(Ho) So Fun Holiday Activities Around the DMV!
Here we go! A list of some (ho) so fun holiday activities around the DMV this season!
Let’s go!
Downtown DC
Enchant Christmas at Nationals Park
When: Now through Jan. 2nd; Mon – Fri 9-5pm
Where: 1500 S Capitol St SE Washington D.C., DC 20003
What: Explore the wonders of Enchant Christmas at Nationals Park! ”The classic experience” includes access to the Village, Light Maze, Santa’s Landing, and Little Ones’ Play Place.
How much?: From $29-$36; children 2 and under are free; VIP Experiences starting from $85.
Purchase Enchant Christmas tickets here.
17th Annual Downtown Holiday Market
When: Now through Dec. 23rd; open daily from 12-8pm
Where: 801 F St NW Washington D.C., DC 20004
What: DC’s 17th Annual Downtown Holiday Market where you’ll find 70 local exhibitors, offering beautiful artisan work, decor, and so much more. You can find a complete exhibitor list here.
Additionally, you can expect to find an amazing lineup of jazz, rock, soul, country, contemporary artists! You can find a full lineup of musicians here.
Also, get ready to pig out @ your favorite, local food and drink vendors, including The Taste of Germany, Alexa’s Empanadas, Old Blue BBQ, The Capital Candy Jar, and Migue’s Mini Donuts.
How much?: Free and open to all; the rest is entirely up to you 🙂
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Light Yards
When: Now through Jan. 1st; open daily from 6-10pm
Where: 301 Water Street SE, Suite 201 Washington D.C., DC 20003
What: Designed by the Australian artist studio, Amigo & Amigo, this “larger-than-life light installation” features 22’ tall trees decked with lights and decor, top to bottom, along with other light displays!
Enjoy dinner and a drink before or after at one of the Yards’ 20+ eateries!
How much?: Free and open to all
Maryland
I Love Christmas Movies™
When: Now through Dec. 31st; open daily from 11am-9pm
Where: Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, 201 Waterfront Street
National Harbor, Maryland 20745
What:
For the first time ever, Gaylord National presents I Love Christmas Movies™, an immersive, walk through experience, featuring over 13 scenes from beloved Christmas movies, including The Polar Express™, Elf™, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation™, A Christmas Story™, and The Year Without A Santa Claus™.
Visitors can also expect to see the nightly #LIT Laser Light Show, magical indoor snowfall, the famous 55-foot-tall Starlight Christmas Tree suspended from Gaylord National’s 19-story Atrium, and the spectacular holiday décor visitors know and love!
Additionally, there will be a plethora of food and beverage options, including the Harbor Marketplace, Holiday Sweet Shoppe, Old Hickory Steakhouse, Elves Eatery, The Christmas Tree Lot, Replay Rooftop pop-up bars.
How much?: Adults age 12+: Tickets starting at $33; children age 4 – 11: Tickets starting at $25; children 3 and under are free
For the best value, check out the “Play & Save” ticket bundles which include tickets to I Love Christmas Movies™ as well as some of the other attractions, including fan-favorites like ice skating, gingerbread cookie decorating, and Snow Flow Mountain ice tubing as well as brand new attractions like ice bumper cars and Snowball Build & Blast! Please visit ChristmasAtGaylordNational.com to purchase tickets and for more information.
Miracle on 34th Street
When: Now through Dec. 31st; daily from around 6-10pm
Where: 726 West 34th Street Baltimore, Maryland 21211
What: Marvel at the neighborhood that works together every year to cover the area in unrivaled holiday decorations to pay homage to the classic holiday film, Miracle on 34th Street.
How much?: FREE.99
Zoo Lights at the Maryland Zoo
When: Now through Jan. 2nd; 5-8pm
Where: The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, 1 Safari Pl, Baltimore, MD 21217
What: Drive or walk through to see the Zoo Lights at the Maryland Zoo where you’ll find light displays shaped as your favorite safari animals!
How much?: Walk through tickets are $28 and free for children under 2; drive through tickets are $33 per vehicle with no limitation on number of riders.
All walk through tickets include free parking as well as free train & carousel rides (weather permitting) plus pictures with Santa every Saturday throughout the holiday season!
You can purchase tickets and find more information on the Maryland Zoo’s website.
Virginia
Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights
When: Now through Jan. 2nd; open daily from 5-10pm
Where: Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna, VA 22182
What: Take a half mile stroll through Meadowlark Botanical Gardens where you’ll find beautiful displays of flowers, animals, wrapped trees, and winter holiday scenes! With even more lights this year, this is surely a whimsical event you won’t wanna miss.
How much?: Online ticket price (ages 2 & older): $18 plus Eventbrite fee
*ONSITE TICKETS ARE NOT SOLD AFTER DECEMBER 9, 2021, nor when online tickets are sold out for an entry time(s); admission to the Winter Walk of Lights ends at 9:30pm.
You can purchase tickets and find more information on Eventbrite.
Bull Run Festival of Lights
When: Now through Jan. 2nd; Festival of Lights hours:
- Monday-Thursday nights 5:30-9:30pm
- Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holiday nights 5:30-10:00pm
- Holiday nights include November 25, December 24, December 25, December 31 and January 1.
Where: Bull Run Regional Park, 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville, VA 20121
What: The Bull Run Festival of Lights is a 2.5 mile, drive through of festive light displays plus a walk-through Christmas Village and Carnival.
How much?: Tickets range from $30-$75
Holiday Road in Leesburg
When: Now through Jan. 2nd; open daily from 5-10pm
Where: Morven Park, 17195 Southern Planter Ln, Leesburg, VA 20176
What: Experience the wonder of Holiday Road in Leesburg, Virginia! Expect to see some larger than life holiday displays, illuminating lights, Santa and Mrs. Claus, Elves, countless candy canes, and (ho) so much holiday cheer!
How much?: Tickets are $29.99 and up depending on the day you attend and the time of the season; children 2 years and under are free.
You can purchase tickets and find more information here!
And to All a Good Night!
Like with many of our lists, there’s absolutely no way we could include everything without completely overwhelming you (and our content writers, tbh – hi there, it’s me). Our approach, rather, is to provide some of the best of the best along with a few of our favorites! We hope that you have found it useful!
As always, if you have any questions or need some more recommendations for holiday activities around the DMV, please don’t hesitate to reach out; we love connecting with members of our community!
Happy Holidays from the JYH team, to you.
