Grand Illumination, Christmas Town, & the Christmas Markets, with Notes for Grandparents & Teens
“It is, indeed, the season of regenerated feeling—the season for kindling, not merely the fire of hospitality in the hall, but the genial flame of charity in the heart.”
Wreaths and garlands hang over the walkway near the entrance to Busch Gardens Williamsburg's Christmas Town.
Our family has been going to Williamsburg since about 2004. From 2012 to 2019, Williamsburg VA Christmas with kids meant one thing to us: a day at Busch Gardens Christmas Town, most often the day after Thanksgiving, with a Thanksgiving dinner at Captain George's the night before. We haven't been back to Christmas Town since 2019, before COVID and before our international travels took us to the other side of the world for the holidays.
Our girls grew up in that park at Christmas. This guide mixes what we know firsthand (Christmas Town, our hotel, Captain George's, and a lot of small-town Virginia) with 2026 dates for the events we haven't attended. We label which is which, so you know when you're reading our experience and when you're reading our research.
Why Williamsburg Works for Our Kind of Family
We've visited Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown many times over the years, and each one has a small-town feel that makes you feel like you've stepped back to a time when things were less chaotic, and celebrations were special. That feeling is the whole point of going at Christmas.
It also works well for mixed-age groups. A grandparent who wants to stroll under decorated streets, a teen who wants a coaster, and a younger child who wants Santa can all have a good day within a few miles of each other. We've been to The Cheese Shop, driven around downtown and the college campus, and spent our Christmas days at Busch Gardens. We haven't gone to the local Christmas events, so the sections below are based on research.
A large Santa Claus statue welcomes guests to Holiday Hills at Busch Gardens Christmas Town, where Sophie loved being all bundled up while exploring the park and seeing the millions of twinkling lights.
Williamsburg VA Christmas with Kids: 2026 Dates at a Glance
Times and details can change, so check each event's official page closer to your trip.
| Date (2026) | Event | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 13 | Christmas Town previews (Nov 13 to 15 and Nov 19); official season opens Nov 20, and runs select dates through Jan 3, 2027 | Busch Gardens | Hours vary by day. Check the park calendar. |
| Nov 27 | Williamsburg Christmas Market opens, runs Thursdays through Sundays Nov 27-Dec 20 | Court Street | Traditional European-style market with 40+ chalets. |
| Dec 3 | Community Tree Lighting | Market Square | Time TBD; historically begins at 5 pm |
| Dec 4 | Yorktown Christmas Tree Lighting | Victory Monument and Riverwalk Landing | 7:30 pm |
| Dec 4, 11, 18 | Yule Log Ceremony 6 pm | Colonial Williamsburg | |
| Dec 5, 12, 19 | Grand Illumination | Colonial Williamsburg | Around 7 pm |
| Dec 5 | Christmas Market on Main, 10 am to 3 pm; Lighted Boat Parade, 6-8 pm | Yorktown | Parade starts at 7 pm; activities run 6 to 8 pm. Market has a Colonial street market vibe with nearly 100 vendors |
| Dec 6 | Williamsburg Christmas Parade, 5 pm | Williamsburg | Parade theme: "Twinkle Through Time" |
| Dec 6 | Christmas Market on Main, 11 am to 3 pm; Cookies with Santa, 1 to 4 pm | Yorktown | |
| Dec 11 | An Enchanted Evening on Main Street, 5 to 8 pm | Yorktown | |
| Dec 12 | Mistletoe Market, 9 am to 3 pm; Breakfast with Santa, 8:30 to 10:30 am | Yorktown | |
| Dec 24 | Firing of the Christmas Guns | Colonial Williamsburg |
December 5 & 6: The Busiest Weekend
We haven't visited on this particular busy weekend, so this is research and not experience. With so many events on the calendar, it's also the one that needs the most planning. The first Grand Illumination Saturday lands on the same night as the Yorktown Lighted Boat Parade. Both start around 7 pm, in two different towns.
Here's how we'd choose:
If you want fireworks and the full colonial Christmas production, pick Grand Illumination, and aim for December 12 or 19 so it doesn't compete with the boat parade.
If your group is younger, Yorktown's Market on Main (December 5 and 6), Cookies with Santa (December 6), and the boat parade fit a shorter day with less standing.
If you want a parade, the Williamsburg Christmas Parade is Sunday, December 6 at 5 pm. The 2026 theme is "Twinkle Through Time."
White reindeer, a silver sleigh, and wrapped presents are some of the decorations that take over Busch Gardens Williamsburg for Christmas Town.
Colonial Williamsburg at Christmas & Grand Illumination
Colonial Williamsburg describes its holiday season as candles in historic windows, wreaths on doorways, and wassailers filling the streets with 18th-century music. Grand Illumination is the centerpiece, on three Saturday evenings: December 5, 12, and 19, 2026.
The name makes more sense once you know the history. In the 18th century, an "illumination" meant marking an occasion, such as a sovereign's birthday, a military victory, or a new governor's arrival, with gunfire and with candles or fireworks. Today that tradition plays out across the Historic Area with candlelit streets, live music, and fireworks over the Capitol and the Governor's Palace at about 7 pm. One local lodging guide also points out why these Saturdays feel like a festival: the Williamsburg Christmas Market, the Christmas Parade, concerts, and other events can land on the same weekends, which is also why those weekends book up early.
Historically, the festivities ran from 5 to 7 pm, with fireworks fired from the Capitol and the Palace at 7 pm. Palace Green is suggested as the best viewing spot. Local guides suggest arriving by 3 or 4 pm to find a spot, and bringing chairs and blankets. December temperatures run from the 30s to the low 40s, so that's a long evening to stand in the cold. For grandparents, that's the part to plan around: a chair, a blanket, and an exit plan before the crowd lets out.
To access the Palace Green, you'll need Colonial Williamsburg tickets. Single-day admission runs $37.50 for adults (13 and up) and $10 for youth (6 to 12). However, local guides describe street access during Grand Illumination as free, and that's probably what we would choose for our family.
Have you done Grand Illumination with a multigenerational group? We'd love to hear how it went. We're building out this section.
The whole city gets decked out for Christmas: Sophie and Rachel pose with a wagon holding a Christmas tree, and see how many wreaths you can spot while exploring.
Busch Gardens Christmas Town
This is the part of Williamsburg we know best. Christmas Town has preview days on November 13 to 15 and November 19, opens for its official season on November 20, and then runs select dates through January 3, 2027, with hours that vary by day. We've loved it for the overall vibe: the decorations, the millions of lights, and the park all dressed up for Christmas. It's more relaxed than a typical summer visit, and the seasonal shows are so much fun!
Our favorite day to go is the day after Thanksgiving. It shifts us into the Christmas spirit, and it isn't overly crowded. It's also one of the few dates the park is open the longest, from noon to 10 pm. We would skip late December, when the crowds are much higher.
A family selfie in front of one of the many Christmas trees in Williamsburg, VA.
The Shows & Das Festhaus
We always make time for whatever show is playing at Das Festhaus, because we can enjoy a meal at the same time. For 2026, Busch Gardens lists "Christmas Town Live! A Holiday Special" there, a 1960s holiday TV special with classic carols. We haven't seen that one since our last visit was in 2019. Indoor shows also give grandparents and little ones a warm place to sit and recharge. Other shows include "Gloria! Story of the First Christmas" at Ireland's Abbey Stone Theatre and "Scrooged No More!" at England's Globe Theatre.
Hot Cocoa, Photos, & the Merchandise
Hot cocoa is available at several locations around the park for the season, so you never have to hunt for it. We love a slow stroll with a cup, taking family photos with Christmas characters and beautiful decorations, and taking time to appreciate the sights, sounds, and feel of the season. We also love some of the seasonal merchandise. Sophie has at least one nutcracker from here, and Ellie has a Christmas Spirit Jersey she loves.
Kicking off our day at Busch Gardens Williamsburg's Christmas Town with a family picture in front of the giant snowman! (This pic shows Ellie's Christmas Spirit Jersey from the park.)
What to Do About the Rides
We held Busch Gardens memberships (since 2011), so we visited all year. If you have that kind of access, we recommend skipping all but your favorite rides at Christmas Town and spending the rest of your time on shows, treats, photos, and strolling. If you're on a single-day ticket, grab a park map or refer to the app to see which attractions are open during your visit. Cold weather can affect some ride operations. Your teens will want to know which of their favorite coasters are operating.
Ellie, Rachel, and Sophie pose in front of a 12 Days of Christmas tree at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.
Parking and Tickets
As higher-level members, we always had free priority parking, so we can't tell you what parking is like on a regular ticket. Busch Gardens' ticket page says parking isn't included with a single-day ticket. Prices change by date and ticket type, with several options to maximize your value.
The Christmas Bounce, a three-day ticket for November 11 through January 3 that includes parking, is $112.05 for ages 13 and up and $95.05 for ages 6 to 12. Children 5 and under are free. It includes access to both Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Colonial Williamsburg. (Note: This ticket type requires all three days to be used consecutively and is listed as starting two days before the first official Busch Gardens Christmas Town preview night. However, the park is closed on November 11th and 12th, so you would need to spend your first two days at Colonial Williamsburg.) Check the park's own page for your date(s).
For a deeper look at the park, see our Busch Gardens Williamsburg Multigenerational Guide.
Our Verdict: Go the day after Thanksgiving, plan your meal around a show at Das Festhaus, and don't spend your day waiting in lines for rides you've already ridden.
Christmas Markets & Shopping
The Williamsburg Christmas Market runs Thursdays through Sundays from November 27 through December 20, 2026. You'll find it on Court Street next to Bicentennial Park, behind the art museums, with the entrance through Henry Street and Nassau Street. While we haven't been, we know you can expect a European-style market with 40+ chalets, a train ride, a petting zoo, Santa photos, and free admission on Thursdays and a one-time $5 fee for access Friday through Sunday.
Your entry fee includes a card that can be shown for free additional visits; guests 18 and under, plus students with ID, are free. Children 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult. The market's 2026 hours are Thursdays 11 am to 6 pm, Fridays 11 am to 7 pm, Saturdays 10 am to 7 pm, and Sundays 11 am to 6 pm.
We know The Christmas Mouse much better. We went in 2004 and even got our Christmas stocking holders there many years ago, and Colleen is kind of nuts about Christmas, so a year-round Christmas shop is a lot of fun for us.
The Williamsburg flagship is at 1991 Richmond Road and is open from 9 am to 10 pm, seven days a week. Make sure to finish your shopping before Christmas Day, because that's the only day the store is closed all year! Let each kid pick one ornament for the family tree. It's the best souvenir from this trip, because you get to unwrap the memory every December.
The Cheese Shop at Merchants Square is one of our regular stops, too. We try to stop in on every visit, no matter what time of year. In addition to some delicious cheeses, spreads, and snacks, you can get a made-to-order sandwich with chips and enjoy it at an outdoor table overlooking Duke of Gloucester Street. We've even gone downstairs to the cellar for a bottle or two of wine.
Sophie was in heaven with so many nutcrackers for sale in this shop, and we even saw some with the Eiffel Tower on their hats!
Yorktown & Jamestown
Yorktown, Jamestown, and Williamsburg have that small-town feel we love, and we've visited them many times, though never for the Christmas events. The Yorktown events below come from the York County announcement of 2026 dates, so treat them as research and check closer to your trip:
Friday, December 4: Christmas Tree Lighting, 7:30 pm, Victory Monument and Riverwalk Landing
Saturday, December 5: Christmas Market on Main, 10 am to 3 pm; Lighted Boat Parade, 7 pm (activities run 6 to 8 pm)
Sunday, December 6: Christmas Market on Main, 11 am to 3 pm; Cookies with Santa, 1 to 4 pm, York Hall
Friday, December 11: An Enchanted Evening on Main Street, 5 to 8 pm
Saturday, December 12: Breakfast with Santa, 8:30 to 10:30 am; Mistletoe Market, 9 am to 3 pm, Riverwalk Landing
If you've been to any of these with kids or grandparents, tell us about it.
Colleen, Sophie, Rachel, and Kevin pose in front of one of the largest Christmas trees at Busch Gardens Williamsburg's Christmas Town.
Where We Stay
We tend to stay at the Holiday Inn & Suites Williamsburg-Historic Gateway, at 515 Bypass Road. We're IHG members, and this hotel treats our family very well. It comfortably sleeps our family of 5, thanks to the full-sized pull-out couch. They always welcome Kevin, a Platinum member, with an upgrade when one is available, plus fresh cookies or bottles of water.
IHG lists it at about a mile from Colonial Williamsburg and a few minutes from Busch Gardens, with an indoor pool, free parking, and a restaurant (Bistro 515) where kids eat free with an adult purchase. That's why we'd pick it for a Christmas trip. If you stay near Colonial Williamsburg, you can skip a long drive after Grand Illumination, and it's easier to have a quiet night. Book early if your dates fall on a Grand Illumination Saturday.
Where We Eat: Captain George's
Captain George's is our Thanksgiving tradition. We're always so stuffed afterward! They have all the Thanksgiving staples, like turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie, but the crab legs are our big draw. We still dream about them, since we haven't been in a few years.
The buffet's website lists adults at $51.99, children 5 to 12 at $26.99, and children 4 and under at $5.99, at 5363 Richmond Road. Note: Unless you have a party of 15+, there are no reservations on Thanksgiving Day. We always arrive early and plan to wait in line. We just make it part of the experience.
Captain George's is the perfect place for Rachel, who adores crab legs and eats her fill of them, while Sophie likes to try crab legs but prefers the numerous desserts!
For a good breakfast before a big day in the area, see our best kid-friendly breakfast places in Williamsburg post.
What We'd Skip
We'd skip Christmas Town at Busch Gardens in late December. Crowds are much higher than the day after Thanksgiving, and the relaxed feel we love is harder to find. We'd also skip most of the rides if you have all-year access, so you have time for the shows, the photos, and the cocoa.
Our family would also skip Colonial Williamsburg during the holidays, but only because we've already had the Colonial Williamsburg experience. Because of that, we would rather spend our time on the free events. There are so many spread across the area during the festive season, and we would opt for a Christmas Market on a free Thursday, a parade, or a tree lighting instead. We'd also watch Grand Illumination from the street.
Plan It in One, Two, or Three Days
We stayed one to three nights. Here's how we'd build each version:
One Day: Christmas Town on the day after Thanksgiving, with a Das Festhaus show and dinner.
Two Days: Add a Colonial Williamsburg day
Three Days: Add a Yorktown evening or a Grand Illumination Saturday, whichever matches your dates.
Sophie and Ellie grab a photo with a reindeer statue while waiting to be seated at Captain George's.
What Williamsburg VA Christmas Costs
These are 2026 prices from official pages where we could find them. Prices change, and our own membership meant we never paid the Christmas Town numbers ourselves.
| What | Price | Source and note |
|---|---|---|
| Colonial Williamsburg single-day ticket | $37.50 adult (13+); $10 youth (6 to 12) | Colonial Williamsburg ticket page |
| Christmas Town single-day ticket | Listed from $61.99 | Busch Gardens page; changes by date; parking not included |
| Christmas Bounce (3 consecutive days, Nov 11 to Jan 3) | $112.05 ages 13+; $95.05 ages 6 to 12; ages 5 and under free | Busch Gardens and Colonial Williamsburg pages; parking included at Busch Gardens |
| Williamsburg Christmas Market | Free on Thursdays; $5 Friday through Sunday, with a free return card | Guests 18 and under and students with ID are free |
| Captain George's buffet | $51.99 adult; $26.99 ages 5 to 12; $5.99 ages 4 and under. Drinks are priced separately but come with free refills. | Open 11 am - 8 pm |
| Yorktown events and parades | Most are free, but some (like Breakfast with Santa) are paid |
What to Wear
December in Williamsburg runs from the 30s to the low 40s, and you'll spend long stretches outside. We'd pack:
Warm layers, including sweaters or fleece, and a winter coat
Gloves, a scarf, and a warm hat
Comfortable walking shoes with good traction, and waterproof ones if the forecast is wet
Hand warmers for the evening events
A blanket for the stroller, or for a grandparent's lap at Grand Illumination
Kevin, Rachel, Sophie, and Ellie, bundled up in their winter gear, are just as shocked as the other reindeer that Rudolph can fly!
Frequently Asked Questions About Williamsburg VA Christmas with Kids
When does Christmas start in Williamsburg, VA in 2026?
Christmas Town has preview days starting November 13, 2026, and opens for its official season on November 20, and Grand Illumination begins December 5, 2026. Colonial Williamsburg will have its streets decorated with wreaths and candles beginning the day after Thanksgiving through the season. Yorktown events start with a tree lighting on December 4. If you want one date to build a trip around, our favorite is always the day after Thanksgiving.
Is Williamsburg worth it at Christmas with teens?
Yes, if you plan around what a teen will enjoy. We recommend spending a day at Busch Gardens Williamsburg for Christmas Town. Teens will want the coasters, shows, the food, and the photos with friends or family. We haven't taken teens to Grand Illumination, so we can't say how they'd rate it.
How much does Christmas in Williamsburg, VA cost with kids?
Many of the Yorktown and parade events are free, while Christmas Town, Colonial Williamsburg, and Captain George's cost more. Single-day Christmas Town tickets start at $61.99, and adult tickets for Colonial Williamsburg are $37.50. See our cost table above for the full list, and confirm 2026 pricing on each official page before you book.
Which Grand Illumination Saturday is best?
We haven't attended, so we can't say which Saturday is best. The December 5 date overlaps with Yorktown's Lighted Boat Parade, so December 12 or 19 gives you one big event on that night.
Can you do Williamsburg Christmas in one day?
It depends on what you want to do. For us, one day is enough for Christmas Town, and it's how we did it most often. We'd spend that day at the park on the day after Thanksgiving. Add a second day if you want to visit Colonial Williamsburg or spend an evening in Yorktown.
When is the best day to visit Christmas Town?
The day after Thanksgiving is our favorite, because it isn't crowded and puts you in the Christmas spirit. We'd skip late December, when the crowds are much higher. Christmas Town runs select dates from November 20 through January 3, and hours vary by day, so check the park's calendar for open dates before you pick one.
Final Thoughts
Williamsburg at Christmas isn't about doing everything. For us, it was a day in a park decorated for the season, a big meal the night before, a stocking holder from a shop we found in 2004, and a hotel that always had cookies waiting. The trips we remember are the ones where we slowed down.
Have you been to Williamsburg at Christmas? Tell us your favorite part in the comments.
Check Out Our Other Williamsburg & Christmas Guides
About the Author
Colleen
Colleen is a Gen X mom, full-time traveler, and the voice behind Uncommon Family Adventures. Her family has been visiting Williamsburg since the mid-2000s and made Busch Gardens Christmas Town part of their holiday season from 2012 to 2019.
She specializes in multigenerational travel for families with teenagers and young adults, and writes honest travel advice based on real experience. Since 2024, she has been traveling the world full-time with her husband, Kevin, and their three daughters, Ellie, Rachel, and Sophie, visiting 15+ countries across 4 continents.
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