Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance presents…
Winter Wonderfest
Saturday, December 6, 2025 from 1-6 PM
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It’s time for free, festive fun for the family in Downtown Harrisonburg!
‘Tis the season to be downtown! The most magical day in Downtown Harrisonburg is back and bigger than ever! Join Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance on Saturday, December 6, for Winter Wonderfest. Enjoy carriage rides, photos with Santa, holiday shopping, performances, and more!
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Presented by…
Vendor Applications due November 27
Are you interested in having a booth at Winter Wonderfest? HDR is currently accepting vendor applications from nonprofit prganizations, crafters, artists, retailers, and food businesses. Visit our Vendor Information page for pricing and applications.
Featured Activities
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During this festive fun run, participants can run, walk, or roll in wheelchairs through downtown Harrisonburg to raise awareness for The Arc of Harrisonburg and Rockingham.
Registration for adults comes with a Santa Suit, and children 12 and younger receive an Elf hat!
This fun run is family-friendly and inclusive for people of all ability levels. Activities, contests, and prizes included!
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It's the most wonderful time of the year! Visit downtown retail shops to build your own plate of unique, locally-made holiday cookies during this self-guided tour that's great for groups of friends and families alike!
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Enjoy free horse and carriage rides down Main Street.
Sign-ups will be in-person only near Massanutten Regional Library.
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Downtown Harrisonburg’s Gingerbread House Competition invites organizations and community members to get creative and showcase their confection-construction talents. We will have several prizes that will be awarded in the “Business or Organization” category (local businesses, nonprofit organizations, academic and social clubs, professional bakers) and “Community Members” category (individuals, families, roommates, etc.). Entries will be on display in the "Welcome to Gingerburg" Gingerbread House Gallery at Nest Realty (129 W Wolfe St), where the public will be invited to vote on their favorites during the festival!
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Sip & Stroll is an element to our events that replaces the usual beer garden. Adults aged 21+ can purchase a beer, wine or cocktail at a participating brewery, cidery, or restaurant and enjoy it while strolling within the downtown event footprint.
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Visit with Santa at the Springhouse on Court Square.
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Stick around after Winter Wonderfest for the annual Harrisonburg Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting.
For more information about the parade, please visit Harrisonburg’s Parks & Rec page here.
Looking for Sip & Stroll Specials?
Click the link below for a Sip & Stroll overview, participating businesses and drink specials. Last call will be 5:30pm.
Downtown Harrisonburg’s Fifth Annual Gingerbread House Competition invites organizations and community members to get creative and showcase their confection-construction talents. We will have several prizes that will be awarded in the “Business or Organization” category (local businesses, nonprofit organizations, academic and social clubs, professional bakers) and “Community Members” category (individuals, families, roommates, etc.). Entries will be on display in the "Welcome to Gingerburg" Gingerbread House Gallery at Nest Realty (129 W Wolfe St), where the public will be invited to vote on their favorites during Winter Wonderfest on Saturday, December 6 from 1 - 6 PM!
Submission Form Deadline: Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Fifth Annual Gingerbread House Competiton
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"Business or Organization" Category (i.e. local businesses, nonprofit organizations, academic and social clubs, professional bakers)
1st Place: $150 Downtown Dollars
2nd Place: $100 Downtown Dollars
3rd Place: $75 Downtown Dollars
"Community Members" Category (i.e. individuals, families, roommates, etc.)
1st Place: $150 Downtown Dollars
2nd Place: $100 Downtown Dollars
3rd Place: $75 Downtown Dollarsiption text goes here
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Both the "Business or Organization" Category and "Community Members" Category entrants must adhere to the following rules:
All Gingerbread Houses must be built on a heavy duty cardboard or PLYWOOD board base not to exceed 18” x 18”. FREE pre-cut plywood bases are available for pick-up at both the HDR office (located directly above Pale Fire Brewing Co. at 217 S. Liberty St., #204) and the Nest Realty office (129 W Wolfe St.).
The foundational base board, candy wrappers, and lights are the only non-edible materials that can be used in the actual construction of your Gingerbread House.
No artificial materials, such as styrofoam or wood, are to be used to construct the house.
Please come up with a title/name for your Gingerbread House and place it in a visible place on the base of your entry.
By entering this contest, you’re granting permission to HDR and Nest Realty to share photographs of your entry on our respective social media platforms.
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The Gingerbread Houses will be on display at Nest Realty to be voted on by the public from 12 - 6 PM on Saturday, December 6. Each voter will be permitted to cast 1 vote in each category. Last year, over 700 individuals participated in the public voting!
Gingerbread House Drop-off: Houses can be dropped off downtown at Nest Realty (129 W Wolfe St) on Friday, December 5 from 12 - 7 PM or Saturday, December 6 from 11 AM – 12:30 PM.
*If you’d like to compete but can’t deliver your house during that time, an alternate drop-off date and time can be arranged by emailing claire.wayman@nestrealty.com.
Gingerbread House Display & Public Voting: Saturday, December 6, 2025 from 1 - 6 PM at Nest Realty (129 W Wolfe St). Votes will be tallied at the close of voting, and prize winners will be contacted by HDR no later than Tuesday, December 9.
Gingerbread House Pick-up: Entries can be picked up at Nest Realty between 9 AM and 5 PM Tuesday, December 9 through Thursday, December 11. Entries not picked up by 5 PM on Friday, December 12 will be disposed of. If you need to arrange a pickup time outside of these hours, please email claire.wayman@nestrealty.com.
Full Event Schedule
Use the Filters to discover free activities, kid-friendly fun, promotions, vendors, Sip & Stroll specials, and more!
Event Parking
There will be ample event parking in downtown Harrisonburg for Winter Wonderfet, including additional private lots open to the public on the event day. Main Street, from MLK to just before Gay St, will be closed from 7 AM - 9 PM, but parking will be accessible from Mason Street and Liberty Street. At 5 PM, the North end of the Main Street closure will be extended from Gay Street to USA Barbershop (425 N Main St.), and the Gay Street closure will span from Noll Drive to Mason Street.
Public parking is available all day in the municipal parking lots in blue and in additional Saturday Event Parking lots indicated in green on the map on this page. Street parking is also available on Liberty Street between Grattan Street and Warren Street.
Guests will be able to park in hourly spots without time penalty. Please adhere to any posted tow-away zones, accessible parking spaces, and Restricted Parking areas.
Free Public Event-Only Parking Lots (Marked with Green Blocks):
Lot across from Matchbox Realty (Across from 202 N Liberty St)
Matchbox Office Lot (202 N Liberty St)
136 W Elizabeth St (136 W Elizabeth St, enter on W Elizabeth or W Wolfe via High St. or Liberty St.)
Church of the Incarnation (75 N Mason St)
Rocktown Realty (218 E Market St)
ICE House, park only in the JMU and non-residential spaces (164 W Bruce St, enter on W Bruce or W Water via High St. or Liberty St.)
Jenzabar (181 S Liberty St)
Larson Wealth Management (124 Newman Ave, enter from N Mason St)
Lot across from 124 Newman (151 S Mason Street)
LD&B (205 S Liberty St)
Harrisonburg Electric Commission (89 W Bruce Street)
Elks Lodge (482 S Main St)
Good Wealth Management (off map, south) (544 S Main St)
PB Mares (off map, south) (558 S Main St)
Municipal Parking Lots & Decks (Marked in Blue):
The municipal lots and decks marked in blue will be OPEN to the public with no time penalty. Use this City of Harrisonburg resource to navigate to municipal parking lots and decks in Downtown Harrisonburg.
The following municipal lots will be CLOSED to the public.
City Hall Parking
Court Square Parking
Spots adjacent to Turner Pavilion
Rockingham County Admin Parking
“Jimmy Madison” Parking
Road Closure:
Road closures will begin on Saturday at 7 AM. Roads are estimated to reopen by 9 PM. Road closures are marked in red on the map.
