The month of December is so busy with special holiday events, school performances, and family happenings. Our December Holiday and Christmas Event Guide often gets too full to be practical, so we're breaking it down by week to help with your planning!
Our weekly guides will include holiday events as well as other family-friendly events and will cover the week from Friday through Friday, so there will be an overlapping day each week. The first week's guide begins with Thursday, Dec. 1, so it will run through Friday, Dec. 9.
Check the Lynchburg Macaroni Kid calendar of events for detailed information about these and many other family-friendly events in Lynchburg and the surrounding counties.
As always, we've created separate monthly guides for the November and December events too. You'll find our November Family Fun, Festivals, and Shopping Guide HERE and our Lynchburg Area Holiday and Christmas Events for December HERE!
Plan your Christmas light viewing family field trips with our Lynchburg Christmas Lights and Area Holiday Tree Lightings Guide, updated frequently!
If you have a large holiday display at your home or business, reach out to us on our Facebook page or by email to sandyw@macaronikid.com to have your location added to our guide!
Check out the Lynchburg Macaroni Kid Visits with Santa Guide to find Santa in Central Virginia and our popular Christmas Parade Guide (coming soon) for all of the local parades.
Find unique gifts for everyone on your list with our guide to Holiday Shopping Events in Lynchburg and Central Virginia for 2022 HERE.
From parades and Santa visits to Christmas tree lightings and and holiday markets, here are the best family-friendly holiday events for your family to check out from Dec. 1-9, 2022.
December 1-9 Holiday and Family Fun Events:
** NOTE - First few events take place on multiple dates over an extended period and are not included in the daily listings below. Most weekend events are only listed once for the entire weekend on the first date if times are the same all days. **
Nov. 18 - Dec. 24 - Santa at River Ridge Mall - Daily hours vary; see schedule
Nov. 19 - Dec. 30 - Illuminights - Explore Park's Winter Walk of Lights (closed some dates) starting at 5 PM
Nov. 22 - Jan. 6 - Festival of Trees at Bedford Area Welcome Center from 9 AM - 5 PM daily (open until 8 PM Dec. 2-4); closed major holidays)
Nov. 23 - Dec. 15 - Trees of Hope at Centra Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center from 8 AM - 5 PM (Monday-Friday only)
Nov. 23 - Jan. 1 - Christmas Light Display at Liberty Lake in Bedford - Nov. 23 - Jan. 1 around the clock
Nov. 24 - Jan. 1 - Fashions for Evergreens at Hotel Roanoke - Daily from 6 AM - 10 PM at Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke
Nov. 25 - Jan. 7 - Trains Exhibit at Bedford Museum - Monday - Saturday from 10 AM - 5 PM (closed Sundays and major holidays)
Nov. 27 - Dec. 30 - Holidays in Hooper Woods: "The Grinch and What’s This" 2022 Projection Show from 5:30-10:30 nightly (tune your radio to 95.5 FM)
Dec. 2- Jan. 1 - Select Air Mechanical Christmas Light Show in Altavista from 5:30 PM - 10 PM nightly
Dec. 3 - Dec. 31 - Vintage Toys Display at Lynchburg Museum - Th/F/Sa/M from 10 AM - 4 PM; Sunday from 12 PM - 4 PM; Closed Tu/We)
Dec. 1-3 - Holiday Candlelight Tours at Poplar Forest (5:30 and 6:30 tours)
Dec. 1-3 - Christmas at Hydaway from 6 PM - 9 PM
Dec. 1 - Buena Vista Christmas Tree Lighting at 6:30 PM
Dec. 1 - "The Cool Yule Holiday Cabaret 2022" at Jefferson Forest High School - Dec. 1, 2, 8, 9, and 10 at 7 PM; Dec. 3 and 11 at 3 PM
Dec. 1 - Brookneal Christmas Parade at 7 PM
Dec. 1 - Buena Vista Christmas Parade at 7 PM
Dec. 2 - Tree Lighting Ceremony and Cookies with Santa at Amherst Town Hall from 4 PM - 6 PM
Dec. 2 - Divine Fog Serves Count Down to Christmas at Divine Fog Realty from 5 PM - 7 PM
Dec. 2 - First Fridays at Academy Center of the Arts from 5 PM - 8 PM
Dec. 2 - Grand Illumination at Celebration of Lights at Riverside Park from 5 PM - 10 PM (pedestrian only night)
Dec. 2 - Jan. 1 - Celebration of Lights at Riverside Park from 5 PM - 10 PM (no vehicles on special event nights)
Dec. 2 - Jan. 1 - Drive-Thru Winter Wonderland at Legacy Wealth Management Group from 5 PM - 10 PM
Dec. 2 - Dec. 31 - Christmas Lights Display at The Elks (Former Elks National Home) from 5:30 PM - 10 PM
Dec. 2 - Santa, the Grinch, and Cindy Lou Who at Drive-Thru Winter Wonderland at Legacy Wealth Management Group from 5 PM - 8 PM
Dec. 2 - Vintage Toys Display Opening Reception at Lynchburg Museum from 6 PM - 8 PM
Dec. 1-3 - Christmas at Hydaway from 6 PM - 9 PM
Dec. 2 - Christmas Carriage Rides in Bedford - 6 PM - 9 PM
Dec. 2-3, 9-10, and 16-17 - Come See The Light at Holy Land USA from 6 PM - 9 PM
Dec. 2 - Village Tree Lighting at Historic Courthouse in Rustburg at 6 PM
Dec. 2 - Santa at Campbell County Library - Rustburg from 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Dec. 2 - Amherst Christmas Parade at 6:30 PM
Dec. 2 - "The Cool Yule Holiday Cabaret 2022" at Jefferson Forest High School - Dec. 1, 2, 8, 9, and 10 at 7 PM; Dec. 3 and 11 at 3 PM
Dec. 2 - After-Parade Hangout and Holiday Makers Market at Amherst Second Stage from 7:30 PM - 9 PM
Dec. 3, 10, and 17 - Mistletoe Market at Lynchburg Community Market from 7 AM - 2 PM
Dec. 3 - Breakfast with Santa at Concord Rescue Squad from 8 AM - 10 AM (Santa leaves at 9:30 AM)
Dec. 3 - Very Merry Vendor Fair at the Jamerson YMCA from 8 AM - 1 PM
Dec. 3 - Christmas at the Firehouse: Breakfast with Santa at Lyn-Dan Heights VFD from 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Dec. 3 - Reindeer Run 2 Mile Trail Race at Hydaway Outdoor Rec Center at 9 AM
Dec. 3 - Breakfast With Santa at Boonsboro Country Club from 9 AM - 11:30 AM
Dec. 3 - Holiday Makers Market at Amherst Second Stage from 9 AM - 1 PM
Dec. 3 - Christmas Extravaganza Vendor Fair at Brookville High School from 9 AM - 1 PM
Dec. 3 - Timberlake Garden Club Christmas Bazaar at the Barn from 9 AM - 2 PM
Dec. 3 - Experience the Holidays in Appomattox from 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Dec. 3 - Merry Market in Appomattox from 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Dec. 3 - Christmas At The Barn at Seneca Lake Venue at 10 AM
Dec. 3 - Jingle Bell Run in Lexington at 10 AM
Dec. 3 - Santa Visits the Farm Market at Saunders Brothers Farm Market from 10 AM - 12 PM
Dec. 3 - Holiday Open House at Old City Cemetery from 10 AM - 3 PM
Dec. 3 - Quaker Memorial Presbyterian Church 3rd Annual Christmas Bazaar from 10 AM - 3 PM
Dec. 3 - Choose and Cut Christmas Trees at Saunders Brothers from 10 AM - 4 PM
Dec. 3 - Letters to Santa Craft at Lynchburg Public Library from 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Dec. 3 - Bedford Christmas Parade at 11 AM
Dec. 3 - Appomattox Christmas Parade at 11 AM
Dec. 3 - Glasgow Christmas Stroll and Tree Lighting at 1 PM
Dec. 3 - Public Board Game Saturday at Forest Library from 12:30 PM - 5 PM
Dec. 3 - "The Cool Yule Holiday Cabaret 2022" at Jefferson Forest High School - Dec. 3 and 11 at 3 PM
Dec. 3 - The Grinch Visits Lovingston Volunteer Fire Department Co. 1 at 3 PM
Dec. 3 - Christmas in Centertown Bedford and Tree Lighting from 3 PM - 6 PM
Dec. 3 - Christmas Carriage Rides in Bedford from 3 PM - 6 PM
Dec. 3 - Altavista Christmas Parade at 5 PM
Dec. 3 - Glasgow Christmas Parade at 6 PM
Dec. 3 - Christmas in the Mountains at Eagle Eyrie at 6 PM
Dec. 1-3 - Christmas at Hydaway from 6 PM - 9 PM
Dec. 3 - Happy Holidays with the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra at Academy Center of the Arts at 7:30 PM
Dec. 3 - Jefferson Choral Society Presents "Let There Be Peace" at Timberlake United Methodist Church at 7:30 PM
Dec. 4 - Sensory Santa at River Ridge Mall from 9 AM - 10:30 AM
Dec. 4 - Santa Paws at Simply Grooming from 12 PM - 4 PM
Dec. 4 - Holiday Open House at Historic Miller Claytor House from 1 PM - 4 PM
Dec. 4 - Christmas Open House at Historic Sandusky - Lynchburg College from 1 PM - 5 PM
Dec. 4 - Christmas Open House at Patrick Henry's Red Hill from 2 PM - 4 PM
Dec. 4 - Lynchburg Christmas Parade at 4 PM
Dec. 4 - Jefferson Choral Society Presents "Let There Be Peace" at Timberlake United Methodist Church at 4 PM
Dec. 4 - Tree Lighting at Craddock Terry Hotel and Event Center at 6 PM
Dec. 5 - Pet Photos with Santa at River Ridge Mall from 9 AM - 7 PM
Dec. 5 - Grinchmas at Bounce About at 10:30 AM
Dec. 5-6 - Amherst County High School Winterfest Celebration from 5 PM - 7 PM
Dec. 6 - Santa comes to Appalachian Orthodontics of Lynchburg from 2:30 PM - 6 PM
Dec. 6 - Santa at Campbell County Library - Brookneal from 6 PM - 7:30 PM
Dec. 7 - Lighting of the Garden and Holiday Sing-a-Long at Awareness Garden at 5 PM
Dec. 7 - Deck the Halls with Disney Featuring DCappella at Academy Center of the Arts at 7:30 PM
Dec. 8-9 - Carriage Rides at Celebration of Lights at Riverside Park from 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM (Rescheduled to Dec. 14-15)
Dec. 8-9 - Holiday Candlelight Tours at Poplar Forest (5:30 and 6:30 tours)
Dec. 8-9 - A Dickens Christmas Carol at Linkhorne Middle School at 7 PM
Dec. 8-10 - Drive Thru Nativity at Tree of Life - Dec. 8-10 from 7 PM - 9:30 PM
Dec. 8-10 - "The Cool Yule Holiday Cabaret 2022" at Jefferson Forest High School - Dec. 1, 2, 8, 9, and 10 at 7 PM; Dec. 3 and 11 at 3 PM
Dec. 8 - Christmas Candlelight Concert at Randolph College at 7:30 PM
Dec. 9 - Grinchmas at Bounce About at 4:30 PM and 7 PM
Dec. 9-10 - Luminary Nights at Natural Bridge State Park from 5 PM - 9 PM
Dec. 9 - Storytime with Mrs. Claus and Santa at River Ridge Mall at 6 PM
Dec. 9 - Santa at Campbell County Library - Timbrook from 6 PM - 8 PM
Dec. 9 - Christmas Carriage Rides in Bedford - 6 PM - 9 PM
Dec. 9 -11 - Virginia Christmas Spectacular at Thomas Road Baptist Church - Dec. 9 at 7 PM; Dec. 10 at 11 AM, 3 PM, and 7 PM; Dec. 11 at 4 PM
Check the Lynchburg Macaroni Kid 2022 Christmas Holiday Guide for links to all of our holiday guides as well as holiday crafts, foods, gift ideas, and much more all in one place.
The list is updated as information is received about local family-friendly events. To add your organization’s Christmas or holiday family-friendly event to the list, message us at our Lynchburg Macaroni Kid Facebook page or click the “submit an event” link on our website. You’ll find more information about many of the local festival on the Lynchburg Macaroni Kid calendar of events.
December is always a busy month for families with so many fun activities and events for children of all ages. Make time to make some memories this month!
Let Lynchburg Macaroni Kid help you Find Your Family Fun® for the holidays in Central Virginia!
