Richmond’s winter calendar has two headliners already on sale: a first-ever holiday season at CarMax Park and a major Impressionism show at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Both open in the same week in mid-November, and both have published dates and prices. Here is what each includes, based on reporting from RVAHub’s Trevor Dickerson, plus how the two fit into the neighborhoods around them.
WinterWorld at CarMax Park
WinterWorld runs from November 18, 2026 through January 3, 2027 at CarMax Park, and it is the ballpark’s first holiday season, per RVAHub. The attractions include more than a million lights, the tallest live Christmas tree in Richmond, a 12,500-square-foot outdoor ice skating rink, a six-lane ice slide, a 60-foot Ferris wheel, a holiday retail village, seasonal food and drink, and visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus. There is also the Below Zero Bar, a 21-and-over lounge with winter cocktails.
Tickets are priced by day type, plus taxes and fees. Adults 13 and up are $14.95 on weekdays, $19.95 on weekends and $24.95 on holidays. Children 4 to 12 are $9.95, $14.95 and $19.95 on the same schedule, and children 3 and under are free. Ice skating adds $13, the ice slide $10, and the Ferris wheel $7. That means a weekend evening for two adults and two kids with skating for everyone runs well above the base admission, so budget for the add-ons.
Monet to Matisse at the VMFA
“The Impressionist Revolution: Monet to Matisse from the Dallas Museum of Art” opens November 14, 2026 and runs through April 4, 2027, according to RVAHub. It traces Impressionism from 1874 into the early 20th century with works by Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Berthe Morisot, Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse and others. Adult tickets are $20, seniors 65 and over are $16, and youth 7 to 17 and college students with ID are $10. EBT cardholders pay $2 per ticket for up to four tickets. Admission is free for VMFA members, children 6 and under, Virginia employees, K-12 teachers, and active-duty military and their families. Check the VMFA’s website for timed-entry details and hours.
Planning a winter move or a listing?
Winter is a good time to start a home search or plan a spring listing. Set up a saved search for homes near the Museum District and the Fan to catch new listings early.
The Neighborhoods Around Them
The VMFA is on Boulevard in the Museum District, a residential area of early 20th-century houses, tree-lined streets and easy access to the Fan and Carytown. If you are visiting from out of the area, a museum morning with lunch in Carytown is an easy plan. CarMax Park sits on the north side of the city in the Diamond District, next to Scott’s Addition, where a lot of the city’s breweries and new apartments are concentrated. If you want to make it a night out, our roundup of Richmond neighborhoods where you can walk to a brewery covers the area.
Both venues will bring traffic. Expect weekend evenings at CarMax Park and Saturday afternoons at the VMFA to be the busiest. Our fall events guide covers what is on before then, and our Richmond events page keeps a running list. Considering a move closer to the city’s attractions? Our Buy With Us page explains how we work with buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does WinterWorld open at CarMax Park?
November 18, 2026, and it runs through January 3, 2027.
How much are WinterWorld tickets?
Adults 13 and up are $14.95 on weekdays, $19.95 on weekends and $24.95 on holidays. Children 4 to 12 are $9.95, $14.95 and $19.95 on the same schedule, and children 3 and under are free, all plus taxes and fees.
What costs extra at WinterWorld?
Ice skating is $13, the ice slide is $10 and the Ferris wheel is $7, in addition to admission.
What is at WinterWorld?
More than a million lights, the tallest live Christmas tree in Richmond, a 12,500-square-foot ice rink, a six-lane ice slide, a 60-foot Ferris wheel, a retail village, food and drink, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a 21-and-over lounge.
When is the Monet to Matisse exhibition at the VMFA?
November 14, 2026 through April 4, 2027.
How much are VMFA exhibition tickets?
Adults $20, seniors 65 and over $16, youth 7 to 17 and college students with ID $10. EBT cardholders pay $2 each for up to four tickets.
Who gets in free to the exhibition?
VMFA members, children 6 and under, Virginia employees, K-12 teachers, and active-duty military and their families.
Where is the exhibition from?
The Dallas Museum of Art. It covers Impressionism from 1874 through the early 20th century.
Written by the Mission Realty Team – meet the team. Real Broker LLC, 3701 Cox Rd, Richmond, VA 23233. (804) 601-4960.
