Photos | Richmond Boat Parade of Lights 2024 by Dave Parrish

by | Dec 20, 2024 | COMMUNITY, CULTURE, DOWNTOWN RVA, PHOTOGRAPHY

Last Saturday night, Richmond’s James River transformed into a glowing celebration for the annual Richmond Boat Parade of Lights. Boats decked out in holiday lights and festive decorations turned the river into a moving display of seasonal cheer. From glowing Santas, twinkling reindeer and The Grinch, more than 20 boats brought creativity and color to the cold December night.

The crowd gathered at Intermediate Terminal and Rocketts Landing—a mix of families, friends, and curious onlookers. Kids pointed excitedly, adults smiled over steaming cups of something warm, and for a few hours, the city came together to watch the river come alive.

Local photographer Dave Parrish captured the magic.

RVA Staff

RVA Staff

Since 2005, the dedicated team at RVA Magazine, known as RVA Staff, has been delivering the cultural news that matters in Richmond, VA. This talented group of professionals is committed to keeping you informed about the events and happenings in the city.




more in photo

Northern Lights, Northern Lives: Queer Life Beyond the Lower 48

Northern Lights, Northern Lives: A Spectrum of Gender Across Alaska and the Yukon is a collection of 50 striking photographs of LGBTQ+ people and their allies that is set in the breathtaking landscapes of Alaska and Yukon. The images are accompanied by personal essays...

Photos | Lamb of God Tear Through The Dome in Virginia Beach

Lamb of God returned to the region Sunday night, headlining a stop on their 2026 North American tour at The Dome in Virginia Beach. The Richmond-born band brought a stacked lineup with them, featuring Kublai Khan TX, Fit For An Autopsy, and Sanguisugabogg, part of a...

Photos | Holy Roller Packs The Camel for Back-to-Back Shows

A sold-out night at The Camel is one thing. Doing it back-to-back is another. Holy Roller (read our last interview HERE)  has been quietly building toward this for a while now. A Richmond band rooted in good time rock with a bit of country twang, pulling from all over...

Photos | Thousands Gather for No Kings Protests Across Richmond

Two separate “No Kings” demonstrations took place across downtown Richmond on Saturday, March 28, drawing crowds to both Kanawha Plaza and Monroe Park as part of a coordinated nationwide day of action. The first gathering began earlier in the day at Kanawha Plaza,...

Homegrown Stories Isn’t Content, It’s a Shared Experience

This Friday, March 27, a different sort of experimental prompt video event will showcase a collection of work made for Homegrown Stories. In the early days of RVA Magazine, that space existed through Project Resolution, a monthly prompt-based series that gave new...

Famous / Not Famous People: Photographer Matt Licari

Over a decade ago, some of Matt Licari’s earliest published photographs appeared in our printed pages, back when he was living in Richmond. Since then, Licari has gone on to become a sought-after editorial photographer, shooting globally recognized actors, musicians,...