 |
| Colonial Williamsburg's Grand Illumination fireworks at the Governor's Palace. (Photo credit: Tom Green, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation) |
| Holiday events continue to abound throughout the Historic Triangle as Christmas week approaches.
Colonial Williamsburg will host its final Celebration of the Yule Log event on Friday, while Grand Illumination is set to return for its last hurrah of the season on Saturday.
The Artful Winter Evenings series will continue on Thursday at the Hennage Auditorium with winter music, a gingerbread house making program, a free holiday-themed guided tour and a festive craft. The night will close out with a special after-hours seasonal performance by Bobby BlackHat Band.
Several holiday concerts are scheduled to be held this week, including One Accord Choir at Bruton Parish Church, Magic of Harmony Show Chorus at Yorktown Library and a jazzy Christmas concert by the Jae Sinnett Trio at Williamsburg Library.
Additional event highlights include the return of Christmastide in Virginia at Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, a showing of the holiday classic "White Christmas," at the Kimball Theatre and the season's final performances of A Christmas Carol by the Williamsburg Players.
Williamsburg Downtown is hosting several cozy holiday events featuring Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Williamsburg Lodge this weekend. Proceeds benefit Williamsburg-area nonprofit organizations. The Jolly Old Elf will also visit New Town for free photos with children and families on Dec. 20 - 21.
Congratulations to Gordon Parr, the winner of our VOCES8 Holiday Concert ticket giveaway. We received many submissions from deserving readers and plan to offer additional giveaways in the future, so stay tuned.
If you missed the VOCES8 concert in Williamsburg, the world-renowned choral group will be performing one more holiday show in Richmond tonight.
See below for our curated guide to things to do around the Historic Triangle, Dec. 18 - 21. |
| |
| Your contribution this Season of Giving helps us keep sharing the voices and moments that bring Virginia's Historic Triangle together. |
| Support independent local news |
| |
EVENTS THIS WEEK |
| Each week, we scour event calendars from across the region and send readers a list of local events and activities worthy of their time. For additional event details, click on the bolded, hyperlinked titles. |
Thursday, Dec. 18 |
 |
| The folk art tree in the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg decorated with hundreds of handmade ornaments. (Photo credit: Tom Green, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation) |
| HOLIDAY EVENTS |
-
A Holiday Medley | Hennage Auditorium | Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg | This program of story, song and dance tells the tale of winter in Williamsburg over its 250-year history. Tickets are $10 for adults and children ages 6+, $5 for children ages 5 and under. 4 pm.
|
| |
-
An Artful Winter Evening Tour | Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg | Attend a guided tour featuring objects and stories of wintertime past and present. Free & open to the public. 5, 5:30, 6 and 6:30 pm.
|
| |
| LIVE MUSIC |
| |
-
Bobby Blackhat Band | Hennage Auditorium | Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg | Celebrate the holidays with a magical after-hours event featuring a concert by Bobby BlackHat Band. The group brings toe-tapping blues to your holiday season. Tickets are $20 for adults and youth ages 6+, $10 for children ages 5 and under. 7 pm.
|
-
VOCES8 Holiday Concert | River Road Baptist Church | Richmond | Grammy-nominated British ensemble VOCES8 invites you to hear their Winter Tales, a concert glowing with warmth, reflection and festive joy. Blending ancient and modern voices, the program moves from the quiet mystery of medieval chant to the radiant harmonies of today's composers, tracing a journey from the stillness of Advent to the splendor of Christmas. Purchase tickets here. 7:30 p.m.
|
| |
| |
| FILM |
| |
| TEENS |
| |
| |
Friday, Dec. 19 |
 |
| A Celebration of the Yule Log returns to Colonial Williamsburg for the final time this season on Friday, Dec. 19. (Photo by Christin Nielsen/The Triangle) |
| HOLIDAY EVENTS |
| |
| |
-
A Celebration of the Yule Log | Powder Magazine Yard | Celebrate the joy of the holidays with music, festivity, lighting of the cressets and the community of 18th-century and present-day Williamsburg. Follow the Yule Log, hauled by wagon, from Capitol Circle to Market Square. Free & open to the public. 6 - 7:30 pm.
|
| |
| |
| CRAFT |
| |
| |
Saturday, Dec. 20 |
 |
| Williamsburg Downtown will host Cookies with Santa at the Williamsburg Lodge on Saturday, Dec. 20. (Photo courtesy of Williamsburg Downtown) |
| HOLIDAY EVENTS |
-
Cookies with Santa | Williamsburg Lodge | Returning for its third year, this holiday experience features 90 minutes with Santa, seasonal crafts, cookies, story time and photo ops in a cozy setting. Tickets are $25. 9 am and 11 am.
|
-
Gingerbread Escape Room | Abram Frink, Jr. Community Center | This festive, interactive adventure features an escape room that transforms players into clever gingerbread cookies on a quest to break free from a series of whimsical puzzles. For all ages. Free. 10 am - 1 pm.
|
-
Ho Ho Ho at the Depot! | Lee Hall Depot | Celebrate the season with this family-friendly holiday experience at historic Lee Hall Depot. Guests will step into a winter wonderland decorated with cheerful, railroad-themed décor. The event will feature meetings and photos with Santa, an interactive model train layout, holiday crafts, station tours and seasonal treats. Included with regular admission. Santa visits are an additional $5. 10 am - 4 pm.
|
| |
| |
| |
-
Grand Illumination | Colonial Williamsburg | Celebrate the season with this beloved annual event featuring entertainment, pomp and pageantry, storytelling and the lighting of the cressets. In commemoration of the colonial custom of illuminating buildings in honor of significant events, the program concludes with two simultaneous fireworks displays at the Capitol and Governor's Palace. The event begins at 5 pm; fireworks start at 7 pm. Free & open to the public.
|
| LIVE MUSIC |
-
Magic of Harmony Show Chorus | Yorktown Library | This family-friendly, melodic holiday concert features a talented four-part a Capella group. The ensemble was chartered in Newport News as a chapter of Sweet Adelines International and can be heard throughout Hampton Roads year-round. Registration is not required. Free. 2 - 3 pm.
|
| |
| |
| |
-
A Baroque Christmas: Music from 1725-1750 | Bruton Parish Church | Williamsburg Baroque presents Corette's Les six symphonies de noël and Molter's Concerto Pastorale in G Major, in addition to Bach's Advent cantata, Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland, BWV 61. This ticketed event is $25 per person, $10 for youth and students. Tickets are available at the door or in advance at williamsburgbaroque.org. 8 - 9 pm.
|
| NATURE |
| |
| |
| MARKETS |
- Williamsburg Farmers Market | 345 W Duke of Gloucester St. | Shop from the finest Virginia-grown and Virginia-made produce, plants and products. This farmers market features over 40 vendors, live music and children's programming. Rain or shine. Free admission. 8 am - 12 pm.
|
- Toano Open Air Market | 7891 Richmond Road | Toano | Shop from various vendors selling their finest products-- just in time for the holidays. This week's market is the last of the 2025 season. Located on the Village Green near Hohl. Free admission. 9 am - 12 pm.
|
- Hilton Village Farmers Market | 10260 Warwick Blvd | Historic Hilton Village's weekly market on Main is held every Saturday, year-round. Free admission. 9 am - 12 pm.
|
| |
Sunday, Dec. 21 |
 |
| The Peninsula Youth Orchestra will perform in a free, ticketed concert at the Ferguson Center on Sunday. (Photo courtesy of The Peninsula Youth Orchestra) |
| SPECIAL EVENT |
-
2nd Sundays Williamsburg | Downtown Williamsburg | This month's holiday-themed 2nd Sundays event has been rescheduled to Dec. 21. The street fair features 190 unique artisans, musicians, performers, food vendors and more. Free admission. 11 am - 4 pm. |
| LIVE MUSIC |
| |
-
Classical Icons: Peninsula Youth Orchestra Winter Concert | Ferguson Center for the Arts | Enjoy a holiday concert featuring the talented young musicians of the Peninsula Youth Orchestra. The concert features seasonal favorites performed by the Soundscapes Performance Ensemble, comprised of outstanding PYO members, as well as timeless works by the full Peninsula Youth Orchestra. Free. Tickets required. 3 pm. |
-
The 3 Tenors Concert | Hennage Auditorium | Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg | Attend a celebration of the holidays featuring traditional, gospel and contemporary music by the 3 Tenors. Tickets are $10 for adults and children ages 6+, $5 for children ages 5 and under. 1:30 pm. |
| KIDS |
| |
| |
| TEENS |
-
Teen Roll Out Christmas Cookies | James City County Recreation Center | In this program, teens will roll out homemade sugar cookie dough and cut out, bake and decorate cookies for the holidays. For ages 13-17. $40. 12-3 pm.
|
| |
Multi-Day |
 |
| The Williamsburg Players perform in "A Christmas Carol." (Photo courtesy of The Williamsburg Players) |
| SEASONAL EVENTS |
| |
-
Christmastide in Virginia | Jamestown Settlement & American Revolution Museum at Yorktown | Daily except Christmas Day, Dec. 20 - 31 | 9 am - 5 pm | Step back in time to the holidays of yesteryear. Become immersed in 17th- and 18th-century holiday traditions through festive interpretive programs, holiday cooking, caroling and musical entertainment. Included with museum admission. Residents of James City County, York County and the City of Williamsburg receive free admission with proof of residency. See the live music schedule here.
|
| |
| |
| |
-
Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol | Peninsula Community Theatre | Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Dec. 5 - 21 | Enjoy an irreverent, funny and deeply moving Christmas story presented by a talented local cast. Tickets are available here.
|
| |
-
Williamsburg Christmas Market | Downtown Williamsburg | Thurs - Sun., Nov. 28 - Dec. 21 | This European-inspired Christmas market features 40 vendor chalets, daily photo ops with Santa, train rides, live entertainment, a petting zoo and Christmas music. Market food, gluhwein (warm spiced wine) and craft beers will also be available. There is a one-time $5 entrance fee for admission for adults 18+ on Fridays-Sundays. Guests will receive a card to use for all future visits. Admission is free on Thursdays. See the website for hours.
|
| |
-
Williamsburg Christmas Lights Bus Tour | James City County Marina | Dec. 1 - 31 | 5:30 & 7:30 pm | Enjoy a joyful evening of holiday cheer featuring hot cocoa, hot cider and Christmas music while touring Williamsburg-area lights on a cozy, 14-passenger bus. See the website for ticket information.
|
-
Ice Skating at the Liberty Ice Pavilion | Colonial Williamsburg | Outdoor ice-skating has returned to historic Duke of Gloucester Street for the season. Refreshments, including hot cider, coffee and baked treats, will be available for purchase steps away from the ice. See the operating schedule here. Regular daily rates are $16 for adults, $14 for youth ages 3 - 12. Skate rentals are $6. Season ice passes are also available.
|
-
Art Museums Overview: Holiday Edition | Art Museums | Colonial Williamsburg | Daily, except Christmas Day, through Dec. 31 | Enjoy the holiday season with a 30-minute guided tour of the Art Museums at Colonial Williamsburg. Free & open to the public. 10:30 - 11 am & 11:30 am - 12 pm.
|
-
Celebration in Lights | Newport News Park | Daily, Nov. 27 - Jan. 1 | 5:30 - 10 pm | Celebrate the return of Virginia's original holiday drive-through light show. Enjoy two miles of cheerful holiday scenes created with over one million twinkling lights. Tickets are $15 per car Monday - Thursday, $20 per car Friday - Sunday. Advance purchase tickets are $12 and good for any night.
|
| |
-
Christmas Town | Busch Gardens Williamsburg | Christmas cheer returns to Busch Gardens Nov. 14 - Jan. 4. Enjoy more than 10 million twinkling lights, holiday shows, classic traditions like Christmas Town Express, seasonal shopping, photo ops with Santa and theme park rides and attractions. See the website to purchase tickets.
|
| |
| |
| This newsletter was written by Christin Nielsen. Thanks for reading! |
No comments:
Post a Comment