Enjoy a Thanksgiving Weekend with All the Bells and Whistles!

The trains may be tiny, but the fun is HUGE! Come explore the Science Museum of Virginia November 25—27 for the 45th Annual Model Railroad Show presented by Dominion Energy. Check out intricate and unique model train displays, see one-of-a-kind demonstrations, watch a blacksmith in action, ride the Teddy Bear Express and so much more! This is sure to be a holiday weekend to remember. Don’t delay. Get your tickets today!

Tuesday, November 1st

Tutus and Ties Tuesdays. 2-2:30pm. Children’s Museum – Downtown. Movement and play are good for children’s bodies and brains. In fact, movement can help increase memory, perception, language comprehension, attention, emotional understanding, and decision making! In this program kids will dress up and move, move, move! Free with Museum admission.

Thursday, November 3rd

BILINGUAL STORYTIME. 10:30am. Children’s Museum of Richmond – Downtown. Enjoy bilingual story time Thursdays in the Downtown Playhouse from 10:30-11:00am! Sing, dance, read and learn Spanish. This event is free with Museum admission.

Friday, November 4th

Storytime in the Garden. 10am-10:30am. Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. Join in the fun each Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. as Library and Archives Manager reads a few of her favorite stories to children in the Lora Robins Library in the Kelly Education Center. Children can also participate in a craft or hands-on activity. As it gets warmer, look for storytime to move to the shade of the overcup oak trees outside the Kelly Education Center. Invite your friends! Free with garden admission.

Kid’s Night Out.  6 to 9pm.  Romp n’ Roll Midlothian and West End locations.  Kids 2-5 years old enjoy three hours of fun, playtime, crafts, and dinner, all led by fun, energetic instructors. Children do not need to be potty-trained!  Every Friday.  Member Pricing $20.  Non-Member Pricing $25. Sibling discounts available. 

Saturday, November 5th

Storytime in the Garden. 10am-10:30am. Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. Join in the fun each Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. as Library and Archives Manager reads a few of her favorite stories to children in the Lora Robins Library in the Kelly Education Center. Children can also participate in a craft or hands-on activity. As it gets warmer, look for storytime to move to the shade of the overcup oak trees outside the Kelly Education Center. Invite your friends! Free with garden admission.

Sunday, November 6th

Virginia Thanksgiving Festival. Berkeley Plantation. Celebrate the First English Speaking Thanksgiving in the New World. A day dedicated to history, food and fun with a living history program, tribal dancers, arts, crafts & jewelry vendors, choral music, Thanksgiving foods and a re-enactment of the Landing of Capt. Woodlief & his men. Activities and entertainment begin at 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Thanksgiving re-enactment and program 3:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Fee.

Open Studio Sundays. Noon-3pm. VMFA Art Education Center. First Sunday of every month. Make Open Studio Sundays a part of your family’s monthly routine! Visit the Art Education Center anytime between noon and 3 pm to participate in an art activity inspired by an object from the VMFA collection. A new art activity, led by VMFA Youth Studio Staff and volunteers, is offered every month. Select months will feature additional activities and events. Free, no registration required.

In Honor of Veterans Day Reenactment. 1:30 – 2:30pm. Historic St. John’s Church. Experience Patrick Henry’s powerful Liberty or Death speech as he convinces fellow delegates like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson to take up arms against the King and join New England in the fight for Liberty! Fee.

Monday, November 7th

Gone Batty. The MathScience Innovation Center presents a fascinating, hands-on learning experience for the entire family! Work with the preserved bats and explore what makes these little creatures so entrancing! GONE BATTY will be held in-person on Nov 11 and virtually on Nov 7, 8, and 12. All ages welcome and families, friend, groups are encouraged to attend together ($30 per group).

Tuesday, November 8th

Tutus and Ties Tuesdays. 2-2:30pm. Children’s Museum – Downtown. Movement and play are good for children’s bodies and brains. In fact, movement can help increase memory, perception, language comprehension, attention, emotional understanding, and decision making! In this program kids will dress up and move, move, move! Free with Museum admission.

Thursday, November 10th

BILINGUAL STORYTIME. 10:30am. Children’s Museum of Richmond – Downtown. Enjoy bilingual story time Thursdays in the Downtown Playhouse from 10:30-11:00am! Sing, dance, read and learn Spanish. This event is free with Museum admission.

Friday, November 11th

Storytime in the Garden. 10am-10:30am. Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. Join in the fun each Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. as Library and Archives Manager reads a few of her favorite stories to children in the Lora Robins Library in the Kelly Education Center. Children can also participate in a craft or hands-on activity. As it gets warmer, look for storytime to move to the shade of the overcup oak trees outside the Kelly Education Center. Invite your friends! Free with garden admission.

Kid’s Night Out.  6 to 9pm.  Romp n’ Roll Midlothian and West End locations.  Kids 2-5 years old enjoy three hours of fun, playtime, crafts, and dinner, all led by fun, energetic instructors. Children do not need to be potty-trained!  Every Friday.  Member Pricing $20.  Non-Member Pricing $25. Sibling discounts available. 

Saturday, November 12th

Storytime in the Garden. 10am-10:30am. Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. Join in the fun each Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. as Library and Archives Manager reads a few of her favorite stories to children in the Lora Robins Library in the Kelly Education Center. Children can also participate in a craft or hands-on activity. As it gets warmer, look for storytime to move to the shade of the overcup oak trees outside the Kelly Education Center. Invite your friends! Free with garden admission.

Tuesday, November 15th

Tutus and Ties Tuesdays. 2-2:30pm. Children’s Museum – Downtown. Movement and play are good for children’s bodies and brains. In fact, movement can help increase memory, perception, language comprehension, attention, emotional understanding, and decision making! In this program kids will dress up and move, move, move! Free with Museum admission.

Thursday, November 17th

BILINGUAL STORYTIME. 10:30am. Children’s Museum of Richmond – Downtown. Enjoy bilingual story time Thursdays in the Downtown Playhouse from 10:30-11:00am! Sing, dance, read and learn Spanish. This event is free with Museum admission.

Friday, November 18th

Storytime in the Garden. 10am-10:30am. Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. Join in the fun each Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. as Library and Archives Manager reads a few of her favorite stories to children in the Lora Robins Library in the Kelly Education Center. Children can also participate in a craft or hands-on activity. As it gets warmer, look for storytime to move to the shade of the overcup oak trees outside the Kelly Education Center. Invite your friends! Free with garden admission.

Special Nights. 5pm-7pm. Children’s Museum – Downtown. A FREE night for families with children with disabilities on the third Friday of each month from 5:00-7:00 pm. The events will open for registration about a week prior to the scheduled date. Please be aware there is a capacity limit.

Kid’s Night Out.  6 to 9pm.  Romp n’ Roll Midlothian and West End locations.  Kids 2-5 years old enjoy three hours of fun, playtime, crafts, and dinner, all led by fun, energetic instructors. Children do not need to be potty-trained!  Every Friday.  Member Pricing $20.  Non-Member Pricing $25. Sibling discounts available. 

Saturday, November 19th

Storytime in the Garden. 10am-10:30am. Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens. Join in the fun each Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. as Library and Archives Manager reads a few of her favorite stories to children in the Lora Robins Library in the Kelly Education Center. Children can also participate in a craft or hands-on activity. As it gets warmer, look for storytime to move to the shade of the overcup oak trees outside the Kelly Education Center. Invite your friends! Free with garden admission.

Tuesday, November 22nd

Tutus and Ties Tuesdays. 2-2:30pm. Children’s Museum – Downtown. Movement and play are good for children’s bodies and brains. In fact, movement can help increase memory, perception, language comprehension, attention, emotional understanding, and decision making! In this program kids will dress up and move, move, move! Free with Museum admission.

Thursday, November 24th

Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday, November 25th – Sunday, November 27th

45th Annual Model Railroad Show. The trains may be tiny, but the fun is HUGE! Come explore the Science Museum of Virginia November 25—27 for the presented by Dominion Energy. Check out intricate and unique model train displays, see one-of-a-kind demonstrations, watch a blacksmith in action, ride the Teddy Bear Express and so much more! This is sure to be a holiday weekend to remember. Don’t delay. Get your tickets today!

Saturday, November 26th & Sunday, November 27th

LET IT SNOW! with the Richmond Symphony. Saturday, November 26th at 8pm & Sunday, November 27th at 3pm. Carpenter Theatre at Dominion Energy Center. It’s Richmond’s favorite holiday musical tradition – carols, classics and favorites! And enjoy Cocoa and Cookies with Jack Frost and the Snow Queen before the Sunday performance.

Tuesday, November 29th

Tutus and Ties Tuesdays. 2-2:30pm. Children’s Museum – Downtown. Movement and play are good for children’s bodies and brains. In fact, movement can help increase memory, perception, language comprehension, attention, emotional understanding, and decision making! In this program kids will dress up and move, move, move! Free with Museum admission.

Thursday, December 1st

BILINGUAL STORYTIME. 10:30am. Children’s Museum of Richmond – Downtown. Enjoy bilingual story time Thursdays in the Downtown Playhouse from 10:30-11:00am! Sing, dance, read and learn Spanish. This event is free with Museum admission.

Friday, December 2nd

RVA Illuminates at Kanawha Plaza. 5pm-7pm. Kanawha Plaza, 801 E. Canal Street and . Join the anchors of WRIC ABC8 and live entertainers DJ Lonnie B and Kelli Lemon at the City of Richmond’s annual RVA Illuminates 2022 at Kanawha Plaza! Count down with ABC8 for the tree lighting and Downtown Richmond skyline lights at 5:59PM when all the lights come ON! Enjoy live performances, food trucks and a little extra sparkle from holiday lights in Richmond, VA. Free admission.

RVA Illuminates at 17th Street Market. 5pm-7pm. 17th Street Market, 100 N. 17th Street. Join WWBT NBC12 anchors and live entertainment at 17th Street Market as they kick off the holiday season in Shockoe Bottom! Happenings include the countdown and lighting of the 17th Street Market tree, performances and food trucks around the market. Free admission.

Elf at Kanawha Plaza. 7pm-9pm. Kanawha Plaza, 801 E. Canal Street. Find your perfect spot at Kanawha Plaza, and enjoy an evening featuring the movie Elf, starring Will Ferrell, while taking in the stunning views of Downtown’s holiday skyline. Seating is first come, first served. Bringing blankets and/or chairs for comfort is recommended. No seating is provided. Food vendors on site. Show starts at 7:15PM. Free
admission, sponsored by Venture Richmond.

Handel’s MESSIAH. 7:30pm. River Road Church, Baptist at 8000 River Rd. The greatest story ever told. The most majestic music ever conceived. Be there for the return of Handel’s Messiah with the Richmond Symphony and Richmond Symphony Chorus.

Saturday, December 3rd

Dominion Energy Christmas Parade. Starts at the Science Museum of Virginia at 10AM, travels eastbound on Broad Street, ends at 7th and Marshall Streets, Downtown. The annual parade celebration features colorful floats, giant helium balloons, high school and college marching bands, princesses, superheroes and returning favorites including the trademark Wells Fargo stagecoach, VCU Peppas and Legendary Santa! The parade airs live on WTVR CBS6 and WTVR.com. Free event. Rain or shine.

24th Annual Tree Lighting. 4:30-7pm. The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen. In partnership with Henrico County Recreation & Parks, The Cultural Arts Center welcomes you to this beloved holiday event featuring magical holiday music performances, a toasty bonfire, holiday gift shop, free artisan tree and wreath exhibits, and of course, a special visit from Santa to light our iconic cedar Christmas tree at The Center’s entrance! Musical performances will include: Offering, City Singers Youth Choirs and more! Free and fun for the whole family!

Friday, December 9th – 23rd

NUTCRACKER with the Richmond Ballet. Don’t miss your chance to experience this next magical evolution to The Nutcracker this holiday season!

Saturday, December 10th

Richmond Boat Parade of Lights. 4:45PM, starts at Rocketts Landing. Each year, owners decorate their boats and converge on the James River for a parade that marks the beginning of the holiday season. Grab the family and gather at one of the several viewing sites to see the boats and enjoy holiday entertainment. Free event. Rain or shine.

Sunday, December 11th

Winter Wander: Celebrate Court End. Noon-4pm. The Valentine, 1015 E. Clay Street. Join The Valentine for some winter cheer on their picturesque block of East Clay Street. Hot beverages, family crafts and games, and live music are all in store. You can also take a self-guided tour of the historic Court End neighborhood and hop on a shuttle to visit nearby cultural sites for open houses and other activities. Free event.

December 17th – January 1st

’TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. Virginia Rep Center for Arts and Education on 4204 Hermitage Road. 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.

December 21st, 22nd, and 23rd

20th Annual Miracle of Christmas-Live at the Zoo. Three shows each evening: 7:00, 7:45 and 8:30 pm. Richmond Metro Zoo, 8300 Beaver Bridge Road, Moseley, VA. A 20 minute reenactment of the Christmas story presented with zoo animals and set against a period appropriate backdrop with cast members recreating actual events that took place more than 2,000 years ago. Free admission and parking. Refreshments will be sold at a nominal fee to benefit local charities. There will be a food bank for the Chesterfield Food Bank for any that are able to contribute food for those in need during the Christmas season.