10 Best Things To Do In Richmond, VA In Winter

10 Best Things To Do In Richmond, VA In Winter

Winter is coming, but if you’re a resident or visitor in Richmond, this doesn’t have to mean staying inside your living room for the next 5 months! The crisp, cold air brings with it a ton of awesome seasonal activities for you and your friends or family. So get busy with our list of the top things to do in Richmond this winter! Looking for events? Check out our Winter events and festivals guide for Richmond.

1. Take A Tacky Lights Tour

Every season has its staple event. Spring has garden parties, summer is all about the water, and fall is synonymous with folk music. But in the winter, we ogle holiday lights! Discover Richmond’s Tacky Light Tours are a great time for everyone. On our climate-controlled, holiday-spirited 14-passenger bus, you’re in for a night of “ooh” and “aah” and “oh geez, that’s tacky!” Available every night in December (except for Christmas Eve, Christmas, and NYE), check out our calendar to book your tour today!

3. Visit Lewis Ginter GardenFest of Lights

Running from Nov. 20, 2023 through Jan. 7, 2024, the Dominion GardenFest of Lights features millions of lights, decorations, model trains, and more! Walk the enchanted grounds of the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens by the light of thousands of twinkling holiday bulbs. Then enjoy s’mores and hot chocolate by the fire pit to warm up. See the schedule and buy tickets on Lewis Ginter’s website.

4. Check Out VMFA Exhibits (Dawoud Bey: Elegy)

If being outdoors isn’t your thing, check out Richmond’s most popular (and mostly free!) museum. The VMFA will blow you away with world-class exhibits; you’ll find more than 33,000 works from just about every major world culture in the permanent collection, along with a handful of rotating collections. And from Nov. 18, 2023 through Feb. 25, 2024, you can take in “42 photographs and two film installations by contemporary American artist Dawoud Bey contemplating the harrowing journeys and human realities of the Virginia slave trail, Louisiana plantations, and Ohio’s Underground Railroad.” When you’re exhausted from viewing all the art, grab a bite at Amuse, VMFA’s upscale restaurant.

5. Visit Edgar Allan Poe’s House

There’s no better way to commemorate the cold weather and dark evenings than with a reading of America’s most famous dark poet. Just blocks from Poe’s first home in Richmond, this museum is dedicated to the writer’s life and work. Inside the Old Stone House, you’ll find a vast collection of Poe’s manuscripts, letters, possessions, and so much more, keeping Poe’s spirit alive in his hometown, today and forevermore (couldn’t resist).

6. Walk The Grounds At Maymont

One of Richmond’s most beautiful parks, Maymont can be enjoyed during all seasons. And that’s a good thing, because at 100 acres, it’ll take more than one visit to see everything. Stroll the hilly grounds, discover the Japanese gardens, tour the mansion, or visit the zoo. And from Oct. 19-Nov. 12, you can check out Garden Glow, a spectacular light-filled journey! Maymont is open from 10am-5pm every day during the winter.

7. Spend Time In Your Favorite Cafe

If you need to escape from the cold and warm up with a coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, Richmond has a bustling hot beverage scene and plenty of cafes for you to choose from. Just to name a few, there’s Lamplighter, with more than 15 years of roasting experience; Blanchard’s, where you’ll find arguably Richmond’s best espresso; Rostov’s Coffee for a wide selection of roasted deliciousness; and Church Hill’s Riverbend Roastery, with a great selection of organic and fair trade roasts and flavored brews.

8. Watch The City Light Up

Mark your calendars for RVA Illuminates the first Friday in December! The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities host the event at Kanawha Plaza (801 E. Canal Street) beginning around 5:45 p.m. The lights create quite a sight from across the river, so be sure to check out the view from Richmond’s south side this year. RVA Illuminates is a free event and makes a great way to kick off a merry holiday season!

9. Go For A Swim

Jumping in an ice cold body of water – on purpose? We’re guessing that some of you reading this think it’s a crazy idea, and some of you think it sounds awesome. If you’re among the latter, know that you’ll have just one chance this winter to take an icy plunge with Shiver in the River, date TBD at the moment!

10. Try One Of Richmond’s Favorite Cocktails

Richmond has a booming craft cocktail scene, and there’s no better time to discover it for yourself than during the coldest season of the year! Head over to Heritage for the Inizio for hints of cinnamon and orange, or to The Roosevelt for a Danville Rattlesnake. But the city’s premier cocktail destination has to be Carytown’s The Jasper (or its new sister bar in Church Hill, The Emerald Lounge), where knowledgeable bartenders are regularly updating their menu. Many of Richmond’s cocktail bars have added to-go menus, so you can even enjoy your fancy drinks at home!

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