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Pictures: Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg

Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Grand Illumination fireworks in Colonial Williamsburg 2015.
Melanie Sochan / Daily Press
Fireworks erupt over the Governor's Palace during the 2011 Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg.
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Fireworks light up the evening sky above Colonial Williamsburg as spectators gather outside the Governor's Palace to experience the Grand Illumination. The event was held in Colonial times to celebrate the birthday of the king of England. The festivities are now used to kick off the holiday season in CW, with fireworks, carols and apple cider. More than 25,000 people attended in 1992.
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Crowds gather around fire for warmth at the Grand Illumination Sunday night in Colonial Williamsburg.
Herb Barnes / Daily Press
Colonial Williamsburg's Grand Illumination in 1976.
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Fireworks fill the sky during the Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg on Sunday.
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The crowd watches fireworks at Colonial Williamsburg's Grand Illumination in 1989.
Craig Moran / Daily Press
Richard Edwards, center, holds up his daughter, Lauren, as his wife, Darlene, in front of him, watches the fireworks display at the Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg in 1991.
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Colonial Williamsburg officially started the Christmas season as the audience gathered around the Magazine to watch the fireworks in 1990. Candlelit windows and bonfires added to the warm glow of the season. Other traditional entertainment included fife and drum music and dramatic presentations.
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Fife and Drum play at the Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg on Sunday night.
Dave Bowman / Daily Press
Colonial Williamsburg held its 72nd Grand Illumination in 2006 which was threatened by a misty rain. The rain was quickly forgotten as traditional fireworks began to light up the sky around the Capitol Building.
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Rev'd Tyler Montgomery, chaplin at William and Mary with his dog Willie raising money for The Cantebury Mission Funds at the Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg on Sunday night.
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Candles in the windows in celebration of the Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg on Sunday.
Buddy Norris / Daily Press
The crowd watches fireworks at Colonial Williamsburg's Grand Illumination in 1982.
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Grand Illumination fireworks in Colonial Williamsburg 2015.
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Fireworks fill the sky during the Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg on Sunday.
Thom Slater / Daily Press
Colonial Williamsburg's Grand Illumination in 1978.
Thom Slater / Daily Press
Fireworks at Colonial Williamsburg's Grand Illumination in 1983.
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
The craft house lit and decoarated for the Grand Illumination celebration in Colonial Williamsburg 2015.
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Rick and Karen Dietz of Archdale, NC enjoys her birthday celebration at the Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg on Sunday.
Melanie Sochan / Daily Press
Fireworks erupt over the Governor's Palace during the Grand Illumination in Williamsburg in 2011.
Thom Slater / Daily Press
Dottie Aebischer, left, and Joyce Britt, right, both of Temple Baptist Church in Newport News, sing Christmas carols in front of a burning Cresset at the Powder Magazine during Colonial Williamsburg's 1982 Grand Illumination.
Dave Bowman / Daily Press
The silhouette of the Capitol Building in Colonial Williamsburg appears as smoke and fireworks explode in the sky Sunday night for Colonial Williamsburg's 72nd annual Grand Illumination in 2006.
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Fireworks fill the sky during the Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg on Sunday.
Herb Barnes / Daily Press
The cannon firing signals the start of Colonial Williamsburg's Grand Illumination in 1976.
Dennis Tennant / Daily Press
Smoke shrouds the Colonial Capitol after the fireworks display during Colonial Williamsburg's Grand Illumination in 1987.
G.F. Bryant, Jr. / Daily Press
The boom of the cannon signaled residents to place lighted candles in their windows, and by the light of Cresset torches the crowds watched colonial musicians perform at Colonial Williamsburg's Grand Illumination in 1977.
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Strader Blankenship, Carroll County school superintendent wears his light up Rudolph nose to the Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg on Sunday.
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Fife and Drum plays at the Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg on Sunday.
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Colonial Williamsburg's Grand Illumination
Daily Press Archives
Colonial Williamsburg's Grand Illumination
Buddy Norris / Daily Press
Colonial fifers and drummers warm their hands next to the flaming Cresset on the Palace Green during the 1985 Grand Illumination.
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Botetourt Chamber Singers prepares before going on stage at the Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg on Sunday.
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Crowds gather around fire for warmth at the Grand Illumination Sunday night in Colonial Williamsburg.
Craig Moran / Daily Press
Fireworks light the sky above the Magazine and Guard House during the Grand Illumination ceremony in Colonial Williamsburg in 1991.
Herb Barnes / Daily Press
Fifers perform at Colonial Williamsburg's Grand Illumination in 1976.
Thom Slater / Daily Press
Fireworks explode over the Palace Green during Colonial Williamsburg's Grand Illumination in 1982.
Diane Cebula / Daily Press
Fireworks go off at the Governor's Palace on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2007, the annual Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg. Three different displays of fireworks were simultaneously shot off at the Governor's Palace, the Magazine, and the Capitol.
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Fireworks fill the sky during the Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg on Sunday.
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Dog in holiday wear while at the Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg on Sunday.
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Fireworks fill the sky during the Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg on Sunday.
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Grand Illumination fireworks in Colonial Williamsburg 2015.
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Grand Illumination fireworks in Colonial Williamsburg 2015.
Melanie Sochan / Special to the Daily Press
People try to stay warm and dry in the light rain while watching entertainment at Colonial Williamsburg's Grand Illumination on Sunday evening.
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Crowds gather for heat around a fire cresset at the Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg on Sunday night.
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Fireworks fill the sky during the Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg on Sunday.
Thom Slater / Daily Press
Colonial Williamsburg's Grand Illumination 1979.
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Grand Illumination fireworks in Colonial Williamsburg 2015.
Daily Press Archives
Fireworks light up the evening sky above Colonial Williamsburg as spectators gather outside the Governor's Palace to experience the Grand Illumination. The event was held in Colonial times to celebrate the birthday of the king of England. The festivities are now used to kick off the holiday season in CW, with fireworks, carols and apple cider. More than 25,000 people attended in 1992.
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Crowds gather around fire for warmth at the Grand Illumination Sunday night in Colonial Williamsburg.
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Fireworks fill the sky during the Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg on Sunday.
G.F. Bryant, Jr. / Daily Press
Spectators filled the streets and greens of Colonial Williamsburg in 1977 as the Grand Illumination kicked off the Christmas season.
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Scott Pastor and his girlfriend Rita Lin, of Virginia Beach, ice skate for the first time together at the Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg on Sunday night.
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Fireworks fill the sky during the Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg on Sunday.
Daily Press Archives
Colonial Williamsburg's Grand Illumination
Danielle Jackson / Special to the Daily Press
Trevor Josti, manager of Magic Ice USA at The Liberty Ice Pavilion, passes out ice skates to visitors of the Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg on Sunday night.
Melanie Sochan / Special to the Daily Press
Fireworks erupt over Tha Palace at Colonial Williamsburg's Grand Illumination on Sunday evening.
Diane Cebula / Daily Press
Fireworks go off in front of the Governor's Palace on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008, during the 74th Annual Grand Illumination in Colonial Williamsburg.

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By Daily Press | dailypress@dailypress.com and Daily Press staff

PUBLISHED: December 6, 2015 at 9:38 p.m. | UPDATED: December 31, 2018 at 9:10 p.m.

Take a look back at Grand Illumination in Williamsburg.