Atlanta Arts category interest

Top Sensory-Friendly Events and Programs

All kids just want to have fun! Finding places to play can be a challenge for families of kids with special needs, including those with sensory sensitivities. These spots offer special events, performances and programs every kid can enjoy by encouraging movement, offering quiet spaces and lessoning distractions.

Events and Performances

Cherokee County Aquatic Center Sensory Friendly Night

Sensory Friendly Night: The center is partnering with Therapeutic Recreation to enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities. Enjoy a “Tropical Oasis” sensory friendly night with swimming, games and more. Aug. 9, 4:30-7 p.m.

Fernbank Museum

Sensory Mornings: Enjoy a quieter, calmer environment with reduced crowds on select days at Fernbank. Explore the museum and nature trails of WildWoods one hour before the normal opening, and enjoy a sensory-friendly film in the Giant Screen Theater with modified lighting and lowered volume. Upcoming dates: Aug. 3 and Nov. 17, 9-11 a.m.

Center for Puppetry Arts

Sensory Friendly Sundays: Guests with sensory sensitivities and other developmental differences can enjoy puppet performances in a fun, comfortable and welcoming environment with their Puppets for All! programming. Atlanta. Upcoming performances: Owl at Home, Sept. 1, 1 and 3 p.m.

The Southern Museum

Sensory Friendly Afternoons: A sensory friendly environment allows children to explore the “General” locomotive, see the Civil War collection, enjoy hands-on and interactive exhibits in the Jolley Education Center and more. Held the last Tuesday of each month from 2-5 p.m. Kennesaw.

Children’s Museum of Atlanta

Sensory Friendly Playtime: Children can explore and enjoy the museum on select Sunday mornings with a sensory modified setting, social story, limited admission and sound and lighting adjustments. Advance ticket purchase required. Atlanta. Aug. 4, Oct. 6, Nov. 3, Dec. 1, 9-11 a.m.

Tellus Science Museum

Sensory Friendly Mornings: On select days, Tellus offers designated quiet spaces, sound reduction and specialized equipment like lap pads, sunglasses, wheelchairs and noise reduction earmuffs. Additional signage is placed throughout the museum; the planetarium is also open and plays a video of space images and soft music. Cartersville. Upcoming dates: Aug. 17 and 18, Nov. 16 and 17, 9-10 a.m.

Sloomoo Institute

Sensory Friendly Hour: On the third Thursday of each month from 11 a.m.-noon, Sloomoo offers a quieter experience with fewer crowds. Headsets and swimmer-style nose plugs are available during Sensory Friendly Hour and during regular Sloomoo hours. Atlanta.

Chuck E. Cheese

Sensory Friendly Sundays: The first Sunday of the month, this popular venue opens early, with a quieter environment, dimmed lighting, low music, no admission fees and more. Find a participating location online.

High Museum of Art

Sensory Friendly Mornings: This free program offers a modified experience for sensory sensitive or neurodiverse visitors and their families, with a special Atlanta Symphony Orchestra performance, multisensory activities, art making and stories. Advance registration required. Check the website for upcoming dates. Atlanta.

Atlanta Botanical Garden

Sensory Friendly Event: During this reduced-admission event the garden is open exclusively to visitors with cognitive and sensory-processing disabilities and their families. Visit drop-in learning and art stations and see a special performance. Check the website for upcoming dates.

Booth Western Art Museum

Sensory Friendly Morning: This free event includes visual schedules, a sensory friendly map and downloadable social stories. Sensory bags are available to check out and a family quiet space is available. The museum offers noise-cancelling headphones and other materials during art-making programs. Check the website for upcoming dates.

Georgia Symphony Orchestra

Sensory Friendly Concerts: Held on select dates at Marietta Performing Arts Center, visitors are free to move around during the concert. Limited seating and special musical selections allow audience members to enjoy classical music. A quiet room is available; prior to the show, visitors can try various instruments. Marietta. Upcoming performance: Symphonic Superheroes, Nov. 9., 2-3 p.m.

The Georgia Ballet

Sensory Friendly Shows: Select shows offer open seating with reduced capacity, house lighting at half, lowered sound, lowered stage lighting and no strobe or sudden effects on the stage. Jennie T. Anderson Theatre, Marietta. Upcoming 2024-25 performances include “Sleepy Hollow,” The Nutcracker,” and “Alice in Wonderland.”

Studio Movie Grill

Special Needs Screenings: On select days at 11 a.m., see a movie for free, with the lights up and volume low. Moviegoers are free to move and talk during the show. Marietta, Alpharetta and Duluth. Check the website for dates and shows.

AMC Theatres

Sensory Friendly Films: On the second and fourth Saturday of every month, enjoy family friendly movies with the lights up and the sound down. Participating Atlanta theaters: AMC Parkway Pointe, Atlanta, and AMC Colonial 18, Lawrenceville. Check the website for dates and shows.

Sensory-Friendly Museums and Attractions

These museums and attractions offer sensory-friendly experiences during regular hours, with items such sensory bags, communication cards, social story guides, fidget devices and more. Check websites for detailed information, ticketing and hours.

Zoo Atlanta

Zoo Atlanta is a certified sensory inclusive destination. They offer sensory bags with badges, fidget tools, headphones and more, weighted lap pads, quiet areas and headphone zones. You can also download a social story to help you through the attraction. Atlanta.

Atlanta Braves

The team’s Exceptional Fans program includes a welcome kit with a sensory map, the option to skip concession lines and a Braves fidget. (Tickets must be purchased through the Accessible Services department). Noise cancelling headphones and a quiet room are also available.

Georgia Aquarium

A Certified Autism Center, aquarium staff are been trained to work with guests on the spectrum. Families can also expect expedited entrances, sensory bags with headsets, sunglasses, fidget devices and communication cards, and designated quiet zones. Atlanta.

Six Flags over Georgia

A Certified Autism Center, the park has low sensory areas, sensory guides and specially trained staff during regular hours. Austell.

Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center

Located near Mall of Georgia, the GEHC features interactive exhibits, walking trails and greenways. A new sensory treehouse allows those with mobility disabilities to enjoy the tree canopy. It features a 340-foot accessible steel walkway with three expanded nodes, surrounded by a viewing and activity platform and a high-hanging hammock.

Sensory Friendly Classes and Programs

Learning a sport or playing in a gym can benefit kids with autism or sensory processing disorders. These spots offer classes that help develop physical coordination, confidence and social skills.

Atlanta Dance Central

ADC’s Physio Jazz programs, designed for kids 8 and older, with disabilities, helps develop muscle tone, balance and coordination. It’s also a place where kids can feel included, make friends, and develop social skills. Roswell.

Neverland Adaptive Aquatics

Neverland offers private, semi-private and small group swim lessons for children and adults with disabilities, plus adaptive swim teams and fitness programs. Swimmers are individually evaluated to find the class that best suits their needs and goals. Classes are held at the Cumming, Roswell and Cherokee County Aquatic Centers.

We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym

This gym is designed especially for kids with autism and sensory processing disorders, but all abilities are welcome. Tunnels, trampolines, a crash pit with weighted blankets, sensory toys, calming hammock swings and more are available for walk-in play, as well as weekly social skills classes and special events. Roswell.