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HOLIDAYS AT THE JEFFERSON

Join us at The Jefferson for a festive holiday getaway, dining experience or gathering. Please review the details of our offerings below and make your reservations early.  We look forward to celebrating the season with you and yours.

Decorations

The hotel will be decorated for the holidays Monday, November 27, 2023 through Sunday, January 7, 2024. The hotel will be adorned with hundreds of live poinsettias, thousands of twinkle lights, yards of garland and dozens of wreaths.  Signature displays will be created on the Grand Staircase, in the Circle Drive and in the Palm Court lobby, along with more than 20 decorated trees placed throughout the hotel.  The breathtaking centerpiece, the 30-foot Christmas tree in the Rotunda, will be embellished with hundreds of oversized ornaments, bows and baubles, along with too many white twinkle lights to count. 

The annual Jefferson Gingerbread display will also be available throughout the season for guests to enjoy.  This year’s theme will again be a surprise until its unveiling on Monday, November 27 but we can promise all the delightful smells of freshly baked gingerbread and royal icing, the impeccable details created by hundreds of pounds of individually placed candies and the sweet memories that you have enjoyed in years past. 

Holiday Package

Whether you are planning a holiday getaway or just need a little extra space for visiting family and friends this year, our annual Holidays at The Jefferson package is available for mid-week stays throughout the season.  

Holidays at The Jefferson 

This flexible package includes This flexible package includes a grand premier guest room and complimentary self-parking. Rates from $295. 

Book Now

Offer valid Sunday through Thursday evenings November 12, 2023 through January 4, 2024, excluding Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.  Package is based upon availability and rates will vary.  Book early to secure the best rates on your preferred travel dates.Taxes are additional.

Lemaire Holiday Dining

Throughout the holiday season, Lemaire Restaurant will be serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails daily. Advance reservations are required for all guests wishing to dine in Lemaire. Please note that breakfast reservations will be available for overnight guests only.  

Groups of 10 or more guests are invited to contact Samantha at 804-649-4757 for assistance with private dining events. 

Private luncheons are also available this season in Lemaire, Monday – Friday, for groups of 9-18 guests. 

Thanksgiving: Reservations are filling quickly for Thanksgiving Day.  Guests will have their choice of a traditional Thanksgiving four-course holiday menu or select items from the a la carte dinner menu.   Seatings are available from 1pm-8pm.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: Reservations are also filling quickly for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dining.  Holiday specials and the regular a la carte dinner menu will be offered.  Seatings are available from 5pm-9pm on Christmas Eve and 1pm-8pm on Christmas Day.  Lemaire Bar will close at 10pm on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve is currently sold-out for parties larger than 4 people.

New Year’s Eve: Celebratory specials and the regular a la carte dinner menu will be served on New Year’s Eve with seatings from 5pm-10pm.

New Year’s Day: Breakfast will be available from 7am-1pm for overnight guests.  The lounge menu will be served from 1pm-5pm with seating available first come, first served.  Dinner service will be available from 5pm-9pm and the bar will be serving from 1pm-11pm. 

Guests of Lemaire are invited to self-park at no charge. Valet parking is also available at a cost of $18.00.

Reservations for Lemaire dining can be made on-line through OpenTable or by calling 804-649-4629.

TJ’s Bar and Lounge Holiday Dining

Back-by-popular demand, TJ’s Bar and Lounge at The Jefferson will be reopening this fall in preparation for the holiday season.  More information on fall hours of operation will be available here on the website on September 6, 2023.   

At this time, we have plans to offer seating in the lounge area with views of the tree in the Rotunda for lunch, dinner and cocktail service Monday through Saturday.  Seating will be offered on a first come, first served basis. 

Holiday Brunch at The Jefferson

Holiday Brunches will be served on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve, along with all Sundays during the winter holiday season.  Please see a complete list of brunch dates and their respective reservation dates below. 

Pricing
Adults:  $85.00 
Children 4-8 years:  $45.00
Children 3 and under:  Free
A 20% gratuity and 13.5% tax will be automatically added to your bill.

Reservation Dates 

Please mark your calendars for the following holiday brunch reservation dates.  Reservations will be taken on each date starting promptly at 11am EST.  Holiday brunches are very popular, and reservations will fill within a few hours.  Please call 804-649-4662 for reservations. 

Thursday, November 23 (Thanksgiving Day) - Reservations open on Wednesday, August 23 - SOLD OUT with waitlist available
Sunday, November 26 - Reservations open on Saturday, August 26 - SOLD OUT with waitlist available
Sunday, December 3 - Reservations open on Monday, September 4 - SOLD OUT and waitlist is full
Sunday, December 10 - Reservations open on Monday, September 11 - SOLD OUT and waitlist is full
Sunday, December 17 (SANTA BRUNCH) - Reservations open on Monday, September 18 - SOLD OUT and waitlist is full
Monday, December 25 (Christmas Day) - Reservations open on Monday, September 25 - SOLD OUT with waitlist available
Sunday, December 31 (New Year's Eve) - Reservations open on Monday, October 2
Sunday, January 7, 2024 - Reservations open on Saturday, October 7
Please note that we will not be hosting brunch on Christmas Eve (Sunday, December 24, 2023). 

Reservation times are 10:30am, 11:00am, 1:00pm and 1:30pm.  Each reservation has a two-hour seating limit.  

Seating

Brunch seating is available in three areas:

  • The Rotunda which is the area at the bottom of the Grand Staircase with the buffet around its perimeter.  
  • TJ’s Lounge which is a more intimate space located next to the Rotunda.  Please note that some seating in TJ’s Lounge is raised by two steps.  
  • The Mezzanine which is the balcony overlooking the Rotunda.  Guests can use the elevator or the Grand Staircase to visit the buffet.

Menu

Our Executive Banquet Chef and his team feature the freshest local seasonal ingredients as they craft holiday inspired menus each week of the season.  Stations include made-to-order omelets, breakfast items, carving station, soup station, Virginia seafood display, lunch items, fruit and cheese display and a decadent display of desserts and miniature confections. 

Parking

Complimentary self-parking is available for brunch guests at one of our two lots:

  1. The Main Street Lot (recommended for guests seated in the Rotunda or Lounge area) is located between Adams Street and Jefferson Street. Guests using the Main Street Lot must use the lot’s electronic pay stations to indicate that they are joining us in the hotel.
  2. The Adams Street Lot (recommended for guests seated on the mezzanine) is located across from the Franklin Street hotel entrance. If using this lot, guests should ask the host or their server for a parking validation card from the hotel before leaving.

Valet parking is also available in the hotel's main entrance at 101 W Franklin Street for $18 per car.

Dress Code

There is no dress code for brunch.  Guests are invited to dress as they are most comfortable, but you will find that most of our guests prefer to dress up for the occasion.  

Cancellation Policy for Holiday Brunches
Credit card guarantees are required on all holiday brunch reservations.  Separate checks are not available but up to four separate forms of payment can be accepted per table.

For parties of five (5) or less, cancellations are accepted at no charge until the Monday prior to your reservation. You may change the number of guests for your reservation up to the Thursday prior.  The final guest count given will be the amount you are charged on the day of your reservation.  If you do not cancel your reservation by the deadline or do not arrive for your reservation, you will be charged for the full amount.   

For parties of 6-12, cancellations are accepted at no charge until two weeks prior to your reservation. You may change the number of guests for your reservation up to the Monday prior to your reservation.  The final guest count will be the amount you are charged on the day of your reservation.  If you do not cancel your reservation by the deadline or do not arrive for your reservation, you will be charged for the full amount. 

Parties of 13 and above require a contract, and you must speak with a Brunch Coordinator to book. 

Holiday Teas

Holiday Afternoon Tea will be served Monday through Saturday beginning Friday, November 24, 2023 through Saturday, January 6, 2024 between 12:00pm-4:15pm.

The cost is $60 per adult and $50 per child (ages 4-8), plus tax and gratuity. There is no charge for children 3 years old and younger. (One paying adult per child under 3 please.)

Chocolate Lover’s Tea will be offered every Friday and Saturday between November 24 and January 6  (excluding December 2) at a cost of $65 per adult and $55 per child (ages 4-8), plus tax and gratuity. There is no charge for children 3 years old and younger. (One paying adult per child under 3 please.)

A gluten free menu is available at an additional charge of $6.00 per person. Peanut or dairy free menus are also available at an additional charge of $4.00 per person. Please request these options at the time of reservation.

Separate checks are not available for parties of 6 or more guests.

Reservation Dates

Afternoon tea will not be served on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve or Day, New Year's Eve or Day or November 26 or December 2,3,9,10,13,17 or 21, 2023.  

Teas will be served on the Mezzanine balcony, overlooking the beautiful Rotunda lobby.  

Holiday Tea Reservations will begin August 30th at 8am and will be taken in one-week blocks.

Reservations for all holiday teas can be made by calling 804-649-4710. Please see our Reservation Tips below for more information.

Date to Call Tea Reservation Dates
Wednesday, August 30th, 2023 November 24 & 25 and December 1, 4, 5 & 6, 2023 Sold out for parties of five or less on all dates.
Wednesday, September 6th, 2023 December 7 - 12, 2023 (tea will not be served on Dec 9,10 or 13) Sold out for parties of five or less on all dates.
Wednesday, September 13th, 2023 December 14 - 20, 2023 (tea will not be served on Dec 17) Sold out for parties of five or less on all dates. Sold out for all party sizes on Saturday, December 16th.
Wednesday, September 20th, 2023 December 22 - 28, 2023 (tea will not be served on Dec 21,24 or 25) Sold out for parties of 12 or less on all dates.
Wednesday, September 27th, 2023 December 29 - January 6, 2024 (tea will not be served on Dec 31 or Jan 1)

Santa Teas

Santa Teas will be served on Saturday, December 2 and Thursday, December 21, 2023 from 12pm-2pm.  

All reservations for Santa Teas will be taken on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 beginning promptly at 8:00am EST*.

*Reservations for Santa Teas generally fill within one hour.  Regular afternoon tea will not be served on these dates.  

The cost is $75 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Children 3 and under are complimentary. A credit card guarantee is required at the time of booking.

Reservations for Santa Teas can be made by calling 804-649-4710. Please see our Reservation Tips below for more information.

Parking

Complimentary self-parking is available for tea guests in the Main Street Lot located between Adams and Jefferson Streets or in the Adams Street Lot located across from the Franklin Street hotel entrance.  Valet parking is available at the Franklin Street entrance (101 W Franklin Street) for $18 per car.

Dress Code

There is no dress code for afternoon tea.  Guests are invited to dress as they are most comfortable, but you will find that most of our guests prefer to dress up for the occasion. 

Holiday Tea Cancellation Policies

Cancellations for parties of 5 or less will be accepted at no charge until 7 days prior to your reservation. For parties of 6-12, cancellations will be accepted until 14 days prior to your reservation. All other cancellation and reservation change policies stated above will apply.

RESERVATION TIPS:

  • Calls will not be answered before 8am. If you are calling before 8am, you will not be entered into the queue when it opens.
  • If you are receiving a busy signal or your call is not being answered when calling 804-649-4710, please continue to call back. This means that the reservations line is currently full, but another caller will be allowed into the reservations queue soon.
  • Once you are in the queue, please do not hang up! We have a team of people taking reservations and your call will be answered in the order in which it was received.
  • On each reservation call-in date, availability updates will be posted on the home page of this website.  Please be sure to refresh your browser each time you visit for the latest information.
  • Reservations will only be accepted by telephone at 804-649-4710. Unfortunately, our team will not be able to assist you with reservations via social media, email, walk-in or on another telephone line coming into the hotel.
  • In effort to minimize hold times and maximize availability of reservations we ask that a single caller, using a single phone line, be designated for those parties wishing to make reservations for a group. We are happy to take more than one reservation per caller but request your assistance in avoiding double bookings and long wait times caused by duplicate bookings.
  • Reservations are non-transferable as they are booked by table, not seat.
  • Please have your credit card ready when calling.  A credit card guarantee is required to hold your reservation.
  • Please note that tea is not served on Sunday.

Holiday Gatherings

Whether you are planning a holiday gathering for your company, social organization or your extended family, The Jefferson is known for its impeccable service, festive atmosphere and exceptional food – the perfect combination for any special event. Call 804-649-4612 today to plan your holiday event at The Jefferson in one of our beautiful function spaces.

A variety of group dining options are also available through Lemaire.  Please see the Lemaire Holiday section above for additional information.

Whether planning your holiday gathering at The Jefferson, in Lemaire or at another downtown venue, discounted room rates are available for groups of 10 or more rooms. Please call Ryan Shilling at 804-649-4666 for availability and rates.

Holiday Gift Cards

The Jefferson Hotel gift cards make the perfect holiday gift for the food lovers and travel enthusiasts on your list. Gift cards are available in any denomination and never expire. Please place your order on our website.

Gift cards are also available for purchase in Gators Gifts during normal business hours.

All holidays at The Jefferson offerings are subject to change without prior notice and are based upon availability.   Advance reservations are required.