Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!

E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!

Discover

Things to Do in RVA: Christmas

12 items

Sara Pearce

With Christmas right around the corner, now is the time to start planning to visit some of RVA's many amazing holiday festivities! You're sure to find something for your whole family, whether it be tacky light tours, visits from Santa, Christmas para...

Map

Sections

Christmas Lights

Fun for Kids

Christmas Shopping

Christmas Events

Christmas Lights

RVA is notorious for having some of the most beautiful Christmas lights in the area! One of my favorite parts of Christmas is going to visit all of the decorated houses. Here is a list of some of the best places to go to see some gorgeous lights, inc...

RVA is notorious for their incredible tacky light houses! You can either find a list of local tacky houses (like I do), or register to attend a tacky lights tour so you're sure to hit all of the hot spots! My favorite house is Mr. Phifer's house on A...

Richmond Virginia Tacky Light Tours

Maymont’s Merry Market is fun for the whole family, with 75 local artisans, seasonal beverages, visits with Santa, holiday train rides, DIY crafts, s’more by the fire pit, ornament decorating, and more! I actually have yet to visit the Merry Market b...

Merry Market

Every year, Colonial Heights hosts a Christmas Parade, and it is INCREDIBLE! It’s one of my seasonal favorites. Watch the amazing nighttime holiday parade, enjoy “A Hollywood Christmas” themed floats, musical performers, and more. I highly recommend ...

Christmas Parade

The Light Up the Tracks Celebration takes place in Ashland, VA from November 22 until January 1. It’s a mile long and has vintage holiday village shops, a gingerbread scavenger hunt, live musical performances, and more! It’s perfect for adults and ch...

Light Up the Tracks

The Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights is a classic! I go every year and can never get enough. The Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden hangs up one million twinkling lights, hand-crafted botanical decorations, model trains, and more! Every year, they do ...

Dominion GardenFest of Lights

Christmas on Wendhurst is one of my all-time favorite Christmas Light Houses, with over 200,000 lights! It's well-worth the visit if you're in the RVA area. It's a great trip for the whole family!

Christmas On Wendhurst

Fun for Kids

I plan to add more to this list, but for now, here are a few ideas to get you started for celebrating Christmas with your little ones! The Science Museum and Children's Museum have some amazing Christmas-themed activites that I highly recommend visit...

Be sure to stop by the Science Museum of Virginia to witness the 48th annual model railroad show! It’s another favorite of the kids I nanny. It features bells and whistles, model trains, demonstrations, experiments, and more! It is included with muse...

Model Railroad Show

There is no better children’s activity than going to the Children’s Museum and visiting the Legendary Santa! See Santa and the Snow Queen, and watch as they greet every child. Plus, the Children’s Museum comes with a whole host of fun, interactive ac...

Legendary Santa

Christmas Shopping

Every year, I count down the days until the Bizarre Bazaar is back in town! Stop my small-business vendors, grab some Christmas gifts, and enjoy everything there is to offer! This is another list that I'll be sure to add to in the future :)

I am OBSESSED with the Bizarre Bizaar– it’s always been a favorite of mine! Stop by and visit hundreds of vendors offering unique seasonal gifts, including home and garden accessories, gourmet cookbooks, fine linens, designer clothing, toys, artwork,...

The Bizarre Bazaar

Christmas Events

RVA has lots of incredible Christmas events, from the annual Nutcracker performance to Afternoon Tea! Be sure to stop by and celebrate Christmas with your loved ones at one of these (or all of these) amazing events!

From December 6-23, be sure to visit the Nutcracker at the Carpenter Theatre! It’s a holiday classic, and it is, by far, one of the best performances this holiday season!

The Nutcracker - Richmond Ballet

This is a new one I’d never heard of before! Sip on festive tea, where classic Dickens, Old English tea traditions, and Virginia charm come together for a 2 hour celebration. Enjoy an Old English Tea Flight, a Tea Tower of sweet and savory delights, ...

Afternoon Tea in Downtown Richmond

Another place to have some afternoon tea! The Jefferson Hotel is famous here in RVA. It's absolutely gorgeous, and having afternoon tea there is a dream. I highly recommend it- just be sure to make your reservation online ahead of time!

Tea at the Jefferson Hotel