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!
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Santa Sightings
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
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 post! Click here for instructions about how to add your organization to our list and easily post your events to our calendar!