By Kayla Phillips
DULUTH, Ga. | Nearly 70 years since Macy’s Pink Pig™ made its grand debut in Atlanta, a new generation will now be able to enjoy this local tradition. The Pink Pig will return to Atlanta for this year’s Georgia Festival of Trees, offering Georgians a new twist on the holiday tradition.
Georgia Festival of Trees, the state’s largest holiday event focused on spreading holiday magic with a heart to end human trafficking, will take place at Gas South Convention Center from Saturday, November 23 to Sunday, December 1. The new Pink Pig will debut at the Opening Night Gala on Friday, November 22.
Stan Hall, CEO at Gas South District, says: “We are pleased for the Gas South Convention Center to be the new home of the Georgia Festival of Trees. The festival is the premier event to kick off the holiday season, and with this year’s grand debut of the Pink Pig, it’s the perfect time for our Gwinnett community to embrace this long-time tradition.’’
Georgia Festival of Trees is an eight-day festival featuring a dazzling display of Christmas trees, wreaths, centerpieces and nativities for auction. The festival also offers live music and entertainment on the main stage, Santa with his reindeer and life-size sleigh and Reindeer Games for the kids, which include the Elf Training Academy, the Lil’ Elves Driving Academy, LEGOs, Elf Phone Booth, North Pole Post Office and more. Guests can enjoy sugar cookie decorating, Santa’s Workshop, a Christmas Gingerbread House Competition and boutique shopping. Proceeds from the event will benefit two local nonprofit organizations on the front lines in the fight to end human trafficking: Street Grace and Atlanta Redemption Ink.
The Pink Pig is a pig-themed train for children and adults first created in 1953 by Rich’s. The new version will transport guests on a magical ride through the Georgia Festival of Trees and will be open each day from Nov. 23 to Dec. 1, except November 27-28 when the festival will be closed for Thanksgiving. The Pink Pig will cost $5 per rider.
Georgia Festival of Trees Executive Director Angie Ulibarri says: “It’s an honor to bring back the Pink Pig to a new generation of Georgians Macy’s Pink Pig™ has been an iconic symbol of the holidays in Atlanta, and it’s exciting to officially ring in the holiday season with this timeless tradition.”
Each tree, wreath, centerpiece and nativity at the festival is designed, decorated and donated by individuals and organizations around the Southeast, providing a dazzling array of decorative options to enhance your holiday decor. Trees and other decor are auctioned off both in-person and online during the festival.
Tickets to the Georgia Festival of Trees start at $13.95 for seniors ages 62 and up, and adult tickets are $18.95. Children’s tickets for ages 3-12 are $18.95 and include access to the Reindeer Games area. The Pink Pig, cookie decorating, Santa’s Workshop (a shopping experience for children) and photos with Santa are an additional cost. Gas South Convention Center is located at 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth.
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