Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg December 2025 include Lighting Cressets, Fireworks and more…
Grand Illumination at Colonial Williamsburg for 2025 will be three weekends of illuminations!
Grand Illumination at Colonial Williamsburg is the quintessential holiday event not to miss, and you have three weekends to experience the events (fireworks are on Saturday nights): December 6, 13, and 20th. Each evening includes seasonal music, the lighting of the cressets, and a procession led by the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes & Drums. Each Grand Illumination event weekend culminates in firework demonstrations over the Governor’s Palace on the Saturday Night.
Grand Illumination Events & Daily Schedule
- ⭐Festivities ⭐– Fridays & Saturdays, December 5-6, 12-13 and 19-20 from 5 pm – 7 pm
- ⭐Celebration of the Yule Log ⭐- Fridays December 5, 12, 19 – The festivities begin each Friday night, with the Lighting of the Cressets, 18th century entertainments on Duke of Gloucester Street and a Celebration of the Yule Log, a holiday procession beginning at the Capitol and ending at the Magazine where guests will have an opportunity to make a wish and toss a sprig of greenery into the bonfire. 6-7:30 p.m.
- ⭐Grand Illumination Fireworks ⭐– Saturdays December 6, 13, 20 at 7 PM – Each Saturday night, fireworks will be fired from the Capitol and Palace simultaneously. Best viewing of the Fireworks in Colonial Williamsburg? For the Palace fireworks, anywhere on Palace Green is perfect. For the Capitol show, the best viewing area is on Duke of Gloucester St east of Botetourt St
- ⭐Special Programing ⭐ at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg Hennage Auditorium
Start each special day by checking out the unique decorations throughout the Historic Area. Then, enjoy musical performances on multiple stages throughout the Colonial Williamsburg’s streets and fireworks displays from the Capitol and the Palace.
This year Grand Illumination will continue as a multi weekend event. The events, programming and fireworks will take place over three weekends; December 5-6, 12-13 and 19-20, 2025. More info – keep scrolling!
Grand Illumination programming will start on Fridays at 6 p.m. with 18th century entertainments on Duke of Gloucester Street and a Celebration of the Yule Log, a holiday procession beginning at the Capitol and ending at the Magazine where guests will have an opportunity to make a wish and toss a sprig of greenery into the bonfire.” Colonial Williamsburg is known for its beautiful holiday decoration and it’s halls and streets.
The fireworks will be on Saturday December 6, 13, 20. But the programming starts at 5 pm featuring festivities such as a live theatrical event of an original holiday story, 18th century music and then the entrance of Father Christmas that leads into the fireworks. Each Saturday night Colonial Williamsburg will feature fireworks at the Governor’s Palace. Fireworks will be set off at 7pm. You are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets – even a cooler.
Special programming all three weekends at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg will feature familiar favorites and new entertainment offerings. Visit our Colonial Williamsburg events page or visit Colonial Williamsburg Grand Illuminations page for all additions to this event!
Authors
