Your guide to Richmond's top holiday events this year
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Richmond's biggest holiday weekend of the year is here.
Why it matters: This jam-packed weekend marks the official start to the holiday season in RVA, a time filled with half-days, sparkling events and plenty of seasonal cheer.
State of play: But it's just the start.
- Here's your guide to all the can't-miss seasonal events so you can make the most of the festivities this year.
The big-deal events:
🎄 RVA Illuminates, formerly known as the Grand Illumination, is Friday. Dec. 5.
- The free event that lights up most of the downtown skyline begins at 5:30pm at Kanawha Plaza, and the switch gets flipped at 5:59pm.
- Of note: the live performances have been canceled this year due to the snowy forecast, the city announced Thursday.
- 🥁 Dominion Energy Christmas Parade, is Saturday, Dec. 6.
- The best little Christmas parade around kicks off at 10:15am, led by grand marshal Clifford the Big Red Dog (he was selected by patients at the children's hospital).
- The route is east down Broad from the Science Museum to 10th Street, and attendees can line up anywhere.
🛳 Parade of Lights at Rocketts Landing is Saturday, Dec. 13 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 on Saturday, Dec. 20, from 5:30-7pm. Sharp.
- There'll be menorah lighting, nonalcoholic cocktails, kids' games and more. Free, but RSVP required.
🌍 Capital City Kwanzaa Festival from Elegba Folklore Society is Saturday, Dec. 27 from 1-7pm 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 $7.
Other awesome, seasonal events happening this weekend:
🎁 The Bizarre Bazaar, the grande dame of Richmond-area holiday markets, runs through Sunday at Richmond Raceway. Times vary. Advance adult tickets are $11.
🛍️ Maymont's Merry Market, which brings together more than 70 local makers for a day of shopping, plus live music, food and booze trucks, and a holiday train. Saturday and Sunday, 12-5pm. $10 for adults.
🎅 Soul Santa will be at the Black History Museum on Saturday from 11am-3pm doing story time and pictures with kids.
- The event is free, but advance registration for photos is recommended. He'll be back Dec. 13, too.
👹 The 13th annual Yuletide Monster Parade (aka RVA Krampus Walk) through Carytown (meet at Aquarian Bookshop). Saturday, 5:30pm. Free.
- The event is an homage to the half-goat, half-demon monster that 12th-century eastern Europeans said rode along with Santa to punish misbehaving children.
Ongoing:
⛲️ Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens is happening nightly (save Christmas and Christmas Eve) through Jan. 4, from 4-8:30pm.
- 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 "The Elements."
- 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 mid- January.
- Stake tickets (with or without skate rentals) are $16.
🎨 Studio Two Three's Winter Market, a seasonal pop-up market in their Manchester space that's jam-packed with things for sale from more than 100 local artists.
- Open 11am-5pm daily (and until 8pm on Thursdays) through Dec. 23. Free.
🩰 Richmond Ballet's "The Nutcracker" at the Carpenter Theatre at Dominion Energy Center is a holiday tradition for generations of Richmonders.
- Performances run through Dec. 23. Tickets start at $32.
🌟 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.
📬 Saber the Elf Husky is back for a second year, once again delivering directly to Santa all the letters dropped in his South Richmond mailbox on 29th Street.
- And Saber, being the best little pup, also delivers a reply from Santa (usually within 24 hours) to all the good little Richmond boys and girls.