Downtown set to get lit this Friday with the Grand Illumination

Downtown will get much brighter starting this Friday. For the 33rd consecutive year the skyscrapers have put on their lights and will flip the switch Friday night. It’s much more than a bunch of lights though. There will be all sorts of entertainment.  Radio personality Jack Lauterback as Jack Frost, several bands, members of the Nutcracker cast, and of course Santa will be there.

Full event details:

The 33rd Annual Celebration of the Holiday Season at James Center! Bring your family to James Center for a beautiful (free) family tradition. At 5:50 p.m. Santa, Snow Queen, WRIC8, 103.7 Play and Friends will welcome everyone to James Center and count down the seconds to turn on the downtown office buildings lights AND James Center’s Great Tree & Reindeer! From 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., experience the magic of the holidays with two blocks of family entertainment. James Center is very excited to present Good Shot Judy as our featured performance!

We are excited to announce Melissa Chase from 103.7 Play as our Snow Queen this year. As a new addition to our team, Jack Lauterback of Play Mornings will be Jack Frost! Our entertainment includes: Good Shot Judy, The James River Brass, SPARC (School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community), Flute Forte, The American Youth Harp Ensemble, The VCU Trombone Choir & Friends, Characters from the Nutcracker Cast, the Virginia Piedmont & Central HO Model Railroad Club and much more. Our Kids Stage in front of One James Center welcomes Silly Bus to perform!

This year, James Center is bringing awareness to Greater Richmond SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now). SCAN will be at Grand Illumination collecting toys for 200 Richmond area children. During the holiday season, these children will be coming to James Center so their parents or guardians can “shop” for gifts. From Grand Illumination night until December 8, please bring unwrapped gifts for children ages 0-17 to the collection sleigh located in the Three James Center Lobby.

Street Closing: On Friday, December 1, 2017: A ½ block of South 10th Street will be closed from 9 am – 10 pm from the James Center Parking Deck to Cary Street. The Parking Garage will remain accessible from Canal Street onto 10th Street. The far right parking lane on Cary Street will close at 9 am and will remain closed until 12 am.

$5.00 parking is available in James Center’s parking deck after 4:00 p.m. Please enter from Cary Street or 10th Street.

This event is provided by James Center.

Video from last year’s Grand Illumination.