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Make this holiday season special for kids studying US history by spending a few days living that history in a unique village shaped by centuries of traditions.

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.