The Smyrna and Vinings area spends the end of Thanksgiving week on its holiday kickoffs. Four events fall between November 23 and December 1, 2026: a tree lighting at The Battery Atlanta, a Braves mascot photo experience at Truist Park, a live science talk at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, and Smyrna's Home for the Holidays on the last day of the window. Each entry lists what the organizer has published and what to confirm. Thursday, November 26 is Thanksgiving, and the City of Smyrna closes its library and museum that day, so plan outings for the weekend and the days around it. Saturday, November 28 is the busiest day, with the tree lighting running from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. and the Cobb Energy Centre show starting at 7:30 p.m., so most people will want to pick one of the two for that evening. The Truist Park photo slots are timed and the times are not published, so book those first.
Tree Lighting at The Battery Atlanta
The Battery's annual tree lighting is presented by Wellstar and takes place on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
When
Saturday, November 28, 2026, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Where
The Battery Atlanta, with live entertainment on the Georgia Power Pavilion Stage. The Battery's address is 800 Battery Avenue SE, Atlanta, GA 30339. The Battery is the mixed-use district next to Truist Park, and it shares the 30339 ZIP code with Vinings, which makes it the closest holiday event to Vinings on this list.
Cost and tickets
The Battery's page does not list a price or a ticket requirement. Check batteryatl.com before you go to confirm that there is no charge, and look there for any change to the schedule on the day. Parking arrangements are not described on the page, so allow extra time on a holiday weekend.
Good to know
The A-Town A-List performs on the Georgia Power Pavilion Stage, special guests make appearances and Santa helps light the tree. Afterward, families can watch an outdoor movie on the plaza screen as part of the movie series.
BLOOPER Holiday Photo Experience at Truist Park
The Atlanta Braves mascot hosts a holiday photo experience inside the ballpark on weekends through mid December.
When
Weekends from November 28 through December 13, 2026, which puts Saturday, November 28 and Sunday, November 29 inside this window. Tickets are timed and honored only for the date and slot purchased, and the page does not list specific times.
Where
Truist Park, entering at the 1st Base Gate. The park sits beside The Battery Atlanta in Cobb County.
Cost and tickets
A reservation is required through the Buy Now link on the Braves page, and tickets are limited and expected to sell out. Each ticket covers up to six guests. The page does not list a ticket price. An optional $26 donation adds a 2026 pennant ornament and benefits the Atlanta Braves Foundation.
Good to know
The Battery's holiday page calls this BLOOPER's Holiday Clubhouse Experience and notes that it takes place inside Truist Park, not at The Battery. Because the event is by reservation, there is no walk-up option to count on, so book the slot first and plan the rest of the day around it. For questions, the Braves list the email address [email protected]. The Braves also list a Kids Club Holiday Fest at the park on December 5 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at $5 per ticket, which falls after this window.
Professor Brian Cox: Emergence at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
The physicist and broadcaster brings a live show to the Cobb Energy Centre on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
When
Saturday, November 28, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Where
Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339, a short drive from Vinings and Smyrna.
Cost and tickets
Tickets are sold through Ticketmaster, and the venue does not publish prices on its event list. The Synovus Box Office at the venue opens at 2:00 p.m. on performance days and accepts credit and debit cards only.
Good to know
The venue's listing gives the date, the time and the ticket link, but no description, runtime or age guidance. Check with the box office before bringing children, and ask about doors, runtime and seating when you call, since none of that appears in the listing. Because the show shares a Saturday night with the Battery tree lighting, decide early which one fits your evening, since the two are only a few minutes apart by car.
Home for the Holidays in Smyrna
Smyrna calls this evening its annual kickoff to the holiday season.
When
Tuesday, December 1, 2026, from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Because December 1 is a weekday, the long evening window is designed for people arriving after work, and the city lists the tree lighting as the centerpiece of the night.
Where
Market Village in Smyrna, GA 30080, which the city lists as the location for the evening.
Cost and tickets
The city's 2026 listing does not state a price. Check the city's calendar entry before you go, and watch it for any update closer to the date. The listing does not describe parking, so allow a few extra minutes on a weekday evening.
Good to know
The evening includes performances by local choirs across Market Village, and Santa makes a special appearance to light the tree and pose for photos afterward. The Kris Kringle Market sells gifts and treats in a winter wonderland setting with twinkling lights and festive decor, and the city lists separate application links for market vendors and food trucks, which tells you the evening is a market as much as a ceremony. The tree lighting itself is the centerpiece, and Santa is available for photos once the tree is lit.
Smyrna and Vinings Thanksgiving Week Questions
Is there a Vinings event inside this window? Not at Vinings Jubilee itself. Vinings Jubilee lists its Christmas Tree Lighting on Thursday, December 3 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. with holiday music, Santa visits and train rides, and a Chanukah Festival and Menorah Lighting on Sunday, December 6, starting at 5:00 p.m. Both fall just after these dates. The Vinings Jubilee office can be reached at 770-476-4801 for details, and prices for Santa visits and train rides are not listed on its site.
What closes for Thanksgiving in Smyrna? The Smyrna Library and Smyrna Museum are closed on November 26 and 27, the museum is also closed on November 28, and the library closes early at 6:00 p.m. on November 23, 24 and 25. The city also lists a holiday adjustment to curbside sanitation service on November 26 and 27, so check the schedule if you are hosting. The city calendar lists Letters to Santa starting November 28 and continuing into December, and To-Go Craft Kits on November 30 at 10:00 a.m.
What else does Smyrna offer in early December? The city lists the Smyrna Holiday Market on December 5 and 6 at Brawner Hall and Reed House, and a Kids Holiday Market on December 12. Those dates all fall after this window, which makes Home for the Holidays the one large Smyrna gathering inside this window.
Where can I confirm details? See the city's Home for the Holidays listing and the Battery's holiday page.
