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In the 100 or so miles from Virginia Beach to Richmond, drive-through light shows – and lights in general – abound! Virginia’s oldest drive-through light show, Celebration in Lights, in Newport News includes 700,000 lights in more than 200 displays. The Virginia Beach Boardwalk’s Holiday Lights at the Beach features 450,000 lights in 250 displays, the majority of which are nautical in nature. Richmond’s GardenFest of Lights boasts more than 500,000 lights arranged in botanical themes throughout Lewis Ginter Garden.

Grand illumination celebrations of city skylines are again planned for Downtown Norfolk, Olde Towne Portsmouth and Downtown Richmond. Additionally, fireworks will illuminate the sky during the grand illumination at Colonial Williamsburg, as well as at Hollydazzle, where the fireworks will surround a 5-acre fountain plaza area at Oyster Point City Center in Newport News. And while all eyes are skyward, check out the annual lighting of the 45-foot tree at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond.

3.     Parade, anyone?

It’s big, it’s long, it’s fun, and we have more than one! Enjoy floats, marching bands, balloons, majorettes, drill teams, clowns, horses, and, of course, Santa, at any one of the numerous holiday parades taking place in Richmond, Williamsburg, Norfolk and Virginia Beach. Portsmouth’s traditional holiday parade takes the form of an Olde Towne Scottish Walk, a procession led by pipe-and-drum bands that includes caroling and mini-concerts in Olde Towne restaurants and pubs.

The holidays just wouldn’t be the same without music. From traditional carols to beloved songs, experience the sounds of the holidays during “100 Miles of Lights.” The Ferguson Center for the Arts in Newport News has booked Peter Cetera, the Irish Tenors and the Boston Pops, among others, while the brand-new Sadler Center for the Performing Arts in Virginia Beach will host the Vienna Boys Choir and Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. Willett Hall in Portsmouth will feature A Viennese Christmas Concert, while the Virginia Symphony Orchestra will have performances at both the Ferguson Center and the Sandler Center.

* Affordable hand-crafted artwork from Norfolk’s d’Art Center * Fantasy shopping night at MacArthur Center * Holiday militaria show at the Virginia War Museum in Newport News

* Children’s Christmas Shoppe (no adults allowed!) at the Olde Towne Holiday Music Festival in Portsmouth * Christmas collectibles, one-of-a-kind stocking stuffers and personalized handmade gifts at the Virginia Beach Christmas Market * Gourmet foods and seasonal décor at The Bizarre Bazaar’s Christmas Collection. It’s all part of “100 Miles of Lights,” and it’s all for sale!

Get a sneak peek inside privately owned homes – as well as those open to the public – decorated for the holidays. Private home tours are planned in Portsmouth and Richmond, while the historic homes in Richmond and Newport News will be decked in their holiday best. Tour Richmond’s lavishly decorated Maymont House, or the more modest post Civil War decoration at Lee Hall Mansion and Endview Plantation in Newport News. Take a walking tour of Richmond’s Monument Avenue or a trolley tour of Portsmouth’s Olde Town Historic District.

You can have breakfast and brunch with him… sing with him … sail with him … get your picture taken with him … make a craft with him. Santa will be making a number of appearances in all seven cities during “100 Miles of Lights.” P.S. Don’t forget to bring your “wish” list! 

Planetarium shows in Portsmouth and Newport News delve into the constellations of the winter sky and attempt to offer some possible explanations for the Christmas star. Don’t miss the Virginia Living Museum’s Star of Wonder and the Children’s Museum of Virginia’s ‘Tis The Season planetarium shows that explore the mystery that has puzzled astronomers and theologians for centuries. ‘Tis The Season also traces the development of many of the world’s endearing holiday customs and the importance of light in the winter season.

This popular holiday display, which was a tradition for 39 years at Coleman Nursery in Churchland, has been re-created at the Courthouse Galleries museum and in its courtyard at High and Court streets in Olde Towne Portsmouth. Visit again with the “Snow Babies,” walk through the “Snow Palace,” and be delighted by “Christmas Town 1890.” See “Santa's Workshop,” “Teddy Bear Land,” “Santa's Train” and “Santa's Circus.” Marvel at the mechanical marionettes and puppets that move within numerous electronic displays and exhibits.