Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking them, I will receive a payment.
Visiting the DC area during the holidays offers magnificent entertainment and fun activities for the whole family! Whether you visit the US Capitol to see the Christmas tree, catch a live show, or visit a Christmas market, DC is an eventful area with plenty to do.
Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet is coming to the DMV area with shows in Fairfax, Virginia (Center For the Arts at George Mason University, Tuesday, December 6, 2022 – 7:30 pm), Baltimore, Maryland (The Hippodrome Theatre, Wednesday, December 7, 2022 – 7:00 pm and Thursday, December 8, 2022 – 7:00 pm), Tysons, Virginia (Capital One Hall, Wednesday, December 14, 2022 – 7:00 pm), and Virginia Beach (Sandler Center for the Performing Arts, Wednesday, November 23, 2022 – 7:00 pm)!
The acclaimed holiday tradition is LIVE in theaters for the 30th Anniversary tour. Gather friends and family to re-live your fondest childhood dreams, overflowing with larger-than-life puppets, breath-taking acrobatics and dazzling costumes. Experience the exquisite artistry of the international cast, featuring stars of Ukraine ballet, performing at the highest level of classical technique. Share in the message of Peace and Harmony this Christmas season.
You can buy tickets to the NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet tour with discount code PRESENT to receive 15% off!
You can read more about the show and enter to win a family 4-pack of tickets here.
National Harbor Tree Lighting
Through December 17th in National Harbor, Maryland, you can check out the nightly animated show at National Harbor’s new 60-foot RGB tree as thousands of lights dance alongside a holiday medley performed by The United States Air Force Band.
Saturday fireworks are at 5:30 p.m., and the nightly tree show happens every half an hour from sunset to 9 p.m.
Ice! at Gaylord featuring A Christmas Story
Ice! is back at the Gaylord National! You can experience the beloved holiday classic A Christmas Story through larger-than-life sculptures carved by expert artisans out of two million pounds of colorful ice. Don’t miss the chance to race down ice slides or take pictures in the various scenes throughout!
When we visited ICE! a few years ago, my children had a fantastic time visiting Santa, going ice skating, and building a gingerbread house. Although the crowds can be busy and lead to longer waits for the activities and dining during the holiday season, it is a memorable experience well worth doing.
US Capitol Christmas Tree
Every year, a different national forest is selected to provide a tree to appear on the west lawn of the US Capitol building for the holiday season! The 2022 US Capitol Christmas Tree will come from the National Forests in North Carolina.
Years ago when I visited with my parents, I couldn’t believe how beautiful the tree was with all the hand-made ornaments and the US Capitol in the background. This year, over 7,500 hand-made ornaments adorn the tree and the other trees showcased this holiday season in Washington, D.C.
Old Town Alexandria Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Show
On Saturday, December 10, 2022, you can visit a festive, free Christmas market in Old Town Alexandria that features arts and crafts, jewelry, baked goods, hair care products, and more from over 110 local vendors. There’s also live entertainment, food and desserts, and hot cocoa to enjoy.
US Botanic Garden
The US Botanic Garden will offer a garden-wide “Season’s Greenings” holiday display this year through Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, closed Dec. 25. As part of the festivities, G-gauge model trains run between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. each day in the gated outdoor gardens and the Conservatory will feature poinsettias, holiday decor, and D.C. landmarks made from plants.
When I visited years ago, seeing the miniature buildings, unique plants, and beautiful Christmas trees was a fun experience. I haven’t made it back since then because parking was harder to find in this part of town than in some other areas. However, it is worth the effort to check out the festive displays during the holiday season.
Georgetown Holiday Market
You can head to Georgetown to shop the Holiday Market in the Four Seasons Hotel courtyard on Friday, Dec. 2 – Sunday, Dec. 18. The European-inspired outdoor stalls will feature gifts and culinary offerings created by local artisans, benefiting Children’s National Hospital with musical entertainment, light and snow displays, and a hot chocolate bar on Fridays through Sundays.
We recently visited Georgetown, which you can read more about here. Parking was conveniently located, although a little more expensive than some other parking garages you can find in DC. Since it was easy to walk from place to place, we didn’t need to park multiple times, which was nice.
You can find more holiday things to do in Travel, and make sure to follow Enjoying Family Life on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking them, I will receive a payment.
