# Christmas break with kids in Virginia Beach–Norfolk, 2026

> What to do with kids in Virginia Beach–Norfolk over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by three museums, zoos and play places: three say they’re open on Christmas Day and three on New Year’s Day. Plus three dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.

- Last checked: 2026-10-29
- 3 places’ holiday hours; 9 dated outings
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/virginia-beach-norfolk/christmas-break/
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/virginia-beach-norfolk/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/virginia-beach-norfolk/llms.txt

## Open or closed: Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1

- **Virginia Aquarium**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 25: closed; New Year’s Day Not listed. Their page says: “Daily 9am–5pm; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day” Source: https://virginiaaquarium.com/faq (checked 2026-10-28)
- **Dominion Energy Garden of Lights**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 25: open; New Year’s Day Open New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day; runs through Jan 3. Their page says: “Every evening Nov 6 – Jan 3, including holidays” Source: https://norfolkbotanicalgarden.org/dominion-energy-garden-lights/ (checked 2026-10-28)
- **Virginia Zoo**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 24 and Dec 25: closed; New Year’s Day Closed on New Year’s Day. Their page says: “Daily 9:30am–4pm, last admission 3pm; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day” Source: https://virginiazoo.org/hours-prices/ (checked 2026-10-29)

## Between Christmas and New Year’s (Dec 26–30)

- **Dominion Energy Garden of Lights** at Norfolk Botanical Garden, 6700 Azalea Garden Road, Norfolk, VA 23518. When: Nov 6, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Every evening, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day; open until 8:15pm on value nights, 9:15pm on popular nights. Price: Value nights: adults $24, kids 3–12 $15; popular nights: adults $30, kids $18; under 3 free; $5 more at the gate. A one-mile walking loop that works with strollers and wagons; double strollers have to fold to get through Baker Hall. The elves roam on Tuesday nights from 6 to 8, and Nov 12 is holiday-pajama night. Official page: https://norfolkbotanicalgarden.org/dominion-energy-garden-lights/ (checked 2026-10-28)
- **Holiday Trail of Lights at the Virginia Aquarium** at Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, 717 General Booth Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA 23451. When: Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Timed entries at 5, 6 and 7:30pm. Price: Adults $19–$22, kids 3–12 $12–$15, plus fees; Twilight Hour costs more; walk-ups add $10. A new walking trail of seven themed areas on the aquarium grounds, replacing the old Holiday Lights at the Beach drive. Strollers are allowed. The 5pm Twilight Hour gets early entry, lighter crowds and an ornament, and Santa photos are sold on site in Glowing Grove. Military families pay less on Monday nights. Official page: https://beacheventsvb.com/event/holiday-trail-of-lights/ (checked 2026-10-28)
- **Deck the Hall at Chesapeake City Hall** at Chesapeake City Hall, 306 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, VA 23322. When: Nov 26, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027. Time: 5–9pm nightly. Price: No price listed on the city’s page. A drive-through light display of holiday scenes, seen from your car. Official page: https://cityofchesapeake.net/809/Deck-the-Hall-Fa-La-La-Land (checked 2026-10-28)

## New Year’s Eve and Day

- **Noon Year’s Eve at the Children’s Museum of Virginia** at Children’s Museum of Virginia, 221 High Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11am–1pm. Price: Included with museum admission. Party-favor decorating, face painting, a juice-box toast and a glittery ball drop at noon. Official page: https://childrensmuseumvirginia.com/events/46123 (checked 2026-10-28)
- **Noon Year’s Eve at Russell Memorial Library** at Russell Memorial Library, 2808 Taylor Road, Chesapeake, VA 23321. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11:30am–12:30pm. Price: Free. Dancing, crafts and games for preschoolers and their families. Free. Official page: https://chesapeakelibrary.libnet.info/event/17680048 (checked 2026-10-28)
- **Noon Year’s Eve at North Suffolk Library** at Suffolk Public Library – North Suffolk Library (Children’s Area), 2000 Bennetts Creek Park Rd, Suffolk, VA 23435. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11am–noon. Price: Free. For kids from birth to age 5: crafts, snacks, dancing and a balloon drop to ring in the new year at noon. Official page: https://suffolkpubliclibrary.libcal.com/event/17148052 (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Dominion Energy Garden of Lights** at Norfolk Botanical Garden, 6700 Azalea Garden Road, Norfolk, VA 23518. When: Nov 6, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Every evening, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day; open until 8:15pm on value nights, 9:15pm on popular nights. Price: Value nights: adults $24, kids 3–12 $15; popular nights: adults $30, kids $18; under 3 free; $5 more at the gate. A one-mile walking loop that works with strollers and wagons; double strollers have to fold to get through Baker Hall. The elves roam on Tuesday nights from 6 to 8, and Nov 12 is holiday-pajama night. Official page: https://norfolkbotanicalgarden.org/dominion-energy-garden-lights/ (checked 2026-10-28)
- **Holiday Trail of Lights at the Virginia Aquarium** at Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, 717 General Booth Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA 23451. When: Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Timed entries at 5, 6 and 7:30pm. Price: Adults $19–$22, kids 3–12 $12–$15, plus fees; Twilight Hour costs more; walk-ups add $10. A new walking trail of seven themed areas on the aquarium grounds, replacing the old Holiday Lights at the Beach drive. Strollers are allowed. The 5pm Twilight Hour gets early entry, lighter crowds and an ornament, and Santa photos are sold on site in Glowing Grove. Military families pay less on Monday nights. Official page: https://beacheventsvb.com/event/holiday-trail-of-lights/ (checked 2026-10-28)
- **Deck the Hall at Chesapeake City Hall** at Chesapeake City Hall, 306 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, VA 23322. When: Nov 26, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027. Time: 5–9pm nightly. Price: No price listed on the city’s page. A drive-through light display of holiday scenes, seen from your car. Official page: https://cityofchesapeake.net/809/Deck-the-Hall-Fa-La-La-Land (checked 2026-10-28)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### What’s open on Christmas Day in Virginia Beach–Norfolk with kids?
Virginia Aquarium (Dec 25: closed), Dominion Energy Garden of Lights (Dec 25: open), Virginia Zoo (Dec 24 and Dec 25: closed) post that they’re open on Christmas Day.

### What’s open on New Year’s Day in Virginia Beach–Norfolk?
Virginia Aquarium (Not listed), Dominion Energy Garden of Lights (Open New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day; runs through Jan 3), Virginia Zoo (Closed on New Year’s Day).

### What can we do with kids on New Year’s Day in Virginia Beach–Norfolk?
On the calendar for Jan 1: Dominion Energy Garden of Lights, Holiday Trail of Lights at the Virginia Aquarium and Deck the Hall at Chesapeake City Hall. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.

### What is there to do with kids between Christmas and New Year’s in Virginia Beach–Norfolk?
Dominion Energy Garden of Lights, Holiday Trail of Lights at the Virginia Aquarium and Deck the Hall at Chesapeake City Hall. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.

### How do you check these holiday hours?
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 29, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).