Winter Nature Nights
Guests stroll along a glowing outdoor trail featuring sparkling holiday light displays and a festive dinosaur-themed Story Walk. Activities include lawn games like Peppermint Connect Four, letter writing to Santa, cookie decorating, and photo opportunities with Santa inside the Goodson House. The evening also features live musical entertainment, local food trucks, and seasonal shows inside the Abbitt Planetarium.
Dec 18 – Dec 24, 2026 All ages
See more Christmas lights near Newport News
Plan Your Visit
Hours
5:30 pm – 8:15 pm; Star of Wonder at 6:30pm; Holiday Magic at 7:30pm.
Food & Drink
Hot chocolate and cookie decorating are available at Saté Café, with local food trucks on select nights.
Parking
Free parking is available in the museum’s adjacent parking lots, with additional bus parking in a secondary lot.
Location
Tips & Advice
- Reserve date- and time-specific tickets in advance, since the event page strongly encourages reservations for regular admission.
- Choose a Golden Ticket if your plans may shift; it permits a visit on any event night without a set date or time.
- Visit on a Friday to see Chisel & Shaker create an animal sculpture during the live ice-carving demonstration.
- Members can receive special discounts on pre-sale tickets, so use your membership when reviewing the event's advance-ticket options.
- Dress warmly for the evening outdoor trail, and wear comfortable shoes for strolling between light displays and event activities.
Special Events & Promotions
- Members receive special discounts on pre-sale tickets.
- Golden Tickets let families and groups visit on any event night without choosing a date or time.
- Live ice carving takes place on Friday only.
- The Tabb High School Jazz Choir, Jazz Band and Girl’s Choir perform on December 18.
- Williamsburg A Capella Singers perform on December 19.
Links & Contact
Run by Virginia Living Museum
Christmas Events Near Me is an independent guide, not the organizer of this event. For tickets, entries, vendor spots or questions, contact the organizer directly through their website.
Frequently Asked Questions
What activities are available along the trail?
The event includes a lighted outdoor trail, a dinosaur-themed story walk, holiday lawn games and letter writing to Santa.
Do I need to reserve tickets in advance?
Advance reservations are highly encouraged. Regular tickets are date- and time-specific; Golden Tickets can be used on any event night without choosing a date or time.
What food and treats are available?
Saté Café offers hot chocolate and cookie decorating. Local food trucks are scheduled on December 19–23.
Are there planetarium shows during the event?
The Abbitt Planetarium lists the holiday shows Star of Wonder and Holiday Magic. These are separately timed show sessions.
What live entertainment is scheduled on particular nights?
The Tabb High School Jazz Choir, Jazz Band and Girl’s Choir perform December 18; Williamsburg A Capella Singers perform December 19; Doorway Singers perform December 20; and Santa Bones Trombone Quartet performs December 21.
Browse Christmas in Newport News
Always check the official website for the most current information.
We've done our best to keep details up-to-date, but event schedules, prices, and policies can change. For the latest updates, please visit the official website or contact the organizers directly. Christmas Events Near Me is an independent guide and isn't affiliated with the events we list.