Short Pump Town Center's Grand Illumination Nov. 13, VMFA's Monet show from Nov. 14, GardenFest from Nov. 23, the turkey trot and Santa visits into December.
Last checked Nov. 10, 2026. Rebuilt at the start of each month and refreshed weekly, covering the next six weeks. Sources: the Henrico County events calendar, the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen, Short Pump Town Center, West Broad Village, Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and each organizer linked below. For this weekend only, see things to do this weekend; for shows and galleries, arts and exhibitions this month.
Updated Nov. 10: Short Pump Town Center set its Grand Illumination for 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13. Santa’s Photo Stop (Dec. 4), Beyond Santa (Dec. 1-2), Winter Wonderlab (Dec. 19) and A KOS Christmas (Dec. 21-22) and Richmond’s Christmas parade (Dec. 5) added; past events dropped.
The holiday season in Short Pump starts this week: Short Pump Town Center lights up with Santa on Friday, VMFA’s Monet show opens Saturday, and GardenFest of Lights follows Nov. 23. Most county events are free; questions go to Henrico Recreation and Parks at 804-501-7275.
Don’t miss
- Friday, Nov. 13: Grand Illumination with Santa, Short Pump Town Center, 6 p.m., free
- Saturday, Nov. 14: The Impressionist Revolution: Monet to Matisse opens at VMFA
- Monday, Nov. 23: GardenFest of Lights opens at Lewis Ginter
- Saturday, Nov. 28: West Broad Village tree lighting with Santa, 4 to 8 p.m.
This week: Nov. 10 to Nov. 15
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, Nov. 10, 7 p.m. | Desirée Roots: Timeless Ella, $25 | Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen |
| Wednesday, Nov. 11 | Veterans Day: Henrico County offices are closed, and trash pickup runs one day late for the rest of the week, the county says. See trash and recycling | |
| Nov. 12-22 | The Cricket on the Hearth, Henrico Theatre Company: 7 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays; $12, $10 seniors and students | Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen |
| Friday, Nov. 13, 6 p.m. | 12th annual Grand Illumination: live music, a ballet act, Santa and a holiday light show, free. See Christmas parade and tree lighting | Short Pump Town Center, Main Plaza |
| From Saturday, Nov. 14 | The Impressionist Revolution: Monet to Matisse, $20 adults, through April 4 | Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond |
| Sunday, Nov. 15, 1 to 3 p.m. | Connections in Color grand opening, free | Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen |
Rest of November
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| From Monday, Nov. 23 | Dominion Energy GardenFest of Lights, through Jan. 3; timed tickets online. See GardenFest of Lights | Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden |
| Monday, Nov. 23, and Tuesday, Nov. 24, 7 p.m. | 3 Redneck Tenors, $45 | Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen |
| Thursday, Nov. 26 | Thanksgiving: the RRRC Turkey Trot kids run is at 8:30 a.m., the 10K at 9 a.m. and the 5K at 9:15 a.m.; Short Pump Town Center is closed. See Thanksgiving | Bryan Park, Richmond |
| Friday, Nov. 27 | Black Friday: Short Pump Town Center open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. See Black Friday and holiday shopping | 11800 W. Broad St. |
| Saturday, Nov. 28, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Collective: A Creative Market, local artists and makers | Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen |
| Saturday, Nov. 28, 4 to 8 p.m. | West Broad Village Holiday Tree Lighting with Santa, hot chocolate and live music, free | West Broad Village, 2250 Old Brick Road |
December
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, Dec. 1, and Wednesday, Dec. 2, 7 p.m. | Beyond Santa, an hourlong old-time radio show taping by the On the Air Radio Players, with live music and sound effects | Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen |
| Friday, Dec. 4, 10 a.m. to noon and 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. | Santa’s Photo Stop: visit Santa and take photos on your own camera | Deep Run Recreation Center, 9910 Ridgefield Parkway |
| Saturday, Dec. 5, 10:15 a.m. | Dominion Energy Christmas Parade, the 43rd annual, rain or shine; live on WTVR CBS 6. See Christmas parade and tree lighting | Broad Street, downtown Richmond |
| Saturday, Dec. 5, 4:30 to 7 p.m. | Illumination, the center’s free tree lighting with Santa; Festival of Trees opens 5 to 7 p.m. See Glen Allen tree lighting | Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen |
| Dec. 5-23 | Richmond Ballet’s The Nutcracker with the Richmond Symphony, from $33.60 | Carpenter Theatre, Richmond |
| Monday, Dec. 7 | Real estate and personal property taxes due; see property taxes | |
| Tuesday, Dec. 8, 5 to 8 p.m. | Henrico Holiday Express, Santa’s parade of lit county vehicles through Three Chopt and Tuckahoe | Ends at Deep Run Recreation Center |
| Tuesday, Dec. 8, 7 p.m. | Bobby BlackHat Band, blues, $25 | Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen |
| Saturday, Dec. 12, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Santa Paws: free photos of your dog with Santa | Short Pump Park, 3329 Pump Road |
| Saturday, Dec. 19, 10 to 11 a.m. | Winter Wonderlab, a Mad Science holiday show for children with Nutzy, the Flying Squirrels mascot | Deep Run Recreation Center |
| Monday, Dec. 21, and Tuesday, Dec. 22, 7 p.m. | A KOS Christmas, the 11-piece KOS Band’s holiday show, $25 | Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen |
Regular events
- Holiday shopping: Short Pump Town Center’s holiday hours are on our Black Friday and holiday shopping page.
- Farmers market: Lakeside Farmers’ Market, 6110 Lakeside Ave., is open year-round on Saturday mornings and Wednesdays. See farmers markets.
- Library story times: Twin Hickory Area Library holds Baby Songs and Stories and Family Fun on Saturday mornings; see the library calendar.
- Pickleball at Pouncey Tract Park’s 24 courts runs until midnight; see parks and trails.
Send us your event
Holding something in or near Short Pump? Send the date, time, place, price and a photo through our contact page. Listings are free, and they go on this page and in our diary.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Short Pump this weekend?
Short Pump Town Center’s free Grand Illumination, with Santa and a holiday light show, is at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13. VMFA’s Impressionist Revolution: Monet to Matisse opens Saturday, Nov. 14, and Henrico Theatre Company’s Cricket on the Hearth plays Nov. 12-15 in Glen Allen.
Are there free events near Short Pump in November?
Yes. The Grand Illumination on Nov. 13, the Connections in Color opening in Glen Allen on Nov. 15 and West Broad Village’s tree lighting with Santa on Nov. 28 are all free.
When does Santa come to Short Pump?
Santa arrives at Short Pump Town Center’s Grand Illumination at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, visits West Broad Village’s tree lighting on Saturday, Nov. 28, poses for photos at Deep Run Recreation Center on Friday, Dec. 4, and rides Henrico’s Holiday Express through Three Chopt and Tuckahoe from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8.
When does GardenFest of Lights open?
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden’s GardenFest of Lights opens to the public Monday, Nov. 23, after a members’ preview Nov. 20-22, and runs through Jan. 3. Tickets are timed and sold online.
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