December 15th – 21st

christmas kid pic 2There 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 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 15th

Henrico Concert Band Holiday Concert 7:30pm.  Henrico Theatre.  Holiday favorites and more to get you in the mood for this festive season. A visit by Santa Claus makes this a fun family event! Call for reservations: 501-5859.  Free.

Tuesday, December 16th

“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.

Holiday Party.  7pm.  Fairfield Library.   Play games, make a craft, and visit with Santa!  Free.

Wednesday, December 17th

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.

Holiday Storytime.  10:30am.  Sandston Library.  Holiday stories, songs, crafts and more! For toddlers and preschoolers.

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.

Thursday, December 18th

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.

“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.

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 19th

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.

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

Christmas with the Rinards 7pm.  Henrico Theatre. beloved hymns, toe-tappin’ country songs, and holiday favorites – with a little bit of everything in between!  Tickets can be purchased in person up to three weeks in advance. Information: 328- 4491. $5.

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 19th – Sunday, December 28th

Richmond Ballet The Nutcracker.  Carpenter Theatre.  Visit the website for show times and ticket prices.  Fee.

Saturday, December 20th

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.

‘Twas The Night Before Christmas.  10am and 11:30am.   The Cultural Arts Center of Glen Allen.   This classic from Theatre IV has been charming audiences nationwide for many years. Come enjoy this exclusive public performance that is suitable for all ages.  Fee.

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.

Animation in a Day 1pm-4pm.  Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Art Education Center.  Ready . . . set . . . ACTION! Watch illustrations come to life as you draw, assemble, and compose an original stop-motion animation. Fee.

Engineering Kids Day Out. 1pm-4pm.  Engineering For Kids of Central VA, Glen Allen Learning Center, 1586 Mountain Road.  Make your own Gingerbread House. Learn about civil engineering as you design and build your fabulously delicious gingerbread house. The Big Bad Wolf couldn’t blow this house down! Fee.

Winter Movie.  2:30pm.  Tuckahoe Library.  After the kingdom of Arendelle is cast into eternal winter by the powerful Snow Queen Elsa, her sprightly sister Anna teams up with a rough-hewn mountaineer named Kristoff and his trusty reindeer Sven to break the icy spell. (Disney, PG, 108 min)  Free.

Henrico Theatre Company presents It’s a Wonderful Life.  2:30pm & 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.

A Classic Christmas with the KOS Band and Friends.  4pm & 7pm, Henrico Theatre. These Christmas classics will span multiple genres from upbeat high energy renditions to tradition Christmas ballads. Tickets can be purchased in person up to three weeks in advance. Information: 328- 4491.$5.

Saturday, December 20th & Sunday, December 21st

Holiday Event for Frozen Fans! Two cheerful days of creativity and fun! On Saturday, December 20 from 9:00am-12:30pm or Sunday, December 21 from 1pm-4:30pm – cookie decorating at Sweet Spot (sugar cookies from Sweet Bella Bakery, yum!), Snowman making at All Fired Up and Holiday Mitten painting at Spirited Art! The cost is $62 per guest and this special event is for ages 6 and up. Drop off is at Sweet Spot and pick up at Spirited Art. To register, visit www.myspiritedart.com/richmond. For more information, please call My Spirited Art at 360-5909.

Sunday, December 21st

Henrico Theatre Company presents It’s a Wonderful Life2:30pm.  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.

Rompy’s Jolly Holiday Jam. 6pm to 7:30pm. Romp n’ Roll, All Richmond Locations. Join Rompy and the rest of the Romp n’ Roll team for our Jolly Holiday Jam…it will be “jam-packed” with fun games and activities, dancing and, of course, a yummy holiday treat. This event is for all children 5 years old and under, and is parent-inclusive.  $10 per child for enrolled members and $15 per child for non-members. Call (804) 364-6363 to reserve your spot!

Sunday, December 21st – Tuesday, December 23rd

Live Nativity Pageant with special musical performances. Metro Richmond Zoo. A live re-enactment of the Christmas story featuring animals from the zoo. The twenty minute pageant will be presented 3 times each evening. Live music before and after each pageant will be provided by local churches and performing arts groups. Visit the website for show times and details. Free.