Galax is one of those quaint little Virginia mountain towns that becomes all the more endearing during the Christmas holidays.
Although best-known as “the Old-Time Music Capital of the World,” Galax is also one of the most fun Christmas towns we’ve visited, with holiday-themed events from late November into early January.
From twinkling Christmas lights, holiday crafts, and shopping to festive movies and visits from Santa, Galax offers something festive and fun for all ages to enjoy.
While you’re in the area, you can also make the most of being so close to the Blue Ridge Parkway, or go hiking/biking at the New River Trail State Park.
You can also check out all the great shops and restaurants in Downtown Galax, which will be decked to the nines with all the colors of the holiday season.
Read on for our guide to all the fun things to do in Galax VA this Christmas, and check out Galax’s official website for other upcoming events!
READ MORE: The 10 Best Things to Do in Galax VA
Best Galax VA Lodging Options
- Galax Retreat w/ Wraparound Deck (2 bd, 2ba rental w/great view)
- Cozy Fries Escape (2 bd rental w/mountain & river views)
- Secluded Lakehouse, pet-friendly (4 bd, 3 ba rental, sleeps 14 w/canoe)
Christmas in Galax VA Guide
- High Country Lights
- Tree Lighting/Parade
- Old Time Appalachian Christmas Festival
- Farmer’s Market Specialty Market Days
- Catch a Show at the Rex Theater
- Holiday Art Classes at Chestnut Creek School for the Arts
- Visit a Christmas Tree Farm
READ MORE: 10 Great Places to Celebrate Christmas in Virginia
1. High Country Lights
Located on S Main St. in Downtown Galax, Felts Park is the place to be for some serious twinkly Christmas light action.
Kicking off on November 23 and continuing nightly through New Years Day, the High Country Lights is a musical light show that features more than 250,000 fairy lights. Best of all, admission is free!
In addition to watching the colorful lights dance to your favorite holiday tunes, this wonderful family-friendly event will also feature visits from Santa, food trucks, and much more to fuel the Christmas spirit.
READ MORE: The 20 Best Places To See Christmas Lights in Virginia
2. Tree Lighting/Parade
An important part of any small town Virginia Christmas festivities is the lighting of the community tree.
The Galax Tree Lighting event takes place on Main Street, starting at 6:45PM on December 6, to be immediately followed by the Galax Christmas parade.
This year’s parade theme is “Mountain Made Christmas,” and it will feature an array of bands, cars, and floats decorated with festive flair.
READ MORE: The 10 Most Festive Christmas Towns in Virginia to Visit
3. Old Time Appalachian Christmas Festival
For some traditional Blue Ridge Mountain-style holiday fun, head to Downtown Galax on Dec 14 (from noon to 6PM) for the annual “Old Time Appalachian Christmas Festival.”
This day will be filled to the brim with fun activities, including Appalachian Mountain heritage demonstrations, storytelling, fire pits for roasting s’mores, wagon rides, and a visit from Santa!
There will be food vendors, live music, and lots of hand-crafted gifts and other local goodies for sale to help you with Christmas shopping for everyone on your list.
READ MORE: 30 Fun Facts About Appalachian Scots-Irish History & Culture
4. Farmer’s Market Specialty Market Days
As professional gardeners, small town farmer’s markets are always fun for us to visit.
But they’re extra special during the holidays, with everyone coming out to celebrate as a community.
The Galax Farmers Market festivities begin on November 30, with the Fall Kids Craft event (11AM-3PM). You can also meet ol’ St. Nick and sip hot cocoa at the Santa Meet & Greet on December 7 (11AM-3PM).
Finally, the Winter Kids Craft event on December 21 (11AM-3PM) is great way to kick your holiday spirit into overdrive before the big day!
READ MORE: The 7 Best Train Rides for Christmas in the Blue Ridge Mountains
5. Catch a Show at the Rex Theater
Galax’s historic Rex Theater offers the nostalgia of a classic 1940s venue while filling the place with music from many decades.
Artists from the Blue Ridge region and all across the country come to the Rex to entertain you with American roots music. Here a look at what’s coming up this holiday season:
Dec 4- It’s A Wonderful Life. Free movie @ 6:30PM. This classic holiday movie continues to delight us more than 60 years later.
Dec 7- The Embers @ 7PM. The Embers are one of the longest-running, most successful Carolina Beach Music bands. Their sound is rooted in generations of North Carolina music.
Dec 11- Die Hard. Free movie @ 6:30PM. Is the Bruce Willis action classic a Christmas movie or not? Well, for many fans the answer is an unequivocal YES!
Dec 13- Kinnfolk Celtic Christmas @ 7 PM. Kinnfolk has played venues all around VA and beyond, and brings their Scots-Irish influences to The Rex.
Dec 18- Christmas Vacation. Free movie @ 6:30PM. Let the Griswolds show you how to have a good old-fashioned family Christmas in this National Lampoon holiday classic.
Dec 20- Malpass Brothers @ 7 PM. Check out the brothers’ passion for classic country music at the Rex and you’ll hear influences like Hank Williams, Charlie Pride, and Merle Haggard shine through.
READ MORE: Exploring the Crooked Road, Virginia’s Appalachian Music Trail
6. Holiday Art Classes at Chestnut Creek School for the Arts
The Chestnut Creek School for the Arts has a whole list of classes teaching crafts that can help make this year’s Christmas a little extra special.
Why not give yourself the gift of learning to make homemade greeting cards and heartfelt gifts to give this year? At the same time, you’ll also be supporting the cultural heritage of Southwest Virginia.
Art classes on offer include printmaking holiday cards, fused glass ornament workshops, Appalachian toy making, pottery, macrame ornaments, finger knitting, and tie-dye.
Check out the Chestnut Creek Arts website to sign up for these classes in time for the holidays!
READ MORE: 20 Ways to Celebrate Christmas in the Blue Ridge Mountains
7. Visit a Christmas Tree Farm
You might be OK with picking up a pre-cut Christmas tree from the local supermarket, but there’s nothing quite like choosing the perfect one for your family at a Virginia Christmas tree farm.
While some farms do offer ready-cut trees, in our experience choose-and-cut trees make the holiday experience much more memorable.
There are some tree farms less than a 30-minute drive from Galax. But Russell’s Christmas Tree Farm is right in town, offering ready-cut and choose-and-cut options, plus places to take a perfect holiday photo!
Slaughters’ Tree Farm is just 19 miles east in Fancy Gap VA, where they’re open on weekends from 9AM to 5PM, including Thanksgiving.
Reed Island Farm Christmas Trees (18 miles north in Hillsville VA) is a great place to start a new Christmas tree tradition, with a lovely Christmas shop where you can snag ornaments and/or gifts. -by Emma Gallagher; all photos courtesy of Visit Galax, unless otherwise noted.
