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Here's a comprehensive guide to fantastic Virginia Beach area holiday light festivities and fun in November:
November 19 - The Annual Grand Illumination Parade, Downtown Norfolk
Holiday light festivities begin with the Grand Illumination of the Olde Towne Portsmouth and Downtown Norfolk skylines.
Pre-parade entertainment - 5 p.m.; grand illumination and parade - 7 p.m. (begins at Waterside Drive and goes down St. Paul's Boulevard). Free. Click here for details and the parade route.
Busch Gardens Williamsburg's Christmas Town
Santa in the snow? Yep, and on roller coasters too. Click here for the latest hours and discounts for Busch Garden's own winter wonderland adventure.
November 25 -Annual Olde Towne Arts & Antiques Open House, Historic District of Portsmouth
Join Portsmouth's kick off to the holiday season and stroll past antique cars and windows painted with old-fashioned holiday themes. Many art galleries, antique shops, and boutiques will provide refreshments and music. When we went last year, a police officer helped us toast marshmallows over a wood-burning pit on the street corner! 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Free.
For more information, call 757-405-3500 or go to click here.
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| Gigantic snow globes in OldeTowne Portsmouth. |
You might have seen them as a kid...now you can be dazzled by your favorite animated figures from the former Coleman Nursery's famous Winter Wonderland collection. They'll be on display at the Courthouse Galleries at High and Court streets.
Free for museum members, for non-members it's $3, which includes Winter Wonderland and Andalo’s Clubhouse. You can also get a $12 pass which includes the Wonderland plus the Courthouse Galleries, the Childrens Museum of Virginia, and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum.
The hours are: Tuesday-Thursday 9:00am-8:00pm, Friday-Saturday 9:00am-9:00pm, Sunday 11:00am-8:00pm, Christmas eve and New Years eve 10:00am-5:00pm. Closed Mondays and Christmas Day.
November 19 - January 16 -MacArthur On Ice, Downtown Norfolk
Glide your way into the season at this temporary ice skating rink next to MacArthur Center. $6 for 2 hours of skating fun + $5 for skate rental. Groups of 10 or more save $1 per person. Military and family get $2 off (must have valid military ID).
Ice skate next to the museum at this annual family tradition. Skating is $7 per person, $6 for museum members, NASA employees & active military. Skate rental is $2, or you can bring your own.
Busch Gardens pass holders get $3 off. For this and other discounts-- including half-price Wednesdays-- click here.
They also have a Winter Fun Pass for $30 which includes exhibit admission, ice skating, MAX Flight Simulator, IMAX admission, carousel ride, motion simulator and 10% off in the Cosmic Cafe & Imagination Station: One Stop Science Shop. Go to www.vasc.org.
Mid-November through end of December - Williamsburg Christmas
Welcome in the holiday season with special programs at Colonial Williamsburg. Highlights include the Grand Illumination, community Christmas tree lighting, holiday music concerts, and walking tours of decorations. Open daily. Admission required for most events.
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| My fuzzy photo of the "Garden of Lights" doesn't do it justice. |
End of November - January 1st - Celebration in Lights, Newport News Park
A two-mile drive through holiday light, animation, and wonderland whimsies lit by over 700,000 lights-- Virginia's longest running drive-through light event. Daily, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is $10 per car and $50 per bus. For more information, call 757-926-1400 or go online at http://www.nnparks.com/.
November 26 - November 28 Virginia Beach Christmas Market, Virginia Beach Convention Center
Held at the Virginia Beach Pavilion, the Virginia Beach Christmas Market is the perfect place to find elusive holiday gift. Choose from one-of-a-kind jewelry, pottery, art, stained glass, photography, delicious cakes, jams, and more. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.Admission: Adults $7, Children $2, under 6 free. 50 cents of admission if you bring a canned food donation. For more information, call 757-417-7771.Virginia Beach
November 25 - January 2 -Norfolk Botanical Garden "Garden of Lights"
Our family had such a memorable time visiting this 2.5 mile winter wonderland of holiday light last year! Located next to Norfolk International Airport, it's a much quieter and less crowded alternative to the Holiday Parade of Lights on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk. And it's just $10 per car. (Tip: have dinner at nearby Baker's Crust **YUM!** then top off your evening cruising the holiday light!). Admission:Sunday -Thursday $10 per car(cash only),Friday - Saturday $15 per car. Nightly - 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm.
November 26 - New Years Eve -Winter Wonderland, Hunt Club Farm, Virginia Beach
Family-friendly Hunt Club Farm reopens its Winter Wonderland Christmas Barn. This time it will feature "A Magical Forest Toyland" featuring animated animals and elves. Don't miss the Petting Farm holiday light displays and kids' maze, live animal nativity, and (our favorite) roasted marshmallows! Closed Christmas. Admission:$6.For more information, go online at http://www.huntclubfarm.com/.
November 25-January 9 -GardenFest of Lights, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Richmond
The Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is hosting its annual GardenFest of Lights. More than half a million holiday light attractions are on display in a fantasyland with forms of flowers, fairies and woodland creatures. Holiday light form displays include majestic peacocks, "snow stars" illuminating the dome of the Conservatory, alligators, and a giant "green man" at the center of a puzzling maze.
Nightly, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Closed December 24 and 25. Admission: $10 for adults, $9 for senior, $6 for children, under 3 free. For more information call 804-262-9887.
November 27 - December 19, Saturdays and Sundays only -Scuba Santa, Virginia Aquarium, Virginia Beach
Never knew Santa was such a sportsman, did you? Join Santa as he dives into the gigantic Chesapeake Bay Aquarium tanks to feed the fishes at 11 a.m. each weekend. Admission. For information, call 757-385-FISH.
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