5 Things for Families

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving! It’s practically here!

November 26, 2014; 7:23 AM • by Valerie Catrow

1. Legendary Santa

One of my favorite things about Richmonders is how we’ve just smash those two words together (it usually comes out as “LegendurrySanna”) so all will know that our kids saw The Real One. Visits with The Big Guy are free to the public, so be prepared to wait–or you could always go for a ticket program like Sunrise or Sunset with Santa instead.

• Friday, November 28th through Wednesday, December 24th • times vary, so check the website for details
• Children’s Museum of Richmond — Central, 2626 W. Broad Street
• Free!

2. 37th Annual Model Railroad Show

I’m not sure why model trains and the holidays go together, but someone somewhere along the line decided they do, and I’m just gonna go with it. Check out train displays from across the state, take a train ride (I’m assuming on a regular-sized train), visit with some Clydesdales, and more!

• Friday, November 28th through Sunday, November 30th • 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM on Friday and Saturday; 11:30 AM – 5:00 PM on Sunday
• Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 W. Broad Street
• See website for pricing options

3. Dominion GardenFest of Lights

What better way to walk off that turkey than a stroll around Lewis Ginter to check out this year’s GardenFest of Lights? The theme for 2014 is “A Legacy in Lights: 120 Years from Bicycle Club to Botanical Garden,” so expect all kinds of tributes to Richmond’s favorite mode of transportation. I got a nice little peek at GardenFest earlier this week and will share all the deets in a couple of days; keep an eye out.

• Friday, November 28th through Monday, January 12th (closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) • 5:00 — 10:00 PM
• Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Avenue
• $12 for adults; $11 for seniors; $8 for kids 3-12; $7 for members; $5 for member children (see website for dates when members get free admission)

4. Movies and Mimosas: The Wizard of Oz

Because why the hell wouldn’t you?

• Saturday, November 29th and Sunday, November 30th • 11:00 AM (doors open at 10:30 AM)
• Movieland, 1301 N. Boulevard
• $5.50

5. Forbidden City: Imperial Treasures from the Palace Museum, Beijing

Did you know the VMFA is open 365 days a year? Sounds like a lovely (and quiet) post-Thanksgiving activity for you and the family once you run out of things to say to each other. Plus, Forbidden City is only here until January 11th; all the hubbub of the holidays will probably make it tricky to get over there, so better see it while you can.

• Runs through January 11th • see website for exhibit times
• Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 200 N. Boulevard
• $20 for adults; $16 for students; $10 for students and kids ages 7-17; free for members and children under 6

Photo by: oatsy40

November 26, 2014 7:23 AM 0