Virginia Beach Brings Is Feeling the Ho Ho Holiday Spirit

This Holiday Season, Parade Down the Resort Beach, Ride Through a Fanta-sea of Lights, Visit Santa Claus, Rock Out with Smash Mouth and much more

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (November 30, 2015) – Happy holidays! There are so many events to look forward to this winter in Virginia Beach. With a “fanta-sea” of lights, a holiday parade, Jingle Bell Jam, visits to Santa’s Village and much more, it’s sure to be a jolly month ahead spent with family and friends.

HAPPY HOLLY-DAYS

The Holiday Parade at the Beach (Dec. 5) is kicking off the holiday season this year at the Resort Beach. Featuring giant balloons, student marching bands, flashy floats, equestrian units, fire trucks, dancers and more, it’s sure to be a dazzling and entertaining night of fun for everyone! Best of all, Santa Claus will make his debut appearance and greet all the boys and girls as the parade makes its way down Atlantic Avenue. Catch the parade traveling from 15th Street to 25th Street.

Santa Claus is coming to town and he’s stopping by to be a part of the Virginia Symphony Orchestra’s ever-popular Jingle Bell Jam (Dec. 13)! Celebrate the magic of the season with an afternoon that showcases the music of the holidays performed by the best talent in Hampton Roads at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts. In fact, the Virginia Beach Town Center, Sandler Center for the Performing Arts and Pembroke Mall have lined up an array of wonderful holiday events all month long! Visitors should check out each of their calendar of events to make sure they don’t miss out on any of these family favorites.

Dash through the lights with beautiful surroundings in sight! Race under the holiday lights along the beautiful boardwalk during the Surf-n-Santa 5 Miler (Dec. 19). Participants are encouraged to have fun, be creative and dress up for the holiday season! A costume contest awards great prizes for the best naughty or nice holiday costume. All racers will receive a unique medal, long sleeve t-shirt, a finisher’s item and access into the Rockin’ post-race party at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, featuring live music from Audio Sauce, Samuel Adams beverages and warm chicken corn chowder in a bread boule.

A new holiday tradition is coming to Virginia Beach this winter! Santa's Seaside Village is making its debut at the Resort Beach (Nov. 27 - Dec. 27), adding a beachy twist to the holiday season. The village is ready to delight the young and young-at-heart with carnival rides, animated displays of Santa's busy elves, building and shipping toys and live entertainment from carolers and storytellers. Shop for quaint holiday presents and visit the jolly old man who makes holiday wishes come true.

One of Virginia Beach’s most popular annual holiday festivities is also back! McDonald’s Holiday Lights at the Beach (Nov. 20 - Jan. 2) is a winter staple at the Resort Beach, welcoming thousands of families each year. Children of all ages can take in the three-mile spectacle of nautically-themed holiday lights with the accompaniment of a selection of holiday music narrating the light show of festive fish, frolicking dolphins, surfing Santa and more. The “fanta-sea” of lights is sure to dazzle and amaze travelers.

Wonderful Winter Wanders

It’s time to get wild! Join us for an unforgettable experience with a chance to view the world’s largest and most beautiful marine animals on the Winter Wildlife Boat Tour aboard the Rudee Flipper (Dec. 26 - Mar. 15). Discover Humpback and Fin Whales as they move in a seasonal migration along the Atlantic. Marine life sightings are incredible, and whale sightings are the number one goal; however they’re not guaranteed. You may also see brown pelicans, northern gannets and other sea birds, all of which make a dramatic show while feeding on schools of fish.

Explore the emerging ViBe Creative District during First Friday ViBe (Dec. 4), when local artisans and shops extend their hours to feature special events, music, food and other entertainment throughout the neighborhood’s galleries and stores, located just blocks away from the oceanfront boardwalk at the Resort Beach.

Celebrate the “Last Night on the Town” at the premier New Year’s Eve event (Dec. 31) at the Virginia Beach Town Center. Festivities begin in the afternoon at Pembroke Mall with entertainment for the whole family performed by Magical Solutions, including a children’s countdown and balloon drop. The fun continues throughout the night at Town Center with live music by headline band Smash Mouth! A midnight countdown and a spectacular laser light show, fireworks and Virginia Beach ball drop will help ring in 2016. All activities and entertainment are free and open to the public, with food and adult beverages available for purchase. WVEC-TV and BOB FM will broadcast live from the event.

‘Tis the season of giving, joy and laughter in Virginia Beach. Begin planning your stay with us this holiday or for later in the year. Maybe a vacation to Virginia Beach is just the perfect gift for someone special this holiday? To learn more about Virginia Beach, plan a stay or request a complimentary vacation guide, contact the Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau by calling 1-800-VA-BEACH or going to www.VisitVirginiaBeach.com.