10 things to do in Richmond for the 2024 holiday season
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The Oregon Hill Christmas House lights up every year for tacky light tours. Image: Courtesy of Richmond Region Tourism
The official, actual post-Thanksgiving holiday season is about to begin.
Why it matters: It's the most wonderful time of the year for merry and bright can't-miss events in RVA.
That's why we've put together this rundown of Richmond's best seasonal events to get you all set with some festive cheer.
The big-deal events:
🎄 RVA Illuminates, formerly known as the Grand Illumination, is Friday. Dec. 6.
- The free event that lights up most of the downtown skyline begins at 4pm at Kanawha Plaza, and the flip gets switched at 5:59pm.
- Expect live music from Desire Roots, AJ Jones, and The Falcon Notes of Huguenot High School, plus food trucks and street closures around the plaza.
🥁 Dominion Energy Christmas Parade is Saturday, Dec. 7.
- Richmond is packing all the festive fun into one weekend with the Christmas Parade beginning at 10am, led by grand marshal (and Olympic medalist and swimmer) local Charlie Swanson.
- The route is east down Broad from the Science Museum to Seventh and Marshall, and attendees can line up anywhere.
🛳 Parade of Lights at Rocketts Landing is Saturday, Dec. 14 at 5pm.
- Richmond boaters light up and sail from Rocketts to Osborne Landing or from The Boathouse to The Lily Pad, or however you prefer to think about nautical distance.
- Spectators can post up anywhere along the route, though Rocketts and Osborne are the easiest to access and offer the clearest view.
- Ancarrow's Landing on the south bank is a popular, albeit very dark, alternative watch spot.
🕎 A Hanukkah Party is at Art Factory in Midlothian is on Saturday, Dec. 25, from 5:30-7pm.
- There will be menorah lighting, nonalcoholic cocktails, kids' games and more. Free, but RSVP required.
🌍 Capital City Kwanzaa Festival from Elegba Folklore Society is Saturday, Dec. 28 from 5-11pm at the Convention Center
- Organizers say it's one of the largest Kwanzaa celebrations on the East Coast with performances, kids activities and an African market. Tickets start at $5.
Ongoing:
⛲️ Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens is happening nightly (save Thanksgiving, Christmas and Christmas Eve) through Jan. 5, from 4-8:30pm.
- Last year its display was voted the best botanical garden holiday light display in the nation by USA Today.
- There are more than 1 million lights, and this year's theme is "Homes & Habitats: A Celebration of Connection."
- Advance tickets are required and priced based on peak and off-peak nights, starting at $12 for kids and $22 for adults for nonmembers.
⛸️ Ice skating at Stony Point Fashion Park is open daily through early January.
- Stake tickets (with or without skate rentals) are $16.
🩰 Richmond Ballet's "The Nutcracker" at the Carpenter Theatre at Dominion Energy Center is a holiday tradition for generations of Richmonders.
- Performances run Dec. 7-23. Tickets start at $25.
🌟 Tacky lights tours — The most can't-miss of all can't-miss local events, a self-guided tour of the metro area's best holiday light displays.
- For more than 30 years, the Richmond Times-Dispatch has verified and compiled a list of every house in town that aggressively decorates with Christmas lights. Find it here.
🎅 Legendary Santa — Richmond's official Santa — is already at the Children's Museum of Richmond, daily through Christmas Eve.
- A handful of time slots are left for a Santa visit as of press time. Tickets are $35 and must be purchased in advance.
Looking for more holiday things to do? Check out our guide to holiday pop-up bars and igloos.
Plus, Venture Richmond's guide to downtown holiday markets.