🎄 200 Vendors at Piedmont & Holiday Light Drive Guide

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I’m officially in the “how many light displays can we squeeze in before bedtime?” phase of December.

This week, our crew is aiming for Christmas at Piedmont one night and a slow drive through Lights of Life on another, with hot chocolate in travel mugs and someone inevitably losing a glove under a seat.

If you’ve got kids who live for brunch, you’ll want to save the Fluffy Fluffy Dessert Café feature below. Their soufflé pancakes are basically edible clouds.

And for anyone staring down midterms or ACT season, our East Cobb Tutoring Center spotlight has some concrete ideas to take a little pressure off your kitchen table.

Parking will be the pain point at most big events this week, so build in extra time and keep some snacks in the car, especially for Friday night outings.

Weather looks seasonably cool, so think layers for anything outdoors, including the Sunday menorah lighting at The Avenue.

Scroll on for this week’s Weekend Planner, and pick one thing that sounds fun rather than trying to do it all.

December’s busy enough without turning your calendar into a competitive sport.

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Piedmont Church
570 Piedmont Rd, Marietta, GA 30066
Thursday–Friday, Dec 11–12, 2025
Thu 5–9 p.m.; Fri 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Free admission (kids’ activities and some rides extra)
Details: Event info

Christmas at Piedmont is one of those easy, all-in-one outings: you get holiday shopping, live music, and plenty of kid distractions without trekking into the city.

Expect 200+ arts and crafts vendors, food trucks, and a mix of school and church performances on the outdoor stage. Families tend to park once, grab snacks, and wander so strollers are a good idea for little legs.

Lines for kids’ activities and rides are usually longest right after dinner; if you can swing it, coming early on Friday makes things feel less hectic.

Parking is free but fills fast near the main entrance; look for overflow signage and bring cash or a card for food and activities. This is very family-friendly, but you’ll want hats and a warm layer once the sun goes down.

🍰 Fluffy Fluffy Dessert Café

Fluffy Fluffy brings Japanese-style soufflé pancakes to East Cobb, and they’re exactly what they sound like – tall, jiggly and ridiculously light.

Between the blueberry cheesecake, cookies & cream, and strawberry pancakes (all with ice cream on top), it’s easy to turn brunch into dessert, or vice versa.

The menu also has “Fluffy All Day” breakfast plates, croffles (croissant-waffles), and solid coffee and milk tea options, so non-sweet-tooths won’t feel left out.

The vibe is bright and casual, with lots of natural light and small tables that work well for a treat after church, exams, or sports.

Pro tip: weekend late mornings can get busy, consider a slightly earlier or later visit, and order ahead online if you’re grabbing to go.

Open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.!

Details & Menu: FluffyFluffy.com

East Cobb Tutoring Center has quietly become one of the go-to spots for families who want more than cookie-cutter homework help.

They’ve served more than 3,500 students over the past decade with a team of around 20 experienced tutors, many of them current or former classroom teachers.

They cover everything from upper-elementary reading to AP science, college math, and SAT/ACT prep, with 55-minute one-on-one sessions in person or online.

Parents especially like that you can usually stick with the same tutor and there are no long-term contracts – you schedule what you need, when you need it.

If you’ve got a January exam or a senior still polishing essays, this is a good place to get a game plan in place now rather than waiting until the week before.

Browse/learn more: East Cobb Tutoring Center

The Cobb Community Foundation’s Match Magic Giveathon just wrapped a three-week holiday campaign that rallied neighbors across Cobb to raise $1,710,586 for 27 local nonprofits, blowing past a $1 million goal.

A $125,000+ match pool helped stretch every gift even further, turning individual donations into deeper support for groups doing frontline work.

Those dollars will stay close to home, helping families find food and other basic needs, supporting kids’ education, and providing housing, safety, and health services across the county.

Many of the participating organizations directly serve East Cobb families, from weekend food programs in local schools to mental health counseling, youth mentoring, and crisis housing support.

Behind the scenes, a coalition of local families, corporate partners, and charitable funds seeded the match pool so individual donations could go even further, effectively multiplying each gift into larger impact for the participating nonprofits.

Source: Cobb Community Foundation

Cobb County’s Department of Emergency Communications just hit a huge milestone: the 911 center has been named the 27th agency in the world to earn “Triple Accredited Center of Excellence” (Tri-ACE) status from the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch.

That means Cobb’s call-taking protocols for police, fire, and medical emergencies have all passed a rigorous, data-heavy review and are certified as top tier.

The county says it’s also the first county agency in Georgia to reach this level, and the team will be formally recognized at the 2026 Navigator conference in Las Vegas.

For East Cobb families, it’s a behind-the-scenes win: the folks picking up 911 calls are operating at a truly elite standard.

Source: Cobb County

The Cobb Library Foundation has launched the Cobb Library Shop, an online storefront where every hoodie, mug, and tote helps fund marketing and outreach for Cobb County Public Library.

All revenue from the shop flows back to the Foundation, creating a sustainable fundraising stream that boosts visibility for programs without replacing public funding.

The store debuts with six themed collections, like Library Holiday Market, Once Upon a Fam’, Bookmobile Buddies, Librarian Said What?!, Legacy: Unleashed, and The Legacy Collection, featuring mascots Dewey and Rita on everything from tees to throw blankets.

It launched on a shoestring budget (under $700), and local artists can even submit designs, making it a fun way for book lovers to wear their library pride and support system-wide outreach at the same time.

Source: Cobb County

The City of Marietta has agreed to buy back about 33 acres on Franklin Gateway, land it once sold to IKEA for a store that never got built, for $18.5 million, using voter-approved redevelopment bond funds.

City leaders are now making a hard pitch for the site to become the training home for Atlanta’s new National Women’s Soccer League team, pointing to its location just down the road from Atlanta United’s Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground.

Even if the NWSL franchise ultimately chooses another spot, officials say the large, shovel-ready property gives them a prime canvas for Franklin Gateway redevelopment, from potential sports facilities and green space to other long-term economic projects.

Source: Fox 5 Atlanta

Adult cats like Crystal are past the wild kitten stage and often settle more quickly into a home routine, which can be a great fit for families who want a calmer companion.

At Cobb County Animal Services, cat adoptions are typically $115, which includes core vaccinations (including rabies), deworming, and spay/neuter surgery before your new friend goes home.

Crystal is one of many pets in the shelter’s care, so giving her a spot on your couch also helps free up space for the next animal who needs a safe place to land.

See Crystal’s adoption profile

🐾 Santa Paws at The Battery Atlanta | The Battery Atlanta, Cumberland | 4:00–8:00 p.m. | Free | More
Bring your pup for free DIY photos with Santa at the Truist Community Corner, then wander The Battery’s holiday lights, market, and restaurants.

🎄 Christmas at Piedmont Church Arts & Crafts Show | Piedmont Church, Marietta | 5:00–9:00 p.m. | Free admission; kids’ activities extra | More
Kick off the weekend with vendors, kids’ rides, school performances, and plenty of treats – easy to squeeze in after school or work if you go early.

🎬 Lights, Camera, Avenue! – How The Grinch Stole Christmas | Avenue East Cobb, Marietta | 6:00 p.m. | Free | More
Settle in on The Plaza green for a free outdoor screening of the Dr. Seuss classic, with takeout from Avenue restaurants encouraged for picnic-style movie night.

🎄 Christmas at Piedmont Church Arts & Crafts Show (Day Two) | Piedmont Church, Marietta | 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. | Free admission | More
Daytime hours are perfect for younger kids, grandparents, or anyone who prefers lighter crowds and warmer sunshine.

🚗 Lights of Life Holiday Light Display | Life University, Marietta | 6:00–10:00 p.m. (check site) | Per-car admission | More
Pack cocoa and blankets for this 1.5-mile drive-through display with over a million lights, rides, and photo ops.

🍬 World of Illumination: Candy Rush | Six Flags White Water, Marietta | Timed entry evenings (around 6:00–10:00 p.m.) | Tickets per car (starts at $39.99) | More
A candy-themed animated light show you enjoy from the car – huge wow factor for kids and teens.

🚗 Lights of Life Holiday Light Display | Life University, Marietta | 6:00–10:00 p.m. | Per-car admission | More
Do a “double lights” night with Candy Rush or make Lights of Life the main event if you want something closer to home.

🕎 Giant Gelt Drop & Menorah Lighting | Avenue East Cobb, Marietta | 5:30–7:00 p.m. | Free | More
Celebrate the first night of Chanukah with music, treats, a community menorah, and chocolate coins raining from a fire-truck ladder.

🍸 Whiskey Dickens’ A Christmas Carol | The Alley Stage, Marietta Square | 8:00–10:00 p.m. (doors open at 7:30 p.m.) | $35 | More
Two actors, plenty of improv, and an onstage drinking game turn Dickens’ classic into a rowdy, adults-only holiday comedy night just off the Square.

🎶 Christmas with Coro Vocati: Songs of Wonder, Hope, and Joy | St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church, Marietta | 7:00–9:00 p.m. | tickets $8–$24 | More
Soak in an evening of lush choral music that blends traditional carols with contemporary works, plus a few sing-along favorites in a beautiful candlelit church setting.

🎶 Christmas with Coro Vocati: Songs of Wonder, Hope, and Joy | All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Midtown Atlanta | 1:30 p.m. | tickets start at $12.45 | More
Let the sanctuary fill with soaring carols, rich new choral works, and a few sing-along favorites in a warm, candlelit celebration of the season.

Address: 4346 Steinhauer Rd, Marietta, GA 30066

Sweat Mountain Park is a wooded hillside complex in northeast Cobb that blends busy ballfields and tennis courts with a quiet strip of nature trails, a playground, pavilion, and one of the county’s better-known off-leash dog parks.

Locals describe it as a hidden gem and an easy “choose your own adventure” spot—families bounce between the playground and fields while dog owners linger in the separate large- and small-dog enclosures or wander the shaded loop that links both sides of the park.

If you’re looking for a free outing that works just as well for a quick morning walk as it does for an unhurried afternoon outside, this is one of the most flexible parks in the area.

Morning strategy (8–10 AM):

Head up the hill early and start with a loop on the wooded nature trails that connect both sides of the park. It’s cooler, quieter, and you’ll spot plenty of birds and squirrels before baseball practices get going. If you have a pup, swing by the off-leash dog park first so they can get their zoomies out before you stroll the paths or let kids explore the playground.

Afternoon plan (2–5 PM):

In the afternoon, treat it as a laid-back play-and-spectate spot: grab a ball or frisbee for the open areas, then move to the playground while older kids watch or join pickup games on the fields or tennis courts. Families with dogs can trade off between time at the fenced dog park and shade breaks on the benches, which makes it easy to hang out for a couple of hours without anyone getting bored.

Hidden features:

Look for the outdoor fitness stations tucked along the nature trail. Three-level pull-up bars are fun for kids to climb and for grown-ups to sneak in a few reps. The trail itself feels surprisingly “woodsy” for being right off Steinhauer, and on clear days you get peeks of the surrounding hills, including nearby Sweat Mountain. Dog people will appreciate the separate large- and small-dog areas plus water fixtures and shade trees.

Parking & bathrooms:

There are two main parking lots. One off Steinhauer Rd that’s closest to the tennis courts, pavilion, and dog park, and another off S Jims Rd that’s handy for the ball fields, playground, and restrooms. Bathrooms and water fountains are located by the concession building near the fields, and the park is generally open from morning through early evening, with no entry fee.

Check out the park’s Google Maps page

December in East Cobb means a lot more evening laps along Roswell Road, Johnson Ferry, and Lower Roswell as you bounce between light displays, concerts, and friends’ houses. All that after-dark driving can feel cozy, right up until you’re squinting through glare, drizzle, or surprise brake lights.

Before you load the car with kids and cocoa, take ten minutes for a quick “night-drive tune-up”:

A tiny bit of prep now can save a long night later, especially when everyone’s tired, dressed up, and ready to be home.

Diamond Brite Mobile Headlight Restoration
Mobile service that comes to East Cobb to clear cloudy, yellowed headlights so you can see (and be seen) better on nighttime drives.
(770) 728-3181
diamondbriteheadlights.com

PeachLine Mobile Detailing
Family-owned mobile detailer serving Marietta and East Cobb; great for a deep clean of your windshield, glass, and mirrors before holiday road trips.
(404) 856-3626
peachlinemobiledetailing.com

I & I Mobile Tire Services
24/7 mobile tire service that will come to you in East Cobb if you end up with a flat after a holiday event or need a tire swapped in the driveway.
(470) 231-2311
ianditires.com