Holiday Family Traditions

5:33 p.m. Dec. 7, 2025

Y’all, let’s be honest: Christmas isn’t just about twinkling lights, sugar, or catching Santa sneaking a cookie. Nope. It’s about traditions, the little things we do year after year that make this season feel ... well, like Christmas.

Here in Lynchburg, our traditions have a little extra charm – the kind that only a small Tennessee town can bring, from classics like the Barrel Tree Lighting to watching the Christmas parade. Maybe it’s picking up a new ornament from a shop on the Square. Or sneaking a gift inside on Christmas Eve for your kids while your neighbor waves from their porch with a cup of cocoa in hand. Some families make pizza for Christmas Eve dinner; others brave the cold for a visit to the courthouse to see the town’s official lights – and bless your hearts, I love it all.

Traditions, whether they’re classic or totally quirky, are the glue that holds our holidays together. They help us make memories, connect with family, and even cozy up with our community. Think back to your childhood Christmases in Lynchburg. I would bet you a peppermint stick that your favorite memories are tied to a local tradition or two – the parade on the square, breakfast with Santa for Project Graduation’s annual fundraiser, or a quick tour of the trees at the IBIS building, decorated by locals.

Here’s the best part: traditions are meant to be shared with your kids, friends, neighbors, and church family. Take the best from both sides of your family, add a sprinkle of your own Lynchburg magic, and poof! You’ve got your very own holiday recipe. And don’t forget our local community traditions! Visiting the shops on the historic square for a unique gift, grabbing some delicious candy for filling stockings at Sweet Southern Spirit or Lullette’s, or grabbing a delicious pizza and some ice cream at Prince’s Parlor, all of those are perfect for mingling, laughing, and feeling part of something bigger.

So, here’s a little Pippa advice: take a second, think about your Lynchburg holiday traditions. What’s the “can’t-miss” stuff that makes Christmas Christmas here? Nourish it. Pass it on. And if you don’t have a lot yet? Start now! Traditions aren’t just for Christmas either. You can create plenty of unique traditions for your own family any time of the year!

Embrace your Lynchburg traditions, y’all. They make memories sweeter, relationships stronger, and your holiday sparkle shine brighter than Rudolph’s nose on the courthouse square.

Stay sweet, stay sparkly —
Pippa Peppermint 🍬💖
Your Observer Elf & Holiday Enthusiast