18 Fun Christmas Things to Do In Williamsburg Virginia 2024

As we approach the holiday season, now is a great time to start getting cozy and planning fun Christmas outings that the whole family will enjoy. There is no better way to get into the holiday spirit than a Christmas-themed light show or even just visiting some marvelous Christmas shops! We created a great list of Christmas Things to Do In Williamsburg Virginia.

In Williamsburg Virginia, there is no shortage of Christmas activities popping up all over town. With a combination of all the festive lights and Williamsburg’s old colonial history and architecture, this is a beautiful place to be during the holidays! We’re here today to give you all the details for the spectacular events happening this year in Williamsburg; stick around!

Christmas Things to Do In Williamsburg Virginia

Now, onto the Christmas Things To Do In Williamsburg VA

The Grand Illumination 

Kicking off the holiday season and keeping the fire going, The Grand Illumination is the talk of the town. For three weekends in December, The Grand Illumination is a massive holiday event with the firing of guns and an exciting fireworks display. Join the Colonial Williamsburg community to celebrate the merriment!

Fireworks will be displayed this year at two locations at the same time. The Governor’s Palace and the Capitol are where the fireworks are held; they are best viewed either on the Palace Green or at Duke of Gloucester St east of Botetourt St. Bring your lawn chair, a cooler with your favorite beverages, some blankets, and cozy up to watch the magic.

It is recommended that you arrive early to beat the crowds and find your favorite viewing spot. The festivities begin each Friday with the burning of the Yule Log (details below). Add this to your Colonial Williamsburg Christmas events!

Dates / Times: December 7, 14, & 21, 2024

Fireworks begin at 7 pm, though it is recommended that you arrive early. Most visitors arrive around 5 p.m. to walk around the Historic Area and see the holiday exhibits. 

Admission & Parking: All admission is free to everyone. You can bring a cooler with food and drinks as well. 

Food Trucks: Food trucks will be parked at the Courthouse serving hot food and non-alcoholic drinks for purchase between 3 pm and 7 pm. 

• Kings Arms Tavern (option is a prepaid dinner on New Year’s Eve)

Restrooms: Please refer to the local maps, or you can use the Colonial Williamsburg Explorer app.  You will find portable units throughout the Historic area.  

The Celebration of the Yule Log

Every Friday, before the Grand Illumination, a special ceremony called the Celebration of the Yule Log takes place. It’s a very popular and fun family event. The very first Yule Log Ceremony was held in December of 1940 and has been a cherished tradition ever since. The Yule Log placed in a wagon is hauled from Capitol Circle to Market Square.

The log is followed by music, festivities, and lights and accompanied by the community of Williamsburg. The log is then lit, and every attendee is given a sprig of holly to toss into the bonfire, traditionally to ward off evil spirits; now, it is said to be for good luck for the coming year. 

The Yule Log Celebration is a great way to experience a part of history while getting into the Christmas spirit! Warm cider, hot chocolate, and cookies are served after the event. 

Dates / Times:
Dec 6th, 13th, and 20th, 2024 between 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m

Admission: Admission is free to everyone

Yorktown Mistletoe Market and Toyland Parade 

Historic Yorktown decorates and transforms into a beautiful Christmas wonderland for their annual Yorktown Mistletoe Market! This year, there will be dozens of vendors selling their handmade treats and items. There will also be an ice carving exhibition, a Polar Express, and a model train exhibit. So many Christmas Things To Do In Williamsburg VA!

Don’t miss out on the Toyland Parade either! At 1:15 pm, the parade will be led by the Fifes and Drums of York, followed by anyone and everyone dressed up in holiday cheer, who will make their way around the Riverwalk Landing. At the Riverwalk Landing is where you can find the Polar Express and maybe even Santa if you’re lucky. 

Date / Time: December 14, 2024, from 9 am until 3 pm
The event will happen, rain or shine! It is also a dog-friendly event.

Admission: Admission is free to everyone

Address: 331 Water Street, Yorktown, VA 23690

Lighted Boat Parade

The annual lighted boat parade takes place in Yorktown at the Riverwalk Landing! Mark your calendar because this is one you will not want to miss. This is such a pleasant and warming event that everyone loves.

Pre-parade festivities include a beach bonfire, caroling on the beach, a musical performance by Fifes and Drums of York, and complimentary warm apple cider. The lighted boat parade starts dazzling the crowd at 7:00 p.m. as boats sail down the river covered with the most festive Christmas lights.

Families are encouraged to bring flashlights to assist in walking around the town at night. 

Dates / Time: December 7, 2024, from 6 – 8 pm. 

Admission: Admission is free to everyone. 

The Lighting of the Cressets

A great way to dip your toes into the holiday spirit is to watch the Lighting of the Cressets. This fall and winter event takes place in Colonial Williamsburg. Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night from the end of September to Christmas, the 18th-century streets of Williamsburg are brought to life with light!

Following the lighting of the lights, there are also strolling musicians. While you’re out Christmas shopping or dining nearby, this is a great little thing to witness that warms hearts and is beautiful. 

Dates / Times: Check their site for details, but most Thursdays, Fri, and Saturdays starting October 31, 2024, from 6 – 9 p.m.

Admission: Admission is free to everyone.

Busch Gardens Christmas Town

One of the most anticipated Christmas events of the year is Busch Gardens Christmas Town! This is one of the largest holiday displays in the United States, and people from all over the country come to celebrate the holiday cheer.

With over 10 million lights, 20 rides/roller coasters, and live Broadway-style Christmas Classic shows, Christmas Town never disappoints! Be sure to hop on the Christmas Town Express for a 20-minute train ride through the whole park. It is a great way to see all the excitement and all the fun lights.

There are also over a dozen shops and restaurants to visit. Christmas Town is truly one of the most spectacular Christmas things to do in Williamsburg, Virginia! 

Look online for show dates, park tours, stroller rentals, and parking information. 

Dates / Times: Open to the public from November 15, 2024 – January 5, 2025. Please check their calendar for dates/times

Christmas Things To Do In Williamsburg VA

Free Photos with Santa

Looking for the perfect event to bring your little one to? There is nothing better than a free photo with Santa! In New Town, Williamsburg, you can visit Santa and Mrs. Claus themselves and receive a free Christmas photo.

While you’re getting in some holiday shopping or just enjoying the town, this is a cute little event that the kids love. Upon Santa’s arrival, there will be milk and cookies and story time starting at Noon. 

Dates / Times:
Saturdays and Sundays
November 30 & December 1, 7-8, 14-15 from 12:00 – 3:30 P.M.

Admission: Admission is free for everyone. 

Location: Located in Santa’s Workshop to the right of Regal New Town, 4911 Courthouse St, Williamsburg, VA 23188

Gingerbread Village Display

Those of you with a sweet tooth will love this event! The talented pastry team at the Williamsburg Lodge shares this fun holiday tradition. Each year, the teams are tasked to create the best gingerbread display for everyone to enjoy, thus creating an entire gingerbread village.

Enjoy the Holiday Open House, pick up some delicious homemade holiday treats, and even send your letters off to Santa after you’ve seen the display.  Santa will be available between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Date / Time: Saturday, November 30th, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Address: Williamsburg Lodge, 310 S England St, Williamsburg, VA 23185

Admission: Admission is free to everyone. Lots of delicious treats are available to purchase at the bakeshop. 

Williamsburg Christmas Parade

Held by the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce, this has been a jolly family tradition since 1965! Join the crowd as people parade from the intersection of Brooks Street & Richmond Road to the Colonial Williamsburg employee parking lot.

This exciting parade features adorning lights, full parade floats, live performances, and Santa himself! At the beginning of December, this is a great way to get into the holiday mood. 

Dates / Times: Sunday, December 8, 2024, 5 p.m.

Admission: Admission is free to everyone. 

Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony 

Towns across the country hold their very own Christmas tree lighting ceremonies, but nobody does quite like Williamsburg. The event starts at the steps of the Courthouse with a special reading of “The Night Before Christmas.”

The storytelling goes on to talk about the story of the first Christmas Tree in Virginia, and classic carols will be sung. Afterward, Father Christmas helps to light the massive 40-foot spruce tree that is adorned with over 7,500 twinkling Christmas Lights.

Williamsburg’s very first Christmas Tree lighting was held in 1916 and brought hundreds of Virginia residents to witness the beautiful lights and start the countdown until Christmas. 

Dates / Times: Thursday, December 5, 2024, starting at 5 pm

Address: The Courthouse Steps, 101 W Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg, VA 23185

Admission: Free and open to the public.

Liberty Ice Pavilion

Liberty Ice Pavilion is a stunning outdoor skating rink located right in the center of Colonial Williamsburg on Gloucester Street. If you are looking for a good way to get out of the house with the family during the cold winter months, this is the perfect way to do so!

Although it is open until February, during the holiday season, you can feel festive amongst the lights, take in the scents of the holidays, and drink hot apple cider and coffee.  We love ice skating as one of our Christmas things to do in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Dates / Times: Open daily starting in November

Admission: One-day skate tickets are TBD per person and TBD for kids 3-14.  They have a season pass you can purchase as well. Skate rentals are TBD plus tax. 

Parking: You have options near the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg in the Merchants Square lots, or you will find paid parking in a garage on Henry St.  

Holiday Tea at the Williamsburg Inn

Join the community for a festive sip of tea and a preplanned holiday menu during afternoons in December at the Williamsburg Inn. You can enjoy a special holiday blend of tea with delicious scones, pastries, sandwiches, and more!

For the adults, there is also French champagne and sparkling cider for the children. There is nothing cozier than some freshly brewed tea and a delicious scone during the cold, dark December month. 

Dates / Times:

Dec 4-7, Dec 11-14, Dec 18-21, Dec 26-28

Admission: Tickets are $72 per adult and $32 for ages ten and under.
Prepaid reservations are required

The Art-Full Tree 

For a lovely community building exhibit, The Art-Full Christmas Tree at the Art Museum of Colonial Williamsburg. The Art-Full Tree has been a community tradition for over 60 years! See the holiday exhibitions and the amazing Christmas Tree, adorned and decorated with beautiful little artful ornaments.

When you are done viewing, you can make your ornament to take home! It is a good way to see beautiful art and create lasting memories. This is a great activity to do with smaller children and the whole family. 

Dates / Times: Wed, Thurs, Fri, and Saturdays during December.

Visit from 2 – 4 pm. 

Admission: Admission is just admission to the art museum, which is $14.99 for adults, $8.99 for ages 6-12, and free for children under 6. If you are a resident, admission is free with a Good Neighbor Pass. 

Christmastide in Williamsburg, Virginia

At the Jamestown Settlement and Revolutionary Museum, get a peek into what 17th-18th century holiday traditions were like. Through fun demonstrations, interpretive programs, festive music, entertainment, and treats, you can see what the colonists did for their Christmas!

During Christmastide in Colonial Williamsburg, you will be able to watch how typical winter activities went, what the colonists did for food preservation, and their old hunting techniques. You will also be able to watch an example of how colonists did their holiday feasts, like setting the tables and cooking the traditional food.

For those interested in history, this is a beautiful exhibit to view during the holiday season. It is also great fun for children and very informative! Take a break from the glitz and glam of modern Christmas and get back to where it all started. Add this to your list of Christmas things to do in Williamsburg, Virginia!

Dates / Times: December 20-31, 2024, open from 9 am to 5 pm 

Admission: Access to Christmastide is included with museum admission. For both museums, it is $34.00 per adult and $17.00 for ages 6-12. Children 5 and under are free. Private tours are available for both museums for 14 people or less when booked in advance. 

Christmas Decorations Walking Tour

Colonial Williamsburg spends so much time each year decorating the town for everyone to enjoy. They often use real materials that the colonists would’ve used to adorn the buildings and houses. Join a guided tour to walk through the town to enjoy all the beautiful decorations and learn about all the materials and traditional holiday techniques! 

Dates / Times: Daily starting November 30, 2024, with two available time slots per day.

Admission: $15.00 per person 

You will also find private Christmas Holiday walking tours available too.

Williamsburg Players Presents “A Christmas Carol”

A holiday classic I’m sure you’ve heard of, A Christmas Carol, the heartwarming tale of Ebenezer Scrooge finding his lost Christmas spirit. Come to watch the talented Brink Miller play Scrooge, a character he has played for 20 years in Atlanta. The event will take place at the Williamsburg Players’ venue throughout December. It is a perfect event for all members of the family!

Dates / Times:

Thurs. Dec. 12, 2024 – 8 PM
Fri. Dec. 13, 2024 – 8 PM
Sat. Dec 14, 2024- 2 PM
Sat. Dec. 14, 2024 – 8 PM
Sun. Dec. 15, 2024 – 2 PM

Thur. Dec. 19, 2024 – 8 PM
Fri. Dec. 20, 2024 – 8 PM
Sat. Dec. 21, 2024 – 2 PM
Sat. Dec. 21, 2024 – 8 PM
Sun. Dec. 22, 2024 – 2 PM

Admission: Adult tickets are $22.00 per person, and children under five are free. 
Student/Military tickets are $12.00 per person 

Christmas Shops in Williamsburg

A huge part of Christmas Things to Do In Williamsburg, Virginia, of course, is visiting the Christmas shops for holiday-themed trinkets and ornaments. There are two Christmas-themed shops along Richmond Road and Colonial Williamsburg.

While you are out enjoying other Christmas festivities like the Lighting of the Cressets or the Grand Illumination, poke your head into any one of the shops to find the perfect decoration or gift for a loved one! Lots of Christmas things you can enjoy!

Christmas Shop (415 Duke of Gloucester Street) 

Open year-round. Check the website for hours. 

The Christmas Shop is Williamsburg’s oldest Christmas shop. The store focuses on unique, handmade, and collectible vintage items from around the world. You can even find antique Williamsburg ornaments inside the store. 

The Christmas Mouse (1991 Richmond Road)

Open year-round, every day from 9 am – 10 pm

There are a handful of Christmas Mouse locations throughout Virginia and North Carolina. It is one of the most popular stores for ornaments and decorations. If you can’t make it to the store in person, no worries! They have an expansive online shop.

Christmas Dinner at King Arms Tavern

For some families, part of Christmas is cooking a large meal together. For others, cooking is the last thing on their mind! If that’s you, there is no need to worry. Come finish your celebrations with a delicious homemade Christmas dinner at King Arms Tavern.

The chefs will be creating an exquisite three-course traditional Christmas dinner meal, where you can choose your starter, your entree, and your dessert. Eat your food by relaxing at candlelight, with 18th-century traditional music playing.

Dates / Times: Christmas Day (December 25, 2024) from 12 pm until 9 pm 

This is a pre-paid event, so advanced reservations are required. Get your tickets today! Reservations can be made by calling 1-844-714-3205.

Final Thoughts

There is no doubt that Williamsburg has some of the brightest Christmas cheer around. There is a little something for everyone all over town, especially in Colonial Williamsburg, where they work hard to create a beautiful Christmas atmosphere by merging traditional Christmas with modern Christmas Traditions. We hope you enjoyed our list of Christmas Things to Do In Williamsburg, Virginia. Have a spectacular holiday in Williamsburg, VA!