19 Fun Things to Do in December in Williamsburg VA | 2023
Williamsburg doesn’t let the cold December month get in the way of celebrating Christmas cheer! So here is our list of things to do in December in Williamsburg VA, for 2023. The town comes to life with events, musical performances, and many other fun activities for everyone in the family.
If you were curious about all the events and other things to do around Williamsburg VA in December, you’ve come to the right place. There is no lack of excitement, and here we will share some of the best events coming to town.
Things to do in December in Williamsburg VA
Busch Gardens Christmas Town
Busch Garden’s Christmas Town is one of North America’s largest holiday displays right here in Williamsburg! It is something that everyone in the area, and all over the country can’t wait for each year. At Busch Garden’s Christmas Town, you can enjoy over 10 million lights and light displays, over 25 rides & coasters, Christmas shows, Santa’s Workshop, and, of course, Santa himself.
Join Santa for a fireside feast. Santa will tell you heart-warming tales, as the elves and Ms. Claus provide you with an all-you-can-eat meal. Be sure to catch a ride on the Christmas Town Express to take a 20-minute ride through the whole park to witness all the festivities.
There are also many holiday shops and restaurants for getting all your Christmas shopping and dining in. This is truly a unique and exciting Christmas experience that the whole family will enjoy!
Dates / Times: Open to the public from November 10, 2023 – January 7, 2024,
Park Open to Close
Admission: One-day, date-specific tickets start at $29.99 per adult.
For unlimited Christmas Town access, tickets are $81.99 per adult.
Pre-bought, one-day, any-date tickets are $51.99 per adult.
Two-day tickets and memberships can be found online or by phone.
Children 0-3 are free.
Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
Williamsburg has always prided itself on its spectacular, and heart-warming tree lighting ceremony. The first Williamsburg tree lighting was held in 1916 and has brought hundreds of Virginia residents together for all of these years. The event begins at the steps of the Courthouse with a special reading of “The Night Before Christmas.”
This is followed by another tale of the first Christmas Tree in Virginia, as carols are sung and hot cider is shared. Then, Father Christmas is the first to light the 40-foot spruce tree that is adorned with over 7,500 Christmas lights. For anyone in the area, this is a beautiful event and a great way to start the countdown until Christmas!
Dates / Times: Thursday, November 30, 2023.
Starting at 5 pm
Admission: Admission is free to everyone.
The Lighting of the Cressets
The Lighting of the Cressets is a beautiful way to witness a little bit of history while getting in a little holiday cheer. The Lighting of the Cressets has been happening for centuries in Colonial Williamsburg and is the perfect fall and winter event.
Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from the end of September to Christmas, watch as the 18th-century streets are brought to life with enchanting light! While you are out Christmas shopping or grabbing dinner, be sure to take a moment and appreciate the lights.
Dates / Times: Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from November 2, 2023, to November 25 (minus Thanksgiving). The lighting picks back up on December 22 and 23, 2023
From 6 to 9 pm
Admission: Admission is free to everyone.
The Grand Illumination
The Grand Illumination is something everyone in the community comes out to kick off the holiday season, and to continue the countdown until Christmas! The Grand Illumination is a thrilling holiday event with The Firing of The Guns and the enchanting fireworks display. Fireworks will be displayed at both the Governor’s Palace and the Capitol.
They can be best viewed on the palace green, or at Duke of Gloucester St east of Botetourt St. Pack up a small cooler with your favorite beverages, grab a lawn chair and some blankets, and get cozy to witness the festive firework show.
This is a popular event, so arrive early to secure the best viewing spot! If you’re feeling hungry, there will be food trucks parked at the Courthouse that will be serving hot food and non-alcoholic drinks for purchase.
Dates / Times: December 2, 9, and 16, 2023, fireworks starting at 7 pm
Most visitors arrive around 5 p.m. to enjoy the town, walk around, and get set up before the action. Festivities kick off the Friday night before with the Yule Log Ceremony.
Admission: Admission is free to everyone.
Liberty Ice Pavilion
Stretch your legs, and try your hand (or shall I say feet) at ice skating this year at the Liberty Ice Pavilion! Located right in central Colonial Williamsburg on Gloucester Street, this is a great way to get out and enjoy a chilly December day.
As you skate around, feel the Christmas warmth from all the lights and enjoy the tastes of yummy hot apple cider and coffee. This is the perfect date, play date, or a great way to take a little break while you’re out Christmas shopping.
Dates / Times: Haven’t been announced for 2023
Open from 10 am to 10 pm most weekends and from 12 pm until 8 pm most weekdays.
Admission: One skate session is $16.00 per adult and $14.00 for kids 3-14
Ages 0-3 are free.
Skate rentals are $5.00 plus tax.
Christmas Market on Main
Searching for the perfect Christmas gift this year? Be sure to get to the Christmas Market on Main! Right Historic Main Street in Yorktown, close to 100 vendors will gather for the two-day event this December.
From handmade trinkets, ornaments, and wreaths to soaps, apparel, and tasty Christmas treats, there is no need to look anywhere else for all your Christmas desires! The Town Crier will ring at the market in the morning, followed by a performance from the Fifes and Drums of Yorktown to begin the day.
You will probably run into Santa as he strolls through the street, greeting families. To add to the festivities, there will be strolling music, lights, and an ice carver set up in front of York Hall.
Dates / Times: December 2, 2023, from 10 am until 3 pm
December 3, 2023, from 11 am until 3 pm
Admission: Admission is free to everyone.
An Enchanted Evening on Main
This year, for the first time, Historic Main Street in Yorktown is putting on a nighttime market! This will be a great way to immerse yourself in the twinkling lights, listen to festive music, and enjoy roasted chestnuts and hot apple cider. There’s no better way to get through Christmas shopping than by making it a fun, festive experience.
Dates / Times: Haven’t been announced for 2023.
5 pm-9 pm
Admission: Admission is free to everyone.
Williamsburg Farmers Market
The beloved farmers’ market has its last few Saturdays in December. Come on down to Duke of Gloucester Street and the P4 parking lot to pick up some fresh farm veggies. Growers share their organic, homemade produce and seasonal goodies for you to take directly home and make wonderful fresh meals with. Be sure to go before it closes down for the winter season!
Dates / Times: Saturdays, December 2,9,16, 23
From 8 am until noon
Admission: Admission is free.
Second Sundays – Art and Music Festival
Second Sundays in Williamsburg are a popular pop-up art fair that occurs every second Sunday of each month. Over 120 unique street vendors, performers, artists, and more join together over six blocks in downtown Williamsburg to sell their handmade crafts and goodies.
Food trucks, live music, dancers, and other hands-on, family-friendly activities can be found within the fair. This is such a fun way to spend the day with the family, and it’s also a great place to find any last-minute Christmas gifts!
Dates / Times: December 10, 2023, from 11 am – 4 pm
Admission: Admission is free to everyone.
Christmastide in Virginia
Have you ever been curious about what 17th-18th century holiday traditions looked like? Or how the early settlers carried on their lives during the cold winter months? At the Jamestown Settlement and Revolutionary Museum, you will be able to get a first-hand look at how Christmas and winter traditions first started.
Through interpretive programs, living demonstrations, festive music, and decorations, you will be able to see how the settlers carried on typical winter activities, how they stored their food, and learn their winter hunting techniques and tools.
Also, watch live demonstrations of how the colonists carried out their Christmas feasts and cooked their meals. For a small break from the glamours of Christmas as it is today, come see where the holiday traditions all started.
Dates / Times: December 16-31, 2023
Open from 9 am – 5 pm
Live musical performances at 11 am and 3 pm
Admission: Christmastide access is included in museum admissions. Tickets for both museums cost $30.00 per adult and $15.00 for ages 6-12. Children 5 and under are free. Book a private tour in advance for 14 people or less.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum
Get out of the cold and do something unique and fun this December! Everyone in the family will have a great time marveling at the weird and strange artifacts, and hands-on activities available at the museum.
It is easy to spend an entire day exploring the museum and enjoying things like interactive games, a 4D moving theater (be sure to catch the Winter Whipout this December!), incredible art, and the most curious of things that will blow your mind.
Ripleys’ Believe or Not has been enchanting the minds of visitors since 1918 and is not something to miss.
Dates / Times: Open daily from 10 am-7 pm
Admission: Ultimate package tickets are $30.99 for ages 13+
Ultimate package tickets are $25.99 for ages 5-12
Adult 13+ museum package tickets are $20.99 and $16.99 for children 5-12
Group discounts are offered for groups of 10 or more
Colonial Williamsburg – Midwinter Stories
Colonial Williamsburg is holding “Midwinter Stories” this November-January at the Charlton Stage. Hear real tales and learn real traditions from the Native Americans in the area, the Cherokee, Shawnee, and Sappony.
Without these stories, history would be lost, and this is such an interesting way to hear the retelling of what life was like for these Native American tribes. Learn about their food preservation, hunting, and gathering, what they wore, what they ate, and how they endured winters hundreds of years ago. This is a great event for families excited about history!
Dates / Times: Every Monday and Tuesday, from November 27, 2023- to February 27, 2024.
From 11 am to 11:30 am or 1 pm to 1:30 pm.
Admission: Admission is included with a Colonial Williamsburg ticket
$49.99 per adult and $28.99 for kids 6-12.
Kids under 6 are free.
Annual passes and multi-day tickets are available.
62nd Annual Christmas Homes Tour
Starting in the Colonial Williamsburg Historic Area, come take the tour and visit colonial houses decorated by the Williamsburg Green Spring Garden Club! These ladies have put their hard work and efforts into beautifying these houses with festive and heart-warming decorations.
It is a great way to get into the Christmas spirit and a great way to spend an afternoon in December. All proceeds fund scholarships in biology and environmental policy at Christopher Newport University and the College of William and Mary. Proceeds will also go to scholarships to the upper elementary and middle school students at Nature Camp in Vesuvius, VA.
Dates / Times: December 2, 2023
Take the tour at your pace anytime from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This event happens rain or shine.
Admission: Single-day tickets are $40.00 for adults. Children 12 and under are free.
Christmas Town Dash 8K Race/Fun Run
The running event of the season is about to kick off through the Busch Garden’s campus! Participants can enjoy the Christmas lights, sounds, and scents as they race around 8 miles of Christmas Town.
All runners will receive one discounted pass to Christmas Town, and a one-day pass to Busch Gardens for the spring season. Be sure to bring an unwrapped toy to donate to Toys to Tots! For each toy you donate, you will receive one raffle ticket to win great prizes.
It is encouraged for runners to dress in fun holiday colors for everyone to marvel at the fun costumes running around the city. A shorter ½ mile Fun Run will take place earlier in the day.
Dates / Times: December 3, 2023
Fun Runners should arrive by 7:30 a.m.; they will start racing at 8 a.m.
The Christmas Town 8K will start at 8:30 a.m., and arrive as soon as possible.
Admission: The 8K costs $50.00 to enter for each person. The Fun Run costs $15.00 for each person. Anyone can view the race for free. Register here.
GSJ Presents “A Crooners Christmas!”
Join Good Shot Judy, Virginia’s finest big amp jazz band, for a festive holiday show! Paying tributes to the greats like Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Bette Midler, and more, this will be one swinging holiday show!
With their 20-piece orchestra, six horns, string sections, and vocalists, this will be a holiday event you won’t want to miss. Bring the family to any of the six shows playing in mid-December.
Dates / Times:
December 1st, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th
Admission: Tickets are between $40.00-$48.00, depending on your seat selection.
Shopping in Colonial Williamsburg’s Merchants Square
Shopping in Merchants Square is a very enjoyable experience. There are over 40 shops, taverns, and restaurants to check out in the area. During December, each shop, or restaurant puts a little work into making their environment feel festive and wholesome!
The square is covered with twinkling lights, and there are delicious holiday smells that linger in the air. There is a sense of nostalgia one feels while walking around Colonial Williamsburg, and even more so during the holiday season.
Spend the afternoon or an entire day checking out shops, getting some Christmas gifts, stopping by a restaurant, or indulging in a drink at one of the local taverns.
Dates / Times: Open every day from 9 am to 5 pm
Admission: Admission is free to everyone.
Shopping at Williamsburg Premium Outlets
Built in 1988, Williamsburg Premium Outlets has over 130 stores that will suit all of your shopping needs! After enjoying Colonial Williamsburg shopping, head over to the premium outlets for more specific Christmas gifts, or a special gift for yourself.
Here, you can find shops like Adidas, Vans, J Crew, Banana Republic, Vera Bradley, and much much more. If you’re willing to manage some crowds, this is the spot to be on Black Friday! If you get hungry during your shopping, don’t worry.
There are also a ton of restaurants in and around the premium outlets. From sushi to sandwiches, you’ll find something delicious to snack on!
Dates / Times:
Monday-Thursday open from 10 am to 8 pm
Friday and Saturday are open from 10 am to 9 pm
Sunday is open from 11 am to 7 pm
Admissions: Admission is free to everyone.
Christmas Day at The Williamsburg Inn
The Williamsburg Inn is one of the most fabulous hotels in the area, representing luxury during the height of Historic Williamsburg. The rooms are a stunning combination of both modern and sophisticated 18th-century decor that will truly make you feel like royalty.
The Williamsburg Inn during the holiday season is somehow even more stunning than it already was, with beautiful Christmas decorations, garland, and lights. Besides the inn itself, you can’t miss out on some of the highest-regarded taverns and restaurants associated with the hotel. Experience 5-star dining, taverns, grills, and even an 18th-century bakery, as each restaurant goes all out during the holiday season.
On Christmas Day, the Williamsburg Inn holds a Christmas feast prepared by the ever-so-talented, Chef Travis Brust. This year, there will be a four-course meal that brings together a sense of traditional Christmas meals with a modern twist.
Enjoy your holiday dinner coupled with cellar-selected wine pairing or other holiday cocktails. A vegan menu will be available. Tickets should be reserved in advance.
Dates / Times: Stay at the Williamsburg Inn anytime; book your room in advance for the best options. The Christmas Day feast, on December 25, 2023, begins at 1 p.m. and will go on until 7 p.m.
The Christmas Day Feast will cost $107.95 per adult, ages 11 and up.
Ages 10 and under will cost $54.95 each.
Add the optional wine pairing for an extra $39.95 per adult.
Make sure to reserve your ticket as soon as possible!
Virginia Living Museum
Just outside of Williamsburg, VA, you will find the Virginia Living Museum in the City of Newport News. Home to more than 250 species of animals found in Virginia, you will find reptiles, mammals, birds, and fish. They are a sanctuary for injured animals or animals that cannot be released back into the wild.
In addition, they have the Abbitt Planetarium Theater, which seats 71 people and offers a fully digital simulation of the sky. Lastly, you will find a big focus on Geology at the Virginia Living Museum from fossils, gems, and minerals.
They have a sculpture of an adult dinosaur that is an interpretation of a living predator in action. Also, education about caves and their inhabitants and surrounding ecosystems. During December, they have several events happening. If you would like to skip the line, you can purchase your tickets here.
Events:
Wild at Art
Date: Friday, Dec 2nd and Sat, Dec 3rd from 9 am to 5 pm.
Admission: Admission is free to everyone.
A portion of the sales from the show will benefit the museum. You will see work from Virginia sculptors David and William Turner, and painter Jim Wilson. All featuring work to enrich and inspire one’s relationship with nature.
Winter Nature Nights Holiday Lights 2023
Date: Dec 8 – 10, 15 – 17, and 22 – 23, from 5:30 pm to 8:15 pm
Tickets are for sale here on their website.
Enjoy an evening Nature Night work through their outdoor decorated trail, which will include holiday lights and decor. Hot cocoa and cookies will be available, and there could even be a Santa sighting!
Stargazing
Date: Sat, Dec 9th from 5:30 pm to 11 pm
Admission: $5; non-members will pay $8 per show
An incredible laser show is provided every second Saturday of the month. You will see a light show across the entire surface of the dome of the planetarium. Music changes each month, and different bands are featured.
For December, you will find several shows/themes starting with the Star of Wonder: Mystery of the Christmas Star, which will start at 6 p.m.
The last show will be The Dark Side of the Moon at 10 pm; it is recommended that you are 15 yrs or older. All songs will be from Pink Floyd, and the music level can be very high, and the imagery can be intense.
Tickets are required for each show above and are purchased individually for each time.
Final Thoughts
The holiday season is a delightful time in Williamsburg, one that almost everyone in the community comes to support and celebrate. From Christmas shopping to festive events happening practically every day, your December in Virginia will surely be a blast!
Make sure you get in all your favorite activities before the holiday season is over again for the year. Have fun, and have a wonderful holiday! So much fun with the things to do in December in Williamsburg VA!
