Best Christmas Events for Kids in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia

Washington, DC is a wonderful place to celebrate Christmas with kids. We are especially lucky to have such a wide selection of Christmas events and activities to choose from in Washington, DC and the suburbs of Maryland and Virginia. While you are shopping, decorating, cooking and preparing for the holiday, be sure to take some time out to make some special Christmas memories with your kids.

The Nutcracker
The Washington, DC area has a wide range of theaters to enjoy the Christmas classic ballet - the Nutcracker. Take the whole family to marvel over Clara’s Christmas fantasy when the wooden toy soldier comes alive and takes her on a magical tour of wonderful holiday adventures. For the younger crowd, check out the Nutcracker Puppet Show at the Puppet Co.

National Christmas Tree and the Pageant of Peace
The Christmas Tree in front of the White House has a special allure to us all, but to kids it’s even more magical. Be sure to get up close and watch the toy train go around the track!

Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend and Holiday Boat Parade of Lights
December 4-5, 2009. Old Town Alexandria celebrates the holiday season while hundreds of Scottish clansmen with their bagpipes gather for the traditional parade and dozens of festively decorated pleasure boats light up the sky along the Potomac River in Old Town Alexandria.

ZooLights at the National Zoo
Rock Creek Park. December 4, 2009 - January 2, 2010, 6 to 8:30 p.m. Open every night except December 24, 25, and 31. The National Zoo presents a display of thousands of sparkling animated Christmas lights, winter-themed crafts, ice sculpting demonstrations, choral groups, and storytellers.

ICE! – Christmas at the Gaylord National Resort
November 19, 2009 - January 10, 2010. The award-winning holiday attraction is a winter wonderland created entirely of 5,000 BLOCKS of ice weighing 1.5 MILLION POUNDS! hand-sculpted by 40 international artisans and kept at a chilling nine degrees Fahrenheit. New in our region this year, this is an interactive holiday attraction you won't want to miss.

Botanic Garden's Holiday Magic
November 26, 2009 through January 10, 2010. The exhibit is truly amazing featuring model trains and incredible replicas of Washington, DC's most famous buildings and monuments all made of real plant materials! Adults and children will be fascinated by this special Christmas-time treat in the nation's capital.

Christmas in Georgetown
December 6, 2009, 3-6 pm. From candlelit caroling to complimentary horse-drawn carriage rides, there’s something for everyone.

Manassas Christmas Parade
Saturday, December 5, 2009. Old Town Manassas, Virginia celebrates the Christmas season each year with a weekend of old-fashioned family fun at the "Merry Old Town" celebration. Festivities include a parade, Christmas tree lighting ceremony, visits with Santa, free carriage rides and more.

Choral Arts Society of Washington: Family Christmas Concerts
December 20, 2009, 2 and 4 p.m. John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St. NW, Washington, DC. (202) 467-4600. Washington’s Christmas concert for the whole family with lots of audience participation.

Holiday Sing-a-long at Wolf Trap Farm Park
December 6, 2009, 4-5:30 p.m. Sing Christmas carols and Hanukkah songs with the United States Marine Band and vocal groups from the metropolitan Washington area.

The Christmas Revels
December 5-6 and 11-13, 2009. Lisner Auditorium, George Washington University. The annual Christmas Revels will be a lively Italian Renaissance and Leonardo da Vinci celebration, featuring music, dance and drama.

Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremonies
Various communities around the Washington, DC area light a Christmas tree, provide entertainment and invite children to visit with Santa.

College Park Aviation Museum
Santa Fly In December 5, 2009. Watch Santa fly into the historic College Park Airport and then have your picture taken with him. Enjoy holiday arts and crafts in the museum gallery as you wait.
Trains and Planes December 19-26, 2009, Miniature trains, villages, tunnels and depots spark the imagination while bringing history to life.

The Water-skiing Santa
December 24, 2009, 1 p.m. New Location this Year! This unusual annual event features a water-skiing Santa, flying elves, the Jet-skiing Grinch, and Frosty the Snowman performing on the Potomac River.

Gingerbread Workshop at the National Building Museum
2009 Date to be announced, 10 a.m. Build and decorate your own gingerbread house. $45 per house for museum members; $60 nonmembers. Recommended for children ages 5 and up. Prepaid registration is required. (202) 272-2448, ext. 3413.

Christmas Light Displays
Christmas light displays are beautiful and a great way to share the magic and joy of a winter wonderland. Kids will especially like the animated characters.

Discovery Theater’s Seasons of Light
December 1-22, 2009. This seasonal favorite at the Smithsonian’s children’s theater celebrates the warmth of many holidays filled with light. Learn the history and customs of Devali, Ramadan, Sankta Lucia, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Las Posadas, Christmas, and the First Nations tradition of the Winter Solstice.

Reston Town Center's Holiday Events
This shopping center in Reston, Virginia celebrates the holidays with a holiday parade, visits with Santa, carriage rides, a Christmas tree lighting and sing-along and more.

Bethesda's Winter Wonderland
December 4-5, 2009. See a variety of entertainment and performances, a live ice sculpting presentation in and a visit from Santa Claus.

Leesburg Holiday Parade and Festival
December 12, 2009, 10 a.m. Catch your Christmas spirit and bring the whole family to see Santa and his friends parade down King Street, through the heart of historic Leesburg. Following the parade, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. historic downtown Leesburg will be transformed into a holiday wonderland with nostalgic carriage rides through the historic district, carnival rides and games, live entertainment and free rides on the The North Pole train. While shopping downtown Leesburg, be sure to catch the ice carving demonstration and grab a photo with Santa, Frosty, and Rudolph!

See also, The Best Places to See Santa in the Washington, DC Area