Lists Yule Love: Holiday Things to Do

The holiday season is here in full force with twinkling lights, Christmas music and jam-packed retail shops evident all around town. Celebrating the holidays in the Historic Triangle is lots of fun, and we’ve complied some of our favorite things to do in case you need to ramp-up your holiday spirit, or if you’re just looking for extra ideas to add to your own list.

Remember to thank Santa for all his hard work and tireless effort, as you’ll likely see him at many of these locations as he gears up for his big day.

1. No local holiday is complete without a trip to Busch Gardens to experience the twinkling splendor of Christmas Town: A Busch Gardens Celebration. You can take in fun holiday-themed shows, stroll through more than six million lights and guzzle Busch Gardens’ signature peppermint fudge hot chocolate. Santa’s workshop is open, too. While you’re at the park, be sure to check out the 50-foot tall, light-animated Christmas tree. Here’s a link to our WYDaily calendar if you’d like more details.
2. Colonial Williamsburg has a fantastic array of holiday decorations throughout the historic area. Whether you go for your own stroll along Duke of Gloucester Street or take a more structured Christmas Decorations walking tour, either way you’re sure to get in the holiday spirit and appreciate one of the gems of the Historic Triangle. The CW art museums also have festive events to tickle your fancy. Visit our Colonial Williamsburg for Locals page and get other ideas on how to celebrate the holiday in the Colonial Capital.
3. For the first time in the Historic Triangle, ice skating is landing on the list of holiday things to do around town – all thanks to a new synthetic ice rink run by James City County in Sullivan Square in New Town. Strap on those ice skates and do a few twirls on the rink and the holiday spirit is sure to spark. The county has details on hours and fees online.
4. Some might argue that it just isn’t the holiday season without a viewing of The Nutcracker. Don’t worry – you can catch the Virginia Regional Ballet’s version of the classic this season at Phi Beta Kappa Hall at the College of William & Mary. There are a few show times for the ballet on Dec. 15 and 16, so look at the calendar to get all the information.
5. Churches all around the Triangle are celebrating Christmas with fun holiday concerts – historic Bruton Parish Church in Colonial Williamsburg has several candlelight concerts through December that always draw big crowds. You can look on the Bruton Parish website to see a list of the upcoming concert dates and times.
6. Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center are celebrating A Colonial Christmas to help get folks in the spirit and educate them at the same time. A Colonial Christmas offers a glimpse of 17th- and 18th-century holiday traditions with special tours and interpretive programs and, from December 26 through 31, musical entertainment of the period.  At Jamestown Settlement, a holiday film and guided tours compare and contrast English Christmas customs of the period with how the season may have been observed in the difficult early years of the Jamestown colony. Guided Christmas tours are available with advance reservations. At the Yorktown Victory Center, hear accounts of Christmas and winter in Revolutionary War encampments and glimpse holiday preparations on a 1780s farm. Get more information on the various programs by looking at the calendar.
7. Merchants Square is hosting the Virginia Theatre Machine for its fifth annual holiday production of “Master Thespians’ A Christmas Carol” – all performed on a mobile stage set up on Duke of Gloucester Street. The free shows run on weekends through December 23. Grand Master Thespian Ed Whitacre and Stage Manager Bob perform Dickens’ ghostly tale of redemption in record setting time! For those who have followed this annual serial production, the performers haven’t yet succeeded in their task, but this is the year it might happen. The show is rewritten and redesigned every year, so it will always be fresh and fun. The stage is on Duke of Gloucester Street adjacent to the Trellis Restaurant. Performances are scheduled for 3:30 and 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through December 23, weather-permitting. Please see merchantssquare.org for the complete schedule and any weather-related updates.

This isn’t an exhaustive list, so if you have some favorite things to do around town to get your Jingle on, feel free to share in the comments section.