December 17th – 23rd

kids sledding

“Raising Kids in the Richmond Area”

We have lots of new events and activities posted on these links:

Holiday Shopping Update. Just in time for holiday shopping, The Children’s Museum of Richmond is making it easier for children to shop in their museum. They’re making it possible for children to shop and the products they offer are more affordable than ever. It’s like turning back the clock of time. Click here to learn more.

To have an event posted on the Completely Kids events listing, send us an emailCheck out our weekly events calendar here:

Ongoing

Today – Monday, Dec 24th

Nightly Holiday Light Shows & Live Holiday Entertainment.  Stony Point Fashion Park.  Come celebrate the season and enjoy live entertainment every Friday – Sunday throughout the center. View the complete schedule here.  Animated light shows take place at the top and bottom of each hour, beginning at 5 pm at the Community Tree.  Free.

Today – Sunday, December 30th

Madeline’s Christmas Children’s Theatre at Willow Lawn. Presented by Virginia Repertory Theatre. Visit the website for show times and fees.

Today – Monday, December 31st

A Colonial Christmas.  Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center. Offers a glimpse of 17th- and 18th-century holiday traditions with special tours and interpretive programs and, from December 26 through 31, musical entertainment of the period.

Christmastown Busch Gardens – Experience Busch Gardens in a whole new light during Christmas Town: A Busch Gardens Celebration.  Christmas Town continues select days through Dec. 31.

Today – Sunday, January 6

Guitar: The Instrument That Rocked The World. Science Museum of Virginia.

Today – Monday, January 7th (Closed Dec. 24 & 25)

GardenFest of Lights. Nightly, 5pm-10pm. Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. One of Richmond’s most popular family holiday events. Holiday tradition features more than a half million lights, botanical decorations, trains, holiday dinners, family activities and more. Activities for families and children include Merry Mondays every Monday evening from 5pm-8pm throughout GardenFest, featuring story time with the Garden Keeper, s’mores at the warming fire, and Santa sightings in the Conservatory. Fee.

Today – Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Polar Express (film in IMAX®DOME). Various times. $9 general admission, $5 for members – fee.

Today – January 31st

RVA on Ice. 4pm-10pm. 6th and Broad Street. Grand Opening of ice skating rick next to CenterStage. Open through January 31st (weather permitting). Visit the website for rink times and hours. Fee.

Fan Holiday House Tour. 1pm-5pm. The 50th Annual Holiday House Tour, featuring an array of fabulously-decorated homes in the Fan District, will be held on December 8th and 9th, 2012.  Official ticket sales through Eventbrite.com. Fee.

 

This Week

Monday, December 17th

Henrico Concert Band Holiday Concert. 7:30pm.  Henrico Theatre, 305 E.   Nine Mile Road, Henrico.  The Henrico Concert Band will perform a concert of festive holiday music for the entire family!  Reservations required.  Free.

Kwanzaa Celebration. 11am-1pm. Hull Street Library. Join a Celebration of Kwanzaa and African Food Tasting.

Weinstein JCC Preschool 9th Annual Holiday Gift & Craft Boutique. 8:45am-8pm. 30 Vendors feature a HUGE VARIETY of unique, handcrafted, and one-of-a kind boutique and gift items for ALL AGES. Including artisan jewelry, home decor, vintage items, handbags and accessories, pashmina scarves, clothing, original art, and more. Benefits the preschool. For more info call Judy at 285-6500. Free admission.

Tuesday, December 18th

Make a Gingerbread House.  7pm.  Twin Hickory Library.

Christmas concert with Joshua Allen.  7pm. Fairfield Library.

Weinstein JCC Preschool 9th Annual Holiday Gift & Craft Boutique. 8:45am-4pm. 30 Vendors feature a huge variety of unique, handcrafted, and one-of-a kind boutique and gift items for all ages. Including artisan jewelry, home decor, vintage items, handbags and accessories, pashmina scarves, clothing, original art, and more. Benefits the preschool. For more info call Judy at 285-6500. Free admission.

East End Annual Christmas Celebration. 11am. East End Library. Join us for the sounds and smells of Christmas, meet old friends and say good-bye as we prepare to close for renovations. We will enjoy some refreshments together.

Wednesday, December 19th

Janet Martin in Concert Lunch Break Science – Science Museum at noon. Richmond’s Janet Martin plays Blue Grass flat-picking to electric rock and blues. Seating is limited. Tickets are first come, first served the day of the show.

Thursday, December 20th

Richmond SPCA Winter Break Camp . 9am-4pm. During the 2012 winter break, the Richmond SPCA is offering camp sessions for children in 5th grade through 9th grade that will explore the careers and professions related to caring for animals. Campers will spend time with each department and have hands-on experiences throughout the Robins-Starr Humane Center during either session of this three-day camp. Fee.

Friday, December 21st

Polar Express (2004) PG.  Henrico Theatre, Highland Springs. Enjoy a movie – Tickets are only $1 per person and can be purchased at the door. Information: 328-4491.

LiveSky: Hollywood in Space.  6pm. Science Museum of Virginia.  Check out the good, the bad, and sometimes just plain silly astronomy as portrayed in Hollywood movies! After the show, weather permitting, join members of the Richmond Astronomical Society as they point telescopes up into the vastness of space! Fee $5, free for Museum members.

Richmond SPCA Winter Break Camp . 9am-4pm. During the 2012 winter break, the Richmond SPCA is offering camp sessions for children in 5th grade through 9th grade that will explore the careers and professions related to caring for animals. Campers will spend time with each department and have hands-on experiences throughout the Robins-Starr Humane Center during either session of this three-day camp. Fee.

Richmond Walk to Benefit the Families of Newtown. 9:30am in Midlothian. Remembrance and fundraiser for the families of the Newtown tragedy. Join other moms and families as they walk 27 minutes to remember those 27 who lost their lives.

Saturday, December 22nd

Richmond SPCA Winter Break Camp . 9am-4pm. During the 2012 winter break, the Richmond SPCA is offering camp sessions for children in 5th grade through 9th grade that will explore the careers and professions related to caring for animals. Campers will spend time with each department and have hands-on experiences throughout the Robins-Starr Humane Center during either session of this three-day camp. Fee.

Friday, December 21st – Sunday, December 23rd

Miracle of Christmas – Live at the Zoo.   7pm – 1st Pageant , 7:45pm – 2nd Pageant, 8:30pm – 3rd Pageant.  Metro Richmond Zoo.  You are invited to join with us as we celebrate the birth Jesus Christ through a live re-enactment of the Christmas story featuring animals from the zoo. The pageant is twenty minutes and on December 23 only at 9pm will be en Español.  Live music before and after each pageant will be provided by local churches and performing arts groups.  Free Admission and Parking.

Virginia Blood Services Drive at Virginia Center Commons Mall. During mall hours. As a part of the holiday season, the Virginia Blood Services is hosting a blood drive at Virginia Center Commons from December 20-23. Donors may visit the Fountain Court, near Burlington to participate and be entered for a chance to win a $500 Shopping Spree.

Saturday, December 22nd

Theatre IV on Tour – ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.  11am & 1pm.  The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen.  Fee.

Drifty’s Polar Parade. Swift Creek Mill Theater, 17401 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Colonial Heights, VA 23834. Visit the website for show times and fees.

The Nutcracker and Clara’s Tea Party following select performances of The Nutcracker, requires additional ticket. 4pm. Fee.

Holiday Mash Up 10am-2pm. Kids will come out and enjoy a day at West Broad Village with Sweet Spot, All Fired Up and Spirited Art. They will start their morning at Sweet Spot where they will create their own Gingerbread House, continue onto All Fired Up where they will paint a ceramic Snowman and finish at Spirited Art with pizza and make their own Ornaments. Children spend four hours with us while the adults can take care of their last minute holiday preparations. Fee.

Sunday, December 23rd

Holiday Mash Up 1pm-4pm. Kids will come out and enjoy a day at West Broad Village with Sweet Spot, All Fired Up and Spirited Art. They will start their morning at Sweet Spot where they will create their own Gingerbread House, continue onto All Fired Up where they will paint a ceramic Snowman and finish at Spirited Art with pizza and make their own Ornaments. Children spend four hours with us while the adults can take care of their last minute holiday preparations. Fee.

The Richmond Nativity Pageant. 7pm (concert begins at 6:30pm). One of the oldest public Christmas traditions in Richmond, a live out-door presentation with a cast and choir of more than 200 people. The Pageant is at The Carillon in Byrd Park. Larry Robinson will perform a concert of Bells at 6:30, this event is open to the public. Free.

Kids Fun Shop at All Fired Up. Hours vary. Carytown or Midlothian locations, kids will create a wet clay snowman plate and paint a snowman collectable. Call for specific hours and advance registration: 804-355-3412. Fee.