How to get your festive on this holiday season

Atlanta has a wonderful array of festive activities to get you in the holiday spirit this month. Here is a sampling of six festive things you can do if you’re staying in town for the holidays from Atlanta Eats.

Go ice skating at Ponce City Market

Dates: Now through January 15 Times: Monday-Thursday 4:30pm-midnight and Friday-Sunday 11:30am-midnight Website: parktavern.com

"A classic wintertime activity is ice skating, and although we may not have Rockefeller Center, there’s still a few super fun spots to get your fill here in ATL. One of our fav places is The Rink at Park Tavern. The Rink is open seven days a week through January 15 so there’s plenty of time to skate your heart out. Take the whole fam out, grab some lunch and then skate the afternoon away, or take your significant other for the perfect holiday date night. Other favorite skating rinks in the area include Ponce City Market, Atlantic Station and Avalon all offering a fun activity to do this holiday season."

* PHOTO: Courtesy of Atlanta Christkindl Market*

Shop at the Atlanta Christkindl Market

Dates: Now through December 24 Times: Monday-Thursday 3pm-8pm and Friday-Sunday 11am-9pm Website: christkindlmarket.org

"Back for another year of holiday cheer is the Atlanta Christkindl Market in Buckhead! There is so much to love about this cozy market. They have all kinds of great vendors selling things like hand-crafted goods (hint hint if you still need to buy some gifts) and so many delicious things to eat from crepes and fresh jumbo pretzels to boiled peanuts and authentic Belgian waffles. Grab a cup of hot cocoa and walk around as you pop into each tent and take a look at everything the Atlanta Christkindl Market has to offer!"

*PHOTO: Courtesy of @atlbotanical on Instagram*

See the magic of holiday lights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

Dates: Now through January 14 Times: Every day 5pm-10pm Website: atlantabg.org

"Seeing the lights at the Atlanta Botanical Garden is one of the greatest ATL holiday traditions. Grab your tickets online and bundle up as you walk through the botanical garden and take in all of the beautiful holiday light installations. Take your kiddos, take your boo, take your besties, it really doesn’t matter who you’re with, it’s always a lovely time here. Garden Lights, Holiday Nights will go until January 14 so be sure to plan your wholesome night out."

**For more cool things to do around Atlanta for the holidays, head to Atlanta Eats:**

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New for 2024 from the IRS: tax brackets and standard deductions

Nerdwallet offers a “rundown of changes on limits and threshold on some well-know tax provisions for the 2024 tax year.”

The seven federal tax brackets remain unchanged for the 2024 tax year. However, the IRS has made changes to the” income thresholds that inform these brackets.” This definitely helps those who received a cost-of-living increase in salary. They may be able to remain in the lower tax bracket.

Married couples filing jointly “can make a maximum of $94,300 to remain in the 12% bracket, compared with $89,450 in 2023. This increase means that, in 2024, some couples may be able to shelter an additional almost $5,000 from a higher tax rate.

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For more information on the changes to federal income tax filing head to Nerdwallet:

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Christmas color schemes go beyond red and green

Traditionally, red and green have been the standard colors of Christmas. However, Sophie Robinson from Better Homes and Gardens tells us we can ditch the conventional hues for a jolly range of “vibrant, whimsical, and nostalgic shades guaranteed to brighten your home” so you can “surround yourself with all the twinkle, all the sparkle, and just do you.”

Get inspired by a bold rainbow color scheme and put the merry in your Christmas decorating. A “vibrant trend,” dressing the tree with multi-colored lights and using a variety of bold, bright colors for your ornaments and trimmings can definitely “capture the essence of a merry Christmas.”

Jump on the trendy bandwagon for 2023 and go with one of the most popular crazes- pink Christmas decorations. For a more muted pink effect, “Incorporate blush and soft pastel” shades of pale pink to “channel a cozy yet whimsical touch.” Sophie Robinson suggests (and we LOVE this!) swapping out holly for eucalyptus and exchanging silver and gold for “copper, rose gold, and champagne metallics.”