Holiday events this weekend: Williamsburg Christmas Market, tree lightings, photos with Santa

HISTORIC TRIANGLE – The Historic Triangle is set to ring in the holiday season with a variety of festive events this weekend.

Foods and Feasts of Colonial Virginia – a special event that explores centuries-old culinary practices – will return to the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown and Jamestown Settlement this weekend.

Guests will be able to explore cooking techniques of early Virginia through living history demonstrations at both museums. The event is included with admission, which is free for residents of James City County, York County and the City of Williamsburg with proof of residency.

The Williamsburg Christmas Market returns just in time for the Black Friday shopping weekend, offering locals and visitors a unique opportunity to find one-of-a-kind gifts while supporting small businesses.

Presented by CultureFix and the City of Williamsburg, the European-style market features 40 vendor chalets set to the backdrop of cheerful Christmas music and glowing firepits.

The family-friendly market – which runs Thursdays through Sundays, Nov. 28 through Dec. 21 – includes live entertainment, photo ops with Santa and train rides. Market food, gluhwein (warm spiced wine) and craft beers will be available for purchase.

There is a one-time admission fee of $5 per person for adults attending on Fridays through Sundays. Each entrant will receive a card that can be used for all additional visits. Admission is free on Thursdays, and there is no charge for guests 18 or under or students with IDs.

Holiday festivities continue on Saturday with tree lighting ceremonies,

The annual tree lighting event at Merchants Square, kicking off at 5 p.m., will feature classic holiday tunes performed by Period Music’s Fifes and Drums and the Colonial Singers, as well as a special visit by Father Christmas.

Meanwhile, Port Warwick’s tree lighting ceremony, also beginning at 5 p.m., will offer an evening of family-friendly cheer including a meet-and-greet and pictures with Santa, dance performances and he Yorktown Chorale, The Commodore Chorus, Santa Brass and The Doorway Singers.

Free apple cider and cookies will be available while supplies last.

Rounding out the weekend, Several local museums – including Jamestown Settlement, Historic Jamestowne and American Revolution Museum at Yorktown – will offer special discounts as part of Museum Store Sunday on Nov. 30.

Additional highlights this week include the debut of a new Wassailing in Williamsburg program at Colonial Williamsburg, free photos with Santa at New Town and the return of Celebration in Lights at Newport News Park.

See below for our full calendar of festive events happening this weekend, Nov. 29 – 30.

Saturday, Nov. 29

• Small Business Saturday at Merchants Square | Merchants Square | Williamsburg | Celebrate Small Business Saturday by shopping for one-of-a-kind gifts from the shops at Merchants Square. See the website for a list of specials. 
• Photos with Santa | 4915 Courthouse Street | Santa Claus is coming to New Town on select dates. Stop by Santa’s Workshop to the right of Regal New Town, Nov. 29 – 30 and Dec. 6 – 7, 13 – 14 and 20 – 21, from noon to 3:30 pm. Free. 
• Merchants Square Tree Lighting | Merchants Square | Kick off the holiday season with the annual Merchants Square Tree Lighting. Enjoy holiday music from the Colonial Singers and Period Music’s Fifes and Drums. A tree lighting and appearance by Father Christmas will conclude the evening. Free. 5 pm. 
• A Charles Dickens Christmas | Hennage Auditorium | Enjoy readings from various Charles Dickens writings paired with Christmas carols of the Victorian era. Tickets are $10 for adults and youth 12 and over, $5 for children 5 and under. 4 pm.
• Port Warwick Holiday Tree Lighting | 3100 William Styron Square | Celebrate the start of the holiday season with a tree lighting at Port Warwick. This family-friendly, community event will include live holiday music by local choral groups, train rides, holiday balloons and games, face paintings and a meet and greet with Santa. Cookies and cider will be available while supplies last, and food trucks will be on site. Free. 5 – 8 pm. 
• Lighting of the Cressets | Colonial Williamsburg | Nov. 28 & 29 | Head to Duke of Gloucester Street for the Lighting of the Cressets: a fan-favorite tradition. Colonial Williamsburg’s 18th-century streets will come to life at night with strolling musicians. Free. 6 – 9 pm. 

Sunday, Nov. 30

• Storytime with Santa | The Mariners’ Museum and Park | Children and their families are invited to attend a meet-and-greet with Santa featuring hot chocolate or cider, cookies and coloring activities. The price is $1 per person. Children 3 years and under are free. 9 am & 11:30 am. This event will also be held on Dec. 6 & 13.
• Music and Dance of a Scottish Yuletide | Hennage Auditorium | Celebrate the holiday season with festive music and dances of a Scottish Christmas featuring Fiddler David Gardner and Highland Dancer Eliza Gardner. Tickets are $10 for adults and youth 6 and over, $5 for children under 5. 1:30 & 4 pm.
• Museum Store Sunday | Support local museums – including Jamestown Settlement, Historic Jamestowne, American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, Virginia Living Museum and Mariners’ Museum and Park – on Museum Store Sunday on Nov. 30. 

Multi-Day

• Foods & Feasts of Colonial Virginia | American Revolution Museum at Yorktown | Nov. 28 & 29 | Explore centuries-old culinary practices and cooking techniques of early Virginia. Living-history interpreters will prepare a variety of 18th-century dishes. Included with museum admission. Admission is free for residents of James City County, York County and the City of Williamsburg with proof of residency. 9 am – 5 pm. 
• Williamsburg Christmas Market | Downtown Williamsburg | Thurs – Sun., Nov. 28 – Dec. 21 | This European-inspired Christmas market features 40 vendor chalets, daily photo ops with Santa, train rides, live entertainment, a petting zoo and Christmas music. Market food, gluhwein (warm spiced wine) and craft beers will also be available. There is a one-time $5 entrance fee for admission for adults 18+ on Fridays-Sundays. Guests will receive a card to use for all future visits. Admission is free on Thursdays. See the website for hours. 
• Photos with Santa | 4915 Courthouse Street | Santa Claus is coming to New Town on select dates, and children are invited to have their photo taken with him. He’ll be at Santa’s Workshop to the right of Regal New Town, Nov. 29 – 30 and Dec. 6 – 7, 13 – 14 and 20 – 21, from noon to 3:30 pm. Free. 
• Wassailing in Williamsburg | In front of the Courthouse | Colonial Williamsburg | Daily, Nov. 24 – 30 | Celebrate the Christmastide season with holiday tales, music and carols. Free & open to the public. 12 – 12:45 pm. 
• Ice Skating at the Liberty Ice Pavilion | Colonial Williamsburg | Outdoor ice-skating returns to historic Duke of Gloucester Street for the season on Nov. 21. Refreshments, including hot cider, coffee and baked treats, will be available for purchase steps away from the ice. See the operating schedule here. Regular daily rates are $16 for adults, $14 for youth age 3 – 12. Skate rentals are $6. Season ice passes are also available. 
• Art Museums Overview: Holiday Edition | Art Museums | Colonial Williamsburg | Daily, except Christmas Day, Nov. 24 – Dec. 31 | Enjoy the holiday season with a 30-minute guided tour of the Art Museums at Colonial Williamsburg. Free & open to the public. 10:30 – 11 am & 11:30 am – 12 pm. 
• Winter Lantern Festival | Jamestown Settlement | Enjoy a dazzling display of light while strolling through Jamestown Settlement. This family-friendly event features handcrafted lanterns inspired by ancient folklore.  Local vendors will offer food and drinks on site. Tickets are $18 – $24 and are available here. 
• Christmas Town | Busch Gardens Williamsburg | Christmas cheer returns to Busch Gardens Nov. 14 – Jan. 4. Enjoy more than 10 million twinkling lights, holiday shows, classic traditions like Christmas Town Express, seasonal shopping, photo ops with Santa and theme park rides and attractions. See the website to purchase tickets.
• Celebration in Lights | Newport News Park | Celebrate the return of Virginia’s original holiday drive-through light show. Enjoy two miles of cheerful holiday scenes created with over one million twinkling lights. Daily, Nov. 27 – Jan. 1. 5:30 – 10 pm. Tickets are $15 per car Monday – Thursday, $20 per car Friday – Sunday. Advance purchase tickets are $12 and good for any night.
• Toys for Tots at The Mariners’ | The Mariners’ Museum and Park | The annual toy drive at Mariners’ Museum has returned for the holiday season. The museum will be a Toys for Tots drop-off location through Sunday, Nov. 30. Toys can be dropped off in the Main Lobby. The museum is open daily from 9 am – 5 pm. Additional Hampton Roads drop-off locations are listed here. 
• Winter Whimsey | Hampton Carousel | Celebrate winter with holiday music, festively decorated horses and a free candy cane with each visit. Admission is free. Rides are $1. Open daily except Mondays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, Nov. 25 – Dec. 31, 11 am – 8 pm.