We’re here to help you wrap up the year with some of your favorite memories — from upcoming festivals and parades to spontaneous one-day events around the city. Make this holiday season one for the books with these December events.
Pro tip: We update this page monthly with fresh events, so feel free to bookmark it so you can check back throughout the year.
Festivals + seasonal events
RVA Krampusnacht | Monday, Dec. 1-Sunday, Dec. 14 | Locations vary | Prices vary
GardenFest of Lights | Monday, Dec. 1-Sunday, Jan. 4 | 4 p.m. | Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden | $22
RVA Illuminates | Friday, Dec. 5 | 4-7 p.m. | Kanawha Plaza | Free
Dominion Energy Christmas Parade | Saturday, Dec. 6 | 10:15 a.m. | West Broad Street | Free
Merry Market | Saturday, Dec. 6-Sunday, Dec. 7 | 12-5 p.m. | Maymont | $10
RVA Boat Parade of Lights | Saturday, Dec. 13 | 5 p.m. | Rocketts Landing | Free
“Chanukah on Ice” + Menorah Lighting | Sunday, Dec. 14 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | SkateNation Plus, Glen Allen | Free
Midlothian Hanukkah Party | Saturday, Dec. 20 | 5:30-7 p.m. | Art Factory, Midlothian | Free
Capital City Kwanzaa Festival | Saturday, Dec. 27 | 1-7 p.m. | Greater Richmond Convention Center | Free
French Quarter New Year’s Eve Dinner | Wednesday, Dec. 31 | 5-9 p.m. | Blue Atlas | $20
🎁 Planning your holiday gift shipping? Here are 30+ winter markets to peruse.
Stop by Studio Two Three for the Winter Market, open through Dec. 23.
Photo by RICtoday
Spontaneous fun
Holiday Pottery Workshops + Movie Features | Friday, Dec. 5-Sunday, Dec. 14 | Times vary | Whilom Goods | $55+
ICA Chef Residency Brunch: Khmer Comfort | Sunday, Dec. 7 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Institute for Contemporary Art | Free
Singles Cozy Clean-Up Party | Sunday, Dec. 7 | 12-2 p.m. | Ancarrow’s Landing | Free, RSVP
Drag Bingo | Thursday, Dec. 11 + Saturday, Dec. 13 | 6-8 p.m. | Hardywood Park Craft Brewery | Free entry
LEGO Build Workshop | Saturday, Dec. 13 | Times vary | Virginia Museum of History and Culture | $18
Geminid Sky Watch | Saturday, Dec. 13 | 10 p.m.-12 a.m. | Deep Run Park | Free
Neo-Soul Sunday Brunch | Sunday, Dec. 21 | 12-3 p.m. | Mamacita’s Sports Cantina | $30
Cheer on the Rams throughout the winter season.
Photo by VCU Athletics
Sports
CarMax Tacky Light Run | Saturday, Dec. 13 | 3 p.m. | Midlothian Mines Park | $18+
4 Tha Culture Women’s Holiday Hoops Classic | Friday, Dec. 19-Sunday, Dec. 21 | Times vary | Henrico Sports + Events Center, Glen Allen | $25+
SwimRVA New Year’s Challenge | Wednesday, Dec. 31 | 2-5 p.m. | SwimRVA | $90
🏀 If you’re joining the stands for basketball season, here’s a shortcut to the schedules for Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Richmond.
Theater
“Les Misérables” | Tuesday, Dec. 2-Sunday, Dec. 7 | Times vary | Altria Theater | $40+
“A Christmas Carol” | Wednesday, Dec. 3-Sunday, Dec. 28 | Times vary | Virginia Repertory Theatre | $35+
“The Golden Girls - Lost Episodes: Holiday Edition” | Thursday, Dec. 4-Sunday, Dec. 21 | Times vary | Robert B. Moss Theatre | $15+
“The Nutcracker” | Saturday, Dec. 6-Tuesday, Dec. 23 | Times vary | Carpenter Theatre at Dominion Energy Center | $96.94
“Mamma Mia” | Wednesday, Dec. 10-Monday, Dec. 15 | Times vary | Altria Theater | $44+
“Deathtrap” Presented by Virginia Rep Theatre | Hanover Tavern, Hanover
Concerts
Candlelight: Hip-Hop on Strings | Thursday, Dec. 4 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | The Byrd Theatre | $27+
Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland | Monday, Dec. 15 | 7:30 p.m. | Altria Theater | $46+
Punks for Presents | Saturday, Dec. 6 | Doors at 7 p.m. | The Camel. |$10
Laser Show: Lady Gaga | Friday, Dec. 12 | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | Science Museum of Virginia | $13+
Honky Tonk Night | Friday, Dec. 12 | 7-11 p.m. | Gallery5 | $12+
Beers + Banjos: Garden Variety String Band | Friday, Dec. 19 | 6-8 p.m. | The Camel | Free, $10 table reservations
Share your event
Have an event of your own you’d like to share with us? Follow these easy steps to add your events to our calendar:
- Go to our Events page.
- Click “Add Event” in the top right-hand corner, below our featured events.
- Be sure to include a link and fill out all the essential details, such as your event’s date, time, location, and price.
- Click “Submit,” and — ta-da — you’ve just added an event to our website calendar.