From a snowy tree lighting to the arrival of Santa Claus, join us for a progressive lighting of the city.
Festivities begin at 5 PM on the Middle Street Mall (outside the Children’s Museum of Virginia).  Christmas music begins at 5.  There’s face painting for the kids and lots of holiday themed characters walking around to keep you entertained.  That Art Store will have make and take activites for the kids too.  At 5:30, the Children’s Chorus performs a rendition of Light Up Olde Towne.  The official kickoff begins at 6, with a Welcome from the Mayor followed by greetings from Father Christmas and a performance by the Carolers of Christmas Past.  Immediatly following, the snow begins to fall and onto the stage comes the Snow Queen and her Sugar Plum Fairy as they light the city’s Official Holiday Tree.
The Olde Towne Farmers Market and Mobile Photo Lab will sponsor 100 printed family photos (one per family), so you can have your picture made in front of the tree or with a holiday character now or wait for photos with Santa at the final stop of the night.  Sign up with one of our elves and receive a digital copy of your photo too.  By 6:45, you should be ready to follow the bagpipers to the next stop, the Portsmouth Arts & Cultural Center.  Here, you’ll meet the Grinch and Little Cindy Lou Hoo.  The Children’s Chorus performs again and the magical courtyard of the 1846 Courthouse will be lit in holiday glory.
But wait, the show’s not over yet.  Follow the bagpipes up to Green Street where you’ll be treated to a pyrotechnic display and Santa’s arrival on a real Portsmouth Fire Truck, flashing lights, horns, and all!  While you’re here, roast some marshmallows on an open fire, and most importantly, have your picture made with Santa.  Cure Coffeehouse is sponsoring free hot cocoa and hot cider, there’s a food truck at Post Secondary, and Bloom at Night will be welcoming guests too.
Thanks to the Olde Towne Portsmouth Farmer’s Market, the first 100 commemorative photos are free.  Limit one per family.  This includes photos at the tree and with any of our holiday characters. Get your photo ticket from the Christmas elf.
This event is brought to you by the Olde Towne Business Association so many of the shops along the way will be open for you to enjoy.  You may even find music and light refreshments in some of them.
The famous Nativity Scene from the Coleman Collection is free and open from 5 – 7:30 at Monumental Methodist Church on Dinwiddie St. if you’d like to take a look.
Don Comer will be playing Sounds of the Season in the garden house at Anderson Wright Rooms and Gardens, with free cider and cookies from 6:30- 8 PM.
So bring the family and help us Light up Olde Towne!
Sposored by The Olde Towne Business Association, the Portsmouth Olde Towne Farmers Market, Portsmouth Economic Development, and the City of Portsmouth.