Picture the scene: dozens of scarlet-jacketed riders, packs of pure-bred foxhounds, vintage horse-drawn carriages, a 1.5-mile-long procession of floats, firetrucks, drummers, bagpipers, bikers on Harleys…
Welcome to Christmas in Middleburg, Virginia
An hour west of Washington, D.C., historic Middleburg, the US capital of horse and hunt country, is gorgeous all year round but it comes into its own in December starting with the Christmas in Middleburg parade on the first Saturday of the month (December 7 this year). The tradition dates back to 1914 when students of the all-girls Foxcroft School – alma mater of Carnegie, Roosevelt and Rockefeller girls – staged a Christmas pageant for the community. Decades later the town added a parade to coincide with the Middleburg Hunt Review. Fast forward to today and the event is a nationally renowned winter spectacle.
Celebrations actually start on the Friday, with the Oh Holy Night! Tree Lighting Ceremony and carols in the garden of the Pink Box visitor center in the heart of town. Nearby restaurants and bars are buzzing while kids sip hot chocolate found at local shops. On Saturday the fun kicks off at 8 a.m. when the PTO of Middleburg Charter School hosts the annual “Breakfast with Santa”. The little ones get to meet and take photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus while parents and older siblings enjoy a hearty family-style breakfast. Soon it’s time for the parades.
At 11 a.m. is the Middleburg Hunt & Hounds Review where hounds and dazzling mounted foxhunt riders of the Middleburg Hunt parade down two-lane Washington Street. The pavement is packed with a festive crowd so come early for a good view or book a streetside table at lively King Street Oyster Bar where you can toast it all with a champagne glass in hand. The Christmas Parade follows at 2 p.m. where half the town’s residents participate while the other half cheers them on. After that it’s time to get into the spirit of it all at one of the many wineries, breweries, restaurants and bars in and around the town.
But the weekend is not over. To come full circle, the following day - Sunday 2 p.m. – the new girls of the aforementioned Foxcroft School host their traditional Christmas Pageant, a dazzling rendition of the Nativity featuring live animals, music and a manger.
Tis the season to be merry. Bring the whole family to celebrate Christmas in Middleburg!
Parking is at a premium parade day so plan beforehand. Priority Parking ($60) is at Mickie Gordon Park and VIP Parking ($100) is at Lost Barrel Brewing west of town, with shuttle busses running from both locations between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. For Handicap Accessible Free Parking, go to Middleburg United Methodist Church with a valid DMV sticker.
