Enjoy the festive season in Virginia Beach with our ultimate holiday guide. Whether Virginia Beach is your everyday reality or your dream destination, this guide brings festive fantasies to life.
One of the highlights of the holiday season is the Virginia Beach Christmas Market, where local artisans showcase handmade gifts and decorations amidst a backdrop of twinkling lights. Additionally, the Holiday Lights Merry Mile invites visitors to take a scenic drive through a dazzling display of festive illuminations. And the BayPort Credit Union Holiday Lights at the Beach is something you definitely don't want to miss for its spectacular showcase of lights along the oceanfront. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Virginia Beach
- BayPort Credit Union Holiday Lights at the Beach
- Virginia Beach Christmas Market
- Holiday Lights Merry Mile
- NUTCRACKER Magical Christmas Ballet
- Murray & Peter Present: A Drag Queen Christmas
- Snowglobe Spectacular
- BayPort Credit Union Surf - N - Santa 5 Miler
- Holi-Rays
- Holiday Boat Parade
- Winter Wonderland
See these and even more events listed below!
Virginia Beach Holiday Light Displays
BayPort Credit Union Holiday Lights at the Beach
What to Expect:
Timed entry with over 25 new light displays and a 600 ft. LED tunnel.
Description:
The BayPort Credit Union Holiday Lights at the Beach features over 25 new light displays, a 600 ft. LED tunnel, and special events like Military Monday and Food Lion Feeds Night. Guests navigate their vehicles through holiday, nautical, and adventure-themed light displays while enjoying traditional holiday music and festive treats.
Where: Virginia Beach | More Info: BayPort Credit Union Holiday Lights at the Beach
Holiday Boat Parade
What to Expect:
Lighted boats parade through Hampton Roads.
Description:
The Virginia Beach Holiday Boat Parade is a charitable event featuring lighted boats that illuminate the waters of Hampton Roads, showcasing festive decorations and community spirit.
Where: Virginia Beach | More Info: Holiday Boat Parade
Holi-Rays
What to Expect:
Stroll through a sea of lights under the stars.
Description:
Holi-Rays is an evening event where families can stroll through a sea of lights and enjoy holiday magic under the stars.
Where: Virginia Beach | More Info: Holi-Rays
BayPort Credit Union Surf - N - Santa 5 Miler
What to Expect:
Run through holiday lights on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk.
Description:
The BayPort Credit Union Surf-N-Santa 5 Miler is a holiday-themed run through the beautiful oceanfront area of Virginia Beach under the holiday lights. Participants will enjoy a flat and fast course, water stops with Nuun, and a unique bottle opener medal. The event culminates in a post-race celebration with live music, Hawaiian beer, food, and Santa Claus.
Where: Virginia Beach | More Info: BayPort Credit Union Surf - N - Santa 5 Miler
Bike Night Preview
What to Expect:
Nation's largest and longest curved LED Light Tunnel.
Description:
Ride your bicycle through a vibrant display of holiday lights, including jumping fish, musical crabs, and jolly elves, culminating in the nation's largest and longest curved LED Light Tunnel.
Where: Virginia Beach | More Info: Bike Night Preview
Food Lion Feeds Night
What to Expect:
Collection of non-perishable food donations to support local food banks.
Description:
Food Lion Feeds Night is a special event at BayPort Credit Union Holiday Lights at the Beach, where Food Lion collects donations of non-perishable food and money to benefit Southeastern Virginia and Eastern Shore Food Banks. The event features over 25 new light displays, including a 600 ft. LED tunnel, and offers a variety of holiday treats along the route.
Where: Virginia Beach | More Info: Food Lion Feeds Night
Winter Wonderland
What to Expect:
Immersive winter celebration with over ten million lights and new light experiences.
Description:
Busch Gardens Williamsburg transforms into a vibrant holiday destination with over ten million twinkling lights, featuring two all-new light experiences, Polar Pathway: Spectacle of Lights and Celebration of Lights at O'Tannenbaum. Enjoy heart-warming shows like the all-new Wisemen, returning favorites like ‘Twas that Night, and Gloria Discover the reason for the season with Santa’s Workshop, the Christmas Town Express, and more classic experiences. Pair thrilling moments with holiday cheer on over 25 rides and coasters, including the all-new DarKoaster™, North America’s first all-indoor straddle coaster. Families can enjoy a hearty meal and a special Christmas story from the big elf himself during Santa’s Fireside Feast presented by Coca-Cola. Festive treats, holiday shopping, and special photo opportunities complete this holiday tradition for friends and families.
Where: Virginia Beach | More Info: Winter Wonderland
Holiday Lights Merry Mile
What to Expect:
Timed entry with holiday music soundtrack.
Description:
Drive through Nautical, Holiday, and Adventure Lands on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk, featuring festive fish, musical crabs, and hard-working elves in brightly colored lights against the moonlit Atlantic Ocean. The event includes a Surfing Santa, color-changing archways, and a 40-foot dancing-light Christmas tree, with military tributes to the region's Armed Forces community.
Where: Virginia Beach | More Info: Holiday Lights Merry Mile
Tree Lighting Ceremonies
What to Expect:
Iconic 80-foot Norway spruce decorated with 50,000 LED lights and a 900-pound Swarovski crystal star.
Description:
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is a traditional holiday event where a towering Norway spruce is adorned with over 50,000 multi-colored LED lights and topped with a Swarovski crystal star. Thousands gather to witness the lighting, which marks the official start of the holiday season in New York City.
Where: Various | More Info: Tree Lighting Ceremonies
Virginia Beach Holiday Markets and Shopping
Virginia Beach Christmas Market
What to Expect:
High-quality, unique gifts from local artisans.
Description:
The Virginia Beach Christmas Market features 175 fine artisans from over 20 states, offering a wide range of handmade crafts, including fine arts, pottery, jewelry, and Christmas collectibles. This event has been voted #21 in the “200 Best Classic and Contemporary Craft Shows in the United States” by Sunshine Artist Magazine.
Where: Virginia Beach | More Info: Virginia Beach Christmas Market
Virginia Beach Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Murray & Peter Present: A Drag Queen Christmas
What to Expect:
Parody Christmas episodes of The Golden Girls performed by drag legends.
Description:
A Drag Queen Christmas features drag legends performing parody Christmas episodes of The Golden Girls, blending humor and heart in a festive celebration.
Where: Virginia Beach | More Info: Murray & Peter Present: A Drag Queen Christmas
NUTCRACKER Magical Christmas Ballet
What to Expect:
International all-star cast blending ballet, puppets, and acrobatics.
Description:
Celebrate America's favorite Christmas tradition with an international all-star cast blending world-class ballet, whimsical puppets, lavish costumes, and stunning acrobatics. Share in the pure holiday magic with Tchaikovsky's timeless score, perfect for friends and family of all ages.
Where: Virginia Beach | More Info: NUTCRACKER Magical Christmas Ballet
Snowglobe Spectacular
What to Expect:
Live performances inside life-size snow globes.
Description:
At the Snowglobe Spectacular, Virginia Beach Town Center transforms into a vibrant holiday destination. Life-size snow globes feature artistic, unique, and creative scenes with dancing ballerinas, playful elves, and royal musicians. The event includes a live appearance by Santa in his own Covid-safe snow globe, along with a Holiday Fountain Plaza Tree bursting with a mesmerizing dancing light display.
Where: Virginia Beach | More Info: Snowglobe Spectacular
Christmas Parades
What to Expect:
High school and college marching bands, giant helium balloons, and Legendary Santa.
Description:
The Dominion Energy Christmas Parade is a vibrant holiday event featuring colorful floats, giant helium balloons, high school and college marching bands, princesses, superheroes, and Legendary Santa. The parade begins at the Science Museum of Virginia and travels eastbound on Broad Street to conclude near the Richmond Coliseum.
Where: Various | More Info: Christmas Parades
Virginia Beach Other Holiday Activities
Bike Night Finale
What to Expect:
Family-friendly bike ride through holiday lights.
Description:
The Holiday Lights Bike Night is a family-friendly event where participants ride their bicycles through the illuminated boardwalk, enjoying the festive atmosphere and scenic views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Where: Virginia Beach | More Info: Bike Night Finale
Christmas and Holiday Open Houses
What to Expect:
Festively decorated public rooms by Garden Clubs of New Jersey.
Description:
Explore Drumthwacket, the official residence of the Governor of New Jersey, during the Christmas and Holiday Open Houses. The event features six first-floor public rooms festively decorated by Garden Clubs of New Jersey, holiday piano music in the Music Room, and a sweet treat prepared by the Drumthwacket Chef. The self-guided tours include docents available to answer questions, and guests may tour the grounds weather permitting.
Where: Various | More Info: Christmas and Holiday Open Houses
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Chesapeake (17 miles)
- Norfolk (17 miles)
- Portsmouth (18 miles)
- Portsmouth Heights (22 miles)
- East Hampton (23 miles)
- Hampton (24 miles)
- Newport News (26 miles)
- Suffolk (35 miles)
- South Suffolk (35 miles)