Charlottesville's Grand Illumination

Charlottesville's Grand Illumination Charlottesville's Grand Illumination is a free community tree lighting event featuring music, crafts For more information visit www.cvillegrand.com

Thank you to everyone who helped make Charlottesville's 28th Grand Illumination so special! Isn't Oatmeal the Third brea...
12/17/2025

Thank you to everyone who helped make Charlottesville's 28th Grand Illumination so special! Isn't Oatmeal the Third breathtaking? 😍✨

Wishing everyone a lovely holiday season and a happy 2026!

📸Kyle Ervin

Jack Frost will have to try harder than that to scare away Oatmeal the Third! Charlottesville's 28th Grand Illumination ...
12/10/2025

Jack Frost will have to try harder than that to scare away Oatmeal the Third!

Charlottesville's 28th Grand Illumination is TONIGHT from 5:00-8:00 PM at Ting Pavilion. Come for the live music, thanks to Holiday Concert sponsor Charlottesville Community Media Center, good food and drink, and stay to watch Oatmeal the Third shimmer with 20,000 lights, courtesy of Illumination sponsor Dominion Energy.

PLUS, parking is free in Market Street and Water Street garages from 5:00-10:00 PM!

More event information at cvillegrand.com.

We're singing for joy because TOMORROW, December 10, is Charlottesville's 28th Grand Illumination! Same time and place: ...
12/09/2025

We're singing for joy because TOMORROW, December 10, is Charlottesville's 28th Grand Illumination! Same time and place: 5:00-8:00 PM at Ting Pavilion. 🎄

Pavilion and City crews are working hard today to make sure the area is safe and ready for showtime!

More event information at cvillegrand.com

Charlottesville's 28th Grand Illumination has been RESCHEDULED to Wednesday, December 10, from 5-8 PM at Ting Pavilion. ...
12/05/2025

Charlottesville's 28th Grand Illumination has been RESCHEDULED to Wednesday, December 10, from 5-8 PM at Ting Pavilion.

Stay safe and warm, and we'll see you next Wednesday!

After much deliberation, we have made the difficult decision to cancel Grand Illumination scheduled for this evening. Ci...
12/05/2025

After much deliberation, we have made the difficult decision to cancel Grand Illumination scheduled for this evening.

City staff are actively exploring potential backup dates sometime next week. We will share an update with the community as soon as it is determined whether a reschedule is possible.

Stay safe and warm!

Snow may be in the forecast for tomorrow, but that doesn't scare Oatmeal the Third! Charlottesville's 28th Grand Illumin...
12/04/2025

Snow may be in the forecast for tomorrow, but that doesn't scare Oatmeal the Third! Charlottesville's 28th Grand Illumination is TOMORROW, December 5 from 5-8 PM at Ting Pavilion. 🎄

As a reminder, this year's event comes with a few new safety policies:

Bag Policy
👜 To keep lines moving and everyone safe, please bring clear bags only (12" x 6" x 12" or smaller). Clear backpacks, f***y packs, cinch bags, or even a Ziploc-style bag all work!
👜 Medically necessary items are allowed, they’ll just be inspected and tagged by security.

Security Screening
🔐 Everyone will go through a quick screening at the entrance. Re-entry is allowed, just come back through the main gates.

Leave These at Home:
🚫 Luggage
🚫 Weapons of any kind
🚫 Fireworks/confetti
🚫 Alcohol or drink containers (baby bottles and toddler snacks are fine!)
🚫 Aerosol cans, laser pointers, bikes, skateboards

🐾 Service animals only, as defined by the ADA.

Thank you for helping to keep Charlottesville's 28th Grand Illumination fun and safe for everyone! Bundle up, and we hope to see you tomorrow night. ⭐️

More event information can be found at cvillegrand.com.

And the name of the 2025 Grand Illumination tree is.....--------OATMEAL THE THIRD!After three years, the Oatmeal legacy ...
12/02/2025

And the name of the 2025 Grand Illumination tree is.....
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OATMEAL THE THIRD!

After three years, the Oatmeal legacy is revived and carried on to the next generation! We received an astounding 1,565 votes this year, and Oatmeal the Third won with nearly half of the vote.

Stop by and pay Oatmeal the Third a visit in just THREE DAYS this Friday, December 5 from 5-8 PM and see him shine with over 20,000 lights at 7:30 PM! 🎄

Who's ready for this year's tree to look like this? Charlottesville's 28th Grand Illumination is THIS Friday, December 5...
12/01/2025

Who's ready for this year's tree to look like this?

Charlottesville's 28th Grand Illumination is THIS Friday, December 5 from 5-8 PM at Ting Pavilion. Come for the food, live music, and games, and stay to watch the tree glow with over 20,000 lights at 7:30 PM! 🎄✨

More at cvillegrand.com

✨ Charlottesville’s 28th Grand Illumination is just 10 days away! ✨However, before the fun can begin, we need to ensure ...
11/25/2025

✨ Charlottesville’s 28th Grand Illumination is just 10 days away! ✨

However, before the fun can begin, we need to ensure everyone's safety and comfort during the event. Here are a few new safety measures being added this year:

Bag Policy
👜 To keep lines moving and everyone safe, please bring clear bags only (12" x 6" x 12" or smaller). Clear backpacks, f***y packs, cinch bags, or even a Ziploc-style bag all work!
👜 Medically necessary items are allowed, they’ll just be inspected and tagged by security.

Security Screening
🔐 Everyone will go through a quick screening at the entrance. Re-entry is allowed, just come back through the main gates.

Leave These at Home:
🚫 Luggage
🚫 Weapons of any kind
🚫 Fireworks/confetti
🚫 Alcohol or drink containers (baby bottles and toddler snacks are fine!)
🚫 Aerosol cans, laser pointers, bikes, skateboards

🐾 Service animals only, as defined by the ADA.

Thank you for helping us keep Charlottesville's 28th Grand Illumination fun, safe, and welcoming for all. We can’t wait to kick off the holiday season with you! 🎄🌟

More on this year's event safety here >> https://www.charlottesville.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2353

It's time for the final selection! Five names were chosen from your AMAZING suggestions, and now you finally get to vote...
11/24/2025

It's time for the final selection! Five names were chosen from your AMAZING suggestions, and now you finally get to vote for the tree's name 🎄

The poll is open until Monday, December 1 >> https://bit.ly/49DINa7

Come pay the tree a visit on the Downtown Mall at Charlottesville's 28th Grand Illumination on Friday, December 5 from 5:00-8:00 PM at Ting Pavilion!

Have you seen the tree on the Downtown Mall yet? Charlottesville Parks and Recreation worked hard this week to take it d...
11/21/2025

Have you seen the tree on the Downtown Mall yet? Charlottesville Parks and Recreation worked hard this week to take it down, install it on the Downtown Mall, and string it with over 20,000 lights 🎄✨

But, it still needs a name! And today is the last day to submit your ideas >> https://bit.ly/CvilleGI25

Stay tuned for the final community vote, starting next week!

Charlottesville's 28th Grand Illumination is Friday, December 5 from 5-8 PM at Ting Pavilion. Stop by for FREE holiday fun for all ages!

Address

201 E. Main Street
Charlottesville, VA
22902

Telephone

(434) 409-8226

Website

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