Sandy Springs. Click here to register.
NATURE/OUTDOORS
Zoo Atlanta Stroller Cubs
June 18, 22, 25
10:00 a.m.
Zoo Atlanta, 800 Cherokee Ave., Atlanta, GA 30315
404-624-5600
Member adult/child pair – $18 ($9 per person)
Non-Member adult/child pair – $24 ($12 per person)
Cost includes Zoo admission.
Bring your little one on an early learning adventure to celebrate animal dads in honor of Father’s Day. Visit animal exhibits, and meet a friendly animal ambassador up-close during a special introduction to wildlife for our littlest guests. Adults socialize while kids enjoy playtime! Each month features a different area of the Zoo and a different animal ambassador. Don’t forget your stroller! Advance registration required. Click here to register.
Attracting Hummingbirds and Butterflies-Kids Class
June 22
Participating Pike’s Nursery locations
FREE!
During this fun and informative class designed especially for kids, Pike Nurseries garden experts will teach families about the benefits of attracting pollinators – like hummingbirds and butterflies – to the garden! Whether guests are avid wildlife watchers or little nature-lovers just getting started, Pike Nurseries has expert advice on how to create a welcoming habitat for these feathered and fluttering friends with food, water, shelter and sunlight. Customers who attend this class will enjoy 15 percent off selected items!
Contact your store for more info. Click here for a list of classes.
STEM ACTIVITIES
Toddler Time at Lego Land Discovery Center
June 22
10:00 a.m.
Lego Land Discovery Center at Phipps Plaza,
3500 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta, GA 30326
FREE for children 0-2!
Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday head to Lego Land for guided play and story time for toddlers at in the DUPLO® Village. Tickets for children over 3 and adults are $11.95.
THEATRE & FILM
Tale Time Thursdays at Center for Puppetry Arts
June 16
2pm-2:30pm
Center for Puppetry Arts, 1404 Spring St. NW at 18th, Atlanta GA
Museum only tickets are $10.50. Children under 2 are free
Dive into folktales through this puppet-led storytelling experience. Gather in the Global Collection gallery to hear stories from around the globe every Thursday at 2 p.m. Included with museum admission.
Movies on the Town at Town Brookhaven – Ghostbusters
June 16
6:30 PM – 10:00 PM Movies begin at dusk
Town Brookhaven, 4330 Peachtree Road, NE Atlanta, GA 30319
FREE!
Movies on the Town is back on the green space at Town Brookhaven with free movies at dusk. Music and announcements begin approximately two hours prior. Bring your blankets, come early, grab dinner to eat on the green space and watch the movie of the week with your friends and family! This week’s feature is Ghostbusters. No coolers, outside food/drinks, pets or chairs allowed. For more info click here.
Babies in Space
June 18-19
Alliance Theatre
Joseph R Bankoff Gallery
1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
A part of the Theatre for the Very Young series, Babies in Space, is an interactive outer-space playscape and performance for little ones newborn through 24 months old. Admission to the playscape is free. Performance tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children aged 6-17 and free for children 5 and under.
Performance Times (requires a ticket)
Sundays: 1 p.m., 2 p.m., & 3 p.m.
Playspace Hours (FREE admission)
Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturdays: 12:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Sundays: 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Movies in Central Park: Indiana Jones: Temple of Doom
June 23
Movie begins at dusk
Atlantic Station
1380 Atlantic Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30363
404-410-4010
FREE!
Pack up the little ones and head out to Atlantic Station for the Movies in Central Park series, featuring Indiana Jones: Temple of Doom this week.
