What’s What?
A lot of these events have been going on for a while now so hopefully you have gone to and enjoyed some of them. However, there’s still time left (most run until January 2022) and lots to do and see! Wherever I am in the world, I love to look up what the holiday events are and pick which ones to do! This year, the DC area has plenty of events and things to do to choose from. I kicked off our 2021 holiday event experience with the DC Holiday Boat Parade at The Wharf on December 4. Complete with fireworks and dancing holiday unicorns on a 30 foot yacht, this event brought out a huge crowd (because it was FREE); nonetheless, we had a great time. The fireworks started earlier than scheduled so it was the perfect event to pop in and out of since I forgot my mask in the car! It was outdoors, but still.
Anyway, from amusement parks to drive through light shows, the DC area has something for everyone to do and enjoy this holiday season! Here are the best events to hit up and enjoy solo, with your kids, with your spouse or significant other, or just with your loved ones (both family and friends).
DC
Ice skating at the NGA Sculpture Garden
Friday, November 19, 2021–March 6, 2022 (weather permitting)
Sunday–Thursday, 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
Friday– Saturday, 11AM–11PM
Closed Christmas and New Year’s Days.
They also have a café and offering lessons and classes. Visit their site for more information.
Christmas Trees at the U.S. Capitol and White House
White House
Dec. 4 through Jan. 1, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Visit their site for more information.
U.S. Capitol
The tree arrived from Cali on November and stands at 84 feet tall. The Capitol Christmas Tree will be lit from nightfall until 11 p.m. each evening through Christmas.
Visit their site for more information.
Outdoor Holiday Display at the U.S. Botanic Garden
The outdoor display includes a train display running through elaborate agricultural scenes, all made from plant parts.
Open until January 2, 2022 and closed on Christmas Day
Their site has for more information.
Light Installation at the Yards Park
Featuring 22 foot illuminated and trees and decorated in festive lights and décor.
Open December 1 through January 1 6PM – 10PM
355 Water St SE, Washington, DC 20003
Go to their site for more information.
Be aMAZEd at Enchanted
From a so icy ice skating trail to a Santa meet and greet to a lit maze, Nationals Park has been turned into a Winter Wonderland. It seems perfect to go to this one with the little ones in your life and create some lasting holiday memories! It runs through January 2, 2022. December 16-January 1 4:30PM – 11:30PM; December 31 4:30PM-1:30AM; January 2 4:30PM-10:30PM.
To learn more information and/or purchase tickets, visit their site. PS: they’ve taken this on the road and Enchanted is set up in Vegas, Dallas, and St. Petersburg, FL. PPS: be advised that this event excludes strollers. Shoutout to my source.
MD & VA
Holiday in the Park at Six Flags
Boasting a decorated in lights park and transformed, go to Six Flags for holiday sip and thrills (they have a bar by Gotham City). They’re open on Saturdays & Sundays until Decembe6, after which they’re open every day until January 2, 2022. Go to their site for more information and to buy tickets.
Drive-through the Festival of Lights at Watkins Regional Park
Even though this has been a longstanding holiday tradition, this year is the first year ive indulged and it was wonderful! With wine in my tumbler, we enjoyed 3 miles of creative and festive light installations. They have a cute and fun PDF map that I forgot all about once there but had fun looking at later for the memories; you can find it here. They’re open Friday, November 26, 2021 – Sunday, January 2, 2022 nightly from 5 to 9:30 pm with free admission November 29 & December 25 “in appreciation to the residents of Prince George’s County for their year-round support of the Department of Parks and Recreation programs!” How sweet! Also, they’re encouraging us to: “make a difference this season! Please bring canned goods for donation to local Food Banks.” It is cheaper to buy your tickets online so you can do so here.
Drive-through the Lights on the Bay
For mini road trip vibes, head out to the Chesapeake Bay area for the 26th annual Lights on the Bay holiday light show, open to the public on November 21, 2021 and run through January 2, 2022. Taking place at Sandy Point State Park, the event features a two-mile scenic drive along the Chesapeake Bay with approximately 70 animated and stationary displays illuminating the roadway. For ticket information, visit their site.
Have Christmas at the Gaylord
Until December 31, Gaylord is offering a plethora of Christmas activities like ice bumper cars, gingerbread decorating, a “#LIT light show”, a snowy mountain to ride down plus much more. Visit here for a full list of activities and here for offers.
Attend the 26th annual Winter Lights Festival in Gaithersburg
I live nowhere near Gaitherburg however if I do end up in the area (they’re open until December 31 6-9PM M-F 6-10PM S & S; closed December 25), I would totally take advantage and hit up the Seneca Creek State Park to see what they’re 3.5 miles of “450 illuminated displays and beautifully lit trees” is all about! Apparently, this has been a thing apparently since 1995 but it seems that it got extremely popular this year so they had to make some changes but they listed it all out here. One of the changes is that tickets must be purchased in advance; you can do so on Eventbrite.
Hit up the Winter Village at Cameron Run
Now I have not been to Cameron Run in yearssss but I admit, I am tempted to see in-person how they transformed the water park into a winter wonderland complete with ice skating, fire pits, and plenty of photo ops! If also interested, read through this page so you know all you need to because advance ticket purchasing is required. Ice & Lights is what they call it and it is open until January 2, 2022 – 5-10PM.
Have a Holiday Walk at the Winter Walk of Lights
Now I love a botanical gardens chile and I cannot wait to hit up this event. I can’t wait to see and “experience Meadowlark Botanical Gardens transformed by holiday lights”. Just imagine the photo ops; please tag me if you go! Open until January 2, 2022 5-10PM nightly, talk a half mile walk through a winter light show! I’ll post my photos as soon as I go. You must purchase tickets in advance, read all about what you need to know before you go here and purchase tickets through Eventbrite here.
“Step Into a World of Holiday Magic” at King’s Dominion
I’m also tempted to hit up this event because I would want to hit up Potomac Mills and then it becomes a whole other thing but if you can exercise self-control and go straight there, you can enjoy what they’re calling the ultimate holiday event. The website states: “celebrate the most wonderful time of the year at Kings Dominion’s ultimate holiday event, WinterFest! The park will transform into a winter wonderland with millions of shimmering lights, breathtaking décor, and lavish displays. The Eiffel Tower will become a 300-foot-tall Christmas tree and the iconic fountain on International Street will transform into the most beautiful and largest ice-skating rink around.” Visit their site to find out more information plus purchase your tickets. Let me know if you go and/or if you have season passes with a buddy pass :eyes!
Unexpected and Updates
Expecting the unexpected has become a recurring mantra in most of our lives thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please expect delays and unexpected changes while attending these events and read the fine prints carefully for refund and cancellation policies. In general, keep a look out for:
- health and safety requirements
- traffic updates
- unexpected closures, updates, and changes
What’s Luxe
If you hit up one of the events above, please tag me in your photos! I would love to see the pictures from the memories!
I know the list above isn’t exhaustive, these just were the events that caught my eye! If you find some that are not listed but have attended and had a good time, please share in the comments below!
Whatever you decide to do during the holiday season, make sure you do it safely!
