5 Things for Families

Isn’t December better than January? Come on, let’s have another big weekend.

December 18, 2013; 6:12 AM • by Kelly Gerow

Listen, I hate events as much as the next person (just kidding, they’re my thing), but something about this season has kept my interest. If you’re the opposite: hang in there. Drink some nog and eat all your meals in ball and dip form and eventually it’ll be January, and all food will be broiled and covered with lemon zest, and there will be storage bin sales! Doesn’t that sound boring? Isn’t December better than January? Come on, let’s have another big weekend.

— ∮∮∮ —

1. Greenberg’s Train and Toy Show

I can stare at model train displays all day. And this weekend I’ll get two days! Greenberg’s Train and Toy Show hits Richmond with big train display tables, workshops for building your own, a riding train for kids and adults, and all the trains and train accessories you could want to buy. The admission price is good for both days.

• Saturday, December 21st and Sunday, December 22nd • 10:00 AM — 4:00 PM
• Richmond Raceway Complex, 600 E. Laburnum Avenue
• $8 (Kids 12 and under are free)

2. A Christmas Carol

Theatre IV on tour presents Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, the classic tale of Scrooge and his time-traveling ghost buddies, for two performances. Also: Would you guys pay to see a play that is actually about time-traveling ghost buddies? What if it were called Christmastime Machine?

• Saturday, December 21st • 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM
• Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center, 2880 Mountain Road
• $12

3. Creative Cooking Class for Children

Get a jump on your New Year’s resolution of having your family eat healthier by having your small child build his or her healthy food skills with lessons and recipes. The class is for kids ages four to nine and is perfect if another of your resolutions is to get your child to cook for you. And they get a chef’s hat! Advanced registration is required.

• Saturday, December 21st • 11:00 AM
• Good Foods Grocery, 1312 Gaskins Road
• $24

4. Pup-Cracker

If you’re like most people, you wish that all beautiful, magical, and graceful experiences could include more puppies. The Richmond SPCA and the Richmond Ballet are partnering for the third “Pup-Cracker,” which incorporates adoptable dogs into the performance. I’m assuming they’re selective about which dogs can be on stage, because my bonkers dog came from the Richmond SPCA, and if she were allowed in the Pup-Cracker, the story would have been about a dog knocking over all the dancers to chase after the Mouse King while everyone else looked for the Nutcracker (spoiler: he’s in the dog’s crate).

• Saturday, December 21st and Monday, December 23rd • 2:00 PM
• Carpenter Theatre at Richmond CenterStage, 600 E. Grace Street
• $20-$125

5. Richmond Nativity Pageant

The Richmond Nativity Pageant has been happening at the Carillon in Byrd Park for more than 80 years and includes about 200 cast and choir members. For those who don’t know, this is the story that the Peanuts gang is trying to put together in A Charlie Brown Christmas. A bell concert starts at 6:30 PM, and the pageant begins at 7:00 PM.

• Monday, December 23rd • 6:30 PM
• Carillon, Byrd Park, 600 S. Boulevard
• Free

(Five things aren’t enough? Check out our holiday event guide for more ideas.)

photo by Marianna

December 18, 2013 6:12 AM 0