Good morning, Lynchburg.

ABC13 has introduced the Mark Spain Award to honor fairness, selflessness, and community spirit.

ABC13 reporter Hayden Robertson is the first recipient and will be recognized every year for embodying Mark Spain's legacy.

Community members and officials gathered on Dec.

18 to celebrate the groundbreaking for Creeper Trail at a designated site near downtown. They said the milestone marks the start of the trail's planned development and promises increased local recreation and connectivity.

Residents in Lynchburg have shared kind memories of Mark Spain, the beloved ABC13 anchor, as the community recalls his friendly greetings and caring nature a year after his passing (comments noted he always had a smile and made time for everyone).

Feel Good Tour will present its 11th Music for Christmas program later this week in Lynchburg.

The event will feature local talent performing holiday tunes for the community.

A retrospective feature recaps key updates from local eateries including Lentini’s, Homestead Creamery, Fenderz Drive-In, La Vaca & Pure Eats, highlighting menu changes and events over recent weeks as 2025 wraps up.

Lynchburg's Jubilee STEM Center renamed one classroom the Mark Spain Media Center to honor his work raising $75,000 and training young newscasters for the nonprofit.

The renaming is part of Jubilee's expansion that has raised $500,000 for community learning (ABC13’s Community Counts initiative).

Sen. Peake delivered an 1818 engraving of the Declaration of Independence to Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest retreat on Tuesday — the historic piece will be on display for the upcoming year.

VDH reported that an out-of-state visitor was contagious with measles on Dec.

8 when they visited a McDonald’s on Wards Road and Lynchburg Livestock Market in Rustburg + local residents who were at these sites should monitor for symptoms and follow health safety measures including vaccination and hygiene.

Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings

4:30-5:30 p.m. — Sydnor Performance Hall — $ — Experience a candlelit string performance of beloved Christmas carols in a festive atmosphere.

New Year’s at Noon

10 AM – 1 PM — Amazement Square — Admission required — Glow into 2026 with dancing, crafts, and a balloon drop under dazzling lights.

BrickUniverse: The Immersive Brick Experience 2026

10 AM - 4 PM — River Ridge — Starting at $18 — Experience breathtaking LEGO creations and interactive building zones at this family-friendly event.