From parades and Santa visits to Christmas tree lightings and holiday markets, here are the best family-friendly holiday events for your family to check out during the third week of December.
This is the THIRD of our December weekly guides to help you find the best events in advance! Stay tuned for future weekly guides:
Nov. 28 - Dec. 1 Lynchburg Area Holiday and Family Fun Events for 2024 - The first of our December weekly event guides!
Dec. 6 - Dec. 12 Lynchburg Area Holiday and Family Fun Events for 2024 - The second of our December weekly event guides!
Dec. 13 - Dec. 19 Lynchburg Area Holiday and Family Fun Events for 2024 - The third of our December weekly event guides!
Dec. 20 - Jan. 2 Lynchburg Area Holiday and Family Fun Events for 2024 - 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. 16 - Dec. 24 - Santa at River Ridge Mall - Daily hours vary; see schedule
Nov. 22 - Dec. 31 - Festival of Trees at Natural Bridge State Park from 10 AM - 5 PM (Closed Christmas Day)
Nov. 23 - Dec. 30 - Illuminights - Explore Park's Winter Walk of Lights (closed some dates, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) starting at 5 PM
Nov. 24 - Jan. 5 - Bright Nights on the Bluffwalk Block Party and Tree Lighting from 5 PM - 9 PM on Nov. 24; lights on Bluffwalk through Jan. 5
Nov. 25 - Dec. 11 - Trees of Hope at Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center (Monday through Friday from 8 AM - 5 PM)
Nov. 25 - Jan. 5 - Festival of Trees at Bedford Area Welcome Center from 9 AM - 5 PM (extended hours Dec. 6-8 and Dec. 13-15; closed major holidays)
Nov. 28 - Dec. 1 - Mistletoe Market at I Scream You Scream - Thursdays through Sundays from Nov. 14 - Dec. 22 from 11 AM - 7 PM
Nov. 28 - Jan. 1 - Fashions for Evergreens at Hotel Roanoke - Daily from 8 AM - 9 PM at Hotel Roanoke, Roanoke
Nov. 29 - Jan. 4 - Trains Exhibit at Bedford Museum - Monday - Saturday from 10 AM - 5 PM (open until 3 PM on Nov. 29 and Jan. 4; closed Sundays and major holidays)
Dec. 1 - Appomattox Christmas Tree Lighting at 5:15 PM - lights will remain lit every evening through New Year's
Dec. 1-31 - Christmas Display at 1487 Church Street in Appomattox from 7 PM - 11 PM - Starts Dec. 1 at 7 PM; lit through Dec. 31
Dec. 4 - Tree Lighting Ceremony and Christmas Party at Tree of Life Ministries - starting at 7 PM (lights will remain lit through the season)
Dec. 5-31 - Drive-Thru Winter Wonderland at Legacy Wealth Management Group from 5 PM - 11 PM (Community Night Dec. 5 from 5 PM - 9 PM)
- Christmas Light Display at Liberty Lake in Bedford - Nov. 23 - Jan. 1 around the clock
- Celebration of Lights at Riverside Park from 5 PM - 9 PM (no vehicles on special event nights)
- Buchanan's Festival of Lights - Lights remain lit through Jan. 1
- Christmas Lights Display at Spring Oak Bedford (Former Elks National Home) from 5:30 PM - 10 PM
- 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
- Lighting of the Garden at Awareness Garden from 5 PM - 9 PM (sing-a-long on opening night)
December 13-19 Lynchburg Area Holiday and Family Fun Events
Dec. 12-15 - Mistletoe Market at I Scream You Scream - Thursdays through Sundays from Nov. 14 - Dec. 22 from 11 AM - 7 PM
Dec. 13-15 - Luminary Nights at Natural Bridge State Park from 5 PM - 9 PM
Dec. 13 - Santa Under the Stars at Timbrook Library from 6 PM - 8 PM *Santa event
Dec. 13-15 - Virginia Christmas Spectacular at Thomas Road Baptist Church - Dec. 13 at 7 PM; Dec. 14 at 11 AM, 3 PM, and 7 PM; Dec. 15 at 4 PM
Dec. 14 - Breakfast with Santa at Masonic Lodge #301 from 8 AM - 10 AM *Santa event
Dec. 14 - 3rd Annual Breakfast with Santa at Appomattox Volunteer Fire Department from 8:30 AM - 11 AM *Santa event
Dec. 14 - Pancake Breakfast With Santa at Big Island Emergency Crew from 9 AM - 11 AM *Santa event
Dec. 14 - Holiday Market at Forest Farmers Market from 9 AM - 12 PM
Dec. 14 - A Blue Ridge Christmas from 9 AM - 2 PM *Santa event
Dec. 14 - Buchanan's Christmas Market from 9 AM - 3 PM
Dec. 14 - Holiday Paint & Cookies: Snowman Edition at Academy Center of the Arts at 10 AM
Dec. 14 - Toddler Saturday Character Event at FunQuest - Christmas Party with Santa from 10 AM - 12 PM *Santa event
Dec. 14 - Christmas On The Farm with Minicamelots Emotional Support Horses from 10 AM - 3 PM *Santa event
Dec. 14 - Happy Pawlidays at Renaissance Theatre in Miller Center from 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM *Santa Paws event
Dec. 14 - Wreaths Across America at Old City Cemetery at 12 PM
Dec. 14 - Christmas Party with Santa at Bedford Museum from 1 PM - 3 PM *Santa event
Dec. 14 - Happy Pawlidays at Humane Society of Amherst County from 2 PM - 4 PM *Santa and Santa Paws event
Dec. 14 - Saturday Afternoon Open Skate at AJ Skateworld with Santa from 2 PM - 4:30 PM *Santa visits at 4 PM
Dec. 14 - Lovingston Christmas Parade at 6 PM
Dec. 15 - Tractor Supply Madison Heights Second Annual Holiday Market from 10 AM - 3 PM *Santa event
Dec. 15 - Photos with Santa at Simply Grooming - Grooms By Keira from 11 AM - 3 PM *Santa event
Dec. 15 - Buy Small, Shop Local Christmas Pop-Up at Nanny's Prims and Decor from 11 AM - 3 PM
Dec. 15 - Community Holiday Sing-Along at Amherst Second Stage from 4 PM - 6 PM
Dec. 15 - Christmas Concert with The Church Sisters at Timberlake Church at 6 PM
Dec. 15 - Gingerbread Bash at Liberty Baptist Church in Appomattox from 6 PM - 7:30 PM
Dec. 16 - Santa at Lynchburg Public Library from 3 PM - 5 PM *Santa event
Dec. 17 - Bells of the Blue Ridge presents "A Dickens of a Christmas" Carol Ring at Forest Presbyterian Church at 7 PM
Dec. 19 - River Ridge Kids Club at 10:30 AM
Dec. 19-22 - Mistletoe Market at I Scream You Scream - Thursdays through Sundays from Nov. 14 - Dec. 22 from 11 AM - 7 PM
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 2024 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 for 2024
Lynchburg Macaroni Kid Visits with Santa Guide
Live Christmas Tree Locations in Lynchburg and Central Virginia
Lynchburg Christmas Lights and Area Holiday Tree Lightings Guide
Local Shopping in Lynchburg and Central Virginia
Give the Gift of LOCAL Family Fun for the Holidays in 2024
8 Ways To Celebrate Hanukkah - Hanukkah is observed Dec. 25 - Jan. 2 in 2024
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!
