This Thursday is Thanksgiving, which means Friday officially kicks off the holiday season. There are many chances to run into Santa this weekend, or to catch a production of “A Christmas Carol” in just 30 minutes.
We’ll be publishing What Yule Do (the holiday version of What You’ll Do) every week throughout the season to keep you in the know about events happening in the area.
Have a holiday event you’d like to see highlighted? Submit to our free community events calendar, which you can find on the right side of the page.
Holiday Events This Week:
Merchants Square will celebrate the holiday season with a number of events this year. Starting on Nov. 28, enjoy “Master Thespian’s A Christmas Carol,” a 30-minute street production of the Christmas classic from the Virginia Theatre Machine. Back for its sixth year, all performances are outdoors on Duke of Gloucester Street and free to the public. Click here for a list of dates and times.
Father Christmas will be strolling the square, on select afternoons between Nov. 29 and Dec. 22. From 4 to 5 p.m. on these listed dates, he will be next to the Merchants Square Christmas tree on Duke of Gloucester Street (outside The Precious Gem).
Santa arrives at the William & Mary Bookstore on Friday. There will be story time with milk and cookies from 9 to 10 a.m., and Santa will be available for pictures until 2 p.m. The jolly man will be at the bookstore again on Saturday and Sunday, and on following weekends through Dec. 22.
Yankee Candle Village is always in the holiday spirit, but there will be an extra dose Sunday for the Holiday Tree Lighting. Guests can enjoy holiday carols and free eggnog, milk and cupcakes at the 5 p.m. tree lighting. Visual Design experts from Yankee Candle will give workshops at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on how to decorate the perfect tree. There will also be giveaways, discounts on ornaments and a raffle for a Christmas tree with trimmings.
Santa Claus will be at the Poquoson Yacht Club in Poquoson at 6 p.m. Saturday, arriving by lighted boat. The club will be open to the public with free refreshments, and Santa will greet every child with a small gift. For more information on the club, visit their website.
Cantori, a vocal chamber ensemble, presents its annual Christmas concert This Shining Night. The group is made up of a 12 professional musicians with extensive training and experience. The free concert will feature a cappella and accompanied sacred music for Christmas, and will start at 5 p.m. Sunday at St. Stephen Lutheran Church.
Go for a glide at Holiday Skating in New Town, which opens this Friday. James City County, Town Management and Iron-Bound Gym are partnering for the second year in a row, with a synthetic rink open select days and hours through the end of January. Skating is $5 per person with skates, and $7 for those without.
A Colonial Christmas starts on Sunday, offering a glimpse of 17th and 18th century holiday traditions from the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation. Seasonal special tours and interpretive programs will run through Jan. 5 at the Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center. Call 253-4838 or visit the website for more information about hours and tickets.
