A Trail Town Christmas

December in Damascus

Trail Town USA is the place to be for the holidays! Find holiday events and specials all December long. Celebrate the holidays and see Santa at the Christmas parade. Stop by local businesses for handpicked holiday gifts. Tour the holiday lights around town. Go for a winter hike, and more!

​​​Email events@damascus.org to add an event to the calendar.

November 2025

November 15 – Operation Christmas Child Packing Party at One Way Ministries, 5 to 8pm. Dinner served at 5pm & bring a drink.

November 16 – Friendsgiving & Centennial Celebration at Blue Ridge Discovery Center at 2pm. Free event; bring a dish to share and a small item to place in the time capsule. More info.

November 19 – Friendsgiving Celebration at the Damascus Library, 11am to 12pm. Stories, songs, games, and crafts all about Thanksgiving, friendship, and the fall season for ages 0-5.

November 20 – Pumpkin Spice Literature at the Damascus Library, 4 to 5pm. Great books and pumpkin spice treats. Follow a simple tutorial to make fall-themed snacks and enjoy them while discovering new reads.

November 25 – 2nd Annual Community Thanksgiving Meal at The Dairy King, free with turkey, ham, and all the fixings, 2 to 6pm or until they run out.

November 29 – Dashing through Damascus: A Christmas Market at the Damascus Old Mill Inn from 12 to 6pm. Sip, shop, and snap a picture with Santa. Enjoy handmade gifts, vintage finds, art, homemade treats, and more along with live music. Come soak up the Christmas spirit. More info.

November/December – Pick your own Christmas tree! Did you know? Fraser firs, also known as “the Cadillac of Christmas trees,” are native to only a small region of Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. They grow best at elevations above 4,500 feet. Go to a local choose-and-cut farm around Whitetop or find a pre-cut tree near town, you can pick your very own Christmas tree to take home.

December 2025

December 1 to 31 – Holiday Lights Tour throughout Damascus – Walk, bike or drive to tour the lights!
To enter the Holiday Lights Decorating Contest, have decorations ready on the first Wednesday of December at 7pm. Winners will be announced before the Christmas Parade. Anyone within town limits is eligible to win (no entry form required). Prizes for winners of each category: Best in Show, Best in Show: Business, and Most Lights.

December 5 – A Trail Town Christmas Parade at 7pm in downtown Damascus, featuring a Parade Float Contest and the Damascus Loves Dogs Holiday Costume Contest. The parade will be led by the Clydesdales of Bart Long & Associates Realty and Auction, LLC. Santa will be at the Fire Hall after the parade. To participate in the parade, please email events@damascus.org with the Entry Form at the bottom of the page by December 1st. Event flyer.

December 7 – Fireside Sundays: Live Music with Jenna Greene at Damascus Old Mill Inn, 4 to 6pm.

December 13 – Christmas Cheer & Charity Party at Appalachian Heritage Distillery & Brewery, 5 to 9pm. Live music with Chloe & Jake, a potluck-style dinner, and lots of giving. This year, they’ll be collecting specific food items to help the Rhea Valley Elementary Backpack Program. More info.

December 13 – Santa is coming! to Appalachian Heritage Distillery & Brewery, 7 to 8pm. Bring your camera.

December 13 – Fireside Sundays: Live Music with The Whitts at Damascus Old Mill Inn, 4 to 6pm.

December 16 – Santa is coming! to Appalachian Heritage Distillery & Brewery, 7 to 8pm. Bring your camera.

December 18 – Santa is coming! to Appalachian Heritage Distillery & Brewery, 7 to 8pm. Bring your camera.

December 19 – Fireside Sundays: Live music with Breadfruit Reggae Show at Damascus Old Mill Inn, 7 to 9pm.

December 21 – Christmas Party Day at the Damascus Old Mill Inn, with kid’s painting with Grinch cookies at 1pm, the Polar Express movie & hot chocolate bar at 2:30pm, Ugly Sweater & PJ Party at 4:30pm. Live Music with Samantha Gray & The Jukebox Jam at 5pm.

December 23 – Santa is coming! to Appalachian Heritage Distillery & Brewery, 7 to 8pm. Bring your camera.

December 28 – Fireside Sundays: Live music with Mick Kyte at Damascus Old Mill Inn, 4 to 6pm.

January 1 – First Day Hike at Virginia State Parks – Find a ranger led hike or choose your own adventure at nearby Grayson Highlands State Park or Hungry Mother State Park. Enjoy free parking at state parks on January 1st.

Email events@damascus.org to add an event to the calendar.