Atlanta, GA
Your neighborhood guide to holiday toy drives in metro Atlanta
This Christmas, give the present of pleasure and cheer to youngsters in want. As you’re working in your vacation buying, be sure to test your listing twice and add slightly additional to your cart when you’re capable of. With out the generosity of the group, many youngsters won’t obtain presents this vacation season. Discover our listing of toy drives (and vacation occasions) round Atlanta the place you possibly can take part and donate, making a baby’s season brighter and giving them a motive to smile.
CHECK OUT: Winter date concepts to make the vacations brighter in metro Atlanta
Ravinia Vacation in Lights (Dunwoody)
The third annual Ravinia Vacation in Lights is a superb occasion that advantages Kids’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s vacation wishlist program. Carry a toy to their occasion on Thursday night and you’ll get pleasure from a few of their points of interest totally free, like their vacation lights show, play within the snow, and meet with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Location: Dunwoody – 5 Ravinia Dr. NE; Web site: eventbrite.com/2022-ravinia-holiday-in-lights; Date: Thursday, Dec. 15; Time: 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Nineteenth Annual Mark Carroll and Buddies Toy Drive Vacation Social gathering (Northwest Atlanta)
In case you’re prepared to decorate in your vacation greatest, buy a ticket to the Nineteenth Annual Mark Carroll and Buddies Toy Drive Vacation Social gathering. A purple carpet reception, photograph ops, hors d’oeuvres, stay music, cocktails, a silent public sale and raffle prizes are all deliberate. Toys ought to be unwrapped, so please convey one or as many as you possibly can. They’re on the lookout for jackets for teenagers, bicycles, toys, soccer balls and footballs. In case you can’t attend this particular occasion, think about donating on-line.
Location: Northwest Atlanta – (Guardian Works) 775 Echo St. NW; Web site: eventbrite.com/Nineteenth-annual; Date: Thursday, Dec. 15; Time: 7:30 p.m.
Stray Society Vacation Social gathering and Toy Drive (Downtown)
This vacation occasion and toy drive takes place at Atlantucky Brewing on Thursday night time in Castleberry Hill. This festive occasion can have stay music, meals and loads of beer accessible. For admission, please convey an unwrapped toy; all toys will probably be donated to Kids’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
Location: Downtown – (Atlantucky Brewing) 170 Northside Dr. SW; Web site: eventbrite.com/stray-society-holiday-party; Date: Thursday, Dec. 15; Time: 8 p.m. – Midnight
Toy Drive and Vacation Social gathering at Tongue and Groove (Buckhead)
This Thursday, be a part of Tongue and Groove for his or her Toy Drive and Vacation Social gathering when you’re on the lookout for one thing enjoyable to do with your mates. Carry an unwrapped toy totally free entry earlier than 11 p.m., then prepare to bop the night time away.
Location: Buckhead – (Tongue and Groove) 565 Major St. NE; Web site: eventbrite.com/toy-drive-and-holiday-party; Contact: 404-261-2325; Date: Thursday, Dec. 15; Time: 9 p.m.
Santa is Coming to City Vacation Social gathering (Sandy Springs)
Go to the Hudson Grille in Sandy Springs this Friday for a enjoyable night with Santa and a chance to present again. Tickets value $10, and getting into to win a prize requires bringing a toy. There will probably be video games, presents from Santa, dancing, music and distributors.
Location: Sandy Springs – (Hudson Grille) 6317 Roswell Rd. NE; Web site: eventbrite.com/santa-is-coming-to-town; Contact: 404-554-8282; Date: Friday, Dec. 16; Time: 7 – 10 p.m.
Raise Up Atlanta Christmas Toy Drive (Decatur)
Raise Up Atlanta’s Christmas Toy Drive is accepting donations between now and Dec. 16 at Metro Self-Storage in Decatur. Bicycles are probably the most requested, in addition to present playing cards for youngsters, and might be bought from their Walmart present registry. Try different methods you possibly can assist make a distinction by way of Raise Up Atlanta like their Undertake-a-Little one for Christmas undertaking.
Location: Decatur – (Metro Self-Storage) 3391 N Druid Hills Rd.; Web site: liftupatlanta.org/our-projects; Contact: 404-633-7532; Date: Donations accepted till Friday, Dec. 16
Ladies Crush Health Bootcamp and Toy Drive (Dectaur)
Get a exercise in whereas additionally serving to a baby in want on the Ladies Crush Health Bootcamp and Toy Drive at 50 Sports activities Firm in Decatur. Tickets to this occasion are $10 and you’ll obtain a enjoyable full-body exercise. All are inspired to put on purple and keep in mind to convey a toy to this all-women’s bootcamp.
Location: Decatur – (50 Sports activities Firm) 2501 Park Central Blvd.; Web site: eventbrite.com/women-crush-fitness; Date: Saturday, Dec. 17; Time: 10 – 11 a.m.
St. Monica’s Toy Drive at Cathedral of St. Philip (Buckhead)
Take part in St. Monica’s Toy Drive on the Cathedral of St. Philip in Buckhead to make Christmas brighter this yr for the kids of Emmaus Home. Santa and Mrs. Claus convey presents to Emmaus Home for greater than 550 youngsters from all throughout Atlanta. Now by way of Dec. 18, you possibly can convey an unwrapped toy to the drop-off bins within the atrium of the Cathedral of St. Philip. Click on right here to view their present recommendations or to make a web based donation.
Location: Buckhead – (The Cathedral of St. Philip) 2744 Peachtree Rd. NW; Web site: cathedralatl.org/st-monicas-toy-drive; Contact: 404-365-1000; Date: Donations accepted till Sunday, Dec. 18
Glitz and Kickz Toy Drive Mixer (East Level)
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s Kappa Omega chapter hosts its second annual Glitz and Kickz Toy Drive Mixer at East Level Library. Their aim is to assemble toys for teenagers and younger adults in Atlanta to allow them to get pleasure from a joyous Christmas. Final yr, they collected over 250 toys and hope to surpass that this yr. You might be inspired to put on your favourite kicks to this free mixer, and don’t overlook to convey a toy!
Location: East Level – (East Level Library) 2757 Major St.; Web site: eventbrite.com/glitz-kickz-toy-drive; Date: Monday, Dec. 19; Time: 6 – 8 p.m.
Ghostbusters Toy Drive at Aurora Cineplex (Roswell)
The Atlanta Ghostbusters are accumulating toys on the Aurora Cineplex in Roswell. Carry a toy to their donation field on the Aurora Cineplex between now and Dec. 20 to obtain a free small popcorn! All donations will probably be straight delivered to Kids’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
Location: Roswell – (Aurora Cineplex) 5100 Commerce Pkwy.; Fb: @ATLGhostbusters; Date: Donations accepted till Tuesday, Dec. 20
Atlanta, GA
1988 national champion Wes Pritchett welcomes alma mater Notre Dame to Atlanta
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – Memories 36 years in the making are all coming back to Wes Pritchett this week.
The Georgia boy who played his high school football at Westminster found a home in South Bend, Indiana – and the rest is history.
The leading tackler on the last Notre Dame team to win it all won’t have to go very far to see his Irish play on Monday night.
“It’s something that I think will mean more to me later down the road,” Pritchett said. “I’m in it right now and I’m old enough to realize stars align only so many times in your life.”
Pritchett, Frank Stams and Mike Stonebreaker were the cornerstones on that 1988 team – or as they’re known around South Bend – “the three amigos.”
“We just had a lot of fun and it ends up that we were pretty good football players too,” Pritchett said. “We had players, we played hard, but when we walked out on the field, we knew that we were going to be the toughest team out there and we were going to punch you in the face.”
Nearly 40 years later, it’s that same spirit that makes them pretty big fans of this year’s “amigos.”
“You can feel the passion in the way those guys played,” Pritchett said. “It reminds all of the guys on the 1988 team of how we felt.”
If something could be more special than playing for a national title, for “Pritch,” Monday night will be.
“To have that opportunity in Atlanta, where I live and where I grew up, where my children have been to a million games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and to have the ability to host Coach Holtz and the players I played with, it’s going to be really special,” Pritchett said.
And if it’s anything like 1988, the Irish have a pretty good shot, too.
“I think the Irish will play physical, they’ll keep it close, and it’ll be a lot like the Penn State game,” Pritchett said. “We’ll get a late turnover and win by a field goal. I think Notre Dame wins 27-24.”
Notre Dame and Ohio State face off in the 2025 National Championship on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Copyright 2025 WANF. All rights reserved.
Atlanta, GA
Daniel Suárez to appear at Atlanta Motor Speedway open house Jan. 25, how to meet NASCAR driver
Two-time NASCAR Cup Series winner Daniel Suárez will headline the slate of fan entertainment and activities at Atlanta Motor Speedway’s Speedway Open House on Saturday, Jan. 25, which is free and open to the public.
Suárez’s most recent NASCAR victory came in last year’s running of the Ambetter Health 400 at AMS, which saw the driver of the No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet triumph in a thrilling three-wide photo finish.
Before he hits Atlanta’s high banks to defend his win in next month’s running of the Ambetter Health 400 (Sunday, Feb. 23 at 3 p.m. ET), Suárez will make an appearance at the Jan. 25 Speedway Open House for a Q&A with fans and an autograph session with eligible ticketholders in the speedway’s luxurious Club One suite.
The NASCAR Cup Series star’s fan engagement will be just one part of a day full of activities and entertainment for fans to enjoy during the Speedway Open House.
The Speedway will open its doors to fans from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., with live music by singer and songwriter Presley Barker and fan Q&As will special guests all happening in Club One.
Attendees will also enjoy games and activities at the speedway and be welcomed explore the 1.54-mile oval and surrounding facility.
Shop NASCAR Atlanta Motor Speedway tickets for 2025
Following the Speedway Open House at 3 p.m., fans in attendance will also have an opportunity to enjoy grassroots Legends and Bandolero racing on Atlanta Motor Speedway’s ¼ mile Thunder Ring.
The Speedway Open House event is free to attend, however Atlanta Motor Speedway NASCAR event ticketholders will have the exclusive opportunity to participate in the Daniel Suárez autograph session. Fans interested in attending the Speedway Open House should let AMS know at https://www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/openhouse/.
Atlanta Motor Speedway’s first major event of 2025 comes just four weeks after the open house when NASCAR visits Georgia for the Ambetter Health 400 weekend Feb. 21-23.
The Speedway Open House will enable guests to scout the best seats for that race weekend as well as the June 27-28 Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart weekend and other events like Monster Jam, which comes to AMS April 12 and 13.
Fans can find updates on the Speedway Open House and more information about 2025 events at AMS at www.AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com.
SHOP NASCAR Atlanta 2025 race tickets
About the Ambetter Health 400 weekend:
Atlanta’s spring NASCAR weekend is headlined by the Ambetter Health 400 on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, with intense, superspeedway pack racing that challenges NASCAR’s best and dazzles fans.
The race weekend also features the 11th year of Atlanta’s same-day NASCAR doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. The thrills of the Fr8 208 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race and the Bennett Transportation and Logistics 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race all happen in one action-packed day.
More information on the Feb. 21-23, 2025, Ambetter Health 400 weekend and ticket availability can be found online at AtlantaMotorSpeedway.com.
Shop Ambetter Health 400 NASCAR tickets
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Atlanta, GA
Wendy Williams speaking out
Wendy Williams is speaking out about her guardianship. She called into a radio show on Thursday morning to give fans insight into what she has been going through since being diagnosed with dementia and placed under a court-ordered guardianship.
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