101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in the Washington DC Metro Area - 2023 | Kids Out and About DMV <

101 Ideas for Holiday Family Fun in the Washington DC Metro Area - 2023

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 in 2023!

Santa Sightings

Multiple dates starting Nov 4, 2023 Santa's Wonderland 2023 | Bass Pro Shops
Multiple dates starting Nov 9, 2023 Tysons Corner Center | Santa Photos
Multiple dates starting Nov 11, 2023 Springfield Town Center - Photos with Santa
Multiple dates starting Nov 13, 2023 Springfield Town Center - Family Pet Photos with Santa-
Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023 THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride | B&O Railroad Museum
Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023 Santa Trains - Walkersville Southern Railroad
Nov 25, 2023 City Market at O Holiday Tree Lighting & Celebration
Nov 25, 2023 Storytime with Santa
Multiple dates starting Dec 2, 2023 Breakfast with Santa at Ada's on the River
Multiple dates starting Dec 2, 2023 Breakfast with Santa at Joe Theismann's Restaurant
Dec 2, 2023 Wilde Breakfast with Santa
Dec 2, 2023 Breakfast with Santa Tysons Galleria Neiman Marcus
Dec 3, 2023 SOFE's Pictures with Santa!
Dec 8, 2023 Kris Kringle Procession sponsored by Wawa - Celebrate Frederick
Dec 9, 2023 Maggiano's Chevy Chase Breakfast with Santa
Dec 9, 2023 Milk and Cookies With Santa – McLean Center
Dec 24, 2023 Christmas Eve Breakfast & Tour - The Mansion on O Street 

  

Old-Time Christmas

Nov. 24-25, Dec. 1-2, Dec. 8-9, Dec. 17, 2023 Mount Vernon by Candlelight
Dec 1 & 2, 2023 Holiday Lantern Tour | Park Authority
Dec 2 & 3, 2023 Candlelight House Tour - Celebrate Frederick
Dec 9 & 10, 2023 Sensory-Friendly Santa at the Mill
Dec 9 & 10, 2023 Santa at the Mill
Dec 15 & 16, 2023 Christmas Illuminations at Mount Vernon

 

Light Displays

Multiple dates starting Nov 10, 2023 Bull Run Festival of Lights | Nova Parks
Multiple dates starting Nov 10, 2023 Meadowlark Winter Walk of Lights | Nova Parks
Multiple dates Starting Nov 10, 2023 Christmas Town: Busch Gardens Christmas Celebration
Multiple dates starting Nov 18, 2022 Zoo Lights - The Maryland Zoo
Multiple dates starting Nov 17, 2023 DC Holiday Lights
Nov 17, 2023 Tysons Corner Center | Events | Holiday Kick-Off Celebration
Nov 17, 2023 Ice & Lights | Nova Parks
Nov 18, 2023 2023 Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony -  Alexandria
Nov 18, 2023 Winter Lights - 17th Annual Capitol Hill Christmas Tree Lighting
Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023 Enchant Christmas in Washington DC
Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023 Festival of Lights - Park and Recreation
Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023 Winter Lights Festival | Gaithersburg, MD
Nov 30, 2023 Light Up The Village
Multiple dates starting Dec 1, 2023 Georgetown GLOW | Georgetown DC
Dec 2, 2023 The District's Holiday Boat Parade
Dec 5, 2023 Fairmont's 20th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony | Washington DC
Dec 15, 2023 Festival of Lights - Celebrate Frederick
Multiple dates starting Dec 18, 2023 Light Up McLean Holiday House Decorating Contest – McLean Center

 

Holiday Theatre

Nov 30, Dec 1 & 2, 2023 Dorrance Dance: Nutcracker Suite | Kennedy Center
Multiple dates starting Nov 17, 2023 A Christmas Carol – 2023 – Ford's Theatre
Multiple dates starting Nov 25, 2023 The Nutcracker - The Washington Ballet
Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023 A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas | Olney Theatre Center
Multiple dates starting Dec 2, 2023 A Christmas Carol - The Little Theatre of Alexandria
Dec 8 & 9, 2023 Drag The Halls | Olney Theatre Center
Dec 9, 2023 Atlas Presents Navidad Flamenca | Atlas Performing Arts Center
Multiple dates starting Dec 14, 2023 Nutcracker - Manassas Ballet Theatre

 

Holiday Concerts

Nov 18 and Dec 1 & 2, 2023 Snow Globe Series '23 | Alexandria Choral Society
Dec 4, 2023 Atlas Presents Bohemian Caverns Jazz Orchestra: A Bohemian Christmas 2023
Dec 11, 2023 Hot 99.5's Jingle Ball Presented by Capital One | Capital One Arena
Dec 16 & 17, 2023 Joy of Christmas - Cathedral Choral Society
Dec 16 & 24, 2023 A Family Christmas | Kennedy Center
Dec 17, 2023 Capital City Symphony: Sleigh Ride! CCS’s Annual Holiday Concert and Sing Along | Atlas Performing Arts Center
Dec 29, 2023 Holiday Concert – IONA

 

Christmas Tree Experience

Multiple dates starting November 24, 2023 Hartland Orchard, Markham, VA
Multiple dates starting November 24, 2023 Friendship Trees & Christmas Shop In Friendship Maryland
Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023 Christmas Corner Market - Cox Farms
Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023 Linden Hill Christmas Tree Farm - Upper Marlboro, Maryland 
Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2022 Christmas Trees - Gaver Farm LLC
Nov 25 & 26, 2023 Middleburg Christmas Tree Farm of Virginia

 

Ice Skating

Year Round  Bowie Ice Arena
Year Round  Capital Clubhouse
Multiple dates starting Nov 6, 2023 Pentagon Row Outdoor Ice Skating
Nov - April Herbert Wells Ice Rink
Multiple dates starting Nov 17, 2023 Ice Skating at Ice & Lights: The Winter Village at Cameron Run
Mid Nov to Mid March 2023 Reston Town Center, VA 
Multiple dates starting Nov 22, 2023 Ice Rink - The Wharf DC
Dec 5, 2023 Holiday Jingle Skate with Santa - Bowie, MD

 

Hanukkah

Multiple dates starting Nov 30, 2023 Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins | Puppet Co. (showare.com)
Dec 7, 2023 National Menorah – The world's Premier Chanukah Celebration
Dec 7, 2023 Chanukah Festival - Old Town Alexandria
Dec 9 & 10, 2023 Hanukkah Happenings | The Maryland Zoo
Dec 10, 2023 Light Up Arlington - Clarendon Menorah Lighting

 

Kwanzaa

Dec 15 & 16, 2023 The Spirit of Kwanzaa – Dance Institute of Washington

 

Shopping & Craft Fairs

Nov 4, 2023 Annual Holiday Bazaar
Nov 9-11, 2023 Museum Shop Holiday Market
Multiple dates starting Nov 17, 2023 Downtown Holiday Market
Nov 18-19, 2023 37th Annual Holiday Craft Show | City of Fairfax, VA
Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023 Holiday Shopping at Belair Mansion Bowie, MD
Nov 24 - 26 and Dec 9-10, 2023 Holiday Market, Springfield Town Center
Nov 25, 2023 DISTRICT MOTHERHUED HOLIDAY SHOP AND PLAY
Nov 25, 2023 Old Town Manassas Christmas Fair and Holiday Craft Show
Dec 1, 2023 2023 Holiday Book Festival & Book Closeout Sale!
Dec 1 - 3, 2023 Christmas Markt – Heurich House
Dec 2 & 3, 2023 Children's Holiday Shopping at Historic Colvin Run
Dec 1-2, 2023 Sons of Norway Christmas Festival and Bazaar 2023
Dec 1-3, 2023 McLean Holiday Art & Crafts Festival – McLean Center
Dec 2-3, 2023 DC | Native Art Market
Dec 3, 2023 Silver Spring Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Fair

 

New Year's Eve

Dec 31, 2023 Noon Yards Eve! - The Yards

 

Miscellaneous 

Nov 1 - Dec 17, 2023 Holiday Paws and Claws Drive - Bowie, MD
Nov 18, 2023 Holiday Photos with Horses & Christmas Market 2023
Multiple dates starting Nov 19, 2023 Mrs. Claus' Christmas Traditions | Gaylord National Tickets
Multiple dates starting Nov 19, 2022 Christmas at Gaylord National
Multiple dates starting Nov 24, 2023 Holly-days | The Maryland Zoo
Dec 1 - 3, 2023 Christmas Markt – Heurich House
Dec 2, 2023 Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade
Multiple dates starting Dec 2, 2023 FairfaxFCPA - Winter Wonderland Event at Burke Lake
Dec 7, 2023 Holiday Gingerbread House Decorating – McLean Center
Dec 9, 2023 Holiday Pickle Fest 2023
Dec 9, 2023 Civil War Christmas in Camp - Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site
Dec 9, 2023 Georgetown Cookie Tour
Select dates Dec 9 - Feb 19, 2024 Winter Wonder Lab - Children's Science Center Lab
Dec 16, 2023 Atlas Presents: Polar Palooza! | Atlas Performing Arts Center
Dec 16, 2023 Caroling Wagon Ride & Campfire | Fairfax Park Authority

 


Below are items that have been posted to our calendar. 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 postClick here for instructions about how to add your organization to our list and easily post your events to our calendar!

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