Thursday, December 7, 2023

Senior-Friendly Holiday Activities in Richmond

If you’re looking for fun and exciting things to do this holiday season, you’ve come to the right place. Every year around this time, the nearby city of Richmond becomes a magical place full of lights, parades, shows, tours, and plenty of holiday cheer. Best of all, many of these events are perfect for seniors. Whether you’re still living in your home, with family, or in an Independent Living community, you’ll find plenty to do this holiday season.

Keep reading to learn more about these great events and when you can visit.

Lewis Ginter GardenFest of Lights

The Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens hosts the GardenFest of Lights every year from mid-November to early January. Visitors can capture the beauty of millions of lights and botanical decorations as they stroll through the gardens.

This lighted journey isn't the only event happening on the Lewis Ginter grounds. You can catch a glimpse of the spectacular trees decorated by local school children on display at the Lora Robins Library or view the model train displays at the Kelly Education Center. Live entertainment is also available on Tuesday nights in December from 6 to 8 p.m.

If that’s not enough, you can make reservations at the Garden Café, grab a bite to eat at the Jingle Bar and Grill, or get some hot cocoa at the concession stand. Advanced tickets are required and can be purchased online. Tickets are available in half-hour intervals from 4 to 8:30 p.m.

Dominion Energy Christmas Parade

The city of Richmond has held an annual Christmas parade for over 40 years. The current Dominion Energy Christmas Parade takes place in early December and attracts over 100,000 people. It includes more than 20 floats as well as bands, community members, and of course, the grand entrance of Santa Claus.

The parade begins at 10:15 a.m., but people start arriving and finding their spots well before the start of the parade. It begins at the Science Museum of Virginia and travels down Broad Street until it reaches the Richmond Coliseum. If you plan to attend this event, arrive early and bundle up because it can get cold. If attending the event in person seems too much, you can enjoy a live broadcast on WTVR-CB56 from the warmth of your home, cottage, or Independent Living community.

Tacky Lights Tour

Another fun, holiday tradition for those living in the greater Richmond area is to tour the annual Tacky Lights display. Every year, the Richmond Times-Dispatch compiles a list of the best light displays in the Richmond area and plots them on an online map. The Times-Dispatch even creates suggested routes for those who want to enjoy a self-guided tour of all these twinkling lights.

If you prefer to sit back and let someone else handle the driving for you, plenty of tour services are available. Touring options range from luxury limousine tours to bus tours. Pricing and hours vary between tour service companies, so explore your options, and book your tour today.

Other Holiday Attractions

If these main holiday events aren’t enough to keep you busy this holiday season, here are some additional options to check out.

Light Up the Tracks: Every year, the nearby town of Ashland creates a mile-long Christmas display along the railroad tracks in its historic district. Other special events, such as the Olde Time Holiday Parade and the Ashland Christmas Market, also take place.
Holiday House Tours: If you like home architecture, you’ll love the Holiday House Tours in the Fan District of Richmond. You can tour various types of home designs, including Richardson, Victorian, Queen Anne, and colonial, as these homes are spruced up for the holidays. Tickets are available online or at the Fan District Association office on Strawberry Square.
Model Railroad Show: The annual Model Railroad Show is held every year over the Thanksgiving weekend at the Dewey Gottwald Center of the Science Museum of Virginia. Entrance to the room full of model train displays is included in your admission to the museum.
Richmond Symphony: The Richmond Symphony offers an array of holiday-themed concerts and events beginning in late November and running throughout December. You can check out its calendar to see what special events are taking place this year.

As you can see, the Richmond-Midlothian area is full of fun, senior-friendly activities to get people into the holiday spirit. Residents of Brandermill Woods can also find plenty of activities right here at our senior living community, such as holiday-themed movies, special events, wellness seminars, and crafts.

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