As we count down the days until Christmas and the new year, you'll find Santa visits, Christmas tree lightings and many more family-friendly holiday events for your family to check out during the fourth week of December. We've also included some bonus New Year's Day events!
This is the FOURTH and FINAL of our December weekly guides to help you find the best events in advance! Here's links to all of our December 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. Schedules are subject to change. 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)
Outdoor Fun in the Lynchburg Area
Enjoy outdoor fun while the kids are out of school. You'll find some ideas in these articles and guides:
Lynchburg Virginia Parks Guide - Parks in Lynchburg and the Surrounding Counties
10 Lynchburg VA Area Places to Ride Bikes - Riding bikes together is a fun way to enjoy nature while you get in some great exercise!
25 Places in the Lynchburg Area to Walk or Hike - From paved trails to earthen pathways, Find Your Family Fun® on one of these trails!
December 20-31 Lynchburg Area Holiday and Family Fun Events
Dec. 19-22 - Mistletoe Market at I Scream You Scream - Thursdays through Sundays from Nov. 14 - Dec. 22 from 11 AM - 7 PM
Dec. 20 - Early Dismissal - Lynchburg City Schools
Dec. 20-23 - Luminary Nights at Natural Bridge State Park from 5 PM - 9 PM
Dec. 20 - Caroling with Lew Taylor at Apocalypse Ale Works at 7 PM
Dec. 21 - Santa on the Farm at Lottie J Farm from 10 AM - 3 PM *Santa event
Dec. 21 - Nightmare Before Christmas Holiday Market at Apocalypse Ale Works at 1 PM
Dec. 21 - Bells of the Blue Ridge presents "A Dickens of a Christmas" Carol Ring at Fort Hill United Methodist Church at 4 PM
Dec. 21 - Santa Visits at Christmas Light Display at 1660 Rocky Branch Drive in Forest from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM *Santa event
Dec. 21 - Handel’s “Messiah” Presented by Appomattox Community Chorale at Liberty Baptist Church at 7:30 PM
Dec. 23 - Jan. 3 - Winter Break for Lynchburg City Schools
Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve Fun Run at E.C. Glass at 8 AM
Dec. 24 - Track Santa with NORAD - ALL DAY!
Dec. 24-25 - Celebrate Christmas Eve or Christmas Day at a Lynchburg Area Church - Check times of services at many area churches
Dec. 25 - Christmas Day
Some businesses are closed the week between Christmas and New Years. Check before you go
Dec. 26 - Jan. 1 - Kwanzaa is celebrated
Dec. 26 - Visit Lynchburg Museum from 10 AM - 4 PM
Dec. 26 - River Ridge Kids Club at 10:30 AM
Dec. 27 - Visit Lynchburg Museum from 10 AM - 4 PM
Dec. 27 - Monument Terrace Troop Rally at 12 PM
Dec. 27 - The Nature Zone from 12 PM - 4 PM
Dec. 28 - Visit Lynchburg Museum from 10 AM - 4 PM
Dec. 28 - Last Saturdays - Rustburg from 10 AM - 12 PM
Dec. 28 - The Nature Zone from 12 PM - 4 PM
Dec. 29 - Visit Lynchburg Museum from 12 PM - 4 PM
Dec. 30 - Visit Lynchburg Museum from 10 AM - 4 PM
Dec. 31 - Visit Lynchburg Museum from 10 AM - 4 PM
Dec. 31 - Nearly New Year's Day Skate at AJ Skateworld (Afternoon) from 2 PM - 4:30 PM
Dec. 31 - Nearly New Year's Day Skate at AJ Skateworld (Evening) from 5:30 PM - 8 PM
Bonus New Year's Day Family Fun
VERIFY THESE TIMES!
Jan. 1 - New Year's Day Fun Run at Riverside Park at 9 AM
Jan. 1 - First Day Hike at Holliday Lake State Park from 10 AM - 12 PM
Jan. 1 - First Day Hike at Natural Bridge State Park from 10 AM - 11:30 AM
Jan. 1 - First Day Hikes at High Bridge Trail State Park at 11 AM and 1 PM
Jan. 1 - First Day Hike at James River State Park from 12 PM - 2 PM
Jan. 1 - New Years Day Skate at FunQuest from 12 PM - 9 PM
Jan. 1 - New Year's Day Skate at AJ Skateworld from from 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Jan. 1 - First Day Hike at Smith Mountain Lake State Park from 1:30 PM - 2:30 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. The kids are 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
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
15 Tips for Holiday Baking with Kids and 4 Easy Recipes - Embrace the mess and make the memories!
21 Things to Do with Kids During Winter Break - Make memories while enjoying fun with the fam over winter break!
Enjoy a Winter Family Getaway Near Lynchburg or Hit the Road - Let Lynchburg Macaroni Kid help you Find Your Family Fun® this winter!
Lynchburg Macaroni Kid Winter Family Fun Bucket List 2025 - Let Lynchburg Macaroni Kid Help You Find Your Family Fun® in 2024!
Kwanzaa With Kids: Celebrating This Family Holiday in 2024 - Kwanzaa takes place Dec. 26-Jan. 1
How to Throw an Easy At-Home New Year's Eve Celebration Kids Will Love - New Year's Eve parties don't have to be big productions for kids to love them!
Welcome the New Year and Ring in 2025 in Lynchburg and Beyond - These events will help you say goodbye to 2023 and ring in 2024 in style!
Welcome 2025 with a First Day Hike at a Virginia State Park - Make a New Year's resolution to enjoy more family time outdoors in 2024!
National Park Service Fee-Free Dates for 2025 - Find Your Family Fun® at one of the National Parks during 2024 fee-free dates!
Lynchburg Area January 2025 Family Friendly Events and Fun - Find Your Family Fun® in Lynchburg and Central Virginia 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!
