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:
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. 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. 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 - 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)
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 22-31 Lynchburg Area Holiday and Family Fun Events
Dec. 18 - Jan. 1 - No School for Lynchburg City Schools (Winter Break)
Dec. 21-22 - Santa Visits 205 Powtan Drive in Lynchburg starting at 5:30 PM *Santa event
Dec. 22 - Preschool Open Gym at Dynamic Gymnastics from 10 AM - 11 AM
Dec. 22 - Visit Lynchburg Museum from 10 AM - 4 PM
Dec. 22 - Homeschool Open Gym at Dynamic Gymnastics from 11 AM - 12 PM
Dec. 22 - Monument Terrace Troop Rally at 12 PM
Dec. 22 - The Nature Zone from 12 PM - 4 PM
Dec. 22 - School's Out Skate at FunQuest from 12 PM - 10 PM
Dec. 23 - Lynchburg Community Market Mistletoe Market: Carriage Rides (10-1) & Photos with Santa (10-1) from 9 AM - 1 PM *Santa event
Dec. 23 - Breakfast with the Grinch at Market at Main from 9 AM - 2 PM *Grinch event
Dec. 23 - Visit Lynchburg Museum from 10 AM - 4 PM
Dec. 23 - Santa Visits the Village at Long Mountain Grill from 11 AM - 2 PM *Santa event
Dec. 23 - Santa Visits with 'Old Fuzzy Face' at Liberty Tax in Lynchburg from 12 PM - 3 PM *Santa event
Dec. 23 - The Nature Zone from 12 PM - 4 PM
Dec. 23 - Live Nativity at The Holiday Ranch from 12 PM - 5 PM
Dec. 23 - School's Out Skate at FunQuest from 12 PM - 10 PM
Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve Pajama Party at FunQuest from 12 PM - 7 PM
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 Night Roller Jingle Jam at FunQuest from 6 PM - 10 PM
Dec. 26 - Jan. 1 - Kwanzaa is celebrated
There will be no Toddler Time at Get Air Lynchburg on Tuesday, Dec. 26 or Thursday, Dec. 28; however, Get Air will be open daily Dec. 18-24 and Dec. 26-31: Tuesday through Thursday from 10 AM - 8 PM, Friday and Saturday from 10 AM - 10 PM, and Sunday from 8 AM - 5 PM. Get Air Lynchburg will be closed on Christmas Day and will close early on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve at 5 PM.
There will be no Preschool Open Gym or Homeschool Open Gym at Dynamic Gymnastics on Wednesday, Dec. 27 or Friday, Dec. 29 as Dynamic Gymnastics will be closed for the week, reopening on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024.
Dec. 26 - School's Out Skate at FunQuest from 12 PM - 9 PM
Dec. 27 - School's Out Skate at FunQuest from 12 PM - 9 PM
Dec. 28 - Visit Lynchburg Museum from 10 AM - 4 PM
Dec. 28 - River Ridge Kids Club at 10:30 AM
Dec. 28 - Snow Stories at Campbell County Library - Rustburg from 11 AM - 1 PM
Dec. 28 - School's Out Skate at FunQuest from 12 PM - 9 PM
Dec. 28 - School's Out Fun Skate at AJ Skateworld from 1 PM - 3:30 PM
Dec. 29 - Visit Lynchburg Museum from 10 AM - 4 PM
Dec. 29 - Monument Terrace Troop Rally at 12 PM
Dec. 29 - The Nature Zone from 12 PM - 4 PM
Dec. 29 - School's Out Skate at FunQuest from 12 PM - 10 PM
Dec. 30 - Visit Lynchburg Museum from 10 AM - 4 PM
Dec. 30 - The Nature Zone from 12 PM - 4 PM
Dec. 30 - School's Out Skate at FunQuest from 12 PM - 10 PM
Dec. 31 - Noon Year's Eve at Get Air Lynchburg from 11 AM - 1 PM
Dec. 31 - New Years at Noon at Amazement Square from 1 PM - 4 PM
Dec. 31 - Nearly New Year's Eve Skate at AJ Skateworld from 2:30 PM - 5 PM and 6 PM - 8:30 PM
Dec. 31 - New Years Eve Skate at FunQuest from 12 PM - 6 PM
Dec. 31 - New Year's Eve Party at Corned Beef and Co. - Roanoke starting at 4 PM
Dec. 31 - Family Friendly NYE in Charlottesville from 4:30 PM - 8 PM
Dec. 31 - Family-Friendly New Year's Eve Celebration at Three Notch'd Craft Kitchen & Brewery - Charlottesville - 5 PM - 9 PM
Dec. 31 - Danville's First NYE Downtown Countdown from 7 PM - 12 AM
Dec. 31 - New Year's Eve All Ages Party at Upper Crust - Wintergreen Resort from 9 PM - 12:30 AM
Dec. 31 - New Year's Eve Service at Tree of Life Ministries from 10 PM - 12 AM
Dec. 31 - Watch Night Service at 5th Street Baptist Church - MLK at 10:30 PM
Dec. 31 - How to Throw an Easy At-Home New Year's Eve Celebration Kids Will Love
Bonus New Year's Day Family Fun
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 1 PM - 3:30 PM
Jan. 1 - First Day Hike at Smith Mountain Lake State Park from 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Make time for family fun over 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.
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.
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
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!
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
Kwanzaa With Kids: Celebrating This Family Holiday in 2023 - 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 2024 in Lynchburg and Beyond - These events will help you say goodbye to 2023 and ring in 2024 in style!
Lynchburg Macaroni Kid Winter Family Fun Bucket List 2024 - Let Lynchburg Macaroni Kid Help You Find Your Family Fun® in 2024!
Welcome 2024 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 2024 - Find Your Family Fun® at one of the National Parks during 2024 fee-free dates!
Lynchburg Area January 2024 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!
