Reach new lights this holiday season

The ultimate guide to holiday lights in Richmond

Find this treasure trove of tacky lights on Laurel Street. | Photo by RICtoday

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, Richmond. Here’s our gift to you — the ultimate guide to local lights, from tacky light tours to holiday shows + festive experiences.

💡 Tacky light tours

RVATukTuk
Tuk Tuks are three-wheeled, 100% electric, open air vehicles perfect for a group of six passengers. All ages are welcome and adults may bring beverages on rides.

RVA Brew Crew
There are still a few days that haven’t filled up for this 3-5 hour tacky light tour for up to 14 people. Groups can bring their own beverages.

Virginia Limousine & Chauffeured Transportation
This tour has over 10 displays and lasts about three hours. Groups may customize their routes and stop for food along the way. Prices vary based on the group size and tour length.

If you’d prefer a DIY approach, check out these lists of tacky light homes from the Richmond Times-Dispatch and NBC12.

💡 Holiday light experiences

MAKE MERRY MEMORIES

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Wednesday, Dec. 7

Lunch Break Science | Wednesday, Dec. 7 | 12-12:45 p.m. | Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad St., Richmond | Free | Feng Lin, Ph.D, will discuss the roles of batteries in electrifying transportation.

Thursday, Dec. 8

Holiday Village Block Party | Thursday, Dec. 8 | 2-7 p.m. | The Valentine, 1015 E. Clay St., Richmond | Free | Get your holiday gifts and support local artists and small business owners at this outdoor market with music and activities.

Friday, Dec. 9

Test Pattern 06: Dorian Wood | Friday, Dec. 9 | 7-10 p.m. | Institute for Contemporary Art, 601 W. Broad St., Richmond | Free | If you can’t make it to see the multi-disciplinary artist in person, catch the livestream on YouTube.
Punks for Presents Night 1 | Friday, Dec. 9 | 8 p.m. | The Camel, 1621 W. Broad St., Richmond | $10 | The festive lineup includes Imaginary Toys, Toy Division, and Jolly Holly.

Saturday, Dec. 10

Holiday Richmond Makers Market | Saturday, Dec. 10-Sunday, Dec. 11 | 12-6 p.m. | Basic City Beer Co., 212 W. Sixth St., Richmond | Free | Shop from dozens of local artisans at this pup-friendly market.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Still shopping for a hunter or angler this holiday season?

This is the perfect gift for anyone in your life who loves hunting, fishing + all things outdoors. | Photo provided by Sportsman’s Box

Then we have the gift for you. With Sportman’s Box, you can gift up to $500 of gear — for less than $250.

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CHOOSE A GIFT FOR YOUR SPORTSMAN

Weather

63º | Showers | 62% chance of rain

Closing

Lavender Social Club is closing its doors in the Arts District this Thursday, Dec. 8. The salon space opened in 2021 at 414 W. Broad St. In an Instagram post, owner Joshua Campbell announced that the building will be taken over by Body Politic Hair Studios on Sunday, Jan. 1.

Development

A proposed development in Varina will go before the Henrico Planning Commission next week. East West Communities wants to build 1,000 homes near the intersection of Willson Road and Route 5. The Arcadia devlopment would also include a clubhouse, pool, and a central park area. 🏡 (Richmond BizSense)

Holiday

The Richmond Boat Parade of Lights returns this Saturday, Dec. 10 at 4:45 p.m. at Rocketts Landing. Find a spot along the route to watch boats decked out in holiday lights make their way to Osborne Landing. 🚤
If your little ones need a way to get in contact with St. Nick before Christmas, head to Merrymaker Fine Paper. The Carytown shop has pre-printed Letters to Santa ready to go and a North Pole mail box. Drop off letters by Tuesday, Dec. 13 — replies will be in Saturday, Dec. 17. 📫

Outdoors

Canal Walk bikers will find a smoother trip along the deck stairs of the Tidewater Locks on South 13th Street. Venture Richmond installed the city’s first-ever set of bicycle access ramps, also known as runnels. 🚲

Shop

For the third year in a row, staff from Chesapeake Bank are selling gift cards to help “boost” local businesses. These gift cards (funded by the bank and local partners throughout the Richmond region) are designed for customers to purchase holiday gifts + other items while supporting the community. 🛍 *

Drink

Got a coffee lover in your family? We can almost guarantee these two products are on their wish list — the Fellow Stagg Electric Kettle and the Fellow Pour Over Coffee Set. Both strike the perfect balance of form and function. Psst — don’t forget the matching travel mug. ☕ *

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Richmond Business 101

10 biggest employers in Richmond

Top employers in Richmond include banking and healthcare industries. | Photo by @aerial_virginia

As the capital of VA, Richmond is vital to the region’s economy — and several companies are definitely taking advantage of our ideal location. We analyzed the list of the largest employers in the metro area from the Greater Richmond Partnership.

Health systems are three of the metro area’s biggest job providers. Bon Secours, VCU Health, and HCA Virginia are all in the top four. Capital One is also a major player in Richmond.

Let’s explore by the numbers.

🏥 VCU Health System
13,500 employees | Healthcare | Richmond City | Search jobs

💸 Capital One Financial
13,000 employees | Financial services | Goochland | Search jobs

🏥 HCA Virginia Health System
11,000 employees | Healthcare | Chesterfield | Search jobs

🏥 Bon Secours Richmond
8,416 employees | Healthcare | Henrico | Search jobs

🐏 Virginia Commonwealth University
7,832 employees | Public university | Richmond City | Search jobs

Click the button below to round out the top 10 and learn more about each employer.

5 MORE BIG BUSINESSES

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Robin.

Editor’s pick: Huge thanks to Sarah for stepping in while I took some time off. After being out of town — and in a substantially warmer climate — for a few days, seeing these pictures of a frosty, foggy Richmond morning is helping me get back in the swing of things. 🌫

Missed Monday’s newsletter? We’ve got gift guides for all your holiday needs.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Robin Schwartzkopf, Sarah Leonhardt, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Peter Baldassare | Advertise with us.

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