Christmas by the Numbers in Williamsburg, VA

400,000 candles, 2,552 wreaths, 8 million lights — and more. Get into the holiday spirit by counting down all the town’s Christmas-related features.

Published on:

November 13, 2017

Starting with the “12 Days of Christmas,” written in the 18th century, the numbers game has been a part of the holidays. Here’s the Greater Williamsburg version of that game.

Before we get started, though, did you know that Santa's sleigh would have to average 5.1 million miles per hour to deliver presents across the globe in one night? Let's hope he doesn’t get a speeding ticket.

90: Cressets set aflame during Grand Illumination, Colonial Williamsburg's fireworks display on Dec. 3. From Thanksgiving through the closing night of the Liberty Ice Pavilion, Colonial Williamsburg will burn between 25,000 and 35,000 pounds of fatwood. Step up and get warm.

400,000: The number of candles in the flagship store of Yankee Candle Village in Williamsburg, where it’s always the holiday season and Santa's workshop is always bustling year-round. Oh, and add another number — 200 — for the variety of scented candles for sale.

135: Designer and brand name stores at Williamsburg Premium Outlets including the Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Coach Factory, Michael Kors, Burberry, Kenneth Cole, Lacoste and Hugo Boss. It’s a great place to stock up on discounted Christmas gifts.

2,552: Wreaths hung in Colonial Williamsburg's Historic Area for the Christmas season. There’s no better place to see America dressed up for the holidays than with a guided tour of Colonial Williamsburg.

8 million: Lights at Busch Gardens' Christmas Town, the biggest Christmas light display in North America. Christmas Town opens on Nov. 24 and runs on select days through Jan. 1, 2018.

1945: The year of the first Yorktown Christmas Tree Lighting. The tradition continues on Dec. 1 with a 7 p.m. performance by The Fifes and Drums of York Town at the Victory Monument, festive music at Riverwalk Landing, the procession of lights through the historic village, and the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus.

4: The number of Christmas shops in Greater Williamsburg, which includes Christmas Mouse, The Christmas Shop in Merchants Square, Bassett’s Christmas Shop, and Holiday Park in Yankee Candle Village — all with countless ornaments and decorations.

12: Days of the English Christmas season celebrated by the Jamestown settlers from Dec. 25 to Jan. 6 when they set aside work and enjoyed the festivities. In preparation for the season, many towns designated a Lord of Misrule, the “grand captain of all mischief,” who encouraged merry mayhem. You'll find the good lord spreading his brand of cheer throughout Jamestown Settlement during the holiday season.

1719: The year "Joy to the World," the hymn based on Psalms 96 and 98, was published. You can bet you'll hear it throughout the area whether during caroling in the historic area, on the beach by the bonfire at the Yorktown Lighted Boat Parade on Dec. 2 or from the Vienna Boys Choir at St. Bede Catholic Church on Dec. 20.

3: Versions of eggnog you'll learn about during "Tis the Season for Eggnog" at Taste Studio in Colonial Williamsburg on the evenings of Dec. 9, 13, and 16.

43: Shops at New Town where you can cross plenty off your holiday list. You'll find everything here from bikes to beauty products, clothes to comic books and cigars to secrets — Victoria's Secret, that is.

2,000: Ornaments on the grand Christmas tree at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum in Colonial Williamsburg. The folk art Christmas tree has nearly doubled in size since its inauguration. The works in the museum’s collection inspire all of the ornaments.