The holidays are an exciting time in the Roanoke Valley and in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. The calendar from the Roanoke Visitors and Convention Bureau found on page 7 of our December issue is full of fun holiday-related events including the schedules for holiday parades, Santa sightings, ice skating, historic home tours, fun runs, and much more.
Take a look and you will find that the entire region is full of the festive spirit that makes Southwest Virginia such a wonderful place during the Christmas season!
The following events are sorted by category, and then listed by date within each category.
Parades
Vinton Christmas Parade
December 3
Downtown Vinton
18th Annual Flotilla for Toys Boat Parade of Lights
December 5
Smith Mountain Lake
Fincastle Christmas Parade
December 5
Historic Fincastle
Franklin County Christmas Parade
December 6
Downtown Rocky Mount
Buchanan Christmas Parade
December 12
Downtown Buchanan
Performances & Concerts
“A Christmas Carol”
December 3-12 | Thursday, Friday, & Saturday
Attic Productions
Roanoke Symphony Orchestra’s “Holiday Pops”
December 5
Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech
Southwest Virginia Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”
December 12-13
Berglund Center
Kenny Rogers
December 16
Berglund Center
Roanoke Ballet Theatre’s “The Nutcracker”
December 19
Jefferson Center
Home Tours
Old Southwest Holiday Parlor Tour of Homes
December 5-6
Historic Old Southwest Neighborhood
Holiday Candlelight Tours
December 4-19 | Friday & Saturday
Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest
Historic Fincastle Holiday Home Tour & Marketplace
December 12
Historic Fincastle
Buchanan Candlelight Christmas Home Tour & Reception
December 13
Buchanan
Light & Tree Displays
7th Annual Festival of Trees
November 18 – December 31
Bedford Tourism & Welcome Center
Buchanan Festival of Trees
November 26 – January 1
Buchanan Library
Fashions for Evergreens
November 26 – January 1
The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
Buchanan Tree Lighting
November 27
Town of Buchanan
Westlake Holiday Tree Lighting & Concert
December 3
Westlake Towne Center
Buchanan Christmas Eve Luminaries
December 24
Downtown Buchanan
Festivals
Come Home to a Franklin County Christmas
December 4
Downtown Rocky Mount
Dickens of a Christmas
December 4, 11, 18
Downtown Roanoke
Ye Olde Salem Christmas & Gingerbread Festival
December 5
City of Salem Library
Special Events
Christmas Time’s A Comin
November 20 – December 23 | Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Peaks of Otter Winery & Orchards
Elmwood on Ice – Ice Skating
November 23 – February 14
Elmwood Park – Downtown Roanoke
Honey Tree Public Ice Skating
November – January | Check for specific dates & times
Berglund Center
Fantasyland
November 28 – December 19 | Saturdays
History Museum of Western Virginia
Wine & Pine
December 3
Berglund Center
Holidays at Smithfield Plantation
December 4-6
Historic Smithfield
Candy Cane Express
December 5
Virginia Museum of Transportation
An Old Virginia Christmas
December 5
Booker T. Washington National Monument
Holiday Open House
December 5-6
Chateau Morrisette Winery & Restaurant
Flames of Memory and Christmas in Wartime Presentation
December 11-13
National D-Day Memorial
Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis
December 12
Downtown Roanoke
Miracle on 34th Street
December 12
Grandin Theatre
Holiday Open House
December 13
Virginia Mountain Vineyards
Santa’s Yuletide Celebration at Fantasyland
December 20
History Museum of Western Virginia
Christmas Eve Fun Run/Walk
December 24
Roanoke River Greenway
New Year’s Eve Celebrations
The following events take place on December 31.
Big Lick Downtown Countdown
Downtown Roanoke
Fincastle Ringing of the Bells
Historic Fincastle Courthouse
New Year’s Eve at Natural Bridge
Natural Bridge Park & Historic Hotel
To see a complete list of events taking place in the region, check out our Calendar of Events. You can also take advantage of our holiday specials & packages! Need help finding a place to stay? Refer to our great selection of Lodging options in Virginia’s Blue Ridge!