Washington–Arlington–Alexandria · November 15, 2026 – January 1, 2027
Christmas and holiday events for kids in Washington, DC
46 tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays and holiday shows around Washington, DC, November 15 to New Year’s Day. 17 are free.
Don’t miss
Nov20FriLight displaysThrough Jan 1
Garden of Lights 2026–27
Brookside Gardens
From $13.99All ages
- Nov15SunLight displays
Through Jan 1
Bull Run Festival of Lights 2026
Bull Run Regional Park
From $30All ages
- Nov24TueMarkets and festivals
Through Jan 1
Holidays at Hillwood: A Woven Wonderland
Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
With admissionAll ages
NovemberSun, Nov 15 – Mon, Nov 30
- Nov21SatCrafts and cookies
Sat, Nov 21 · 12:00 PM
Holiday Craft Studio — Creative Suitland Arts Center
Creative Suitland Arts Center
FreeAll ages
- Nov22SunNutcracker and shows
Sun, Nov 22 · 2:00 PM
A Christmas Carol — sensory-friendly performance
Ford's Theatre
PaidAges 5+
- Nov22SunLight displays
Sun, Nov 22 · 5:00 PM
Bikes and Lights at the Watkins Festival of Lights
Watkins Regional Park
From $5All ages
- Nov27FriTree lightings
Fri, Nov 27 · 11:00 AM
Reston Holiday Parade & Tree Lighting 2026
Reston Town Center
FreeAll ages
- Nov27FriLight displays
Fri, Nov 27 · 5:00 PM
Mount Vernon by Candlelight
George Washington's Mount Vernon
From $33
- Nov28SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Nov 28 · 10:00 AM
Bluemont Holiday Juried Craft Show 2026
Bluemont Community Center
Free
- Nov30MonChristmas
Mon, Nov 30 · 6:00 PM
Church Street Holiday Stroll — Vienna
Freeman Store and Museum and Church Street
FreeAll ages
DecemberTue, Dec 1 – Fri, Dec 18
- Dec2WedNutcracker and shows
Wed, Dec 2 · 7:30 PM
Family Holiday Magic Show at The Lyceum
The Lyceum, Alexandria History Museum
Free
- Dec4FriCrafts and cookies
Fri, Dec 4
Gingerbread House Display at Rippon Lodge
Rippon Lodge Historic Site
FreeAll ages
- Dec4FriChristmas
Fri, Dec 4
Holidays through the Ages at Rippon Lodge
Rippon Lodge Historic Site
From $5All ages
- Dec5SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 5 · 9:00 AM
Donuts with Santa — Vienna Community Center
Vienna Community Center
From $5
- Dec5SatCrafts and cookies
Sat, Dec 5 · 10:00 AM
Family Art Lab: Holiday Ornaments — Arlington Mill
Arlington Mill Community Center
From $9
- Dec5SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 5 · 10:00 AM
Letters to Santa at Gulf Branch Nature Center
Gulf Branch Nature Center
From $8
- Dec5SatParades
Sat, Dec 5 · 11:00 AM
Alexandria Scottish Walk Holiday Parade
Old Town Alexandria (King, Royal and Fairfax Streets)
FreeAll ages
- Dec5SatChristmas
Sat, Dec 5 · 11:30 AM
Family Winter Holiday FUN! — Chick Armstrong Recreation Center
Leonard "Chick" Armstrong Recreation Center
From $7All ages
- Dec5SatLight displays
Sat, Dec 5 · 12:00 PM
Festival of Lights and Carols — Downtown Fairfax
Old Town Square
FreeAll ages
- Dec5SatTree lightings
Sat, Dec 5 · 5:00 PM
Herndon Holiday Tree Lighting & Sing-Along
Town Hall Square
FreeAll ages
- Dec5SatParades
Sat, Dec 5 · 5:00 PM
Holiday Boat Parade & Party at The Wharf 2026
The Wharf — District Pier and Wharf Street
FreeAll ages
- Dec5SatLight displays
Sat, Dec 5 · 5:30 PM
Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights
Waterfront Park
FreeAll ages
- Dec5SatTree lightings
Sat, Dec 5 · 6:00 PM
Leesburg Holiday Tree Lighting
Town Green, Leesburg Town Hall
FreeAll ages
- Dec5SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 5 · 7:00 PM
The Nutcracker with the National Ballet Company — Publick Playhouse
Prince George's Publick Playhouse
From $28All ages
- Dec6SunCrafts and cookies
Sun, Dec 6 · 12:00 PM
Old Town Gingerbread Decorating at Gadsby's Tavern Museum
Gadsby's Tavern Museum
From $25
- Dec12SatNutcracker and shows
Sat, Dec 12 · 9:30 AM
Grinchmas at Charles Houston Recreation Center
Charles Houston Recreation Center
From $5Ages 2–5
- Dec12SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 12 · 10:00 AM
Breakfast with Santa — Mount Vernon Recreation Center
Mount Vernon Recreation Center
From $25Ages 1–7
- Dec12SatCrafts and cookies
Sat, Dec 12 · 10:00 AM
The Gingerbread Games — City of Fairfax
Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center
From $35
- Dec12SatChristmas
Sat, Dec 12 · 11:00 AM
Holiday Jingle Jam — SAARC Brandywine
Southern Area Aquatics and Recreation Complex (SAARC)
From $10All ages
- Dec12SatChristmas
Sat, Dec 12 · 12:00 PM
Christmas in Camp at Fort Ward
Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site
Free
- Dec12SatCrafts and cookies
Sat, Dec 12 · 1:00 PM
Let's Get Ornamental — Holiday Ornament Workshop
Brentwood Arts Exchange
FreeAll ages
- Dec12SatParades
Sat, Dec 12 · 6:00 PM
Leesburg Christmas and Holiday Parade
King Street parade route (Ida Lee Park to Fairview Street)
FreeAll ages
- Dec13SunChristmas
Sun, Dec 13 · 1:00 PM
Holiday Open House at Montpelier Arts Center
Montpelier Arts Center
FreeAll ages
- Dec13SunSanta visits
Sun, Dec 13 · 2:00 PM
Santa and a Movie: The Grinch — Publick Playhouse
Prince George's Publick Playhouse
From $6Ages 3–12
- Dec16WedCrafts and cookies
Wed, Dec 16
Holiday Cookie Decorating (Adapted Program) — Birchdale
Birchdale Recreation Center
From $20Ages 4–10
Christmas breakSat, Dec 19 – Fri, Jan 1
- Dec19SatChristmas
Sat, Dec 19 · 4:00 PM
A Charlie Brown Christmas with The Eric Byrd Trio
Montpelier Arts Center
From $15All ages
- Dec19SatLight displays
Sat, Dec 19 · 5:30 PM
Christmas Illuminations at Mount Vernon
George Washington's Mount Vernon
From $36All ages
- Dec19SatSanta visits
Sat, Dec 19
Photos with Santa at Chinn Aquatics & Fitness Center
Chinn Aquatics & Fitness Center
FreeAll ages
- Dec19SatCrafts and cookies
Sat, Dec 19
The Holiday Ornament Extravaganza — Veterans Memorial Park
Veterans Memorial Park
All seasonLight displays, Santa visits, shows and exhibits that run for weeks. Check the organizer’s page for open nights and times.
- Nov15SunLight displays
Through Jan 1
Bull Run Festival of Lights 2026
Bull Run Regional Park
From $30All ages
- Nov15SunLight displays
Through Jan 1
Winter Walk of Lights at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
From $19All ages
Nov19ThuNutcracker and showsThrough Dec 31
A Christmas Carol — Ford’s 2026 run
Ford's Theatre
PaidAges 5+
- Nov20FriLight displays
Through Jan 1
Garden of Lights 2026–27
Brookside Gardens
From $13.99All ages
- Nov21SatNutcracker and shows
Through Jan 1
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
Imagination Stage
From $16All ages
Nov21SatChristmasThrough Jan 1
Frosty the Snow Man — winter 2026–27
Adventure Theatre MTC
Paid
- Nov24TueMarkets and festivals
Through Jan 1
Holidays at Hillwood: A Woven Wonderland
Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
With admissionAll ages
- Nov27FriLight displays
Through Jan 1
Festival of Lights at Watkins Regional Park — 40th Year
Watkins Regional Park
PaidAll ages
- Nov27FriNutcracker and shows
Through Dec 31
The 38th Annual Nutcracker — The Puppet Co.
The Puppet Co. Playhouse at Glen Echo Park
PaidAges 4+
- Nov27FriLight displays
Through Dec 31
Winter Lights Festival 2026 — Seneca Creek State Park
Seneca Creek State Park
From $15All ages
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For organizers
Hosting a tree lighting, Santa visit or holiday show in Washington, DC?
List it on Grassy Knees and it can show up on this Christmas page, in the metro’s weekend picks and in the app. Free to post until Oct 31.
How this list works
Tree lightings, Santa visits, light displays, Nutcrackers, menorah lightings and Noon Year’s Eve parties, beyond your own block. This page collects every event and program in our Washington, DC listings whose title names Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Santa, holiday lights, the New Year or the like, dated between November 15 and January 1. 46 are still ahead. Each one opens its listing page, which links to the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. Dates are in Eastern Time.