You can’t finish a parade without Legendary Santa. | Photo provided by Dominion Energy Christmas Parade
The Dominion Energy Christmas Parade returns to Broad Street this Saturday, Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. The local tradition starts outside the Science Museum and marches east towards 7th Street.
Here’s what you need to know before you go.
☀️ Weather
The temperature should be in the 30s when the parade begins, and then into the 40s as it continues. Dress in layers — you may also want to bring a warm beverage to stay toasty.
Pro tip: The parade is rain or shine.
🚗 Traffic
Roads along the Broad Street parade route will begin to close on Saturday morning at 6 a.m. West Broad will be closed from Arthur Ashe to 8th Street. See the full list of street closures.
The 2.2-mile route attracts around 100,000 spectators, so expect slower traffic and numerous pedestrians in the area until the parade wraps up in the afternoon.
“Love Actually” | 7 p.m. | The Byrd Theatre | $9 | Love actually will be all around at this screening of the holiday classic.
Samara Joy | 7 p.m. | Altria Theater | $30+ | Join the Grammy-winning artist for a joyful evening of jazzy holiday tunes featuring the McLendon Family.
Saturday, Dec. 7
RVA Yoga Hang | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Blue Bee Cider | $25 | Enjoy a chill yoga session followed by cider sipping.
Big Shrimp | 7 p.m. | The Camel | $12+ | The progressive funk group will play with Solar Circuit.
Legends on Grace: A Jazzy Holiday! | 8-10 p.m. | Bob & Sally Mooney Hall, Richmond | $27-$52 | Kick off the holiday season with a special cabaret featuring vocalists Desirée Roots and Georgia Rogers Farmer.*
Sunday, Dec. 8
Yuletides at Agecroft: Christmas Open House | 12-5 p.m. | Agecroft Hall | Free entry | Experience holiday traditions from multiple centuries, enjoy family-friendly crafts, and visit with Father Christmas.
Holiday Artisan Market | 12-5 p.m. | Strangeways Brewing – Scott’s Addition | Free entry | This indoor market will feature home decor, art, jewelry, vintage goods, and handmade apparel.
Monday, Dec. 9
VCU Men’s Basketball vs. Penn | 7 p.m. | Siegel Center | $29+ | The Rams face the Quakers at home — plus it’s a hoops doubleheader as the VCU women’s basketball team plays Delaware State at 4:30 p.m.
The head of the city Office of Elections stepped down from his post on Wednesday. Keith Balmer resigned at a meeting of the Richmond Election Board after an investigation into his use of public funds and hiring practices. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
The Word
Oxford University Press announced its pick for Word of the Year — “brain rot.” Other finalists included “lore,” “dynamic pricing,” and “slop.” Counter the brain rot by touching grass at a local park or heading to one of these 30+ museums in Richmond. (Time Magazine)
Shop
Looking for a gift that provides an experience? Check out this Virginia Adventure Bucket List deck that comes with 50 scratch-off cards with things to do all around the state — including the River City, Charlottesville, Yorktown, Alexandria, and more.
Listen
In case your Instagram feed isn’t filled with people sharing that they’re in the top 1% of Taylor Swift listeners, allow us to inform you: Spotify Wrapped is out. If you’re looking for a new listen, check out these local podcasts to add to your playlist.
Health
Empower yourself to feel your best. Pelvic floor exercises are key to women’s health, improving strength, support, and overall well-being. Learn why these simple exercises matter and how they can make a big difference in your daily life from the experts at Virginia Physicians for Women.*
Travel
Experience family-friendly holiday fun at Kersey Valley Christmas in the Heart of NC. This affordable event series features light displays, Santa’s workshop and photos, a Grinch cave, reindeer games, a jumping pillow, a megaslide, and a roasty toasty village. See event FAQs + buy tickets.*
Finance
The bad news: Car repair costs have surged 17% in the last year, with some repairs exceeding $6,000. The good news: An Endurance protection plan could save you thousands. Sign up and receive $450 off your new contract, plus a free year of Elite Benefits. Get your free quote.*
Tech
Want to turn four-hour tasks into 15-minute wins? Download your free ChatGPT mastery guide for 100 battle-tested prompts you can copy/paste ASAP — no coding required. Plus, the guide explores how to use AI ethically at work.*
Trending
Looking for a five-minute national news read? Free newsletter 1440 navigates 100+ sources to deliver a comprehensive daily digest — from global events to business to culture.*
City Guide
City Guide
Cheers to local volunteers
See how you can help out with 50+ local organizations — just click this picture. | Photo by Christopher W. Clarke
If you’re in the giving spirit, here are some more organizations to get involved with in the River City.
SCORE Richmond | Sign on as a mentor to help out small businesses by answering questions, providing resources, and giving insight and guidance.
UGK Community First | The Underground Kitchen is a local nonprofit helping feed Richmonders. Volunteers can help prepare meals, collect and sort food, make deliveries, and fundraise.
United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg | Help prepare literacy kits for local youth, install and restock Little Free Libraries, or access free resources to support community members in need.
Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia | Volunteer as a Wish Granter to help critically ill children determine their most heartfelt wish. Other opportunities include translators, office volunteers, and events volunteers.
The AirFly Pro — it’s a nifty gadget that will wirelessly transmit audio from in-flight entertainment to Bluetooth headphones so you can ditch those pesky wired earbuds.
In other year-end news, Pantone announced that “mocha mousse” is the 2025 Color of the Year. Personally, I’m not sold. What do you think should be Richmond’s color for 2025? Let me know your thoughts.
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