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The Herald Christmas events calendar is published each Friday. Items must be submitted by 10 a.m. Monday for that Friday’s calendar. Events should be emailed to CommunityCalendar@FarmvilleHerald.com

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. 

HANGING WITH SANTA – The Moton Museum will hold the fourth annual Hanging With Santa event on Saturday, Dec. 7. Starting at noon, there will be snacks, toy giveaways and a chance for kids to share their wish list with Santa. The museum is located at 900 Griffin Boulevard in Farmville and the event runs until 2:30 p.m. 

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. 

CHRISTMAS LUMINARY – Trinity Memorial Garden will hold its third annual Christmas luminary on Saturday, Dec. 7, beginning at 4 p.m. Trinity is located at 22482 Prince Edward Highway in Rice. 

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 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 10 

WINTER CONCERT – The Prince Edward Band Program will present their winter concert on Tuesday, Dec. 10, starting at 6:30 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. at the Prince Edward High School Auditorium, located at 1482 Zion Hill Road in Farmville. The concert is free and open to the public. 

DECEMBER 11

ADVENT LUNCH – Payne Memorial Church, located at 1 Stoney Point Road in Cumberland, will host an advent lunch on Wednesday, Dec. 11. The meal begins at noon, with Rev. Lewis Brandt as speaker. 

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. 

ANTEBELLUM CHRISTMAS – Sailor’s Creek Battlefield will hold an Antebellum Christmas celebration on Saturday, Dec. 14, running from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. St. Nicholas will be waiting in the Hillsman House to greet children of all ages, ready to listen to their special gift requests. Residents can take a photo or two, and then head to the Visitor Center for crafts, hot chocolate, and to peruse through the “Things from the Past” pop-up shop!

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 15

CHRISTMAS SERVICE – High Bridge Baptist Church will hold its annual Christmas service on Sunday, Dec. 15, beginning at 10 a.m. The youth group will perform “A Costume Christmas”. 

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT – Johns Memorial Episcopal Church will hold their annual Christmas pageant on Sunday, Dec. 15 during the 10:30 a.m. service. The Bell Choir will also perform. The 8 a.m. service will be the Holy Eucharist Rite 1. 

DECEMBER 16

NAACP MEETING – The Prince Edward branch of the NAACP will meet at the Moton Museum in Farmville on Monday, Dec. 16, beginning at 6 p.m. 

DECEMBER 18 

ADVENT LUNCH – Payne Memorial Church, located at 1 Stoney Point Road in Cumberland, will host an advent lunch on Wednesday, Dec. 11. The meal begins at noon, with Rev. Van Petty as speaker. 

DECEMBER 22

CHRISTMAS SERVICE – Johns Memorial Episcopal Church in Farmville will continue their Advent series on Sunday, Dec. 22 during both the 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services. The 10:30 a.m. service will feature both the choir and organ accompaniment. 

CANDLELIGHT SERVICE – Cumberland Presbyterian Church will hold a Christmas Hymn Singing and Candlelight Service on Sunday, Dec. 22, beginning at 6 p.m. The hymn sing will feature Joe McAlister, a Christian country music singer, along with his band Handpicked. Cumberland Presbyterian Church is located at 1835 Cumberland Road (Route 45), three miles north of Farmville. 

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. 

DECEMBER 24 

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE – Johns Memorial Episcopal Church in Farmville will hold a Christmas Eve carol singing at 5 p.m., followed by Holy Eucharist at 5:30 p.m. 

DECEMBER 25

CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE – Johns Memorial Episcopal Church in Farmville will celebrate Holy Eucharist on Wednesday, Dec. 25, beginning at 10:30 a.m. 

DECEMBER 29 

CHRISTMAS CONCERT – St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Dillwyn will hold their annual Christmas concert on Sunday, Dec. 29. That’ll run from 2:30 p.m. until 4 p.m. The third annual event is free and open to the public. Free hot chocolate and home-baked goodies will be available throughout the concert.