7 Richmond Events to Keep You Entertained All Winter
Things tend to slow down as days grow shorter and we spend more time indoors. It’s easy to fall into a routine of heading directly home after work and settling into the couch—leading to winter blahs, fidgety kids, or general boredom.
Luckily, Richmond offers great ways for families, couples, and those seeking some me-time to get out and enjoy the winter months. Here are just a few of the annual activities that I’ve enjoyed this time of year, as well as some new events I’ve been looking into. Try a few and perhaps you’ll find that winter isn’t so long after all!
See Toys of the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s at the Virginia Historical Society
Learn some fascinating pop-culture history and indulge in a little nostalgia at the Virginia Historical Society’s Toys of the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s exhibit, which runs through December 31. What better way to warm up for the holiday season than to show the kids the toys you and your parents asked Santa for back in the day? Click here for details & registration.
Celebrate Holiday Traditions from Richmond’s Past or Present
As a hotbed of American history, it’s no surprise that many Richmond holiday events center around our rich cultural heritage. One very special—and free—event is the Holiday Lantern Tour at Meadow Farm in Glen Allen on December 16. This family-friendly evening tour walks back in time through Christmas traditions of the Sheppard family, going back seven generations to the early 1700s. Get details here.
If you prefer the here and now in holiday cheer, you’ll find plenty of it at the 42nd annual Bizarre Bazaar Christmas Collection show at the Richmond Raceway Complex, November 30 through December 3rd. It’s truly enormous, with 475+ food vendors, craftspeople, and musicians. A $9 admission gets you access to all four buildings, or choose the $14 early-bird admission and get a free coffee and danish, and smaller crowds. Don’t forget to bring a shopping bag! Details and tickets here.
“Light Up” with Your Four-Legged Friend at Gardenfest for Fidos
The Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden has designated two special Gardenfest for Fido nights this season—November 30 and January 4—for families to bring their leashed dogs to stroll through the grounds and enjoy the holiday light display. What could be cuter than a Winter Wonderland complete with happy dogs everywhere? A suggested “pet admission” fee of $2 will be donated to the Richmond SPCA. Get details & ticket info here.
Catch Legally Blonde, The Musical while it’s still in town
When it comes to live performances, The Nutcracker may be a holiday season classic, but if you’re ready for something different (and funny!), consider Legally Blonde, The Musical, based on the popular 2001 film starring Reese Witherspoon. It’s currently playing at the VCU Theatre. At the time of this post, there are still tickets available for shows November 30 through December 3. You can purchase tickets here.
Check out the cool winter programs at Pocohontas State Park
When I’m looking for healthy, family friendly activities in Virginia, I can always count on Pocohontas State Park. Pretend to be a time traveler, learn outdoor survival skills, or welcome 2018 on a New Year’s Night Hike at our closest state park. Pocohontas has a full calendar of events for kids of all ages throughout the winter months. Challenge yourself to attend at least one—it’s always great to get out into nature, and it’s pretty fun to bundle up for a change!
Rekindle your romance with a cozy winter getaway weekend
When’s the last time you and your partner had more than a few minutes of quality time to yourselves? Winter is the perfect time to find a sitter, take a day off work, and escape to a quiet setting for a long, lazy weekend. You can find a lot of great deals on weekend packages at historic inns, such as the Winter Warmers Romance package at the Cooper’s Landing Inn, just a couple of hours’ drive from Richmond.
Beat the holiday bulge and train for a winter running event
Working out can be tough when it’s cold, dark and wet outside. A big goal looming will get you out the door when you’d rather stay in bed. A few ideas: the First Day 5K on January 1 is a flat 3.1 miles that’s runner and walker friendly. For a bigger distance challenge, you still have time to train for the Frostbite 15K on January 21. For something epic, try the ICY-8 trail adventure race in Spotsylvania—and run the 4.7 mile loop as many times as you want in the 8-hour time limit.
I hope this list gives you some fresh, new ideas for things to do in Richmond. I’ll add one more thing to the list that I can help you with personally: treat yourself to a professional skin care treatment! I offer several minimally-invasive options to treat wrinkles and sun damage, tighten sagging skin, and help you achieve a healthy glow for upcoming holiday events (or just because it’s winter, and you deserve it!). Call 804-355-3410 or request a consultation online.