by Jeff Sylva andStephanie Sylva

A holiday experience that families will cherish for years can be found in Colonial Williamsburg. Since 1934, this 301-acre historic area has put on its holiday finery from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day. Grand Illumination, which will be held on Sunday, December 7th this year, celebrates the advent of the season, and is when families can explore the many traditions that have been celebrated in Virginia over the past 400 years. 

Besides visiting historic buildings, encountering “People of the Past,” discussing current events of the 1770’s with tradespeople, shopkeepers and enslaved servants, and shopping in Merchants Square as visitors do year-round, families will find numerous special holiday programs, dining events and musical concerts to attend.

The Holiday Spirit

Williamsburg's holiday spirit is so contagious that families don't need to attend any special events to feel it. The colonial village's outdoor Christmas decorations are unique and known worldwide for their use of the natural materials available during the 18th century.  Residents are encouraged to decorate their homes and families will enjoy taking a walking tour of the Historic Area to see which decorations have won contest ribbons for the most imaginative or original decorations.  Pine, boxwood, and Fraser fir wreaths decorated with fruits, berries, nuts, dried flowers, pinecones and holly are typical.

Visitors will be interested to know that the decorations are replaced at least twice during the holiday season because weather and wildlife can damage the natural materials. White roping puts finishing touches on doorways, windows, columns and railings. Illumination during evening programs is provided by cressets (iron baskets placed on iron poles) which have pitch pine or fat wood placed in them for burning. Also, more than 1,200 electric candles can be seen in building windows after dusk arrives.

Try not to miss one of the 29 special program events, 29 dining events and 38 musical events scheduled for the holiday season, though planning your vacation to Colonial Williamsburg can be daunting. The task becomes easier when you use the Holiday Planner which can be mailed to you by phoning (800/404-3389). This helpful resource describes each holiday event in detail, provides the dates the program is offered and lists the cost of each event. A map of the Historic Area is also included. Additional program details are available on the website www.ColonialWilliamsburg.com.

Holiday Programs & Concerts

Among the numerous choices for holiday programs, some are especially suited for families. “A Capitol Evening” includes elegant dancing, lively fast-paced hilarity, and amazements and amusements for the senses. The “Christmas Decorations Walking Tour” gives a guided look at the Historic Area and its holiday splendor. The “48th Annual Christmas Homes Tour” includes five private homes in the Historic Area not usually open to the public. “Gift of the Magi” is an adaptation of the classic holiday tale set in New York in the early 1900’s.  The “Grand Medley of Entertainments” features traveling players, in Williamsburg for the season, performing amazing feats and fast-paced hilarity.

“Toys from Times Past” (introduced in 2007) is an event where participants will play with toys dating back to the colonial period.  A small historical toy kit to take home will be included in the cost of the program.  Finally, the “Victorian Christmas Magic-Lantern Show” is an 1890’s projected extravaganza with Scrooge, Santa, animated comedy and carols.

Certain musical events also stand out for family entertainment. “Crystal Carols” will be performed by Dean Shostak who is a master of glass instruments.  This concert features crystal handbells, a glass violin and Benjamin Franklin’s glass armonica. “Fiddling Away the Holidays” is an informal, fun program with master fiddler John Turner and includes a unique performance of the “Twelve Days of Christmas” featuring an eclectic collection of whistles and instruments. New this year is “American Christmas Musicworks!” which promises to be a high-energy showcase of Christmas favorites played on fiddle, guitar, mandolin, and about a dozen other instruments. A pre-show instrument "petting zoo" will be set up for children, so they can try out the kinds of insturments used in the show.

Special for Families Learning Activities

During weekends in December special family programming is offered and is included with the purchase of any Colonial Williamsburg admission ticket. “A Kid’s Holiday Weekend” includes activities such as dressing up for the holidays, 18th-century entertainment including storytelling, dance, music and puppet shows, caroling, participation in food preparation and creative art projects.

Guests can further enhance the holiday weekend experience with “A Kid’s Holiday Memories” day package. The cost is $15 for adults and children ages 6 and older, and $7.50 for children under 6 with the purchase of any Colonial Williamsburg admission ticket.  A parent must accompany his or her child.  Holiday traditions of yesteryear are experienced, and costumed guides accompany the family while visiting with a character interpreter, in making holiday decorations and in playing colonial games.

Plan to participate in the daily adventure “Revolutionary City” which takes place from 2:30-4:30pm. Admission is included with your Colonial Williamsburg admission pass.  Your family takes part in the everyday life of the city against the backdrop of momentous, world-changing events.  One day you discover things you never knew about the events that led to the collapse of royal government between 1774-1776.  On another, you explore how citizens dealt with the war during the time period 1776-1781. A third day gives you a chance to learn who really built this nation and see the challenges they faced after we gained our independence. Scenes and encounters change daily, and you enter and exit as you wish.  In between timed events, you can meet on the street with some of the people of Williamsburg to learn how these changes touched their lives.

Details, Details

Dining in an historic tavern is a special experience and families should sample as many of the taverns as possible during their stay in Williamsburg.  “An Evening of Lyrics and Lore at Campbell’s Tavern” combines traditional tavern entertainment with taletellers and balladeers along with colonial foods (with some modern interpretations). “Shields Tavern Holiday Feast” welcomes you to regional fare while being visited by a tavern cook, Mr. Shields himself or other people of the past. “Mrs. Campbell’s Holiday Tea” invites you to join Mrs. Campbell and her daughter Molly to discuss 18th century holiday traditions while they offer you proper tea service. New this year at Chownings Tavern is “Holiday Gambols, during which balladeers and colonial characters will provide an evening of 18th century holiday entertainment and merriment.

Visitors to Colonial Williamsburg have a variety of lodging accommodations and rates to choose from.  Official Colonial Williamsburg lodging options are steps, or a convenient shuttle ride, away from the activities and dining experiences found in the Historic Area.  They include the Williamsburg Inn, Providence Hall Guesthouses, Colonial Houses, the Williamsburg Lodge, Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel and Suites, and the Governor’s Inn.  Exclusive benefits are enjoyed by guests of these lodging options.

If your family wants to fully immerse themselves in the 18th century ambiance, choose to stay in one of the Colonial Houses. These are authentic period accommodations in the Historic Area where our founding fathers and mothers once lodged. Twenty-six restored or reconstructed homes and taverns allow guests to experience how our founding families once lived – with the addition of 21st century conveniences such as room service, modern bathrooms, telephones and television sets. Each structure has its own name, which links it to the most concrete records that researchers can find.  Guest rooms can be found in former taverns, tenements, kitchens, laundries, offices, shops and slave quarters.

Since the Christmas holiday season is such a busy time, families should try to make reservations for lodging, dining and program events as soon as possible.  To make reservations by phone call (800-HISTORY) or explore the Colonial Williamsburg websites at www.ColonialWilliamsburg.com. or www.history.org as reservations can also be made on the internet.

Jeff and Stephanie Sylva are retired high school teachers and have been travel writers for 18 years. Their daughter, Jennifer, is in college and often travels with them.

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