Cool Things To Do in January in Atlanta

By Taylor Boser

Published December 17, 2024
Last Updated January 7, 2025

The holidays are over, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to celebrate. Whether you’re in the mood for a show, a sporting event, something to do with the family or just looking for other fun festivities around Atlanta, there’s a variety of things to do this January.

Shows All Around the A

From concerts to comedy shows to even a WWE event, Atlanta is jam-packed with shows to check out this month.

Experience the Transformative Power of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Coucheron + The Four Seasons, Jan. 10-12

Joe Gatto: LET’S GET INTO IT,  Jan. 11

Rachmaninoff + Stravinsky, Jan. 16-18

Music for the Very Young – The Lion and the Mouse: A Musical Tale for Little Ears, Jan. 18-19

SWAG Gospel, Jan. 19

Beethoven Project: Symphony No. 1 and Symphony No. 3, Jan. 23-25

IN UNISON Reception, Jan. 23

Jam Out at The Eastern

Inzo & Mersiv – Digital Night Drive, Jan. 10-11

L’Imperatrice, Jan. 14

070 Shake, Jan. 21

Sullivan King, Jan. 25

Hippo Campus, Jan. 29

Deathpact presents From Darkness, Comes Light (The Tour), Jan. 31

Shows To See at the Fox Theatre

& Juliet, Jan. 7-12

Steve Martin & Martin Short: The Dukes of Funnytown!, Jan. 24

Time For Some Fun at State Farm Arena

Lil Wayne with GloRilla & Muni Long, Jan. 18

Camila Cabello with Myles Smith & Knox, Jan. 19

WWE Monday Night RAW, Jan. 27

Concerts You Won’t Want to Miss at the Tabernacle

NoCap – Before I Disappear Again Tour, Jan. 23

Trampled by Turtles, Jan. 24

These Lesser Known Names Still Bring a Huge Crowd at Variety Playhouse

Big Mike Geier’s Elvis Royale featuring The Kingsized Rock ‘N’ Roll Orchestra, Jan. 10-11

Magic City Hippies – Enemies Tour, Jan. 17

Blind Pilot, Jan. 21

Soccer Mommy, Jan. 22

Paul Cauthen, Jan. 23

Hot Tuna, Jan. 24

Moon Zooz: Too Many Zooz + Moon Hooch with Honeycomb, Jan. 25

MJ Lenderman & The Wind, Jan. 26-27

James McMurtry, Jan. 29

Feeling Sporty?

We know Atlanta sports teams are No. 1. So get your tickets to watch some great match-ups this month. 

Atlanta Hawks vs. Houston Rockets, Jan. 11 at 3 p.m.

Atlanta Hawks vs. Phoenix Suns, Jan. 14 at 7:30 p.m.

Atlanta Hawks vs. Detroit Pistons, Jan. 22 at 7:30 p.m.

Atlanta Hawks vs. Toronto Raptors, Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m.

Atlanta Hawks vs. Toronto Raptors, Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m.

Atlanta Vibe Home Opener vs. Columbus Fury, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m.

Atlanta Vibe vs. Grand Rapids Rise, Jan. 19 at 3 p.m.

Atlanta Vibe vs. Vegas Thrill, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m.

More Can’t-Miss Sporting Events

While you can’t go wrong watching Atlanta sports teams play, the list of sporting events doesn’t stop there.

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Jan. 1 at 1 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Kicking off the new year, the Peach Bowl brings a match-up between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the winner of the Texas vs. Clemson game. Can’t make it to the game? FanFest presented by Lions Club International makes it easy to still experience the action. From more than 200,000 square feet of interactive attractions like punting, passing and kicking games, this is a great way to spend New Year’s Day. The events are happening on Jan. 1 from 8 a.m. to noon in the Georgia World Congress Center Building C. The FanFest is free to all fans.

College Football Playoff National Championship on Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m.

The entire college football season culminates here. As we wait to find out which teams will compete for the title, we can still get excited for the Playoff Fan Central. This free event is great to stop by with the family to enjoy games, pep rallies, autograph signings and exhibits celebrating college football and its history. The events are happening Jan. 18-20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Georgia World Congress Center Building A. This is free to the public.

The Trophy Trot is the official road race of the College Football Playoff. Register for the 5k or 10k happening at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 19.

AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! is bringing star-studded performers to State Farm Arena. Lil Wayne, GloRilla and Muni Long will perform on Saturday, Jan. 18. Camila Cabello, Myles Smith and Knox will perform on Sunday, Jan 19. Tickets are on sale now.

Taste of the Championship offers attendees gourmet food and drinks prepared by local chefs. The elevated dining experience is happening at the Georgia Aquarium on Jan. 19. There are VIP Experience and General Admission tickets on sale.

Don’t miss out on tailgating for the game at the Championship Tailgate happening at Georgia International Plaza and The Home Depot Backyard, right near Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Tailgating is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 20 before kickoff.

Centennial Yards Tailgating Experience

Experience the hype surrounding the CFP National Championship by checking out Centennial Yards tailgating experience happening Jan. 20 from 3-7:30 p.m., right before kickoff. Featured vendors include Das BBQ, Urban Grind, ATL Hawks, Fabulous Face Creation, SXS Beauty Booth and Atlanta’s own Heavy Hitta’s Drumline. There will be food trucks, football training games, a pre-game watch station and even a hot cocoa bar. Check out all this fun happening on the Steele Bridge at 125 Ted Turner Dr. SW in Downtown Atlanta.

Family-Friendly Things To Do

Grab the whole family to explore the city, all while trying to keep warm.

Delta Flight Museum

2025 marks the 100th anniversary of Delta Air Lines. Stop by the Delta Flight Museum to learn about the history of the company and how it has evolved through the years. From the first passenger flight to flights around the world, Delta has been a trailblazer in the airline industry.

IllumiNights at the Zoo

Just because the holidays are over doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy beautiful lights. While the animals will be sleeping at night, the lanterns transform Zoo Atlanta into a nighttime wonderland. The mile-long stroll wouldn’t be complete without sipping on hot cocoa and enjoying marshmallows by the fire. Enjoy it through Jan. 19.

Titantic: An Immersive Voyage

Experience the most luxurious ship to set sail by checking out the Titanic through an immersive voyage. Uncover hidden stories, see the ship’s construction and walk through the halls. There is even a VR experience that takes you 2.5 miles below the sea. All ages are welcome and children four years old and under are free.

Can’t Miss Activities

AJC Polar Opposite Peachtree Road Race, Jan. 4

While the world’s largest 10k happens on July Fourth in Atlanta, this will be very similar to The Peachtree Road Race, just backward. Starting from Piedmont Park and ending at Lenox Square, the runners will race through the cold weather. The race is sold out, but you can always start training for the Peachtree Road Race in the summer.

Atlanta Boat Show, Jan. 9-12

What better thing to do while dealing with colder temperatures than focusing on warmer weather? The Atlanta Boat Show returns to the Georgia World Congress Center in January so you can pick out the perfect boat for your summer water adventure. Whether you’re looking for a new boat, marine products or just browsing, find it all at the Atlanta Boat Show.

Dallas Safari Club Convention and Sporting Expo, Jan. 9-12

This four-day event is one of the biggest conservation fund-raising events in the U.S. The convention will kick off with the Exhibitor Partner Casino Night Welcome Party on Jan. 9. There is a ladies’ luncheon on Jan. 10 and a live auction on Jan. 11. The convention floor hours are Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys

Head over to the High Museum of Art to see the latest breathtaking exhibit. The exhibit is a collection of world-class paintings, photographs and sculptures by diverse, multigenerational artists. Artists featured include Barkley L. Hendricks, Esther Mahlangu and Gordon Parks. The exhibit runs through Jan. 19.

Goizueta Children’s Experience at Atlanta History Center

The Goizueta Children’s Experience opens at the Atlanta History Center on Saturday, Jan. 11. While the theme will rotate annually, it kicks off with Our Great Big City where kids and their families can check out the Varsity center and even fly a Delta plane. The immersive and multi-sensory design is geared towards crawlers, ages 1-3 years old, to second graders, ages six to eight years old.

Lunar New Year Festival

This is the year of the snake. Stone Mountain Park is celebrating Lunar New Year by paying tribute to the culture and New Year’s traditions of Korea, China, Vietnam and other countries that follow the lunar calendar. The event is happening Jan. 25 and 26, Feb. 1, 2, 8 and 9 from 4-9 p.m. The summit skyride is happening from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 20

The King Center plans events from Jan. 7-20 to honor Martin Luther King Jr. There will be a Beloved Community youth book reading on Jan. 14 and a Beloved Community teach-in on Jan. 17. On MLK Day, there will be a Martin Luther King Jr. Beloved Community commemorative service and service project. 

The Atlanta History Center will be commemorating the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and the women who helped shape the Civil Rights Movement. This free event is happening on Jan. 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Marcus Bar & Grille

Honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Marcus Bar & Grille with a special menu that guides guests along the global path MLK once traveled. The dinner service is available from Jan. 14-19 and will include King’s jambalaya with BBQ fried chicken, Jollof rice, fish curry, collards, cornbread and peanut chimichurri. During weekend (1/18-1/19) and on MLK Jr. Day, there will be a brunch buffet to enjoy.

Snooze After Dark

While breakfast always tastes good in the morning, why not try it out at night? Snooze A.M. Eatery’s Piedmont Park location is hosting Snooze After Dark with 100% of ticket proceeds benefitting Giving Kitchen to help food service workers in need. Tickets are available for purchase for $55 and include one appetizer, two drinks, one entree and one dessert. The event is on Thursday, Jan. 30 from 6:30-8 p.m.

Try Zero-Proof Cocktails

Maybe you’re participating in Dry January or maybe you’re just looking for a tasty drink, alcohol free. There are plenty of places around Atlanta to grab a zero-proof cocktail, including Bar Politan in Colony Square, The Sober Social and Your 3rd Spot. Find our full list here.

For more things to do in Atlanta anytime, visit our calendar of events.

A Chicago transplant, Taylor loves exploring what makes Atlanta the place to be. Name a popular festival, food hall or brewery to check out and she will be there.