RVA Christmas Bucket List: 25 Free Ways to Enjoy the Christmas Season in RVA
- The West End Mom
- Nov 5, 2024
- 11 min read
The holiday season is sneaking up on us! I know it isn't even Thanksgiving yet, but there are so many fun, festive events that start popping up around RVA in November. I don't want you to miss out, so I've got my annual RVA Christmas Bucket List ready for YOU!
My annual Christmas Bucket List includes some traditional favorites plus some new activities and events opening this year! My goal for this guide is to help you and your family make the most of the holidays in RVA and enjoy all the special moments of the season!
New for this year's guide, I have only included FREE activities and experiences you can try around central Virginia to celebrate the season. Many don't even need a reservation, so you can add a little Christmas magic into holiday season at the spur of the moment too! If you're looking for paid holiday experiences, my top picks for 2024 will go out shortly - make sure you are subscribed to my newsletter so you have first access!!
If you would like my printable Christmas Bucket List guide, CLICK HERE!!
Follow @thewestendmom on Instagram for things to do with kids in Richmond!
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This guide is brought to you by Cameo Cakery and Cafe!
Richmond’s cake all day cafe transforms every holiday season into a Land of Sweets. After Thanksgiving through the New Year, you can enjoy your sips & bites surrounded by oversized nutcrackers, Christmas trees, snowflakes above the pergola & gumdrops on the roof. At night, the full service cafe glows & you may just see Santa on the roof top!
Some of Cameo Cakery's holiday specials include: Hot Chocolate with Toasted Marshmallows, The Grinch Cocktail, Peppermint Mocha Espressotini, Snowflake Frosted Sugar Cookies, Peppermint Mocha Cupcakes, and Gingersnap Stuffed Cookies!
Cameo Cakery and Cafe also routinely hosts special events like live music, movies on the patio and holiday brunches!
Cameo Cakery and Cafe is open daily, and you can visit them at 306 Libbie Ave, Richmond, Virginia, 23226.
Can't wait to celebrate Christmas with y'all!!
1.Get your kiddo's FREE holiday cupcake at Cameo Cakery & Cafe on Friday, December 20.
Any kiddo 17 and younger can get a FREE holiday cupcake at Cameo Cakery and Cafe on 12/20/24 if they have my Christmas Bucket List printable.
Christmas decor is going up right now at Cameo Cakery. Everything should be set by Thanksgiving weekend. To see what Cameo Cakery & Cafe looked like in 2023, click here!
Twirl by the Iconic, Pink Christmas Tree.
The Quirk Richmond is a gorgeous, modern hotel in the heart of the city. It is decorated for Christmas with pink decor from the Monday after Thanksgiving through New Year's. The Lobby Coffee Bar is open daily from 7-1, and it's perfect for a create your own Christmas Tea.
Cost: It is free to visit. Coffee Bar's prices are very reasonable - we ordered 2 hot chocolates for $3.25 each & coffee cake for $6.
*Check here for my review.
Watch the Dominion Energy Christmas Parade.
On Saturday, December 7 at 10 am, The Dominion Energy Christmas Parade returns! This parade takes place on Broad Street, and it travels east to end at the Richmond Coliseum. We are so excited to see the giant balloons, colorful floats, local marching bands, our favorite princesses, and, of course, Santa! Check here for viewing tips.
Attend Henrico Holiday Express Tour.
Henrico County Parks and Recreation put on an annual neighborhood parade over 3 nights in December. The tour runs from 5-8pm on three different nights, in three different areas of the county -- Brookland and Fairfield areas, Varina, and Three Chopt and Tuckahoe.
Here is the parade's route. If the parade doesn't come through your neighborhood or you don't live in Henrico, you can also visit the parade's starting point & watch from the various libraries (Libbie Mill, Varina or Twin Hickory).
The 2024 dates have not been released yet, but it usually happens during the first or second week of December.
5.Richmond Boat Parade of Light: On the second Saturday of December, you can watch RVA's Boar Parade of Lights! The 2024 event is on Saturday, December 14.
Christmas-themed boats will take off from Rockett's Landing at 4:45pm. The boat parade ends at Osborne Landing. You can easily view the parade from the Capital Trail in front of The Boathouse and Island Shrimp, or you can view it from Osborne Landing Park. For more details on the Richmond Boat Parade, check here.
6.Meet the Grinch!
On Wednesday, December 11 from 5-7pm, you can meet THE GRINCH! The Grinch will be walking around the ice skating rink chatting & taking pictures. Chesterfield Public Library is hosting grinch-theme crafts, and there will be live music! The Doorway Singers will be playing The Grinch's soundtrack.
For more info on this free event, check here.
7-11.See the biggest Christmas trees in town.
Our local shopping malls and centers put up the largest trees in the area!!
7.Short Pump Mall: Every year this local mall decorates for Christmas with a 60 foot walk-through tree. The annual tree lighting is scheduled for November 15 this year.
Santa will be at the mall for pictures from November 15 to December 24. Children will also have the opportunity to have their picture taken with Santa - there is also a sensory sensitive experience available! Santa will be in the Pal's Clubhouse, next to LL Bean. Reservations are strongly encouraged.
*Check here for my review.
8.Stony Point Fashion Park: This local mall decks its halls every year for Christmas, and the annual tree lighting event is on Saturday, November 23 from 5-7pm. During this event you can also take pictures with Santa, children can have their face painted, watch a snow show, and more!
Saturday, November 23 to Monday, January 1, Stony Point will have a pop-up ice skating rink. Some special activities and events will include snow falling during the week, horse drawn carriage rides, and falling snow!
Santa is typically at the mall from November through December 24. Registration links aren't available yet!
*Check here for my 2020 review.
9.West Broad Village: This Short Pump shopping center hosts its annual tree lighting with live music, s'more roasting, games, and you can even snap a picture with Santa!
This even usually takes place on the Sunday after Thanksgiving from 5pm-8pm. The 2024 date has not bee released yet!
10.Willow Lawn Shopping Center: This shopping center sets up a beautiful tree in the children's play area every year! You will find it fully decorated the Monday after Thanksgiving through New Year's Day.
11.The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts puts up large, beautiful Christmas trees, and you can usually view it from the. Monday after Thanksgiving through New Years. This one is typically made of poinsettias, so it's one of the most vibrant trees around RVA. You can visit the VMFA any day of the year for free - there is no admission charge for this museum.
Don't miss out on seeing them & snapping Christmas pictures.
The Great Big Greenhouse: We love this greenhouse because they are very family-friendly & host many events throughout the year. In December, The Great Big Greenhouse decorates completely for Christmas with Santa visit on select weekends (for FREE) and with a massive model train display by River City 3 Railers (FREE). While dates for Santa visit haven't been announced just yet, you won't need reservations to see him and you can take pictures with your own camera!
New for the 2024 Christmas season: River City 3 Railers will have a display shaped in an "L" that will be 54' x 38'. You can see 14 additional modules that haven't been on display before including a turntable!
Kids Day at The Train Station on December 7 from 10am to 2pm.
Kids Day in The Garden on January 18, 2025 from 10am to 2pm. This free event will have an animal petting farm, an instrument petting zoo, a juggler & more!
*Check here for my review.
13.See a live nativity.
The Richmond Metro Zoo: Located on 150 acres in Moseley, Richmond Metro Zoo is home to 2,000 animals and 190 different species. In addition to the animal sightings and experiences, the zoo hosts Miracle of Christmas each December. This 20 minute performance celebrates the birth of Christ through a live re-enactment of the Christmas story, and it features animals from the zoo. Live performances will be on December 20, December 21, and December 22, 2024 at 7pm , 7:45pm and 8:30pm.
No tickets or reservations required.
*Check here for my review.
Salem Baptist Church's Bethlehem Walk: Salem Baptist Church's annual Bethlehem Walk brings the story of Christmas to life each year. This experience is about an hour long with live animals, singing, actors and story tellers -- it's fully immersive. Please note that you will take a bus from the parking lot unless you have children under 4. If you have kiddos under 4, you can park right by the event, so you can bring a stroller or wagon.
This year's event is on December 4-8, 2024, and reservations go live on November 6. While this is a free event that's open to the public, you must register in advance, and tickets do sell out. For more information and to reserve your tickets, click here.
While not a live nativity, Hope Church's Jingle Jam is such a fun, family event that shares the Christmas story like you've never heard it before! Just make sure you grab a free ticket in advance - it fills up quickly.
14.Enjoy a Christmas from the past.
Agecroft Hall & Gardens is hosting its annual Yuletides at Agecroft. This Christmas open ouse is on Sunday, December 8, 2024 from noon to 5pm. Visitors can experience Christmas from three different areas: English in 1640, London in 1860, and Richmond in 1942. We attended this event last year, and my children loved the puppet show & watching The Night Before Christmas.
Cost: This event is free & open to the public. You can register for the event here.
15.See giant gingerbread houses.
This historic Jefferson Hotel turns into a Christmas wonderland from the Monday after Thanksgiving (12/2/24) through January 5, 2025. You can visit to see the iconic Christmas tree, larger-than-life gingerbread houses, live poinsettias, and thousands of twinkle lights and elegant without a hotel or dining reservation.
We like to grab hot chocolate and cookies from the Gator's Gift Shop and wander around in our Christmas best. If you want treats, this does have a cost!
16.Visit with Santa.
Santa's Winter Wonderland at Cabelas and Bass Pro is open from November 2 – December 24, 2024, and it's free to visit. Your free visit with Santa also includes a free picture with Santa. You have the opportunity to purchase digitals or more pictures if you want. Sign up on Bass Pro's website here. We visited on a week night, and we signed up on the spot. My littles got to spend at least 10 minutes with Santa because there was no one else there, too. This was a great experience for us! While this is free, online registration is strongly encouraged!
NEW THIS YEAR: Bass Pro and Cabelas are hosting storytime with Santa on Tuesdays at 5pm. From Novmeber 5 to Decemebr 17, Santa or Mrs. Claus will host Christmas Tales. Separate reservations are required!
Looking for a full list of places to see Santa around Richmond? Check out my guide to finding Santa in RVA!
17.Visit Colonial Williamsburg.
This 301 acre living-history museum is filled with holiday traditions & special events in December. You can listen to ensembles sing holiday music, follow the Yule log to Market Square & watch fireworks! Colonial Williamsburg is hosting three Grand Illumination nights on December 7, 14 and 21, 2024 with firework displays . The ice skating rink stays open through the end of February. During our recent visit to Colonial Williamsburg, we loved finding the every day items on the handmade Christmas decorations & watching the sheep trim the grass on the Palace Green!
*Check here for my review.
18.Attend a Christmas Concert!
The Jefferson Hotel: Local high school and middle school choirs perform at The Jefferson Hotel throughout the month of December. These holiday concerts are free and open to the public! Since most of these concerts are during the typical "school day" (around noon or 2pm), they are perfect for homeschoolers, preschoolers, toddlers and for those on holiday from school!
The 2024 holiday concert schedule has not been released yet, but more information can be found here.
Stony Point Fashion Park: On Tuesday, December 17, Bach to Rock is playing holiday tunes by the ice skating rink. Their performance is from 5pm-7pm.
Even if Richmond doesn't have a white Christmas, there are TWO ways to see snow falling around RVA for FREE!
Henrico's Holiday Express Tour: Henrico County Parks and Recreation put on an annual neighborhood parade over 3 nights in December. The tour runs from 5-8pm on three different nights, in three different areas of the county -- Brookland and Fairfield areas, Varina, and Three Chopt and Tuckahoe. The highlight for my kids has always been the falling snow from the firetrucks!!
The 2024 dates have not been released yet, but it usually happens during the first or second week of December.
Stony Point Fashion Park: This local mall has snow shows throughout the season over their pop-up ice skating rink.
These are completely free and open to the public!
20.RVA's Grand Illumination: RVA Illuminates is held annually on the first Friday in December. This year's event is on Friday, December 6, 2024.
This free event has live musical performances, food vendors, and free Riverfront canal cruises & carriage rides. At 6pm, the major will flip on the lights, illuminating the RVA skyline. Expect to spend around 2hours at the event, as you will want to arrive around 5pm.
21-25.Visit Richmond's famous Holiday Houses!
One of our favorite Christmas traditions is looking at Christmas lights, and most houses are decorated from the day after Thanksgiving to New Year's Day. I usually create our own Christmas light tour, and we start at 4:45/5 (right when it gets dark). I plan it three ways: pack everyone up in jammies with homemade treats, stop for hot cocoa along the way or add a visit onto our afternoon adventure.
(21) The Ashbury Court Homes: Located in the West End, “A Phifer Christmas” has two homes that are illuminated with over 1 million lights.
(22) The Walton Park neighborhood: This Midlothian neighborhood goes all out for Christmas, and it is the course for the Tacky Light Run 6K. We drive through “Christmas Court” on Dawnridge Court & Coralview Road. The Urban Farmhouse is less than 5 minutes away.
*Salty Santa of Walton Park and Christmas on Coralview are participating in Worth Day's A Joyful Battle of Lights, to raise money for local children in foster care.
(23)The Wendhurst Drive Homes: Located in Glen Allen, you can either drive by or walk up to the three homes that are decorated together. They have 2,207 homemade decorations on display! We also visit the Coleson Road home after these because it’s 4 minutes away!
(24) RVA Christmas House: Located in the city of Richmond, you can either drive by or walk up to this home at 3209 Hanover Ave. Our favorite part is the giant "RVA" all in lights on the roof.
This home participating in Worth Day's A Joyful Battle of Lights, to raise money for local children in foster care.
(25) Fire Station 13: Located in Henrico near Short Pump Mall, this fire station goes all out for Christmas. They have so many tacky lights and inflatables it's easy to see driving by, or you can check it out next door from Gayton Elementary or across the street at Ray's Italian Ice.
*Check here for my review.
If you're looking for more Christmas fun, check out my guide on finding Santa around RVA!
*For more details on these fun, festive spots and more Richmond adventures, follow our family on @thewestendmom on Instagram!
