Fernbank’s Festive Passport!

If your winter routine could use a little extra sparkle, Fernbank Museum knows exactly how to shake things up! Winter Wonderland: Celebrations & Traditions Around the World returns November 22 through January 11, inviting you to trade chilly days for a global adventure. From lantern festivals in Asia to candlelight traditions to colorful parades across Latin America, this exhibit turns winter into a celebration of how the whole world finds warmth and meaning in the season.

Step into Fernbank’s Great Hall and you’ll find yourself surrounded by more than 25 beautifully decorated trees, each one representing a different country and its traditions. Argentina shines with handmade ornaments, Japan balances elegance and simplicity, Ghana bursts with bold color, and Mexico brings that signature holiday flair that makes you smile. Local cultural groups help design every display, so each one feels personal and true to the people who celebrate those traditions. Every ornament, ribbon, and sparkle tells a story about how families come together across continents.

Beyond the trees, the museum itself transforms into a wonderland of its own. Kids can wander wide-eyed through the cultural displays, and adults can rediscover that giddy holiday feeling that usually fades after the third mall parking lot meltdown. Want to make it a date night? Stay for Fernbank After Dark, when the lights glow, the cocktails flow, and the whole experience feels straight out of a movie. Or wander outside to WildWoods: AGLOW, where the forest lights up with glowing sculptures and nature-inspired installations.

Museum admission includes Winter Wonderland, so you can also check out Fernbank’s other exhibits, from dinosaurs to deep-sea mysteries, while you’re there. Bonus: members get in free, which might just justify that second round at the cafe or a little something from the gift shop.

Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, or simply savoring a well-earned winter break, Fernbank’s Winter Wonderland feels like a warm hug from the world. So grab a friend, a kid, or that one relative who loves to narrate their travel bucket list, and spend a few hours wandering through culture, color, and joy. This is one holiday tradition you won’t need to pack for!

Keep the curiosity going and explore more of Georgia’s must-see exhibits at gbj.com/museums!