There are so many free holiday and Christmas events in DC and the surrounding areas, 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.)
Table of Contents of Free Holiday and Christmas Events in the DMV:
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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 - Will check but last year it November 22 to December 23, 2024.
- City Center - 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.
- 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 - Last year the lighting was on December 25, 2024. Tickets will be available on November, 1 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.
- 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 Ffrom 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.
Free DC Holiday Museum Events for Families
- Native Art Market - December 6-7 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."
- Angel Making Workshop - Saturday, December 7, 2024, 12:30 – 2:30 PM EST at the Anacostia Community Museum: "Join Artist Tamara Thomas as she leads a workshop in creating beautiful angels. The workshop is for ages 12 and up. Supplies will be provided."
- Umoja (Unity): Kwanzaa Opening Program - Thursday, December 26, 2024, 12 – 2 PM EST at the Anacostia Community Museum: "Storyteller and griot Mama Ayo will open the week-long celebration with a traditional candle-lighting ceremony, pouring of the libation paying homage to our ancestors, and sharing on the history of Kwanzaa. She will talk about the first principle of Kwanzaa, Umoja (unity), and the importance of unity in our families and communities. Enjoy performances by the Taratibu Youth Association, which provides a transformative experience, through the performing arts, for youth of the African diaspora. Taratibu’s vision is to cultivate socially responsible change agents healing and transforming people of the Pan-African community, seven generations forward and backward."
- And the Museum will host daily events during Kwanzaa from December 26 to January 1st!
- 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 Free Holiday and Christmas Things to Do
Credit: Jeffrey Socha
- National Harbor Tree Light Show - Every evening from November 11, 2024 to January 3, 2025.
- One of the prettiest in the region! And the giant Ferris wheel is all lit up for the holidays too! Light show info here.
- Also, on Saturday nights from November 11 – December 30 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, 2024. Daily: 7:30 pm, 8:45 pm, 9:15 pm.
- Sailing Through the Winter Solstice Frederick - November 23, 2024 - March 2025.
- "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 23, 2024 - December 24, 2024.
- Silver Spring Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Fair - Dec 1, 2024
- 50th Annual Baltimore Holiday Parade - Sunday, December 8, 2024.
- 32nd Annual Bel Air Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting - Sunday, December 8, 2024.
- Tinkergarten Free Lantern Walks all around Maryland - Will see if they are doing this in 2024.
- A Dickens of a Christmas Weekend - Dec 6 - 7, 2024 Chestertown, Maryland.
- "Set in the Historic District, the festival celebrates the season with live music, carriage rides, Victorian food and drink, costumed characters, entertainment and more."
Virginia Free Holiday and Christmas Activities
- Lucketts Old General Store and Grounds
- 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 7, 2024 at 11 AM.
- Christmas in Middleburg - Dec 6 - 8, 2024
- 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.
- Friday - O Holy Night! The Tree Lighting Ceremony and Carols, behind the Pink Box, 12 North Madison St., 5 p.m. on Friday.
- Saturday - 8 AM Breakfast with Santa
- 11 AM Middleburg Hunt and Hounds Review
- 2 PM Christmas Parade
- 3 - 6 PM Spirits of Middleburg
- Sunday - 2 PM Christmas Pageant
- 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.
- Gulf Branch Park, Arlington - Confirming dates but last year until December 18.
- 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 7, 2024 at 10 AM (great pics on their site!)
- Leesburg Holiday Parade - Saturday, December 14, 2024, 6:00 pm. Rain date is December 15, 2024 at 6 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. 7, 2024. Free!
- Holiday Walk of Lights Neabsco Regional Park - Woodbridge, VA
- 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!
- Fridays to Sundays from December 6 - 22, 2024, and Sensory Night on Tuesday, December 10 where there will be reduced volume and lower lights.
- 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 2024.
- Ballston Quarter: Had great events last year, will check for 2024.
All the DMV Holiday Posts below:
- 40 Holiday Light Displays in the DMV
- Top 10 Holiday Spots in DC (great for out-of-town visitors!)
- 10 Things to Do for New Year's in DMV and at Home
- Experience Gift Ideas in the DMV
- 3 Neighborhood Lights in Burke and Springfield (including The Elf House!)
- Ice Skating in the DMV
- Sledding Spots in the DMV
- Snow Tubing at Bryce Resort, Virginia
- Sledding at Blackwater Falls, West Virginia
- Modlin's Maryland Christmas Tree Farm
