It’s beginning to look like Christmas...especially in Southwest Virginia!
From photos with Kris Kringle himself to Christmas parades and tree lightings, we have a full list of events throughout the region that’ll surely help you and your entire family get into the holiday spirit.
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Have any fun photos of decorations, Elf on the Shelf, your kiddos, or family gatherings? Share your holiday cheer with us here!
ROANOKE VALLEY
- Now through Dec. 20 (Every Saturday): Stories and Songs with Santa at the Taubman Museum of Art
- Now through Dec. 21: Cloud Bobby’s Holiday Photo Booth
- Now through Dec. 25: Land of Lights at the Franklin County Recreation Park
- Now through Dec. 31: 2025 Festival of Trees at Natural Bridge State Park
- Now through Jan. 1: Fashions for Evergreens 2025 at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
- Now through Jan. 2: Deck the Doors, festive community event benefiting the Roanoke History and O. Winston Link Museums
- Now through January 3: Buchanan Festival of Lights
- Now through January 3: Winter Bliss Skating Rink at Mountain Lake Lodge
- Now through Jan. 4: Bedford’s Festival of Trees
- Now through Jan. 4: Illuminights
- Note: All Illuminights activities have been cancelled for Friday, December 5th, due to overnight weather and unsafe trail conditions. Operations are set to resume tomorrow, December 6th.
- Now through Jan. 5: Downtown Roanoke, Inc.’s The Elf on the Shelf Adventure
- Every Friday and Saturday night in December: S’mores on the Courtyard at the Hotel Roanoke
- Dec. 4-14 (Sundays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays): Attic Productions presents “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”
- Dec. 4 at 7 p.m: Vinton Christmas Parade
- Dec. 5 at 5:30 p.m: Franklin County Tree Lighting Ceremony
- Dec. 5 at 6 p.m: City of Salem Christmas Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade
- Dec. 5, 12, 19: Delta Dental Dickens of a Christmas
- Dec. 5: City of Roanoke Christmas Tree Lighting
- Dec. 12: City of Roanoke Christmas Parade
- Dec. 19: Roanoke Valley SPCA Pet Costume Contest
- Dec. 5 from 6 to 8 p.m: Holiday Open House at the Botetourt County Historical Society
- Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m: Holiday Pops Spectacular at the Salem Civic Center
- Dec. 5 at 6 p.m: 6th annual Botetourt Chamber Tinsel Trail Opening Night
- Dec. 5, 12, and 19: Holiday Late Nights at the Taubman Museum of Art
- Dec. 6 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m: Salem Crafty Christmas with Craft Artisans
- Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m: 2025 Gingerbread Festival at the Longwood Park and Salem Museum
- Note: The 2025 Gingerbread Festival has been cancelled due to safety concerns, and weather-related limited space and cancellations from key activities.
- Dec. 6 from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m: Roanoke Valley Children’s Choir Holiday Sing-Along
- Dec. 6 from 1 to 3 p.m: Pictures with Santa at the Smith Mountain Lake Community Church of the Brethren
- Dec. 6 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m: Visit with Santa at Rock Outdoors in Hardy
- Dec. 6 from 2 p.m. to 8:30 p.m: 44th Annual Old Southwest Holiday Parlor Tour of Historic Homes
- Dec. 6 at 2 p.m: Christmas Wreath Workshop at Greenbrier Nurseries
- Dec. 6 at 2 p.m: Fincastle Christmas Parade
- Dec. 6 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m: Grandin Village Winterfest 2025
- Dec. 6 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m: Come Home to a Franklin County Christmas in downtown Rocky Mount
- Dec. 6 at 6 p.m: Craig County Christmas Parade
- Dec. 6-7: 10th Annual Holiday Craft and Vendor Show at the Berglund Center
- Dec. 6: Breakfast with Santa at the Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
- Dec. 6-7: Candy Cane Celebration at the Virginia Museum of Transportation
- Dec. 8 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m: Holiday Tree Lighting at Eagle Rock Library
- Dec. 11 - 12: Candlelight Christmas Tours: The Fishburn Mansion 2025
- Dec. 12 - 14 at 3 p.m: Southwest Virginia Ballet presents The Nutcracker at the Berglund Center
- Dec. 12 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m: Tacky Holiday Sweater Murder Mystery at the Claiborne House Inn and Retreat in Rocky Mount
- Dec. 12 at 7 p.m: Holiday Brass concert
- Dec. 12th - 14th, 19th - 21st, and the 27th: 2025 Luminary Nights at Natural Bridge State Park
- Dec. 13 - 14: Salem Holiday Market at the Salem Civic Center
- Dec. 13 & 14: “On the Worst Day of Christmas” play at Shenandoah Baptist Church in Roanoke
- Dec. 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m: Christmas Market at Sycamore Station in Salem
- Dec. 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m: Historic Fincastle Holiday Home Tour and Marketplace
- Dec. 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m: Grinchmas at the Science Museum of Western Virginia
- Dec. 13 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m: Buchanan Christmas Parade
- Dec. 16 at 7 p.m: Cirque Musica Holidays Wonderland
- Dec. 17 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m: 10th Annual Grandin Holiday Lights Extravaganza
- Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m: Jefferson Center presents Morgan Wade Home for the Holidays
- Dec. 18 at 7:30 p.m: Farmer Family Band Presents: Songs for the Season at the Spot on Kirk in Roanoke
- Dec. 19 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m: Christmas at the 1800s Farm Museum in Ferrum
- Dec. 19 at 8 p.m: Isaac Hadden Family Christmas Jam at 5 Points Music Sanctuary in Roanoke
- Dec. 19 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m: Candlelight Serenade at Mountain Lake Lodge
- Dec. 20 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and again from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m: The Holiday Mix at the Science Museum of Western Virginia
- Dec. 20 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m: Celtic Christmas at Mountain Lake Lodge
- Dec. 20 at 8 p.m: Salsa Noke: Holiday Pajamas Dance Party at the Spot on Kirk in Roanoke
- Dec. 24 at 5 p.m: Buchanan Christmas Eve Luminary Display
- Dec. 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m: Christmas Day Buffet at Harvest
NEW RIVER VALLEY
- Now until Dec. 31: Dak Lights at Randolph Park in Dublin
- Now until Jan. 3: Holiday Trees at the Blacksburg Museum
- Dec. 4 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m: Clay Hand Building Workshop – Choose Your Project
- Dec. 4 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m: Gingerbread Bash at Auburn High School
- Dec. 4 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m: Photos with Santa at the Radford Public Library
- Dec. 4 at 7 p.m: Town of Pulaski Parade
- Dec. 5 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m: Winter Lights Festival and Holly, Jolly Parade in downtown Blacksburg
- Dec. 5 from 6 to 8 p.m: Christmas in the Park at Randolph Park in Dublin
- Dec. 5 at 6:15 p.m: TUBACHRISTMAS on Henderson Lawn across from the Lyric Theatre in downtown Blacksburg
- Dec. 5-8: A Festival of Nativities at Slusser’s Chapel in Blacksburg
- Dec. 6 from 8 a.m. to noon: Breakfast with Santa at Christiansburg High School
- Dec. 6 from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m: 40th Annual Breakfast with Santa at the Pearisburg First United Methodist Church
- Dec.6 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m: Grinchy Fun at Scoops Arcade in Pembroke
- Dec. 6 & 7: 31st Annual Winterfest and Festival of Trees at the Floyd Center for the Arts
- Dec. 6 & 13: Christmas on 7th Santa Event in Radford
- Dec. 6 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m: The Y Holiday Village at the YMCA at Virginia Tech
- Dec. 6 at 11 a.m: Town of Dublin Christmas Parade
- Dec. 6 at 5 p.m: Pembroke Christmas Parade
- Dec. 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m: Taking Gnome the Tree – Sunday Paint Party at the Paint ‘n Fun Ceramics Studio
- Dec. 7 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m: “Christmas Through the Years” performance at the Meadowbrook Public Library in Shawsville
- Dec. 7 at 5 p.m: Rich Creek Christmas Tree Lighting
- Dec. 8 at 7 p.m: Rich Creek Christmas Parade
- Dec. 9 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m: Toddler and Preschool Holiday Crafts at the Charles & Ona B Free Memorial Library in Dublin
- Dec. 9 at 7 p.m: “Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays” parade in Radford
- Dec. 12 from 5 to 8 p.m: Christmas on Main in Christiansburg
- Tree lighting at 6:50 p.m.
- Parade starts at 7 p.m.
- Dec. 13 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m: 2025 Old Time Appalachian Christmas Festival in Galax
- Dec. 13 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m: 4th Annual Great Pulaski Cookie-Off at the Pulaski Library
- Dec. 13 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m: Fun with Santa at Scoops in Pembroke
- Dec. 13 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m: Movie Matinee: Muppet Christmas Carol and Cheeses for Us Meeces at the Radford Public Library
- Dec. 13 at 2 p.m: Holiday Films & Music at the Radford Theatre (Free Admission)
- Dec. 13 at 3 p.m: 2025 Riner Christmas Parade begins at Auburn Elementary School and ends at the Riner Volunteer Fire Department
- Dec. 14 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m: A Very Narrows Christmas 2025
- Dec. 14 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m: Crafts with Santa at Prices Fork Grange in Blacksburg
- Dec. 14 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m: Christmas Craft Party with Santa at Dogtown Pizza in Floyd
- Dec. 16 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m: Handmade for the Holidays: Hot Cocoa Mix & Mugs at the Meadowbrook Public Library
- Dec. 17 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m: Gingerbread Creations at the Jessie Peterman Memorial Library in Floyd
- Dec. 19 at 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.: Polar Express Craft Party at the Meadowbrook Public Library
- Dec. 20 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m: Gingerbread Creations at the Christiansburg Library
- Dec. 23 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m: Cookie decorating at the Christiansburg Library
- Dec. 25 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m: 8th Annual Free Community Christmas Dinner at the Pearisburg Fire Department
LYNCHBURG
- Dec. 4 at 6 p.m: Christmas at Hydaway at Liberty University Campus Recreation, 936 Camp Hydaway Rd.
- Dec. 4 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m: Dreamcatcher Live at The Water Dog
- From Dec. 4 to 21: Wolfbane Productions A Christmas Carol at the Wolf Den in Downtown Lynchburg
- Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m: Lynchburg Pops Presents Christmas in the Burg at the Academy Center of the Arts
- Dec. 4-6: Holiday Open House: Tastings, Garland Making Class, & Surprise Daily Discounts at the Farm Basket & Willow Boutique
- Dec. 5th - 6th, 11th - 12th, and 18th - 19th: Holiday Candlelight Tours at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest in Lynchburg
- Dec. 5 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m: First Fridays: Holiday card making for service members. It will take place at the Lynchburg Museum & Visitor Center
- Dec. 5 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m: Fire, Metal & Candlelight Skill Share at Vector Space
- Dec. 5 at 6 p.m: Christmas at Hydaway at Liberty University Campus Recreation
- Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m: 6th Annual Christmas Bazaar at the Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church
- Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m: Christmas Vendor Fair at the Brookville High School Main Gym
- Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m: A Very Merry Market at Smith’s at Smith’s Pumpkin Patch, 6204 Fort Ave.
- Dec. 6 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m: Holiday Card Printmaking Workshop at The Scrappy Elephant
- Dec. 6 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m: Winter Market at Millie’s Living Cafe & Health Nut Nutrition
- Dec. 6 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m: 5th Annual Afternoon with the Grinch at Mellow Mushroom
- Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m: Happy Holidays with the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra
- Dec. 6 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m: Freedom Market at 2306 Bedford Ave.
- Dec. 6 at 6:30 p.m: Victorian Tree Lighting at the Old City Cemetery
- Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m: The Kendall Knight Holiday Show at the Academy Center of the Arts Music Hall
- Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m: Brunch with Santa at The Virginian
- Dec. 7 from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m: Christmas Open House at Patrick Henry’s Red Hill
- Dec. 7 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m: Christmas Open House at 757 Sandusky Dr
- Dec. 7 from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m: TMJR Productions Presents: A Rockin’ Memphis Christmas at the Academy Center of the Arts
- Dec. 7 at 4 p.m: 66th Annual Lynchburg Christmas Parade at Bank of the James Stadium
- Dec. 7 at 7 p.m: Christmas on Rivermont at the Gospel Community Church
- Dec. 8 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m: Santa at Lynchburg Regional Airport
- Dec. 10 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m: Winter Ceramics Studio Holiday Sale & Open House at Sweet Briar College
- Dec. 10 at 7 p.m: Christmas Wreath Workshop at Wild Grove Florals
- Dec. 10 at 7 p.m: New York, New York Dueling Pianos Christmas Edition at the Academy Center of the Arts
- Dec. 11 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m: Santa at Lynchburg Regional Airport
- Dec. 11 at 6 p.m: Holiday Chef’s Dinner at Squared Biscuit Co
- Dec. 11 at 7:30 p.m: Masters of Soul: A Motown Christmas at the Academy Center of the Arts
- Dec. 11 - 13: Tacky Light Tour 2025 (Meet at the Lynchburg Community Market)
- Dec. 12 – 14: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever at the Commerce Street Theater
- Dec. 12 at 8 p.m: Sara Beck and Friends: The Holiday Show at the Music Hall Academy Center of the Arts
- Dec. 13 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m: Children’s Holiday Festival: Candy Cane Carnival at the Amazement Square
- Dec. 13 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m: Holiday Card Printmaking Workshop at The Scrappy Elephant
- Dec. 13 at 12 p.m: Wreaths Across America 2025 at Old City Cemetery
- Dec 13 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m: Holiday Bash hosted by the Lynchburg Football Club at Starr Hill on Main
- Dec. 13 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m: Oliver’s Ugly Sweater Christmas Party with Andrew Beverly at Oliver’s on Rivermont
- Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m: Dailey Vincent: Candy Canes and Coal at the Academy Center of the Arts
- Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m: Brunch with Santa at The Virginian
- Dec. 14 at 4 p.m: A Festival of Christmas Lessons and Carols at St. John’s Episcopal Church
- Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m: Morgan Wade: Home for the Holidays at the Academy Center of the Arts
- Dec. 17 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m: Howliday Party at The Water Dog
- Dec. 17 at 7 p.m: Bells of the Blue Ridge: Holiday Rings from the Hollywood Screen at the University of Lynchburg
- Dec. 19 at 5 p.m. & Dec. 20 at 4 p.m: Candy Cane Carnival at FunQuest Family Entertainment
- Dec. 20 at 8:30 a.m: Riverside Runners Jingle Bell Fun Run
- Dec.20 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m: Winter Wonderland Holiday Palette Knife Painting Class at Scrappy Elephant
- Dec. 20 at 4 p.m: Bells of the Blue Ridge: Holiday Rings from the Hollywood Screen at the University of Lynchburg
- Dec. 20 from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m: Ugly Sweater Party & Contest at The Trading Post
- Dec. 20 & 21: Charlottesville Ballet: The Nutcracker at the Academy Center of the Arts
SOUTHSIDE
- Dec. 4 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m: Sensory Friendly Night with Santa at the Danville Science Center
- Dec. 4 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m: Christmas Paint Night at SoVa Arts Collective at 419 Main Street in South Boston
- Dec. 4 at 7 p.m: The Grinch Mixology at the Berry Hill Resort at 3105 River Rd in South Boston
- Dec. 5: Lexington Christmas Parade
- Note: The Lexington Christmas Parade has been cancelled due to weather and will not be rescheduled. More info can be found at the website listed above.
- Dec. 5 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m: Christmas on the Plaza in Danville (Tree lighting at 5:30 p.m.)
- Dec. 5 through 7, 12 through 14 and the 20th: 6th annual drive-thru Lights for Hope at the Halifax County Fairgrounds
- Dec. 5 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m: Christmas Tree Barn Quilt at Factory Street Brewing in South Boston
- Dec. 6 at 5 p.m: South Boston Christmas Parade
- Dec. 7 at 5 p.m: Riverview Rotary Christmas Parade (Parade begins at Main Street and Broad Street in Danville)
- Dec. 11 - 23: Community Holiday Light Show in Ballou Park (760 West Main Street in Danville)
- Dec. 12 - 14: Lighting of the Bridge at the Staunton River Battlefield State Park
- Dec. 12 at 5:30 p.m: Christmas Angel Paint Party at Springfield Distillery
- Dec. 13 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m: Pet Photo with Santa at the Danville Area Humane Society
- Dec. 14 from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m: Gingerbread House Decorating Contest at the Factory Street Brewing Company
- Dec. 14 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m: Woodbine’s 4th Annual Christmas Party
HIGHLANDS
- Dec. 6 starting at 9 a.m: The Highland Center’s Annual Wintertide Vendor Market and Activities
- Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m: 2025 An Olde Town Christmas Event on Covington Main Street
- Dec. 6 at 4 p.m: Christmas on Main Street
- Dec. 6 at 5 p.m: Highland County Christmas Parade
- Dec. 12 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m: Erich Cawalla & The Uptown Band’s Christmas Show at the Historic Masonic Theatre in Clifton Forge
- Dec. 14 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m: The Barter Players Present: I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas at the Historic Masonic Theatre in Clifton Forge
- Dec. 19 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m: Mountain Opry Presents: Christmas in the Mountains with the AHS Choir at the Historic Masonic Theatre in Clifton Forge
Know of a holiday event we missed? Email Jazmine Otey at jotey@wsls.com