Best things to do in Williamsburg: January 2024
Best things to do in and around Williamsburg – January 2024
Blow the budget at Christmas and now fun in January is looking like a non-existent option? Well here is a list that may help. If you are looking for fun free, or not too expensive things to do this January in the Williamsburg, James City County and Yorktown area (and a little further down the Peninsula) below is the list for you!
Outdoor Ice Skating Rink in Colonial Williamsburg
Liberty Ice Pavilion will open daily through through February 27, 2024, including holidays! Ice skate with your family on Duke of Gloucester Street at the outdoor Liberty Ice Pavilion! You can purchase day tickets or if you know you are going to be going more than a few times between – consider getting a Skate Season Pass. Day Passes and hours of operation here.
Winter Blues Jazz Festival
The four-day Winter Blues Jazz Fest is back for its 10th year presented by CultureFix! This year the festival will be held January 12 – 15, 2024. The over-riding goal is to provide an enriching and entertaining weekend full of jazz and blues programs with options available to suit all tastes and budgets. The Winter Blues Jazz Fest has a little something for everyone. See the schedule below and then get your tickets today at Winter Blues Jazz Fest!
Wedding Open House at Colonial Williamsburg
Williamsburg Lodge, Autograph Collection
Sunday, Jan 14, 2024 from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
If you are dreaming of a fairytale wedding? Look no further! Come and explore the beautiful Williamsburg Lodge, Autograph Collection, located on South England Street in Williamsburg, VA, USA. This in-person event is your chance to discover the perfect venue for your special day. Your $10 Ticket Grants You Access to these Inspiring Experiences at Colonial Williamsburg Wedding Open House!
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day events in the area
Here are some local and regional events being held for Martin Luther King Day on January 15, 2024.
National Park Service sites will have free admission for everyone on Monday, January 15, 2024, as the first fee free day of the year.
Williamsburg Players presents Private Lives
Revived in 2002 by the Royal National Theatre in a production that sparkled on Broadway, Private Lives is one of the most sophisticated, entertaining plays ever written. Don’t miss it at Williamsburg Players, select dates January 19 – February 4. Tickets and dates.
Good Neighbor Pass at Colonial Williamsburg
When you purchase your Good Neighbor Pass – you get unlimited free access to Colonial Williamsburg for a year. The pass also gives you discounts on tickets for family and friends, discounts on evening programs, shopping and food. This little pass is a gem for locals. See if you live in the qualifying zipcodes. Also, it is free for local teachers…learn more.
Hennage Auditorium Live Performances and Activities in the Art Museum of Colonial Williamsburg
From the Nation Builders to indivdual interpreter performances the Hennage Auditorium has daily live theatrical events and most are part of your admission to the Art Museum of Colonial Williamsburg. If you are local your Good Neighbor Pass will get you in too. There are also, drop in crafts, Pop-Up Archaeology, tours and exhibits that are all worth repeat visits to this world class museum. Learn more…
American Revolutionary Museum Yorktown – Free Admission for locals*
I had the good fortune of getting to spend a day with 4th graders on their field trip to the American Revolutionary Museum in Yorktown this month and it made me remember why I love this museum. It was recently refreshed and what an amazing museum we now have…hallographic projections telling history to us in the first person. A movie theater in the round that tells the epic story of the last days of the decisive Battle of Yorktown. Your seats shudder when the bombs blast and smokey fog rises from the floor as the guns fire. But this is just on the inside of the museum. Outside museum interpreters are there in a rebuilt Revolutionary period town with a farm and roaming chickens. And that is just what we saw during a two hour field trip. Spend a day there and you will be amazed! *Best part? Residents of Williamsburg, James City County and Yorktown get in free with proof of residency.
Three Rivers/Three Peoples Hike at York River State Park
This hike, on January 15 from 10am-noon, honors the shared history of African, European, and Native Americans who made their homes along the Mattaponi, Pamunkey, and York Rivers. We will stop at certain points along the trails, in particular those that highlight the history of Taskinas Plantation (the colonial name for where our park is located) and other areas of historic significance. Of course, if something unique in the natural world captures our attention, we will share about that as well…More info
The Last Word Comedy Festival
The Last Word Comedy Festival is coming to Williamsburg, January 25-28, 2024! Join us for four days of shows, workshops, and receptions featuring improv and stand up comedy acts from around the country. Check out the full schedule and purchase tickets now at lastwordfestival.com.
Basset Trace Nature Trail
If the weather holds..enjoy the Basset Trace Trail in Colonial Williamsburg. This is a free access trail to visitors and locals a like. Re-opened in the fall of 2019 this trail is beautiful. It has markers along the way to let you know about the different types of trees, shrubs and plants along the trail . Take a snap shot of the Bird Guide poster at the trail head so you can identify what you spot along your walk. Trail is 1.4 miles (2.8 mile round trip). Here is more on the Bassett Trace Nature Trail
Arctic Blast with the Williamsburg Regional Library
Kick off the winter season with some fun science activities involving snowballs! Build snowball structures and launchers, explore Newton’s Second Law of Motion, create catapults, and participate in a snowball stacking challenge! January 20 from 10 am – 1 pm at Abram Frink Jr Community Center! Learn more
Virginia Living Museum
The absolute best way to do the Virginia Living Museum is to get a family membership because it pays for itself – because once you go once with little kids you realize how family friendly this place is and you will want to keep going back…and so will your kids! The whole museum is stroller friendly and geared towards families. The outside section is awesome with wide stroller and kid save pathways (fencing all around so no one falls into the pond) and it leads to the outdoor Dinosaur Discovery Zone. More info here...
Busch Gardens Mardi Gras
Busch Gardens Williamsburg is open and celebrating Mardi Gras January 26-28! Learn more about this festive event at Busch Gardens! Need discount tickets? Visit here.
Mariners Museum
$1 Admission – This museum took a bold stand last year and committed to $1 admission. That is right! Now they also have great films running and those are for an extra fee – so you might still consider purchasing a family membership. But they have great family programming including storytimes. This permanent exhibits in this museum will delight young and old and there is so much there – you can keep visiting over and over. They do have a restaurant but it is limited hours so check before you go. Their gift shop is worth a visit too! Learn more about them here.
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