Destination Bedford

Candlelight Tours
2019-12-19 17:30 - 18:30, 2019-12-20 17:30 - 19:30, 2019-12-21 17:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, 687 Poplar Forest Dr., Forest, VA, 24551, United States
Tour the president’s cherished hideaway decorated for the holidays on these hour-long tours. Experience the villa by candlelight while your guide paints a portrait of the ways the Jefferson family and their enslaved workers spent the holidays, by sharing true stories and anecdotes gathered from Jefferson’s letters and diaries. Tours end in the restored Jefferson-era kitchen with hearth cooking demonstrations. Admission is $20 per person; reservations are required.
TOUR SCHEDULE:
Thursdays, December 5, 12 and 19 at 5:30 p.m. each evening
Fridays and Saturdays, December 6, 13, 20 and 21 at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. each evening.

Tickets

Elks Home Christmas Lights
2019-12-19 17:30 - 22:00, 2019-12-20 17:30 - 22:00, 2019-12-21 17:30 - 22:00, 2019-12-22 17:30 - 22:00, 2019-12-23 17:30 - 22:00, 2019-12-24 17:30 - 22:00 | Shady Grove Vineyards Cabin
Take part in an annual Bedford Christmas tradition and drive through the Christmas light display at the Elks Home! Going on now for more than 65 years, the light display helped Bedford get the nickname “Christmas Capital of Virginia”. The venue is also open to guests to walk through and view the Christmas trees decorated by local businesses (parking is located behind the Home.) Admission is free, donations accepted.

Festival of Trees
2019-12-20 09:00 - 21:00 | Bedford Area Welcome Center, 816 Burks Hill Road, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
The 11th Annual Festival of Trees will be held November 26, 2019 – January 3, 2020. This year’s theme is “Celebrate Love”, and coincides with the 50th Anniversary of the “Virginia is for Lovers” tourism slogan.
The scavenger hunt will take place again and on certain nights, children can visit with Santa, participate in a craft activity, and enjoy hot chocolate and cookies. The Festival of Trees is free to attend and is family friendly. More information will be posted as we get closer to the event.
If you are a local business that is interested in participating in this year’s event, contact Michelle Crumpacker at (540) 587-5681 or mcrumpacker@bedfordcountyva.gov. A limited number of spaces are still available.

Immigration: Themed Exhibit
2019-12-20 11:00 - 16:00, 2019-12-21 11:00 - 16:00, 2019-12-24 11:00 - 16:00 | VA
Gallery Admission is Always Free
Open Tues-Sat 11am-4pm and every 2nd Friday in Bedford 5-8pm
Nov. 19-Jan 25, 2020
Immigration
Is a movement to a place that is foreign
Movement
Is an act of changing physical location or position or of having this changed
Foreign
Is a characteristic of a country or language other than one’s own; or something strange and unfamiliar
“Art drives ideas home in a way that is unmatched by any other medium. We need multidimensional, complex stories about who we are; we need to represent ourselves in our full humanity.” – Felipe Baeza, Visual Artist

Exchange of Gifts: a New Christmas Play
2019-12-20 18:30 - 20:30 | VA
A new Christmas play is coming to town.
Performed by 57 Hours Productions, the production arm of the award-winning Virginia playwright Dwayne Yancey, whose work has been produced in 14 different countries.
“Exchange of Gifts” tells the story of three international students who find themselves snowbound in an American airport, unable to get home for Christmas. Over the course of
the play, each learns something about themselves that changes the direction of their life.
The cast consists of Lyndsey Hanks, Kaiya Hoagland and Olivia Hunter, all veterans of the Roanoke theatre scene. The show is directed by Kerry Plank, another Roanoke theatre veteran.
The show is appropriate for all ages, although younger children may not understand it.
Tickets are $10 online and $12 at the door.

December Observatory Open House
2019-12-20 19:30 - 21:30 | Belk Observatory, 1543 Coverlea Lane, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
Free, but required, tickets for this event are available via the ticket link. (https://www.lynchburg.edu/academics/academic-community-centers/observatory/public-open-house-schedule/)
Program begins along our Planet Walk, and continues through different stations at the Belk Observatory. You’ll get to be able to view the night sky through various astronomical equipment, talk to our knowledgeable Docents, and learn about the sky objects and telescopes you see!
This event will be entirely outdoors on the Belk Observatory complex, and involves a short walk. The program will be cancelled if there is an expectation of unfavorable viewing weather.
email observatory@lynchburg.edu for any questions.

Forest Farmers Market
2019-12-21 08:00 - 12:00 | Forest Farmers Market, 15583 Forest Road, Forest, VA, 24523, United States
Virginia Grown Produce, meats, honey, flowers along with breads for locals to enjoy. The market is open the last week in April until the last week in Oct. Please come and enjoy the local food from our area.

Festival of Trees
2019-12-21 09:00 - 17:00, 2019-12-22 09:00 - 17:00, 2019-12-23 09:00 - 17:00, 2019-12-24 09:00 - 17:00 | Bedford Area Welcome Center, 816 Burks Hill Road, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
The 11th Annual Festival of Trees will be held November 26, 2019 – January 3, 2020. This year’s theme is “Celebrate Love”, and coincides with the 50th Anniversary of the “Virginia is for Lovers” tourism slogan.
The Festival of Trees is free to attend and is family friendly. Visitors are encouraged to vote for their favorite tree(s) for only $1.00/vote and at the conclusion of the event, all proceeds will benefit the charitable organizations designated by the businesses that decorated the trees.
The scavenger hunt will take place again, and on certain nights children can visit with Santa, participate in a craft activity, and enjoy hot chocolate and cookies. The Festival of Trees is free to attend and is family friendly.
Open Seven days a week from 9:00AM until 5:00PM
Extended Hours until 9:00PM – December 6, 13, 14, 15, 20
* The Welcome Center will be closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

Train Exhibit
2019-12-21 10:00 - 17:00, 2019-12-23 10:00 - 17:00, 2019-12-24 10:00 - 17:00 | Bedford Museum and Genealogical Library, 201 East Main Street, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
Interactive Thomas the Tank Engine Track
See Bedford on the layout, local businesses and public buildings
“The Polar Express” during the two weeks of Christmas Break
Large Groups: please call for an appointment
$5 admission for adults. kids are free
Closed major holidays and extreme weather
Collecting new and gently loved stuffed animals for the Teddy Bear Bridge for Gleaning for the World

Cowboy Christmas
2019-12-21 11:00 - 16:30 | Reba Farm Inn and Saddle Soar Equitainment, 1099 Reba Farm Lane, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
Celebrate the holiday season in the true cowboy spirit. Go for a wonderful trail ride, decorate an evergreen tree with edible ornaments for the wildlife, and enjoy a true “Cowboy” dinner at the Inn. This full day of activities is sure to be enjoyed by all.
Cost is $65/person.

Pics with Santa at Apocalypse Ale Works
2019-12-21 12:00 - 16:00 | Apocalypse Ale Works, 1257 Burnbridge Road, Forest, VA, 24551, United States
Come grab a beer and a free picture with Santa! Capt’n Redbeard Photography will be taking professional pictures of you, with Santa! Kids are of course, welcome to attend!

Hickory Hill Holidays
2019-12-21 12:00 - 17:00 | Hickory Hill Vineyards and Winery, 1722 Hickory Cove Lane, Moneta, VA, 24121, United States
Visit the 1923 farmhouse tasting room and gift shop for the Holidays. Enjoy a wine tasting and then sip the mulled wine as you browse the gift shop and find that perfect gift for the wine lover on your list. Hickory Hill Vineyards, 1722 Hickory Cove Ln, Moneta, VA 24121, www.SMLwine.com

Holiday Open House
2019-12-21 12:00 - 17:00 | Seven Doors Winery, 5800 Johnson Mountain Road, Huddleston, 24104
Come enjoy an afternoon of mindful wine tasting, celebration of the Winter Solstice and the end of 2019. Music provided by Adam Markham. Dogs welcome!

Family Movie Matinee
2019-12-21 15:30 - 18:00 | Relaxing
Come to the Bedford Central Library on the 3rd Saturday of every month for a fun family afternoon of crafts, games, snacks and a movie. This month the movie is The Angry Birds Movie 2.

Ice Skating
2019-12-21 16:00 - 22:00 | Edmund Street Park, 516 Edmund Street, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
$10 Skate Fee (Including Skates)
Santa Claus
Hot Chocolate & Cider For Sale

2nd Annual Beale's Christmas Bash
2019-12-21 19:00 - 22:00 | Beale’s Brewery, 510 Grove Street, Bedford, VA, 24523, United States
The Beale’s Christmas Bash is back and better than ever! Jazz will be DJing a mix of Christmas classics and party favorites. Sing and dance the night away with all of your local friends and family! We will also be holding an Ugly Christmas sweater contest. Come on out to secure your spot in the end of the night conga line! You don’t want to miss this!
