Mrning concerts in the Courtyard presents Standard TIme Jazz Quartet performing a variety of jazz standards.
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Portsmouth Master Gardener’s Fall Festival and Yard Sale
Join the Master Gardners and the Virginia Cooperative Extension here in Portsmouth for the annual fall fesitval and yard sale. Pansies and Mums available for purchase. Bring your ailing plants for a diagnosis from the Plant Doctor. Trouble with your soil, learn how to test it. You can also receive info about how to become a Master Gardener in 2025. Be sure to view the diplay gardens too.
Museum Store Sunday
Museum Shops & the Portsmouth Welcome Center
Special discounts on one-of-a-kind items found at any of the Museum Shops and the Portsmouth Welcome Center. Get ahead on holiday shopping while supporting your local museums!
Museum Shops include The Children’s Museum of Virginia and The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum. The Portsmouth Welcome Center is also participating.
Pancakes with Father Christmas and the Snow Queen
Join Father Christmas, the Snow Queen and Mary Veale for songs, stories, a make & take craft and, of course, festive pancakes! Children’s tickets include all this, with adult tickets granting admission only. Pastries, coffee, and other items will be available for adults to purchase. (10% admission tax added to each ticket.) Call 757-705-8130 for more information.
Shipyard Seasons Greetings
See mid-20th century images of shipyard buildings and facilities decorated for the holidays. Despite being an industrial facility, the shipyard did manage to make merry for the holidays with large outdoor signs, huge, homemade Christmas trees, and unique office decorations—most of which were crafted by the workers themselves.
Candlelight Caroling with Father Christmas and Mary Veale
Join Father Christmas and Mary Veale as they carol, impart a bit of history, and tell stories along a special route through Olde Towne Portsmouth. Caroling begins at the Christmas Tree outside the Children’s Museum in Middle Street Mall and ends with a tour and refreshments at Historic Hill House, after which guests will be escorted back to Middle Street Mall. Olde Towne will be decorated and lit in all its holiday splendor! DON’T MISS IT! Limited tickets are $25 per person.
A Special Day for Special Needs
Join us for a morning of reduced lights, and sounds to help everyone enjoy the museum. Explore local resources while visiting the museum!
The Children’s Museum of Virginia welcomes families with children who have behavioral health and/or developmental challenges.
Visitors can explore the museum, use adaptive materials, relax in a quiet space and enjoy a reduced number of visitors.
Admission is $5 per person and one caregiver is admitted Free. All tickets must be reserved online.
Virginia Handbell Consort Holiday Concert
It’s the 84th Season of the Portsmouth Community Concerts. Tickets are $25 each. Concerts are held inside the beautifully restored auditorium at Churchland High School.
Formed in the fall of 1996, the Virginia Handbell Consort became the first community handbell ensemble in the Hampton Roads area. Their auditioned musicians perform on handbells, hand chimes, and a variety of other percussion instruments. Under the direction of Al Reese, the Virginia Handbell Consort displays a stunning demonstration in the art of English handbell ringing, an art that is beautiful to hear as well as fascinating to watch. Their concert repertoire is a mix of sacred, classic, contemporary, show tunes, and big band swing
designed to showcase their unique instrument. Part of their mission is to demonstrate to audiences that while handbells are a part of the holiday season’s traditions, they are not limited to holiday performances. They are a year-round source of entertainment. Some notable performances include Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, Handbell Musicians of America’s 50th Anniversary Showcase Concert, Ferguson Center’s Home for the Holidays, Fort Monroe Holiday Concert with the U.S. Army TRADOC (Training and Doctrine Command), Williamsburg’s First Night, and with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra
designed to showcase their unique instrument. Part of their mission is to demonstrate to audiences that while handbells are a part of the holiday season’s traditions, they are not limited to holiday performances. They are a year-round source of entertainment. Some notable performances include Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, Handbell Musicians of America’s 50th Anniversary Showcase Concert, Ferguson Center’s Home for the Holidays, Fort Monroe Holiday Concert with the U.S. Army TRADOC (Training and Doctrine Command), Williamsburg’s First Night, and with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra
Breakfast with Santa
Breakfast, gifts and pictures with Santa for hundreds of community kids.
Free, but reservations are encouraged. Visit https://www.monumentalumc.org/ministries
Call 757-397-1297 to reserve.
28th Annual Santa Claus Shuffle 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run
With 27 years under our belt, the Santa Claus Shuffle is a well-planned, fun and festive event for the entire family! Get your December off to a great start by joining the crowds of costumed runners through the beautiful historic streets of Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia and along the scenic seawall. When you’ve finished your run, you’ll enjoy complimentary refreshments of Starbucks coffee, hot apple cider, hot chocolate, doughnuts, and bananas. Running in the Santa Claus Shuffle will boost your holiday spirits – PLUS, you will be helping young people in our community who need a little extra guidance and the help of caring adults.