# Grand Illumination at Colonial Williamsburg > Event for families in the Virginia Beach–Chesapeake–Norfolk area (VA / NC). Times are Eastern Time. - When: Sat, Dec 5 (+2 more dates) - Where: Colonial Williamsburg Historic Area, 101 Visitor Center Drive, Williamsburg, VA 23185 - Ages: All ages - Price: See Colonial Williamsburg admission tickets; evening street events price not stated - Organizer: The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation - Official page: https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/visit/tickets-passes/ - Last checked: Sat, Oct 24 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Oct 24, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-10-24), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/activities/grand-illumination-at-colonial-williamsburg--listing-5d91fe2530321699630ddabd ## About Colonial Williamsburg revives the 18th-century custom of 'illuminations', when the colonial capital fired guns and set off fireworks for major occasions such as a sovereign's birthday, a military victory or a new governor's arrival, on three December Saturdays. Families can start the day by walking the Historic Area to see the special holiday decorations on its homes and shops. As evening falls, musicians perform on several stages along the streets, and fireworks are set off over the Capitol and the Governor's Palace. It is a big, festive outdoor night that suits children who can handle crowds and the noise of fireworks. Admission tickets and visit planning are on Colonial Williamsburg's site. ## Similar picks in Virginia Beach - [Storybook Tea Party (Snowman Theme) at Norfolk Botanical Garden](https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/activities/storybook-tea-party-snowman-theme-at-norfolk-botanical-garden--listing-0baaaf862499b43b20b0b218) — Sat, Dec 5 · 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM · Norfolk Botanical Garden (WOW Children's Garden) · From $20 · checked Oct 24. A winter edition of the garden's storybook tea party: a snowman story and tea party in the WOW Children's Garden for preschoolers and their grown-ups. Children bring a favorite… - [Holiday Parade at the Beach](https://grassyknees.com/virginia-beach/activities/holiday-parade-at-the-beach--listing-5972e5b77b9ac25473df5409) — Sat, Dec 5 · 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM · Atlantic Avenue, 15th to 25th Streets · All ages · Free · checked Oct 24. 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