Holidays by the Sea in Historic Hampton Roads

The Hampton Roads, Virginia region comes to life during the holidays! There is usually too much to do and you end up having to make some choices regarding the holiday events you attend! Here are some of my favorites to help you make those choices:

1. The Grand Illumination in Williamsburg, Virginia: There is no more picture-perfect place to take a holiday stroll than Duke of Gloucester Street in Colonial Williamsburg. This beautifully restored colonial town has strict guidelines for the holiday decoration of buildings in the colonial area - all decorations are handmade from dried flowers, fruit, leaves, seashells, and other natural materials. You won't find a plastic decoration or piece of tinsel anywhere! The town kicks off the spectacular holiday season with the Grand Illumination, which is very heavily attended by locals and visitors so expect some crowds! This year's event will be held on Sunday, December 3, 2006 beginning at 4:30 pm. The event begins with concerts around the historic area and culminates with wonderful fireworks at 6:15 pm. Concerts and acts continue until 7:30. What is especially lovely about the celebration is the reliance of the historic area on candlelight and bonfires to light up the homes and outdoor areas. You can truly imagine what the holidays must have been like 300 years ago. This is a free event so make sure to arrive early as parking is difficult for this event. A newly constructed parking garage in the area should ease parking problems a bit! After the celebration, dine in one of the fine restaurants in the area such as the Trellis or Berret's, grab a sandwich at the very popular Cheese Shop, or have a fabulous burger at Paul's Deli (just up the street from the historic district). Partake of some hot cider and homemade cookies sold along Duke of Gloucester Street and enjoy the festive atmosphere! Christmas in Williamsburg is truly extraordinary! Check out their website for more programs and events: http://www.history.org/christmas/

2. Christmas Boat Parades: Being that we in the Hampton Roads region are nestled between the Atlantic Ocean, the Chesapeake Bay, and numerous rivers that feed into the Bay, the holiday boat parade has become a tradition in many localities in the area. It's a lot of fun to get bundled up, sit on the beach or on a pier, and watch the decorated boats parade by. Local boaters who participate go all out to make their boats the most festive and cheerful of the parade! One of my favorite boat parades is in historic Yorktown, Virginia. This year's parade will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2006 at 7pm with festivities beginning at 6pm. This too is a crowded event so plan to arrive a little early. The newly created waterfront area boasts nice shops and restaurants to keep you entertained while you wait! Have a crabcake sandwich at the locals' favorite, the Yorktown Pub! Check out the York County website for more details: http://www.yorkcounty.gov/cyc/boatparade.html

3. Hundred Miles of Lights: The holiday light displays and related events stretch from Richmond to Virginia Beach, Virginia from Thanksgiving weekend through the New Year. Most are drive-through displays that have become a family tradition for many in the area. Some of my favorite displays are in Newport News Park in Newport News, Virginia, the Norfolk Botanical Garden in Norfolk, Virginia, and the Lights on the Boardwalk in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The beach display is especially fun with its original nautical and marine life light display. It's a little too lit-up from the surrounding hotels and restaurants, but the kids loved it last year! No matter how many times we see these displays, they still make the holidays fun. It's special to see your little child's eyes light up at all the wonderful lights!
Check out this website for more information: http://www.newport-news.org/groupinfo/100milesoflights.htm

There are many, many other holiday events worth checking out - Christmas at Berkeley Plantation, Christmas in the Field Reenactments at Endview Plantation, the traditional Coleman Nursery figurine and puppet displays now in Old Towne, Portsmouth, holiday homes tours, and many city parades! Whatever you choose to attend, enjoy and happy holidays!