Gift-giving, traveling, Christmas decorating, events… the holidays are expensive. If Santa is looking to save a little Christmas dough, check out these free evens around Richmond for kids and families.
Ongoing events
Animated Lights Show Come out to Stony Point Fashion Park for an exciting Lights show beginning at the top and bottom of every hour beginning at 5:00 p.m. November 15 – January 3, 2015.
November 27 – 29, 2015
Free Skate Weekend Kick-off the holiday weekend with free skating at Stony Point Fashion Park! Complimentary sessions begin every hour on the hour. Each one hour session consist of 45 minutes of skating with 15 minutes in-between sessions to condition the surface. November 27 and 28th 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. and November 29 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Wilton House Museum Holiday Open House November 29 from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Enjoy light refreshments craft, games, and performances throughout the afternoon. Tours of Wilton, elegantly set for Twelfth Night, will be available throughout the day.
December 5, 2015
Dominion Christmas Parade The parade will depart from the Science Museum on W. Broad Street and continue east to 7th Street. This beloved Richmond tradition attracts more than 100,000 spectators each year from everywhere in Virginia, with thousands more enjoying the live television broadcast. Parade starts at 10:00am.
December 11- 13, 2015
Candle Lit Walk and Caroling in Church Hill The candlelight stroll down our historic streets will be hosted by CHA on Friday evening. At 7 pm, Vespers begin at St. John’s Church at 2401 East Broad Street (all are welcome). Simultaneously the candlelight walk begins at Jefferson Park (Union Hill) at 7:15 pm with bagpipes and drummers leading the way. It proceeds to St. John’s Church where, following Vespers, the congregation joins in the walk at approximately 7:35 pm. As the crowd grows continuing down our streets lit by gaslights, neighborhood parties empty out into the streets and the crowd continues to swell. We gather on historic Libby Hill with the 180 degree View overlooking the James River and our city gloriously lit up for the holidays as the backdrop. The crowd then joins for holiday caroling and a visit from Santa.
James River Parade of Lights Each year, boaters decorate their vessels and take to the river at dusk in a dazzling spectacle of lights.Spectators line the shorelines at several official viewing sites to take in the parade and other festive entertainment. The parade begins in Richmond, just below the fall line, and the boats cruise through Henrico and Chesterfield counties to the Varina-Enon Bridge.
29th Annual Court End Christmas An annual holiday tradition! Ten historic sites in downtown Richmond, Virginia, open their doors for a day of free admission and holiday festivities. Carriage rides, carolers, living history, live music, children’s crafts, gift shops and more. A complimentary shuttle will circulate among all sites throughout the event. Event is rain or shine.
December 14, 2015
Henerico Pops Chorus Join the Henrico Pops Chorus, under the direction of Bobbie Moore, for an evening of holiday fun and seasonal classics!
December 15, 2015
Holiday Lantern Tours at Meadow Farm Museum December 19 Candles are lit and the house at Meadow Farm is alive in anticipation of Christmas. The house is decorated from top to bottom for the holidays. Join the magical fun as costumed living historians lead groups through a candle-lit history of classic Christmas carols. Tours leave every 15 minutes from the Orientation Center.
