Virginia Beach–Chesapeake–Norfolk · November 15, 2026 – January 1, 2027
Christmas and holiday events for kids in Virginia Beach
19 tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays and holiday shows around Virginia Beach, November 15 to New Year’s Day. 3 are free.
Updated Oct 24. Every listing links to its organizer’s page.
Don’t miss
- Light displays
Through Jan 1
Dominion Energy Garden of Lights
Norfolk Botanical Garden
From $15All ages
- Light displays
Through Jan 1
Holiday Trail of Lights at the Virginia Aquarium
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
From $12All ages
- Santa visits
Sat, Nov 21 · 12:00 PM
Santa's Seaside Cinema at 31st Street Park
31st Street Park
FreeAll ages
NovemberSun, Nov 15 – Mon, Nov 30
- Santa visits
Sat, Nov 21 · 12:00 PM
Santa's Seaside Cinema at 31st Street Park
31st Street Park
FreeAll ages
- Nutcracker and shows
Tue, Nov 24 · 6:00 PM
Frosty: A Musical Adventure
Ferguson Center for the Arts
From $12
- Nutcracker and shows
Wed, Nov 25 · 3:00 PM
NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet at the Sandler Center
Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
Paid
- Santa visits
Fri, Nov 27 · 9:00 AM
Planes, Trains and Santa at the Military Aviation Museum
Military Aviation Museum
Paid
DecemberTue, Dec 1 – Fri, Dec 18
- Nutcracker and shows
Wed, Dec 2 · 7:30 PM
A Merry Little Christmas Carol at the Wells Theatre
Wells Theatre
Paid
- Nutcracker and shows
Fri, Dec 4 · 7:00 PM
The Nutcracker at Harrison Opera House
Harrison Opera House
Paid
- Christmas
Sat, Dec 5 · 10:00 AM
Storybook Tea Party (Snowman Theme) at Norfolk Botanical Garden
Norfolk Botanical Garden (WOW Children's Garden)
From $20
- Christmas
Sat, Dec 5 · 3:00 PM
PB&J: Jingle Bell Jam at the Ferguson Center
Ferguson Center for the Arts
Paid
- Parades
Sat, Dec 5 · 5:30 PM
Holiday Parade at the Beach
Atlantic Avenue, 15th to 25th Streets
FreeAll ages
- Markets and festivals
Sat, Dec 5
Holiday Yule Log Bonfire & Holiday Marketplace
Town Point Park
FreeAll ages
- Nutcracker and shows
Fri, Dec 11 · 7:30 PM
Ballet Virginia's The Nutcracker at the Sandler Center
Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
Paid
- Markets and festivals
Sun, Dec 13 · 11:00 AM
Holidays in the Wild: Holiday Market at the Virginia Zoo
Virginia Zoo
With admissionAll ages
Christmas breakSat, Dec 19 – Fri, Jan 1
- Crafts and cookies
Sat, Dec 19 · 10:00 AM
Holiday Nature Ornaments Workshop
Norfolk Botanical Garden (Baker Hall Visitor Center)
From $20
- Nutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 19 · 2:00 PM
Virginia Regional Ballet's The Nutcracker at the Ferguson Center
Ferguson Center for the Arts
From $36
- Nutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 19 · 3:00 PM
PB&J: Jingle Bell Jam with the Virginia Symphony
Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
Paid
- New Year’s Eve
Thu, Dec 31 · 9:30 AM
Noon Year's Eve at the Virginia Zoo
Virginia Zoo
With admission
- New Year’s Eve
Thu, Dec 31 · 11:00 AM
Noon Year's Eve Bash at the Children's Museum of Virginia
Children's Museum of Virginia
With admissionAll ages
All seasonLight displays, Santa visits, shows and exhibits that run for weeks. Check the organizer’s page for open nights and times.
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Quick answers
What free Christmas events are there for kids in Virginia Beach?
3 listed. Coming up:
- Santa's Seaside Cinema at 31st Street Park · Sat, Nov 21 · 31st Street Park
- Holiday Parade at the Beach · Sat, Dec 5 · Atlantic Avenue, 15th to 25th Streets
- Holiday Yule Log Bonfire & Holiday Marketplace · Sat, Dec 5 · Town Point Park
For organizers
Hosting a tree lighting, Santa visit or holiday show in Virginia Beach?
List it on Grassy Knees and it can show up on this Christmas page, in the metro’s weekend picks and in the app. Free to post until Oct 31.
How this list works
Tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays, Nutcrackers, menorah lightings and Noon Year’s Eve parties, beyond your own block. This page collects every event and program in our Virginia Beach listings whose title names Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Santa, holiday lights, the New Year or the like, dated between November 15 and January 1. 19 are still ahead. Each one opens its listing page, which links to the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. Dates are in Eastern Time.