The holiday season may need to look a little different this year, and Chesterfield is making sure that it’s filled with light and decorations to celebrate the holidays! While you may not be able to have a huge party in your home, you can safely tour a wide variety of beautifully decorated, magically lit places in our area that will warm your heart. Get out there and be merry with this guide to some of the best displays in the area.
Enjoy decorations, delicious food, beautiful light displays, and fun activities at Virginia’s premier theme parks! King’s Dominion is home to the >Taste of the Season, an extravaganza of fun and food that features tasty treats, seasonal specialty drinks, and select rides to enjoy with the family. Busch Gardens’ Christmas Celebration offers an equally festive celebration, complete with rides, a Turkey feast in “Das Festhaus”, and a delightful Gingerbread Scavenger hunt sure to create happy memories for the whole family.
Plan a brunch, holiday tea, or a dinner at the historic Jefferson Hotel to view their truly spectacular decorations. The hotel dazzles every year with thousands of lights, hundreds of live poinsettias, garlands everywhere, and wreaths in every direction. Don’t miss the 30 foot Christmas tree, embellished with more ornaments, bows, baubles, and lights than you can count!
Experience an amazing feast for the eyes at the Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights. Explore the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden as you’ve never seen it before, alive with a stunning and truly awe-inspiring array of lights. In addition to this amazing display, you can enjoy dinner, outdoor model trains, and even hot chocolate! Keep an eye out for the new model trains chugging throughout the displays this year.
Take a drive through Virginia’s largest drive-through light show at the Illuminate Light Show! Grab your favorite treats and take a tour through this beautiful drive that features mesmerizing and eye-catching light displays while you sing carols with the family in your safe, warm car. Turn on your radio to see the nearly 1 million LED lights synchronized to holiday music for a fun and unique holiday experience.
Residents of the area look forward to the yearly James River Parade of Lights! This parade of holiday-lit boats is a very special event that will live in your memories for many years to come. The view of sparkling boats floating down the river is one of the area’s most anticipated and cherished events.
If you prefer a more DIY experience when viewing holiday lights, visit the Tacky Lights of Richmond page and create your own tour! These dedicated holiday light enthusiasts have collected the addresses of some of the most ambitious and impressive light displays in the city. You can simply view them online, or you can create a list and design your own tour of lights for the holidays!
However, you choose to celebrate the holidays this year, remember to stay safe, wear a mask, and stay socially distanced when you are in public or with people who don’t live with you. May your holidays be merry and bright!
