Hanover’s Perspective
Holiday Happenings in Hanover County VA 2024
From small community events to historic holiday traditions, there are plenty of ways to celebrate the holiday season in Hanover. Refer to this blog frequently as new listings will be added as they are announced. Here is a list of holiday events not to be missed.
NEW in 2024: Hanover ornaments are here! To purchase, visit: HanoverOrnament.com
Hanover Shopping Season – Hanover County Economic Development
November – December 2024; Visit this page for the Here In Hanover, VA App and information about the Hanover Shopping Season campaign.
The holiday season is a perfect time to visit our great locally owned retailers and restaurants!
Click on a category to quick jump in this list:
- Craft/Gift Markets (Some markets have photo opportunities with Santa!)
- Craft Workshops/Classes
- Giving Opportunities – In the Spirit of the Season
- Holiday Events – Ongoing Throughout the Season
- Holiday Events – Date Specific
- Parades
Craft/Gift Markets (Some markets have photo opportunities with Santa!)
Christmas Market at Covenant Woods
November 8, 2024; 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Free.
Come and enjoy Covenant Woods annual Christmas Market. Shop over 25 vendors to find that special gift for yourself or anyone on your holiday shopping list. You will find hand-crafted wooden bowls, cutting boards, jewelry, beautiful artwork, notecards, purses, totes, holiday decor, baked goods and more. You may also enjoy a delicious lunch in our Fireside Restaurant.
40th Annual Holiday Bazaar & Craft Show – Mechanicsville High School Band Boosters
November 9, 2024; 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Join for a festive day and shopping at the Mechanicsville High School Band Boosters 40th Annual Holiday Bazaar & Craft Show on Saturday, November 9th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 7052 Mechanicsville Turnpike in Mechanicsville. Immerse yourself in a vibrant atmosphere filled with a wide array of unique crafts and holiday treasures. With many talented vendors, you’ll find everything from handmade jewelry and artwork to delicious homemade treats and seasonal decorations. The Mechanicsville High School Band will also have concessions available for sale, a silent auction, and a bake sale. Indulge in the delicious food and beverages available at our concession stand, and don’t forget to participate in our Silent Auction! Whether you’re looking for holiday inspiration or simply want to have a great time, this event has something for everyone.
Holiday Open House – Hickory Creek Antiques
November 9, 2024; 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Frosty Fest! – CodeBlue Cares
November 17, 2024; 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Come shop with us at the 3rd Annual Frosty Fest! More than 40 local artisans and businesses will be set up in The Rutland Center with the best gifts for this Holiday Season! (Address: 9204 Center Oak Ct., Mechanicsville). Come out to do some holiday shopping or pick out a few gifts for yourself! There will be local food vendors set up as well so bring the family and grab a bite to eat while you shop! Enter our raffles at the CodeBlue Cares tent for a chance to win prizes from our vendors!
Christmas Market at Green Top Sporting Goods
November 23, 2024; 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Free admission. Outside event – rain or shine.
Come shop with local vendors and artisans at our fifth annual Christmas Market at Green Top! Custom Gifts, Home Decor, Candles, Soaps, Masks, Fresh Florals, Farm Fresh Favorites, Jewelry, Baked Goods, Accessories…and So Much More.
Holiday Open House – Cross Creek Nursery (West End)
November 23, 2024; 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Join Cross Creek Nursery on Ashland Road to kick off the Holiday Season!
43rd Annual Craft Bazaar – Church of the Redeemer (Mechanicsville)
November 23, 2024; 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Free.
Join us for the 43rd annual Craft Bazaar at Church of the Redeemer! Here’s what you can expect: over 100 vendors, breakfast and lunch options, bake sale, Santa shop for children, door prizes and raffles.
Hanover Holiday Market – Ashcreek Subdivision Clubhouse
November 24, 2024; 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Join us for this year’s Hanover Holiday Market at the Ashcreek Clubhouse to shop with various vendors. A food truck will be onsite.
Annual Holiday Open Farm Day – Meadowgate Alpacas
Saturday, November 30, 2024; 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.; Rain Date: December 1, 2024.
Admission fee applies.
Celebrate the holiday season at Meadowgate Alpacas for this annual holiday event! Take holiday card photos with the alpacas, shop our farm store for unique alpaca fiber products, and learn all about alpacas through short farm presentations throughout the day. Don’t miss this holiday tradition with your family. The cost is just $10 per car so bring your friends. (Rain date is December 1st from 11-3pm) Check out the event schedule online at www.meadowgatealpacas.com.
** Please note, as much as we love our canine companions, they are not allowed on the farm. Also, photos with the alpacas are designed as short opportunities, not photography sessions, and no outside props are allowed on the animals. Thank you and we hope to see you on the farm.
Ashland Christmas Market – Town of Ashland
December 7, 2024; 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Inspired by open-air holiday markets around the world, downtown shops and businesses are taking their wares to the streets with sidewalk sales, displays, and specials. Plus, more than 100 local artists and makers will host a crafts fair. 18 local eateries are open for your enjoyment. Festive music and food trucks will be onsite. This event is held rain or shine. Free, accessible, and open to the public.
Santa’s North Pole & Holiday Market – The Montpelier Center for Arts and Education
December 7, 2024; 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Free. Photos with Santa are available for purchase.
Don’t miss the fun at the Center’s winter wonderland! Shop local vendors and get one-of-a-kind gifts for family and friends, get priceless photos with Santa, grab some hot chocolate and a bite to eat while you make crafts and write a letter to Santa. The Center’s ballroom and dance studio will be utilized for this special event.
Cookies and Crafts– Beaverdam Depot
December 8, 2024; 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Come out and get your holiday shopping done! Local craft vendors will be set up. Also, Buy cookies by the pound. $8 per pound, many varieties of cookies.
Craft Workshops/Classes
Various Holiday Workshops/Events – James River Cellars Winery
Throughout November and December 2024
Use the link above to access their calendar of free and paid events for more information and to purchase tickets (if needed for certain events). Events include Wreath Making Workshops, ornament making, Holiday Canvas Paint Nite, Cookie Decorating, and more!
Wreath Making Workshops – Cross Creek Nursery (West End)
Throughout November and December
(Scroll down to Upcoming Events. Note: Cross Creek has two locations: West End location is on Ashland Road in Hanover County, and the other is in Midlothian. Each event listing indicates the location of the workshop.)
Pines & Pints – Wreath Decorating – Center of the Universe Brewing Company
November 25, 2024; 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Registration required; fees apply.
Enjoy a great local brew at Center of the Universe and decorate a fresh fir Christmas wreath handmade by Firever Pines Christmas Tree Farm. Come out for a relaxing evening and decorate your own wreath. Tickets are $55/each and include a free pint, a fresh, handmade Douglas & Fraser fir wreath made by FirEver Pines, a handtied bow of your choice, and all the decorations you need! Decorations will include fresh cedar cuttings, white pines cuttings, painted branches, pinecones, dried flowers, dried fruit, and assorted holiday decorations.
Deck the Halls! (Wreath making) – Hanover Arts & Activities Center (Proceeds benefit Hanover Safe Place)
December 8, 2024; Two time slots available: 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Ticket purchase required.
For a small entry donation ($40/person), you receive 3 tickets for hardware (wreath forms, centerpiece bowls, etc) and 3 tickets for bows! We have experts to help you every step of the way. Create wreaths, swags, boxwood circles, table toppers, candle surrounds, and more! Our fresh-cut greenery includes pine, cedar, hemlock, fraser fir, holly, nandina, and boxwood all cut from historic farms in Hanover County. You are also welcome to bring your own recycled wreath forms!
Giving Opportunities – In the Spirit of the Season
Veteran’s Day Toy Drive – Green Top
November 11, 2024; 11:00 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Green Top’s Annual Veteran’s Day Toy Drive collects new, unwrapped toys to benefit families of Virginia Service Members from all branches (active or retired). If you can’t make it on the 11th, a toy box will be up front in Green Top’s foyer for drop-offs. See linked post for other toy drive partners also accepting donations.
Deck the Halls! (Wreath making) – Hanover Arts & Activities Center (Proceeds benefit Hanover Safe Place)
December 8, 2024; Two time slots available: 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Ticket purchase required.
For a small entry donation ($40/person), you receive 3 tickets for hardware (wreath forms, centerpiece bowls, etc) and 3 tickets for bows! We have experts to help you every step of the way. Create wreaths, swags, boxwood circles, table toppers, candle surrounds, and more! Our fresh-cut greenery includes pine, cedar, hemlock, fraser fir, holly, nandina, and boxwood all cut from historic farms in Hanover County. You are also welcome to bring your own recycled wreath forms!
Hanover Christmas Mother – Sponsored by the Doswell Ruritan Club
Donations accepted.
The Hanover Christmas Mother has been supporting local families for decades. Through your generous donations this local non-profit provides food, clothes, and toys to those in need during the Christmas season. Since the 1980’s the Hanover Christmas Mother project has been sponsored by the Doswell Ruritan Club. The 2024 Hanover Christmas Mother is Carol McDaid.
Holiday Events – Ongoing Throughout the Season
Santa’s Wonderland – Bass Pro Shops, Ashland, VA
November 4 – December 24, 2024
Make online reservations to schedule a visit with Santa.
Families who visit Santa receive a free 4×6 studio-quality photo with Mr. Claus. Additional photo packages are also available for purchase and print instantly in the store. Make your free Santa Photo reservations at your preferred time and show your confirmation at check-in. During your visit, families can mail their letter to Santa and receive free giveaways while supplies last. Other events requiring online reservations include Christmas Tales with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and Yuletide Breakfast (3 dates). For information specific to the Ashland location, visit: Bass Pro Shops, Ashland.
Light Up the Tracks – Town of Ashland
November 23, 2024 – January 1, 2025 (See calendar for full listing of events with dates/times.)
Downtown Ashland transforms into a vintage Christmas village with “Light Up the Tracks” — a mile-long light display combined with various special events designed to welcome visitors for a unique small town holiday. Numerous events throughout the season including caroling, shopping and more!
WinterFest – Kings Dominion
Select nights, November 29, 2024 – January 4, 2025
Admission fees apply.
Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year at Virginia’s premier holiday celebration, WinterFest! Kings Dominion transforms into a winter wonderland with millions of shimmering lights, breathtaking décor, and lavish displays. The Eiffel Tower will become a 300-foot-tall Christmas tree, and the iconic fountain on International Street will become one of the most beautiful and largest ice-skating rinks around. WinterFest is the perfect place to create holiday memories with your family with so many exclusive experiences. Sit back and enjoy one of our live shows while dining on delicious holiday treats and drinks. Take part in a selection of fun Christmas activities to get you in the holiday spirit and be sure to check out our festive shops and artisan locations to find the perfect Christmas gift.
Holiday Events – Date Specific
Hanover Santa Run – Hanover Volunteer Fire/EMS Stations
Every year, the Hanover volunteer Fire-EMS companies participate in Santa Runs throughout Hanover County. For details on routes and dates, follow the social media page of the company which serves your neighborhood. (Check back to this post in late November/early December for links to Facebook pages of the participating stations for dates and times.)
Holiday Illumination – Historic Polegreen Church Foundation
November 23, 2024; 3:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Free.
Come ring in the holiday season with us at the Historic Polegreen Church! Come and enjoy: Santa, vendors, Revolutionary War drills, music, colonial games, a coffee food truck, the Historic Polegreen Gift Shop, and more! At 4:45 Patrick Henry will reenact his famous “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech and then he and Samuel Davies will turn on the lights!
A Grand Illumination – The Montpelier Center for Arts and Education
December 3, 2024; 6:00 p.m.
Free.
Join the Center on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 for music performed by The Hanover Concert Band, hot chocolate bar, Christmas caroling, and the illumination of The Center.
Various Holiday Movies and Events – Ashland Theatre
Throughout December 2023
Fees apply.
Come to Ashland Theatre to watch holiday movie favorites on select dates/times including The Polar Express, It’s A Wonderful Life, and White Christmas. Frosty the Musical! – From the Barter Theatre is December 4th, and A Holly Jolly Holiday Party will occur on December 7th.
Theater Production of “A Christmas Carol” – Randolph Macon College Blackwell Auditorium – Cobb-Kesler Theater
One nightly performance December 4, 5, 6 and 8. Two performances on December 7, 2024.
The return of a beloved tradition at RMC, this classic holiday tale will delight the whole family!
Luxe Show Choir Holiday Spectacular – Randolph Macon College Blackwell Auditorium
Friday, December 6, 2024; 7:00 p.m. and two shows on December 7, 2024.
Free. No tickets required.
The Randolph-Macon College LUXE Show Choir is proud to present their Holiday Spectacular. Admission is free, and no tickets are required, so come and enjoy the show!
Holiday Cheer – Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown
December 7, 2024; 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Ticket purchase required.
Scotchtown’s annual family holiday program is back, and we are ready to get into the holiday spirit at Scotchtown with holiday themed crafts, tours and much more!
Beaverdam Depot Annual Open House Featuring Santa Claus – Beaverdam Depot
December 7, 2024; 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Come enjoy cookies and apple cider while listening to carols sung by local children! Santa Claus will be visiting and available for pictures! Photos available for purchase/pick up by Dirt Road Photography.
Breakfast with Santa – Hanover Tavern
December 8, 2024; 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Fees apply. Reservations are required.
The 2024 Breakfast with Santa is coming! Bring the young and the young-at-heart for a delicious meal followed by a personal meet-n-greet & photo op with the Man of the Season!
Santa’s Symphony Soiree-Richmond Symphony – Richmond Times Dispatch (Hanover Facility in Mechanicsville)
December 12, 2024; 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Fees Apply. Ticket purchase required (Ticket includes concert, signature cocktails/beverages and complimentary bites).
Unleash your inner holiday goofball! Join the Richmond Symphony for an evening filled with over-the-top fun, tacky-lights, dazzling décor, holiday cocktails and festive chamber music. This whimsical concert benefits the Richmond Symphony’s music education programs! Limited seating available.
Hanover Christmas – Camp Hanover
Friday, December 13 and Saturday, December 14, 2024; 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Donation of $10 per person is appreciated.
Registration is not required, but one registration per family ensures event reminders and updates.
A candlelit trail winds through the woods, transporting you back in time. Along your journey, meet other travelers, shepherds, kings and angels. Immerse yourself in the greatest story ever told… More than “just another live nativity,” you’ll experience musical performances, dramatic re-enactments and fellowship with others while leisurely strolling a candlelit wooded path. After your journey, warm up in Wise Lodge with festive music and hearty refreshments.
Want to stay overnight at Camp Hanover during Hanover Christmas? See website for details.
RVA Santa – Green Top Hunt & Fish
December 14 – 22, 2024
Visit RVA Santa at Green Top! Check back often as the link to reserve is coming soon.
Winter on the Green – Hanover Courthouse (Hanover Parks and Recreation)
(Click on the “Events” tab to view in website link.)
Saturday, December 14, 2024; 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Free
This magical event returns with a grand illumination ceremony followed by an evening of holiday-themed activities for all ages! Enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides, hop aboard the trackless train, and get creative with craft activities.
Grab a cookie to decorate with Mrs. Claus, dance in the snow with your favorite ice princesses and share your wish list with Santa Claus. Browse the winter market, showcasing a variety of handcraft vendors and delicious food selections while enjoying the sounds of the season!
Christmas Tavern Tea – “Don’t Sip Under the Christmas Tree…” – Hanover Tavern
December 15, 2024; 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Ticket purchase required.
Join us for the annual Hanover Tavern Holiday Tea – “Don’t Sip Under the Christmas Tree with Anyone Else but Me” Tea! Immerse yourself in the 1940s holiday spirit with live music by Santa’s favorites, The Liberty Dolls, and a special photo opportunity with Santa himself! Indulge in a delightful selection of sweets and savories, traditional teas, and a special holiday tea flavor. Be sure to purchase tickets for the Custom Tea Raffle Basket and sip on a Custom Holiday Cocktail while enjoying the festivities. And don’t miss out on the prize for the best dressed guest!
Somewhere in My Memory Christmas Concert – The Montpelier Center for Arts & Education
December 20, 2024; 6:30 p.m.
Come out to The Montpelier Center on Friday, December 20th for a collaborative Christmas concert featuring favorite Christmas classics and carols! Come for a nostalgic evening filled with laughter and tears as we reminisce on past Christmases. Bring a memory to share and your ugliest Christmas sweater for a chance to win a prize!
Parades
Olde Time Holiday Parade – Town of Ashland
November 24, 2024; 2:00-4:30 p.m.
Event is free, accessible, and open to the public.
Organized by the Ashland Kiwanis, this extensive holiday parade includes participants from civic groups, local businesses, town government, Fire & EMS, and many more Ashland/Hanover personalities! Bring your lawn chair…it’s a long one!
Parade Route: On the Sunday before Thanksgiving, the parade of over 100 entries will begin at Snead Street along Thompson Street to England Street then turn down Henry Street and end near Archie Cannon Drive.
Mechanicsville Christmas Parade – Rotary Club of Mechanicsville
December 8, 2024; Parade starts at 2:00 p.m. Rain or shine.
The parade is back this year incorporating the theme “A Child’s Christmas.” This nearly 2-mile route parade route starts on Signal Hill Road at Hanover Green Drive, marches through the Windsor subdivision via Strain Avenue and Hillis Way, down Atlee Road and turns onto Mechanicsville Turnpike to end at Elm Drive.