Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 11/20/24

The month-long celebration in Atlanta’s Upper Westside includes free and ticketed events, and is open to the public, featuring music and dance performances, art installations, creative workshops, culinary experiences and more!

This holiday season, The Works invites you to experience “All The Joyful Things,” a month-long celebration packed with captivating performances, interactive workshops, cheerful art installations, culinary demonstrations, culminating with SAVOR, The Works’ inaugural community dinner benefitting Giving Kitchen. With these exciting activations and delightful surprises at every corner, the Upper Westside destination is set to transform into a festive wonderland with nonstop entertainment from Nov. 22 to Dec.22, making the most wonderful time of the year even brighter and giving guests countless opportunities to make unforgettable memories with loved ones. 

“All The Joyful Things” is the largest holiday celebration The Works has hosted since its debut in 2020. Owned and developed by Selig Enterprises, the community’s 30+ tenants will be involved in the ongoing holiday activations, offering curated moments and special shopping and dining opportunities for all ages.

“The Works has been centered on community and the power of bringing together the top tastemakers and retailers our city has to offer,” said Mindy Selig, principal at Selig. “‘All The Joyful Things’ is the perfect way to honor this vision and invite everyone to experience the excitement and creativity that takes place at The Works every day. The festivities will culminate with our SAVOR dinner, which is our way of saying thank you to the community for letting us be part of Atlanta’s story for years to come.”

In addition to daily experiences, Peter Ferrari of Forward Warrior has curated a collection of artists to bring “All The Joyful Things” to life through an art exhibition entitled “JOY!.” Erica Chisolm, Derrick Phillips and Craig Singleton will create pieces displaying their interpretation of what the holidays mean to them to be auctioned off and donated; Sanithna Phansavanh will debut “Tiny Treasures” as part of an installation for the entire month, comprised of 30 pieces that guests will have the opportunity to win; and Peter himself has been commissioned by The Works to create a permanent installation at the entrance to Chattahoochee Food Works. The Works will host an artist reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 5 featuring the collection of these pieces, with light bites and drinks, music and an opportunity for guests to speak directly with the artists.

Other holiday festivities include: 

Orchestra Noir Performance (Nov. 22): Through orchestral performance, Orchestra Noir celebrates the cultural achievements of African-American music pioneers across all genres of music including classical, jazz, blues, hip-hop and R&B. The ensemble will put on a captivating performance at The Camp from 5 to 7 p.m.

Ballethnic Performance (Nov. 23): For more than 30 years, Ballethnic has distinguished itself by its unique and authentic praxis of blending ballet with African dance concepts and placing the movements sur la pointe. They will be performing two selections from their Urban Nutcracker show at The Camp from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. 

Collective Voice Performance (Nov. 30): Sophisticated, seasoned, talented and versatile, ATL’s own Collective Voice is composed of four vocalists: Terry Gresham, George Stanley, Cara Fears Johnson and Donna Newsom, as well as musical director Kelvin Jones. Their musical selections span several genres and showcase exceptional vocal skills as they belt out tunes from the 60s to today. The group will perform inside the Makers Building from 6 to 7 p.m.

Christmas Back Home Performance (Dec. 6): Enjoy a dazzling medley of classic holiday hits with a unique twist from Christmas Back Home, led by vocalist Scott Thompson. With a dynamic range of styles—from rock and reggae to jazz and country—you’ll be toe-tapping, clapping, and singing along to every beat during this performance from 2 to 4 p.m. at The Camp.

Holiday Pet Pics (Dec 7): Grab your four-legged friends and join us from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for The Works’ annual Holiday Pet Pics with Buddy the Elf! Get into the holiday spirit with festive props and make special memories with your pet. The Works is pleased to provide complimentary print and digital photos provided by Starpix Photobooth Atlanta and encourages on-site or digital donations to the Atlanta Humane Society, a community partner. Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming, a retailer of The Works, will be on-site offering fun giveaways and specials on products for your pup! Journey over to The Camp with Buddy following Holiday Pet Pics for a special holiday screening of Elf starting at 2 p.m.

Whole World Improv Performance (Dec. 14): Since 1994, Whole World Improv Theatre has been the flagship for Improv Comedy in Atlanta, GA. The group will be performing a holiday-themed show for all to enjoy from 3 to 4 p.m. at The Camp.

Brandon Crocker Performance (Dec. 14): Local singer and songwriter Brandon Crocker will perform holiday classics at the Spur Stage from 2 to 5 p.m.

SAVOR Dinner (Dec. 19): The perfect way to cap off a month-long celebration of “All The Joyful Things,” SAVOR is the inaugural community dinner showcasing the exceptional culinary talent of The Works alongside live music. Gather friends and loved ones to experience an unforgettable evening featuring delicious appetizers, festive drinks, a multi-course seated dinner and indulgent desserts. A reception will be at The Camp from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by a seated dinner in the 300 Building from 7 to 8:30 p.m. A portion of proceeds will go directly to Giving Kitchen, which supports hospitality staff in need. 

Brenda Moorer Performance (Dec. 20): A singer and songwriter from Atlanta, Brenda Moorer has performed at the Atlanta Jazz Festival four times, headlining the main stage in 2023. She has a catalog that spans all genres of music, from holiday songs to original pieces of work. She will put on a special performance in The Camp from 5 to 7 p.m. for all to enjoy.

DJ Harrison Bounds and Mochinut (Dec. 22): The final day of “All The Joyful Things” will include holiday beats provided by DJ Harrison Bounds on Camp Street Green and sweet treats provided by Mochinut, a dessert stall located inside Chattahoochee Food Works, from 1 to 4 p.m.

Participate in the “Inside the Kitchen: Cooking Class” led by La Tropical on Nov. 24 and “Behind the Bar: Cocktail Class” led by Tequila & Tapas on Dec. 16 located inside Chattahoochee Food Works for hands-on cocktail and food demonstrations; a showing of the cult classic holiday movie Elf at The Camp on Dec. 7; and several other opportunities to revel in the holiday spirit throughout the community each day. During the monthlong celebration, there will be a number of unexpected surprise activations for visitors as well.

Other delights during the campaign include a series of “Stop & Shop” specials and activations with various retail tenants at The Works from 5 to 7 p.m. to include Swan Space on Nov. 25, Ballard Designs on Dec. 1 , Adelina Social Goods on Dec. 3, and Eric Austin Custom on Dec. 4. The Works will also host its “Tinsel & Twine” series, a selection of craft workshops led by The Beehive. Attendees can sip on complimentary mocktails from Adelina Social Goods while channeling their creative side with classes to make items including needle felt ornaments on Dec. 10; modern wood hall hangings on Dec. 11; fall paper and felt wreaths on Dec. 17; and wire-wrapped earrings on Dec. 18. Each workshop will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Another exciting element of “All The Joyful Things” is The Works’ Ultimate Gift Guide, a grand prize valued at more than $1,500 featuring curated items and experiences from the property’s incredible retailers. Every event attended during the month will equate to one entry for the prize.

“We truly believe this time of year embodies what The Works is all about, making memories and connecting with loved ones,” said Selig. “Now, we invite you to embrace the spirit of the holidays and come celebrate with us!”

For a full lineup of events during “All The Joyful Things,” visit www.theworksatl.com and follow The Works on Instagram and Facebook.

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