Historic Yorktown to transform into winter wonderland this weekend

HISTORIC TRIANGLE – Historic Yorktown will transform into a winter wonderland this weekend as York County hosts its final two holiday events of the season.

During An Enchanted Evening on Main Street, visitors will be surrounded by snowfall, festive music and the nostalgic aromas of roasting chestnuts and hot apple cider, according to a news release by the county. 

Vendors will be on site selling a variety of unique gifts during the nighttime Christmas Market, which will take place on Historic Main Street on Dec. 13 from 5 – 9 pm. 

The event will include classic Christmas music from the Fifes and Drums of York Town, the Liberty Dolls and roving entertainers. Guests can also make a colonial fruit ornament, hop on a Trolley ride and watch an ice carving demonstration in front of York Hall. 

On Saturday, the Mistletoe Market will feature a variety of specialty seasonal items, from soups and baked goods to holiday wreaths and local seasonal art.  

Visitors can view a model train exhibit, snap pictures with Santa, ride on the Riverwalk Landing Polar Express and even march in the annual Toyland Parade, led by the Fifes and Drums of York Town.

Live holiday music will be presented by DJ Herrick and Centerstage Academy.

The Mistletoe Market will be held at Riverwalk Landing from 9 am – 3 pm.

Free parking is available in several lots throughout Historic Yorktown, including on Ballard Street across from York Hall, the County Administration Building, the York-Poquoson Courthouse and the two-level parking terrace on Water Street.

Other notable events this week include Happy Holly-Days at Historic Endview, the Gingerbread Celebration & Parade at Historic Hilton Village, “At Christmas be mery” at Historic Jamestowne and Candlelight Christmas at American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. 

A Celebration of the Yule Log and Grand Illumination will return to Colonial Williamsburg for the second week.

A variety of free holiday concerts will also take place this week, including performances by Lana Puckett and Kim Person at Yorktown Library, the Peninsula Youth Orchestra at the Ferguson Center and the Virginia Handbell Consort at Williamsburg Presbyterian Church.

See below for a full list of events taking place this weekend, Dec. 13 – 15.

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Friday, Dec. 13

Holiday

• A Charles Dickens Christmas | Hennage Auditorium | Colonial Williamsburg | This holiday show features readings from various Charles Dickens writings paired with Christmas carols of the Victorian era. Featuring Gabe Stone, Mark Nixon and David Gardner. Requires Art Museum or a Good Neighbor Pass plus a program ticket ($10 for adults and children 6 and up, $5 for children 5 and under). 4 – 5 pm.
• An Enchanted Evening on Main Street | Historic Main Street | Yorktown | Find the perfect unique gift while enjoying the magic of the season during this special evening event featuring local vendors. There will be live seasonal music; a Nativity scene with live animals; roasted chestnuts and hot cider; children’s activities; an ice carving demonstration; an outdoor movie and more. Free. 5 – 9 pm.
• Happy Holly-Days | Historic Endview | Newport News | Explore Christmas through the ages. Guests will walk through the house to learn about Christmas decorations of the past and have the opportunity to make take-home crafts from the 18th through 20th century. Advance registration, which ends on Friday, Dec. 13 at noon, is just $10/person. Tickets sold at the door will be $15/person, cash only, as space allows. There are five entry time slots available: 6 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m., 7:30 p.m. or 8 p.m. 
• Holiday Frost Con | 2410 Wickham Ave. | Newport News | This new event combines the magic of the holidays with the excitement of anime. There will be anime-themed guests and activities, a toy giveaway, visits from Santa, outdoor activities and more. Free. 5 – 8 pm.
• On-Screen Captions: “Meet Me in St. Louis” | Kimball Theatre | Enjoy a classic film at the historic Kimball Theatre. This special screening of Meet Me in St. Louis features on-screen captions. 3:30 – 5:23 pm. $8. 
• Decorating the Private Homes | Hennage Auditorium | Colonial Williamsburg | Attend the 32nd anniversary of this celebration of the decorating talents of employees living in Colonial Williamsburg’s restored private homes. There will be tips for decorating in the “Williamsburg way” and an announcement of decorating contest winners. Requires Art Museum admission or a Good Neighbor Pass. 6 – 6:35 pm. 
• A Celebration of the Yule Log | Magazine Yard | Colonial Williamsburg | The Yule log will be hauled by a wagon from Capitol Circle to Market Square where it will be added to a bonfire accompanied by holiday music, festivities, and the lighting of the cressets. This event will be held on Dec. 13 and 20. Free. 6 – 7:30 p.m. 
• Christmastide at the Courthouse | Historic Site: Courthouse | Colonial Williamsburg | Enjoy the best songs and dance tunes of Christmastide during this event featuring musicians Brian Forsman and Bill Weldon. Guests are invited to sing along to the carols that celebrated the season of our ancestors in holidays past. Tickets are $19 for adults, $12 for youth and children. 9 – 10 pm. 

Live Music

• Dewey Decibel Concert Series: Higher Ground Jazz Band | Williamsburg Library | Attend a concert by the Higher Ground Jazz Band. The talented group seeks to uplift and inspire with swing, Latin, Jazz standards and big band arrangements. Free. No tickets required. 7 pm.

Saturday, Dec. 14

Holiday

• Yorktown Market Days: Mistletoe Market | Riverwalk Landing | Stroll Riverwalk Landing to find chowders and soups; baked goods, including an assortment of cakes, breads, brownies, fudge, and cookies; jams, jellies, and honey; holiday wreaths; candles and soaps; and local seasonal art. The annual Toyland Parade will be held at 1:30 pm with the Fifes and Drums of York Town. Free. 9 am – 3 pm. 
• Dressing the Holiday Bride | Historic Trade: Milliner & Mantua-Maker | Colonial Williamsburg | Discover 18th-century bridal wear as Colonial Williamsburg’s mantua-makers and milliners create a gown. Requires CW admission or a Good Neighbor Pass. 9 am – 5 pm. 
• Christmastide with Governor’s Musick| Hennage Auditorium | Colonial Williamsburg | Member of the Governor’s Musick will take guests on a musical journey through the Christmastide season. 1:30 – 2:15 pm.
• Candyland Christmas Market | Tradition Brewing Co. | Newport News | This special event features local vendors, holiday pottery painting, baked goods, cookie decorating, kid’s crafts and more. Free. 1 – 5 pm.
• Christmas High Tea | The Boxwood Inn | Newport News | Enjoy a Christmas-themed high tea at the historic Boxwood Inn. The cost is $40/person. See the website for the menu. 12 pm.
• Wreaths Across America: Wreath Laying Ceremony | Yorktown National Cemetery | Honor and remember our veterans through the laying of remembrance wreaths on the graves of our country’s fallen heroes. Open to the public. 12 – 2 pm.
• A Holiday Medley | Hennage Auditorium | Colonial Williamsburg | This program features story, song and dance to tell the tale of winter in Williamsburg over its 250-year history. Requires Art Museum admission or a Good Neighbor Pass and a program ticket ($10 for adults and children 6 and up, $5 for children 5 and under). 4 – 5 pm.  
• Hilton Village Gingerbread Celebration & Parade | 10335 Warwick Blvd. | Newport News | The magic of the season comes alive during the 9th Annual Hilton Village Gingerbread Celebration and Parade. This festive evening includes a gingerbread contest, children’s activities, music, treats and a village parade. Free. 4 – 8 pm. 
• Virginia Skies & Laser Holidays | Virginia Living Museum | Newport News | The Virginia Living Museum will host a stargazing night on Dec. 14. Virginia Skies features a live guided tour of the current evening sky with a staff astronomer. Laser holidays features holiday music set to a dazzling Christmas light display. A “Laser Queen” and “Dark Side of the Moon” show will also be offered. Tickets are $8 per show ($5 for members). 5 – 11 pm. 
• “At Christmas be mery” | Historic Jamestowne | Don’t miss this unique opportunity to see Jamestown Island aglow with firelight during this Christmas celebration complete with costumed interpreters, a capella signers, a seasonal bonfire and caroling. Tickets are $25 and available online. 5:30 & 7:30 pm
• Grand Illumination | Colonial Williamsburg | Grand Illumination will return on Dec. 14 and 21. Each evening includes seasonal music, the lighting of the cressets, and a procession led by the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes & Drums. Each Grand Illumination event culminates in firework demonstrations over the Governor’s Palace and the Capitol sponsored by the City of Williamsburg. Free. 5 – 7:30 pm.
• Candlelight Christmas | American Revolution Museum | Yorktown | Attend an evening of 18th-century Christmas cheer with a blend of modern traditions. Enjoy caroling and see how colonists and soldiers prepared for a holiday evening. Children will be able to meet Santa, make holiday crafts and decorate the lobby Christmas tree. Tickets must be purchased online in advance and are $7 per adult, $10 for children 4-12 and free for children 3 and under. 6 – 8 pm.

Markets

• Williamsburg Farmers Market | Duke of Gloucester and P4 Parking Lot | Williamsburg | Shop from over 40 local vendors selling fresh seasonal produce, meats, baked goods, honey, cheese, cut flowers, handmade soaps and more. 8 am – 12 pm.
• Toano Open Air Market | 7891 Richmond Road | Toano | Shop for local products, seasonal items and artisan goods from a wide variety of vendors. 9 am – 12 pm. 
• Hilton Village Farmers Market | Historic Hilton Village | Newport News | Local farmers, bakers, artisans and other vendors share their goods every Saturday at the year-round market in Historic Hilton Village. 9 am – 12 pm. 

Nature

• Waterfowl Walk & Watch | York River State Park | Williamsburg | Attend a winter birding adventure where you’ll discover duck species and habitats. Bald eagles are also often found in the area. Included with park admission. 10 am – 12 pm. 

Budgeting

• Cutting the Cord | James City County Library | If you’re tired of paying a high bill for Cox TV, this program will help you learn how to save money by not paying the cable company channels you don’t watch. You’ll find out how to stream those same live TV channels for $25-$70 a month with no annual contracts. 2 – 3:30 pm. 

Live Music

• Flute Frenzy Festive Folk Holidays of the World | King of Glory Lutheran Church | Celebrate International Holiday Traditions with Flute Frenzy! Youth and adult flute choirs will perform a variety of festive works from around the world. The program features familiar favorites plus exciting new flute choir arrangements of pieces you may not have heard before! This event will also be livestreamed on the Flute Frenzy Facebook page. Free. Donations welcome. 12 pm.
• Holiday Concert: Lana Puckett and Kim Person | Yorktown Library | Attend a joyous holiday concert featuring Lana Puckett and Kim Person, a talented duo known for their unique vocal styles, intricate guitar strings and vocal harmonies. Free. 2:30 – 4 pm. 
• The 2024 Lovecats Holiday Spectacular | The Virginia Beer Company | Williamsburg | This family friendly Christmas concert features a festive soundtrack and singalongs. Dominion Dogs will be on site. 6 – 9 pm.
• Holiday Choral Concert: New Dominion Choraliers | Bruton Parish Church | Enjoy a holiday concert featuring the New Dominion Choraliers Community Choir from Prince William County, Virginia, directed by Katherine Nelson-Tracey. Open to the public. 8 – 9 pm. 

Sunday, Dec. 15

Special Event

• 2nd Sundays Art & Music Festival | Downtown Williamsburg | The 2nd Sundays Art & Music Festival has been rescheduled to the third Sunday of the month, Dec. 15. The event features a wide variety of vendors as well as live entertainment. See the website for a full list of vendors and performers. Free admission. 11 am – 4 pm.

Live Music

• Peninsula Youth Orchestra | Ferguson Center | Newport News | Celebrate the season with this special holiday music event featuring a blend of timeless classics and modern hits. Free; tickets required. 3 pm. 
• One Street Over | Hennage Auditorium | Colonial Williamsburg | Enjoy a holiday concert of traditional and original songs and tunes by One Street Over, a Celtic roots band. Requires Art Museum admission and a program ticket ($10 for adults and children 6 and up, $5 for children 5 and under). 1:30 – 2:30 pm. 
• Virginia Handbell Consort | Williamsburg Presbyterian Church | One of the Commonwealth’s premier handbell ensembles, the Virginia Handbell Consort will perform in the Open Door Concert Series on Dec. 15. Free. 4 pm.

Multi-Day

Holiday

• Christmas Dreams: Institute for Dance | Kimball Theatre | Williamsburg | Enjoy a unique-to-Williamsburg show that is written, choreographer, narrated and performed by iDance, with support from the community. Saturday, Dec. 14, 2:30 – 4:30 pm and Sunday, Dec. 15, 1 – 3 pm. Tickets cost $25 and are available here. 
• “A Christmas Carol” | 200 Hubbard Lane | Williamsburg | The Williamsburg Players will delight audiences with Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol in a series of performances running on select dates between Dec. 12 to Dec. 22. Brink Miller stars as Ebenezer Scrooge after having portrayed the character in Atlanta for more than 20 seasons. Tickets are $22 for adults and $12 for military members or veterans, students and children. 
• Side Car Santa | Merchants Square | Colonial Williamsburg | Side Car Santa will arrive in the Merchants Square area every weekend, Saturday and Sunday, until Christmas (weather permitting). He’ll arrive between 10:00 – 11:00 am and stay until 1:00 or 2:00 pm or until he runs out of toys. Bring a camera to snap a photo with Santa. Free.
• Christmas Craft and Bake Sale | Historic Boxwood Inn | Newport News | Don’t miss Historic Boxwood Inn’s first annual Craft & Bake sale, featuring vendors, festive treats and Christmas decor. Free coffee will be served all day. Dec. 13 – 15, 11:00 am – 6:00 pm. 
• 5th Annual Williamsburg Christmas Market | 320 W Court Street | The 5th Annual Williamsburg Christmas Market returns on Dec. 12 – 15 and Dec. 19 – 22. Hours are Thursdays, 11 am – 6 pm; Fridays, 11 am – 7 pm; Saturdays, 10 am – 7 pm and Sundays, 11 am – 6 pm. There will be 40 vendor chalets, train rides, live entertainment, gluhwein (warm spiced wine), craft beers, Christmas music, photo ops with Santa, a petting zoo, fire pits and delicious market food. This year, visitors attending the market Fridays – Sundays must purchase a one-time admission pass, which costs $5 per person and is valid for the whole market season. Reserve tickets here to avoid having to wait in line.
• NlightN Lights at the Fountain | City Center at Oyster Point | Newport News | Experience a strolling, state-of-the-art holiday light show featuring Timber the Talking Tree and falling snow. The animated show plays every half hour and incorporates a 50′ animated holiday tree and holiday soundtrack. Free admission and parking. Dec. 8 – Jan. 1, 5:00 – 9:00 pm. 
• Free Photos with Santa | New Town | Williamsburg | Stop by to snap free photos with Santa at Santa’s Workshop in New Town, located at 4915 Courthouse Street. Free. Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 14 – 15, noon – 3:30 pm. 
• Giving Tuesday Coat Drive | Walkabout Outfitter | 402 W Duke of Gloucester | Walkabout is collecting new and gently used winter coats for people in the community. Bring in a new or gently used coat to donate between 12/3 (Giving Tuesday) and 12/15. All donated coats will be dropped off to FISH, Inc. 
• Of Christmas Past | Governor’s Palace | After arriving in the colony, a British servant reflects on his life and the holiday traditions he left behind in his mother country. Requires CW admission or a Good Neighbor Pass and a $5 program ticket. Dec. 1, 5, 6, 7 & 8. 10:00 – 10:45 am & 11:30 – 12:15 pm. 
• Ice Skating at Colonial Williamsburg | Liberty Ice Pavilion | Colonial Williamsburg’s Liberty Ice Pavilion opens for the season on Nov. 22 and will continue to operate through Feb. 31. Refreshments including hot cider and coffee will be available for purchase steps from the ice. Season passes and single-day tickets are available.
• Busch Gardens Christmas Town | Busch Gardens Williamsburg | Busch Gardens Christmas Town returned for the 2024/2024 holiday season on Nov. 15 and runs on select dates through Jan. 5, 2025. See the website for additional information or to purchase tickets. 
• Williamsburg Inn Holiday Tea | Williamsburg Inn | Kick off your holiday season with Williamsburg Inn’s Holiday Tea, featuring the beautiful patterns of Churchill Tea China. Sip holiday-inspired tea and enjoy pastries, scones, sandwiches and more. French champagne and sparkling cider will also be available. See the website for reservation details. Dec. 11 – 14, 2:00 – 3:00 pm.

Future Events to Note

• A Crooner’s Christmas | Kimball Theatre | Colonial Williamsburg | Local swing band Good Shot Judy will pay tribute to classic Christmas crooner hits from artists like Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Ella Fitzgerald alongside an expanded 20-piece orchestra. The band will present seven shows between Dec. 18 – 22 at the Kimball Theatre. Tickets start at $42.
• Handel’s Messiah | First Baptist Church | Newport News | Enjoy a performance of the Hallelujah chorus featuring Anthony Parnther, a nationally-renowned film conductor and the music director of California’s San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra. Tickets start at $25. Dec. 20. 7:30 pm.
• Christmastide in Virginia | Jamestown Settlement & American Revolution Museum at Yorktown | Experience Virginia colonial holiday traditions with a variety of interpretive programs, cooking demonstrations and musical entertainment. Included with museum admission. Dec. 20 – 31.