Holidays by the Sea in Historic Hampton Roads

The Hampton Roads, Virginia region comes to life during the holidays! There is usually too much to do and you end up having to make some choices regarding the holiday events you attend! Here are some of my favorites to help you make those choices:

1. The Grand Illumination in Williamsburg, Virginia: There is no more picture-perfect place to take a holiday stroll than Duke of Gloucester Street in Colonial Williamsburg. This beautifully restored colonial town has strict guidelines for the holiday decoration of buildings in the colonial area - all decorations are handmade from dried flowers, fruit, leaves, seashells, and other natural materials. You won't find a plastic decoration or piece of tinsel anywhere! The town kicks off the spectacular holiday season with the Grand Illumination, which is very heavily attended by locals and visitors so expect some crowds! This year's event will be held on Sunday, December 3, 2006 beginning at 4:30 pm. The event begins with concerts around the historic area and culminates with wonderful fireworks at 6:15 pm. Concerts and acts continue until 7:30. What is especially lovely about the celebration is the reliance of the historic area on candlelight and bonfires to light up the homes and outdoor areas. You can truly imagine what the holidays must have been like 300 years ago. This is a free event so make sure to arrive early as parking is difficult for this event. A newly constructed parking garage in the area should ease parking problems a bit! After the celebration, dine in one of the fine restaurants in the area such as the Trellis or Berret's, grab a sandwich at the very popular Cheese Shop, or have a fabulous burger at Paul's Deli (just up the street from the historic district). Partake of some hot cider and homemade cookies sold along Duke of Gloucester Street and enjoy the festive atmosphere! Christmas in Williamsburg is truly extraordinary! Check out their website for more programs and events: http://www.history.org/christmas/

"100 Miles of Lights" stretches from Richmond, Virginia to Virginia Beach, Virginia with many localities in the region creating festive lights displays for all to visit!

Credit: Marja Flick-Buijs

Copyright: SXC