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2026 Holiday Event Guide for Hampton Roads Families

October 30, 2026

Family walking through a glowing holiday light arch at night

The holidays in Hampton Roads are packed with family-friendly (and often FREE!) things to do. This is our 2026 Holiday Event Guide, a showcase of featured holiday events from local organizations. Each featured event below is sponsored by the organization that presents it.

Please verify every event by following the website link in its listing before you go. Dates, times, tickets and reservations can change.

Holiday LightsHoliday PerformancesCrafts & Gift MakingDining with SantaEvents with SantaHoliday Parades

Coming November 1: Our Holiday Experiences Gift Guide

Give experiences, not stuff! Our 2026 Holiday Experiences Gift Guide launches November 1 with giftable local memberships, classes, camps, tickets and offers.

Featured Holiday Events

Holiday Lights

Family walking through a glowing arch of holiday lights at night

Drive-through displays, lantern walks and light shows. Many run on multiple nights, so you may see the same display on several dates.

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View all Holiday Lights events on our calendar or read the full roundup.

Holiday Performances

Children in reindeer headbands performing on a stage beside a Christmas tree

Nutcrackers, concerts, sing-alongs and family shows.

Jingle Bell Jam, December 5, 2026, 3PM, CNU's Ferguson Center, Newport News. Virginia Symphony Orchestra PB&J Family Series.Holiday Featured EventSponsoredVirginia Symphony OrchestraPB&J Family Series: Jingle Bell JamDecember 5 | 3PM | Pre-Show Activities at 2PMCNU’s Ferguson Center for the Arts, Newport NewsAll for the little ones’ holiday joys at the beloved Jingle Bell Jam! Who wouldn’t want to go and celebrate the festive season with a family-fun filled afternoon of holiday magic?Learn More
Jingle Bell Jam, December 19, 2026, 3PM, Sandler Center, Virginia Beach. Virginia Symphony Orchestra PB&J Family Series.Holiday Featured EventSponsoredVirginia Symphony OrchestraPB&J Family Series: Jingle Bell JamDecember 19 | 3PM | Pre-Show Activities at 2PMSandler Center for the Performing Arts, Virginia BeachAll for the little ones’ holiday joys at the beloved Jingle Bell Jam! Who wouldn’t want to go and celebrate the festive season with a family-fun filled afternoon of holiday magic?Learn More
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View all Holiday Performances events on our calendar or read the full roundup.

Crafts & Gift Making

Children decorating holiday cookies at a table with wrapped gifts and greenery

Ornament, cookie and handmade-gift workshops for kids and families.

31 Oct
Teen/Adult – Ornament Pottery Class at Jars of Dust (Virginia Beach)
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Teen/Adult – Ornament Pottery Class at Jars of Dust (Virginia Beach)

$90
Find out more
01 Nov
Hand-Stitched Card at Michael’s (Hampton Roads Locations)
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Hand-Stitched Card at Michael’s (Hampton Roads Locations)

Find out more
01 Nov
Teen/Adult – Ornament Pottery Class at Jars of Dust (Virginia Beach)
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

Teen/Adult – Ornament Pottery Class at Jars of Dust (Virginia Beach)

$90
Find out more
02 Nov
Michaels Virtual Kids Club: Embellished Ornament Holiday Cards (Online)
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Michaels Virtual Kids Club: Embellished Ornament Holiday Cards (Online)

Find out more
02 Nov
Michaels Virtual Kids Club: Watercolor Santa Cards (Online)
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Michaels Virtual Kids Club: Watercolor Santa Cards (Online)

Find out more
07 Nov
Teen/Adult – Ornament Pottery Class at Jars of Dust (Virginia Beach)
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Teen/Adult – Ornament Pottery Class at Jars of Dust (Virginia Beach)

$90
Find out more
07 Nov
Sea Glass Christmas Tree Class at Happy Hour Glass Works (Suffolk)
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Sea Glass Christmas Tree Class at Happy Hour Glass Works (Suffolk)

$60
Find out more
08 Nov
Holiday Ornament at Michael’s (Hampton Roads Locations)
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Holiday Ornament at Michael’s (Hampton Roads Locations)

Find out more
14 Nov
Merry Market at Chesapeake Central Library (Chesapeake)
10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Merry Market at Chesapeake Central Library (Chesapeake)

Find out more
14 Nov
Holiday Engine at Lowe’s (Hampton Roads Locations)
10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Holiday Engine at Lowe’s (Hampton Roads Locations)

Find out more
14 Nov
Kids Club: Air Dry Clay Figurines at Michael’s (Hampton Roads Locations)
10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Kids Club: Air Dry Clay Figurines at Michael’s (Hampton Roads Locations)

Find out more
14 Nov
Ceramic Christmas Tree Painting Class at Happy Hour Glass Works (Suffolk)
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Ceramic Christmas Tree Painting Class at Happy Hour Glass Works (Suffolk)

$80
Find out more
15 Nov
Merry Market at Chesapeake Central Library (Chesapeake)
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Merry Market at Chesapeake Central Library (Chesapeake)

Find out more
15 Nov
Cookie Cutter Clay Ornaments at Michael’s (Hampton Roads Locations)
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Cookie Cutter Clay Ornaments at Michael’s (Hampton Roads Locations)

Find out more
17 Nov
Lil Chips Fused Glass Ornaments at Happy Hour Glass Works (Suffolk)
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Lil Chips Fused Glass Ornaments at Happy Hour Glass Works (Suffolk)

$35
Find out more
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View all Crafts & Gift Making events on our calendar or read the full roundup.

Dining with Santa

Cookies, a glass of milk and a Santa hat on a wooden table in a snowy window

Breakfasts, brunches and dinners with Santa. We add events here as organizers confirm them.

View all Dining with Santa events on our calendar or read the full roundup.

Events with Santa

Close-up of Santa Claus with glasses and a white beard

Pictures, visits and special appearances with Santa and his friends.

07 Nov
Pictures With Santa (Virginia Beach)
10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Pictures With Santa (Virginia Beach)

Free
Find out more
13 Nov
2026 Red Kettle Kick Off at Lynnhaven Mall (Virginia Beach)
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

2026 Red Kettle Kick Off at Lynnhaven Mall (Virginia Beach)

Find out more
14 Nov
Wild Baby Raccoon Rescue Fall Festival (Virginia Beach)
11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Wild Baby Raccoon Rescue Fall Festival (Virginia Beach)

Find out more
20 Nov
A Visit with St Nick at Isle of Wight County Museum (Smithfield)
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

A Visit with St Nick at Isle of Wight County Museum (Smithfield)

Find out more
20 Nov
Suffolk’s Grand Illumination (Suffolk)
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Suffolk’s Grand Illumination (Suffolk)

Find out more
21 Nov
Breakfast with Santa at Monumental United Methodist Church (Portsmouth)
9:00 am - 10:30 am

Breakfast with Santa at Monumental United Methodist Church (Portsmouth)

Find out more
21 Nov
Chesapeake Holiday Craft Show at Chesapeake Conference Center (Chesapeake)
10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Chesapeake Holiday Craft Show at Chesapeake Conference Center (Chesapeake)

Find out more
21 Nov
BayPort Credit Union Santa’s Seaside Cinema: Frozen (Virginia Beach)
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

BayPort Credit Union Santa’s Seaside Cinema: Frozen (Virginia Beach)

Free
Find out more
22 Nov
Santa’s Holly Jolly Show (Virginia Beach)
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Santa’s Holly Jolly Show (Virginia Beach)

Find out more
27 Nov
Planes, Trains and Santa 2026 (Virginia Beach)
9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Planes, Trains and Santa 2026 (Virginia Beach)

Find out more
28 Nov
Planes, Trains and Santa 2026 (Virginia Beach)
9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Planes, Trains and Santa 2026 (Virginia Beach)

Find out more
28 Nov
The Little Holiday Gift Shop at Virginia Living Museum (Newport News)
10:00 am - 2:00 pm

The Little Holiday Gift Shop at Virginia Living Museum (Newport News)

Find out more
28 Nov
Christmas at the Cottage Open House at the Stillwater Tea House at Rose Cottage (Suffolk)
11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Christmas at the Cottage Open House at the Stillwater Tea House at Rose Cottage (Suffolk)

Find out more
28 Nov
BayPort Credit Union Santa’s Seaside Cinema: The Grinch (2018) (Virginia Beach)
12:00 pm - 4:00 pm

BayPort Credit Union Santa’s Seaside Cinema: The Grinch (2018) (Virginia Beach)

Free
Find out more
28 Nov
Town Center Grand Illumination (Virginia Beach)
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Town Center Grand Illumination (Virginia Beach)

Free
Find out more
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View all Events with Santa events on our calendar or read the full roundup.

Holiday Parades

Marching band drummers in red uniforms during a holiday parade

Floats, bands and lights through downtown streets.

View all Holiday Parades events on our calendar or read the full roundup.

More Holiday Topics

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Written by Charlotte Moore

Owner & Founder of MyActiveChild.com | People & Programs Connector | Mom & MilSpouse

Categories: Holiday, BIG LISTS, Chesapeake, Events, Hampton, In Season, MyActiveChild Website, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Smithfield, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, and Yorktown

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