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 during the second week of December.
This is the SECOND of our December weekly guides to help you find the best events in advance! Stay tuned for future weekly guides:
December 1-7 Lynchburg Area Holiday and Family Fun Events for 2023 - The first of our December weekly event guides!
December 8-14 Lynchburg Area Holiday and Family Fun Events for 2023 - The second of our December weekly event guides!
December 15-21 Lynchburg Area Holiday and Family Fun Events for 2023 - The third of our December weekly event guides!
December 22-31 Lynchburg Area Holiday and Family Fun Events for 2023 - Our final December weekly+ event guide!
Add a few of these events to your calendar during December along with your family's annual holiday traditions to bring some holiday cheer into your family time.
Some of these events require advance reservations or tickets. Please check details for each event at the link.
** NOTE - First group of events below 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. **
Ongoing Events
Nov. 17 - Dec. 24 - Santa at River Ridge Mall - Daily hours vary; see schedule
Nov. 18 - Dec. 29 - Illuminights - Explore Park's Winter Walk of Lights (Nov. 18-19, Nov. 24-26, Dec. 1-23, and Dec. 26-29) starting at 5 PM
Nov. 18 - Jan. 14 - The Ice at River Ridge Mall - Daily hours vary; see schedule
Nov. 19 - Jan. 14 - Bright Nights on the Bluffwalk Festival on Nov. 19 from 4 PM - 8 PM; lights on Bluffwalk through Jan. 14
Nov. 21 - Dec. 14 - Trees of Hope at Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center (Monday through Friday from 8 AM - 5 PM)
Nov. 21 - Jan. 5 - Festival of Trees at Bedford Area Welcome Center from 9 AM - 5 PM daily (open until 8 PM Dec. 1-3 and Dec. 8-10); closed major holidays)
Nov. 23 - Jan. 1 - Fashions for Evergreens at Hotel Roanoke - Daily from 8 AM - 9 PM at Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke
Nov. 23 - Jan. 1 - Christmas Light Display at Liberty Lake in Bedford - Nov. 23 - Jan. 1 around the clock
Nov. 24 - Dec. 31 - Festival of Trees at Natural Bridge State Park from 10 AM - 5 PM (Closed Christmas Day)
Nov. 24 - Jan. 6 - Trains Exhibit at Bedford Museum - Monday - Saturday from 10 AM - 5 PM (open until 3 PM on Nov. 25 and Jan. 6; open until 8 PM on Dec. 1, 8, and 15; closed Sundays and major holidays)
Nov. 24 - Dec. 31 - Tree Lighting Ceremony at Tree of Life Ministries from 5 PM - 6 PM (lights will remain lit through the season)
Nov. 26 - Dec. 31 - Christmas Display at 1487 Church Street in Appomattox - Starts Nov. 26 at 7 PM; lit through Dec. 31
Nov. 26 - Appomattox Christmas Tree Lighting at 5 PM - lights will remain lit every evening through New Year's
Dec. 1 - Jan. 1 - Drive-Thru Winter Wonderland at Legacy Wealth Management Group from 5 PM - 11 PM (Community Night Dec. 1 from 5 PM - 8 PM)
Dec. 1 - Jan. 1 - Celebration of Lights at Riverside Park from 5 PM - 9 PM (no vehicles on special event nights)
Dec. 1 - Jan. 1 - Buchanan's Festival of Lights - Lights remain lit through Jan. 1
Dec. 1 - Jan. 7 - Select Air Mechanical Christmas Light Show in Altavista from 5:30 PM - 10 PM nightly - shows every 30 minutes; last show starts at 9:30 PM *tentative dates
Dec. 1 - Dec. 31 - Christmas Lights Display at Spring Oak Bedford (Former Elks National Home) from 5:30 PM - 10 PM
Dec. 6 - early January - Lighting of the Garden at Awareness Garden from 5 PM - 9 PM (sing-a-long on Dec. 6)
December 8-14 Lynchburg Area Holiday and Family Fun Events
Dec. 6-9 - T.C. Miller School for Innovation Presents "Shrek the Musical, Jr." - Dec. 6-9 at 6:30 PM; Dec. 9 at 2 PM
Dec. 7-10 - Amherst Middle School Drama Club Presents "Elf, Jr. the Musical" - Dec. 7 at 6:30 PM; Dec. 8-9 at 7 PM; Dec. 10 at 3 PM
Dec. 7-9 - Drive-Thru Nativity at Tree of Life from 7 PM - 9:30 PM
Dec. 7-10 - Brookville Theatre Presents "Bring It On the Musical" - Dec. 7-9 at 7 PM; Dec. 9-10 at 2 PM New dates: Jan. 18-20 at 7 PM; Jan. 21 at 2 PM
Dec. 7-8 - Wind Symphony and Orchestra Winter Concert at University of Lynchburg at 7:30 PM
Dec. 8 - Holiday Open House at United Way of Central Virginia from 10 AM - 1 PM *Santa event
Dec. 8 - Visit With Santa at Appalachian Orthodontics of Lynchburg from 10 AM - 6 PM *Santa event
Dec. 8 - Santa at Val's Comfort Kitchen from 4 PM - 7 PM *Santa event
Dec. 8-10 - Luminary Nights at Natural Bridge State Park from 5 PM - 9 PM (also Dec. 15-16)
Dec. 8 - Carriage Ride Night at Celebration of Lights at Riverside Park from 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Dec. 8 - Storytime with Mrs. Claus at River Ridge Mall from 6 PM - 7 PM *Mrs. Claus event
Dec. 8 - Santa Under the Stars at Timbrook Library from 6 PM - 8 PM *Santa event
Dec. 8 - Sundaes with Santa at Chick-fil-A Timberlake from 6 PM - 8 PM *Santa event
Dec. 8-10 - Liberty High School Performing Arts Presents "Frozen, Jr." - Dec. 8-9 at 7 PM; Dec. 10 at 3 PM
Dec. 8-10 - Virginia Christmas Spectacular at Thomas Road Baptist Church - Dec. 8 at 7 PM; Dec. 9 at 11 AM, 3 PM, and 7 PM; Dec. 10 at 4 PM
Dec. 9 - Candy Cane Run at Timbrook Park at 9 AM **Event canceled**
Dec. 9 - Breakfast with Santa at Spring Oak Bedford from 9 AM - 11 AM *Santa event
Dec. 9 - December Holiday Market at Forest Farmers Market from 9 AM - 12 PM
Dec. 9 - Breakfast with Santa at New London Academy from 9 AM - 12 PM *Santa event
Dec. 9 - Lynchburg Community Market Mistletoe Market from 8 AM - 1 PM
Dec. 9 - Whoville Christmas Market at Lovingston Volunteer Fire Department from 9 AM - 3 PM *Santa event
Dec. 9 - Downtown Lynchburg Historic Churches Open House from 10 AM - 1:30 PM
Dec. 9 - 4th Annual FREE Photos with Santa at Kissed Cupcakes from 10 AM - 2 PM *Santa event
Dec. 9 - Peaks Holiday Fest & Artisan Fair from 10 AM - 4 PM *Santa event
Dec. 9 - Christmas Open House at American Civil War Museum from 10 AM - 4 PM
Dec. 9 - A Hometown Christmas at Hometown Finds from 10 AM - 5 PM *Santa event
Dec. 9 - Happy Pawlidays at Miller Center from 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM *Santa Paws event
Dec. 9 - Photos with Santa and The Grinch at Harley Davidson of Lynchburg from 11 AM - 2 PM *Santa and Grinch event
Dec. 9 - Christmas in Sedalia from 11 AM - 4 PM *Santa event
Dec. 9 - Christmas Craft and Photos with Santa at Madison Heights Library at 11:30 AM *Santa event
Dec. 9, 17 - One Night in Bethlehem Walk Through Nativity at Living Word Baptist Church - Dec. 9 from 1-3 PM and 5-8 PM; Rescheduled to Dec. 17 from 5-8 PM
Dec. 9-10 - Christmas at Avoca Museum: A Winter Wonderland from 1 PM - 5 PM *Santa event
Dec. 9 - Grinchmas Party with Caliber Home Loans from 2 PM - 5 PM *Grinch event
Dec. 9 - Trombone Christmas - Sounds of the Season at River Ridge at 3 PM
Dec. 9 - Simply Christmas: An Evening with Saint Nicholas from 3 PM - 7 PM *Santa event
Dec. 9 - Deck the Heels 5k Night Run at the Booker Building at 5 PM
Dec. 9 - Nelson County Christmas Parade at 6 PM
Dec. 9 - The Seven Hills Chorus's Christmas Through the Ages Concert at First Presbyterian Church of Lynchburg at 7 PM
Dec. 9 - Christmas Candlelight Concert at Randolph College at 7 PM
Dec. 9 - Winfree Observatory Star Party at Randolph College from 7 PM - 8:30 PM weather permitting
Dec. 10 - Sensory Santa at River Ridge Mall from 8:30 AM - 10 AM *Santa event
Dec. 10 - Christmas at the Orchard at Drumheller's Orchard from 10 AM - 5 PM *Santa event
Dec. 10 - Christmas in the Village in Appomattox from 1 PM - 4 PM *Santa event **Event canceled**
Dec. 10 - Christmas Open House at Amherst County Museum from 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM *Santa event
Dec. 10 - Santa Claus is Coming to NextHome TwoFourFive from 2 PM - 4 PM *Santa event
Dec. 10 - Carriage Rides with Santa at Boonsboro Shopping Center from 2 PM - 5 PM *Santa event **Event canceled**
Dec. 10 - Farmhouse Holidays at Claytor Nature Center from 2 PM - 5 PM
Dec. 10 - Rustburg Christmas Parade at 3 PM **Rescheduled to Dec. 17 at 3 PM**
Dec. 10 - Tuba Christmas - Sounds of the Season at River Ridge at 3 PM
Dec. 10 - Cookies with Santa at Divine Fog Realty from 3 PM - 5 PM *Santa event
Dec. 10 - Gretna Christmas Parade at 4:30 PM **Rescheduled to Dec. 17 at 4:30 PM**
Dec. 10 - Lessons and Carols at St. Thomas More Catholic Church at 5 PM
Dec. 10 - Christmas at the Park at 5 PM *Santa event
Dec. 10 - Story Time with Santa at Tist Academy from 6 PM - 8 PM *Santa event
Dec. 11 - Santa at the Airport from 4 PM - 6 PM *Santa event
Dec. 12 - Santa Visits with 'Old Fuzzy Face' at Liberty Tax in Lynchburg from 3 PM - 6 PM *Santa event
Dec. 12 - Gingerbread House Contest at Patrick Henry Memorial Library from 4 PM - 5 PM
Dec. 13 - Visit with Santa at The Colonial Restaurant from 4:30PM - 7:30PM *Santa event
Dec. 14 - Coffee & Critters at River Ridge Mall from 10 AM - 12 PM *Grinch event
Dec. 14 - Hot Chocolate with The Grinch at Monelison Volunteer Fire Department from 5 PM - 7 PM *Grinch event
Dec. 14 - Cookies with Santa at J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM *Santa event
As always, we've created separate guides this year for the November and December events and then broken down the month of December by week to help you plan around your busy schedule. 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.
Make time for family fun while holiday planning. Soon enough, the kids will be out of school for the holidays. Pile in the car and go look at Christmas lights together. Walk around the mall and take selfies at all of the pretty displays. Visit the Bluffwalk in downtown Lynchburg and check out all of the lights. Bake cookies or make holiday treats. Making memories together is what Christmas is all about.
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 the Lynchburg Macaroni Kid 2023 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.
Holiday Shopping Events in Lynchburg and Central Virginia
Lynchburg Christmas Lights and Area Holiday Tree Lightings Guide
Lynchburg Macaroni Kid Visits with Santa Guide - Sponsored by Danielle Kramer, Realtor with Keller Williams Lynchburg
Live Christmas Tree Locations in Lynchburg and Central Virginia
Local Shopping in Lynchburg and Central Virginia - Sponsored by Bedford Area Welcome Center
Give the Gift of LOCAL Family Fun for the Holidays in 2023 - Sponsored by FunQuest Family Entertainment Center
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!
