KidsOutAndAbout is the DMV's online guide to everything for kids, teens, and families! The activities we've listed here are confirmed for this year, but many require reserving ahead of time, and please keep in mind that events could be canceled... so click through to make arrangements. Enjoy the holidays!
If we're missing an activity that should be on our list, please email Mindy Mangan at mindy@kidsoutandabout.com. Please make sure to include a link to the event when you email. Thank you!
If you don't already receive our free weekly e-newsletter for the Washington Metro Area, sign up today to make sure you're in the know about free stuff, festivals, classes, camps, vacation ideas, and all the best events near you! In the meantime, enjoy the ideas below for holiday family fun!
Santa Sightings
| Multiple dates starting Nov 1, 2025 |
Santa's Wonderland 2025 | Bass Pro Shops |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 7, 2025 |
Tysons Corner Center | Santa Photos |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 14, 2025 |
Springfield Town Center Photos with Santa |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 17, 2025 |
Springfield Town Center Family Pet Photos with Santa |
| Nov 22, 2025 |
Magic of Merryland Holiday Tree Lighting Festival |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 28, 2025 |
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride | B&O Railroad Museum |
| Nov 29, Dec 5 & 10, 2025 |
Storytime with Santa |
| Dec 1, 2024 |
Santa Claus is Coming to the Old Town Bowie Welcome Center |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 6, 2025 |
Breakfast with Santa at Ada's on the River |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 6, 2025 |
Winter Wonderland at Burke Lake Park |
| Dec 8, 2024 |
Mayor's Christmas Parade | Visit Baltimore |
| Dec 12, 2025 |
Kris Kringle Procession Downtown Frederick |
| Dec 13, 2025 |
Milk and Cookies with Santa – McLean Center |
| Dec 13 & 14, 2025 |
Sensory Friendly Santa at the Mill | Park Authority |
| Dec 13 & 14, 2025 |
Santa at the Mill | Park Authority |
Old-Time Christmas
Light Displays
| Multiple dates starting Nov 7, 2025 |
Winter Walk of Lights | NOVA Parks |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 14, 2025 |
Bull Run Festival of Lights NOVA Parks |
| Multiple dates Starting Nov 15, 2025 |
Ice & Lights | NOVA Parks |
| Multiple dates Starting Nov 14, 2025 |
Christmas Town: Virginia's Largest Christmas Celebration | Busch Gardens Williamsburg |
| Nov 14, 2025 |
Tysons Corner Center | Events | Holiday Kick-Off Celebration 2024 |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 21, 2025 |
DowntownDC | Frosted at Franklin Park |
| Nov 22, 2025 |
19th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting | Capitol Hill BID | Washington, DC |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 25, 2025 |
Light Yards - The Yards |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 28, 2025 |
Winter Lights Festival | Gaithersburg, MD |
| Dec 5, 2025 |
Rockville Tree Lighting 2025 |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 5, 2025 |
Reindeer Railway: Evening Train Rides & Holiday Lights | B&O Railroad Museum |
| Dec 6, 2025 |
25th Annual Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights |
| Dec 6, 2025 |
The Holiday Boat Parade & Party at The Wharf |
| Dec 20 & 21, 2025 |
Christmas Illuminations at Mt. Vernon |
Holiday Theatre
| Nov 25, 2025 |
Dolly Parton's Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol at Berglund Center |
| Nov 26, 2025 |
Champions Of Magic: Holiday Spectacular at Berglund Center |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 26 - 30, 2025 |
Cincinnati Ballet: The Nutcracker® | Kennedy Center |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 29, 2024 |
ARTfactory Rooftop Productions presents Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Musical Radio Play |
| Dec 5, 2025 |
Atlas Presents A Hoot for the Holidays! |
| Dec 9, 2025 |
Home Alone in Concert at The Anthem |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 13, 2025 |
The Christmas Wish | Encore Theatrical Arts Project |
| Dec 12, 13 & 14, 2025 |
Southwest Virginia Ballet Presents: The Nutcracker at Berglund Center |
| Dec 12, 13 & 14, 2025 |
The Little Prince at Terrace Theater |
| Dec 14, 2025 |
Adagio Dance Studio: Snowfall at the Atlas |
| Dec 16, 2025 |
CIRQUE MUSICA HOLIDAY WONDERLAND 2025 at Berglund Center |
Holiday Concerts
| Multiple dates starting Nov 5, 2025 |
Irving Berlin's White Christmas the Musical - Riverside Center for the Performing Arts |
| Nov 28, 2025 |
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas |
| Nov 30, 2025 |
Atlas Presents Navidad Flamenca |
| Dec 5, 2025 |
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Presents: Elf in Concert |
| Dec 5, 2025 |
Atlas Presents Tara Hoot: A Hoot for the Holidays! |
| Dec 6, 2025 |
Atlas Presents Capital City Symphony: Spark! |
| Dec 6, 2025 |
Georgetown Jingle | Georgetown DC - Explore Georgetown in Washington, DC |
| Dec 11, 2025 |
Seán Heely's Celtic Christmas |
| Dec 12, 2025 |
A Very Merry ALX Jazz Fest | City of Alexandria, VA |
| Dec 13, 14 & 20, 2025 |
Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, DC Holiday Show |
| Dec 13 & 14, 2025 |
Joy of Christmas - Cathedral Choral Society |
| Dec 15, 2025 |
Andrea Bocelli: Live in Concert | Capital One Arena |
| Dec 16, 2025 |
Hot 99.5's Jingle Ball | Capital One Arena |
| Dec 21, 2025 |
Vienna Light Orchestra at Berglund Center |
| Dec 30, 2025 |
Trans-Siberian Orchestra | Capital One Arena |
Christmas Tree Experience
Ice Skating
Hanukkah
Kwanzaa
Shopping & Craft Fairs
| Multiple dates starting Nov 14, 2025 |
DC Holiday Market |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 22, 2025 |
Christmas Village in Baltimore |
| Multiple date starting Nov 23, 2025 |
Springfield Town Center - Holiday Market |
| Nov 29, 2025 |
Old Town Manassas Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Show |
| Nov 29 & 30, 2025 |
National Harbor Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Show |
| Dec 4 - 7, 2025 |
Christmas Markt – Heurich House |
| Dec 5, 2025 |
Holiday Book Festival & Closeout Sale! |
| Dec 5, 2025 |
Christmas Market Spectacular |
| Dec 6, 2025 |
Chevy Chase Winter Market - District Bridges |
| Dec 6 & 7, 2025 |
Children's Holiday Shopping at Historic Colvin Run | Park Authority |
| Dec 5-7, 2025 |
McLean Holiday Art & Crafts Festival – McLean Center |
| Dec 6 & 7, 2025 |
Children's Holiday Shopping at Historic Colvin Run |
| Dec 6 & 7, 2025 |
Savvy Events Presents the 10th Annual Holiday Craft and Vendor Show at Berglund Center |
| Dec 6-7, 2025 |
DC | Native Art Market |
| Dec 13, 2025 |
Cleveland Park Winter Market - District Bridges |
New Year's Eve
Miscellaneous
| Multiple dates starting Nov 14, 2025 |
Holiday Village & Carnival | NOVA Parks |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 14, 2025 |
Mrs. Claus' Christmas Traditions | Gaylord National Tickets |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 14, 2025 |
ICE! in National Harbor, MD | Christmas at Gaylord National |
| Nov 22, 2025 |
Holiday Gingerbread House Decorating – McLean Center |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 23, 2025 |
DC Holiday Hunt |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 27, 2025 |
Christmas Village in Baltimore |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 28, 2025 |
Holly-Days | The Maryland Zoo |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 6, 2025 |
"Frederick During the Holidays" Art Exhibit - Celebrate Frederick |
| Dec 5 - 7, 2025 |
Alexandria’s Biggest Holiday Weekend |
| December 5-6, 12-13 or 19-20, 2025 |
Holiday On the Farm at Frying Pan Farm Park |
| Dec 6, 2025 |
54th Annual Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade |
| Dec 6, 2025 |
Georgetown Jingle | Georgetown DC - Explore Georgetown in Washington, DC |
| Dec 6, 2025 |
Grinchmas | City of Alexandria, VA |
| Multiple dates starting Dec 6, 2025 |
Holiday Art Competition - Celebrate Frederick |
| Dec 7, 2025 |
Healing with Horses |
| Dec 7, 2025 |
Old Town Gingerbread Decorating | City of Alexandria, VA |
| Dec 10, 2025 |
Stuff the Train Dance Party | B&O Railroad Museum |
| Dec 10, 2025 |
Light Yards Express |
| Dec 12, 2025 |
Very Merry ALX Jazz Fest at the Masonic Memorial |
| Dec 14, 2025 |
Alexandria Holiday Invitational Cheer Competition | City of Alexandria, VA |
| Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2025 |
Holiday Festival of Trains | B&O Railroad Museum |
Below are upcoming holiday events that have been posted to our calendar by local organizations. If you are affiliated with a business hosting a holiday event that should be on our calendar, we'd love to see it there... it's free to post! Click here for instructions about how to add your organization to our list and easily post your events to our calendar!
