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Throughout this month, there are festivals, a Christmas parade or two, tree lighting events and other activities going on. And at a lot of the other events coming up, there are plenty of opportunities to find something for a person on your Christmas list. Here’s a look at the celebrations and other events happening throughout the region.

NOVEMBER 30 

MISTLETOE MARKET – The Town of Dillwyn will host its first Mistletoe Market on Saturday, Nov. 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. That’ll be held at 17081 Oak Street in Dillwyn, with free admission and free parking. There will be food trucks on hand, plus local crafters and artisans displaying their items. 

DILLWYN PARADE – The annual Dillwyn Christmas Parade will take place on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 4:30 p.m., following the Mistletoe Market. The parade will travel down Route 15, starting at the Dollar General in town.

DECEMBER 1

ADVENT SERVICE – Johns Memorial Episcopal Church, located at 400 High Street in Farmville, will start the Advent season with the First Sunday in Advent services on Sunday, Dec. 1. That’ll take place at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The 10:30 a.m. service features both the choir and organ accompaniment. 

CCLA MEETING – The Cumberland County Landfill Alert (CCLA) will hold a community townhall meeting on Sunday, Dec. 1. That’ll take place at 3 p.m. at the Cumberland County Community Center, formerly known as Luther P. Jackson School. There will be a short meeting followed by refreshments and a chance to celebrate the holiday. For more information, call 804-308-5748 or visit cclava.com.

HOLIDAY TRAIN DISPLAY – Jim and Susan Kimbrough will open the doors of their home on Sunday, Dec. 1, inviting the community to come see Jim’s holiday train world he has set up. The train world, which takes up a room in their home, located at 900 Fourth Avenue in Farmville, includes a town with buildings and residents handcrafted by Jim. In addition to the 900 square foot layout, Santa Claus will be on hand, along with Mickey Mouse and some Disney princesses. This event is free and runs from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.  

FARMVILLE CHRISTMAS PARADE — The annual Farmville Christmas parade will be held on Sunday, Dec. 1, starting at 5:30 p.m. with a theme of “A Country Christmas”. The Christmas parade will start near the Department of Motor Vehicles on North Virginia Street and 2nd Street and make its way west on 2nd Street to the North Main Street intersection and turn left onto South Main Street before ending near the McDonalds on Putney Street.

DECEMBER 2

CURDSVILLE POTLUCK – The Curdsville Community Center will hold a potluck Christmas dinner and cookie exchange on Monday, Dec. 2. The community is invited to bring a dish to share and one or two dozen cookies. They can be homemade or storebought. Santa will provide turkey and dressing. The Center is located at 122 School Road, just off Route 15. 

DECEMBER 3

BEEKEEPERS MEETING – The Heart of Virginia Beekeepers will meet on Tuesday, Dec. 3. That’ll take place at 7 p.m. at the Prince Edward County Extension Office, located at 100 Dominion Drive in Farmville. This month, the group will hold a holiday potluck supper. Also, the group will hold elections and discuss both the bee school and the Jan. 11 conference. Anyone who has bees or is interested in bees is welcome. For more information, you can call Mary Jane Morgan at 434-315-1433 or visit Heart of Virginia Beekeepers on Facebook. 

DECEMBER 5

DEACONS CONFERENCE – The Cumberland Deacons and Trustees Conference will hold its quarterly meeting on Thursday, Dec. 5. That’ll start at 7 p.m. at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. Deacons and trustees of member churches are encouraged to attend. Mt. Calvary is located at 1193 Cartersville Road in Cartersville. 

DECEMBER 6-8

LIGHTS AT THE LAKE — The annual Bear Creek ‘Light at the Lake’ will happen Friday, Dec. 6 through Sunday, Dec. 8 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Residents can drive through the holiday lights, with the donation of a new unwrapped toy or a financial gift to Cumberland Christmas Mother. There will also be craft making activities going on and the Lakeside Snack Bar will be open to sell holiday-themed ornaments, light refreshments and some other gifts.

DECEMBER 6

CUMBERLAND TREE LIGHTING – Cumberland County will hold its annual tree lighting ceremony on Friday, Dec. 6, starting at 6 p.m. That’ll take place at 1 Courthouse Circle, at the Cumberland Administration Building. The actual tree lighting will take place at 6:30 p.m. There will be s’mores, hot chocolate and plenty of activities. 

DECEMBER 7

ROTARY BRUNCH WITH SANTA – The Rotary Club of Farmville and The Woodland will host a Santa Pancake Brunch on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. That will be held at the Woodland Community Center, located at 103 Varner Drive in Farmville. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 5 to 10. Those under 5 eat free. 

PRAYER BREAKFAST – Jericho Baptist Church, located at 615 Franklin Street in Farmville, will hold a community prayer breakfast on Dec. 7 at 9 a.m. The guest speaker will be Dr. Amy Tillerson-Brown, Professor of History and the History Dept. chair at Mary Baldwin University. A freewill offering will be collected. 

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA – Santa Claus will be at Heritage Hall on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., ready to hear last minute wish lists from kids. A breakfast will be available at $10 for adults and $5 for kids. Children can write out their wish list and give it to Santa and the Grinch. Heritage Hall is located at 119 Brickyard Drive in Dillwyn. 

SENSORY FRIENDLY PICTURES WITH SANTA – The Buckingham County Library, located at 1140 Main Street in Dillwyn, will hold a photo opportunity with Santa for children with sensory needs. No big crowds, no long lines, no loud music. Children can sit on Santa’s lap or near him. The event runs on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to noon. 

HOLIDAY MARKET — The Farmville Downtown Partnership will hold a series of Christmas events on Saturday, Dec. 7, beginning at 11 a.m. Festive booths will line Mill Street and once you’re done with the Christmas Market there, you can explore the Farmville Holiday Bazaar at the Community Market Place, stop by the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts, where there will be a Winter Wonderland arts and crafts workshop or drop in at a number of different stores in downtown that will be holding different events.

WINTER WORKSHOP — The Longwood Center for the Visual Arts, located at 119 W. Third Street in Farmville, will hold a free arts and crafts family workshop on Saturday, Dec. 7. Running from 10 a.m. to noon, the workshop contains a variety of arts and crafts, as well as light refreshments. Glitter, glue, and plenty of volunteers will be on hand.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPE – Payne Memorial Church will hold its annual Christmas Shoppe from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7. Everything will be a quarter, with free gift wrapping. Everyone receives a free raffle ticket at the door for some big prizes drawn throughout the day. There will be free food and drinks available, along with crafts and games. The church is located at 1 Stoney Point Road in Cumberland. 

CHRISTMAS MARKET – Historic Buckingham will hold its annual Christmas Market on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Historic Village. That’s located at 84 Lee Wayside Road, just two miles west of Sprouses Corner off of Route 60. There will be buggy rides and vendors with arts and crafts, homemade goodies and treats, Christmas swags and decorations, ornaments, homemade sorghum, Amish baked goods and Foxfire Farm Christmas wreaths for sale. 

CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE – The first day of Historic Buckingham’s Christmas Open House will be on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Both the Housewright House Museum and the Adams Museum will be open and decorated for Christmas. They will feature a special display of more than 30 “First Ladies of the United States” dolls, a collection made by the Madame Alexander Doll Company. The museums are located at 13012 W. James Anderson Highway in Buckingham. 

DECEMBER 8 

ADVENT SERVICE – Johns Memorial Episcopal Church, located at 400 High Street in Farmville, will continue Advent services on Sunday, Dec. 8, at both the 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services. 

CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE – The second day of Historic Buckingham’s Christmas Open House will be on Sunday, Dec. 8 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Both the Housewright House Museum and the Adams Museum will be open and decorated for Christmas. They will feature a special display of more than 30 “First Ladies of the United States” dolls, a collection made by the Madame Alexander Doll Company. The museums are located at 13012 W. James Anderson Highway in Buckingham. 

VETERANS TRIBUTE – The Balm of Gilead and the Prince Edward Branch of the NAACP will honor veterans on Sunday, Dec. 8 during a 2 p.m. service at the Bluestone Harmony Center. That’s located at 635 Bluestone Road in Keysville. There will be gospel singing, food and fellowship. All veterans and their families are invited. 

PASTORAL ANNIVERSARY – Peaks Baptist Church, located at 1948 Peaks Road in Pamplin, will celebrate Rev. Stanley Wesley’s first pastoral anniversary on Sunday, Dec. 8, during the 3 p.m. service. The guest will be Rev. Charles Woolfolk, and his Mass Choir from White Oak Grove Baptist Church in Phenix. 

CUMBERLAND CHRISTMAS PARADE – The Cumberland County Christmas Parade will be held on Sunday, Dec. 8, beginning at 2 p.m. The Christmas parade starts at NAPA at 1587 Anderson Highway and runs down U.S. 60 towards C & F Bank. There will be floats, plenty of music from the Cumberland High Marching Band and kids can catch a glimpse of Santa at the end.

COMMONWEALTH CHORALE — The Commonwealth Chorale of Virginia will present “To Hear the Angels Sing,” a collection of Christmas music spanning multiple seasons, on Dec. 8. This performance will be at the Farmville United Methodist Church, located at 212 High Street, starting at 4 p.m.

DECEMBER 9 

SENIOR CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON – The annual senior Christmas luncheon will be held on Monday, Dec. 9, with a traditional holiday meal at Payne Memorial Church. That will run from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., with all Cumberland County senior citizens invited to attend. 

DECEMBER 13-14

LIGHTS AT THE LAKE — The annual Bear Creek ‘Light at the Lake’ will happen Saturday, Dec. 13 through Sunday, Dec. 14 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Residents can drive through the holiday lights, with the donation of a new unwrapped toy or a financial gift to Cumberland Christmas Mother. There will also be craft making activities going on and the Lakeside Snack Bar will be open to sell holiday-themed ornaments, light refreshments and some other gifts.

DECEMBER 14 

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR – St. John’s Lutheran Church, located at 1301 Milnwood Road in Farmville, will hold a Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, Dec. 14. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., including crafts, baked goods, Christmas items and a Cookie Walk. 

PASTORAL ANNIVERSARY – Mercy Seat Baptist Church will celebrate Rev. Walter M. Fells’ 18th anniversary with the church on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. The guest speaker will be Rev. Marvin Fields of Second Mount Zion Baptist Church in Hanover. The Worship Leader will be Rev. Reggie Dabney of Mount Olive Baptist Church in Amelia.

CHRISTMAS TALENT SHOW – Farmville Seventh Day Adventist Church will host a Christmas Talent Show on Saturday, Dec. 14 from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

JOURNEY THROUGH BETHLEHEM – Hanes Chapel Church, located at 1171 Copper Mine Road in Dillwyn, will host ‘Journey Through Bethlehem’, a walk-through experience with live animals that brings the Nativity story to life. You will see Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus, the innkeeper, shepherds, animals, angels, wisemen and shopkeepers. The tour starts at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14 and lasts 30 minutes, including both standing and walking. 

DECEMBER 23 

DILLWYN CHRISTMAS CAROLS – Dillwyn’s Pocket Park will play host to a night of Christmas carols, cookies and cocoa as we count down to the big day. That’ll be on Monday, Dec. 23 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Pocket Park is on Main Street in Dillwyn, across from the railroad tracks.