What are your plans this winter? Between holiday lights and festivities to all the opportunities we have to play in the snow, there are endless opportunities for fun, excitement, and merriment during the coldest months of the year. Want to know the best things to do in Virginia in the winter? Well, you've come to the right place!

Holiday Events In Virginia

When the holiday season is upon us, there are so many wonderful options to celebrate. Whether it's a walk-thru or drive-thru light display, a tree-lighting ceremony, or a festival, here are a few of the best holiday events in Virginia:

• Location: Doswell, VA
• Popularity: This is a very popular drive-thru holiday lights display during the winter season.
• Price: $30/family vehicle up to 9 passengers.

From Nov. 17-Dec. 31, 2023, Illuminate Light Show and Santa's Village returns. This is the largest drive-thru holiday lights show in Virginia. Synchronized to music, you'll be singing along to your favorite holiday tunes as you drive through hundreds of thousands of lights. At the end, make a pit stop at Santa's Village with family-friendly activities. Santa will be there until Dec. 23rd. This is one of the best family things to do in Virginia in winter.

• Location: Virginia Beach, VA
• Popularity: This is a fairly popular event held over the course of two days. Purchase your tickets in advance.
• Price: Adults: $32.95. Youth (age 5+): $27.95. Infant (age 0-4): Free. Members get 50% off ticket prices.

The Holi-Rays festivities return to the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Dec. 15-16, 2023 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. This family-friendly event encourages guests to come dressed in holiday attire or even your festive pajamas to partake in an evening of fun. This indoor event will have twinkling lights and displays and Santa will make an appearance.

• Location: Alexandria, VA
• Popularity: Very popular. Arrive early enough for parking. However, taking public transportation is strongly encouraged.
• Price: Free

There's nothing quite like Old Town Alexandria for the holidays, especially when you attend the annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony. On Nov. 18. 2023 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., the holidays will kick off with the Town Crier calling for the lighting of the tree followed by singing and a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. This is one of the best free things to do in Virginia in winter.

• Location: Norfolk, VA
• Popularity: Very popular. Limited tickets are sold and you must purchase tickets online ahead of time.
• Price: Members: $15/adult and $10/child (ages 3-12). Premium nights for members: $20/adult and $12/child (ages 3-12). Non-members: $20/adult, $18/military, and $12/child (ages 3-12). Premium nights for non-members: $25/adult and $15/child (ages 3-12).

With botanical gardens all aglow with twinkling lights in a walk-thru display, the Garden of Lights at the Norfolk Botanical Garden is one of the state's most magical events. Held Nov. 10 through Dec. 31, 2023, beginning at 5 p.m., this 1-mile walk through the gardens is also accessible to strollers, wheelchairs, and other mobility devices. Sundays in November are pet-friendly, so you'll be allowed to take your dog. Food will be available for purchase each night of the event and the gift shop will also be open. 'Tis the season for holiday magic at the Norfolk Botanical Garden!

Christmas Towns In Virginia

There's nothing like celebrating the holidays in a picture-perfect Christmas town in Virginia. With all sorts of charm and festivities, here are the towns that really know how to celebrate the holidays:

• Location: Richmond, VA
• Popularity: Richmond is a popular festive Christmas town in Virginia.
• Price: N/A

If you're looking for fun things to do in Virginia in winter, there's no better place than Richmond, especially during the holiday season. Not only does the city host a variety of Christmas events like King's Dominion WinterFest and the Dominion Energy Gardenfest of Lights at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden but it's also home to one of the most beautiful Christmas hotels in Virginia. There's something quite magical about Christmas in Richmond, so make it a priority to visit this festive city this year.

• Location: Williamsburg, VA
• Popularity: This historic city is quite popular to visit during the holiday season.
• Price: N/A

Williamsburg, Virginia has to be one of the top Christmas towns in America. With its historic charm and the fact that it offers so many things to do in Virginia in winter, visiting is a must! Among the Christmas-y things are the Williamsburg Christmas Market, the Christmas Market on Main, Busch Gardens Christmas Town, and so much more. Make your holiday season merry and bright with a visit to Williamsburg.

• Location: Virginia Beach, VA
• Popularity: Virginia Beach is somewhat popular during the holiday season but it's certainly less crowded than in the summer.
• Price: N/A

When you think of Virginia Beach, summer most likely comes to mind. After all, it's one of the favorite places in the state to enjoy the surf and sand. However, this coastal city along the Atlantic turns into quite a winter wonderland this time of year. Between the lights at the Virginia Beach KOA Campground, the BayPort Credit Union Holiday Lights at the Beach down at the Virginia Beach Boardwalk, and the Snow Globe Spectacular at the town center, you'll be in the spirit of the season in no time! Check out the Visit Virginia Beach website for more holiday events in Virginia Beach.

Outdoor Activities

Virginia turns into a winter wonderland, and while the first inclination for many of us is to hide indoors until spring, there is plenty to enjoy outside. From ice skating to snow tubing and hiking, here are the best outdoor winter activities in Virginia.

• Location: Reston, VA
• Popularity: Very popular.
• Price: Adults: $11, Senior/Military: $9, and Youth (ages 12 and under): $9.

Among the most beloved Virginia winter activities is ice skating. One of the best places to hit the ice is the Reston Town Center Ice Skating Pavilion. Open from Nov. 3, 2023, through Mar. 10, 2024, you'll have plenty of time to go skating this winter. Skating sessions last 90 minutes and you can either bring your own skates or rent a pair here at the rink.

• Location: Nellysford, VA
• Popularity: Very popular.
• Price: $34 per 75-minute session on Thursdays; $44 per 75-minute session Friday-Sunday and holidays.

Wintergreen Resort is where you'll find an epic and exciting snow tubing hill in Virginia. Known as "This Plunge," this 10-story-tall hill is also the length of three football fields. Most thrilling of all, you can reach speeds of 30 mph! Of all the fun things to do in Virginia in winter, this tops the list.

• Location: Lynchburg, VA
• Popularity: This is a very popular spot for skiing and snowboarding year-round.
• Price: Skiing/snowboarding: $8/hour, $25/day pass, and $16 for equipment rental. Tubing: $15/hour. 2-hour combo pass for all activities: $25.

While always a fun place to go skiing and snowboarding in the winter, Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre is a place where you can partake in winter sports year-round. Briton Engineering’s patented Snowflex® has made it possible to enjoy skiing and snowboarding even in the summer. In addition to the ski slopes, there are tubing runs as well. This place is so much fun!

• Location: Various locations around Virginia.
• Popularity: While hiking in warmer weather is far more popular, winter hiking is not. You'll find the trails to be quiet and may have them all to yourself.
• Price: N/A

There are opportunities to go hiking throughout the state during the coldest months of the year. From state parks in Northern Virginia and Southern Virginia to areas near the Chesapeake Bay and even Mount Vernon where George Washington once lived, you'll find quiet trails that are ideal if you want a bit of solitude in the winter. Not to mention that the views of the frozen landscape can be utterly jaw-dropping. Check out these incredible winter hikes in Virginia, some of which lead to frozen waterfalls!

Winter Getaways

We all deserve a getaway, especially after the holidays. While the holiday season is absolutely wonderful, it can be exhausting, so let's getaway! Here are some of the best winter getaways in Virginia:

• Location: Hot Springs, VA
• Popularity: This is a very popular resort in Virginia with a wide range of amenities.
• Price: Prices start at $444 per night.

The Omni Homestead Resort has been a destination hotel in the state of Virginia for over 250 years. This hotel has seen its fair share of notable figures including several American presidents and welcomes guests from around the world. Set in the Allegheny Mountains, The Omni Homestead Resort offers luxurious accommodations and amenities that include pools that are filled with hot springs, perfect to warm up in on a cold day. This is a wonderful place to stay especially if you're looking for romantic things to do in Virginia in winter.

• Location: Thaxton, VA
• Popularity: This is a lovely and quiet property with available booking dates.
• Price: $180/night

During the winter months, it might be nice for a little getaway, right? This private farmhouse in Thaxton, Virginia is perfect for a winter vacation. With three bedrooms and two bathrooms and all the conveniences of home, there's a wonderful addition of a hot tub you can warm up in while taking in the views of the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. While you can enjoy the serenity of staying on a farm, for those who need a dose of the city, Roanoke is approximately a 40-minute drive away.

• Location: McGaheysville, VA
• Popularity: This home is located in a popular ski area.
• Price: $1,241/night

Less than 10 miles away from Shenandoah National Park and 3 minutes away from Masanutten Ski Resort, this luxurious vacation rental is an exceptional place to stay in the winter months. With 8 bedrooms and 5 bedrooms, the Masanutten Lodge, as it's called, can accommodate up to 25 people. It includes multiple decks with views, a pool table and arcade games, a gourmet kitchen, and, perhaps best of all, a hot tub. This home is ideal for a large group of friends for an epic skiing or snowboarding trip in Virginia.

• Location: Alexandria, VA
• Popularity: Alexandria is a popular city close to Washington, DC.
• Price: $200/night

While there are endless getaway destinations in more remote parts of the state, having a getaway in the city during the cold weather months is also a great idea. This beautiful vacation rental in Alexandria is close to restaurants and shops as well as Washington, DC and Fairfax if you would like to explore all that those cities have to offer as well.

So, what are your plans this winter? As you know, there are plenty of amazing things to do in Virginia in the winter. So get out there, go see some holiday lights, take a spin around the ice at a skating rink, and enjoy the magic of the season!

Looking for gifts this holiday season? Be sure to check out the OnlyInYourState Holiday Gift Guide!