Enchant DC is back in 2026! It was gone the last couple years so below is our family's review from a couple years ago. And make sure to check out 40 Best Holiday and Christmas Lights in the DC Area.
Enchant DC Hours Table of Contents:
- Hours
- Ticket Prices
- Parking & Metro
- Is it Worth It? Our Family’s Review (2 visits in 2 years)
- 5 Ways to Save Money
- Alternative Light Displays
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My kids and I enjoying Enchant DC!
Hours & Dates for an Enchanting DC Night!
When you buy your tickets online for Enchant DC, you pick the time slot that you want. This is just your admission hour as you can stay as long as you like. The hours include:
- Admission at 4:30 (for weekends and special days only)
- Admission at 5:30 slightly cheaper
- Admission at 6:30 highest price
- Admission 7:30 PM highest price
- Admission at 5:30 slightly cheaper
Best Hours to Go to Enchant DC
After visiting twice with my kids, I can definitely say going in the earliest time slot is best! Right at 5:30 it is very busy at the entrance and you might have a long line. So planning to arrive around 4:30 - 5:15 PM would be the best time to go. Once it hits 6 - 7 PM, the Nationals Park gets very busy.
The best time to visit is during the week, especially if you’re going with kids, as it’s generally less crowded and the ticket prices are lower. Budgeting 2-3 hours for your visit is recommended, with the longer duration if you plan to eat dinner and go ice skating, and a shorter time if you are not going ice skating.
Special Nights at Enchant DC 2026
There are SO many fun Special Nights this year! You can read all about them here.
- Sun, November 22 - Family Photo Night Out presented by Navy Federal Credit Union
- Wed, November 25 - Friendsgiving
- Tue, December 1 - Kids Light Up The Night
- Wed, December 2 - Kids Light Up The Night
- Thu, December 3 - HBCU Night
- Fri, December 4 - Go-Go Night
- Sun, December 6 - Paws & Claus
- Tue, December 8 - Kids Light Up The Night
- Wed, December 9 - Kids Light Up The Night
- Wed, December 9 - Lovers & Singles Night
- Thu, December 10 - Night of Honor Presented By Navy Federal Credit Union
- Tue, December 15 - Storybook Night
Tickets for Enchant Christmas DC
Some ticket prices have actually been reduced this year. These are starting points for the least popular dates/times just FYI.
- Adult tickets start at $29
- Youth age 14-17 start at $24
- Child age 3 - 13 start at $19
- Infant age 0 - 2 are Free
- Senior ages 65+ start at $27
- Military Ticket start at $27
- They also have a Family Pack so check out ways to save more here.
Additional Costs at DC Enchant Christmas
Snow Sliding: Enjoy snow sliding like never before. Secure your spot early to ensure your experience. Each Snow Slide pass comes with 3 rides down the slide for $15. (Waivers required for all sliders. Guests must be 42" tall; single riders only.)
Ice Skating: Enchant's illuminated ice skating trail is one-of-a-kind and reservations are limited. Grab your spot on the trail early to ensure your experience. (Waivers required for all skaters). $15 for adults, $10 for kids.
View of the courtyard from Parking Garage.
Parking & Metro at Enchant Christmas DC
When our family went to Enchant DC, I pre-purchased my parking ticket at the GEICO Garage also known as Garage B almost attached to the stadium. I am so glad we did because they were not taking anyone without a reservation! It costs $20 in 2026 (it was $25 so that's great!) in and you purchase at checkout. You can add on the parking during checkout. They also have pre-purchase parking available at Garage C for $20.
Metro at Enchant Christmas DC
The closest Metro Station to Enchant is Navy Yard-Ballpark and is only 1 block away if you exit from the metro station towards the Nationals Park exit. Check out WMATA's excellent Trip Planner for route times and costs.
Wheelchair/Stroller/Wagon Friendly?
Yes, Enchant is accessible. Last year I asked the staff about accessibility since I saw a "stroller parking" area and they showed me the elevator to use instead of the stairs.
Prices on a previous year.
Is Enchant DC Worth It? Our Family's Review
The answer to whether or not Enchant DC is worth it is truly subjective and based on your family. I can say after going twice that it was one of my kids top 3 favorite things we did all holiday season. They still bring it up!
With that said, it is a little like an amusement park where all the add-ons, trinkets for sale and food certainly add up. We went once a little later in the evening and it was honestly too crowded. The time we went at 5:30PM was great because there wasn't too many people in the Lights Maze.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Enchant DC for a special family event or for first timers, when do you get to be on an MLB field skating to great Christmas music?! Enchant DC transforms the Nationals Stadium into a winter wonderland with "the World's Largest Christmas Light Maze and Village," an illuminated ice skating trail, Little One's Play Place, Santa, and more.
At the same time, as a mom I prefer the botanical garden light displays more because of the single pathway and calmer atmosphere. Check out a reel of one of our visits here.
NEW In 2026 Snow Slide at Enchant DC
Enjoy snow sliding like never before. Secure your spot early to ensure your experience. Each Snow Slide pass comes with 3 rides down the slide for $15. (Waivers required for all sliders. Guests must be 42" tall; single riders only.)
6 Ways to Save Money at Enchant DC
1) Save up to 15% off wit their Family Offer or Friends Night Out Offer: This family offer includes two (2) adult & two (2) junior general admission tickets—at a sweet deal - Discount applied at checkout.
Friends Night Out Offer: This friends night out offer includes (4) adult general admission tickets at a lower per single ticket price - Discount applied at checkout.
2) Purchase Light-Up Headbands Ahead of Time: Instead of buying light-up toys at the event, where they can be pricey, consider purchasing them online (Holiday Light Up Headbands or Flower Crowns on Amazon) or at stores like Dollar Tree for a fraction of the cost. You will see headbands and wands sold for 3 times the cost everywhere around the park! I belive they also had these Bunny Hats that Light Up & Ears that Move. On my list to buy for Christmas this year! Great price on Amazon.
3) Leave your bags in the car: You can not bring large bags or backpacks into Enchant DC larger than 16” x 16” x 8' so leave them in your car so you don't have to run back or use one of their very expensive Purse Lockers. I made this mistake!
4) Bring Plastic Bottle of Water (not in your own bottle): Another mistake I made was bringing my own water bottle which they made me take back to my car. From their website, "Water Guests will be allowed to bring one (1) factory-sealed, non-frozen 33.8 fl. oz. (1 liter) bottle of water (no soda, flavored water or soft drinks)." Water is around $5 in the park so much better to bring!
5) Check their Social Media for Giveaways: Unfortunately they don't have the Kids Free Wednesdays in but their social media is having a lot of Giveaways.
6) Bring a Snack in the Car: You are definitely paying 'baseball park prices' for everything so the second time we went, I said no to the overpriced hot dog and had a big lunch box of snacks in the car waiting for the drive home including my kids favorite Chicken Sticks.
Stroller Parking before you go down to the Lights Maze. (There is an elevator for medically necessary strollers and wheelchairs).
Alternatives to Enchant DC
I have a list of 40 of the best Holiday Light Displays in DC, Virginia and Maryland with 22 of them being free!
If you have little ones who are sensitive to large crowds sights and sounds, I would highly recommend Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna Virginia or Brookside Botanical Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland. Both are one way paths that make crowds much easier. Enchant DC can be a bit of a zoo crowds wise as there is no "path" per se and kids are running all around.
For free displays, you can't beat the National Christmas Tree and the 50 state stress that surround it and I love City Center's free tree (pictured in the image below) and square all lit up. I believe it is the largest in the DC area! Check out 50 more free things to do during the holidays below!
And for another big splurge-like event like Enchant DC, check out Christmas at Gaylord National Hotel with ICE! featuring the Grinch including an Ice Slide, Ice Tubing, Reindeer Games Scavenger Hunt, Gingerbread Decorating Corner, Ice Skating, Mrs. Claus' Christmas Traditions, Snowball Build & Blast.
Indoor Ice Slide at ICE! featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!
50 Free Holiday & Christmas Events in DC, Virginia, Maryland
