Rally the corgi has sniffed out the best Christmas events for kids in Williamsburg for 2026, and here is what he found: 4 family events, 2 of them free. The magic runs from November 21 (The Nutcracker Suite) through December 12, with 'Twas the Night Before Christmas Exhibit & Craft (December 12) along the way. We check every date on the host’s own website, and each listing links straight there. For the rest of the state, see our Virginia Christmas events for kids guide.
What Rally found in Williamsburg
- 4 Christmas events for kids in Williamsburg
- 2 free events, including The Nutcracker Suite and 3D Pen Gingerbread Houses
- Also on the list: 1 Christmas show and 3 craft workshops
- Season: November 21 (The Nutcracker Suite) to December 12 ('Twas the Night Before Christmas Exhibit & Craft)
- Every date checked on the host’s own site on Nov 10
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- 1 Breakfast and treats
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Free Christmas events for kids in Williamsburg
Holiday showFree
The Nutcracker Suite
- When: Saturday, November 21, 2026, 11 am to noon (Two performances, at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm)
- Where: Williamsburg Library Theatre, 515 Scotland St, Williamsburg, VA 23185 (opens in maps)
- Cost: Free, first come, first served
- Ages: All ages
Expand to see the parent tip
The Concert Ballet of Virginia, which the library describes as the state's oldest continually operating ballet company, brings The Nutcracker Suite to the Williamsburg Library Theatre. Dancers from across Virginia perform in bright costumes, and the library bills the show as a holiday tradition returning to its stage.
There are two performances on Saturday, November 21, 2026, at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm, at the Williamsburg Library, 515 Scotland Street. The listing shows the first one ending at noon. Admission is free and seating is first come, first served.
Parent tip: Seats go to whoever arrives first, so get to the theatre early, and keep the 1:00 pm performance in mind as a backup if the 11:00 am one fills. At roughly an hour, it is a manageable first ballet for preschoolers.
- Host
- Williamsburg Regional Library (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Williamsburg Library Theatre, 515 Scotland St, Williamsburg, VA 23185 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Williamsburg events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Williamsburg daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Williamsburg.
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Rally’s Christmas research
Rally the corgi has 3 more Williamsburg events researched for you.
- New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in Williamsburg.
- Exclusive access to free events Find the free Christmas events in Williamsburg before they fill up.
- Unlock the filters Find Santa visits, free events and weekend plans in one tap.
- Rally’s Christmas Eve Express and a free advent calendar Get early access to Rally the corgi’s Christmas Eve tracker, plus a free digital advent calendar to count down to Christmas.
- One-tap add to calendar Save any event to your Google, Apple or Outlook calendar so you never miss it.
Coming up on this page
- 3 Crafts
- 1 Shows
- 1 Zoos and museums
- 1 Breakfast and treats
- 2 Free
Enter your email to get new Christmas events in Williamsburg every week.
Holiday craftsFree
3D Pen Gingerbread Houses
- When: Friday, December 11, 2026, 11 am to 12:30 pm
- Where: Williamsburg Library, Patricia Schell Memorial Meeting Room, 515 Scotland St, Williamsburg, VA 23185 (opens in maps)
- Cost: Free, pick up a ticket at the children's desk
- Ages: Recommended for ages 6 and up
Expand to see the parent tip
Kids put together gingerbread houses made from 3D-printed pieces and then decorate them with 3D pens. No experience is needed, and the library recommends the program for ages 6 and up.
It takes place Friday, December 11, 2026, from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm in the Patricia Schell Memorial Meeting Room at the Williamsburg Library, 515 Scotland Street. Space is limited, and a free ticket from the children's desk, available 30 minutes before the program, holds a spot.
Parent tip: Be at the children's desk by 10:30 am, when the free tickets become available, since space is limited. It is a Friday late-morning program, so check your school calendar before promising it to a school-age child.
- Host
- Williamsburg Regional Library (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Williamsburg Library, Patricia Schell Memorial Meeting Room, 515 Scotland St, Williamsburg, VA 23185 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Williamsburg events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Williamsburg daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Williamsburg.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Williamsburg
Admission, tickets or a fee apply. Where a host has not posted a price yet, the listing says so.
Holiday event
Black Friday Kids' Day Out
- When: Friday, November 27, 2026, noon to 3 pm (Drop-off program on Black Friday)
- Where: Catalillies Play Café, 551 Merrimac Trail, Williamsburg, VA 23185 (opens in maps)
- Cost: $25 first child, $10 each additional child
Expand to see the parent tip
Catalillies Play Café turns Black Friday into a drop-off afternoon for kids while parents shop on their own. Children spend the time with the café's team playing, eating pizza, making crafts and joining holiday activities.
It runs Friday, November 27, 2026, from 12:00 to 3:00 pm. The cost is $25 for the first child and $10 for each additional child. Spaces are limited, and booking is done online, where you also sign a liability waiver.
Parent tip: This is a three-hour drop-off, so it suits kids who are comfortable staying with staff while you are away. Reserve early because spaces are limited, and complete the online waiver when you book so drop-off goes quickly.
- Host
- Catalillies Play Café (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Catalillies Play Café, 551 Merrimac Trail, Williamsburg, VA 23185 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Williamsburg events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Williamsburg daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Williamsburg.
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Holiday crafts
'Twas the Night Before Christmas Exhibit & Craft
- When: Saturday, December 12, 2026, 10 am to 1 pm (Drop-in)
- Where: Stryker Center, Room 113, 412 N Boundary St, Williamsburg, VA 23185 (opens in maps)
- Cost: No price listed on the organizer's page
- Ages: Ages 3 to 12
Expand to see the parent tip
The Stryker Center Gallery is showing an exhibit on 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, and on this morning representatives from William & Mary Libraries are on hand to talk about it. Kids can follow a scavenger hunt and sit down to make wintery cards.
It runs Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm in Room 113 of the Stryker Center, 412 North Boundary Street. The cardmaking is drop-in and the listing is aimed at ages 3 to 12. The page does not mention a price or registration.
Parent tip: Because the cardmaking is drop-in across three hours, you can arrive whenever suits your morning. Try the scavenger hunt first so younger kids have a reason to look closely at the exhibit before they settle in to craft.
- Host
- Williamsburg Regional Library (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Stryker Center, Room 113, 412 N Boundary St, Williamsburg, VA 23185 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Williamsburg events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Williamsburg daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Williamsburg.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
We check every event above on the host’s own page for the date, time and cost, plus the things parents ask about, like sign-ups and ages. Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our Virginia Christmas train rides page.
See every event on a December calendar
Plan your December
When each Williamsburg Christmas event for kids happens
The first is The Nutcracker Suite in Williamsburg on November 21; the last runs to December 12. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- The Nutcracker SuiteWilliamsburg · Nov 21
- Black Friday Kids' Day OutWilliamsburg · Nov 27
- 3D Pen Gingerbread HousesWilliamsburg · Dec 11
- 'Twas the Night Before Christmas Exhibit & CraftWilliamsburg · Dec 12
Looking further afield? Our Virginia Christmas events for kids guide lists every event we have found in the state, and we have city guides for Suffolk, Norfolk, VA, Richmond, VA and Chesapeake. The national search sorts every event by distance from your town.
A story for the drive home
A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first ride on a California train, hand-painted in watercolor. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon2026 Christmas events are coming in late November
More Christmas events arrive in late November. We add them here as soon as we confirm them.
The story of Christmas in Williamsburg
Williamsburg began in 1632 as Middle Plantation, a fortified settlement on high ground between the James and York rivers, and took its present name in 1699 in honor of King William III. This Christmas season, much of what is on for kids runs through the Williamsburg Regional Library, from a free Nutcracker Suite to an exhibit on 'Twas the Night Before Christmas with William & Mary Libraries.
How Williamsburg celebrates
The Williamsburg Regional Library carries most of the family calendar. The Concert Ballet of Virginia dances The Nutcracker Suite at the Williamsburg Library Theatre on Scotland Street on November 21, which the library calls a holiday tradition returning. The same building hosts 3D Pen Gingerbread Houses on December 11. A day later, the Stryker Center on North Boundary Street opens its gallery exhibit on 'Twas the Night Before Christmas with representatives from William & Mary Libraries, the library of the college founded here in 1693, plus a scavenger hunt and cardmaking. Catalillies Play Café adds a Black Friday Kids' Day Out on November 27.
Fun facts about Christmas in Williamsburg
Williamsburg was established in 1699 on the site of Middle Plantation and served as the capital of Virginia from 1699 to 1780, when the capital moved to Richmond. The College of William & Mary, founded in 1693, is the second-oldest institution of higher education in the United States. In 1881 the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway built its Peninsula Extension through the area, and the city let tracks run down Duke of Gloucester Street. The 2020 census counted 15,425 residents.
Traditions today
- The Nutcracker Suite at the Library Theatre: The library describes the Concert Ballet of Virginia's free Nutcracker Suite as a holiday tradition returning to the Williamsburg Library Theatre.
- 3D Pen Gingerbread Houses: Kids ages 6 and up decorate 3D-printed gingerbread houses with 3D pens in the Patricia Schell Memorial Meeting Room at the Williamsburg Library.
- 'Twas the Night Before Christmas at the Stryker Center: The Stryker Center Gallery exhibit comes with a scavenger hunt, drop-in cardmaking and a chance to talk with representatives from William & Mary Libraries.
- Black Friday Kids' Day Out: Catalillies Play Café hosts a drop-off afternoon of play, pizza, crafts and holiday fun while parents do their Black Friday shopping.
A fact for kids
Train tracks once ran right down Duke of Gloucester Street and even straight through the ruins of the old capitol building. They were moved later on.
Questions about Christmas in Williamsburg
When was Williamsburg founded?
English settlers founded Middle Plantation in 1632 as a fortified settlement on high ground between the James and York rivers. The city of Williamsburg was established on that site in 1699, and in 1722 it received a royal charter as a city incorporate.
How did Williamsburg get its name?
When the colonial capital moved permanently to Middle Plantation in 1699, a village was laid out and the settlement was renamed Williamsburg in honor of King William III of England, a name chosen to suit the town's new standing as the capital.
Was Williamsburg the capital of Virginia?
Yes. Williamsburg was the capital of the Colony and then the Commonwealth of Virginia from 1699 to 1780. The capital moved to Richmond in 1780 at the urging of Governor Thomas Jefferson, who feared Williamsburg's location left it open to a British attack.
How old is the College of William & Mary?
The college was founded at Middle Plantation in 1693 under a royal charter obtained by Reverend James Blair and was named for the monarchs of the time. It is the second-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, and classes began in temporary quarters in 1694.
Did a railroad run through Williamsburg?
Yes. In 1881 the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway built its Peninsula Extension through the area, mainly to carry West Virginia coal to Newport News. Williamsburg allowed tracks down Duke of Gloucester Street and through the ruins of the capitol building, and they were later relocated.
How many people live in Williamsburg?
Williamsburg had a population of 15,425 at the 2020 census. It is an independent city on the Virginia Peninsula, bordered by James City County on the west and south and York County on the east, and it is also a college town for William & Mary.
What happens at Christmas for kids in Williamsburg?
This season's confirmed events include a free Nutcracker Suite on November 21, a Black Friday Kids' Day Out on November 27, 3D Pen Gingerbread Houses on December 11, and an exhibit and craft morning themed on 'Twas the Night Before Christmas on December 12.
Where do the Christmas events for kids take place?
Two are at the Williamsburg Library at 515 Scotland Street, in its theatre and the Patricia Schell Memorial Meeting Room. The exhibit and craft morning is in Room 113 of the Stryker Center at 412 North Boundary Street. The Black Friday Kids' Day Out is at Catalillies Play Café.
Who organizes these Christmas events?
The Williamsburg Regional Library hosts three of the four. The Concert Ballet of Virginia performs the Nutcracker Suite, and representatives from William & Mary Libraries take part in the exhibit morning at the Stryker Center. Catalillies Play Café runs its own Black Friday Kids' Day Out.
Which Christmas events in Williamsburg are free?
The Nutcracker Suite on November 21 has free admission, first come, first served. 3D Pen Gingerbread Houses on December 11 is free with a ticket picked up at the children's desk 30 minutes beforehand. The Kids' Day Out at Catalillies costs $25 for the first child.
Sources
- Williamsburg, Virginia, Wikipedia
- The Nutcracker Suite, Williamsburg Regional Library
- 3D Pen Gingerbread Houses, Williamsburg Regional Library
- 'Twas the Night Before Christmas Exhibit & Craft, Williamsburg Regional Library
- Kids Day Out, Catalillies Play Café
Keep the Christmas magic going: track Rally the corgi on Christmas Eve, print free Christmas coloring pages, learn how to say Merry Christmas in 100+ languages, find train museums to visit with kids, or browse Christmas events in every Virginia city.
Williamsburg Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What are the best Christmas events for kids in Williamsburg, Virginia to start with?
The Nutcracker Suite at the Williamsburg Library Theatre on Saturday, November 21, is an easy first pick, with free performances at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. After that, try 3D Pen Gingerbread Houses on December 11 and the 'Twas the Night Before Christmas Exhibit & Craft at the Stryker Center on December 12.
Are there free Christmas events for kids in Williamsburg?
Yes. The Nutcracker Suite on November 21 has free admission on a first come, first served basis. 3D Pen Gingerbread Houses on December 11 uses free tickets handed out at the children's desk 30 minutes before the program. The exhibit and craft morning on December 12 lists no price on its page.
Where can kids meet Santa in Williamsburg?
None of the events confirmed on this page is a Santa visit. The nearest thing is the 'Twas the Night Before Christmas Exhibit & Craft at the Stryker Center on Saturday, December 12, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, where kids explore an exhibit about the famous poem and make cards.
Are there holiday shows for kids in Williamsburg?
Yes. The Concert Ballet of Virginia performs The Nutcracker Suite at the Williamsburg Library Theatre, 515 Scotland Street, on Saturday, November 21, at 11:00 am and again at 1:00 pm. The library describes colorful costumes and dancers from throughout Virginia, and says the show is meant to delight children of all ages.
Which Williamsburg Christmas events need tickets or sign-up?
The Black Friday Kids' Day Out at Catalillies Play Café on November 27 must be booked online and costs $25 for the first child and $10 for each additional child. 3D Pen Gingerbread Houses on December 11 needs a free ticket from the children's desk. The Nutcracker Suite and the Stryker Center craft morning need neither.
Is there somewhere to drop off kids while holiday shopping in Williamsburg?
Catalillies Play Café runs a Black Friday Kids' Day Out on Friday, November 27, from 12:00 to 3:00 pm. Children stay with the café's team for play, pizza, crafts and holiday fun while parents shop. Spaces are limited, and the online booking includes a liability waiver.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids near Williamsburg?
Santa trains and holiday train rides have their own guide: Rally Takes the Train’s Virginia Christmas train rides guide. This Williamsburg guide covers Santa visits, story times, light shows and other events off the rails.
How do you confirm these events?
We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 10, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.