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Christmas with kids in Lynchburg
In Lynchburg, Christmas has a Victorian streak. A tree is lit with carols from a choir and free hot chocolate at Old City Cemetery each December, and a long-running parade rolls down Memorial Avenue to E.C. Glass High School.
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The story of Christmas in Lynchburg
How Lynchburg celebrates
Lynchburg keeps Christmas close to home. The Lynchburg Christmas Parade sends floats, vehicles and marching bands along a route that ends at E.C. Glass High School, and it is free to watch. The Victorian Christmas Tree Lighting at Old City Cemetery lights a tree in the Shrub Garden in traditional Victorian style, with a choir, free hot chocolate and sometimes a visit from Santa. In 2021 the Lynchburg Museum at the Old Courthouse even put together a small exhibit on the city's Christmas traditions, with old songbooks, toys and downtown holiday photos.
Christmas last year in Lynchburg
The 2025 season began with a tree lighting at the Craddock Terry Hotel on November 23 at 7 p.m. On Saturday, December 6, families gathered at Old City Cemetery at 6:30 p.m. for the Victorian tree lighting, and on Sunday, December 7, the Lynchburg Christmas Parade began at 4 p.m. with the theme A Parade of Christmas Trees. The local Macaroni Kid guide listed more than 75 family holiday events for December, from library Santa visits to parades in Bedford, Amherst, Altavista, Rustburg and Gretna.
Fun facts about Christmas in Lynchburg
A historian once gave a talk in the Old City Cemetery chapel, decorated in Victorian Christmas style, about where Rudolph, jingle bells and Christmas cards came from. At the Lynchburg Public Library, Mayor Stephanie Reed has joined Santa as Mayor Elf, and kids went home with free books and candy canes. The Campbell County libraries hold Santa evenings where every child picks up a free book and drops a letter for Santa. Neighborhood displays in the mid-town loop often include 10 to 12 or more decorated houses on a street.
Trains and Christmas near Lynchburg
Families who want to see big engines up close can head west to Roanoke. The Virginia Museum of Transportation sits in a 1918 Norfolk & Western freight station with a railyard of large locomotives, a cab kids can step into and an O-gauge layout. Nearby, the O. Winston Link Museum shows black-and-white photographs of 1950s steam and small-town life in Roanoke's restored passenger station. In Staunton, the 1902 C&O station still welcomes Amtrak's Cardinal.
- Virginia Museum of Transportation: Kids can step into a locomotive cab and see a railyard of big engines in a 1918 freight station.
- O. Winston Link Museum: Black-and-white photographs of 1950s steam trains and the towns they passed through, in Roanoke's restored passenger station.
- Staunton Historic Train Station: A 1902 C&O station where Amtrak's Cardinal still stops, so kids can watch a real train come through.
Traditions today
- Lynchburg Christmas Parade: Floats, vehicles and marching bands travel from Bank of the James Stadium to E.C. Glass High School on a December Sunday afternoon.
- Victorian Tree Lighting at Old City Cemetery: A tree in the Shrub Garden is lit in Victorian style, with a carol choir, free hot chocolate and a possible visit from Santa.
- Library Santa visits: Lynchburg Public Library and the Campbell County libraries host Santa for photos, crafts, free books and letters to Santa.
- Holiday storytimes at the library: December storytimes at the Main and Downtown branches have included Winter PJ and Gingerbread Man themes.
- Neighborhood light displays: Families drive through decorated streets in the mid-town loop and visit home displays that collect canned food for neighbors.
- Bright Nights on the Bluffwalk: A downtown holiday lights display runs from late November into early January.
A fact for kids
At the Lynchburg library, the mayor once dressed up as Mayor Elf to help Santa hand out free books and candy canes.
Questions about Christmas in Lynchburg
What is the Lynchburg Christmas Parade?
It is Lynchburg's annual downtown holiday parade, with floats, vehicles and marching bands. In 2025 it was on Sunday, December 7, at 4 p.m., with the theme A Parade of Christmas Trees. It is free to watch and ends at E.C. Glass High School. See our Lynchburg Christmas events guide on this page for this year's date.
Where does the Lynchburg Christmas Parade go?
In 2025 the route began at Bank of the James Stadium, turned onto Fort Avenue and Wythe Road, then went along Oakley Avenue and Memorial Avenue to E.C. Glass High School. Routes can change from year to year, so check our Lynchburg Christmas events guide on this page for the current plan.
What is the Victorian tree lighting at Old City Cemetery?
It is a free evening tradition in the Shrub Garden of Old City Cemetery, where a tree is lit in traditional Victorian style. A choir leads Christmas carols, guests get free hot chocolate and Santa may stop by. In 2025 it was held on Saturday, December 6, at 6:30 p.m.
What should we bring to the Old City Cemetery tree lighting?
Bring warm layers, because the tree lighting happens outdoors in the Shrub Garden. The event is free, and hot chocolate is provided. Dress for a cool December night and plan to arrive a little early. In 2025 the lighting was at 6:30 p.m., so little ones may enjoy it best with a cozy blanket.
Has Lynchburg ever had a Christmas history exhibit?
Yes. In December 2021 the Lynchburg Museum at the Old Courthouse hosted a free Christmas in Lynchburg mini exhibit. It focused on the 20th century and showed original songbooks and toys, old downtown holiday photos and recent photos of the Christmas parade on Main and Church Streets.
Where did Rudolph and jingle bells come from?
A historian covered this question at a Holiday Traditions Talk in the Old City Cemetery chapel in 2022, looking at the history of Rudolph, jingle bells and Christmas cards. The chapel was decorated in Victorian Christmas style. The talk cost $10 that year and is a good example of how the cemetery shares holiday history.
Does Santa visit the Lynchburg Public Library?
Yes. The library has hosted a Santa meet-and-greet at the Main Branch on Memorial Avenue, with photos with Santa, free children's books and candy canes, and a craft in the Activity Room. Mayor Stephanie Reed has joined as Mayor Elf. See our Lynchburg Christmas events guide on this page for this year's date.
What holiday storytimes does the Lynchburg library offer?
In a past December the library listed Winter PJ Storytime and Craft at the Main Branch and Gingerbread Man Storytime at the Downtown Branch, plus a Gingerbread House Building Challenge. Themes change each year, so look at the library calendar and our Lynchburg Christmas events guide on this page for this season.
What is Santa Under the Stars?
Santa Under the Stars is a free family evening at Timbrook Library in the Campbell County system, held on December 13 in 2024. Families had photos with Santa, holiday stories and a keepsake ornament craft, and each child received a free book. Children could also drop off letters to Santa.
Can kids drop off letters to Santa in the Lynchburg area?
Yes. The Campbell County Public Library holiday evenings, including Santa Under the Stars at Timbrook Library and Santa at Patrick Henry Memorial Library in Brookneal, have invited children to drop off letters to Santa. Each child also picked up a free book and made a keepsake craft.
Which neighboring towns hold Christmas parades?
In 2025 the Lynchburg area had parades in Amherst on December 5, Bedford and Altavista on December 6, and Rustburg and Gretna on December 14, in addition to Lynchburg's own parade on December 7. Dates shift each year, so check our Lynchburg Christmas events guide on this page.
How many holiday events does the Lynchburg area have?
The local Macaroni Kid guide listed more than 75 family holiday events for December 2025, plus ongoing displays that run for weeks. They included parades, tree lightings, mall and library Santa visits, farm events and pancake breakfasts. It shows how many ways families around Lynchburg celebrate the season.
When do Lynchburg-area tree lightings happen?
Most come between late November and early December. In 2025 the Craddock Terry Hotel lit its tree on November 23, Appomattox on November 30, Buena Vista on December 4 and Bedford and Rustburg on December 6. Old City Cemetery's Victorian lighting was December 6.
Where can kids see Christmas lights in Lynchburg?
Families visit neighborhood displays in the mid-town loop, where streets often have 10 to 12 or more decorated houses, and home displays such as Settje Christmas House. Bright Nights on the Bluffwalk has run from late November into early January. Our Lynchburg Christmas events guide on this page lists this season's dates.
When do Lynchburg displays usually go up?
Displays traditionally went up the weekend after Thanksgiving, but many now start earlier. Some, such as Bright Nights on the Bluffwalk in 2024, opened on November 24 and ran into early January. Check our Lynchburg Christmas events guide on this page for current opening dates before you plan an evening drive.
Do neighborhood light displays help local charities?
Some do. The Wildwood Light Up the Night display near Lynchburg collects canned and non-perishable food, and visitors vote for their favorite houses by leaving donations in totes. It is a nice way to teach kids that holiday lights can also help neighbors who need a meal.
How can I explain a Victorian Christmas to my kids?
Tell them that long ago, families lit trees and sang carols together outdoors, much like the Old City Cemetery tree lighting. At the Shrub Garden event a choir sings, the tree is lit in traditional Victorian style and everyone sips hot chocolate. Ask kids to spot what feels old fashioned.
Where can kids see trains near Lynchburg at Christmas?
The Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke has a railyard of big locomotives, a cab kids can step into and an O-gauge layout, all in a 1918 freight station. The O. Winston Link Museum nearby shows 1950s steam photographs. Check each museum's hours before your trip.
Can we watch a real train in Staunton?
Yes. The Staunton Historic Train Station is a 1902 C&O station in the Wharf Area Historic District where Amtrak's Cardinal still stops. Waiting passengers use a small unstaffed room in a former C&O signal house. It is a good stop for kids who want to see a real train come through.
Why is Christmas in Lynchburg different from other cities?
Lynchburg mixes a hometown parade with Victorian touches. A choir, hot chocolate and a cemetery garden tree set the scene at Old City Cemetery, while library Santa evenings hand out free books to kids. Together with neighborhood light loops and nearby towns' parades, it feels warm and close knit.
Sources
- Victorian Christmas Tree Lighting at Old City Cemetery, Lynchburg Macaroni Kid
- 66th Annual Lynchburg Christmas Parade, Lynchburg Macaroni Kid
- Lynchburg Area Top 75 Holiday and Christmas Events for December 2025, Lynchburg Macaroni Kid
- Lynchburg Christmas Lights and Area Holiday Tree Lightings for 2024, Lynchburg Macaroni Kid
- Christmas in Lynchburg First Friday Mini Exhibit, Lynchburg Museum / Visit Lynchburg
- Holiday Traditions Talk at Old City Cemetery, Visit Lynchburg
- Lynchburg Public Library to Host Santa Meet-and-Greet, Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance
- Santa Under the Stars, Visit Lynchburg
- Virginia Museum of Transportation, Rally Takes the Train
- O. Winston Link Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Staunton Historic Train Station, Rally Takes the Train