60 Free Holiday & Christmas Maryland, Virginia, and DC Activities

There are so many free holiday events in DC and Christmas Maryland and Virginia activities, that I had to cap it at 60 this year! I'm so grateful we live in the DMV where you don't have to spend a lot to make wonderful family memories this holiday season. (I also write about 18 paid Holiday Light Displays here.)

Free Holiday and Christmas Events DC Maryland and Virginia Table of Contents

Washington DC Free Things to Do (32)
Maryland Free Activities (9)
Virginia Free Activities (12)

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Free Washington DC Christmas Events and Holiday Activities

Free US Botanic Gardens Holiday Display and Trains - Read our Family Review with Parking Info

Free DC Christmas Tree Lightings and Holiday Markets

US Botanic Gardens Holiday Display and Trains - Thanksgiving weekend, to January 4, 2026. Check out our family's review here with parking info! Wonderful model trains plus an Indoor Conservatory with DC landmarks made of plants. We've visited for the last 10 years now and it's such a wonderful family tradition. Closed on Christmas Day.
Downtown Holiday Market - November 21 - December 23, 2025. Noon to 8 PM daily
DuPont Circle Holiday Market - November 22 to December 23, 2025.
City Center - Will check on this year. Last year was Saturday, November 25, 2024, free and no reservation needed. Spectacular 75-foot tree decked with over 155,000 lights and ornaments. Open daily after the lighting.
US Capitol Tree - A beautiful tree from a national forest! The 2025 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is coming from Nevada's Carson Ranger District. A magnificent 53-foot red fir (Abies magnifica).
Embassy of Canada - Stunning tree in their atrium is open to the public during the holiday season. 2.5 blocks north of the US Capitol Tree. Free to view at the Rotunda of the Provinces & Territories in front of the Embassy.

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Union Station Tree and Train Display - Hosted by the Embassy of Norway. I am working to confirm when the lighting will be.
Capitol Hill Neighborhood Tree Lighting - Saturday, November 22, 2025 free and no reservation needed.
National Menorah - December 14, 2025. Tickets will be available on November 10, 2025 on their website. Hanukkah is from Sunday December 14 to Monday December 22, 2025. Read more and see pictures on the Holiday Lights blog here.
National Christmas Tree and 58 Trees - Not announced yet but hopefully later in October 2025.
1. Located on the Ellipse on the White House grounds, the lights will turn on at sunset each evening and turn off at 10 pm Sunday - Thursday and 11 pm on Friday and Saturday. Full tips post from last year's visit here!
Georgetown GLOW, an outdoor light art experience on East Market Lane. We will see what is available for 2025.

Photo courtesy of Sara from @LongWalksDC. Thanks so much!

The Light Yards: The Bells are coming back to Yards Park! Free and open to the public are 5, 13-foot tall bells that jingle when you swing on them! No dates yet but last year it was from November 25 - Jan 1, 2026. Open nightly.

Note: ZooLights at the National Zoo - In 2025, ZooLights is no longer free but $6 per person. More info here!

Full tips post from last year's visit here!

Free Holiday Events at Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center

Check out website from Kennedy center website.

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Free DC Holiday Museum Events for Families

Native Art Market - December 6-7, 2025 at the American Indian Museum DC - 10 AM – 5:30 PM EST: "The museum’s annual Native Art Market features award-winning and innovative Indigenous artists from across the Western Hemisphere. This weekend event invites lovers of art and craftsmanship to meet Native artists and learn about traditional Native arts and contemporary Native creativity. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to purchase traditional and contemporary handcrafted artworks, including beadwork, jewelry, paintings, photography, pottery, and sculpture."
Anacostia Community Museum - Waiting to see their December programming hopefully after the Government Shutdown. Last year they had an Angel Making Workshop in December at the Anacostia Community Museum.
Kwanza: Waiting to see their December programming hopefully after the Government Shutdown. Last year they had a special Umoja Unity program.
And a friendly reminder that most of the Smithsonians are open for FREE on holidays like Thanksgiving and New Year's Day but most are closed on Christmas Day. Check out 17 free museums for kids in DC here!

DC Holiday Lights City Main Streets - TBC for 2025

Chevy Chase Main Street Holiday Lights
Cleveland Park Main Street Holiday Lights
Columbia Heights Main Street Holiday Lights
Logan Circle Main Street Holiday Lights
Lower Georgia Avenue Main Street Holiday Lights
Mount Pleasant Main Street Holiday Lights
Petworth Main Street Holiday Lights
The Parks Main Street Holiday Lights
U Street Main Street Holiday Lights
Uptown Main Street Holiday Lights
Woodley Park Main Street Holiday Lights
Tenleytown Mian Street Holiday Lights
The Holly Days Eastern Market Main Street
Barracks Row Main Street

Maryland Christmas Free Holiday Things to Do

Credit: Jeffrey Socha

National Harbor Tree Light Show - Every evening at 9 PM from November 8, 2025 to January 3, 2026.
1. One of the prettiest in the region! And the giant Ferris wheel is all lit up for the holidays too! Light show info here.
2. Also, on Saturday nights from November 8 – December 27 at 5:30 p.m. they will also have a free spectacular fireworks display following the tree lighting show.
Gaylord National Hotel Show - Free in the atrium. Mid November - December 31, 2025. Daily: 7:30 pm, 8:45 pm, 9:15 pm.
Sailing Through the Winter Solstice Frederick - November 20ish, 2025 - March 2026.
1. "You can view the boats anytime day or night. In fact, you may want to take a look while it's light out and again after it gets dark and the lights come on. Lights typically turn on at sunset, so this is a great time to see them both ways."
German Christmas Village at Baltimore's Inner Harbor - Free! but $5 admission for adults for the heated tent on weekends. November 22, 2025 - December 24, 2025.
Silver Spring Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Fair - Need to confirm this year but last year it was Dec 1, 2024 at Veterans Plaza.
50th Annual Baltimore Holiday Parade - Need to confirm this year but last year it was Sunday, December 8, 2024.
32nd Annual Bel Air Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting - Sunday, December 7, 2025.
Tinkergarten Free Lantern Walks all around Maryland - Will see if they are doing this in 2025.
A Dickens of a Christmas Weekend - Dec 6 - 7, 2025 Chestertown, Maryland.
1. "Set in the Historic District, the festival celebrates the season with live music, carriage rides, Victorian food and drink, costumed characters, entertainment and more."

Holidays and Christmas in Virginia Free Events

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Lucketts Old General Store and Grounds
1. Free to walk around the grounds for lovely holiday displays, bonfires, and food trucks (including Carpedonut!) I wrote about our Christmas Itinerary of all free things here.
Old Town Alexandria - Lovely to walk around the historic streets and numerous Waterfront parks. Their Scottish Parade is Saturday, December 6, 2025 at 11 AM.
Christmas in Middleburg - Dec 6 - 8, 2025
1. Join one of the most fun-filled family festivals of the year in Middleburg with activities, special events, great eats, the famous Middleburg Hunt Review, and a mile-long Christmas parade.
  1. Friday - O Holy Night! The Tree Lighting Ceremony and Carols, behind the Pink Box, 12 North Madison St., 5 p.m. on Friday.
  2. Saturday - 8 AM Breakfast with Santa
    1. 11 AM Middleburg Hunt and Hounds Review
    2. 2 PM Christmas Parade
    3. 3 - 6 PM Spirits of Middleburg
  3. Sunday - 2 PM Christmas Pageant
Gulf Branch Park, Arlington - Confirming dates but last year until December 18.
1. Santa mailbox to drop off a letter from your child! If you send a letter by December 18, you will receive a postcard from Santa!
Manassas Christmas Parade - December 6, 2025 at 10 AM (great pics on their site!)
Leesburg Holiday Parade - Saturday, December 6, 2025, 6:00 pm.
Bluemont Vineyard - Lighting of the Vines event is not free but last year they were lit every Thursday to Sunday at 5:30 PM in December.
Scottish Walk Open House at Carlyle House - Alexandria Dec. 6, 2024. Free!
Holiday Walk of Lights Neabsco Regional Park - Woodbridge, VA
1. Back for the 3rd year in a row! our family loves the boardwalk at Neabsco Regional Park and now the Prince William Parks Department has added unique, hand-crafted light displays all along the path!
2. Checking on 2025 dates but last year it was: Fridays to Sundays from December 6 - 22, 2024, and Sensory Night on Tuesday, December 10 where there will be reduced volume and lower lights.
3. Highly recommend checking out their website for all the parking information including a free parking shuttle from local schools.
Free Neighborhood Light Displays - Check out 3 wonderful displays in Burke including the Elf House!
Tinkergarten Free Lantern Walks all around Virginia and Maryland - Checking if they are doing this in 2025.
Ballston Quarter: Had great events last year, will check for 2025.