5 Festive Holiday Events for your List

Experience Christmas like never before in the mountain towns of Almost Heaven. From decorating and eating your favorite holiday treats to sipping on some hot cocoa, you’ll find a way to get in the Christmas spirit in West Virginia.

Here are some of the many holiday events that you and your loved ones can enjoy throughout December.

The Greenbrier Tree Lightings

Dec. 1-3, 2023

Every Saturday in December until Christmas, the front lawn at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs goes aglow up for annual Tree Lightings. Each tree lighting ceremony includes hot chocolate, cookies and caroling. To top it all off, Santa will arrive to turn on even more Christmas lights scattered throughout this Greenbrier County destination. The event is open to both registered overnight guests and day guests. Get in the Christmas spirit at America’s Resort!

Berkeley Springs – Hometown Holidays Cocoa Crawl

Dec. 1, 2023

Save the date for the 6th annual Hometown Holidays Cocoa Crawl in downtown Berkeley Springs. Follow the Cocoa Crawl map to visit shops around the town – each with a different flavor added to their cocoa. This is a fun, flavorful way to keep warm while you do your Christmas shopping. You can find the Cocoa Crawl map at participating stops and on the event’s Facebook page. Be on the lookout for all the new flavors, which may include salted caramel, red velvet and hazelnut. The event is free of charge and lasts from 5-9 p.m.

WinterFest – Clarksburg

Dec. 1-2, 2023

For a weekend full of Christmas spirit in Almost Heaven, WinterFest in downtown Clarksburg is the next event that should be on your list. There will be food vendors, local school and artist performers, a Winter Market of Artisans and a Christmas parade. Enjoy a weekend full of Mountaineer culture, crafts, community and so much more at WinterFest.

Gingerbread Festival – Fayetteville

Dec. 1-3, 2023

Near the famous New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Fayetteville welcomes gingerbread fanatics and Christmas lovers alike to the Gingerbread Festival. Browse local shops as you take in the town transformed into a real-life candy land with, of course, gingerbread decor galore. Enjoy cookie decorating, crafts, caroling, stories, face painting, hot cocoa, writing letters to Santa and more. People of all ages and skill levels can enter the 3rd annual Gingerbread Decorating Contest. There will also be a Holiday Sampler showcasing the many talented artists from Fayetteville hosted by the Fayetteville Arts Coalition. On Saturday, the day wraps up with a Christmas parade at 5 p.m. Get in the Christmas Spirit in this charming Southern West Virginia town!

Charleston Ballet – The Nutcracker

Dec. 8-9, 2023

Looking for a festive Christmas show? Come to the Clay Center in Charleston and see the Charleston Ballet and West Virginia Symphony Orchestra perform “The Nutcracker.” There will be one show on Friday, Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. and two on Saturday, Dec. 9 (2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.). For reference to visitors who plan to travel by air to Almost Heaven, the Clay Center is just a five-minute drive from West Virginia International Yeager Airport. Tickets sell out fast, so be sure to secure yours while they are available. You won’t want to miss out on this longtime Christmas tradition!

Looking for more getaway ideas during the holiday season? You will love the inspiration from our free West Virginia Vacation Guide!

This post was last updated on November 27, 2023