Celebrate the season with free and festive tree lightings, magical displays, and family-friendly holiday fun across Richmond and nearby areas! From dazzling downtown illuminations to botanical gardens and drive-thru light shows, there’s something for everyone.
✨ RVA Illuminates
📍 Kanawha Plaza – 8th & Canal Street, Richmond, VA 23219
📅 Friday, December 5, 2025 | 6:00 p.m.
💲 Free
Countdown with ABC8 to see the Downtown Richmond skyline light up at 5:59 p.m.! Enjoy live music, food trucks, and holiday cheer as the city sparkles for the season.
🌟 Tredegar Tree Lighting
📍 American Civil War Museum – Tredegar
📅 Thursday, November 20, 2025 | 5:30–7:00 p.m.
💲 Free
Celebrate Richmond history with the 20-foot Tredegar Tree, decorated with handcrafted 19th-century ornaments and hundreds of lights. Enjoy live jazz by the Joe Sarver Trio and refreshments from Dogwood & Thistle Wine Company. 🕠 Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; Tree lights at 6:30 p.m.
🎅 27th Annual Tree Lighting – Glen Allen
📍 The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen
📅 Saturday, December 6, 2025 | 4:30–7:00 p.m.
💲 Free
Sing along with Chris Campbell, Henrico Pops Chorus, Glen Allen High School Band & Drum Line and watch Santa light the iconic cedar tree. Enjoy hot cocoa, treats, and the Holiday Gift Shop for festive shopping.
🎁 Annual Tree Lighting – Stony Point Fashion Park
📍 Stony Point Fashion Park, Richmond, VA
📅 Saturday, November 22, 2025 | 5:00–7:00 p.m.
💲 Free
Start with gingerbread decorating at Love of Flour (10 a.m.–12 p.m., registration required), then enjoy:
- Ice skating on opening day
- DJ & holiday tunes, snow show, face painting, balloon art
- Santa photos, giveaways, and cocoa
- RVA Mini Express Train rides
- Holiday Makers Market & hands-on children’s activities
- Donations to Children’s Museum Book Bank & FeedMore
- Free stockings for the first 300 kids to decorate
🎄✨ Grand Illumination – Historic Downtown Ashland
📍 Historic Downtown Ashland, VA
📅 Saturday, November 22, 2025 | Tree lighting at 5:00 PM
💲 Free
Kick off the holidays with the first event of Light Up the Tracks! Shop, dine, and sparkle your way through downtown Ashland:
- Glow Big or Glow Home: Dress in light-up attire to win glowing prizes
- Local Brunch & Farmers Market: Start your day with local flavors and artisanal goods
- Meet Santa & Mrs. Claus: Photos and holiday cheer at Town Hall Pavilion
- Festive Entertainment: MKH Dabke cultural dance, Ashland Dance Academy, and Randolph-Macon College Choir singalong
- The Big Moment: Tree & Town Lighting at 5:00 PM – over 10,000 twinkling lights illuminate historic buildings
💡 Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights
📍 Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
📅 November 17, 2025 – January 4, 2026
💲 Tickets required (advance online purchase only)
Voted Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights in the U.S.!, GardenFest features:
- Millions of lights and themed botanical displays
- Model trains, Fairy Village, and a Live Tree photo tunnel
- Warming Fire with hot chocolate & s’mores
- Family-friendly activities and evening experiences for dogs (“GardenFest for Fidos”)
- Special adult-friendly nights: November 20 & 21
- Holiday photos with professional photographer (reservation required)
🎟️ Tickets are rain or shine, non-refundable, and available online only. Optional Ticket Insurance allows one transfer. Parking is limited; carpooling or rideshares recommended.
🚗 Illuminate Lights Show
📍 Meadow Event Park – Doswell, VA
📅 November 21, 2025 – January 3, 2026
💲 Tickets required
Experience over 3 million lights across a 2.5-mile route, perfectly synchronized to festive music broadcast through your car’s speakers!
- Gates: 5:30–10:00 p.m. (Saturday, Dec 6 opens at 7:30 p.m.)
- Free admission for Military, Police, Fire, and EMS personnel opening weekend (Nov 21–23)
- Ticket Pricing:
- $30 – Family Vehicles (up to 9 people)
- $60 – Family Vehicles (10–15 people)
- $200 – Limousines & Mini-buses (Mon–Thu only, gate purchase)
- Important Info: No parking inside lightshow; RVs & trailers prohibited. Tickets must be scanned at entrance.
🚤 Richmond Boat Parade of Lights
📍 James River, Richmond, VA
📅 December 13, 2025 – 5pm
💲 Free
A festive parade of lighted boats on the James River! Decorate your boat or watch from public viewing areas along the river. Perfect for families, friends, and anyone who loves sparkling water-side holiday displays.
🎄⭐ Annual Holiday Tree Lighting – Westchester Commons
📍 Main Street at Westchester Commons
📅 Friday, November 21, 2025 – 7:00 p.m.
💲 FREE!!
Celebrate the official start of the Holiday Shopping Season with this festive and family-friendly tree lighting event! Enjoy:
- Live entertainment
- An amazing hot chocolate bar
- S’mores over warm fire pits
- Kids’ activities
- Free gifts for the first 250 kids (ages 12 & under)
- A visit from Santa
- And best of all… guaranteed SNOW! ❄️
A perfect kickoff to the holiday season for families of all ages!
💫 Make It a Season to Remember
From city streets to botanical gardens, historic downtowns, dazzling drive-thru displays, and riverside boat parades, Richmond and surrounding areas are sparkling with family-friendly holiday magic. Bundle up, sip cocoa, and enjoy lights, music, and memories with your loved ones!
