Seven things you can do on New Year’s Day besides nurse a hangover

RICHMOND, Va. — The biggest party of the year has passed, and now its 2015.

Most everyone has the day off and therefore an opportunity to start the New Year off with gusto.

There’s no need to stay inside, especially not with many fine events wrapping up soon.

1. Check out the Illuminate Light Show at Meadow Event Park, in Doswell.

This drive-through light show is designed to be enjoyed from the comfort of your vehicle. The lights are synchronized to holiday music that plays through your car radio and show is built using nearly a million LED lights and more than 22 miles of cable. The show features an 80-foot tunnel of lights, 50-foot Christmas trees, dancing snowmen, singing trees, giant candy canes and more.

There isn’t much time to see this one. It ends on Jan. 3. You can visit between 5:30 to 10 p.m.

Details here: http://www.illuminatelightshow.com/

2. RVA on Ice

Get out and ice skate before the rink at 6th and Broad Street closes on Jan. 4.

The themed skate on New Year’s Day is Pajama Party.

The hours are noon – 11 p.m. but it is always best to call ahead to make sure the rink is operating.

Call 804-592-3330.

3. Take a hike at one of Virginia’s state parks! 

First day hikes brought out more than 27,000 people nationally on Jan. 1, 2014. It’s the day of the year when state parks invite you to take a free hike.

Find the participating parks and hikes near you, by clicking here. 

4. Visit Dominion GardenFest of Lights

A holiday tradition featuring more than half-a-million twinkling lights, hand-crafted botanical decorations, model trains and more. Take a stroll through the beautiful gardens before Jan. 12, when the exhibit closes.

Info:

1800 Lakeside Avenue
$12/adults, $11/seniors, $8/children, $7/garden members
5 p.m. – 10 p.m.

5. See the Forbidden City: Imperial Treasures from the Palace Museum, Beijing exhibit

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is open 365 days a year. There’s no need to let that opportunity go to waste. Especially not with a world-class, exclusive exhibit showing at the VMFA. Especially not when said exhibit wraps up on January 11.

The exhibit features about 200 exquisite objects that includes The Emperor’s throne, portraits of emperors and empresses, paintings and religious sculptures.

Tickets to see Forbidden City are $20, $16 for seniors 65 plus and adult groups of 10+  and $10 for students with ID and youth ages 7-17. Free for members and children 6 and under. Details here: http://www.VMFA.museum

6. Fill your belly, then go make it quiver with laughter. 

This is a two-part entry. After you stuff your belly full of good brunch food or dinner (see this list — and double check with restaurants before heading out) get tickets to the First Show of the Year at the Comedy Coalition.

8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Pay what you can
8 W. Broad Street
(804) 332-5857

7. OR,  you can go see “The Interview” at the Goochland Drive-In Theater. 

The Goochland Drive-In is the only movie theater from Virginia Beach to D.C. to Roanoke that will be showing this “controversial” comedy.

Gather up a bunch of friends and head out to Hadensville.

$5 a person
Movie starts at 5:30 p.m., but gates open at 3:45 p.m. Get there early they say!
4344 Old Fredericksburg Road, Hadensville, VA 23067
http://www.goochlanddriveintheater.com/

***Total disclosure. This was going to be a list of six things but we threw one in for good luck!***