# Santa Claus Is Coming to Old Town Bowie

> Event for families in the Washington–Arlington–Alexandria area (DC / VA / MD / WV). Times are Eastern Time.

- When: Sat, Dec 5 · 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Where: Old Town Bowie Welcome Center, 8606 Chestnut Avenue, Bowie, MD 20715
- Ages: Children and families
- Price: Check official pricing
- Organizer: City of Bowie
- Official page: https://www.cityofbowie.org/2533/Holiday-Happenings
- Last checked: Tue, Oct 27

Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 2, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about
Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-01), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/santa-claus-is-coming-to-old-town-bowie--listing-589124348c3b020f7362ac00

## About

On the same Saturday as Bowie's tree lighting, the city's Old Town Bowie Welcome Center beside the historic railroad station hosts an afternoon Santa visit. Children can make a festive craft, write a letter to Santa, and have their photo taken with him; Santa himself is in the building from 1 to 3 p.m., while the craft and letter-writing run from noon to 4 p.m. It is a small-scale, low-key alternative to a mall Santa line, well suited to toddlers and early-elementary children, and families can walk the Old Town Bowie main street afterward or head to the Bowie Senior Center for the evening tree lighting (activities from 4 p.m., lighting at 7 p.m.). Bring your own camera or phone for the photo. The city lists no fee or reservation for the visit.

## Similar picks in Washington, DC

- [Breakfast with Santa — La Plata Town Hall](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/breakfast-with-santa-la-plata-town-hall--listing-238353a246ed022a284f8cca) — Sat, Dec 12 · 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM · La Plata Town Hall · checked Oct 28. The Town of La Plata invites families and kids to a holiday breakfast with Kris Kringle at Town Hall, with festive music, fun and surprises. This year the town has expanded the…
- [Donuts with Santa — Vienna Community Center](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/donuts-with-santa-vienna-community-center--listing-dff33ed954238174c68da683) — Sat, Dec 5 · 9:00 AM – 11:20 AM · Vienna Community Center · From $5 · checked Oct 16. Santa visits the Vienna Community Center for a morning of holiday wishes, and Mrs. Claus sets up a donut bar for the children. Along with time to tell Santa what they hope for…
- [Bowie Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony 2026](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/bowie-holiday-tree-lighting-ceremony-2026--listing-fd189320e69fd61752e1e6fb) — Sat, Dec 5 · 4:00 PM · Bowie Senior Center · All ages · Free · checked Oct 27. Bowie's tree lighting has run for more than 50 years and fills a whole late afternoon at the Bowie Senior Center grounds. From 4 to 6:30 p.m. children can make a festive craft…
- [Purcellville Town Tree Lighting](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/purcellville-town-tree-lighting--listing-b0b167bca440f0a77716d500) — Fri, Dec 4 · 6:30 PM · Purcellville Town Hall · checked Oct 24. The Town of Purcellville lights its holiday tree at Town Hall on the first Friday evening of December, opening the town's Christmas in Purcellville season. It is a short…
- [Run with Santa 5K — Reston Town Center](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/run-with-santa-5k-reston-town-center--listing-46f6c3de36431343985d8139) — Sun, Dec 6 · 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM · Reston Town Center · All ages · From $35 · checked Oct 27. A holiday-themed 5K through Reston Town Center on the first Sunday of December, organized by =PR= Races. Runners are encouraged to lace up their boots, cinch their belts and…
- [Holly TrolleyFest 2026 — Santa streetcar rides at the National Capital Trolley Museum](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/activities/holly-trolleyfest-2026-santa-streetcar-rides-at-the-national-capital-t--listing-af297fd9dc17645c114d441b) — Sat, Nov 28 (+7 more dates) · 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM · National Capital Trolley Museum, Colesville · All ages · From $15 · checked Oct 28. On weekends from Thanksgiving weekend until just before Christmas, the National Capital Trolley Museum in Colesville runs Holly TrolleyFest: families ride one of the museum's…

## More for families

- [Things to do with kids in Prince George's County, MD](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/counties/prince-george-s-county-md) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/counties/prince-george-s-county-md.md)
- [Christmas lights and holiday events for kids in Washington, DC](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/christmas) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/christmas.md)
- [This weekend in Washington, DC](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/this-weekend) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc/this-weekend.md)
- [Things to do with kids in Washington, DC](https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc) (Markdown: https://grassyknees.com/washington-dc.md)
