The holiday season is upon us! Events in Charlottesville are popping up to celebrate the season with the community. Here are just a few of the wonderful events happening around town:

Grand Illumination 

• When- Friday, December 2, 2022, from 5-8 pm
• Where- Ting Pavilion
• What- The Grand Illumination is a free, community tree-lighting event that has music, food, prizes, special guests, and holiday cheer. This event is perfect for people of all ages. 

The Lighting of the Lawn

• When- Thursday, December 1, 2022, from 7-9 pm
• Where- University of Virginia- Lawn 
• What- The lighting of the lawn is an event that started in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attack: to bring a feeling of community and inclusivity within the UVA and Charlottesville community. Following the hardships of the last few years, and specifically, the tragedy of the shooting of the 3 UVa football players that took place on campus this mission rings truer than ever. This year’s theme is “full power” to bring together the community, and will have many performances, and food trucks. It will culminate with the singing of the Good Old Song and the lighting of the lawn.

Let There Be Light

• When- Friday, December 9, 2022, from 6-9 pm
• Where-PVCC
• What- Let There Be Light is a free outdoor light exhibit that illuminates the PVCC’s V. Earl Dickinson Building. This exhibit includes glowing art installations, performances, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Artmobile traveling gallery, and so much more!

Tinsel Trail 

• When- November 26, 2022 – January 2, 2023, from dusk until midnight
• Where-The Stonefield Green at The Shops at Stonefield
• What- The tinsel trail is a community event, with the intent to brighten the holiday season, selling 100 plus Christmas trees sponsored by local businesses, organizations, groups, or individuals. All of the money produced from the trees will go back to the community through the organization which is putting it on, the Junior League of Charlottesville. The Junior League of Charlottesville is an organization of women who promote volunteerism, develop women, and give back to the community.

Santa Fun Run 

• When-Saturday, December 3, 2022, from 9:00-10:30 am is check in 11:00 run starts
• Where-Downtown Mall in front of Ting Pavillion 
• What- The Santa Fun Run is a 1 mile run on the downtown mall. The entry fee is $25 for adults and $15 for students. It includes a Santa suit for the older age group and an elf suit for the younger groups to run in. All the money received will be donated to The Arc of the Piedmont: whose mission is to serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 

Magic on the Mall

• When–
  • Elves in Cville – November 25th – January 8th
  • -Peppermint Trail – November 25th – January 8th
  • -Selfies with Santa Saturdays – November 26th – December 24th, 12 – 4 PM
  • -Holly Trolley – Saturdays & Sundays, November 26th – January 1st
• Where-Downtown Mall
• What– Magic on the Mall has  a compilation of holiday events starting the last week of November and going until the last week of December in order to celebrate this year’s holiday season on the Downtown Mall. It includes a scavenger hunt with elves from the north pole and a peppermint trail that leads to all kinds of sweet feature candy canes. Magic on the Mall also has selfies with Santa, the holly trolley, and more.