RICHMOND: 2nd Annual CarMax Tacky Light Run, A fun, social event for the entire family with a celebration of an active lifestyle. The event will start and finish at the Midlothian Mines Park and will take participants while through the Walton Park neighborhood, Saturday, December 13th with a pre-event festival starting at 5pm. Strollers are welcome and walk up registration is available on Friday and Saturday – Friday from 4pm-7pm, and Saturday from 3pm-5:30pm, at American Family Fitness at 12900 Amfit Way (not far from Midlothian Mines Park). The CarMax Tacky Light Run is an untimed event and good for all levels of fitness, teams rebate will be offered to encourage group participation. You’re also encouraged to put on your best, brightest and tackiest holiday attire, several contests for individual, group and neighborhoods, categories include best Tacky Sweater, Most Authentic Santa, Best Themed House and Best Block Party. For more information visit http://www.sportsbackers.org.
28th Annual Court End Christmas, Sunday, December 14th from noon to 5pm. Free admission and transportation to ten Historic Sites, the include The Valentine/Wickham House, The John Marshall House, St. John’s Church, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, The Museum and White House of the Confederacy, Monumental Church, The Egyptian Building (VCU Medical Center Campus), The Beers House (VCU Medical Center Campus), The Virginia State Capitol, and The Virginia’s Executive Mansion. Carriage rides, carolers, living history, live music, children’s crafts, gift shops and more. Shuttle is available to all sites throughout the event and event is rain or shine, The Museum is collaborating with the Church Hill Holiday House Tour Advance Tickets – http://www.churchhill.org. For more information and parking visit http://thevalentine.org/CEC.
The Church Hill Association celebrates Church Hill Holiday Festival 50th Anniversary, festivities include Candlelight Walk, Friday, December 12, 7pm at St. John’s Church for Vespers & at 7:15pm Union Hill – stroll down historic avenues by candlelight with bagpipes & drums. 7:35 both groups meet at St. John’s for a walk to Libby Hill for caroling and Santa. Sunday, December 14th – Holiday House Tour, noon – 5pm, tour decorated historic homes, Trolley services available between homes or you can walk, transportation also available between available at St. John’s Church and The Court End Holiday activities. Advance tickets $20 per person, $25 day of tour. For more details about the Church Hill Association Holiday Festival 50th Anniversary and more visit http://www.ChurchHill.org, look for the Events section.
Also see: Richmond Holiday Events List 2014
The Fan District Association’s 52nd Annual Holiday House Tour Saturday, December 13th & Sunday, December 14th, 1 to 6 PM both days. Richmond’s Fan District, a revitalized residential neighborhood made up of late 19th and early 20th century houses, is one of the largest and least altered historic townhouse districts in the South. The Fan District is on the National Register of Historic Places and represents one of the largest concentrations of Victorian period townhouses in the USA. Free Parking at Retreat Doctors’ Hospital, 2621 Grove Avenue & 1104 W. Franklin St. Parking Deck, across the street from St. James’s Episcopal Church
Trolleys will be available, refreshments and ticket sales: Retreat Doctors’ Hospital, 2621 Grove Ave Virginia Center for Architecture 2501 Monument Ave, restroom facilities and refreshments: Greenfield Residences on Monument (formerly HeartFields Assisted Living), 501 N Allen Ave, details http://fandistrict.org/holiday-house-tour-2014/.
James River Advisory Council 22nd Annual James River Parade of Lights, Saturday, December 13th, locations to see the parade – Richmond – Libby Hill Park, corner of 28th and East Franklin streets, entertainment begins at 4:30 pm, parade viewing at 6 pm; Intermediate Terminal Dock, Dock and Water streets, parade viewing at 6 p.m.
Henrico County – Osborne Park and Boat Landing, 9530 Osborne Turnpike, entertainment begins at 4 p.m., parade viewing 7-7:30 pm. Chesterfield County – Dutch Gap Boat Landing, 441 Coxendale Road, parade viewing 7:30-7:45 pm.
Henricus Historical Park, 251 Henricus Park Road, entertainment begins at 6 pm, parade viewing 7:45-8 pm. Parking is first come, first served. For more information, including directions, visit jrac-va.org or call 804-717-6681.
Annual seasonal “Blessing of the Animals”– The Friends of the Richmond Mounted Squad’s – the Officers of the Richmond Police Mounted Unit, Richmond K9’s, working horses and dogs, pets, and fellow animal lovers. Blessing performed by Reverend Karen Thompson of Thompson’s Border Collies, Friday, December 12, Noon (Rain or Shine) in Shockoe Slip Fountain (Morgan Fountain) in front of The Martin Agency.
The Blessing recognizes working animals. Special Seasonal Music performed by Susan Greenbaum, Deck Your Dogs with Bows and Holly! Pets and people encouraged to “dress for the season” – bring your pet or photo of a beloved pet. Gifts of pet food to be donated to Animal Adoption and Rescue Foundation (AARF). Carrots and apples appreciated by the Police Horses. Details 804-543-9088.
Ashland Holiday Walking Tours, Sunday, December 14th from 2:30pm to 4pm and 4:30 pm to 6pm. Tour starts at the Ashland Museum, 105 Hanover Avenue, other historic sites includes Randolph-Macon’s Campus and the College Avenue Historic Neighborhood. Advance tickets are $25, members $15, day of $30. Reservations are encouraged. To purchase tickets or get more information visit http://ashlandmuseum.org/museum-news/holidaytour/ or pay by mail to Ashland Museum, PO Box 633, Ashland, VA 23005 or info@ashlandmuseum.org, or 804-368-7314.
Christmas Special Needs Worship Service, Celebrating Life, Love and Special People, Sunday, December 14th, 3pm at 2nd Baptist Church, 1400 Idlewood Avenue. Featuring Zion’s Voice and Children and adults with special needs will showcase their talents, food reception after the service, and gifts will be passed out to over 60 “JumPers” from the “Givers” who donated to our 2nd Annual JP JumPers Foundation Christmas Giving Tree. A FREE service to give them a new perspective of the Different-Abilities of those who are called Disabled. Details https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEPlFdoTT10&list=UUQoRIxKjf4UBtchN0tffqng
Celebrate the Holiday Season with Christmas on MacArthur, in the 4000 Block of MacArthur Avenue, Richmond’s North Side Saturday, December 13th from 11am to 4pm, A fundraiser for the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots program. It’s a family fun event with Santa, a parade featuring U.S. Marines, ACCA Shriners, Richmond City and Virginia police & Richmond fire and many others. Kids who bring an unwrapped toy on can register to win one of six bikes. Anyone can drop off unwrapped toys on or before the event at any Bellevue Merchant. There will also be music and vendors with handmade arts and crafts. For more information call Rich’s Stitches at 804-262-3477 or email Mike LaBelle at thetaz23227@yahoo.com. This is one of the largest single donors to Toys for Tots sponsored annually by the U.S. Marines.
The Central Virginia Wind Symphony’s 10th annual Holiday Spectacular Saturday, December 13th at 7pm at Chesterfield Towne Center and Sunday, December 14th at 3pm at Virginia Center Commons. Free concerts featuring World Renowned Richmond Trumpeter Rex Richardson as guest soloist! Kat Simons from Lite 98 will host Saturday’s concert, with Lorenzo Hall from CBS 6 leading the Sunday festivities.
From Sinatra to Prince, Gershwin to Springsteen to some of Tony’s award-winning original songs, Tony DeSare: We’ve Got a World That Swings, Friday at pm & Saturday at 2pm & 7pm, CenterStage’s Libby S. Gottwald Playhouse. Join Tony DeSare, critically acclaimed singer/pianist/songwriter, as he returns to CenterStage.
Enter the password MATINEE for 15% off your tickets to the 2:00 p.m. Saturday performance! http://www.etix.com/ticket/online/performanceSearch.jsp?performance_id=1845511&partner_id=240.
Holiday Hoopla at Binford Middle School, Saturday, December 13th, 10am – 2:30 pm, at 1701 Floyd Avenue, free, shop and support your community from crafters and vendors. silent auction, food, children’s activities, student performances, games, science fair exhibits, basketball games and more, Binford vs Albert Hill Basketball game at noon, tickets $5, $1 donated to Children’s Hospital Change for Children Program. Drop of non-perishable foods to support the drive for FeedMore.
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas at Richmond at Altria Theater on Sunday, December 14, at 7pm. Tickets range from $38 to $68 (plus applicable fees) and can be purchased at Richmond CenterStage Box Office, charge by phone at 1-800-514-3849 or online at http://www.BroadwayInRichmond.com or http://www.RichmondCenterStage.com. ADA seating tickets are also available.
This year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Christmas Tour and release of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas, an album that revolutionized the Holiday Season music category. It’s also the 40th Anniversary of Davis’ first album in his Fresh Aire series which pioneered the New Age music category. Details http://www.mannheimsteamroller.com.
Richmond Funny Bone features Comedian Arnez J. December 13, 7pm & 9:30pm and Sunday December 14, 7pm, 11800 West Broad Street/Short Pump Mall, for details visit http://www.funnybone.com/Venues/Richmond/ or call 804-521-8900.
