Updated December 12, 2024
Christmas in Washington DC does not disappoint. You can find events that are free and paid, for families, dates, and friends, and in every part of the city. My favorite holiday tradition is the European-style Christmas market, but there’s much more available.
Check out this list of opportunities to celebrate Christmas in Washington DC and the DC area.
Where/How to Celebrate Christmas in Washington DC
Note: I update this list every year, so bookmark it/save it to Pinterest for the future!
Holiday Markets
DowntownDC Holiday Market: November 22-December 23, 2024 from 12-8 pm at F Street NW (between 7th and 9th)
DC Holiday Market: November 22-December 15, 2024 at Dupont Circle on 19th St NW
Woodbridge/Stonebridge Christmas Market & Holiday Craft Show: November 22, 2024 from 5-9 pm at Potomac Town Center
URBNmarket Holiday Markets:
- Mosaic Holiday Market: November 23-24 and December 14-15, 2024 from 11 am-4 pm at Mosaic, Fairfax
- The Crossing Clarendon: December 7-8, 2024 from 11 am-4 pm
- Bethesda’s Winter Wonderland: December 7, 2024 from 12 pm – 4 pm
Silver Spring Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Show: December 1, 2024 from 12-4 pm at Veterans Plaza. Free.
Christmas at Calleva Farm: November 30, December 1, December 6-8, 2024 at Calleva Farm. Includes market, Christmas tree sales, and Christmas Trail ($30 tickets)
Heurich Christmas Markt: December 6-13, 2024 at Heurich House Museum. $10-$18 entry.
Big Bear Cafe Holiday Market: December 6, 2024 from 4-8 pm
Swedish Holiday Market: December 7, 2024 from 10 am-5 pm at House of Sweden in Georgetown
Chevy Chase Winter Market: December 7, 2024 from 12-5 pm at Chevy Chase Main Street
Winter Wonderland Market: December 7, 2024 from 11 am-4 pm at the Wonderland Ballroom
Rock’N’Shop: December 8, 2024 from 2-6 pm at Black Cat. Free.
Old Town Alexandria Christmas Market & Holiday Craft Show: December 14, 2024 from 11 am-4 pm at John Carlyle Square. Free.
Holly Jolly Holiday Market: December 14, 2024 from 11-4 pm at Logan Circle, U St.
Cleveland Park Winter Market: December 14, 2024 from 12-5 pm at Cleveland Park Main Street
Unique Markets DC Holiday Market: December 14-15, 2024 from 10 am-4 pm at Union Market.
Main Hall Holiday Market: December 17-19, 2024 from 11 am-6 pm at Union Station’s Main Hall
National Harbor Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Show: December 21-22, 2024 from 11 am-4 pm at American Way, National Harbor. Free.
Performances
A Christmas Carol: November 21-December 31, 2024 at Ford’s Theatre
Philadelphia Ballet: George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker: November 27-December 1, 2024 at The Kennedy Center
The Washington Ballet’s The Nutcracker: November 30-December 29, 2024 at Warner Theatre
Mariah Carey’s Christmas Time: December 1, 2024 at Capital One Arena
NSO at The Anthem: Ugly Sweater Holiday Concert: December 4, 2024 at 7:30 pm at the Anthem
Handel’s Messiah: December 6-8, 2024 at Washington National Cathedral and Livestream
The Holiday Show (Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington DC): December 7, 14, & 15, 2024 at the Lincoln Theatre
Atlas Presents Navidad Flamenca: December 14, 2024 at Atlas Performing Arts Center
Capital City Symphony: Sing! Annual Holiday Concert: December 15, 2024 at Atlas Performing Arts Center
A Candlelight Christmas: December 15-22, 2024 at The Kennedy Center
The Hip Hop Nutcracker: December 20-22, 2024 at The National Theatre
Light & Ice Displays
Winter Lantern Festival: October 31, 2024-January 12, 2025 from 5-9:30 pm on Thursdays-Sundays at Tysons, Virginia. $26.99 adult admission, $16.99 children.
Cirque: Spirit of Christmas: November 15-December 28, 2024 at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in the National Harbor. Starting at $22.99 admission.
ICE! Featuring “A Charlie Brown Christmas”: November 15 – December 28, 2024 at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in the National Harbor. Enter a world created from carved ice, including the famous ice slides. Starting admission $26.99.
Garden of Lights: November 22, 2024-January 5, 2025 at Brookside Gardens. $10 entry.
ZooLights: November 22, 2024-January 4, 2025 from 5-8 or 9 pm at the National Zoo. $6 general admission.
Frosted at Franklin Park: November 22-December 20, 2024 daily from 4 pm-7 am at Franklin Park
Winter City Lights: November 23-December 31, 2024 in Olney. Starting at $18 adult admission.
Light Yards: November 25, 2024-January 1, 2025 nightly from 5-10 pm at The Yards Park. Free.
Gaithersburg’s Winter Lights Festival: November 29-December 31, 2024 in Seneca Creek State Park. $15-$25.
Gingertown DC: December 3, 2024 at 5:30 pm. On display through December 10, 2024 at 1050 17th St NW. Free.
Holiday Boat Parade: December 7, 2024 at The Wharf. Includes ice rink, drink bar, children’s activities, fireworks, and of course, the brightly decorated boat parade. Free.
Holiday-Themed Bars and Restaurants
The Jingle Bar DC: December 4, 2024-January 5, 2025 on select dates at the National Union Building, F St NW. $17.04 general admission. A pop-up holiday bar with festive decorations, holiday tunes, photo ops, cocktails, and brunch on weekends.
Colada Shop: The Cuban spot has holiday decor and a new holiday cocktail menu until December 31st.
Filomena: If you missed the Italian restaurant’s Halloween decorations, make sure to stop by for the Christmas decorations. They’re just as fun and elaborate!
Old Ebbitt Grill: Every year you can look forward to two giant nutcrackers welcoming you into the historic bar and restaurant, established in 1856.
Tree Lightings
CityCenterDC Annual Holiday Tree Lighting: November 30, 2024 from 5-7 pm at The Park at CityCenter
National Christmas Tree Lighting: December 5, 2024 in-person ceremony on the Ellipse at President’s Park. December 20, 2024 television broadcast.
Norwegian Tree Lighting Ceremony: TBD
Columbia Heights Tree Lighting Ceremony: December 6, 2024 from 2-8 pm at Columbia Heights Civic Plaza
Event Lineups
Holidays at The Willard: The swanky Willard InterContinental hotel is hosting multiple holiday activities in addition to holiday decorations. Enjoy your Christmas in Washington DC with nightly holiday caroling (December 1-23), Christmas Day brunch, holiday libations at the Round Robin Bar, holiday afternoon tea (November 30-December 29), or view a gingerbread display of National Mall landmarks.
DC Holiday Hunt: November 29, 2024-January 5, 2025 in neighborhoods throughout DC
Alexandria’s Biggest Holiday Weekend: December 6-8, 2024. Includes the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade and Holiday Boat Parade of Lights on December 7, 2024, plus more events to be announced.
Holiday Boat Parade & Party at The Wharf: December 7, 2024 from 5-8 pm.
Holiday Parties
Clarendon’s Official Bad Santa Bar Crawl: December 7, 2024 from 3-10 pm. $5-$30 tickets
Cleveland Park Main Street Santa Bar Crawl: December 14, 2024 from 5:30-9:30 pm. $15.
Instagram-Ready Photo Spots
Union Station: Enjoy elegant decorations including the Norwegian Christmas tree, a decades-long tradition with the Norwegian Embassy.
Library of Congress: This building is beautiful for photos year-round, but with holiday decorations it’s even nicer to look at and capture in photos.
Willard Hotel: You don’t have to stay overnight to enjoy the many Christmas trees and holiday decorations in this opulent, historic hotel.
National Menorah: Close to the National Christmas Tree, the National Menorah offers great views that include the most iconic monuments.
Capital Christmas Tree: Separate from the National Christmas Tree, the “People’s Tree” features decorations made by residents of different states celebrating our national forests.
Georgetown Waterfront: Wreaths on every lamp post and lights create a beautiful backdrop for holiday photos.
City Center: CityCenterDC is known for its alternating year-round decorations, so you know they do Christmas big here.
Old Town Alexandria: This area is pretty any time of year, but it’s even better when you add lights strung along trees on King Street and home decorations.
Ice Skating Rinks
Ice Rink at the Sculpture Garden: November 23, 2024-March 2, 2025 at the National Gallery of Art
Canal Park Ice Rink: TBD
The Wharf Ice Rink: Opens November 27, 2024
Stonebridge Ice Rink: November 15, 2024-February 23, 2025 at Potomac Town Center, Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon Row Ice Rink: November-March annually at Westpost at National Landing
Holiday Events for History Lovers
Tudor Place Candlelight Tour: December 6,11, & 13, 2024 at Tudor Place Historic House & Garden. $25 non-member admission, $15 member admission.
Christmas Illuminations at Mount Vernon: December 20-22, 2024 at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. $58 general public admission, $48 member admission.
So, do you know of an event not listed here or another way to celebrate Christmas in Washington DC? Leave a comment below and I’ll add it to the list!
If you liked this, check these out:
A Complete Guide to Christmas in Baltimore
Christmas in Germany: 3 Christmas Markets Not to Miss
App-Guided City Tours with AmazingCo: Mystery Picnic in Washington, DC
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8 Comments
Proud to announce Christmas at Calleva Farm in Montgomery county. You check out the website christmasatcallevafarm.com
Thank you, I will.
Alexandria’s biggest holiday weekend takes place December 6 to 8, 2024.
53rd Annual, featuring a parade of Scottish clans and Scottie dogs, as well as the 24th Annual Lighted Boat Parade on the Potomac River. Enjoy more festive happenings throughout the weekend.
Thank you, I’ll add them to the list.
The Parks at Walter Reed Holiday Market & Celebration Dec 2
https://theparksdc.com/events/holiday-market-celebration/
Thanks Aisha for all you do!
Thanks for the heads up, adding this to the list now!
November 4, 2023 – Friendship Heights Holiday Marker’s Market from 11am-3pm
https://friendshipheights.com/events/holiday-makers-market-november-4-2023
Thank you for sharing! I’ll be updating this list soon for 2023 and will look out for more Friendship Heights events to include.