Deck the halls in Cobb County! From crafting and baking to holiday merry making, Cobb has plenty of cheer to offer kids and the young at heart.  Check out some of the wonderful holiday happenings that will get you in a festive mood this holiday season.

COOKIES FOR SANTA

Who doesn’t love to leave cookies out for Santa?

Donate supplies to families needing a little bit of Christmas cheer this year. Ward Recreation Center is collecting items to be given out to families through the Georgia Department of Child and Family Services as well as the community. We are looking for donations of sugar cookie mix, frosting, decorations and cookie cutters. Our goal is to help at least 50 families. Donations can be dropped off at Ward Recreation Center through Dec. 10.  If you would like to receive Cookies for Santa, please register online at cobbparks.org. The registration code is #19745.

Registrants can pick up their Cookies for Santa on Friday, Dec. 11 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 12 from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Please call 770-528-8885 if you have any questions.

12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY MARKET

The craft market at the Mable House Arts Center will run every day from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 2-13. The Friends of the Mable House will also be hosting their yearly Silent Auction to raise funds for the Historic Mable House Property. Please note this year’s market will have certain restrictions due to Covid-19 such as masks will be required to shop, there will be no Tea Room, and there will be limited occupancy throughout the day. For more information, please call 770-819-3285.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE SHOWDOWN

Think you have what it takes to be declared the ultimate gingerbread builder? This contest is open to all Cobb County residents, any age can participate. Gingerbread houses can be made from any materials and be any size. Photos of completed works most be submitted between through Dec. 12. Bracketed voting will take place Dec. 14-18 on Mable House Art Center’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/mablehouseartcenter.

The ultimate winner will be declared on Dec. 18 and will receive a trophy with bragging rights for being the best gingerbread house in Cobb County for 2020.

VIRTUAL SCAVENGER HUNT

The quest is on! Cobb Parks presents ‘Quest: Holiday Hunt December.’ Join us from Dec. 23-Jan. 2 as we celebrate the holidays and welcome in 2021 with this virtual scavenger hunt that will test the limits of your ability to be artistic, musical, festive and more. It’s a perfect social distancing activity for your family, a group of friends, or to find new friends! Deadline for registration is Dec. 21. For more information click HERE.  

Children ages 6-10 are invited to make a cute seasonal multimedia craft at Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center. The fun happens on Friday, Dec. 4 from 4-5 p.m. The cost is $10. Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center is located at 2051 Lower Roswell Rd., Marietta. Call 770-509-2711 for more information. (course code #19716)

HANDPAINTED HOLIDAY ORNAMENTS

Hand paint your own ceramic ornaments! Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center is hosting this crafty event for children ages 6-10 on Thursday, Dec. 10 from 3:30-5 p.m. We will provide glazes for up to 10 pre-bisqued ornaments that will be fired again for completion. The cost is $25. Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center is located at 2051 Lower Roswell Rd., Marietta. Call 770-509-2711 for more information. (course code #19783)

SANTA’S WORKSHOP HOLIDAY CRAFTS

Children ages 6-10 are invited to make a cute seasonal multimedia craft at Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center. The fun happens on Friday, Dec. 11 from 4-5 p.m. The cost is $10. Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center is located at 2051 Lower Roswell Rd., Marietta. Call 770-509-2711 for more information. (course code #19716)

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS 2020
Streamed performance
Tickets $25
Cobb County's biggest holiday event is returning for its 15th anniversary. Through the magic of film making, editing and social-distancing, we're excited to bring you a brand new live show while also taking a look back at our favorite performances from the past 14 years. This will be the biggest "Home for the Holidays" yet and we can't wait to share this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with you.

When you register, you are purchasing your ticket in advance. With this ticket purchase, you'll be treated to two holiday specials: the streamed version of our new 'Home for the Holidays' production with the Atlanta Lyric Theatre and a compilation of our favorite moments from previous productions starring former CCCEPA students. You'll see many familiar faces and hear recognizable tunes, but we're also excited to introduce you to new ones. It's a new spin on the show that's become a holiday tradition for Cobb County. A link to the virtual performance will be emailed to you on Dec. 11, the first day the streaming performance is available to patrons. The performance will remain accessible until 11 p.m., Dec. 13.

For more information or to buy tickets, visit andersontheatre.org or call the box office at 770-528-8490.

WE MADE HISTORY
Streamed performance
Tickets $100
Are you an educator? Would you like to gift the magic of theatre to an educator? If schools are unable to take field trips to the theatre, we will bring theatre to the schools. Cobb County PARKS and the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre staff produced a new educational musical based on the curriculum currently taught in Georgia middle schools. Educators and schools can purchase a streaming link to this performance and it will be available for the remainder of the school year. Patrons may also refer an educator to us and purchase a ticket as a gift to his or her classroom.

Written by Atlanta artists, Amanda Wansa Morgan and Ricardo Aponte, this 45-minute Theatre for Youth performance is a fun dive into Georgia's history and its memorable leaders. We jam through different eras of music as we get to know figures such as Alice Woodby McKane, President Jimmy Carter, Jackie Robinson, Juliette Gordon Low, Mary Musgrove and many others.

Your ticket purchase for an educator will cover one performance per classroom. This streamed show will also come with a downloadable and printable study guide. This show will become available to schools and classrooms for streaming Dec. 1.

For more information or to buy tickets, visit andersontheatre.org or call the box office at 770-528-8490.

NINE: In Concert
Streamed performance
Tickets $30
While our doors may not be open to the public yet, we will still be working hard to produce our musicals-in-concert series. We're kicking off our 2021 season with the Tony Award-winning "Nine." This performance will be streamed in late-January. You won't want to miss this Atlanta premier, so purchase your tickets as soon as they go on sale.

The story is based also on Federico Fellini's semi-autobiographical 1963 film '8½'. It focuses on film director Guido Contini, who is dreading his imminent 40th birthday and facing a midlife crisis, which is blocking his creative impulses and entangling him in a web of romantic difficulties in early-1960s Venice.

For more information or to buy tickets, visit andersontheatre.org or call the box office at 770-528-8490.

HOLIDAY LIGHT DISPLAYS

Does your neighborhood shine bright during the holiday season? Click here to upload your pictures of beautiful light displays in Cobb County and the surrounding area. There's also a map to locate where these stunning displays can be found. 

Spread the joy!  

• Share this link with family friends & citizens
• Add locations in your neighborhoods
• Safely social distance and drive to visit some of these amazing places!

LINK:     https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/dcfdf848ef9142e496199ba8b9df3258