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Planning your Holiday
Isn’t it amazing how all these years after childhood, the holidays can still make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside? That’s thanks to traditions—the ones that were passed down to us years ago and the ones we make ourselves with our friends and family. The anticipation of beloved traditions fills our hearts with joy and excitement, which is why we’re here to help you with planning your holiday in Colonial Williamsburg.
How will you fill hearts this Christmas? We have a few ideas!
- Go to Colonial Williamsburg’s Holiday Planner and take a look at the amazing offerings each day.
- Decide which programs that most interest you. Here’s a sample itinerary that you can pick and choose from:
December 20, 2022
Music and Mischief | 10:15-10:35 a.m., 11:15-11:35 a.m., 1:15-1:35 p.m.
Christmas is a time for comradery, which lends itself to telling stories and listening to music as we celebrate the spirit of the season. So it was in the 18th century—hear 18th-century stories and music that were performed during Christmastide as the Jug Broke Theatre Co. celebrates the holiday with you.
Jolly Old Saint Nicholas | 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Celebrate that jolly old elf and his friends! Come to the Hennage Auditorium and discover worldwide traditions with Gabe Stone and David Gardner as they share tunes and stories about the star of the Christmas gift-giving season.
Palace Concert | 7-8 p.m. & 8:30-9 pm.
The regal Palace of the royal governor comes to life as Colonial Williamsburg’s early music ensemble, the Governor’s Musick, offers an elegant evening of holiday chamber music showcasing 17th- and 18th-century music for harpsichord, voice, flute, and strings. The concert repertoire is custom-crafted for each series and varies throughout the year. The program includes music known in Virginia as well as music from Europe. (This event is not recommended for children under 6.)
Fire a Flintlock Musket | 9:30-10:30 a.m., 11-12 p.m., 1:30-2:30 p.m., 3-4 p.m.
Get into the spirit of 1776 at the Colonial Williamsburg Musket Range. Fire live rounds at a target from two different reproduction 18th-century flintlock firearms commonly used during the Revolutionary War, and learn about the history of the weapons. Must be 14 or older to participate.
Private Family Tour | 10-11 a.m., 2-3 p.m.
Take a walk through town with one of Colonial Williamsburg’s skilled interpreters and dig deeper into the topics that mean the most to you. Your private guide will lead your family through town to learn more about what it was like to live in the 18th century.
Visit a Nation Builder | 10:10:35 a.m., 2:30-3:05 p.m.
Step into the past with a Nation Builder–think Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Martha and George Washington, but also lesser-known but equally important names like Ann Wager, Gowan Pamphlet and Oconostota. Through stories, discussion, and questions, explore the hopes, choices, and challenges these incredible people faced in Williamsburg and beyond.
Freedom’s Paradox | 10:45 & 11:45 a.m., 12:45, 1:45, 2:45, & 3:45 p.m.
Take a 60-minute walking tour of the Randolph Yard, Market Square, and Palace Green. Examine slavery’s evolution and the reliance upon it by patriots like Peyton Randolph to build a city, a colony, and eventually a nation. Explore the paradox of the institution of slavery and the movement for independence by looking at the experiences of the free and enslaved members of the Randolph Household.
A Fugitive Christmas | 11-11:45 a.m.
Join two fugitive soldiers on New Year’s Day in 1776 as they celebrate Christmastide while recovering from their wounds in a military hospital. With enemy forces closing in, these men—far from their friends and family—must find a way to continue their fight for freedom, or else this Christmastide will be their last.
Talk of the Town: Christmastide | 1:30-2:15 p.m.
With an 18th-century resident as your guide, walk about the city and experience the spirit of the Christmastide season as they share the news of the day and reflections on the holiday season.
Midwinter Stories | 3:30-4 p.m.
Stories are the life’s blood and collective memory of a society. Among many Native communities in the Eastern Woodlands, storytelling takes place in the fall and winter, when domestic activities move indoors. Head to the Charlton Stage to hear stories and traditions from Native Nations such as the Cherokee, Shawnee, and Sappony.
Haunted Williamsburg | 7-8 p.m., 8:30-9:30 p.m.
Telling ghost stories in the darkness of winter night is a centuries-old tradition. This holiday season, experience Haunted Williamsburg, the ONLY ghost tour that goes inside the historic buildings! From authentic 18th-century colonial ghost stories to creepy modern-day encounters, costumed storytellers share unnerving tales. This one-hour candlelit walking ghost tour begins at the Play House Stage on Palace Green and is suitable for children 8+. All children must be accompanied by an adult!
Revolutionary Points of View | 7-8 p.m., 8:30-9:30 p.m.
This event should be relatable to us in modern times. Picture this: It’s the eve of the American Revolution, and there are just as many opinions about war and independence as we hear about politics and religion today. Step back in time and encounter points of view that run the gamut. Then, engage in the most crucial debate in our nation’s history—do we remain British or become Americans?
Here’s a full list of events to browse and book.
And don’t forget—there’s also fun to be had at Liberty Ice Pavilion, the Williamsburg Christmas Market, and Busch Gardens!
We hope this helps you with planning your holiday in Colonial Williamsburg, as always end your days with us at King’s Creek. Let us know what your favorite destination is in the comments below!