1- Gaylord National Resort- MD https://christmasatgaylordnational.marriott.com/ice
Embark on a magical journey through larger-than-life, immersive scenes from the iconic classic ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™’ carved from over two million pounds of ice. In the one-of-a-kind holiday experience ICE!, you’ll zip down two-story-tall slides made of pure ice, traverse through immersive ice tunnels and arches, and step into colorful, multi-sensory scenes starring Rudolph, Clarice, Bumble, Sam the Snowman, and Hermey the Elf! Starts November 20 through Dec 31st. Tickets range from $26.99-$47.99 depending when you go.
2- Zoolights at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo https://nationalzoo.si.edu/events/zoolights
Washington, D.C.’s beloved Smithsonian’s National Zoo holiday tradition is back and brighter than ever!
Now in its 15th year, ZooLights will take thousands of visitors into a winter wonderland lit by more than half a million environmentally-friendly LED lights and illuminations. Visitors can stroll through immersive lantern displays showing rainforest, grassland, desert, ocean and polar habitats and the animals that call them home. Live musical performances, delicious treat offerings and plenty of opportunities for holiday shopping make this special event a dazzling and immersive experience for families and nature aficionados.
Admission to ZooLights costs $6 per person.A flat-rate parking fee of $30 applies to all ZooLights attendees. Or you can take the metro! The Zoo is accessible via the Red Line to the Woodley Park-Zoo or Cleveland Park metro station.
Started November 24 through December 30. Some weeks are just the weekends and others are the whole week, so definitely check before going.
3- Enchant DC https://enchantchristmas.com/washington-dc-nationals-park/
Adventure through Enchant’s newest adventure Reindeer Games, a captivating, larger-than-life light maze that is the cornerstone to the Enchant experience. In a mischievous moment, forest animal friends of Santa’s reindeer thought it would be fun to fly Santa’s sleigh. So they hatched a plan to get the reindeer’s magic bells — and it worked! Help them find the magic bells in time to save Christmas.
Or you can Lace up your skates and hit the trail on real ice! They provide the skates, you create the memories. And definitely Explore the Village of tiny shops of artisan vendors, specialty crafts, and boutiques. They have live music, storytelling and lots of treats for both kids and adults!
Tickets for the maze range from $27-$36 depending on your age and military status. Ice Skating is a timed-entry, add-on ticket option with limited availability.
4- U.S. Botanic Garden -DC
Festive adornments, model trains in the gated outdoor gardens, holiday lights throughout the Garden, poinsettias, holiday decor, and D.C. landmarks made from plants will be placed throughout the Garden from Nov. 23, 2023, through Jan. 1, 2023, closed on Dec. 25. The outdoor train display can be visited in the gated outdoor gardens during these dates between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Tickets are not required.
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens – VA
Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights is an elegant garden trail aglow with countless sparkling lights. Take an evening walk through the enchanting Meadowlark Botanical Gardens adorned with lighted trees and displays featuring nature, winter, and holiday themes. The Winter Walk is more than a half-mile long, one-way route- providing an enchanting and safe evening activity. It is self-guided with a designated, one-way asphalt trail. Guests may move along the pathways at their own pace. https://www.novaparks.com/events/winter-walk-of-lights
5- Winter City Lights in Olney MD!
Winter City Lights is a magical, immersive Christmas lights experience of 1 million twinkling lights and 200,000 square feet of displays spanning 18 beautiful acres in a festive outdoor setting – the largest and most sophisticated Christmas lights and canopy show in the Washington DC area, Baltimore area, and the entire DMV-it is one of the largest in the country. They also have axe throwing and A fast and exciting 8-lane snow tubing ride down a 15-foot high ice-slick slide
6- Ice skating! National Gallery of Art.
Ice skate amongst art sculptures in the National Mall in DC! Enjoy splendid views of large-scale sculptures from artists in our renowned collection, including Alexander Calder, Louise Bourgeois, and Roy Lichtenstein. The season starts November 20 through March 4th. Admission ranges from $10-$12 depending on your age. Skates are additional. If you can’t get to the Ice rink at the sculpture garden, check out skating at
Rockville Town Center, DC Wharf or Georgetown Waterfront!
7- The Willard Hotel in DC https://washington.intercontinental.com/food-drink/peacock-alley-tea/
Willard’s Holiday Afternoon Tea is one of the hotel’s most cherished traditions. Seated in the grandeur of Peacock Alley, among the Holiday decor and elegant sounds of the harp, guests can enjoy a tantalizing array of warming teas, sandwiches, and seasonally inspired pastries. The Grand Hotel lobby is decorated elegantly, with it’s 20 foot tree as it’s centerpiece and it’s absolutely beautiful! For the perfect holiday experience in DC, make sure to reserve a spot! Prices range from $65-$102 with seating at 1pm or 3:30pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, starting early December.
8- Winter Lights Festival – Gaithersburg MD https://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/recreation/special-events/winter-lights-festival
The City’s Winter Lights Festival is getting ready to welcome visitors for another spectacular season. The wondrous display of lights at Seneca Creek State Park will be open nightly November 24 through December 31. The festival is closed on December 25.
The 3.5 mile drive through the enchanted setting of Seneca Creek State Park takes you past more than 450 illuminated displays and beautifully lit trees that light up the night. The park is located at 11950 Clopper Road, conveniently accessible from I-270.
9-The Nutcracker performed by the Washington Ballet https://www.washingtonballet.org/events/nutcracker2023/
Experience the magic of The Washington Ballet’s charmingly-DC The Nutcracker! This celebrated production is set in historic 1882 Georgetown with George Washington, King George III, and other historical figures. Set to Tchaikovsky’s magical score, this celebrated classic comes to life with intricate, stunning set designs, original period costumes, and over 100 dancers including students and trainees from The Washington School of Ballet. It has become the signature Nutcracker of the nation’s capital.
The Washington Ballet’s The Nutcracker will transport audiences of all ages into a winter wonderland that has become a lasting holiday tradition not to be missed.
Runs from December 2nd-December 30th at the Warner theatre Tickets range depending on seats and day.
10- Capitol Christmas Tree
The tradition of the Capitol Christmas Tree, or “The People’s Tree,” began in 1964 when Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John W. McCormack (D-MA) placed a live Christmas tree on the Capitol lawn. In 1970, the Capitol Architect asked the U.S. Forest Service to provide a Christmas tree. Since then, 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. The 2023 tree will come from the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. You also have the National Christmas tree which is open to the public Dec 2 -Jan 1, 2023