Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

No pressure—there are just a baker’s dozen days left until the most-celebrated holiday in the United States. Today, we’re spreading the cheer by highlighting some of the top holiday happenings taking place throughout the commonwealth. I’m so glad you’re here to read all about it.

Soon, Santa Claus will check his list—and check it twice. (Michael SKOPAL/Unsplash)

By Britteny Dee

Here’s what you need to know: There’s still time to enjoy several of Virginia’s top holiday festivities before the year’s end.

Our top picks:

• The culminating event of the 2025 Alexandria Jazz Festival, A Very Merry ALX Jazz Fest, will fill the George Washington Masonic National Memorial with the sounds of jazz on Dec. 12. In addition to the live music, this event will feature art, poetry, visits with Santa Claus, food and drinks from local vendors, and tours of the Masonic Observation Deck.

• Transport yourself to Europe on Dec. 13—no plane ride required. The Herndon WinterMarkt brings the charm of a European Christmas market to Herndon, with plenty of food, drinks, unique gifts, and handcrafted holiday decorations available for purchase.
• If you prefer to admire holiday lights from the comfort of your car rather than on foot, check out Celebration in Lights. This drive-through holiday light show is two miles long and features displays of snowmen, penguins, falling snow, and more created with more than one million lights.

Ready to explore? We’ve got more festive events featured at our link below.

On Monday, we asked what Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s next endeavor should be after leaving office on Jan. 17—and that was officially our second most-answered question ever (first was who you’d sit beside on a six-hour flight to Richmond, if you’re curious).

Out of the dozens of responses, I chose this mix to highlight: Rob M. challenged a charitable giving spree, J. Stacy posed a US Senate run, and P. White made me giggle with the suggestion to “go into seclusion.”

Keep an eye out for Monday’s Question of the Week slot for a similar question about Virginia’s governor-elect. And as always, feel free to join the conversation at amie@couriernewsroom.com.

The most meaningful gifts often cost almost nothing. (Amie Knowles/Dogwood)

By Amie Knowles

We’re officially within days of Christmas—and if you’re anything like me, there are still plenty of gifts left on your shopping list. 

I love Christmas more than any other holiday. From decorating the tree to attending small town gatherings like the Christmas in Historic Chatham lantern lighting, there seems to be a sense of magic around every corner.

But not every aspect is holly jolly—I generally stress about picking out presents hardcore. That’s why this year, I’m doing my best to remember that the true value of the gifts that stay with us—the ones we cherish, display, or keep tucked safely in a drawer—rarely come from the number on the price tag.

Which brings me to the Hot Wheel sitting atop my writing desk…

• Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed paid maternity leave, calling it “bad for business.” Now he’s on his way out, and Democrats are hoping to reintroduce it to Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger. (Watch here)

• Everyone’s talking about data centers in Virginia. US Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Ashburn) says there’s a bigger question: What if the AI bubble bursts? (Watch here)

• Virginia families are stressed by rising energy bills, and national data shows electricity is one of the most painful monthly expenses. Spanberger’s six-point plan taps into the reality of clean energy being local, reliable, and cost-competitive. (Watch here)

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