DSC_0183The 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!