This weekend brings Christmastide in Virginia, Williamsburg Old Time Radio Hour and more holiday events in the Historic Triangle

HISTORIC TRIANGLE – The year will soon come to a close, and a variety of special events are planned throughout the Historic Triangle this weekend to round out the holiday season.

Christmastide in Virginia continues throughout the week at Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum of Yorktown.

Guests will enjoy historical holiday fun with hands-on interpretive programs, cooking demonstrations and musical entertainment.

At Jamestown Settlement, visitors will learn about the English tradition of the Lord of Misrule – “grand captain of all mischief” – at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., followed by festive music each day.

At the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, special programming will feature the sounds of Christmas through traditional carols and music at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

The event is included with museum admission. Residents of James City County, York County and the City of Williamsburg receive free admission with proof of residency.

Christmastide in Virginia runs daily at both museums through Dec. 31.

Another history-themed holiday event will take place in Williamsburg on Saturday.

The Williamsburg Old Time Radio Hour: Christmas Show will be held at 2 p.m. at the Kimball Theatre. The theatrical experience takes guests back in time to the golden age of radio. Actors will entertain with unique stories and comedic advertisements, while live music and sound effects enhance the experience.

The event features captivating stories set in Williamsburg during the time of the Colonial Restoration with the goal of leaving the audience with smiles on their faces and “a warm glow” in their hearts.

Tickets can be purchased online here and cost $16 for children ages 16 and under and $35 for adults.

See below for a list of local events happening this weekend, Dec. 28 – 29.

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Saturday, Dec. 28

Holiday

• Christmastide with Governor’s Musick | Hennage Auditorium | Colonial Williamsburg | Members of the Governor’s Music will take guests on a musical journey through the Christmastide season while exploring how Williamsburg celebrated the holidays. Requires Art Museum admission or a Good Neighbor Pass. 1:30 – 2:15 pm. 
• The Art-full Tree | Art Museums | Colonial Williamsburg | Discover the Folk Art Christmas Tree while exploring the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg. Then, create an ornament to take home in the Good Education Studio. Requires Art Museum admission or a Good Neighbor Pass. 2 – 4 pm.
• Kwanzaa Celebration | Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center | Attend a Kwanzaa celebration featuring food, speakers, African drumming and dancing and Kwanzaa pageantry. Free. 2 – 4 pm. 

Kids & Families

• Sensory Movie: “Harold and the Purple Crayon” | James City County Library | This movie screening, geared toward those with special needs or young children, will be held in a sensory-friendly environment. The lights will be on, the movie volume will be turned down and attendees are free to move around. Popcorn will be offered, or attendees can bring their own snacks. The scheduled film is Harold and the Purple Crayon (PG, 2024). 1hr 29 min. See the trailer here. Free. 2 – 3:30 pm. 

Tweens & Teens 

• Dungeons & Dragons Day of Play | Stryker Center | Attend an afternoon of multigame play for tweens, teens and adults. Participants can choose to play with teens and adults or tweens and families. Register by Dec. 23 by emailing anorfolk@wrl.org. 1 – 4 pm. 
• Rhythm of Dreams: Vision Board Drumming | James City County Recreation Center | This workshop is designed to help teens discover their goals and connect to their creativity. Participants will be guided through the process of creating a vision DRUM, a powerful tool to help them visualize and manifest their dreams. For ages 13 – 16. See the website to register. $10. 3 – 4:30 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. 
• Dabble in Discovery | York River State Park | Meet with a ranger and discover the aquatic, insect, mammal and plant life in the park’s ecosystems. Included with park admission. 1 – 3 pm. 
• Stargazing | York River State Park | Attend a stargazing event hosted by the Virginia Peninsula Stargazers. Equipment will be provided. This program is weather-dependent. Included with park admission. 5 – 8 pm. 

Live Music

• James River Misfits | Daddyo’s | Norge | Enjoy post-Christmas rock music for the James River Misfit’s final concert of 2024. 7 – 10 pm. 
• Saturday Night Sets feat P.J. Knoetgen | The Virginia Beer Company | Enjoy a concert by one of the area’s finest acts, P.J. Knoetgen. The Two Salty River Chic’s food truck will be on site. 5:30 – 8:30 pm. 
• End of Year Crisis | Center Street Grill | Close out the year with dinner and a night of rock n roll at Center Street Grill, featuring local band Identity crisis. 7:30 pm. 
• Christmas Organ Recital: Dr. Ross Ellison | Bruton Parish Church | Attend a Christmas recital featuring Dr. Ross Ellison, organist from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Free and open to the public; freewill donations appreciated. 8 – 9 pm.

Sunday, Dec. 29

Special Events 

• “Don’t Look Back” | Kimball Theatre | Williamsburg | This groundbreaking film from documentarian D.A. Pennebaker zooms in on the legendary career of Bob Dylan. Tickets are $8. There will be two showings of this film: One with on-screen captions from 3:30 – 5:06 pm and one without on-screen captions from 7 – 8:36 pm. 
• Nine Lessons & Carols | Bruton Parish Church | Prepare for the New Year with the Service of Nine Lessons & Carols, presented by the Bruton Parish Choirs, directed by Rebecca Davy and accompanied by JanEl Will on organ. Free and open to the public; freewill donations appreciated. 9:15 – 10:15 am and 11:15 – 12:15 pm.

Holiday

• A Soldier’s Christmas | Hennage Auditorium | Colonial Williamsburg | Colonel James Innes returns victorious to Williamsburg for Christmas, but his mind is filled with the voices of his fallen comrades. If he cannot recover from the war, will he be able to help build America’s future? Requires Art Museum admission or a Good Neighbor Pass. 11 – 11:45 am. 

Crafts

• Sit and Stitch | James City County Library | Beginners are invited to meet up and learn the basics of knitting, and people with projects are encouraged to stitch along with others. No registration required. 1 pm. 
• Fiber Arts Group | Yorktown Library | Work on your individual fiber arts projects – such as crocheting, knitting or needlepoint – while enjoying the company of others. For adults of all skill levels; teens are also welcome if accompanied by an adult. 2 – 4 pm. 

Multi-Day

• Greenberg’s Great Train & Toy Show | Hampton Roads Convention Center | The largest and longest-running train and toy show in the northeast, Greenberg’s has been running train shows since 1976. The shows feature thousands of trains and collectible toys for sale, operating layouts, free modeling seminars and more. Saturday, Dec. 28 & Sunday, Dec. 29, 10 am – 4 pm. Tickets cost $11 for the Saturday event and $10 for the Sunday event and are available here. Kids 11 and under are free. 
• Stories from the People of the Longhouse | Jamestown Settlement | Attend a storytelling presentation filled with traditional Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) legends that have been told for hundreds of years. This event features Storyteller Perry Ground, a Turtle Clan member of the Onondaga Nation of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy. Included with museum admission. Residents of James City County, York County and the City of Williamsburg receive free admission with proof of residency. Dec. 28 – 29, 12 pm & 4 pm.
• Holiday Fur Tree | Heritage Humane Society | Williamsburg | Remember pets or pet lovers, past and present, by purchasing a bow for Heritage Humane Society’s Fur Tree, a long-standing tradition in Williamsburg. Small bows are $15 and large bows are $30 and up. The names of pets and/or pet lovers can be inscribed on each bow. All donations are tax-deductible and directly benefit homeless pets at Heritage Humane. This event runs through Jan. 5.
• Christmas Decorations Walking Tour | James Geddy House | Attend a guided tour focused on the beautifully decorated building exteriors and streets of Colonial Williamsburg. The tour guide will discuss the materials and construction techniques of these decorations. Tickets are $15 each. Daily through Dec. 31, 10:30 – 11:30 am. 
• Talk of the Town Christmastide | Lumber House Ticket Office | Stroll through historic Williamsburg and experience the Christmastide season through the eyes of an 18th-century resident. Requires CW admission or a Good Neighbor Pass and a $15 program ticket. Dec. 23, 24, 26, 27 & 28, 10:30 – 11:15 am. 
• Celebration in Lights | Newport News Park | Celebration in Lights has returned for its 32nd season and will run nightly, 5:30 – 10 pm through New Year’s Day. Guests will travel through the seasons and end up at their favorite time of year along this picturesque, two-mile display. Admission on weeknights (Monday – Thursday) is $15 per car. Weekend admission (Friday – Saturday) is $20 per car. Tickets may be purchased in advance, good for any night of the week, for $12 at the Newport News Visitor Center located at the entrance of Newport News Park. Cash and credit cards are accepted at the gate.
• 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. Dec. 8 – Jan. 1, 5:00 – 9:00 pm. 
• 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. 26 – 29. 10:00 – 10:45 am & 11:30 – 12:15 pm. 
• Lighting of the Cressets | Duke of Gloucester Street | The 18th-century streets of Colonial Williamsburg will come to life with strolling musicians and tidings of good cheer for this special, fan-favorite event. Dec. 27 & 28. Free. 6 – 9 pm. 
• Ice Skating at Colonial Williamsburg | Liberty Ice Pavilion | Colonial Williamsburg’s Liberty Ice Pavilion 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 runs on select dates through Jan. 5, 2025. See the website for additional information or to purchase tickets. 
• ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas | Stryker Center | Celebrate one of the most famous pieces of Christmas literature with this special exhibit, presented by William & Mary in partnership with the WRL Gallery at the Stryker Center. Runs Nov. 25 – Jan. 3, Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm. (Closed December 24-25 and January 1.) Free.