Atlanta’s holiday season gets a little brighter this year: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer returns to the stage at the Center for Puppetry Arts from November 11 through December 27, 2026, with 38 performances for families to choose from.
Adapted by Jon Ludwig, the production is a faithful stage version of the beloved 1964 stop-motion television special. It follows Rudolph and Hermey the Elf, two cheerful misfits who run away together and set off on a merry, heartwarming adventure of acceptance and self-discovery — with Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster never far behind. It is a story that speaks to the misfit in all of us, told through the Center’s signature puppetry magic.
The show is part of the Center’s Family Series, and tickets start at $22. Morning and afternoon performances run throughout the run, including Thanksgiving weekend and the days right after Christmas, making it an easy fit for family holiday plans. Families can round out the visit by exploring the Center’s Worlds of Puppetry Museum, home to the Jim Henson Collection and puppets from around the globe.
The Center for Puppetry Arts is a nonprofit arts organization in Midtown Atlanta and one of the largest centers devoted to puppetry in the United States. As a designated Signature Performance, Rudolph is one of its most popular holiday traditions — early booking is a good idea.
Photo: Clay Walker / Center for Puppetry Arts
