Photo credits Ervin Clarke
Photo credits Ervin Clarke
Photo credits Ervin Clarke
Photo credits Ervin Clarke
Photo credits Ervin Clarke
RICHMOND, VA – Downtown Richmond celebrates the season with the twinkling lights and holiday music we’ve all come to love! We hope you’ll join us as we kick off the season and look forward to the New Year!
Venture Richmond has compiled a list of activities to plan your holidays Downtown with family and friends, so be sure to check our website for updates throughout November and December.
Shop Small Saturday
Saturday, November 27, 11AM-6PM, in Downtown RVA
Visit Downtown RVA and support the local shops and small businesses like Little Nomad, Verdalina, Someday, Maven Made, Shockoe Bottom Clay and more for Shop Small Saturday, a nationally celebrated shopping holiday that highlights local and small business owners! To read more about shopping downtown, visit https://venturerichmond.com/explore-downtown/shopping/
Richmond Symphony presents Let It Snow!
Saturday, November 27, 8PM at Dominion Energy Center, 600 E. Grace St.
It’s Richmond’s favorite holiday musical tradition – now on Thanksgiving weekend! Celebrate the season with family, friends and the Richmond Symphony at the Carpenter Theatre. Carols, classics and sparkling holiday favorites – even a visit from Santa! Conducted by Chia-Hsuan. Fee for tickets.
https://www.dominionenergycenter.com/events/detail/richmond-symphony-pops
RVA Illuminates
Friday, December 3, 5:45PM at Kanawha Plaza, 801 E. Canal St.
A time-honored Richmond tradition will continue in 2021! See RVA shine when the switch is flipped ON to light up downtown’s skyline for the 2021 holiday season at 6:00pm. RVA Illuminates is back in-person this year with ABC8 News airing live complete coverage of performances, uplifting stories, and the official lighting. Be sure to join in the festive fun by lighting up your own storefronts and homes too! This event is coordinated by the City of Richmond Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities. Free event.
Christmas Under the Clocktower
Friday, December 3, 7PM at Main Street Station, 1500 E. Main St.
The second annual event where local nonprofits show off their creativity by designing Christmas trees! Vote for your favorite in-person or online December 3-December 19. Free event.
https://www.facebook.com/events/206490788290894
RVA First Friday
Friday, December 3, 5-11PM in downtown’s Arts District along Broad Street
Show Broad Street some love and holiday spirit when you explore galleries, shops, restaurants, nonprofits and more on the first Friday of every month at RVA First Friday along and around Broad Street. Free to attend, fees for shopping. https://www.facebook.com/events/223796113036927
Christmas Eve with C.S. Lewis
December 3-12 at Dominion Energy Center, 600 E. Grace St.
In this festive production, viewers find C.S. Lewis at his home near Oxford on Christmas Eve hosting a group of Americans who are Christmassing in England. They are about to experience an unforgettable assortment of Yuletide recollections which stimulates a whole range of emotions – curiosity, laughter, gladness and even some tears. Above all, they will discover how an encounter with JRR Tolkien forever changed Lewis’s Christmas celebrations. Fee for tickets.
https://www.dominionenergycenter.com/events/detail/christmas-eve-with-cs-lewis
Dominion Energy Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 4, starts at the Science Museum of Virginia at 10:15AM, travels eastbound on Broad St., ends at 7th and Marshall Sts. downtown
Welcome back the Dominion Energy Christmas Parade for its 38th annual parade celebration featuring colorful floats, giant helium balloons, high school and college marching bands, princesses, superheroes and returning favorites including the trademark Wells Fargo stagecoach, the VCU Peppas and Legendary Santa! The parade also airs LIVE on WTVR CBS6. Free event. Rain or shine.
https://www.richmondparade.org/
Richmond Symphony presents A Baroque Holiday
Saturday, December 4, 7:30PM at the Dominion Energy Center, 600 E. Grace St.
The greatest story ever told. The most majestic music ever conceived. Be there for the greatest moments from Handel’s Messiah with the Richmond Symphony, Richmond Symphony Chorus, and soloists. Plus, other Baroque classics to brighten your holiday musical celebration. Fee for tickets.
https://www.dominionenergycenter.com/events/detail/a-baroque-holiday-1
Richmond Makers Market: Holiday Cheers
Sunday, December 5, 12-6PM at Basic City Beer Co., 212 W. 6th St.
This Makers Market features new makers monthly ranging from candlemakers and crafters to confections and works of clay. Head to Manchester’s Basic City Beer Co., a dog-friendly brewery, for an afternoon of shopping and supporting local RVA makers.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1068760510561265
Movies on Brown’s Island: Elf
Saturday, December 11, 5:30PM on Brown’s Island, 500 Tredegar St.
Movies on Brown’s Island, presented by Dominion Energy, is an outdoor family activity, brought to you by Venture Richmond Events. Pack your chair or blanket, bring a picnic dinner, then find your perfect spot on Brown’s Island and enjoy an evening featuring Elf while taking in the stunning views of the James River and Downtown’s holiday skyline.
Seating is first come, first served. Bringing blankets and/or chairs for comfort is recommended. No seating will be provided. Vendors for the event include Strawberry Street Events and Espresso-A-Go-Go. No pets are allowed on premises during the movies. Parking is available at the Belle Isle parking lot and on-street parking is available along 2nd and 5th Streets. Gates open at 5PM; Show starts at 5:45PM. Tickets are $5 per person (ages 5 and under no ticket needed) and can be purchased in advance online or at the gate. https://venturerichmond.com/our-events/movies-on-browns-island/
Richmond Boat Parade of Lights
Saturday, December 11, 5:30PM along downtown’s riverfront, best views from Libby Hill Park in Church Hill and at Rocketts Landing
Each year, boaters decorate their boats and converge on the James River for a parade that marks the beginning of the holiday season. Grab the family and gather at one of the several viewing sites to see the boats and enjoy holiday entertainment. Free event.
https://www.facebook.com/events/174697928104850
Richmond Night Market
Saturday, December 11, 5-9PM at 17th Street Market, 100 N. 17th St.
Richmond Night Market is a monthly, open-air night market held at the 17th Street Market and features a family-friendly experience filled with music, programming, and independent artists and vendors. Shop the local artists and support the Shockoe Bottom restaurants too. Entertainment and programming include live music and cultured and diverse activities for all ages! Free to attend, fees for vendors. https://www.richmondnightmarketva.com/
Richmond Ballet’s The Nutcracker
December 11-23 at the Dominion Energy Center, 600 E. Grace St.
The Nutcracker makes its triumphant return this 2021 holiday season! Accompanied by the Richmond Symphony, Clara and her adoring Nutcracker, the glittering butterfly and dancing Russian bear will once again charm audience members of all ages. This is the final opportunity to see this version of our beloved production before it’s reimagined for 2022. Fee for tickets.
https://richmondballet.com/event/the-nutcracker/2021-12-11/
Winter Wander: Celebrate Court End
Sunday, December 12, noon-4PM at The Valentine, 1015 E. Clay St.
Save the date and join The Valentine for some winter cheer on their picturesque block of East Clay Street! There will be hot beverages, family crafts and games, and live music. You can also take a self-guided tour of the historic Court End neighborhood and hop on a shuttle to visit nearby cultural sites for open houses and other activities. Free event.
https://thevalentine.org/event/winter-wander-celebrate-court-end/
A Black Christmas in Jackson Ward
Saturday, December 18, noon-7PM at 10 E. Leigh Street
Join RVA Black Farmer’s Market and The Exclusive Blacklist as they present a merry time celebrating the holiday season with a vendor market, food vendors and live music happening in the heart of the Jackson Ward neighborhood. Free to attend, fee for vendors.
Continued updates and potential schedule changes can be found on Venture Richmond’s website:
https://venturerichmond.com/news/downtown-rva-2021-holiday-calendar/
