We’re in the home stretch and sliding into holiday crunch time now — don’t forget to take some time out from your hectic schedule this weekend to catch a show, see a film, or participate in some last-minute holiday fun around town. Not sure what’s going on in the Historic Triangle? We’ve got you covered with some of the best bets for fun right here in WYD, which stands for What You’ll Do.
We pull these ideas off our community calendar, which you can find on the right side of WYDaily.com. Submitting to the calendar is free and easy, so make sure to add upcoming events for your group or organization.
This weekend is crammed with fun events including and Off-Broadway show, a Christmas event in Historic Jamestown, a Celtic music performance and more. Read on for details!
A Few Final Holiday Happenings
If you’re looking for a historic holiday happening (say that three times fast!), then get a ticket for “At Christmas Be Mery,” a special Saturday evening event at Historic Jamestowne. From the Colonial Williamsburg Regional Visitor Center, guests will travel by bus along the Colonial Parkway and learn about what the earliest Jamestown settlers expected during their Christmastide. At Historic Jamestowne, the Captain of the Guard will escort folks along a cresset-lit path to an early Virginia Christmas celebration. The event ends with singing carols in the historic church, enjoying light refreshments by the bonfire and witnessing the firing of the Christmas guns. Here are details.
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. Grand Master Thespian Ed Whitacre and Stage Manager Bob perform Dickens’ ghostly tale of redemption in record setting time! The show is rewritten and redesigned every year, so it will always be fresh and fun. The stage is on Duke of Gloucester Street near the Trellis Restaurant. The free performances are scheduled for 3:30 and 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through December 23, weather-permitting. Visit merchantssquare.org for the complete schedule and any weather-related updates.
Let the Music Play
This weekend, the Kimball Theatre will be hosting a few performances of Dean Shostak’s “Crystal Carols.” This popular Christmas concert features the unique sounds of holiday favorites played on glass instruments. Dean Shostak showcases his skills on the glass armonica, invented by Benjamin Franklin, and a variety of new and antique glass instruments from around the world. Look at the Kimball Theatre program for show times and dates.
Colonial Williamsburg’s DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum is hosting the Celtic band Poisoned Dwarf on Saturday for “Dances with Dwarves: A Celtic Celebration.” Get ticket and show information online.
Books and Film
Films with a holiday theme make up the Williamsburg Regional Library’s Thursday Afternoon Film Series this month. The movies begin at 2 p.m. in the Williamsburg Library Theatre. Admission is free. This Thursday is a double feature, with the “Abbott & Costello” Christmas show first in line. This 1952 episode of The Colgate Comedy Hour features seasonal music, comedy skits and period TV commercials. Margaret Whiting and the Nicholas Brothers costar. After that will be the “Garry Moore” Christmas show, (1961), another Christmas-themed episode featuring comedy skits with Carol Burnett and musical performances by Julie Andrews and Gwen Verdon. The calendar has details.
Author Feather Foster will be signing copies of her book “First Ladies: From Martha Washington to Mamie Eisenhower, an Intimate Portrait of the Women Who Shaped America” at the College of William & Mary Bookstore in Merchant’s Square. The new book examines the oft-neglected roles of 26 remarkable first ladies in shaping our country’s destiny. Look on the calendar to find out when she’ll be on hand.
Swing by Kimball Theatre in Merchant’s Square this weekend to watch “Greater Tuna,” a hilarious Off-Broadway show about the small town of Tuna, Texas. Two lone actors create the town’s entire population with 20 wild, politically incorrect characters. Look online for show and ticket details.
End of the World
For those of you who believe the Mayan calendar doomsday might be days away, celebrate the big day in style at the End of the World Party at the Virginia Living Museum! Enjoy planetarium programs, laser shows, fun world-ending activities for kids and adults, prize raffles and more. The museum will keep the party going until midnight and count down the last moments of the world… or not! Observing begins after sunset and continues throughout the evening. Observing and activities are free, but shows have a price tag. Look at the calendar for more information.
