Short Pump Town Center lights up with Santa Nov. 13; GardenFest of Lights runs Nov. 23 to Jan. 3 at Lewis Ginter; Santa rides Henrico's Holiday Express Dec. 8.
Last checked Nov. 10, 2026. This page is updated each year; the same address carries next year’s dates. Sources: Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s GardenFest page and visitor tips, West Broad Village’s events page, the Henrico County calendar and the Henrico County Public Library calendar.
The biggest light display within reach of Short Pump is Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, Nov. 23, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027. Closer to home, West Broad Village lights its tree with Santa on Saturday, Nov. 28. The garden’s number is 804-262-9887; Henrico Recreation and Parks is 804-501-7275.
Updated Nov. 10: Short Pump Town Center’s Grand Illumination is set for 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, and Henrico’s Santa’s Photo Stop for Dec. 4. GardenFest dates are unchanged.
The Henrico Holiday Express, Santa’s ride through Short Pump, and the Short Pump Town Center Grand Illumination have their own page: Christmas parade and tree lighting.
Holiday dates
- Friday, Nov. 13: Short Pump Town Center Grand Illumination with Santa, 6 p.m.
- Nov. 23 to Jan. 3: GardenFest of Lights, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden
- Saturday, Nov. 28: West Broad Village tree lighting with Santa, 4 to 8 p.m.
- Friday, Dec. 4: Santa’s Photo Stop, Deep Run Recreation Center; Hanukkah begins at sundown
- Tuesday, Dec. 8: Henrico Holiday Express, Three Chopt and Tuckahoe, 5 to 8 p.m.
- Saturday, Dec. 12: Santa Paws, Short Pump Park, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, 1800 Lakeside Ave. in Henrico’s Lakeside area, fills its grounds with what it calls millions of lights. The 2026 theme is “Otherworldly,” with displays drawn from legends, stories and imagined futures. The garden says GardenFest extends into its new gardens and expanded Conservatory this year, with a Fairy Village and model trains in the Conservatory Exhibition Hall.
What to know, from the garden’s GardenFest page and visitor tips:
- Timed tickets start at 4 p.m.; arrive within 30 minutes of your ticket time. The garden strongly encourages buying tickets online ahead; walk-up tickets are limited and not guaranteed. Prices vary by date, and tickets are nonrefundable.
- Closed Thanksgiving, Nov. 26, and Dec. 24 and 25. Open 4 to 10 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
- Rain, shine or snow: the event runs in all weather.
- Quieter times: early arrivals at 4 to 5 p.m., arrivals after 7:30 p.m. and weeknights tend to be less busy, the garden says. Crowds grow after schools let out for winter break.
- Parking is limited; the garden suggests carpooling or rideshare.
- Prices, overflow parking and every special night are on our full GardenFest of Lights page.
Special nights:
| Night | Dates |
|---|---|
| Members-only preview | Nov. 20-22 |
| GardenFest for Fidos (leashed dogs welcome) | Nov. 23 and 30; Dec. 7, 14 and 28 |
| Performance nights | Nov. 24; Dec. 1, 8 and 15 |
| GardenFest for Grownups (adults only) | Dec. 2, 3 and 30 |
The garden also sells seated meals: Brunch with Santa on Dec. 5-6, 12-13 and 19-20, and Dinner with Santa on Dec. 20-21.
Santa and tree lightings near Short Pump
- Short Pump Town Center Grand Illumination, Friday, Nov. 13, 6 p.m. The center’s 12th annual lighting in its Main Plaza, with live performances, a visit from Santa and a holiday light show. Free.
- West Broad Village Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration, Saturday, Nov. 28, 4 to 8 p.m. At 2250 Old Brick Road: a visit from Santa, hot chocolate, music, photo spots and the lighting of the holiday tree. Free to attend, the center says.
- Henrico Holiday Express, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 5 to 8 p.m. Santa rides a convoy of lit county vehicles through the Three Chopt and Tuckahoe districts, ending at Deep Run Recreation Center. Details on our Christmas parade page.
- Santa’s Photo Stop, Friday, Dec. 4, 10 a.m. to noon and 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Photos with Santa on your own camera at Deep Run Recreation Center, 9910 Ridgefield Parkway, from Henrico Recreation and Parks.
- Santa Paws, Saturday, Dec. 12, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free photos with Santa for dogs at Short Pump Park, 3329 Pump Road.
The Nutcracker
Richmond Ballet performs The Nutcracker Dec. 5-23 at the Carpenter Theatre in downtown Richmond, with the Richmond Symphony. Tickets start at $33.60, according to Richmond Ballet.
Library holiday programs
Free programs at the county libraries closest to Short Pump, from the library calendar:
- DIY Gingerbread Houses, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 3 to 4 p.m., Tuckahoe Area Library. Families build graham-cracker houses; drop in, materials provided.
- Holiday Card Making, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2 to 4 p.m., Tuckahoe Area Library.
- STEAM: Paper Circuit Holiday Cards, Monday, Dec. 14, 4 to 5 p.m., Twin Hickory Area Library.
- Cozy Snowman Craft and Cocoa for adults, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 6 to 8 p.m., Tuckahoe Area Library.
- Cocoa, Cookies, Cards and Company for tweens and teens, Tuesday, Dec. 22, 3 to 4:30 p.m., Tuckahoe Area Library.
Hanukkah
Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, Dec. 4. We have not found a public menorah lighting in Short Pump announced for 2026 yet; we will add one here when a congregation or center posts it.
Holiday closings
Henrico County offices are closed Dec. 24 and 25, according to the county calendar. There is no county trash pickup on Christmas Day, Friday, Dec. 25, and CVWMA moves Friday recycling to Saturday, Dec. 26. Henrico County Public Schools’ winter break runs Dec. 21 to Jan. 1. More in our trash and recycling guide.
What this means for you
Buy GardenFest tickets early for weekend and late-December nights, and pick a weeknight or an early arrival if you want smaller crowds. For shopping hours see Black Friday and holiday shopping, and for the countdown see New Year’s Eve in Short Pump.
Frequently asked questions
When is GardenFest of Lights 2026?
Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden runs Nov. 23, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027, with timed tickets from 4 p.m. It is closed Thanksgiving, Dec. 24 and Dec. 25.
Can I bring my dog to GardenFest of Lights?
Yes, on GardenFest for Fidos nights: Mondays Nov. 23 and 30 and Dec. 7, 14 and 28, 2026. Dogs must be leashed and well behaved.
Where can kids see Santa in Short Pump?
Santa visits Short Pump Town Center’s Grand Illumination at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, the West Broad Village tree lighting on Saturday, Nov. 28, 4 to 8 p.m., and Deep Run Recreation Center’s Santa’s Photo Stop on Friday, Dec. 4, and rides Henrico’s Holiday Express through Three Chopt and Tuckahoe on Tuesday, Dec. 8, ending at Deep Run Recreation Center.
Are there Christmas light displays in Short Pump?
The nearest large display is GardenFest of Lights at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden in Henrico. We found no public light display in Short Pump itself listed for 2026.
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