My Favorite Festive Ways To Enjoy The Christmas Holidays In The DC Area
December is here and that means the Washington DC area is packed with events and festivals to get you in the holiday spirit! If you’re looking for something festive to do this Christmas, here are a few of my favorite ways to celebrate the season. I try not to miss any of them!
1. visit the Capitol Christmas Tree
Every year, a different national forest is selected to provide a tree to appear on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol building for the holiday season, decorated with handmade ornaments made by residents from that state. While the official Capitol Christmas Tree lighting ceremony is on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 beginning at 5:00pm EST, the tree is lit each night at dusk from then until the new year. There are not nearly as many people checking out this tree, so if crowds aren’t your thing, this is a great alternative to the National Christmas Tree at the White House.
2. Walk through the pathway of peace
The National Christmas Tree is Washington DC’s claim to fame during the holiday season. Officially lit during a televised ceremony featuring performances and special guests. The tree lighting ceremony is free to attend in person, but you need to enter a lottery for your chance to win tickets. This year’s tree lighting ceremony takes place on December 5, 2024.
Starting Saturday, December 7, you can visit the National Christmas Tree and walk through a Pathway of Peace lined with over 50 smaller trees decorated with handmade ornaments from all of the U.S. states and territories. The Ellipse is open from 10:00am – 11:00pm through the new year
3. Visit the U.S. Botanic Garden’s "Season’s Greenings" exhibit
The United States Botanic Garden is a gem in Washington DC as it is, but during the holidays the garden bursts with holiday cheer! Every year the garden celebrates Season’s Greenings, featuring model trains, gorgeous poinsettias and iconic DC landmarks made entirely from plants.
This year the exhibit runs daily from November 28 through January. 5, 2025 (excluding Christmas Day!) from 10:00am – 5:00pm. There are extended evening hours on select Tuesday and Thursday evenings until 8:00pm.
4. Walk Through the lights at maple tree farm
Closer to where I live in Warrenton, Virginia, a beloved Christmas tradition my family and I enjoy is walking through the Christmas lights trail at Maple Tree Farm. Open weekends in December, the nearly 1-mile trail offers cute displays of twinkling lights, beloved holiday characters and music! After making your way through the trail, you can warm up by a camp fire and enjoy a hot beverage and sweet treat.
5. Drive through sparkling lights
You can enjoy 2.5 miles of sparkling holiday lights and animated displays from the comfort of your car at the Bull Run Festival of Lights – Northern Virginia’s largest drive-through light display! At the end of the trail don’t forget to stop at the Holiday village to enjoy food and drinks, carnival rides, a market and more!
6. go ice skating at the sculpture garden
While there are a lot of placing around Northern Virginia and Washington to ice skate, the most famous outdoor rink is at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. Where else can you ice skate surrounded by works of art and national monuments? Unlike the museums surrounding the ice rink, you do have to pay a fee to skate. If you can, come skate after the sun sets, as the lights make it at magical experience.
But enough about my favorite things to at Christmas here in the Washington DC area. Now I want to hear from you – what are your favorite things to see and do? Share with us in the comments!
