The holiday season is here and most of us are looking for family events. I have put together the Holiday Events Guide-Central Virginia to make your searching easier! This list includes Charlottesville, Lynchburg and Bedford. So put on your light up necklaces and have some fun!
Charlottesville
Boar’s Head Resort is doing their first ever Winter Wander. There will be thousands of lights set up around the lake.
Charlottesville’s Grand Illumination will take place on December 3. There will be a community tree lighting and food, games, prizes, and holiday fun for all ages!
The Charlottesville Symphony at the University of Virginia and the UVA University Singers present Family Holiday Concerts on December 4 and 5.
The Virginia Glee Club will be performing their 81st annual Christmas Concert on December 3 and 11.
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas will be at the Paul Jones Arena on December 12.
The Trans-Siberian Orchestra will be performing at the Paul Jones Arena on December 16.
A Risque Family Christmas will take place on December 17 at 7pm.
Potter’s Wassail will be taking place at Potters Craft Cider with all day festivities on December 18.
Paramount Presents: 5th Annual Brew & Buddy Run and Elf will be taking place on December 19. This is a brew run where you will stop at several breweries and end up at the theater to watch Elf.
Lynchburg
The Holiday Movie Marathon 2021 is taking place on November 27 at the Historic Academy Theater and will include 8 holiday movies running all day for $5.
Holiday Candlelight Tours begin on December 2 at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest. This event is an hour long tour where you can learn the history of the property and about the lifestyle.
Jefferson Choral Society Presents “A Christmas Celebration” on December 4 and 5 at Timberlake United Methodist Church.
The Lynchburg Christmas Parade, “A Stroll Down Gingerbread Lane” will take place December 5.
Celebration of Lights: Carriage Rides will take place December 10 and 11. Guests will get s’mores, hot chocolate, pictures with Santa and a horse drawn carriage ride.
The Children’s Holiday Festival at Amazement Square will be held December 11. Enjoy a pancake breakfast with Santa, holiday crafts, and more! The whole family is invited to celebrate the holidays and enjoy the magic of the season.
Holiday Candlelight Wine Dinners will take place December 11 and 18. Have a holiday dinner with Thomas Jefferson in his villa.
Join the Masters of Soul “Christmas in Motown” at the Academy Center of the Arts for a celebration of Motown and soul music.
Bedford
The Festival of Trees will begin on November 23 and run through the new year. The event will feature trees that are decorated by local businesses and organizations.
On December 3, The 68th Annual Lighting Ceremony at the Elks will take place. This light display is well known and will run through the holiday season. Cookies and hot chocolate will be available.
Join in the Peaks of Otter 5k on December 4 to raise money for the community. There is even a virtual option.
Enjoy Bedford’s annual Christmas Parade on December 4. The theme this year is “A Storybook Christmas”, which coincides with the Bedford Area Welcome Center’s Festival of Trees theme.
Visit the see the annual Bedford Museum train exhibit and you will see a layout of Bedford including local businesses and public buildings. $5 admission for adults, kids are free.
Check out Bedford’s annual tree lighting on December 4 where you can see vendors, arts and crafts, delicious food and much more!
The Bower Center is hosting The Ronn McFarlane & Carolyn Surrick, who will be singing Christmas carols on December 5.
Second Half of the Month
Santa is coming to Lottie J Farm on December 11. Meet Santa, visit the barnyard with alpacas, miniature donkeys, goats, pigs and chickens, play on the hay pyramid and corn pit and make s’mores by the fire pit. The Happy Hen will also be there with s’mores kits, cookie decorating, red velvet cake, hot chocolate and much more.
On December 12, Santa will be at Fables & Feathers Winery and there will be cookies and mulled wine.
Visit Spring Valley Farm and go for a wagon ride on December 17 while enjoying Christmas lights, music and a live nativity scene. (There are other dates as well).
On December 17, check out the Cider Barn at Chapel Creek Farms in Montvale for a Christmas themed evening. There will be a free cup of hot cider for each guest, a special beef sale, guest vendors, door prizes, and Christmas lights to admire.
Want more?
Check out my other post Holiday Event Guide in the Shenandoah if you want more events down the valley. Let me know if I missed anything!
Also, if you want to go a little out of town, try out Busch Gardens Christmas Town.