LIST: Christmas events, parades in Southwest, Central Virginia

The holiday season is kicking off across Southwest and Central Virginia, and there are plenty of events to help you get in a holly jolly mood.

From photos with Kris Kringle himself to Christmas parades and tree lightings, we have a full list of events throughout the region that’ll surely help you and your entire family feel the magic of Christmas.

Have any fun photos of decorations, Elf on the Shelf, your kiddos, or family gatherings? Share your holiday cheer with us HERE!

Amherst

• Dec. 1: Town of Amherst Christmas Parade

Bath County

• Dec. 22 - Dec. 26: Christmas at the Homestead

Bedford County

• Dec. 9: Breakfast with Santa

Blacksburg

• Dec. 1: Annual Holiday Parade

Bland County

• Dec 2: Bland County Christmas Parade

Botetourt County

• Dec. 1 - Dec. 31: 4th Annual Botetourt County Chamber of Commerce Tinsel Trail
• Dec. 1: Botetourt County Historical Museum Holiday Open House

Buchanan

• Dec. 1 - Dec. 2: Grand Illumination of the Buchanan Festival of Lights
• Dec. 1 - Jan. 1: Festival of Lights
• Dec. 9: Buchanan Christmas Market
• Dec. 9: Buchanan Christmas Parade
• Dec. 10: Christmas Home Tour
• Dec. 24: Buchanan Christmas Eve Luminaries

Buena Vista

• Dec. 5: Christmas at the Park

Campbell County

• Dec. 1: Christmas Ornament Workshop
• Dec. 3: Christmas Open House
• Dec. 10: Rustburg Christmas Parade

Carroll County

• Dec.1: Christmas Celebrations at the Market
• Dec. 2:
  • Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting in Hillsville
  • Hillsville’s Downtown Christmas Celebration
• Dec. 12: Christmas at Crossroads
• Dec. 15: A Bluegrass Christmas

[HOLIDAY CHEER: Show us your best holiday pics!]

Covington/ Alleghany County

• Dec. 2:
  • Holiday Magic on Main
    • Breakfast with the Grinch
    • Creative Kids Drop-In
    • Make Your Own Christmas Bow
    • Holiday Market
    • Gift Wrapping Station
    • Storytime with Santa’s Elves
    • Free showing of Polar Express at R/C Covington Movies 3
    • Christmas Cookie Decorating
    • Face Painting
    • Caroling on Main Street
    • Covington Christmas Parade
• Dec. 14: Holiday Adult Craft Night
• Dec. 20: Holly Jolly Holiday Storytime with Miss Tori

Christiansburg

• Dec. 8: Christmas on Main
  • 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.: Market
  • 6:50 p.m.: Christmas Tree Lighting at Town Square
  • 7 p.m.: Parade
• Dec. 9: Winter Wonderland
• Dec. 11 - Dec. 15: Santa’s Coming to Town

Danville

• Dec. 1: Luminaria Trail
• Dec. 3: Ugly Sweater/Jingle Bell Fun Run
• Dec. 3: Riverview Rotary Christmas Parade
• Dec. 6: Bark the Halls
• Dec. 7 - Dec. 23: Community Holiday Light Show

Floyd

• Dec. 1: Official Floyd Christmas Tree Lighting
• Dec. 2 - Dec. 3: Winterfest and the Festival of Trees
• Dec. 9 - Dec. 10: Holiday Open Studio

Franklin County

• Nov. 29 - Dec. 25: Land of Lights
• Dec. 1:
  • Come Home to a Franklin County Christmas
  • Biggest Little Parade and Christmas Tree Lighting
• Dec. 2: An Old Virginia Christmas at Booker T. Washington National Monument
• Dec. 6 - Dec. 17: Ferrum College Theatre Arts Department presents “Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas” Winter Show
• Dec. 9: Pajama Themed Holiday Blowout
• Dec.15: Christmas at the 1800 Farm

Galax

• Nov. 23 - Dec. 1: High Country Lights Show at Felt’s Park
• Dec. 1: Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting
• Dec. 9: Old Time Appalachian Christmas Festival
• Dec. 15: Rhonda Vincent & The Rage Christmas Show
• Dec.16: Galax Christmas Cruise

Giles County

• Dec. 2 @ 5 p.m.: Pembroke Christmas Parade
• Until Jan. 1: Magical Christmas Village & Marketplace at Mountain Lake Lodge for holiday shopping

Grayson County

• Dec. 2: Farmers Market - Winter Market

Halifax County

• Nov. 30: Holiday Arrangement Workshop
• Dec. 2:
  • Breakfast with Santa
  • Kids’ Wreath Making Day
  • Winter Festival at The Harbor
  • Christmas Parade
  • Letters to Santa
• Dec. 3:
  • Christmas Open House at Patrick Henry’s Red Hill
  • Annual Member Social and Ornament Exchange
• Dec. 8 - Dec. 10, Dec. 15 - Dec. 17: Lights for Hope at the Halifax County Fair Grounds
• Dec. 9:
  • The Grinch at the Market
  • Letters to Santa
• Dec. 10:
  • Ugly Sweater Christmas Party
  • Reindeer Food Workshop
  • Christmas Concert
• Dec. 16:
  • Christmas Wreath Workshop
  • Christmas Toy Drive
  • Reindeer Food Workshop
• Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Brunch at Berry Hill Resort

Lexington

• Nov. 17 - Jan. 5: 8th Annual Festival of Trees
• Dec. 1:
  • Tantivy Lavender Christmas Wreath Workshops
  • Lexington Christmas Parade
• Dec. 2:
  • Jingle Bell Run
  • Tantivy Lavender Waldorf Angel Workshop
  • Holiday Open House at Rockbridge Vineyard and Brewery (Dec. 2 - Dec. 3)
• Dec. 4:
  • WLU Presents: Holiday Pops Concert (Dec. 4 - Dec. 5)
• Dec. 5: Christmas at The Jacksons
• Dec. 7:
  • Buena Vista Community Tree Lighting Ceremony
  • Buena Vista Christmas Parade
  • WLU Presents: Lessons and Carols
• Dec. 8 - Dec. 10: Luminary Nights at Natural Bridge
• Dec. 8: Open late shopping with Dickens Carolers
• Dec. 9: North Rockbridge Trail Days - Warm Up on the Trail Holiday Open House
• Dec. 10:
  • Christmas with Santa
  • Christmas Open House

Lynchburg

• Nov. 18 – Jan. 15: The Ice at River Ridge
• Nov. 19 – Jan. 14: Bright Nights on the Bluffwalk
• Dec. 1: Christmas Crawl on Bedford Ave.
• Dec. 2:
  • Christmas Open House & Wreath Auction
  • Liberty University Maker’s Market
  • Happy Holidays with the LSO concert
• Dec. 3: Mariachi Herencia de México
• Dec. 8 - 10: Thomas Road’s Virginia Christmas Spectacular
• Dec. 9:
  • Downtown Lynchburg Historic Church Open House
  • Happy Pawlidays
  • Hill City Holiday Beer Fest
• Dec. 12: Christmas with the Celts
• Dec. 15: Soultown to Motown Holiday Special
• Dec. 20: A Christmas Carol

Martinsville

• Nov. 30: Christmas Tree Lighting
• Dec. 1:
  • Pictures with the green Christmas monster
  • Holidays at the Market
• Dec. 2:
  • Holiday Run Special
  • Track Laps for Charity
  • Ridgeway Christmas Parade & Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
  • Bassett Christmas Parade
• Dec. 3:
  • 2023 Pictures with Santa at the Ground Floor
  • Roanoke Symphony Holiday Pops Spectacular
  • Holiday Fest at Infinity Acres Petting Ranch
• Dec. 8:
  • A night at the Museum with Santa
  • Caffeinate & Create: Holiday Edition
• Dec. 9:
  • Fab Lab Family Day: DIY Ornaments
  • Dinner and a Movie with Santa

Montgomery County

• Dec. 9 @ 3 p.m. - River Volunteer Fire Department to host 2nd Annual Christmas Parade

Nelson County

• Nov. 17 - Jan. 6: Veritas Illuminated at Veritas Vineyard & Winery
• November 21 - December 10: Christmas Trees at RVCC
• November 24 - November 30: Christmas Trees at JES Tree Farm
• November 29: Tree Lighting at Iron and Ale Restaurant in Stoney Creek
• Dec. 11: Christmas with the Gallery Artists at Rockfish Valley Community Center
• Dec. 24: Annual Christmas Tree Lighting in Lovingston

Patrick County

• Dec. 1: Hometown Christmas in Patrick County
• Dec. 15-23: Festival of Lights
• Dec. 22: Almost Christmas: an Evening with DJ Williams

Pittsylvania County

• Dec. 1: Traditional Lantern Lighting, Carols, Yule Log, Cider & Cookies at the Chatham Courthouse @ 7 p.m.
• Dec. 2: “Wonderful Christmas Memories” Parade on Main Street @ 6 p.m.
• Dec. 3:
  • “Christmas Favorites” with Leslie Made and the Ranier Trio at Emmanuel Episcopal Church @ 3:30 p.m.
  • Hargrave Military Academy Hanging of the Greens at Cheatham Chapel @ 7 p.m.

Pulaski County

• Dec. 1: Christmas in Thee Draper Village
• Dec. 2:
  • Winterfest
  • Newbern Noel Nights at Wilderness Road Regional Museum
  • Pulaski County Christmas Tree Lighting
• Dec. 3: Photos with Santa
• Dec. 7: Town of Pulaski Christmas Parade
• Dec. 11 - Jan. 1: Gazebo Holiday Lights at the Claytor Lake Gazebo
• Dec. 14: Holiday Open House at Raymond F. Ratcliffe Memorial Transportation Museum
• Dec. 16: Town of Dublin Christmas Parade

Radford

• Dec. 2: Page to Screen Movies: The Man Who Invented Christmas
• Dec. 4: Photos with Santa
• Dec. 5: Tree Lighting Ceremony
• Dec. 9: Photos with Santa
• Dec. 11: Spiced Salt Dough Ornaments Workshop
• Dec. 18: Mother/Daughter Book Club: Winter Celebration

Roanoke/ Roanoke County

• Nov. 22 - Dec. 15: Elf on the Shelf Adventure in Downtown Roanoke
• Nov. 22 - Jan. 1: Fashions for Evergreens at the Hotel Roanoke
• Nov. 24 - Jan. 28: Elmwood on Ice
• Nov. 29 - Dec. 23: Elf the Musical
• Dec. 1 - Dec. 30: Illuminights Winter Walk of Lights
• Dec. 1: Dickens of a Christmas - Tree Lighting
• Dec. 2:
  • Grandin Village Winterfest
  • Holiday Wreath Party
  • Breakfast with Santa
• Dec. 2 - Dec. 3: Candy Cane Express
• Dec. 4: Roanoke County Christmas Tree Lighting
• Dec. 7: Pines and Pints at Three Notch’d Brewing Co.
• Dec. 8: Dickens of a Christmas - Christmas Parade
• Dec. 8-10, 15-17: Shenandoah Baptist Church to host production of Christmas drama, “Nativity” from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

[See a dazzling display at Illuminights in Roanoke County]

• Dec. 9:
  • Santa Claus Coat Drive
  • Holiday Pajamas Dance Party
• Dec. 10:
  • Holiday Floral Workshop
  • Jump into Mystery- A Tacky Sweater Murder Mystery at Well Hung Vineyard
• Dec. 15: Dickens of a Christmas: Roanoke Valley SPCA Pet Costume Contest
• Dec. 17: Holiday Market
• Dec. 23:
  • Naughty and Nice Party at Corned Beef & Co.
  • Santa Claus Coat Drive

Salem

• Dec. 1: Christmas Tree Lighting and Parade

Vinton

• Nov. 30: Vinton Christmas Parade 2023
• A Home for the Holidays Pet Portraits - 2445 East Washington Avenue, STE 102
  • Dec. 1: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Dec. 2: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Dec. 8: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Dec. 9: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • All proceeds go toward sponsoring adoption fees for the Franklin County Humane Society.

Wytheville

• Dec. 2:
  • Christmas Wreath Class
  • Photos with Santa and the Grinch
  • Christmas Forever Wreath
  • Wytheville’s Christmas Celebration and Parade
  • Wytheville Concert Series: Christmas Favorites
• Dec. 5: WCC Concert Band: Of Stars, Skies, and Seasons
• Dec. 7: WCC Choir: Season of Light
• Dec. 8: WCC Theatre: A Christmas Carol
• Dec. 9: A Christmas to Remember
• Dec. 9: Sounds of the Season! Presented by Roanoke Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Brass LIVE at the Millwald
• Dec. 10: Lavender Wreath Workshop with Beagle Ridge Herb Farm
• Dec. 17: Holiday Pajama Brunch
• Dec. 29: The Polar Express

Know of a holiday event we missed? Share event details in the comments below!