Grand Illumination returns to Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area for three consecutive Saturday evenings this December as part of a series of holiday programming that is free and open to the public.
Grand Illumination will take place Dec. 7, 14 and 21 from 5 – 7:30 PM. Each evening includes seasonal music, the lighting of the cressets, and a procession led by the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes & Drums. Each Grand Illumination event culminates in firework demonstrations over the Governor’s Palace and the Capitol sponsored by the City of Williamsburg. For a complete list of Grand Illumination FAQs including parking and transportation information visit colonialwilliamsburg.org/gifaq.
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Additional seasonal programming that is free and open to the public includes:
- Lighting of the Cressets, Nov. 21-23, 29-30 and Dec. 27-28 – Lit cressets (metal baskets of wood mounted from poles, an early form of street lighting) will illuminate historic Duke of Gloucester Street as musicians and dancers stroll the city. 6 – 9 PM.
- Merchants Square Tree Lighting, Nov. 30 – This Small Business Saturday tradition includes musical performances and a special appearance by Father Christmas. 5 PM.
- Community Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, Dec. 5 – Located in the heart of the Historic Area across from the Courthouse, the 40-foot community Christmas tree will be illuminated with over 7,500 lights. This annual event, co-sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Williamsburg, includes caroling, the pageantry of the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes & Drums, and a reading of The Night Before Christmas. 5 – 5:30 PM.
- Celebration of the Yule Log, Dec. 6, 13, 20 – The Yule log will be hauled by a wagon from Capitol Circle to Market Square where it will be added to a bonfire accompanied by holiday music, festivities, and the lighting of the cressets. 6 – 7:30 PM.
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Holiday festivities continue daily throughout the season in Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area, Merchants Square and at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg. Colonial Williamsburg historic sites are open daily to ticketed guests from 9 AM to 5 PM. The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg are open daily to ticketed guests from 10 AM to 5 PM with Artful Winter Evenings extended hours and special programming from 5 – 7 PM every Thursday in December.
For more information on ticketed holiday programming and dining experiences, explore the Colonial Williamsburg Holiday Planner. To purchase tickets and find up-to-date event information, visit colonialwilliamsburg.org. Follow Colonial Williamsburg on Facebook and @colonialwmsburg on Twitter and Instagram.