🎄 Tree Lighting, Artisan Market & Moxie Burger

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I'm officially in "two things at once" season: hunting down mittens in the hall closet while also trying to remember which kid needs a Secret Santa gift by Friday.

This week feels like the real start of the holidays in East Cobb, with the Marietta Square tree lighting on Thursday and a full slate of lights, markets, and concerts all weekend.

If your crew can handle a later night, the Marietta Square Christmas Tree Lighting & Santa on the Square is such a sweet tradition: choirs, an ugly sweater parade, Santa's big entrance, and that moment when the lights come on all at once.

Pair it with an early burger run at Moxie Burger in Paper Mill Village, and you've got an easy weeknight "event" that still gets everyone home at a reasonable hour.

One quick practical tip: parking around the Square will fill up early for the tree lighting.

If you can swing it, aim to arrive by 4:30 to 5:00 p.m., and consider the public parking decks a block or two off the main square.

Layers are your friend: the temps drop fast once the sun goes down.

When you're done here, scroll down to the Local Events. It's grouped by Family Fun and Adults so you can skim what fits your season of life in about 10 seconds.

Reply to this email to send tips and events!

Glover Park on the Marietta Square, Marietta
Thursday, December 4, 2025
4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Free
Details: Event info

Marietta's annual tree lighting is one of those "this is why we live here" nights.

The fun starts mid-afternoon with performances from local school and church choirs, plus kids' activities and letter-writing stations for Santa.

As the sun goes down, the Ugly Holiday Sweater Parade steps off, Santa makes his big entrance around 5:15 p.m., and the tree lighting ceremony follows at about 6:00 p.m.

Expect big crowds, strollers everywhere, and lots of photo-op spots all around the Square.

Food trucks and nearby restaurants will be busy, so consider grabbing a snack earlier in the afternoon or making dinner plans slightly off the Square.

If you're bringing younger kids, snag a spot closer to the center of the park so they can actually see Santa and the lights. This is a very family-friendly event, but it's also a fun date night if you pair it with a walk under the lights and a post-tree-lighting dessert.

Moxie Burger has become a go-to neighborhood spot for East Cobb families, especially if you're coming from a game at Fullers Park or a walk at the river.

The menu leans into creative burgers (beef, chicken, turkey, and veggie), hand-cut fries, and milkshakes that are basically a bribe for good behavior.

The casual counter-service setup keeps things moving even on busy nights, and the patio is great for letting kids wiggle without side-eye from other diners.

If you like to keep it simple, the classic Moxie burger with cheddar and house sauce is solid; more adventurous eaters can try builds with pimento cheese or fried pickles.

Pro tip: go early on weekend nights or after 7:30 p.m. to avoid the peak dinner rush, and take advantage of the kids' menu portions for younger eaters.

Details & menu: Restaurant website

For families with kids humming "Jingle Bells" on loop, The Music Studio Atlanta's East Cobb location is a great way to channel that energy.

The studio offers piano, voice, guitar/ukulele, drums, strings, woodwinds, and even Mommy & Me style classes, with flexible scheduling built around busy school and sports calendars.

Instructors are used to working with true beginners and older kids who are "starting again," and there are regular recitals and performance opportunities to keep students motivated.

Locals love that the studio is right on Roswell Road, close to shopping and other errands, and that you can keep siblings entertained in the lobby while one child is in a lesson.

It's also been recognized as a Cobb County Top 25 Small Business and a national "School of the Year," which says a lot about how invested they are in the community.

Browse/learn more: Business website

A roughly 16,000-square-foot estate on Paper Mill Road recently sold for close to $8 million, making it one of the highest residential sale prices ever recorded in Cobb County.

The property includes extensive indoor and outdoor entertaining space and sits on a large, wooded lot near the river.

It's a sign of how strong demand remains at the very top of the market and how much attention the area continues to attract from luxury buyers.

Source: East Cobb News

Cobb commissioners recently approved a new countywide stormwater fee in a split vote, aimed at funding drainage, flooding, and aging infrastructure projects.

For East Cobb homeowners, this will likely appear as a new line item on future bills, with details and rates still being sorted out in the coming months.

The county has said there will be more public outreach as implementation approaches, so keep an eye out for community meetings and mailers.

Source: East Cobb News

Tiger is a senior female tabby from Good Mews Animal Foundation who's looking for a calm, cozy home for the holidays.

As an older cat, she's more interested in warm laps and sunny window perches than in climbing your curtains, which makes her a great match for quieter households or families with older kids.

Senior cats are often overlooked, but they tend to settle in quickly and are wonderfully appreciative of a soft place to land.

Good Mews also offers a Golden Companions program that waives adoption fees for adopters 65+ who choose a senior cat, making it even easier to take a chance on a sweet older kitty like Tiger.

Available at Good Mews Animal Foundation (3805 Robinson Rd, Marietta, GA 30068)

Hours: Sat 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Sun 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.; weekday adoptions by appointment

Phone: (770) 499-2287

Profile: Adoption page

🎄 Marietta Square Christmas Tree Lighting & Santa on the Square (Glover Park, Marietta | 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. | Free | More: Event info)
Kick off the season with choirs, kids' crafts, an ugly sweater parade, Santa's arrival around 5:15 p.m., and the big tree lighting at 6:00 p.m. Bring jackets, snacks, and your camera.

🚗 Lights of Life Holiday Light Display (Life University | Lights on around 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. | $10 per car | More: Event info)
Pack the car with cocoa and blankets for this classic 1.5-mile drive-through display featuring over a million lights, animated scenes, rides, and visit-worthy photo spots.

🛍️ Cobb PARKS Holiday Artisan Market (Cobb County Civic Center | Times vary | Free admission | More: Event info)
Browse more than 90 artisan vendors, youth makers, and live entertainment. This is a great spot for teacher gifts and stocking stuffers without driving into the city.

🚗 Lights of Life Holiday Light Display (Life University | around 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. | $10 per car | More: Event info)
If you want a slower night, pair an early dinner with a post-bedtime drive. Little ones can even watch from car seats in pajamas.

🎁 Free Kids Event: Holiday Gift-Making Featuring OOLY® (Lakeshore Learning, East Cobb Crossing | 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. | Free | More: Event info)
Kids ages 3+ can craft handmade gifts, cards, and gift bags; supplies are provided, but arrive early as these events can get crowded.

🛍️ Cobb PARKS Holiday Artisan Market (Day 2) (Cobb County Civic Center | Times vary | Free admission | More: Event info)
If Friday was too hectic, Saturday offers more time to browse booths and catch live performances.

🚗 Lights of Life Holiday Light Display (Life University | around 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. | $10 per car | More: Event info)
Weekend evenings are busier. Aim for earlier in the evening or later after 8:30 p.m. to avoid the longest lines.

🛍️ Cobb PARKS Holiday Artisan Market (Final Day) (Cobb County Civic Center | Times vary | Free admission | More: Event info)
Last chance to pick up handmade gifts before the market wraps; this is typically a lighter-crowd day.

🚗 Lights of Life Holiday Light Display (Life University | around 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. | $10 per car | More: Event info)
End the weekend with one more lap through the lights. Sunday nights can be a bit calmer than Saturday.

🎼 Georgia Symphony Orchestra "Holiday Pops!" (Marietta Performing Arts Center | 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. | $15 to $49.50 | More: Event info)
A full orchestra, chorus, and sing-along carols make this a polished but still festive night out, with Santa himself making an appearance. Great for older kids who can handle a later evening.

🎼 Georgia Symphony Orchestra "Holiday Pops!" Matinee (Marietta Performing Arts Center | 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. | $15 to $49.50 | More: Event info)
Same program, earlier time. Ideal if you want the concert experience but still be home for an early dinner.

Head to Mabry Park early for a quiet walk around the pond and along the wide, stroller-friendly paths. The farm-themed playground is perfect for younger kids to burn off energy before naps, and the open fields are great for tossing a ball or letting kids run without worrying about cars.

Pack scooters or bikes for the paved loop and plan a simple picnic at one of the shaded tables. If you have older kids, send them to explore the trails while younger siblings stick to the playground. On nice days, this is an easy, low-cost way to stretch the afternoon without leaving East Cobb.

Look for the small fishing spots along the pond edge, the farm fence photo-op near the entrance, and the quieter back trail loops if you want a short "woods walk" without a full hike.

Parking is in a surface lot near the main entrance, with sidewalks leading directly to the playground and pond. Restrooms are available in the park, but as always, it's smart to bring wipes and hand sanitizer just in case.

Map: Google Maps

Visit the park website

Before you haul those tangled strands out of the attic, a few minutes of prep can save you a trip to urgent care. Start by testing every string on the ground before climbing anywhere. Plug them in, check for frayed wires, cracked sockets, and burnt-out bulbs. Toss any strand that's damaged; replacement LEDs are cheap, and so is peace of mind.

When it's ladder time, the rule is simple: always have a spotter. Even better, use a stabilizer bar attachment ($25–40 at Lowe's) that keeps your ladder from sliding on gutters. Set up on firm, level ground. Never on a deck, porch, or that sketchy patch of mulch by the downspout. And the three-point rule applies: always have two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand, in contact with the ladder at all times.

For roofline work, skip the staples and nails entirely. Plastic light clips ($8–15 per 100-pack) snap onto gutters and shingles without damaging your roof. They also make takedown way easier in January when your motivation is at an all-time low.

One more thing: outdoor lights need outdoor-rated extension cords (look for "W" on the jacket), and never daisy-chain more than three strands together. If you're plugging into an outdoor outlet, make sure it's GFCI-protected. Most newer homes have this, but if yours doesn't, an adapter costs about $20 and could prevent a serious shock.

If the idea of hauling out the ladder and untangling a box of mystery lights makes you a little twitchy, this might be the year to outsource.

East Cobb has several locally owned crews that will design, install, maintain, and even store your holiday lights so you can focus on the fun parts.

Many of them also handle basic exterior cleaning like windows and gutters, which is a nice bonus before guests start rolling into town.

Get a couple of quotes, compare designs, and pick the one that fits your budget and your roofline.

Regal Holiday Lighting
Phone: (404) 857-3717
Website
Seasonal; serving East Cobb and nearby

East Cobb Christmas Lights 
Phone: 404-903-9355 
Website
Full-service holiday light installation, takedown & storage

Wonderly Lights (North Atlanta / East Cobb)
Phone: 678-894-0543
Website
Done-for-you holiday light design, install, maintenance, removal & storage