Month Long Events At:

The Children’s Museum of Richmond

Legendary Santa Opens.  The Children’s Museum – Central.  Visit Richmond’s Favorite Santa Claus.  A visit with Legendary Santa is free to the public.  There are also special ticketed programs like Sunrise, Sunset or Tea with Santa. Through December 24th.

Block by Block: National Tour.  Children’s Museum Chesterfield location.  This exhibition features ten landmark skyscrapers from around the world and visitors can create their own architectural marvels with blocks.  Through Dec 31st.  Free with museum admission.

The Science Museum of Virginia

Identity: An Exhibition of You.  Science Museum of Virginia.  Challenge your perception of personal identity. Discover the connection between our thoughts and relationships with our genes, brains and all things scientific!  Through January 4th.  Included with exhibit admission, free for members.

Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens

Dominion GardenFest of Lights.  Nightly, 5pm-10pm.  Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens.   Featuring more than a half million lights, botanical decorations, trains, holiday dinners, family activities and more. This is a “rain or shine” event and is only closed for extreme inclement weather.  Through Monday, January 13th (Closed Dec. 24 & 25.  )Fee.

Stony Point Fashion Park

Outdoor Skating Rink.  Stony Point Fashion Park.  Bring the kids to Stony Point Fashion Park to skate, spin and glide. View  operating hours here.  Through January 5th.  Fee.

Live Holiday Entertainment.  Stony Point Fashion Park.  Enjoy live holiday entertainment every Saturday and Sunday at Stony Point Fashion Park through December 24th.  Free.

Nightly Holiday Light Shows.  Stony Point Fashion Park.  Nightly animated light shows take place at the top and bottom of each hour, beginning at 5 pm at the Community Tree.  Through January 5th.  Free.

Theatres Around Town

Fiddler on the Roof.  7pm-9pm. The Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre (formerly the Empire).  Visit the website for show times and fees.  Through January 14th.

’Twas the Night Before Christmas.  The Children’s Theatre at Willow Lawn.   This charming Christmas musical is complete with a jolly Santa, reindeer on the roof, moonlight on the snow, Ma and Pa in their caps, and sugarplums dancing in the dreams of hopeful children.  Visit the website for show times and fees.  Through December 29th.

Hello Dolly. Weinstein JCC, 5403 Monument Avenue, Richmond.  December 12th – 22nd.  Visit the website for fees and show times.

Other Holiday Fun

RVA on Ice.  The entrance, skate rental desk and the ticket box office are located near the entrance to Richmond CenterStage located at 600 East Grace Street, Richmond, VA 23219. All children MUST BE accompanied by an adult. Cash and all major credit cards are accepted. Call 804-592-3400 for more information.  Through January 20th.

ChristmasTown.  5pm-10pm.  Busch Gardens, Williamsburg, VA.   Celebrate the season as you explore the winter wonders of the premier Christmas experience. See six million twinkling lights, dazzling shows and a magical 50-foot Christmas tree. Visit the website for hours and fees.  Through January 5th.

Today – December 15th

Ring Around the Rosy Holly Days Sale.  Oxbridge Square Shopping Center, 9939 Hull Street Rd.  Richmond, VA 23236.  At the intersection of Hull Street & Courthouse Rd. Next to Martin’s.  Shop for Holiday Wear, Winter Clothing, Toys, Books, DVD’s, Home Decor, Holiday Decor and gifts, coats, Women’s Clothing & Accessories, shoes, Infant Equipment & Supplies, Furniture and Much Much More!!!Now Accepting ALL Major Credit Cards.  (NO MINIMUM PURCHASE!)

Monday, December 2nd through Saturday, December 21st, variety of times

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. $30/child for the 3 weeks, and advance registration is required. There are class times all throughout the week and weekend, so check the schedule to see what works for you! Register online at www.melodymagicmusic.com.  Fee.

Tuesday, December 3rd

Kids Club powered by National Geographic Kids.   9am-11am.  Chesterfield Towne Center.  A great opportunity for your child to learn in a fun, interactive setting. Great entertainment, fun giveaways for the adults, and free breakfast for children 12 years or younger. (Breakfast tickets are given out until 10:30 a.m. and are valid until 10:45 a.m. on Club Mom event days.).  One time dollar donation that goes to Greater Richmond SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) is required.  This month – Betsy Q (www.betsyq.com).  Free.

Kid’s Club.  9am-10:30am.  Chick-fil-A at Westchester Commons.  Crafts, games and story time. Free fun for parents and kids.

People, Places, and Things.  10am-11am.  Virginia Museum of Fine Arts – Preschool Programs.  Fee.

Your Youngster and You.  10am-6pm.  All 3 All Fired Up locations.  Staff will help you get the perfect foot print from your infant or toddler on a large rimmed dinner plate, and turn it into an adorable “mistletoes” or menorah keepsake. Call 804-355-3412 to register. Fee.

Kids Club Storytime with Dr. Mom.  11am-1pm.  Chesterfield Barnes and Noble.  Elizabeth Vantre, local Dr. Mom and author, will be reading her favorite stories and talking about her book, Ready, Set, Parent.

The Negotiation Years (Parents/Caregivers of Children 5-12 yrs.).  6pm.  Delivered by Commonwealth Parenting.  Fee.

The Continentals in Concert.  7pm.  Hermitage High School, 8301 Hungary Springs Road, Henrico, VA23228.  Join The Continentals as they bring you the best of the big band sound, holiday style!  Free.

Holiday Concert. 7pm.  Linwood Holton Elementary   School, 1600   W. Laburnum Ave, Richmond. The Richmond Concert Band, Richmond’s oldest and largest community band, presents four Christmas concerts. All concerts are free, and handicapped accessible.

Wednesday, December 4th

Enchanting Icicles.  3pm-4pm.  Three Lakes Nature Center.  For Ages 4-5. Hanging from the rooftop draped like sheets of shimmering glass, icicles add a touch of magic to winter days.  Find out how these icy marvels are formed. Fee.

December 4th -8th

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.   Visit the website for times and fees.

Thursday, December 5th

Hannukah Storytime. 10:30am.  Barnes & Noble Short Pump, 11640   W. Broad St., Richmond. 360-0103.  Free.

Happy, Sad, Smiley, Glad!  11am-Noon.  Virginia Museum of Fine Arts – Preschool Programs.  Fee.

Lines of Ancient America  4:15pm-6pm.  Virginia Museum of Fine Arts – Kids Programs.  Registration required.  Fee.

Printmaking  4:15pm-6pm.  Virginia Museum of Fine Arts – Kids Programs.  Registration required.  Fee.

Making Sense of Preschool Meltdowns (Parents/Caregivers of Children 2–4 yrs)  6pm.  Delivered by Commonwealth Parenting.  Fee.

Henrico Community Band Holiday Concert.  7:30pm.  Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen.  The band will perform a concert of festive holiday music for the entire family! Reservations are required and can be made beginning November 4th at 804-501-5859.  Free.

Thursday, December 5th – Sunday, December 8th

Bizarre Bazaar.  Richmond Raceway Complex.  A holiday marketplace with 500 juried exclusive exhibitors.  Find fabulous unique gifts for everyone on your list.  Free parking.  Fee.

Friday, December 6th

Admissions Program and Tours.  8:30am-10am.  The New Community School, 4211 Hermitage Road, Richmond, VA23227.  Our educators, parents and students will share details about our unique blend of a rigorous college preparatory curriculum and academic skills development for middle and upper school students. NEW 5th grade curriculum beginning fall 2014.  Free.

Costume Illustration 5pm-6:30pm.  Virginia Museum of Fine Arts – Teen Programs.  Registration required.  Fee.

Special Night for Special Needs.  5:30-7:30pm.  CMoR Central.  An evening especially for children 10 years old and younger who have special needs and their families.  Enjoy museum exploration, adapted materials, special activities, and reduced number of visitors on this special night. Children will have access and learning opportunities, but most importantly they’ll have fun!  Free.

First Friday Samplers.  5:30pm-8:30pm.  Visual Arts Center of Richmond.  Engage in a night of family creativity with a variety of artistic options at very reasonable prices. Call 804-353-0094 for more information. Fee.

Bingo Time.  5:30pm.  Sweet Spot Candy Shop.  Listen to holiday music, play bingo for candy prizes and catch some holiday spirit. To make a reservation, call at 360-7768 or send us an email at parties@shopsweetspot.com.

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

Kids Fun Night.  6pm-8pm. All 3 All Fired Up locations.   Kids create a project from wet clay and glaze a ceramic piece plus a pizza dinner is included. Registration required.   Fee.

Concert Ballet of Virginia Presents.  6pm-7pm.  Eastern Henrico Recreation Center.  All ages. Registration of a paying adult is required. Come see the Concert Ballet of Virginia present dance and music selections from the “Nutcracker.” Young viewers will enjoy watching dancers perform in full ballet attire. The evening will conclude with refreshments and time to meet the dancers. A very special guest will also be on site to greet the children.  Fee.

Poe Illumination.  6pm-10pm.  Poe Museum. Thousands of lights fill the historic Enchanted Garden, enjoy hot cider and music. Free.

Mad Science Winter Party.  6pm-10pm.  Enjoy a nice night out while Mad Science entertains your kids.  The night will include pizza, a fun science show, radioactive atomic glow slime making, fun games and activities, and a fun winter holiday movie!  Cost $30 per child ($25 siblings).  Grades K-5.

Polar Express Pajama Party and Storytime.  7pm.  Chesterfield Barnes and Noble.   All aboard the Polar Express! On Friday, December 6 at 7:00 pm, enjoy a reading of the holiday classic The Polar Express, along with fun activities and holiday treats. Come in your pajamas for a special treat!

2nd Stage – An Evening of Sleighbells and Snowflakes.  7pm.  Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen – Cardinal Ballroom.  Featuring the Richmond Men’s Chorus and the Richmond Women’s Chorus. Food and beverages available for sale before and during the performance.  Fee.

Salzburg Marionette Theatre, The Magic Flute.  7:30pm.  University of Richmond, Alice Jepson Theatre.  Fee.

Richmond Symphony: Handel’s Messiah.  7:30pm.  Richmond CenterStage.  Fee.

Friday, December 6th and Saturday, December 7th

Elf (2003) PG.  Henrico Theatre, Highland Springs.  Fri, Dec 6 at 7pm & Sat, Dec 7 at 2 & 7pm.  $1.

The Gift of The Magi.  Ashland Firehouse Theatre.   Friday, December 6th at 7pm and Saturday, December 7th at 4pm & 7pm.  Join The Whistle Stop Theatre Company for a one-act production of The Gift of The Magi. Appropriate for ages 8+. Admission $5. Stay after the show for a holiday reception and carol sing along by Frederick D. Horn. Make your reservation at whistlestoptheatre@gmail.com.

Saturday, December 7th

Breakfast with Santa and the Holiday Characters.  8am.  Short Pump Mall Food Court.  Rise and Shine with Santa, our Holiday Characters & the Chick- fil-A Santa Cow! Short Pump Pals members ages 6 & under eat FREE for breakfast at Chick-fil-A!

Nutzy’s Rotary Funn Run 5k.  8am.  The Diamond.   Registration is open! Go nuts with Nutzy at the 2nd Annual Nutzy’s Rotary FUNN Run 5k to benefit United Methodist Family Services and the YMCA. Children eight and older can run without mom and dad. Fee.

Build The Home Depot’s Tic-Tac-Toe Game.  9am-Noon. Local.  Home Depot Stores. FREE hands-on workshops designed for children ages 5 – 12 offered at all The 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.

Gingerbread Tea and Tour.  10am-Noon.  Virginia House, 4301 Sulgrave Rd, Richmond.   Design and build your own gingerbread house, and cider and cookies will be served as staff talk about holiday traditions.  For families with children 5 and under. Reservations required: 804-353-4251. Fee.

Dominion Christmas Parade.  10am.  The 30th annual Dominion Christmas Parade starts at the Science Museum of Virginia on W. Broad Street and continues east to 7th Street. It is filled with huge helium balloons, holiday floats, marching bands and Santa himself!  Free.

Stories at the Museum.  11am-Noon.  Virginia Historical Society.  Special educator-led readings of history books related to famous Virginians and a craft.  No pre-registration required.  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

Inspiration Workshop.  3pm-4pm.  Richmond Main Library.  Workshop with Eliza Childress and Girls Rock! RVA. Learn to draw inspiration from music, poetry, and images to create you’re a personal work of art.  Free.

The Mountain Road Corridor Holiday Celebration.  Take a tour down Mountain Road starting with historic Courtney Road Service Station. Proceed down the corridor to the early 19th-century Forest Lodge Cupola. Enjoy an open house at Walkerton Tavern and Virginia Randolph Museum. Attend the annual tree lighting ceremony at The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen. Finish the day with historic lantern tours at Meadow Farm Museum.  Visit the website for more details.  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-ft. cedar tree at the Center’s entrance.  Santa and his elves will be on site from 5-7pm! Curator Yvonne Hopkins, present a beautiful bounty of Christmas Trees, each with its own special theme from Trains to Musicology 101. A fun treat to all ages. Free.

Taylor’s Magical Holiday Night.  Ages 3-5: 4:30pm – 6:00pm, Ages 6 -11: 6:30pm – 8:30pm.  Hanover CSP SportsPlex, 8175 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Mechanicsville.   Enjoy make and take crafts, activities, singing, and dancing and play in a life-size Candyland game.  Light holiday refreshments will be served. Pre-registration is required.  For information 804-365-7150.  Fee.

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-ft. cedar tree at the Center’s entrance.  Santa and his elves will be on site from 5-7pm! Curator Yvonne Hopkins, present a beautiful bounty of Christmas Trees, each with its own special theme from Trains to Musicology 101. A fun treat to all ages.
Free.

Arena Racing.  7pm.  Richmond Coliseum.  Exciting family entertainment watching drivers in ½ scale stock cars racing around a high-banked race track, turning laps in under 8 seconds flat while competing side-by-side bumping, rubbing, flipping and racing.  Fee.

Richmond Symphony Genworth Symphony Pops: Let it Snow!  8pm.  Richmond CenterStage.  Fee.

Sunday, December 8th

27th Annual Court End Christmas. Noon-5pm.  Ten historic downtown sites host a free holiday open house, featuring tours, living history and reenactments, gift shops, children’s activities, refreshments, carriage rides, music, and special guest appearances. Participating sites – Valentine Richmond History Center and the Wickham House, the John Marshall House, the Virginia State Capitol, the Virginia Executive Mansion, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the Museum and White House of the Confederacy, Monumental Church, the Egyptian Building, the Beers House, and St. John’s Church. Free.

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 graciously welcome you into the Dooleys’ home to marvel at the grand Christmas tree and the beautifully decorated formal rooms, to see the gifts and games of 1893 and to stop by the Belowstairs, where holiday preparations abound. Enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides, visits with St. Nick, good food and drink, festive music, a roaring bonfire and special activities that are sure to fill everyone with a merry holiday spirit. Fees for some activities.

Yuletides at Agecroft Hall.  12:30pm-5pm.  A Christmas Open House – Characters and entertainment include “A Christmas Carol” reading by Charles Dickens and an appearance by Father Christmas. Help them decorate and watch them prepare the house for a holiday feast.  Puppet shows, storytelling, dancers and craft activities are also on the agenda.  Free.

St. Nick’s Party.  2pm-3:30pm.  Maymont – Garden Hall.  The entire family is sure to enjoy lots of merriment as St. Nick, Mrs. Bomboy and Maymont’s favorite winter animals fill the afternoon with activities, games, songs, refreshments, holiday crafts and a visit to the enchanting home of Major and Mrs. Dooley. Advanced registration required.  Fee.

Richmond Symphony Genworth Symphony Pops: Let it Snow!  3pm. Richmond CenterStage.  Fee.

Candlelight Service. 5pm & 8pm.  University of Richmond, Cannon Memorial Chapel, Modlin Center for the Arts, University of Richmond. 40th annual Candlelight Services of Lessons and Carols. Two university choirs, Schola Cantorum and Women’s Chorale, will present new and familiar Christmas carols and anthems in the tradition of the annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, first held at King’s College Chapel in Cambridge, England, on Christmas Eve 1918. Pre-service music will be provided by City Singers Children’s Choirs led by Leslie Dripps. For information call 289-8500.  Free and open to the public.

Colonial Williamsburg Fireworks.  5:15pm.  Gather for musical performances from multiple stages throughout the Revolutionary City.  Fireworks displays at 7pm from three different locations within the Historic Area–the Capitol, Magazine, and Palace–make this a highlight of the Colonial Williamsburg holiday season.