Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is back on stage in Atlanta, and this time he's bringing a whole museum's worth of holiday mischief with him. The Center for Puppetry Arts has welcomed the beloved reindeer back for a run that continues through December 27, pairing the stage show with a seasonal exhibition built around a scavenger hunt through its galleries.
The production is adapted by Jon Ludwig and based on the 1964 television special, according to puppet.org. Atlanta Parent describes it as a faithful take on the original stop-motion special, following Rudolph and Hermey as two misfits on the run, with the engagement listed from Nov. 11 through Dec. 27. As reported by Atlanta News First, ATL Live staffer Kennedy Felton explored the Center's festivities firsthand as part of the outlet's holiday coverage.
One Ticket, Several Holiday Experiences
Families attending the show aren't just getting a seat in the theater. The Center's all-inclusive performance ticket covers the stage production, museum admission, and a Create-A-Puppet Workshop, per the same puppet.org listing. Inside that workshop, visitors can build their own Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster hand puppet to take home.
That bundled format extends beyond Rudolph's run, too. The Center's Family Series tickets generally include admission to the show and museum along with a Create-A-Puppet Workshop when one is offered, the organization notes.
A Scavenger Hunt Through Holiday Favorites
Running alongside the stage show is Festive Features, a seasonal exhibition the Center bills as a nostalgia-driven showcase. According to Georgia Aquarium, the 2026 edition transforms the venue into a holiday-themed scavenger hunt spanning all three museum galleries, featuring characters pulled from Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Lamb Chop's Special Chanukah.
The Center for Puppetry Arts has been rooted in Atlanta since its founding in 1978, and the organization says its education programs now serve 50,000 students annually. The Center is also looking ahead to its 50th anniversary in 2028, with plans in the works for a celebration marking that milestone.
