A college football player from Georgia was found dead in a house fire in suburban Atlanta, authorities confirmed earlier this week.

Izaiah Taylor, an offensive lineman for Georgia Military College, was staying at his grandfather’s house in Stone Mountain when the home erupted into flames around 1 p.m. EST on Monday, per WAGA-TV.

Taylor’s grandfather, Gregory Edwards, said that he was not at the home when he was notified about the blaze.

“Well, I got a call from my neighbor. Said there was smoke coming out of the home, and I immediately left work and headed to the house,” Edwards said.

According to WXIA-TV, flames had already engulfed the residence by the time first responders arrived, and Taylor, 21, was pronounced dead at the scene.

“There was no hesitation in going in and searching for the victim,” DeKalb County Fire Captain Jaeson Daniels said. “We got here, and we were able to establish a water supply. And again, receiving that information from one of the nearby residents stating that there was some water inside, we actually went right in and performed a search and luckily found him pretty quick, but unfortunately he was deceased. Once we found him.”

Taylor transferred to the junior college, located in Milledgeville, ahead of this past season after playing for Liberty University in 2024.

“Georgia Military College is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our students, Izaiah Taylor,” the college said in a statement on Tuesday. “Our hearts are with Izaiah’s family, friends, classmates, and all those who knew and loved him.”

Investigators are still determining the cause of the fire, WRDW-TV reported.

Edwards got emotional when talking about his grandson, calling him “a gentle giant.”

“He was one of the kindest people you would have ever known. He wasn’t a bully,” Edwards said. “He was a good boy. He didn’t deserve this.”

“What can I say? I mean, that’s not an easy pill to swallow. You know, you don’t bury your grandchildren,” he added.

ATLANTA, GA — Metro Atlanta residents may have a merry time celebrating Christmas this year as a new survey has named the Georgia town the best place to observe the jolly holiday across the U.S.

WalletHub awarded Atlanta with the moniker in a ranking released Tuesday after analysts examined 100 cities to determine the best places to celebrate Christmas.

With an overall score of 63.36, Atlanta beat out major national cities, including Las Vegas and New York City.

At No. 1, here’s how Atlanta’s ranking broke down:

• Traditions and Fun: 8
• Observance: 30
• Generosity: 16
• Shopping: 6
• Costs: 39

No other Georgia cities made the U.S. ranking.

“Atlanta is the best city for Christmas celebrations this year, with plenty of stores to help you prepare for the holiday, including an extremely high number of bakeries, holiday decoration shops and card shops per capita,” WalletHub experts said.

“Atlanta is also one of the best cities when it comes to the prevalence of affordable restaurants rated at least 4.5 stars if you want to eat out for the holiday (or want a break from cooking afterward). It has the 10th-most Christmas tree farms per capita, too. In addition, Atlanta residents get very excited about Christmas, searching Google for terms relating to the holiday more frequently than people in most other cities. The giving spirit can also be felt by Atlanta residents and visitors alike, as the city has the ninth-highest percentage of people who donate clothing to charity, along with the 13th-most online donations per capita.”

There are a plethora of options in Atlanta to celebrate Christmas, which is observed annually on Dec. 25.

Patch has compiled a few you may want to add to your calendar:

Here are the top 10 best Christmas towns, per WalletHub:

1. Atlanta, Georgia
2. San Francisco, California
3. Seattle, Washington
4. Orlando, Florida
5. Las Vegas, Nevada
6. St. Louis, Missouri
7. Miami, Florida
8. Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
9. New Orleans, Louisiana
10. Cincinnati, Ohio

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See WalletHub’s full methodology.

Atlanta veteran and cancer survivor to ride on City Of Hope Rose Parade float

Atlanta resident and U.S. Army veteran Tyler Blue, 63, will ride on City of Hope’s 2026 Rose Parade float as a cancer survivor representing City of Hope Atlanta.

Blue was a successful corporate salesperson when hoarseness in his throat led to a diagnosis of stage 4 throat and thyroid cancer in 2016, a shock for a nonsmoker who prided himself on healthy living. His treatment included 25 radiation sessions, multiple surgeries and the removal of his voice box, which ended his career and left him searching for a new sense of purpose.

After difficult experiences at several hospitals, Blue began receiving care at City of Hope Atlanta in 2018. He credits surgeon Dr. Beomjune Kim and a speech-language pathologist with helping him learn to communicate again using an electrolarynx and with restoring his hope.

Now nearly eight years cancer-free and retired, Blue has partnered with City of Hope Atlanta to create the Total Laryngectomy Support Group, a monthly gathering where patients share experiences and practical strategies for daily life.

Blue is one of six survivors and transplant recipients riding City of Hope’s 2026 Rose Parade float, “Overcoming Cancer and Diabetes Together,” which highlights the organization’s nationwide cancer care and research network.

— Derek Prall

Webstar Technology Group closes on downtown site for Forge Atlanta mixed-use project

Webstar Technology Group and its development subsidiary, Forge Atlanta Asset Management, have closed on a 10-acre parcel at Ted Turner Drive SW and Whitehall Street SW, clearing the way for Forge Atlanta, a multi-phase mixed-use district next to the Garnett MARTA station.

Phase I plans call for a 300-room hotel with meeting and event space, about 600 luxury condominiums and roughly 60,500 square feet of retail and entertainment space. Independent analyses for the Development Authority of Fulton County project about 2,100 construction jobs and 900 permanent jobs from the first phase, with the full buildout expected to generate around 3,000 jobs and an estimated $7.37 billion economic impact.

The project will be financed through a combination of Development Authority inducement, institutional loans and equity, and bond issuance. Webstar, a publicly traded company, says it will disclose material financings through securities filings and investor updates. The developer also plans an optional regulated token program on the Torch RWA platform, designed to broaden participation and help offset future condominium HOA fees.

Design and development partners include Turner & Townsend, Nelson Worldwide, Kimley-Horn, Skyline Engineering and Skanska, which has been involved in pre-construction planning. A groundbreaking is anticipated in 2026, with condominium presales expected to begin the same year.

— Derek Prall

Holiday theater at Horizon Theatre

Families can enjoy the adventures of Madeline and friends in Madeline’s Christmas through Dec. 31. This musical play is adapted from Ludwig Bemelmans’ delightful book. This holiday season will be unlike any other for Madeline and her friends. While on their morning walk with Miss Clavel, the girls come down with the flu, and as they take to their bed, many wonder if they will be able to go home for Christmas. With the arrival of a mysterious stranger, Madeline and the other girls get a holiday adventure beyond their wildest dreams.

For older teens and adults, the new holiday comedy revue Too Fast, Too Festivus might be a little more their speed. Through Dec. 31 Dad’s Garage and Horizon Theatre’s latest zany holiday collaboration will take the stage (nearly) nightly. If you loved Y’allmark Christmas or The Santaland Diaries at Horizon, you won’t want to miss this. Dad’s Garage’s award-winning ensemble members have handmade this fast-paced comedy that lovingly pokes fun at the holidays in Atlanta and serves up the city’s quirks with a festive twist. With sharp writing, big characters, and plenty of local flavor, it’s the perfect way to get into the spirit — ATL style.

— Megan Anderson 

SweetWater Brewing’s 420 Fest to return at Shirley Clarke Franklin Park

Presented by Rival Entertainment, SweetWater Brewing’s iconic 420 Fest, one of Atlanta’s most beloved music festivals, is back for its 21st year in a brand new location — Shirley Clarke Franklin Park, the city’s largest greenspace and a vibrant hub connected to the Beltline. The two day event, which will take place on April 17-18, will feature two stages and up to 20 artists which will be announced in early 2026. 

Previously hosted at Pullman Yards, the new location will offer increased capacity for a bigger, greener and more accessible 420 Fest experience for attendees. 

“Sweetwater 420 Festival is an iconic Atlanta event. As a producer and fan who has experienced its long history at Candler Park, Centennial Olympic Park & Pullman Yards, I am excited to team up with SweetWater Brewing this year to reimagine the music festival in its 21st year and for its future. With a beautiful new Westside ATL location, the 2026 festival will be uniquely Atlanta and true to its Sweetwater roots.” said Josh Antenucci, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Rival Entertainment.

Click here for more information.

— Megan Anderson 

The Community Leadership Institute of Atlanta is accepting applications for 2026

City of Atlanta residents or employees looking to learn how to be more effective at making meaningful changes in their neighborhoods can apply to the Community Leadership Institute of Atlanta (CLIA) until Jan. 5, 2026. Over the course of six weekly sessions from February to May, the CLIA program teaches participants how to navigate Atlanta’s Neighborhood Planning Unit (NPU) system and other local government processes as well as how to build inclusive coalitions and other lessons from the city’s history of activism. The program for community leaders is offered by the Department of City Planning in partnership with Clark Atlanta University. 

— Grace Donnelly 

The annual Food Well Alliance fruit tree sale is live online

Online orders are open this month for Food Well Alliance’s annual fruit tree sale. If you’re still looking for holiday gifts, especially for plant-lovers, Food Well Alliance has more than 80 varieties of fruit trees, vines, and berry bushes available — all well-suited to Georgia’s growing climate. Proceeds from this annual sale go toward the organization’s programs and operations, including The Orchard Project, which helps plant community orchards around metro Atlanta to help improve access to local produce. Pick up for orders will be in-person during the weekend of Feb. 14, 2026. 

— Grace Donnelly 

Woodruff Arts Center welcomes five new members to board of trustees 

The Woodruff Arts Center — home to the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and High Museum of Art — welcomed five new members to itsBoard of Trustees during their last board meeting. 

• Valeda Dent – Inaugural Vice Provost for the Libraries, Michael C. Carlos Museum, and the Center for Digital Scholarship at Emory University
• Somia Farid Silber – Chief Executive Officer, Edible Brands
• Jim Irwin – President, New City Properties
• Melody Lee – Chief Marketing Officer, Mercedes-Benz USA
• David Wagner – Chief Executive Officer, SureCost

“We are privileged to welcome these distinguished leaders to our Board of Trustees,” said Hala Moddelmog, President and CEO of the Woodruff Arts Center. “Each brings a distinctive perspective that will strengthen and guide the Woodruff Arts Center. They join an extraordinary group whose insight and dedication are invaluable to our mission, and I am honored to work alongside such visionary leaders committed to elevating the arts and arts education in our community.”

The new Trustees join an influential and diverse group representing all sectors of Atlanta, including leaders in the business, nonprofit, entertainment and education. Since 1968, the Board of Trustees has worked to expand access to the Woodruff Arts Center’s educational programming and ensure the Arts Center is a place for everyone to experience the transformative power of the arts.

— Megan Anderson 

Goldbergs Fine Foods Holiday Toy Drive to support foster care families returns

Goldbergs Fine Foods is holding its third annual holiday toy drive to support the Foster Care Support Foundation, a Georgia nonprofit that provides free clothing, infant equipment and developmental toys to children in foster and relative care.

Through Saturday, Dec. 20, participating Goldbergs locations in metro Atlanta, excluding the airport, will collect new, unwrapped toys, games and art supplies for local children in foster and relative care. Donors will receive a free bagel with cream cheese as a thank-you.

Organizers say the greatest need is for items suitable for children 8 and older, including building sets such as Legos and craft kits. The Foster Care Support Foundation has served tens of thousands of children since 2000.

— Derek Prall

Atlanta Opera Opens Applications For 2026 96-Hour Opera Project

The Atlanta Opera is relaunching its annual 96-Hour Opera Festival under a new name in 2026, rebranding it as the NOW Festival (New Opera Works) to reflect an expanded focus on contemporary storytelling and emerging creators.

As part of the festival, applications are now open for the 2026 96-Hour Opera Project, a composition competition for composer–librettist teams across the United States. Winners receive a $10,000 prize as part of a $25,000 commission. A panel of industry experts will review applications and select five teams, which will have three months to write a new 10-minute opera. The process culminates in a four-day residency at Morehouse College in Atlanta, June 10-13, 2026, and a public showcase competition.

The company has also named director, librettist and playwright Tazewell Thompson as artistic advisor for the NOW Festival. He will help guide the festival’s artistic direction and mentor participating artists.

The 2026 NOW Festival will feature public events over three days in June, including the world premiere of “Water Memory (Jala Smirti)” by composer Kitty Brazelton and librettist Vaibu Mohan at Georgia Tech’s Ferst Center for the Arts, along with the 96-Hour Opera Project Competition and Showcase at the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center at Morehouse College.

Applications are available here.

— Derek Prall

Registration opens for 2026 Noonday Shanty 5K/10K and race poster contest

Registration is open for Town Center Community’s fifth annual Noonday Shanty 5K/10K, presented by Avonlea Apartments, set for Saturday, March 28, 2026, along the Noonday Creek Trail.

The Peachtree Road Race qualifier is a USA Track and Field-certified event managed by Start2Finish. The course takes runners past bird habitats, greenspace and wetlands, as well as landmarks such as Aviation Park, Cobb International Airport, Fifth Third Stadium and public art installations, including Tiny Doors ATL and the Chimney Swift Tower. The 10K route also features views of new murals in the district.

Local artists are invited to submit up to three digitally created or hand-drawn designs for the event’s annual race poster contest. The winning artwork will be featured on the official event poster and in promotional materials, and runners will receive a copy during packet pickup. Cash prizes will be awarded for first and second place. Submissions are due Feb. 12, 2026, with full contest rules available on the Town Center Community website.

The 2026 event will debut a community-designed race shirt, with community members voting through Jan. 13, 2026, on a design inspired by past winning race posters.

— Derek Prall

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