The Holiday Season is in full swing in the Fredericksburg area. With toy drives, pictures with Santa, a Gingerbread House display and more, there is plenty to get you into the holiday spirit this weekend. Click the links to learn more about each event. 

 Jingle Bell Carriage Rides

• When: Friday, Nov. 30, Saturday, Dec. 1 and Sunday, Dec. 2, 5 p.m.
• Where: Fredericksburg Visitor Center
• Why Go: Experience your own sleigh ride through the streets of downtown, complete with holiday music, cookies and the Christmas sites of Fredericksburg. 
• Price: $100 - $120, tickets required

Friday Night Wine Tasting

• When: Friday, Nov. 30, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.
• Where: The Virginia Wine Experience
• Why Go: New wine is featured each week, with the bottle sold at a discounted price
• Price: FREE

Late Night PJ Party

• When: Friday, Nov. 30, 6:30 - 10 p.m.
• Where: 885 Spotsylvania Mall
• Why Go: Sponsored by Wiggle Worms, your kids can enjoy a night of fun with pizza, juice, crafts and a movie. 
• Price: $20 per child, $15 each additional sibling

Stuff the Cruiser!

• When: Saturday, Dec. 1, 9 a.m. - 10 p.m.
• Where: Spotsylvania Towne Centre
• Why Go: The Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office is working to fill a police car up with toys, clothes, hats, coats, gloves and more to help area youth in need.
• Price: FREE

Railroad Museum and Train Rides

• When: Saturday, Dec. 1, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• Where: 11700 Main Street
• Why Go: Tour railroad cars, sit in the caboose and weather permitting take a ride down county tracks in a restored crew car. 
• Price: FREE, donations accepted

Deck the Halls 2012

• When: Saturday, Dec. 1, 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• Where: University of Mary Washington, Dodd Auditorium
• Why Go: Experience a floral decorating presentation and learn how to decorate your home for the holidays with Jan Williams.
• Price: $25, registration required

Toy Drive for the Empower House

• When: Saturday, Dec. 1, 9:30 a.m.
• Where: SDI: 10720 Columbia Drive
• Why Go: Help support survivors of domestic violence by donating a new, unwrapped toy. Santa will be onsite, ready to take pictures with your family. 
• Price: FREE

Rappahannock River Heritage Trail Opening

• When: Saturday, Dec. 1, 10 a.m.
• Where: 3219 Fall Hill Avenue
• Why Go: A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held to unveil the new heritage trail, as well as a tour of the new trail. 
• Price: FREE

Breakfast With Santa

• When: Saturday, Dec. 1, 10 a.m.
• Where: Spotsylvania Towne Centre: Food Court
• Why Go: Enjoy breakfast with Santa and donate toys and clothes to youth in need. 
• Price: $5, register by Nov. 29

Artisan Gift Showcase

• When: Saturday, Dec. 1, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Where: Backdoor Gallery
• Why Go: Shop handmade jewelry, scarves, pillows and more from local artisans
• Price: FREE

Fredericksburg Holiday Craft Show

• When: Saturday, Dec. 1, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 2, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Where: Fredericksburg Expo and Conference Center
• Why Go: Browse one of a kind gifts from over 147 vendors and get them wrapped for free. There is also a kid’s craft section where kids can make their own creations. 
• Price: $8, adults; FREE, children 12 and under

26th Annual Gingerbread House Contest and Exhibit

• When: Saturday, Dec. 1, 12 - 4 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Where: Historic Kenmore
• Why Go: Creative gingerbread houses will be on display, all made to the theme “Songs of the Holidays.” Choose your favorite and see the winner. 
• Price: $10, adults; $5, students; FREE, under age 6 (includes tour of Kenmore). $5, adults; $2.50, students; FREE, under age 6 (exhibit only)

“A Monroe Christmas” Holiday Open House

• When: Saturday, Dec. 1, 4 - 6 p.m.
• Where: James Monroe Museum
• Why Go: View the Museum’s exhibit, “A Monroe Christmas,” and meet “President Monroe.” 
• Price: FREE

2012 Fredericksburg Jaycees Christmas Parade

• When: Saturday, Dec. 1, 5:30 - 8 p.m.
• Where: Downtown Fredericksburg: Caroline and Princess Anne Streets
• Why Go: See spectacular holiday floats, marching bands and more at the Annual Christmas Parade
• Price: FREE 

Holiday Performance, Salem Field’s Dance Group

• When: Saturday, Dec. 1, 6 - 7 p.m.
• Where: The Village at Spotsylvania Towne Centre
• Why Go: Salem Field’s Dance Group will put on a holiday performance just in time for the season
• Price: FREE

Clara’s Tale Ballet

• When: Saturday, Dec. 1, 7 p.m.
• Where: James Monroe High School
• Why Go: A performance by Amycale Dance Academy based on the Nutcracker
• Price: $14, adults; $10, youth; FREE, children 3 and under

Rappahannock Choral Society Christmas Concert

• When: Saturday, Dec. 1, 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 2, 3 p.m.
• Where: Chancellor High School
• Why Go: Enjoy songs of the season sung by this 65 member audition-only choral group
• Price: FREE

World AIDS Day Observance

• When: Sunday, Dec. 2, 1 p.m.
• Where: Sophia and Hanover Streets
• Why Go: Join others in a walk in awareness and a memorial service in memory of those who have passed
• Price: FREE

Tuba Christmas Concert

• When: Sunday, Dec. 2, 3 p.m.
• Where: Spotsylvania Towne Centre
• Why Go: Enjoy a holiday concert with a variety of tuba and euphonium players
• Price: FREE

A 1775 Christmas at Kenmore: The Eve of Revolution

• When: Sunday, Dec. 2, 5 - 8 p.m.
• Where: Historic Kenmore
• Why Go: See vignettes that tell the stories of Betty and Fielding Lewis on the eve of the Revolutionary War
• Price: $10 (includes Gingerbread House Exhibit), registration required

Sunday Night Bingo

• When: Sunday, Dec. 2, 6:30 p.m.
• Where: 1114 Potomac Avenue
• Why Go: Enjoy a Bingo night with proceeds going to local charities, as well as a chance to win cash prizes
• Price: FREE entry, pay for Bingo cards at the door

Sunday Trivia

• When: Sunday, Dec. 2, 7 p.m.
• Where: Colonial Tavern
• Why Go: Complete your weekend with a trivia night and compete to win cash prizes and more
• Price: FREE

UMW Symfonics A Capella Concert

• When: Sunday, Dec. 2, 7:30 p.m.
• Where: University of Mary Washington, Dodd Auditorium
• Why Go: An a capella concert with songs from the Beatles, Whitney Houston and more
• Price: $2

Arts  

Beading Class at Artful Dimensions Gallery, Learn how to make a cuff bracelet using beads, buttons and other objects. Friday, Nov. 30, 9:30 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 1, 9:30 a.m., $60. 

6”x6”x6” at Liberty Town Arts Workshop. Friday, Nov. 30, Saturday, Dec. 1, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 2, 12 - 4 p.m., FREE

Picturing the Civil War at the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center, Friday, Nov. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 1, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 2, 12 - 5 p.m., $7 for adults, $2 for students, children 6 and under, FREE

REDUX: Repurposed Materials Exhibition at duPont Gallery at the University of Mary Washington, Friday, Nov. 30, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 1 and Sunday, Dec. 2, 1 - 4 p.m., FREE

Contemporary Work in Fiber at the Ridderhof Martin Gallery at the University of Mary Washington. Friday, Nov. 30, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 1 and Sunday, Dec. 2, 1 - 4 p.m., FREE

Selections from the Larry D. Silver Art Collection at the Fredericksburg Museum and Cultural Center. Saturday, Dec. 1, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 2, 12 - 5 p.m., $7 for adults, $2 for students, children 6 and under, FREE

All Members Exhibition at Art First Gallery. Friday, Nov. 30, Saturday, Dec. 1 and Sunday, Dec. 2, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., FREE

“From Piedmont to the Bay - A Pastel Journey” by Kathleen Willingham at Brush Strokes Gallery. Friday, Nov. 30, Saturday, Dec. 1 and Sunday, Dec. 2, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., FREE

Holiday Cards and Art Gifts at Tanya Richey's Studio Gallery. Friday, Nov. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 1, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 2, 12 - 5 p.m., FREE

“Ave, Patina” by Patte Ormsby and Juried Show “Light and Shadow” at the Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts. Friday, Nov. 30, 12 - 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 1, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 2, 12 - 4 p.m., FREE

Holiday Art Show at Jackson Street Lofts. Friday, Nov. 30, 6 p.m., FREE. 

From Recycled Cereal Box to One of a Kind Art Journal at Artful Dimensions Gallery, Saturday, Dec. 1, 9:30 a.m., $45.

Altered Books From Start To Finish at Artful Dimensions Gallery, Create a discarded volume into an individual work of art. Saturday, Dec. 1, 9:30 a.m., $45. 

Three Wise Women Art Exhibit at My Place Latin Grill. Saturday, Dec. 1, 5 - 7 p.m., FREE.

“Drawn Together” at the Backdoor Gallery. Saturday, Dec. 1, 5 - 7 p.m., FREE

Music

Chris Adams at Amy’s Cafe. Friday, Nov. 30, 7 p.m. FREE. Eddie Dickerson, Saturday, Dec. 1, 7 p.m., FREE. 

Shaylor Warren at Home Team Grill. Friday, Nov. 30, 7 p.m., FREE. 

Shawn Owen at Kybecca Wine Bar. Friday, Nov. 30, 7:30 p.m., FREE. 

The Crypts and Nature Boy Explorer at 909 Saloon. Friday, Nov. 30, 8 p.m., FREE. 

The Buzzards at The Recreation Center, Friday, Nov. 30, 8 p.m., FREE. 

Country Proud Band at Yak-A-Doo’s. Friday, Nov. 30, 9 p.m., FREE. 

Marty Dickerson at Cheeseburger in Paradise. Friday, Nov. 30, 9 p.m., FREE. Borrowed Time Band, Saturday, Dec. 1, 9 p.m., FREE.

Bitter Sweet at Shannon’s Bar and Grille. Friday, Nov. 30, 9 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 1, 9 p.m., FREE.

Blues Buckets at Colonial Tavern. Saturday, Dec. 1, 9 p.m., FREE. 

Ashleigh Chevalier’s Annual Rockin’ Christmas Blues Jam featuring Jon Carroll and Bruce Middle at the Otter House. Saturday, Dec. 1, 10 p.m., $5.