Last updated: November 11, 2024
Plan your holiday schedule in Portsmouth Heights with ease! Our guide has all the top festive events. For Portsmouth Heights devotees and casual visitors alike, our guide illuminates the path to festive fun.
One popular event during this holiday season is the Annual Tree Lighting, which brings the community together as the bright lights adorn the town square. This year, Winter Wonderland: The Coleman Collection invites guests to explore a magical display of seasonal decor and interactive experiences for all ages. And the Winterfest is something you definitely don't want to miss with its array of local vendors and entertainment. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Portsmouth Heights Holiday Light Displays
Annual Tree Lighting
- What to Expect
- Tree lighting ceremony with live music and parade.
- Description
- The Annual Tree Lighting in Portsmouth features a festive ceremony with music by the Portsmouth Holiday Ensemble, remarks by the Mayor, and the lighting of a donated evergreen tree in Market Square. The event is followed by a holiday parade.
- Where
- Portsmouth | More Info : Annual Tree Lighting
Winter Wonderland: The Coleman Collection
- What to Expect
- Animated holiday scenes with over 100,000 lights and 260 animated figures.
- Description
- Winter Wonderland: The Coleman Collection is a holiday-themed display featuring animated scenes, Christmas trees, ice skaters, children sledding, and more. It offers a nostalgic visual treat for all ages.
- Where
- Portsmouth | More Info : Winter Wonderland: The Coleman Collection
Holiday Nights at City Park
- What to Expect
- Train ride to see holiday lights.
- Description
- Holiday Nights at City Park features a train ride aboard the Pokey Smokey to see holiday lights, food vendors, an illuminated playground, and holiday activities. Check out some Coleman Collection pieces not displayed at the Winter Wonderland exhibit.
- Where
- Portsmouth | More Info : Holiday Nights at City Park
Olde Towne Holiday Lights
- What to Expect
- Progressive city lighting with holiday characters and activities.
- Description
- Join Olde Towne Portsmouth for a festive holiday celebration featuring a snowy tree lighting, face painting, holiday characters, and a pyrotechnic display. Enjoy Christmas music, a Children's Chorus performance, and meet the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who. Roast s'mores, watch holiday movie clips, and take family photos with Santa.
- Where
- Portsmouth | More Info : Olde Towne Holiday Lights
Deck the Hall
- What to Expect
- Interactive drive-through light display with holiday themes.
- Description
- Drive through a spectacular holiday light display featuring over 50,000 lights at Chesapeake City Hall, creating a festive atmosphere perfect for the season.
- Where
- Chesapeake | More Info : Deck the Hall
Holiday Wonder Walk
- What to Expect
- Dazzling holiday lights and seasonal decorations along a scenic water trail.
- Description
- The Holiday Wonder Walk at Coliseum Central in Hampton, VA, features dazzling lights and seasonal decorations along the Water Walk Trail. Enjoy lighted displays, themed props, and family-friendly activities, including food vendors and holiday crafters.
- Where
- Hampton | More Info : Holiday Wonder Walk
Festival of Lights
- What to Expect
- "Festive walk-through event with historic decorations"
- Description
- The Festival of Lights at Sleepy Hole Park features a walk-through night in partnership with The Obici House, showcasing festive decorations and beautifully preserved buildings, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that captures the essence of Southern hospitality.
- Where
- Suffolk | More Info : Festival of Lights
Holiday Lights at the Beach
- What to Expect
- Largest and longest curved LED Light Tunnel in the U.S.
- Description
- Drive through a spectacular display of holiday, nautical, and adventure-themed lights along the Virginia Beach Boardwalk. Enjoy traditional holiday music while viewing jumping fish, musical crabs, lively elves, and joyous penguins dancing in illuminated splendor against the moonlit Atlantic Ocean. The event features a Surfing Santa, color-changing archways, luminous fixtures honoring the Armed Forces community, and a 40-foot dancing-light Christmas tree.
- Where
- Virginia Beach | More Info : Holiday Lights at the Beach
Portsmouth Heights Holiday Markets and Shopping
Shop Small Market at Cure Coffeehouse
- What to Expect
- Local vendors selling unique goods and services.
- Description
- Shop Small Market at Cure Coffeehouse features local vendors from across Hampton Roads, offering a variety of goods and services.
- Where
- Portsmouth | More Info : Shop Small Market at Cure Coffeehouse
Olde Towne Holiday Open House & Crafter’s Market
- What to Expect
- Local artisans showcase their crafts in a historic setting.
- Description
- The Olde Towne Holiday Open House is a charming event showcasing local artisans and their handcrafted goods. Visitors can explore a variety of unique gifts, enjoy seasonal refreshments, and immerse themselves in a warm community atmosphere. The historic streets of Portsmouth come alive with decorations, enhancing the joyful spirit of the occasion.
- Where
- Portsmouth | More Info : Olde Towne Holiday Open House & Crafter’s Market
Portsmouth Heights Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Winter Wonderland Holiday Celebration
- What to Expect
- Interactive holiday entertainment with aerial performances and festive activities.
- Description
- Coliseum Central's Whimsical Winter Wonderland is a free event transforming the Hampton Coliseum into a holiday celebration with stage shows by aerialists, jugglers, and illusionists, along with roaming entertainers, stilt walkers, photo booths, face painting, balloon and glitter tattoo artists, and carnival-style games. Outdoor activities include snow flurries, a petting zoo, and large-scale inflatables.
- Where
- Hampton | More Info : Winter Wonderland Holiday Celebration
Snowglobe Spectacular
- What to Expect
- Live performances inside life-size snow globes.
- Description
- Snowglobe Spectacular at Town Center features life-size snow globes with artistic scenes, live music, and Santa's North Pole Snow Globe. Enjoy dancing ballerinas, elves, and royal musicians each weekend in December.
- Where
- Virginia Beach | More Info : Snowglobe Spectacular
Portsmouth Heights Other Holiday Activities
Snow Wonders
- What to Expect
- Snowfall and live music in a festive setting.
- Description
- Snow will fall from the sky, and music will fill the air, bringing nostalgic memories of the past. Join us on the Middle Street Mall outside the Children's Museum of Virginia for this free seasonal event every Saturday at 6pm.
- Where
- Portsmouth | More Info : Snow Wonders
Visits with Santa
- What to Expect
- Personalized letters to Santa for a more intimate holiday experience.
- Description
- Families can mail personalized letters to Santa, ensuring a more personalized response. Letters can be dropped off at the Community Campus or Connie Bean Center between December 1-20.
- Where
- Portsmouth | More Info : Visits with Santa
Winterfest
- What to Expect
- Ice skating and festive activities in a historic downtown setting.
- Description
- Winterfest in Portsmouth is a holiday celebration featuring an ice skating rink, charming craft vendors, delightful food trucks, live music, and cozy carriage rides through twinkling lights. It's a joyful event for all ages, including a visit from Santa Claus.
- Where
- Portsmouth | More Info : Winterfest