Celebrate the season with a festive holiday tea in the elegance of the Williamsburg Inn. Sample the Inn’s special holiday blend and enjoy cookies, pastries and sandwiches served on the beautiful Churchill Tea China. Enhance this experience with the effervescence of French Champagne and sparkling cider.

Enjoy a delightful afternoon with friends or loved ones while indulging in the fine tradition of Holiday Tea at The Williamsburg Inn.

Gluten Free? They can accommodate your dietary needs! (When you register there is an option for Gluten Free) Learn more

Dates: Wednesday November 29, December 6, 13, 20 and 27
Thursday November 30, December 7, 14, 21 and 28
Friday, December  1, 8, 15, 22, and 29
Saturday, December 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30

Reservations required. Book here

Now in its 20th year, the Throwback Thursday Film Series screens a variety of classic movies for an adult audience. November Theme: Second Chances

November 2: All I Desire (1953) NR

In 1910, a show girl (Barbara Stanwyck) returns to the small town and family she had abandoned a decade earlier, shocking the residents and re-igniting old affairs and animosities. Richard Carlson, Maureen O’Sullivan, and Richard Long costar under the direction of Douglas Sirk. 1 hr 20 min 

November 9: A Street Cat Named Bob (2016) NR 

A recovering drug addict is adopted by a stray cat, transforming and enriching both of their lives. This true-life, feel-good story stars Luke Treadaway and features the actual Bob the Cat playing himself. 1 hr 43 min  Watch trailer

November 16: Lord Jim (1965) NR 

In the late 1800s, a merchant marine (Peter O’Toole), discharged from the service for cowardice, seeks redemption by protecting a Southeast Asian native tribe from a ruthless warlord. Based on the novel by Joseph Conrad, this epic adventure film costars James Mason, Curd Jurgens, and Jack Hawkins. 2 h 34 min 

November 23: Library closed for Thanksgiving 

November 30: A Woman’s Face (1941) NR 

A woman’s badly scarred face leads her into a life of crime. Plastic surgery corrects this, giving her a second chance at life, if she can resist the malevolent scheme of her new beau. Joan Crawford, Melvyn Douglas, and Conrad Veidt star under the direction of George Cukor in this top-notch melodrama. 1 h 46 min 

Free admission. Doors open 1 hour prior to showtime.

Drop in for a special pop-up archaeology exhibit in the museum! Archaeologists will be on hand to talk with guests about archaeological excavations at the Public Hospital of 1773, where they’ll be showing off unearthed artifacts discovered on the site. Talk with archaeologists, hear all about current excavations and where we’re headed next! More info

.Included in admission Art Museum of Colonial Williamsburg, your day pass or your annual membership or Good Neighbor Pass

From the Public Hospital of 1773 to Eastern State Hospital today, commemorate 250 years of Mental Healthcare.

“The Cellar” at Christiana Campbell’s Tavern

Step back in time and immerse yourself in the charm of Colonial Williamsburg’s newest walk-in experience. Down beneath the historic walls of Christiana Campbell’s Tavern, is The Cellar – this intimate space only allows only a limited number of guests to enjoy an evening of authentic 18th-century ambiance.

From Tuesday – Saturday, from 4 to 8, the doors swing open to welcome you for an enchanting twilight gathering. As you descend into The Cellar, you’ll be transported to an era of camaraderie and camarilla, where the echoes of merriment resonate through the air.

To accompany your drinks, indulge in a selection of delicate bites to savory treats, each dish is crafted with an artisanal touch, ensuring a delightful experience for your palate.

Please note, The Cellar experience is exclusively walk-up only, adding an element of spontaneity to your visit. Seating is limited, so be sure to arrive early to secure your place in this immersive journey through time. More info

2023 Community Christmas Tree Lighting in Colonial Williamsburg – Free & Open to the Public

November 30, 2023
5 PM – 5:30 PM at the steps of the Colonial Courthouse 102 W Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg

Free Event & Open to the Public

Ready to light up the town for the holidays? The Annual Community Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, co-sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Williamsburg, will take place on Nov 30. The festivities begin at 5:00p.m. in front of the Courthouse steps with a special reading of The Night Before Christmas. Hear the story of the first Christmas tree in Virginia. Sing classic Christmas carols. Delight in the joys of childhood as Father Christmas helps illuminate the live, 40-foot spruce with over 7,500 twinkling lights on Market Square.

For more events at Colonial Williamsburg visit our Colonial Williamsburg events page, their Holiday Planner page and our Daily Calendar!

This introductory class will walk through the basics of 3D printing, including downloading a design file, preparing it to print using slicing software, and setting up the printer. Basic computer skills are required, so kids who need help using a mouse and keyboard may need a grownup to stay with them for the program. For ages 6-12.

Space is limited to 14 participants. To reserve a spot, pick up a ticket at the Youth Services desk starting an hour before the program.

Special Event: Artful Winter Evenings

Thursdays, Nov 30, Dec 7, 14, 21, & 28 from 5:30 – 8 p.m. Included in admission
Art Museum of Colonial Williamsburg

Celebrate the holidays in this magical after-hours event at the Art Museums. Take a guided tour through the galleries to discover Christmas trees themed to the artwork around them, attend a holiday performance in the Hennage Auditorium (separate ticket required), enjoy warm winter treats and crafts, and experience the wonder of the Art Museums at night. Don’t miss the centerpiece of the Museums — our 16-foot Folk Art Christmas tree decorated with over 2,000 hand-crafted ornaments. 

Artful Winter Evening Concerts at 7:00 p.m. (Separate Ticket Required)
November 30 – The William & Mary Accidentals
December 7 –  Holiday Handbell Concert
December 14 – The Williamsburg Symphony
December 21 – The Magic of Christmas
December 28 – The Gonzales Sisters

For this event there is no extra fee you simple need your museum ticket, day pass, member pass or Good Neighbor Pass.  Learn more about this event here

31st Annual Celebration in Lights

November 23, 2023 – January 1, 2023

Celebration in Lights, opens for its 31st season on Thanksgiving night (November 23, 2023). Relish in the two miles of over one million lights in their dazzling holiday light displays set amongst the beautiful woods and waterways at Newport News Park. The event will be open nightly from 5:30 – 10:00 p.m.

New this year, a salute to the USS Newport News (CA-148), a ship named after our hometown and built by Newport News Shipbuilding! This impressive lighting installation presents a beautiful silhouette of the “Top Gun” awarded ship and stands 36 feet tall. Other new installations include the new City of Newport News logo, furry friends, sea life and more! 

Over 350 individual display pieces, 50+ arches, and over three miles of rope lighting enhance the natural beauty of the two-mile drive along Newport News Park’s main road. All new display pieces added since 2007 use LED lights which result in a savings of approximately 30% on electrical cost compared to incandescent bulbs and last 100,000 hours versus 3,000 hours for incandescent. Older (pre 2007) display pieces are being refitted with LED lights.

Admission:
$15.00 per car on weeknights (Monday – Thursday)
$18.00 per on weekends (Friday – Sunday)
$85.00 per bus (any night)

Cash, credit cards Visa/MC, and checks made payable to the City of Newport News are accepted at the gate. Advance purchase tickets may be purchased (good any night) for $12.00 at the Newport News Visitor Center at the entrance of Newport News Park.

Newport News Park is located at the intersection of Ft. Eustis Blvd. and Jefferson Ave. in Newport News, VA. Directions: Eastbound I-64 use Exit 247 (Lee Hall), Westbound I-64 use Exit 250 B (Ft. Eustis). For more information, call 757-886-7912.

Venue:
Newport News Park
13560 Jefferson Avenue
Newport News, VA 23606

Phone: (757) 926-1400

Additional information 

Looking for Christmas Lights? Be sure to visit our Best Christmas Lights list for home, neighborhoods and public light displays!

Special Event: The William and Mary Accidentals
Usher in the holiday season with a concert in the Special Event: Artful Winter Evenings Series, a magical after-hours event at the Art Museums. Get in the holiday spirit a cappella style with the William & Mary Accidentals. This all-treble-voice a cappella group, founded in 1992, brings complex arrangements, musicality, and trademark red scarves to the stage for a delightful program. Enjoy holiday standards and crowd favorites that the Accidentals love to share with the Williamsburg community, on and off campus. Tickets and more info