Christmas, Holiday Events In Fredericksburg: Parades, Tree Lightings

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — There is no shortage of things to do in Fredericksburg to get the winter holiday season off to a rollicking good start.

Christmas and Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights, intersect this year, with Hanukkah running Dec. 18-26. Christmas, of course, is on Dec. 25, but you don’t have to wait to start taking in all the sights and sounds of the holidays.

Tree lighting ceremonies have already occurred at Spotsylvania Towne Centre and in the City of Fredericksburg. More tree and menorah lightings in the Fredericksburg area include:

• Stafford County Tree Lighting
  • Friday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. at the George Gordon Government Center

Christmas parades — often complete with Santa Claus, festively decorated floats and marching bands — are a holiday tradition, both nationally and locally.

Several big parades are taking place this year, including the Mayor’s Annual Christmas Parade in Baltimore City, Maryland, and the Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, California.

Parades in Fredericksburg may not be able to match those in size, but the heart behind them is just as big. Parades to catch here at home include:

• Fredericksburg Christmas Parade
  • Saturday, Dec. 3 at 5:30 p.m.
  • A detailed map of the parade is available online.
• Spotsylvania County Christmas Parade
  • Saturday, Dec. 3 at 1 p.m.
  • The parade will begin at the Spotsylvania Courthouse area.
• Stafford County Christmas Parade
  • Saturday, Dec. 17 at 3 p.m.
  • The parade will start at the lower Geico parking lot at 1 Geico Boulevard.

Holiday lighting displays are another holiday favorite. Some to catch in Virginia are:

• Fredericksburg Trolley Tours will offer a lights tour beginning on Dec. 16 and departing from the visitor's center.
• Spotsylvania Towne Centre hosts a Concert in Lights every night beginning at 6 p.m. through Dec. 24.
• The National Zoo in D.C. is hosting its annual ZooLights events through Dec. 30.
• The Bull Run Festival of Lights will feature thousands of holiday lights synced with music through the new year.