I’m looking to everyone’s answer to this as well. We transplanted here in 2004, and so far we’ve tried the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (very cool) and we always navigate a few houses on the Tacky Light Tour, which the kids always love.
After the Grand Illumination, once you’ve marveled sufficiently at the stoic herd of electrified deer, head straight over to the 17th St Farmers Market for another Richmond tradition. There you’ll find hand-crafts, decor and gifts that simply don’t exist in the mainstream retail world.
Here’s what Linette Bond, assistant manager at the Farmers Market, told me about some of the great things that are planned for the Holiday Market:
“George [the manager] is going to be dressed up as Santa with another associate of ours from the main office as Mrs. Claus and we’ll have pictures taken for the kids (and you may even see a couple of elves!), live Christmas trees for sale, hot cider & wassail from Halligan’s, a fire-pit to keep us warm, holiday lights, the Henrico Pops Chorus live and a Tuba Christmas, of course! I have it on good authority that Santa himself will even have his Tuba to play along. ;-)”
1st sat. in dec. the richmond X-mas parade down broad street. Great people watching and the drumming by the local high school bands is incredible, especially in the cavernous broad street, and the dancing along with it, its great! only 3 more days :)
for the past two/ three years me and the boy have been s cowering thrift stores and collecting those little christmas houses. then we get lights and fake snow and build a out own christmas town. This year we are up to about 20 house. its sick and awesome. The Griswold’s would be so proud.
@ wendy…Is that something from years past, or recently? I am not familiar with that one…Perhaps the the neighbors that coordinated that have moved on?
If you mean lights in the trees…I undestand the city has recently taken a stronger enforecement stance against the lights hanging in the city trees between the sidewalk and street…it has apparently been against city code for some time (I am assuming, due to the potential damage to the trees and liability of electrical cords accross the sidewalk)
I remember my Mom talking about taking the train to Richmond from Shores, VA (who has even heard of Shores these days?) to visit Santa in the big department stores downtown. There weren’t many good roads back then. My grandmother used to take me there too, but by then we drove the car to Richmond most of the time. I miss the old Miller and Rhoads and Thalhimers Christmas windows and downtown lights. It was like a scene from The Christmas Story Movie with red-rider BB gun, but Richmond created that magic better than anyone. I still have the old pictures of being on Santa’s lap. Richmond still knows how to keep the spirit, I just wish they could have kept the past celebrations too.
The “tree” shaped lights on the Boulevard were put up on all the buildings owned by Pierce Arrow properties, I believe. I think it was something the property management company decided to do, and I guess the stopped doing it.
I’m looking to everyone’s answer to this as well. We transplanted here in 2004, and so far we’ve tried the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden (very cool) and we always navigate a few houses on the Tacky Light Tour, which the kids always love.
After the Grand Illumination, once you’ve marveled sufficiently at the stoic herd of electrified deer, head straight over to the 17th St Farmers Market for another Richmond tradition. There you’ll find hand-crafts, decor and gifts that simply don’t exist in the mainstream retail world.
Here’s what Linette Bond, assistant manager at the Farmers Market, told me about some of the great things that are planned for the Holiday Market:
“George [the manager] is going to be dressed up as Santa with another associate of ours from the main office as Mrs. Claus and we’ll have pictures taken for the kids (and you may even see a couple of elves!), live Christmas trees for sale, hot cider & wassail from Halligan’s, a fire-pit to keep us warm, holiday lights, the Henrico Pops Chorus live and a Tuba Christmas, of course! I have it on good authority that Santa himself will even have his Tuba to play along. ;-)”
Now isn’t that better than the mall?
1st sat. in dec. the richmond X-mas parade down broad street. Great people watching and the drumming by the local high school bands is incredible, especially in the cavernous broad street, and the dancing along with it, its great! only 3 more days :)
maymont.
special holiday events and tours within walking distance…http://www.maymont.org
sitting around and doing nothing…
for the past two/ three years me and the boy have been s cowering thrift stores and collecting those little christmas houses. then we get lights and fake snow and build a out own christmas town. This year we are up to about 20 house. its sick and awesome. The Griswold’s would be so proud.
i frickin love xmas.
“It’s A Wondeful Life” w/ carol sing-along at the Byrd Christmas Eve and Christmas Night
…http://www.byrdtheatre.com/
What happened to the traditional Boulevard “trees” lights hanging on the houses and apartments?
@ wendy…Is that something from years past, or recently? I am not familiar with that one…Perhaps the the neighbors that coordinated that have moved on?
If you mean lights in the trees…I undestand the city has recently taken a stronger enforecement stance against the lights hanging in the city trees between the sidewalk and street…it has apparently been against city code for some time (I am assuming, due to the potential damage to the trees and liability of electrical cords accross the sidewalk)
“It’s a Wonderful Life” showing at the Byrd, the reindeer and lights near the James Center and Legendary Santa at the Children’s Museum.
I remember my Mom talking about taking the train to Richmond from Shores, VA (who has even heard of Shores these days?) to visit Santa in the big department stores downtown. There weren’t many good roads back then. My grandmother used to take me there too, but by then we drove the car to Richmond most of the time. I miss the old Miller and Rhoads and Thalhimers Christmas windows and downtown lights. It was like a scene from The Christmas Story Movie with red-rider BB gun, but Richmond created that magic better than anyone. I still have the old pictures of being on Santa’s lap. Richmond still knows how to keep the spirit, I just wish they could have kept the past celebrations too.
The “tree” shaped lights on the Boulevard were put up on all the buildings owned by Pierce Arrow properties, I believe. I think it was something the property management company decided to do, and I guess the stopped doing it.
Oh well . . .
If you’d like to see the “best of the best” of Richmond’s tacky lights, James River Bus Lines is offering from December 1st through December 31st!