Tag: special_event

Coleman Collection Nativity Scene

Winter Wonderland: The Coleman Collection is a popular holiday tradition in Portsmouth. However, a centerpiece of the collection resides just around the corner at Monumental Methodist Church.
The Nativity Scene, because of it’s religious significance, was best housed outside a public building and separate from the rest of the collection. However, it remains a very important part of Winter Wonderland and visitors enjoy viewing it year after year.
Come visit Monumental United Methodist Church and witness this amazing Nativity Scene for yourself!
The Nativity Scene is free to view and will be open on Saturdays from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; and on Sundays from 12:30 – 5 p.m. until December 18th.

Olde Towne Holiday Music Festival

The Olde Towne Holiday Music Festival began in 1998 and has become the signature holiday event for the City of Portsmouth. This special day of music and friendship takes place on Saturday December 14th, from 11 AM until 3 PM. You’ll find even more music in restaurants, bars, and churches after the festival officially ends. See the Sponsored music listing below.  So, spend the day and enjoy the sounds of the holiday season and support the local shops and restaurants.

Schedule:

Portsmouth Public Schools • 11:00am – 3:00pm
Location – Middle Street Mall Area and Visitor Center (Outside)

Michael Clark Band • 11:00am – 12:00pm
Tidewater Concert Band • 12:00pm – 12:30pm
BrassWind • 12:30pm – 1:30pm
Tidewater Concert Band • 1:30pm – 2:00pm
Champagne Band • 2:00pm – 3:00pm
Location – Showmobile on High and Court Streets

Roving Costumed Characters • Noon – 2:00pm
The Grinch, Christmas Puppy, Christmas Polar Bear, and a Gingerbread Man
Location – High Street

Strolling Carolers • 11:00am – 3:00pm
The Doorway Singers
Location – High Street

Children’s Activities • 11:00am – 3:00pm
Bounce Houses, Crafts, and Games
Location – Middle Street Area (Beside Visitor Center)

Fire Marshmallow Roasting Stations • 11:00am – 3:00pm
Locations – Areas along High Street

Southside Community Concert Band Christmas Concert
1 PM – 2 PM at Monumental United Methodist Church

Tidewater Winds Brass Quintet Christmas Concert
4PM – 5 PM Monumental United Methodist Church

* Visit the Winter Wonderland: Coleman Collection at the Portsmouth Art and Culture Center.  Admission: $3 per person / all ages

ALSO HAPPENING AT THE FESTIVAL (see separate event listings)

Children’s Christmas Shoppe at Trinity Chuch – 9AM-4PM

Olde Towne Holiday Homes Tour 12 PM – 5 PM.  $15 per person.

Brunch With Santa at Cure Coffeehouse 10 AM – 2 PM.

Portsmouth Olde Towne Farmer’s Market – Corner of Court and High – 10AM-2PM

The Coleman Collection’s Nativity Scene – Monumental United Methodist Church – 11AM-5PM

Winter Wonderland: The Coleman Collection at the Portsmouth Arts & Cultural Center – 12PM-8PM

Snow Wonders on the Middle Street Mall and the Children’s Museum of Virginia – 6PM-6:30PM

Olde Towne Antique & Flea Market

Visit the Olde Towne Antique & Flea Market on the first Saturday of each month, rain or shine, and enjoy the eclectic collection of unique and antique wares. With more than 70 vendors, you will discover a great selection of antique and flea market items of all types – priced to sell! Shop for estate furniture, architectural salvage, china, silverware, art, sports gear, musical instruments, books and ephemera, hand-made crafts and toys, as well as decorative accessories and one-of-a-kind items. A favorite of locals and visitors alike, it is a treasure hunter’s dream come true!
Always Free Admission & Free Parking!
Located inside of 441 Middle St Parking Garage.

Olde Towne Holiday Market & Tree Lighting

Enjoy a hometown holiday tree lighting complete with decorations, music, the Snow
Queen, Sugar Plum Fairy, Cindy Loo Hoo, the Grinch, Father Christmas, and even a
little snow! Additionally, the Olde Towne shops will be open late and 15 crafters will be
selling their wares. There will also be a free Tidewater Winds Quintet concert, strolling
History Alive carolers, hot cider, prize drawings, and shuttle rides. You can be sure to
get in the holiday spirit right here in Olde Towne!

Schedule:

High Street Corridor 4 – 8 pm
Olde Towne Merchants’ Holiday Open House

Monumental United Methodist Church
Coleman Collection Nativity Scene and hot apple cider 5 – 7 pm

Anderson-Wright Rooms & Gardens
Hot Apple Cider and Ginger Snaps from 5 – 8 pm

Trinity Episcopal Church
Tidewater Winds Woodwind Quintet Free Concert 7:30 pm

Middle Street Mall 4 – 7 pm
Crafters Market with 15 crafters

Children’s Museum Holiday Member Night 5 – 7 pm
Museum Exhibits available. Enjoy a special holiday-themed Make It, Take It art
activity, and a showing of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Reserve your tickets!
Members should reserve tickets under Portsmouth Museum Member. You can reserve
up to the maximum tickets allowed for your membership level

Southside Community Band 5 – 5:45 pm

Holiday Tree Lighting Program 6 – 6:30 pm
The Snow Queen, Sugar Plum Fairy, Father Christmas, the Grinch, Cindy Loo Hoo, the
Olde Towne Arts & Music Children’s Chorus, and even a little snow!
Please bring a new unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots. Located at the corner of 221 High St & Middle St.

Strolling Entertainment 4 – 8 pm
Father Christmas, Rabbi Atschul, and Babu will be sharing songs and stories of
Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. The Snow Queen and Snow Sprite will delight
children with tales of the South Pole and their encounter with the Sugar Plum Fairy. The
History Alive Carolers will fill the business district with songs of the season and holiday
cheer! A strolling violin player will share holiday favorites.
Free rides on the Olde Towne Shuttle so you don’t miss any of the fun!

These Olde Towne shops are open late and decked out for the holidays:

Olde Towne Arts & Music
That Art Store
Children’s Museum Gift Shop
Portsmouth Welcome Center
The Coffee Shoppe
Little Shoppes on High
Market Street & General Store
Sole Right Men’s Fine Footwear
Village Thrift
Made Boutique Portsmouth
Hard Times Skate Shop
Bier Garden Gift Shop
Way Back Yonder Antiques
The Book Club
Anderson-Wright Rooms & Gardens
Love More
Kitchen Koop
Make sure to get a free raffle ticket from each location to be entered in a drawing for one
of our great prizes!

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

A Post Such As Portsmouth – Portsmouth 1781

A Post Such As Portsmouth is a 2-day re-enactment designed to entertain and educate the public of the occupation of Portsmouth by the British forces in 1781. It is open and free to everyone; and it features a variety of civilian and military impressions, as well as members of the Royal Navy. The event takes place March 26-27, 2022 at the corner of High and Court Streets (the old courthouse) in Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia.  The event is 9-4 on Saturday and 10:30 – 3 on Sunday.

Click the link and read all about it in the article entited A Post Such As Portsmouth.