The Christmas Season is upon us! As we light our trees, savor baked goods, and focus on the joy of the season, we plan gatherings and celebrations to immerse ourselves in the spirit of Christmas. Here is a list of a few of our favorite traditions, some old and some new. Enjoy! And hey…maybe we will see you there!
December 9- Strasburg’s Home for the Holidays Celebration starts off with a Children’s Christmas cooking decorating extravaganza at the Historical Homemaker Bakery and Cafe from 1-3pm. While shopping at the local stores on King Street, you can walk by the Town Hall for hot soup, hot dogs, cider, hot chocolate and more. You may even see a caroler or two while you shop and take in the sights! If all of that isn’t enough to entice you, there will also be horse drawn carriage rides available following the tree lighting for $5 per person.
December 12 takes us to Winchester for the Holly Jolly Celebration in Old Town on the Loudoun Street Walking Mall from 10am-5pm. There will be free horse-down wagon rides, hot cocoa and of course, shopping!
December 12-13 is when one of our favorite Christmas traditions occurs this year! Follow The Star is a live nativity that brings the Christmas story to life in such a way that speaks to adults and children alike. This year it will look a little different as it is a drive-through event- so you get to enjoy it from the warmth of your car. This event runs from 5-9pm both nights and is a free event!
This year brings what will likely be new favorite for our crew as the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum has installed a sock feet ice rink on the roof of their building! No skates necessary? We are in! There is a $3 up charge to the standard $9 admission. The rink will only be available until January 1 so definitely check this out before it’s too late!
For the last several years, we have LOVED driving through the 2.5 miles of Christmas enchantment at the Bull Run Festival of Lights. And hey- you can even get $5 off the Monday-Thursday admission rate with promo code WEB20. Blast the Christmas tunes and sip on your favorite warm drink while taking in the sites.
If you really want to step it up this Christmas, the perfect way to do it is to stop in at Suzanne’s Studio in Woodstock to paint and personalize a ceramic ornament or Christmas decor item! They will walk you through the process and when it’s all finished, even the non-artistic person will be impressed with their own skills. They have two events coming up this month. Dec 8 is their “Baby It’s Cold Outside” paint night and December 12 is their Children’s Christmas Tell Me A Storytime event. Check out their website for more info!
And finally, there is nothing like the peace and serenity that one experiences sitting in the midst of a candlelight Christmas Eve service as we usher in Christmas morning. Take a breath, reflect, and remember the reason for the season.
Enjoy this joyful season, friends!