Get your fuzzy socks and hot cocoa ready Richmond. From light displays to holiday performances and festive parties, winter is where River City thrives.
Gather the family and friends and celebrate what makes the holiday season special with this guide featuring 30 winter events happening between December and February.
Holiday parties
Dominion Energy Christmas Parade | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 10 a.m. | Broad Street | Free | Make sure to grab a seat up front to catch colorful floats, live bands, and Santa himself.
Richmond Parade of Boats | Saturday, Dec. 10 | 5 -7:30 p.m. | Rocketts Landing | Free | Saunter up to the shore to watch dozens of boats decked out in holiday lights.
Gingerbread Bourbon Barleywine Release | Saturday, Dec. 10 | 12-10 p.m. | Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, both locations | Free | Taste the season with the return of this spiced ale.
Yuletides at Agecroft | Sunday, Dec. 11 | 12-5 p.m. | Agecroft Hall & Gardens, 4305 Sulgrave Rd. | Free | Go back in time to experience the holiday season in three different eras: England 1640, London 1860, and Richmond 1942.
Winter Wander | Sunday, Dec. 11 | 12-4 p.m. | Court End neighborhood | Free | Check out the Valentine’s historic exhibits for free with winter festivities, food, and fun.
Carols & Barrels: Ross Wright and Friends | Sunday, Dec. 18 | 7-11 p.m. | Garden Grove Brewing & Urban Winery, 3445 W. Cary St. | Free | Get into the holiday groove at Garden Grove with winter pints and live music by Ross Wright and more.
Special performances
“Christmas on the Rocks” | Wednesday, Nov. 16-Sunday, Dec. 18 | Hours vary | Richmond Triangle Players Robert E. Moss Theatre, 1300 Altamont Ave. | A show centered around a bar on Christmas Eve, and the familiar cast of holiday characters that saunter in.
“Let it Snow!” Richmond Symphony Pops | Saturday, Nov. 26 - Sunday, Nov. 27 | 8 p.m. + 3 p.m. | Dominion Energy Center | $10.50-$85.50 | Listen to holiday classics and modern-day favorites with a full band.
Holiday Festival of Music | Monday, Nov. 28 | 7 p.m. |. Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 823 Cathedral Pl. | $55-$70 | Funds raised at this performance go toward the Commonwealth Catholic Charities.
A Richmond Big Band Christmas | Friday, Dec. 2-Saturday, Dec. 3 | 7 p.m. + 2 p.m. | VMFA | $15-$30 | Get grooving with local acclaimed musicians as they perform big band style versions of Christmas hymns.
“The Nutcracker” | Friday, Dec. 9 - Friday, Dec. 23 | Hours vary | Richmond Ballet, 407 E. Canal St. | $25-$130 | Find those sugar plum fairies dancing through brand new scenery at this family-friendly favorite.
Good Shot Judy’s “A Crooner’s Christmas” | Saturday, Dec. 10 | 2-4 p.m., 7:30-9 p.m. | Perkinson Center for the Arts, 11810 Centre St. | $44 | The playlist includes holiday favorites from your favorite crooners like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Ella Fitzgerald.
Savage Hands and Telltale 3rd Annual Holiday Show | Sunday, Dec. 11 | 6 p.m. | The Canal Club | $15 | Celebrate the holidays with heavy metal and nu rock.
Festive markets
Christmas Craft Show | Friday, Nov. 25- Wednesday, Nov. 30 | The Virginia Cliffe Inn, 2900 Mountain Rd. | Visit 60+ area crafters, artists and bakers selling goodies all around the Inn.
Made in RVA Holiday Shop | Friday, Nov. 25-Saturday, Dec. 31 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Art Works, 320 Hull St. | Stop by the gallery to discover Richmonder-made ceramics, paintings, candles, and soaps with warm cider and cookies in hand.
The Bizarre Bazaar’s 47th Christmas Collection | Friday, Dec. 2 - Sunday, Dec. 4 | Hours vary | Richmond Raceway Complex, 600 E. Laburnum Ave. | $10-$16 | Bring the whole family to join in this annual Richmond holiday shopping tradition.
Merry Market | Friday, Dec. 2 - Saturday, Dec. 3 | 6-9 p.m., 3-9 p.m. | Maymont | $3-$10 | Explore the lights on the Carriage House Lawn, shop local vendors, and meet Santa Claus.
Grateful Fest | Saturday, Dec. 3 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | AlterNatives Boutique, 3320 W. Cary St. | Free | Sip a Legend beer and listen to live music while supporting the local nonprofits: the Highland Support Project, Shalom Farms, and the Belmont Community Resource Services.
Holiday Richmond Makers Market | Saturday, Dec. 10- Sunday, Dec. 11 | 12-6 p.m. | Basic City Beer Co., 212 W. Sixth St. | Spend the weekend stocking up on local gifts, snacks, and good holiday vibes.
Light tours
GardenFest of Lights Behind the Scenes Tour | Tuesday, Dec. 6 | 3-4 p.m. | Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden | $10-$20 | Learn about the history, the the process, and the execution of the annual holiday light show before it illuminates.
CarMax Tacky Light Run | Saturday, Dec. 10 | 6 p.m. | Midlothian Mines Park, 13301 N. Woolridge Rd. | $15-$45 | Dress up in your tackiest garb to run through a plethora of holiday lights and winter wonder.
Richmond Holiday Light Show | Friday, Nov. 18-Saturday, Dec. 31 | Hours vary | Richmond Raceway Gate 7, 4690 Carolina Ave. | $25 per car | Stay in your heated seats and drive through a glittering gallery of holiday lights.
Richmond Tacky Light Tours | Saturday, Dec. 3-Friday, Dec. 23 | 6 p.m. | James River Transportation Passenger Center, 900 N. Allen Ave. | $34 | Get a group together and ride through Richmond holiday lights in a limo.
RVATukTuk Tacky Light Tours | Friday, Dec. 2-Saturday, Dec. 31 | Hours vary | $54-$190 | Up to six people can enjoy holiday music, heated seats, and over an hour of local light shows.
NYE celebrations
Pours and Pasties NYE Bash | Saturday, Dec. 31 | 9 p.m. | Strangeways Brewing Co., 2277 Dabney Rd. | $20-$30 | Your ticket includes a midnight toast beer to ring in 2023.
New Years Eve with Legacy Band | Saturday, Dec. 31 | 10 p.m. | Rosie’s Gaming Emporium, 10515 Colonial Downs Parkway | Free | Head out to New Kent to boogie down the last few hours of 2022.
The Time Traveler’s Ball | Saturday, Dec. 31 | 8 p.m. | Révéler Experiences, 3108 W. Cary St. | $50 | Come dressed according to your favorite time period, enjoy a cash bar of adult beverages, snacks, and even some mystery events.
New Years Eve Party | Saturday, Dec. 31 | 9 p.m. | Brambly Park Winery, 1708 Belleville St. | Geek RVA will take the patio stage with 2000s jams into the new year.
New Years Eve Celebration | Saturday, Dec. 31 | 8:30 p.m. | ACCA Shrine Center, 1712 Bellevue Ave. | $60 | Dance to timeless classics while enjoying dessert charcuterie boards + champagne.
New Years Eve 2022 | Saturday, Dec. 31 | 8 p.m. | Hilton Richmond Hotel Short Pump, 12042 W. Broad St. | $175-$300 | Dancing, DJs, drinks, and casino night specials all in the Hilton ballroom.
Got a winter event we need to add? Submit it on our events page.
