There are lots of monthly event updates, giveaways, and other information in our newsletters –  Sign-up here!
To submit and event to our calendar send an email to email@completelykidsrichmond.com.

ALL Month…

Illuminate Light Show & Santa’s Village.   Nightly 5:30pm – 10:00pm.   The Meadow Event Park in Doswell, Virginia.  A dazzling 1.5 mile drive-through synchronized light show. Guests will turn their radio to a special frequency and watch as the lights dance along with the music. At the conclusion of the drive, guests can visit Santa’s Village, which will include opportunities for photos with Santa, children’s activities and holiday treats for purchase.  Santa’s Village Dates: November 14, 2014 – December 24, 2014.   Light show through January 3rd.  Open rain or shine, including all holidays.  Fee.

Dominion GardenFest of Lights 2014.   Nightly 5 – 10 p.m. (closed Dec. 24 & 25).  Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens.  Holiday tradition features more than a half million lights, botanical decorations, trains, holiday dinners, family activities and more. Visit often to fully experience Dominion GardenFest of Lights — the region’s ultimate holiday extravaganza!   Dominion GardenFest of Lights is a “rain or shine” event and is only closed for extreme inclement weather.  Through January 12th.  Fee.

Santa’s Christmas Miracle opens at The Children’s Theatre of Virginia.  Through December 28th.  Fee.

Mr Dickens’ Christmas Carol.  8pm.  Grace Street Theater.  The classic story of transformation and redemption.  Through Dec 21st.  Fee.

Legendary Santa.  Children’s Museum of Richmond – Central Location.  Through December 24th.  A visit with Santa is free.

Drifty’s Snow Dance.  Swift Creek Mill Theatre.  Visit the website for show times and fees.  Through December 22nd.

Visit the Mindbender (see our review here) and Boost Exhibits at the Science Museum.  Or see Polar Express, Rocky Mountain Express or Great White Shark at The Dome.

At the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.  Forbidden City: Imperial Treasures from the Palace Museum, Beijing.  (see our review here)

Ice Skating Fun

Monday, December 1st

The Jefferson Hotel Tree Lighting.  Live music beginning at 5:30p.m., and the lighting of the holiday tree at 6pm. There will also be a parade of beloved children’s characters, sing-alongs, and complimentary refreshments in the Empire Room.  Free.

Creative Arts.  6:30pm.  Tuckahoe Library.   Come make a greeting card holder wreath out of clothespins. Sponsored by the Friends of Tuckahoe Library.  Registration required.  Free.

Holiday Festival of Music.  7pm.  The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.  Christmas concert featuring the Cathedral Choir, accompanied by the Richmond Symphony.    Fee.

Monday, December 1st and Tuesday, December 2nd

Jingle Bell Bazaar.  Richmond Country Club,  12950 Patterson Avenue (just off the 288) with free parking.  Goochland Free Clinic & Family Services (GFCFS) is hosting.

Tuesday, December 2nd

December Kids Club.  9:30am-10:30am.  Chesterfield Towne Center  in the food court.  Join radio sponsor  93.1 ”The Wolf”  for plenty of fun and light refreshments. Entertainment this month is  a visit with Santa.   Free.

Kindergarten Readiness Forum.  10am-11:30am.   The Children’s Museum of Richmond is partnering with Collegiate School and Powhatan County Public Schools to host a  for preschool families on  from 10:00AM to 11:30AM. The forum is free to the public, and childcare will be available for pre-registered attendees.  Attendees will hear from both public and private school representatives discussing the process of selecting the right kindergarten and will have an opportunity to ask questions of parenting and school experts as they consider kindergarten options.

“Toddler Time”.  10:30-11am.  Ginter Park Library, 1200 Westbrook Ave., Richmond, VA, 23227.  FREE Interactive early literacy storytime with music and movement for ages 18-36 months with an adult. Indoor playtime and crafts at the conclusion. Located at . For questions and info. Call Miss Tori at 804.646.1236.  Free.

Young @ Art: The Emperor’s Palace.  11am-Noon.  Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Art Education Center.  For ages 2 ½ – 5.  Diverse objects from imperial China will inspire your own extravagant creations.  Fee.

Fuss Free Mornings (Midlothian).  6pm. Delivered by Commonwealth Parenting.  Free.

Tuesday, December 2nd – Saturday, December 20th

Jingle Jam Holiday Music Classes.  Melody Magic Music Studio,3041 Lauderdale Drive.  Celebrate the holidays through music! This 3-week class will get your kids dancing, singing, and playing to all kinds of holiday favorites. Ages 0-7 years, with a parent. There are class times all throughout the week and weekend, so check the schedule to see what works for you! $30/child for the 3 weeks, and advance registration is required.Melody Magic Music Studio — 3041 Lauderdale Drive. Register online.

Wednesday, December 3rd

Mad Science in Lab Workshop. 10am to 11am. Mad Science Lab in Innsbrook.  Science workshops for Elementary age students. These workshops are perfect for homeschoolers. Workshops are $10 each, last approximately 60 minutes & include a take home science activity. Check the website for the list of scheduled topics and to register.

Young @ Art: The Emperor’s Palace.  11am-Noon.  Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Art Education Center.  For ages 2 ½ – 5.  Diverse objects from imperial China will inspire your own extravagant creations.  Fee.

Fuss Free Mornings (Chester) 6pm. Delivered by Commonwealth Parenting.  Free.

Wednesday, December 3rd – Sunday, December 7th

Bethlehem Walk.  Salem Baptist Church/Broad Street Campus, 465 Broad Street Road, Manakin, VA 23103.  An interactive outdoor drama where guests experience first century Bethlehem.  As you enter the city, allow the sights, sounds and smells to carry you to a period of time that changed the world. Journey through the heart of the city to the marketplace that is bustling with activity from over a dozen authentic shops; enjoy samples from the baker’s shop, see the blacksmith at work making crucifixion nails, marvel at the potter’s crafts and listen for the rumor of a king’s birth from excited townspeople.   he tour is outside and takes approximately 45 minutes. Wait times for the event could be anywhere from 1 to 3 hours. Dress appropriately for the weather. The rough terrain is not suitable for wheelchairs; however we do have “chariots” to accommodate you. Admission is free and parking is available on the property. Shuttle service is provided to and from satellite parking locations. Donations to help defray the costs of construction and maintenance are accepted.   Visit the website for times and fees.

Thursday, December 4th

Mad Science Preschool Workshop.  10am to 10:40am.  Mad Science Lab in Innsbrook.  Science preschool workshops for Preschool age students. Preschool workshops are $7 each, last approximately 40 minutes and include a take home science activity. Check the website for the list of scheduled topics and to register.

CommuniKids Preschool Open House. 10:30am. CommuniKids Preschool, 3111 Lauderdale Drive. CommuniKids offers a full language-immersion preschool program in French or Spanish for children ages 2 to 5, with extended care available. They also offer language classes for children ages 1 ½ to 10 in Spanish, French, and Mandarin Chinese. Free.

“Stories with Miss Tori”.  10:30-11:15am.  Ginter Park Library, 1200 Westbrook Ave., Richmond, VA, 23227.  FREE Interactive early literacy family storytime with songs, stories, and rhymes for the whole family to enjoy. Indoor playtime and crafts at the conclusion. For questions and info. Call Miss Tori at 804.646.1236.  Free.

Inspired by China.  4:15 – 6pm.  Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Art Education Center.  For ages 9 – 12.   3 sessions.  After discovering ancient Chinese traditions such as shadow puppetry and woodblock printing, explore the culture and ways of thinking that influence these art forms.  Fee.

Ancient America.  4:15 – 6pm.  Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Art Education Center.  For ages 5 – 8.  Discuss the art and culture of the first peoples of America. Create your own functional artifacts based on objects found in the Ancient American Art Gallery.  Fee.

Holiday Lights Inside & Out!  6pm.  Henrico Theatre.   The first annual illumination of Henrico Theatre! Guests can tour the building, view a Polar Express train display, and watch as the exterior of the building is illuminated for the season! Stay for a holiday performance of song and dance followed by the movie “White Christmas.” Information: 328-4491.  $1.

Holiday Music with the Short Pump Symphonette.  7pm,  Glen Allen Library.  Enjoy an evening of holiday music with the Short Pump Symphonette, an amazing 20-piece orchestra showcasing both youth and adult performers. Sponsored by the Friends of the Glen Allen Branch Library.  Free.

Friday, December 5th

Gingerbread Houses.  5pm-7pm.  Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Art Education Center.  Recommended for children ages 5 – 12 | Construct an architectural — yet delectable — structure out of gingerbread, royal icing, and lots of colorful candies!  Note: This class is not recommended for anyone with food allergies. For questions, email youthstudio@vmfa.museum.  Fee.

Special Night for Special Needs.  5:30pm-7:30pm.  Children’s Museum – Chesterfield.  Special Night for Special Needs is an evening especially for the families of children with special needs age 10 and under.  Visitors enjoy all the museum has to offer and benefit from the availability of adapted materials, special activities, a cool-down space and reduced number of visitors.  Free.

Sensitive Legendary Santa. 5:30pm-8:30pm. Children’s Museum Central. Families with children who have sensory or other special needs are invited to a sensory-friendly visit with Legendary Santa, including special access to the Genworth Foundation Holiday Village, CMoR Central’s Exhibits, and the VIRGINIA529 Fawn Shop! RSVP for a Sensitive Legendary Santa time slot by visiting www.rvaSensitiveLegendarySanta2014.eventbrite.com or by calling Mary Beth Yates at 804-474-7035. Space is limited in order to provide a calm, quiet environment for all participants.

First Friday Sampler & Open Houser.  5:30pm-9pm.  Visual Arts Center of Richmond.  Try your hand at different art samplers.  Budget and kid-friendly, but some  minimum age requirements.  Extra this month is the annual holiday open house. The fun-filled evening celebration will include artist demos, make-and-take workshops, an art supplies donation drive, music, holiday movie screening, cookie decorating, raffles and much more.   Treats will include a hot cocoa + coffee bar, Center of the Universe Beer, baked goods and much more.  Fee.

James Center Illumination.  5:55 pm – 7 pm.  Between 9th-12th & Cary Streets.  Reindeer and Buildings Illuminate at 6 pm.  Free.

Kids Night Out. 6pm-8pm.  Engineering For Kids of Central VA, Glen Allen Learning Center, 1586 Mountain Road.  Fee.

Henrico Theatre Company presents It’s a Wonderful Life.  8pm.  The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen.  This clever, live radio play adaptation invites you to experience Frank Capra’s beloved story in a refreshingly new and intimate way. Join us live in the studios of WBFR Radio on Christmas Eve, 1946. There the dozens of characters and locations of the classic movie will be brought to life by the long-lost radio formula of five actors, a live sound effects artist, and your imagination.  Fee.

Friday, December 5th and Saturday, December 6th

Henrico Holiday Spectacular & White Christmas.  Various show times.  Henrico Theatre.  Prior to the showing of White Christmas, will star Henrico’s own version of the Rockettes and a visit from Santa Claus! Information: 328-4491.  $1.

Saturday, December 6th

Breakfast with Santa & Holiday Characters.   Breakfast is 8-9:30am.  Short Pump Mall.   Free for Short Pump Pals members 6 and under.  Must have a valid membership card.  Call 360-1700 for reservations.  Free.

Making ‘Fairy Houses’ with Dried Natural Materials (Adult/Child).  8:30am or 12:30pm.  Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens.  Fee.

How to Build Holiday Yard Stakes. 9am-Noon. Local Home Depot Stores. FREE hands-on workshops designed for children ages 5 – 12 offered at all Home Depot stores. Workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills, tool safety and instill a sense of pride and accomplishment. All kids get to keep their craft and receive a FREE Kids Workshop Apron, commemorative pin and certificate of achievement. Register online. Free.

Paws To R.E.A.D. Program.  10am – 12:30pm.  Ginter Park Library: 1200 Westbrook Ave., Richmond, VA, 23227.  Do you love dogs? Come and read to Harvey, our resident Greyhound! Parents, this is a wonderful program that allows children to read aloud, increase their self-esteem, and learn about the human-animal connection. Call for times and registration to read to Harvey or to one of his canine buddies @ 646-1236. Every Saturday.  Free.

Gingerbread Workshop.  10am.   Only at CMoR Short Pump and CMoR Chesterfield.  Free with museum admission, while supplies last.

Saturdays with the Grinch at CMoR!  11am.  CMoR Central, Chesterfield, and Fredericksburg. Join the Grinch for a special reading of How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  Free with museum admission.

Stories at the Museum. 11am-Noon. Virginia Historical Society. Special educator-led readings of children’s history books and a make-it-and-take-it craft activity related to the text. Open to all ages. This month – Famous Americans. Free.

“Christmas Through the Ages” Open House.  1pm-4pm.  Magnolia Grange, 10020 Iron Bridge Road.  Enjoy the holiday season by experiencing 19th-century life at historic Magnolia Grange house museum elegantly decorated for the holidays just as it was in 1822. The Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia hosts this free Christmas open house with a special appearance by Santa Claus. Children may have their picture taken for free. Start your Christmas shopping in the elegant Magnolia Grange museum store.  Free.

Mountain Road Corridor Holiday Celebration.  2:30-5pm.  Spend the afternoon touring several of the historic  sites and celebrating the season.   Trolley rides from site to site will make traveling part of the fun!  Free.

Annual Tree Lighting.  4:30pm-7pm.  Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen.  Along with the County of Henrico Division of Recreation and Parks, The Center welcomes the community to this very special holiday event featuring holiday music, a toasty bonfire and of course Old St. Nick! Enjoy hot chocolate and cookies as Old St. Nick makes his arrival via fire truck to light the 60-foot cedar tree at The Center’s entrance. mark yoru calendars to attend this holiday tradition!   A fun treat for all ages.  Free.

Richmond Symphony Let It Snow! 8pm.  Genworth Symphony Pops Carpenter Theatre.  Fee.

Henrico Theatre Company presents It’s a Wonderful Life.  8pm.  The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen.  This clever, live radio play adaptation invites you to experience Frank Capra’s beloved story in a refreshingly new and intimate way. Join us live in the studios of WBFR Radio on Christmas Eve, 1946. There the dozens of characters and locations of the classic movie will be brought to life by the long-lost radio formula of five actors, a live sound effects artist, and your imagination.  Fee.

Sunday, December 7th

Old-Fashioned Christmas.  Noon-5pm.  Maymont.  Celebrate a charming, old-fashioned Christmas and experience a tradition enjoyed by generations of families. Victorian ladies and gentlemen welcome you to the Dooleys’ home to marvel at the grand Christmas tree, decorated formal rooms upstairs and dinner preparations happening Belowstairs. Guests also enjoy carriage rides, visits with St. Nick and Maymont’s Christmas Fairy, festive music, a roaring bonfire and more. Fees for activities. For information, visit www.maymont.org or call 804-358-7166, ext. 310.

Open Studio Sundays.  1pm-4pm.  Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Art Education Center.  Go by the studios anytime between Noon and 4 pm to enjoy “make-it, take-it” art activities inspired by objects from the VMFA collection. A new art project offered every month, with assistance from VMFA volunteers! (For groups of eight or more children, please email megan.liles@vmfa.museum.)  Free, no registration required.

St. Nick’s Party.  2:30pm-4pm.  Maymont.  The entire family is sure to enjoy lots of merriment as St. Nick joins Maymont’ Christmas Fairy to host a party filled with magical wishes, games and crafts, special treats, animal friends, and a visit to the enchanting home of Major and Mrs. Dooley. $15 per person. Register online at www.maymont.org or call 804-358-7166, ext. 310.

Henrico Theatre Company presents It’s a Wonderful Life.  2:30pm.  The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen.  This clever, live radio play adaptation invites you to experience Frank Capra’s beloved story in a refreshingly new and intimate way. Join us live in the studios of WBFR Radio on Christmas Eve, 1946. There the dozens of characters and locations of the classic movie will be brought to life by the long-lost radio formula of five actors, a live sound effects artist, and your imagination.  Fee.

Richmond Symphony Let It Snow!  3pm.  Genworth Symphony Pops Carpenter Theatre.  Fee.

Colonial Williamsburg Fireworks.  4:45pm.  In the 18th century, illuminations, which included the firing of guns and lighting of fireworks, were held to celebrate major events, such as great military victories, the anniversary of the reigning sovereign’s birth, or the arrival of a new colonial governor. Join Colonial Williamsburg for this special day by strolling the Revolutionary City and viewing all the unique decorations. Enjoy musical performances from multiple stages and delight in the fireworks displays from three different locations.

Meadow Farm Holiday Lantern Tours.  5:30-8pm.  Meadow Farm Museum/Crump Park.  Costumed interpreters will guide guests through Meadow Farm for a special wedding. Learn  traditions that surround the holiday season and why weddings occurred this time of year. Bring your own flashlight and  sign in at the Orientation Center as guided group tours leave every 15 minutes from 5:30-8pm. Information: 501-2130.  Free.

Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra Program Winter Concert.  7pm.  Carpenter Theatre.