Holiday Planner

12 Days and Night Before Christmas

Friday Dec. 24; at 10:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜$5 per person, Child: Free| Experience the unique spirit of Christmas as people from the past bring two classic Christmas stories to life. Children must be accompanied by ticket holding adult.

A Celebration of the Yule Log

Friday Dec. 3, 10 & 17; at 6:00 p.m. | Magazine | New! Follow the Yule log, hauled by wagon, from the Capitol circle to Market Square, accompanied by music, festivity, and the community of 18th-century and present-day Williamsburg.

A Christmas Remembered

Daily Thursday, Nov. 25 through Saturday Jan. 1; at 3:15 p.m.｜Charlton Stage｜Christmas is a time for remembering years gone by and looking to the future. Join in conversation with a Nation Builder as they share Christmas memories and their hopes for the coming year.

A Fugitive Christmas

Wednesday Dec. 1, 8, 15 & 22; at 11:00 a.m. ｜Hennage Auditorium｜$5 per person｜ New! Join two Fugitive soldiers on New Year's Day, 1776 as they celebrate Christmastide while recovering from their wounds in a Military Hospital.

Christmas and the Constitution

Thursday Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30; at 11:00 a.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜$5 per person｜Join Madison and Hamilton in the throes of writing the Federalist Papers to support the constitution over a hectic holiday season, as they balance public and personal duty.

Christmas Trees and Museum Treasures

Wednesday Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29: from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.｜Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg｜NEW! Discover themed Christmas trees including our 16-foot Folk Art tree and hunt for objects representing the 12 days of Chrstmas. Holiday treats for sale in our Cafe.

Community Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

Tuesday Dec. 16; at 5:00 p.m. ｜Market Square｜Join us for our annual Community Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, co-sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Williamsburg.

Decorated Wreath Sales

Thursday Dec. 2 through Sunday Dec. 5; from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Dec. 3 & 4)｜Merchants Square｜ Guests can purchase a beautifully decorated wreath or centerpiece in the Colonial Williamsburg style.

Decorating the Private Homes

Thursday Dec. 9; at 5:30 p.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜ Join us for our 29th annual fun-filled celebration of the decorating efforts of the employees who live in Colonial Williamsburg's restored private residences.

Dressing for Her Day of Days

Sunday Dec. 5, 12 & 19; from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.｜Milliner and Mantua-maker｜ The Holiday season was a favorite time for weddings in the 18th century. The Milliners will discuss wedding traditions and stitch a bridal ensemble in three days.

A Harvest of Tales

Saturday Nov. 27; at 4:30 p.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜$5 per person ｜ At the end of harvest season, The Gaels liked to stay inside with a roaring fire and a nice rum and give thanks for a bountiful year. And what goes best with a cup of rum and a fire? Telling stories of course!

Historic Area Illumination Ceremonies

Saturday Dec. 4, 11 & 18; at 5:00 p.m.｜Various sites in Historic Area｜The lighting of candles along Duke of Gloucester Street continues with three simultaneous ceremonies at the Raleigh Tavern, George Wythe House, and Randolph House.

Holiday Decoration Workshop

Saturday Nov. 20; at 10:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m. & 4:00 p.m. and Tuesday Dec. 7 and Thursday Dec. 9; at 3:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m.｜Off-site｜$50 per person｜Create a festive Holiday centerpiece in a mug to carry home with you in this workshop led by Colonial Williamsburg's landscape design team. $50 per person.

Joy in the Morning

Friday Nov. 26, Dec. 3, 10, 17 & 31; at 11:00 a.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜$5 per person｜ Gather with members of the enslaved community to experience a music-filled message of hope.

Liberty Ice Pavilion Kickoff Celebration

Friday Nov. 19; at 6:00 p.m.｜Merchants Square｜ Join us for the season kickoff of Liberty Ice Pavilion. Enjoy graceful performances by competitive figure skaters, sip hot cocoa and show off some twirls of your own on opening night!

Loquacious Lucy and the Christmas Box

Thursday Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30, Saturday Dec. 4, 11, 18, 25 & Jan. 1; at 10:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. and Saturday Dec. 4, 11, 18 & Jan. 1; at 1:30 p.m.｜Play House Stage｜New! In this play with music Loquacious Lucy, an enslaved child, receives a doll for her Christmas Box and her mother and father must help her understand what it means.

Lucinda and the Lottery

Wednesday Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29, Friday Nov. 26, Dec. 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31; at 10:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. and Friday Nov. 26, Dec. 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31; at 1:30 p.m.｜Play House Stage｜New! Based on a story from The Christmas Frolick (1775), charming young heiress Lucinda devises a stratagem to test whose love is true.

Merchants Square Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony

Friday Nov. 26; at 5:30 p.m.｜Merchants Square｜Join us in Merchants Square on Friday Nov. 26 for the 5th annual Tree Lighting Ceremony! The live tree will be located on DoG St. in front of Danforth Pewter.

Merriment and Measles

Monday Nov. 29, Dec. 6, 13, 20 & 27; at 11:00 a.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜$5 per person｜NEW! Join the Washington’s on the eve of their first anniversary, 12th Night 1760, as they reflect on the past year and their hopes for the future in the midst of a measles outbreak.

Midwinter Stories

Sunday Nov. 28, Dec. 5, 12, 19 & 26, Monday Nov. 29, Dec. 6, 13, 20 & 27, Wednesday Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29, and Thursday Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 at 1:30 p.m. and Tuesday Nov. 30, Dec. 6, 13, 20 & 27; at 10:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.｜Play House Stage｜ Celebrate American Indian life and culture through stories and traditions.

Nation Builders Discuss Family and Celebrations

Sunday Dec. 26, Wednesday Dec. 29, Thursday Nov. 25, Friday Dec. 26, and Saturday Nov. 27 & Jan. 1; at 11:00 p.m. and Saturday Dec. 25 ; at 12:00 p.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜$5 per person｜ New! Join two Nation Builders to discuss how they celebrated occasions with friends and family, and speak with the historians who portray them for context on their 18th century world.

Photos with Santa Claus in Merchants Square

Friday Nov. 26 and Saturday Nov. 27, Dec. 4, 11 & 18 and Sunday Nov. 28, Dec. 5, 12 & 19; from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.｜Merchants Square ｜Snag photos with Santa in a gingerbread house setting. Look for Santa on the 2nd floor at 345 Duke of Gloucester Street in Merchants Square.

President George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation

Wednesday Nov. 24; at 11:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜ $5 per person｜ Hear from President Washington on the 232nd anniversary of this day of Thanksgiving.

Private Family Tour

Sunday Nov. 28 & Dec. 26, Monday Nov. 29 & Dec. 27, Tuesday Nov. 30, Dec. 7, 14, 21 & 28, Wednesday Dec. 29, Thursday Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30, Friday Nov. 26 & Dec. 31 and Saturday Nov. 27 & Jan. 1; at 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.｜James Geddy House｜$50 per family｜ Your group's private guide will lead your family through town to learn more about what it was like to live in the 18th century.

Rum and Highland Tales

Wednesday Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 at 3:00 p.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜$5 per person｜ Listen, laugh, and cry with master storytellers Donna Wolf and Shel Browder as they share tales told by Highlanders of the 18th century.

Same Space, Different Place

Sunday Nov. 28, Dec. 5, 12 & 19; at 11:00 a.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜$5 per person｜Meet Rachel Whitaker, recently widowed tavern owner and her enslaved servant, Milly to discover how the Christmastide season is different for these two mothers.

Santa through the Ages

Saturday Dec.4, 11 & 18; at 11:00 a.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜Adult: $5 Child: $2.50｜New! Over time cultures change and so has Santa. Enjoy meeting Santas from various times and discover how he has changed over time.

Silent Night

Monday Nov. 29, Dec. 6, 13 & 20; at 4:30 p.m. ｜Hennage Auditorium｜$5 per person｜ New! From the Revolutionary War to Vietnam, travel through time as women in various wartime roles struggle to experience a silent night in the midst of the sounds of war.

Stories of the Past, People of the Present

Thursday Nov. 25; at 1:30 p.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜$5 per person｜ Celebrate American Indian culture through traditional stories and discuss with American Indian interpreters about what it’s like to tell the histories of their communities.

The Arts and Mysteries of Brewing

Sunday Nov. 28; at 10:00 a.m.｜Governor's Palace Scullery｜ This program demonstrates the process of brewing beer as it was practiced in the 18th century.

Wreath Decorating Workshop

Tuesday Nov. 30 and Thursday Dec. 2; at 3:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m.｜Off-site｜$90 per person｜ Take home your own Williamsburg style wreath that you decorate yourself after learning the tricks of the trade from the landscape design team that decorates the Historic Area.

A 19th-Century Williamsburg Christmas

Sunday Dec. 26; at 2:30 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜$10 per person｜The Colonial Singers share stories and songs centered around the Civil War, the college town, Charles Dickens and the Tucker Family Christmas Tree.

A Christmas Peaceable Kingdom

Tuesday Nov. 30 & Dec. 7; at 4:30 p.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜$5 per person｜ NEW! Join Kelly Kennedy as she shares the meaning of the season through joyous tunes and stories of all creatures great and small.

A Community Celebration of Music and Song

Saturday Dec. 4, 11 & 18; at 5:15 p.m.｜Various sites in Historic Area｜ New! Each Saturday evening, highlighted ensembles from the Williamsburg community will fill the air with seasonal music throughout the Historic Area.

A Grand Illumination Celebration on Palace Green

Saturday Dec. 4, 11 & 18; at 6:15 p.m.｜Palace Green｜ Featuring Goodwin & The Ghost: A Williamsburg Christmas Tale with author Bryan Austin concludes with a special appearance by Father Christmas and leads into the fireworks.

A Season Full of Holidays

Friday Dec. 31; at 4:30 p.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜$10 per person ｜Timothy Seaman and Thomas Abernethy celebrate the many holidays from Thanksgiving to Epiphany with delightful and moving musical selections.

Brasstastic Holidays!

Thursday Dec. 30; at 2:30 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜$10 per person｜Eastern Virginia Brass presents holiday favorites and traditional carols arranged especially for brass quintet.

Christmastide Music at the Courthouse

Friday Nov. 26, Dec. 3, 10 &17; at 7:30 p.m.｜Courthouse ｜ Adult: $19 Child: $12｜ Join musicians Brian Forsman & Bill Weldon for the best dance tunes and songs of Christmastide. Sing along to the carols that celebrated the season and lifted the spirits of our ancestors in holidays past!

Come Ye Thankful People Come

Wednesday Nov. 24; at 4:30 p.m.｜Hennage Auditorium ｜ $10 per person｜ Join Kelly Kennedy and John Turner for a program of tunes, poems and readings from several centuries related to harvest time and Thanksgiving

Dances with Dwarves: A Celtic Celebration

Thursday Dec. 23; at 2:30 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜$10 per person｜Join Poisoned Dwarf for a Christmas Season concert of energetic Celtic music that will have your feet tapping and hearts dancing.

Family, Feasts, Friends and Festivity

Tuesday Dec. 14 & 21; at 4:30 p.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜$10 per person｜Join long-time friends and Williamsburg musicians Kelly Kennedy and Dean Shostak as they share fun family songs and stories from many holiday traditions world-wide.

Fiddling Around the Christmas Tree

Saturday Dec. 4, 11 & 18; at 3:00 p.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜$15 per person｜New! Join John Turner, David Gardner and Cliff Williams for an hour of rousing dance tunes, stories and songs of the season.

Fiddling Away the Holidays

Monday Dec. 27; at 2:30 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜$10 per person｜Master fiddler John Turner returns for this Colonial Williamsburg Christmas tradition of reveling in the lighter side of the holiday season.

Fife & Drum Performance in Merchants Square

Friday Nov. 26, Dec. 3, 10, 17 & 24 and Saturday Nov. 27, Dec. 4, 11, 18 & 25; from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.｜Merchants Square｜Enjoy a holiday Fife & Drum performance in Merchants Square.

Five Centuries of Holiday Music in Virginia

Sunday Dec. 5, 12 & 19; at 3:00 p.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜$15 per person｜ Join Henley Fork for a musical tour of Virginia's holiday traditions and music from the time of Jamestown through the twentieth century.

Four Centuries of Virginia Christmases

Tuesday Dec. 28; at 2:30 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜ $10 per person｜New! Share the fun of celebrating 400 years of Christmas through song, poetry and stories with Kelly Kennedy, David Gardner, Cliff Williams and Doug Austin.

Green Grows the Holly

Thursday Dec. 2; at 3:00 p.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜$5 per person｜Lynn and Barry Trott share carols and dance tunes for the winter season from the later 16th and early 17th centuries on lute, cittern, viol, hurdy gurdy, recorders and voice.

Hogmanay! Hogmanay!

Saturday Jan. 1; at 3:00 p.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜$10 per person｜ Join John Turner and Kelly Kennedy as they usher in the new year with traditional Scottish tunes and songs, including the annually popular Hogmanay Song.

Music for a Back Porch Virginia Holiday

Sunday Jan. 2, and Thursday Dec. 9 ; at 3:00 p.m. and Friday Nov. 26 at 4:00 p.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜ $5 per person｜Join musical historians Carson Hudson and Arden Clark for an old time holiday get-together.

Now Christmas Comes!

Thursday Dec. 16; at 3:00 p.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜$5 per person｜ Ring in the holidays with Brian Forsman and Bill Weldon as they trace the roots of seasonal tunes and popular carols to the music that our ancestors enjoyed.

Profound Joy

Friday Dec. 24; at 4:30 p.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜$10 per person ｜Timothy Seaman celebrates the wonder of winter, Christmas and Hanukkah on extended-range hammered dulcimer, with songs full of joy, hope and peace .

Palace Concert

Tuesday Nov. 2, 9, 21, Dec. 7, 14 & 28, and Saturday Nov. 27; at 7:30 p.m.｜Governor's Palace｜Adult: $19; Youth: $12; Child: Free｜ The regal Palace of the royal governor comes to life as Colonial Williamsburg's early music ensemble, the Governor's Musick, offers an elegant evening of chamber music showcasing 17th- and 18th-century music for harpsichord, voice, flute, and strings.

Suites for the Holidays

Friday Dec. 3, 10 & 17; at 4:00 p.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜$15 per person｜ New! Timothy Seaman, Ann Robinson and Robert Wadsworth on hammered dulcimers, Celtic harp, guitars and more share medleys of familiar tunes with distinct Christmas themes.

The Magic of Christmas

Wednesday Dec. 8, 15, 22 & 29; at 7:00 p.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜ Adult: $20; Youth: $15; Child: $15｜New! This new holiday show features mesmerizing magic and a live band of strings, brass, reeds and drums providing the sounds of the season from medieval through modern favorites.

Through the Seasons of the Year: Songs of Rural Life

Sunday Nov. 28; at 3:00 p.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜$5 per person｜Join Lynn and Barry Trott to explore the world of planting, farming, and herding through music of the seasons from the 18th and early 19th centuries.

Winter in the Valley

Tuesday Nov. 30, Dec. 7, 14, 21 & 28; at 11:00 a.m.｜Hennage Auditorium｜$5 per person｜Join the Waterman family for delightful Christmas songs and family stories from the 18th century as we welcome you into our music-making home during our favorite season!

Williamsburg Lodge Thanksgiving Day Feast

Thursday Nov. 25; at 11:00 a.m.｜Williamsburg Lodge Virginia Room｜Adult: $85.50; Child: $42.50｜ Gather your family around one of our tables for a traditional Thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings. Reservations required.

Thanksgiving Day Dinner Rockefeller Room

Thursday Nov. 25; at 12:00 p.m.｜Williamsburg Inn｜ Adult: $79++｜Enjoy Thanksgiving Day at the Williamsburg Inn's Rockefeller, Terrace and Goodwin Room with family and friends. Reservations required.

Thanksgiving Day Regency Room Williamsburg Inn

Thursday Nov. 25; at 12:00 p.m.｜Williamsburg Inn｜ Adult: $99.99++; Child: $49.99++｜Enjoy Thanksgiving at the Williamsburg Inn's classic Regency Room. Reservations required.

Wine Dinner at King's Arms with George Washington

Friday Dec. 17 & 31; 6:00 p.m. | King’s Arms Tavern | $165.00++ per person | Enjoy dinner with George Washington as he reflects on his world travels. Must be 21 or older. Reservations required.

Williamsburg Lodge Christmas Day Meal

Saturday Dec. 25; at 11:00 a.m.｜Williamsburg Lodge Virginia Room｜Adult: $85.50; Child: $42.50｜ Gather for a festive feast at the Williamsburg Lodge this Christmas! Reservations required.

Christmas Day Dinner Rockefeller Room

Friday Dec. 24; at 5:00 p.m. ｜Williamsburg Inn ｜ $79++ per person｜ Enjoy Christmas Eve at the Williamsburg Inn’s Rockefeller, Terrace and Goodwin Room with family and friends. Reservations required.

Christmas Day Regency Room Williamsburg Inn

Saturday Dec. 25; at 12:00 p.m.｜Williamsburg Inn｜Adult: $99.99++; Child: $49.99++｜ Enjoy a festive Christmas Day Meal in the Regency Room of the Williamsburg Inn. Reservations required.

Christmas Eve Dinner Rockefeller Room

Friday Dec. 24; at 5:00 p.m.｜Williamsburg Inn｜All ages: $79++｜ Enjoy Chrismas Eve at the Wiliamsburg Inn's Rockefeller, Terrace and Goodwin Room with family and friends. Reservations required.

New Years Eve Dinner Rockefeller Room

Friday Dec. 31; at 4:00 p.m.｜Williamsburg Inn｜All ages: $79++｜ Enjoy New Years Eve at the Williamsburg Inn's Rockefeller, Terrace and Goodwin Room with family and friends. Reservations required.