Downtown Williamsburg will become a winter wonderland this weekend as two annual events kick off the Christmas season — and those planning to attend need to know where to park and which streets to avoid.
The 52nd Annual Williamsburg Christmas Parade gets underway at 8 a.m. Saturday.
There will be around 100 floats and marching bands trailing down Richmond Road, celebrating the holiday season. The Parade begins at Brooks Street and marches down Richmond Road, goes through Merchants Square onto Henry Street, then ends at the corner of Henry and Francis streets.
There will be no parking allowed along the parade route, according to a news release from the Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance. All vehicles must be removed from the route by 7 a.m. Saturday. Towing will be enforced.
Streets will begin closing at 7:30 a.m. and the release advises attendees to arrive early. Parking is available at the Boundary Street and Scotland Street garages, but Colonial Williamsburg’s Lot 44 will not offer parking.
Richmond Road will close from Lafayette Street to Wythe Avenue at 7:40 a.m and to North Boundary Street by 7:50 a.m. Additionally, North Henry Street from Prince George Street to Newport Avenue, Francis Street from Nassau Street to South Boundary Street, and Nassau Street from Francis Street to Newport Avenue will all close at 7:50 a.m.
Residents from around the area are invited to watch the parade for free.
Colonial Williamsburg’s Grand Illumination is scheduled for Sunday, and surrounding streets will be closed during the festivities, according to a City of Williamsburg news release.
The following streets will close at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, according to the city:
• Duke of Gloucester Street
• Blair Street
• Botetourt Street
• Queen Street
• Colonial Street
• Nicholson Street from Palace Green east to North England Street
• Prince George from Nassau Street east to Palace Green
• Palace Street from Duke of Gloucester Street north to Nicholson Street
• Scotland Street from Palace Green east to North England Street
• Nicholson Street from Palace Green east to North England Street
• Nicholson Street from North England Street east to Waller Street
• North England Street from Nicholson Street north to Tobacco Road
The following streets will close at noon on Sunday, December 3:
• Francis Street from the intersection of Page and York Streets west to Henry Street
• Waller Street
• South England Street from the intersection with Francis Street south to Newport Avenue
• Nassau Street from Prince George Street south to Newport Avenue
• Court Street
Other closures:
• Scotland Street from North England Street to Palace Green will close to pedestrian traffic at 5:15 p.m.
• Tobacco Road from North England Street to the Colonial Parkway will close at approximately 6:55 p.m.
• Route 132 Y from the Colonial Parkway west to Route 132 will close to facilitate vehicle traffic leaving the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center parking lots at approximately 7:00 p.m.