Virginia - Winter Festivals, Special Events and Holiday Celebrations

Late December - February

The Commonwealth of Virginia, with its beautiful mountains, valleys and beaches is a great destination in any season for fun festivals, special events, and holiday celebrations. The following selected events include some of Virginia's most popular choices to chase away the winter blues.

• GardenFest of Lights
  November 28, 2008 - January 12, 2009 in Richmond, Virginia
  This holiday tradition at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden features more than a half million lights arranged in botanical themes throughout the Garden.



• Wolf Trap Holiday Sing-A-Long
  December 7, 2008 in Vienna, Virginia
  The popular annual Wolf Trap Holiday Sing-A-Long in Northern Virginia is a musical celebration with Christmas carols and Hanukkah songs, performed by the U.S. Marine Band and vocal groups from the greater Washington, D.C. area.



• First Night Celebrations in Virginia
  December 31, 2008
  With eight First Night celebrations, Virginia is the leader in the Southeast for offering First Night family-friendly alternatives in place of traditional New Year's Eve celebrations.



• Enchanted Eve in Vinton, Virginia
  December 31, 2008
  Spend a family-friendly alcohol-free New Year’s Eve celebration in Roanoke County, where a range of community-based events offer activities and entertainment for all ages.



• Virginia Restaurant Weeks
  Various Dates in January and February 2009
  Several Restaurant Weeks in Virginia, including Restaurant Weeks in Northern Virginia, Williamsburg, Norfolk and Virginia Beach offer an array of opportunities to explore Virginia's diverse cuisine at participating restaurants for special fixed prices.



• Alaska Serum Run Re-enactment
  January 17, 2009 - Abingdon to Damascus, Virginia
  A unique event for the Southeast and a fun educational outing for families and dog lovers, the Alaska Serum Run Re-enactment takes place on the Virginia Creeper Trail southwestern Virginia.



• Chocolate Lovers Festival
  Saturday, February 7 - 8, 2009
  Downtown historic Fairfax, Virginia celebrates the yumminess of chocolate at this annual event for chocolate lovers.



• Colonial Williamsburg Antiques Forum
  February 1 - February 5, 2009
  The 60th annual Colonial Williamsburg Antiques Forum From North to South: Regionalism in American Decorative Arts will explore the remarkable furniture, silver, ceramics, textiles, paintings produced in America before 1830.



• Presidents' Day Weekend Celebrations
  Presidents' Day - Monday February 16, 2009
  Virginia, brimming with history, is a wonderful destination for a Presidents' Day weekend getaway. Three standout Presidents' Day celebrations, including events in Old Town Alexandria, Mount Vernon and Colonial Williamsburg, offer interactive living history fun for families and tours of important historic sites for history buffs. All three celebrations are situated in picturesque and charming settings, adding a touch of romance for couples.