20+ Christmas Events In DC To Make Happy Holiday Memories

There’s no better place to celebrate Christmas than in the capital of the United States! Extravagant Christmas tree lighting ceremonies, holiday decor, light displays, family-friendly activities, and live performances turn Washington, DC, into a festive wonderland every winter. With Christmas just around the corner, now is the time to start marking your calendar to attend the best holiday markets and Christmas events in DC, many of which celebrate historic holiday traditions.

These holiday events occur yearly, so you can turn them into family holiday traditions. Some of these events are free, making it easy for families on a tight budget to enjoy the holiday fun.

Now, get ready for weeks of Washington DC Christmas fun to get you into the holiday spirit!

National Christmas Tree Lighting

• Address: The Ellipse on the National Mall, near 15^th & E St. NW
• Dates: December 5, 2024
• Website

The National Christmas Tree Lighting is a spectacular event. At this televised ceremony, the National Christmas Tree is lit for the first time, usually by the President and his family.

The current national tree, a magnificent 30-foot blue spruce, was collected from a forest in Pennsylvania and planted on the national mall in 2019. The tree features thousands of lights and star ornaments and is surrounded by a burning yule log, model train tracks, and 56 smaller trees representing every U.S. state and territory.

The ceremony includes solo and group musical performances, including the United States Marine Band. The tree remains lit each evening throughout December for visitors to enjoy.

Winterfest at Wunder Garten

• Address: 1101 First Street, NE
• Dates:  December to mid-December (Keep an eye on their website for announcements)
• Website

Wunder Garden is a beloved outdoor beer garden that always goes above and beyond in providing service, activities, and special evenings for its patrons.

Each December, it hosts a couple of weeks of non-stop Christmas-themed partying and excitement, with different special events happening most evenings—some requiring ticketing or RSVPs, and some open to the public. The events are a great way to socialize and meet the neighborhood in an inclusive and very LGBTQ+-friendly environment.

It’s worth returning a few nights in a row for events like pet photos with Santa, holiday pub trivia, and ugly sweater parties.

They even offer holiday workshops that will have you walking away with finished crafts and new skills, including screen-printing cards, garland making, and paint and sips.

And the festival closes out in style with a must-see-to-believe Night of 1,000 Santas!

Wreaths Across America

• Address: Arlington National Cemetery, 1 Memorial Ave., Arlington, VA
• Dates:  December 14, 2024
• Website

Anyone can participate in this moving ceremony intended to remember those service members we have lost and to recognize that their memory lives on through their families during the holiday season.

During the event, volunteers place classic holiday wreathes on the iconic white tombstones of Arlington National Cemetery, a beautiful resting place for members of the military from the Civil War to the present day. The visual effect and emotional impact of these symbols of respect and love are overwhelming. 

Around the country, the same event takes place simultaneously at over 2,400 cemeteries; to take part in this ritual is truly an honored American tradition.

Lighting of the National Menorah

• Address: The Ellipse on the National Mall, near 15^th & E St. NW
• Dates:  December 5, 2024 (takes place the first night of Hanukkah)
• Website

The lighting of the world’s largest menorah on the Ellipse just in front of the White House grounds is a fantastic event for the Jewish community in DC and beyond.

This celebration of the miracle of Hanukkah and the victory of light over darkness centers around the ceremonial lighting of the menorah, but also features the US Navy Band and other musical performers, traditional snacks and activity kits for children, and stirring affirmations of community spirit.

Plus, tickets are free for everyone, so why not turn up for this fun celebration?

Find out more things to do for Hannukah DC

NPR’s A Jazz Piano Christmas in DC

• Address: John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St NW
• Dates: December 7, 2024
• Website

Each year, the prestigious John F. Kennedy Center hosts a jazz piano Christmas concert presented by National Public Radio.

At A Jazz Piano Christmas, music lovers can hear their favorite Christmas tunes with a jazzy twist. It’s an evening of playful musical fun with a lot of holiday cheer to go around. The featured pianists are always well-respected and highly talented. Prior years have featured Hancock Institute International Competition finalist Joshua White, Latin pianist Rebecca Mauleón, and NEA Jazz Master Kenny Barron.

The concert is roughly an hour and 15 minutes long, and tickets sell out quickly, so music lovers should jump on them as soon as they are made available. Last-minute tickets can sometimes be snatched up by calling The Kennedy Center and checking their website regularly.

Hot 99.5’s Jingle Ball

• Address: Capital One Arena, 601 F St NW (For 2020, virtual only)
• Dates: December 17, 2024
• Website

Join DC’s top pop and hip-hop station for their annual end-of-the-year concert with a star-studded lineup. Jingle Ball is a touring concert series where different cities get to see different artists, and Washington’s active music scene attracts some of the biggest stars that even larger cities might miss out on.

The station manages to gather together the biggest names in music that have been at the top of the charts all year, for a Christmas mega-show. Given how many popular performers and special surprises show up, its incredible that tickets are so cheap.

A typical Jingle Ball concert is over four hours long, so be prepared for a late night.

Whether you live in Washington DC or you’ll just be visiting, you’ll get to experience plenty of high-energy nightlife and holiday magic at Jingle Ball.

Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights

• Address: Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Ct, Vienna, VA
• Dates: Friday, November 8, 2024 – Sunday, January 5, 2025
• Website

Set your own pace as you take an evening stroll with family and friends through this outdoor light spectacular housed in a beautiful botanical garden.

Christmas lights twinkle over every tree and structure, animating to form remarkable musical scenes and reflecting beautifully onto the dark water. It’s a perfect spot for a date night or family evening out, with tons of ideal photo ops.

Hot drinks and tasty treats as well as souvenir ornaments are available for sale, but remember that the entire attraction is outdoors, so bundle up!

Need extra holiday fun? Click to find more ways to celebrate Christmas in DC

Christmas Illuminations and Winter Glow at Mount Vernon

• Address: 3200 Mt Vernon Memorial Hwy, Mount Vernon, VA 
• Dates:
  • Winter Glow: November 29-30, December 15-19, and December 23, 2024
  • Christmas Illuminations: December 20-22, 2024
• Website

Travel down to Mount Vernon the weekends before Christmas for two fantastic events that take place against the backdrop of one of the most beautiful and important historical sites in the region, the 18^th century home of George Washington. These family-friendly, two-night events add an educational twist to the holidays (that the kids might not even notice!).

For Christmas Illuminations, the reenactors from the First Virginia Regiment will be there to explain an 18th-century holiday season and answer all your questions, along with artisans making chocolate treats the old-fashioned way. Make sure you stay until the evening when fireworks kick off accompanied by holiday music.

Winter Glow will see the mansion and grounds bathed in a colorful light show, while carolers entertain with traditional Christmas carols and reenactors recreate an 18^th-century winter encampment, with all its hardships and fascinating stories.

Visitors can walk around George Washington’s historic estate and tour the mansion before the shows begin.

U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

• Address: U.S. Capitol Building, West Lawn: East Capitol St NE & First St SE
• Dates: early December
• Website

We sure love our Christmas trees in Washington, D.C. While Christmas tree scavenger hunts are fun, sometimes you just want to see the best, and the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree is one of the best.

Every year since 1964, a tree has been chosen from a different national forest to be the official “People’s Tree” on display at the U.S. Capitol’s West Lawn.

The Capitol Christmas Tree travels far and wide from its home state, stopping in at least 20 towns along the way. People love to track the journey of the Capitol tree and pop over when it gets close to their town. Thousands of volunteers help raise money and ensure the tree stays watered and protected as it travels to the nation’s capital, where many gather to celebrate Christmas with this iconic symbol.

It is free to view this massive tree, which can be almost twice as tall as the National Christmas Tree, sometimes standing as tall as 75 feet. The more than 10,000 ornaments that decorate this tree are created by children of the tree’s home state.

It is truly a tree that touches the entire nation, not just the residents of Washington, D.C.

Love lights? We have a list of the best Christmas Lights in DC just for you!

Norwegian Model Trains at Union Station

• Address: Washington Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Ave NE
• Dates: December – January

Whether you pass through this central train station while traveling, or head there specifically for the shopping and dining, find a little extra holiday joy with the holiday model trains and the giant Christmas tree, both gifts from Norway to Washington D.C.

The trains, located in the West Hall of Union Station, are hand-made replicas of real Norwegian trains set in a Nordic landscape complete with mountains, fjords, and even skiers. 

The Union Station holiday extravaganza and annual Norwegian tree lighting ceremony generally kick off the first week of December, so mark your calendars. What makes this tree lighting special? The Norwegian Ambassador lights the tree, a tradition that goes back more than 20 years.

The Royal Norwegian Embassy presents this holiday tree to the people of Washington, D.C. as a gift of gratitude for the assistance Norway received during WWII and the continued friendship between the two countries.

After the ambassador flips the switch, a holiday show with local choir performances and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus follows.

D.C. Downtown Holiday Market

• Address: F Street NW, from 7th to 9th Streets NW
• Date: November 22 – December 23, 2024
• Website

The Downtown Holiday Market is an annual tradition celebrating local D.C. makers, bringing holiday cheer to the heart of the city. Set up as a long row of tents in front of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery, this market is a bright spot in the Penn Quarter and Chinatown during the holiday season.

As one of the city’s top holiday markets, it’s open from 12 pm to 8 pm daily, with rotating vendors throughout the season—so be sure to stop by more than once.

You’ll find hot coffee from local roasters to go along with fresh mini donuts and other festive treats, plus 150 crafters, artisans, and stylish boutiques with customized tents at this much-anticipated D.C. Christmas event. A great way to go holiday shopping for the season.

ZooLights

• Address: The National Zoo,  3001 Connecticut Ave, NW
• Dates: November 22, 2024 to January 3, 2025
• Website

Each winter, the Smithsonian National Zoo lights up with glowing animal lanterns and over 500,000 LED lights, making it one of the season’s top holiday activities. While the idyllic, sprawling DC Zoological Park is always a special experience for tourists and longtime visitors alike, there is something extra magical about exploring it at night.

You will discover unexpected light shows around every corner and enjoy special vending stands with hot drinks and holiday treats.

Click to find all of our favorite D.C. Christmas Markets around the city!

ICE! at the Gaylord National Resort

• Address: 201 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, MD
• Dates: November 28 to December 28, 2024
• Website

Every year the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center turns into a winter wonderland filled with interactive ice sculptures and displays. Washington, D.C. doesn’t get that much snow, but you would never know it when you walk into ICE!

ICE! includes four two-story slides, a nativity carved from crystal-clear ice, 2 million pounds of colorful ice sculptures, and elaborate hand-carved scenes based on a yearly theme. Past tableaux have included Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Christmas Story, and The Polar Express.

The ice sculpture garden is maintained at a chilly nine degrees, so bundle up for your journey and make sure to leave time for hot cocoa and holiday treats afterward.

The resort also offers plenty of other special holiday activities for guests throughout the holiday season, from gingerbread decorating to ice tubing to scavenger hunts.

Read more about Christmas at Gaylord National Harbor

The District’s Holiday Boat Parade

• Address: All along the DC Wharf, Wharf St. SW
• Dates: Early December, dates vary
• Website

The Wharf in Washington, D.C., hosts an annual holiday boat parade of lights filled with holiday events and holiday themed activities for the whole family. If you’re craving food and refreshments, head to the Waterfront Beer and Wine Garden or make some s’mores at the Camp Wharf fire pit before the parade begins.

Kids can meet Santa and ice skate on the picturesque property, too. During the parade, festive boats decorated by their owners pass by the Wharf through the Washington Channel, all leading up to a spectacular fireworks show. You can also listen to live musical acts during the 3-hour event. 

The parade’s fanfare extends beyond the Wharf. Old Town Alexandria also hosts a boat show, along with pop-up food and drink stations from Port City Brew Co. and Vola’s Dockside Grill.

Whether you spend a night at the Wharf or explore other participating areas, there’s plenty to see and do at this once-yearly event.

Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend

• Address: From Wolfe & St. Asaph Streets to the market square, Old Town Alexandria, VA
• Dates: Saturday in early December

Often held on the same day as the Alexandria holiday boat parade, this stirring display of Scottish heritage centers around a parade featuring Scottish bagpipes and drums, Scottish dancers, tartaned marchers, reenactments, Scottie dogs, classic cars, local celebrities, and even Santa Claus!

Beyond the parade, visitors can sample a Taste of Scotland, with many traditional recipes as well as Scotch and ale tastings. 

The goal of the Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend is to raise money for the Campagna Center, which runs several programs providing opportunities to children and families in Alexandria, VA. The Campagna center also hosts a holiday greens sale and a tour of the amazing historical Alexandria homes around the holiday season. The festivities typically raise over $250,000 in charitable donations.

A Christmas Carol at Ford’s Theatre

• Address: Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW
• Dates:  mid-November through December
• Website

For many DC families, Christmas is not complete without experiencing a first-rate performance of A Christmas Carol at the Ford’s Theatre, put on each year at the historic live theater best known as the site of Lincoln’s assassination.

It’s a good idea to arrive early for a chance to look around the gorgeous theater, which has been maintained in much the same state that it was in 1865. The basement provides a small museum with historical context for the lush décor surrounding spectators.

Then, get whisked away in a musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic Christmas ghost story, performed by some of the biggest names in DC theater. After Ebenezer learns his lesson and snow falls on stage, a quick walk through the streets of downtown DC will bring you to some of the best-reviewed and local favorite dining spots, whether you are in the mood for tapas, tandoori chicken or teriyaki tofu. 

Handel’s Messiah at the Washington National Cathedral

• Address: The National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW
• Dates: December 6-8, 2024
• Website

This gorgeous space is a must-see location for DC visitors at any time of year, but it takes on a special magic around Christmastime. While it is modeled after a traditional European cathedral, with sweeping baroque art and architecture and extensive stained glass reliefs, it is open to people of all faiths, anyone seeking peaceful meditative space, and especially to lovers of music. 

For the Christmas season, the Cathedral presents a period Baroque orchestra and world-class soloists performing Handel’s Messiah, a stunning piece of music that leaves very few dry eyes in the house as it crescendos to the famous Hallelujah chorus.

For families with young children or tight schedules, the National Cathedral also offers an abbreviated performance with all the most famous and beloved sections. And keep an eye out later in the season for choral concerts of classic Christmas carols in the Cathedral.

The Washington Ballet’s The Nutcracker 

• Address: 3515 Wisconsin Avenue NW
• Dates: late November – late December
• Website

Enjoy a Christmas classic with a decidedly Washingtonian twist at the Washington Ballet. The production is set in historic Georgetown; historical figures of the region including George Washington, Harriet Tubman, John Paul Jones become characters in the classic tale of a young girl’s special Christmas gift.

Period costumes are on prominent display as more than 100 dancers take part in this annual tradition that celebrates DC history as well as more than 75 years of the Washington School of Ballet and its students.

Waterskiing Santa 

• Address: All along the waterfront, Old Town Alexandria, VA
• Dates: December 24th
• Website

Head across the Potomac River to Old Alexandria, VA for one crazy Santa experience on Christmas Eve. What started as a dare in 1986 has turned into an annual community event you won’t want to miss.

You’d think he’d be too busy with his crowded delivery schedule, but Santa takes some time to cruise from Founders Park to Point Lumley Park via waterskis and jet skis, along with his elves, reindeer pals, the Grinch, and a few other friends.

The excitement starts every Christmas Eve at 1 PM. A meet-and-greet happens after the show near the waterfront pavilion and behind the Torpedo Factory.

Middleburg Hunt Review

• Address: Washington Street & various locations, Middleburg, VA
• Dates: early December
• Website

The entire town of Middleburg, Virginia becomes an enchanted Christmastown each December, with traditional decorations that pair perfectly with the region’s antique street lamps and Federal-style buildings.

While special activities go on all month long, the central event of the season is the Middleburg Hunt Review on the first Saturday of December, a procession showing off the over 100 stately horses and adorable hounds of the red-coated, century-old Middleburg Hunt. A parade of more animals, floats, antique cars and local dignitaries follows, with feasting and music for all.

Check back in with the town all month for tree lightings, Breakfast with Santa, carol sing-a-longs and street fairs with beverage tastings. Middleburg truly becomes a Christmas village, and welcomes visitors who want to experience the magic.

Learn ways to celebrate Washington DC New Year’s eve