Holiday Fun Festivities

Around this time of year, holiday cheer is all around. Halloween has come to an end, Thanksgiving is around the corner, and everybody is preparing for Christmas. Looking all around the Hampton Roads area, here is a list of all the must attend events.

Thanksgiving Day Feast – On November 24, from 11AM-4PM you and your family can come enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, with a cultural twist. Hosted at the Williamsburg Lodge, the faculty organizes a tasty meal for everybody.

Thanksgiving Day 5k – What better way is there to come together as a community than a 5k run? The race occurs on November 24, at Colonial Williamsburg’s Merchant’s Square, starting at 8:30AM and ending at 11AM. If you are not up for a 5k they also have a “1-mile Fun Run.” The path for the race winds through the streets of Colonial Williamsburg, up to the historical college, William and Mary. All ages are welcome to come and spend their Thanksgiving morning as a community.

Liberty’s Ice Pavilion – A great family-friendly activity to do during the holiday season is going ice skating, and Liberty’s Ice Pavilion is a considerable place to attend. The ice rink will be open until February 20, 2017. Hosted on Duke of Gloucester street, they provide light refreshments such as hot apple cider, coffee, and more. For a reasonable price, this is a wonderful activity to spend your day doing.

Christmas Town – Already a huge tourist attraction, Busch Gardens hosts an annual Christmas event called Christmas Town. With over 8 million Christmas lights, Christmas Town is with lots of festive food, shows, and shops. They offer lots of things for children, such as two big “Children’s Areas” and a “Meet Santa” spot. For anybody who has a lot of Christmas spirit, Christmas Town is a paradise.

Grand Illumination –On the weekend of December 4th, from 5-7:30pm you can be a part of one of the biggest events in Williamsburg. Experience several musical performances, fireworks, and 18th century themed unique decorations. For being free and having numerous historical sights, this is a must attend event. Also, during this weekend there is a Williamsburg Christmas parade on December 3rd, at 8am. The theme is “The Night Before Christmas.” The parade will start at Brooks Street & Richmond Road.

Thanksgiving week mini golf – From November 19th to November 27th, Pirates cove will be hosting this Thanksgiving event as a closing to their year. This is a stupendous event to bring the family with you and have a fun time playing mini golf.

A Colonial Christmas – Ever wonder how Christmas was celebrated in the 17th and 18th century? If so, this is a perfect place for you! From December 1st to December 31st, Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown will be recreating history through special tours and musical performances. They also offer private tours to parties of 14 or fewer, adding premium events such as “Tales of Yuletide” and “Provision Scare” at the American Revolution Museum. They have different activities for visitors to partake in, such as candle dipping, riddles, and how to use the tools the settlers & Native Americans used.

Elizabeth River Festival – On November 20th, in Portsmouth Virginia, there will be a free festival for all. There will be lots of fun activities for kids, food, and a nature walk across the biggest bridge in the area. Go out and get involved from 11-4pm!

Disney Live! – The famous, loved by all Mickey Mouse and friends are in town! On December 11th at 1pm, relive Disney’s best moments with scenes from Toy Story, Cinderella, Repunzel, and some special appearances by Snow White, Tinker Bell, and Aladdin’s Genie. Hosted at the Constant Convocation Center, in Norfolk, Virginia.

Sleigh Bell 5k Run – The annual charity run is here! Go out and support a good cause at Sentara Hospital. All proceeds will help the local youth, through the program S.H.I.P. They have several different runs that participants can take part in.