Holiday Lights and Fun Along the Beerwerks Trail

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The 2025 holiday season is coming fast, and it’s going to be amazing. Towns and communities along the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail have packed their calendars with upcoming celebrations, and you’re invited! Here’s a roundup of parades and light displays, holiday markets, Christmas concerts, and community festivities to anticipate. And after enjoying the yuletide sights and sounds, continue tapping into the festive spirit with stops at nearby Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail breweries. Craft beers and holiday-themed revelry await!

Zone A 

Zone A is located at the northern end of the Beerwerks Trail and includes the breweries in Harrisonburg, Elkton, and Rockingham County. 

Where to See Lights and Decorations

  • Light Up the Park at Massanutten Resort: Explore the holiday light displays at the Outdoor WaterPark, including a snowflake tunnel, a dancing tree show, and festive crafts for kids at Splash’s Workshop. You’ll also find hot cocoa, an interactive orb field, and snow throne selfie station. (Ongoing).

Seasonal Community Events

  • The Bridgewater College Holiday Extravaganza will feature familiar Christmas carols by the Concert Choir and several other musical groups. Performances are free, and there will be opportunities for the audiences to sing along. December 5 and 6.
  • Dayton Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting: The festive holiday parade will travel through downtown Dayton, ending with a tree-lighting ceremony at Dove Park. Expect Christmas carols, hot chocolate, and a visit from Santa. December 5.
  • The Sage Bird Ciderworks annual Holiday Market gives you a chance to sip hot mulled cider and shop local for stocking stuffers and handmade goods on Small Business Saturday. November 29.
  • Holiday Wreath Workshop at Valley Pike Farm Market: Create your own Williamsburg-inspired holiday wreath! The ticket includes supplies and a glass of wine or beer. December 3.
  • Harrisonburg’s Winter Wonderfest and Holiday Parade: Dreaming of sugar plums? You’ll feel right at home at Harrisonburg’s annual downtown celebration. This year’s theme is “Gingerbread Dreams and Sugar Plum Scenes.” It will feature carriage rides, photos with Santa, holiday shopping, performances, and a parade. December 6.

Levi Cheff

Zone B 

Zone B is located at the center of the Beerwerks Trail and includes the breweries in Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County. 

Where to See Lights and Decorations

  • Christmas Wonderland at Creative Works Farm includes a walk-through light and music show, musical performances, cookie decorating, refreshments, wagon rides, visits with farm animals, and chances to meet Santa in his workshop and have fun with the Grinch. Proceeds benefit Camp LIGHT. Select dates between November 28 – December 14.

Seasonal Community Events

  • Waynesboro Winterfest: Head to downtown Waynesboro for Small Business Saturday and a day of holiday festivities including a gourmet cookie trail, a seasonal beverage Wassail trail, pictures with Santa and the Grinch, a chance to meet your favorite winter princess, s’mores around a warm firepit, scavenger hunts, and a free holiday concert. November 29.
  • Support local creatives, artists, and makers at the Winter Market at Queen City Brewing & The Art Hive Collective. November 29.
  • Your kids will never forget riding the Virginia Scenic Railway’s The Santa Express with a very important guest. The 60-minute ride features decorations, crafts, cookies, and chats with Santa. New this year: Riders 21+ can toast the jolly elf on a Holiday Spirits tour. November 29 – December 28.

Visit Staunton

  • Stable Craft Brewing never disappoints during the holidays. Choose from several family-friendly holiday events including Pancakes with Santa, KrampusFest, Santa in the Stables brunch, and live holiday music. 
  • Start the season with the Staunton Holly Jolly Christmas Parade. December 1.
  • A Christmas Carol returns to Staunton’s Blackfriars Playhouse for another year of ghostly Dickens fun, featuring memorable music and a chance to celebrate with Scrooge, Marley, and Tiny Tim. December 4 – 27.
  • Scrooge is coming to Waynesboro, too! Check out the live performance of Scrooge! The Christmas Carol Musical at the Wayne Theater. December 5 – 7 & 12 – 14.
  • The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: It’s Herdmans vs. the town on the Shenanarts stage in this laugh-out-loud musical adaptation of the buoyant holiday classic. December 4 – 7 & 11 – 14.
  • Peek inside beautiful homes at the 50th annual Historic Staunton Foundation’s Holiday House Tour. Learn history, see decorations, and enjoy a Soulful Holiday Soiree in the Blackburn Inn following the tour. December 6.
  • Redbeard Brewing Company’s 2nd annual German Style Holiday Market will have warm beverages, local vendors, and food trucks. After the market, stick around for Redbeard’s Revels, a holiday singalong jam session. Wear your best ugly holiday sweater for warmth and prizes. December 13.
  • Frontier Culture Museum Lantern Tours: This popular walking tour visits several of the museum’s farms, which are illuminated by lanterns and brought to life with historical holiday skits. December 16 – 23.

Zone C 

Zone C is located at the southern end of the Beerwerks Trail and includes the breweries in Lexington, Natural Bridge, and Rockbridge County. 

Where to See Lights and Decorations

  • Festival of Trees at Natural Bridge State Park: Natural Bridge State Park doesn’t boast just one Christmas tree, it lights a forest of them! Local organizations decorate trees, and visitors can vote for their favorites by placing donation items underneath. November 28 – January 1.
  • Glen Maury Park’s Drive-Thru Holiday Light Display is the best way to see Buena Vista lit up for the holidays! December 1 – January 1
  • Holiday decorations and natural beauty come together at Natural Bridge State Park’s Luminary Nights. Luminous holiday lights will bathe the bridge in bright colors, while the pavilion’s warm campfires will keep you toasty as you wait to see Santa and Mrs. Claus. Reserve a carriage ride if you’d rather enjoy the sights with a background of jingle bells. December 12 – 14 & 19 – 21, with carriage rides on Sundays.

Kennedy Lafon

Seasonal Community Events

Steve Shires

Steve Shires

  • This year’s Fairfield Christmas Parade, Candy Cane Wonderland, will pull out all the stops with floats, music, marching bands, horses, dancers, and performances. December 6.
  • It’s Christmas, 1859 at Lexington’s Jackson House Museum. Enjoy caroling and interacting with costumed interpreters as they prepare for the holiday. Admission for the event is canned humans and/or pet food to benefit the Rockbridge Area Relief Association Food Pantry. December 12.

Communities along the Beerwerks Trail are gathering to share season’s greeting and holiday cheer. Make sure to pair your experience with a visit to one of our breweries. Many are even hosting their own holiday fun or tapping seasonal brews!