Celebrating Christmas and the holidays in Washington DC? Don’t know what to do? This guide will help you find all the best Christmas events and things to do in Washington DC during the holiday, including the best places to see DC Christmas lights!
What better way to make the most of December than squeezing in some of those holiday vibes with the best Christmas events in Washington DC and Maryland.
READ MORE: BEAUTIFUL TULIP FIELDS NOT TO BE MISSED
Christmas Event in DC: DC City Center & Christmas Tree 2025
DC City Center has always done some sort of amazing ice sculpture or attraction at the City Center Park, but this year I have not seen them announce anything. Either way DC City Center also has a pretty amazing Christmas Tree that will be likely be lit on Saturday, November 29, 2025, 5:00 pm–7:00 pm in The Park at CityCenter for 2025. Visitors will be met by our 75-foot tree, one of the largest in the city, decorated with more than 150,000 lights and 4,500 ornaments. Christmas in Washington, DC is definitely not complete without a stop at City Center!
Also, you can’t miss their annual Christmas decorations at Palmer Alley NW and the DC Center Square!
Location of Christmas Tree
The Park at City Center
1098 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC 20005
Winter Igloo, Yurt, Lodge Dining Experiences in Washington DC
Washington DC has exploded with a variety of winter and holiday-themed outdoor dining and drinking experiences. Think cute igloos, yurts, and lodges all to yourself and your 5 besties! These are some of my faves:
Winter Igloos at The Watergate Hotel 2025
The ultimate in luxury, The Watergate Hotel offers cozy winter-themed igloos for you and your posse to rent!
Have a hot drink and a bite too eat with 6 of your closest friends.
These winter igloos are heated and beautifully decorated to create a winter wonderland feel.
Probably the most expensive activity on this list of Christmas events in DC, the igloos cost from $150 to $300 to rent with food and beverage minimums.
Food and Beverage minimum ranges from $50 to $75 per person, depending on time and size of your party. If you are looking for a unique winter activity and don’t mind the extra dollar signs, then this would be a truly epic experience.
Location
Entrance inside The Christmas Village.
201 Waterfront Street · National Harbor, Maryland 20745 USA
Dates and Hours
Reservations for the igloos open November 21
For specific pricing and availability, check their Tok: https://www.exploretock.com/thewatergatehotel/
Location
The Watergate Hotel
2650 Virginia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20037
Viking Village at Hook Hall
No announcements have been made for the Viking Village at Hook Hall yet for 2025. Benches covered in fur, fire pits, and woodland themed decor help you live out all your Viking fantasies at Hook Hall. You can book a Viking Hut or a Viking King’s Quarter, with prices ranging from $125 to $250.
Each themed hut includes a welcome bottle of champagne, sectional lounge seating, heaters, special food and drink menus, a table, and the option to keep the “doors” open or closed.
You can also book a Fire Pit for up to 6 people for $15.
Location: 3400 Georgia Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC, 20010
More information and booking: https://www.hookhall.com/viking
UPDATE: Hook Hall has not announced a Viking Experience yet for this year.
Library of Congress Christmas Tree
The Jefferson Building at the Library of Congress has one of the most stunning interiors in all of Washington DC. During the holidays, the Library of Congress puts up a beautiful Christmas tree right in the center of the Jefferson Building.
Surrounded by tiled ceilings and archways, this Christmas tree is by far my favorite indoor tree that’s completely free to enjoy! To visit the Library of Congress you will need to reserve free tickets before visiting: https://loc.usedirect.com/LOC/. While we had free tickets, that was still a massive non-moving line the weekend we went. It’s better to go during the weekdays if you can.
You can also apply for a free reading pass to actually read in their reading rooms. Definitely don’t miss some of the exhibits they have going on, such as the Rosa Parks Exhibit!
Celebrate the holidays at Live! At the Library’s holiday celebration on Dec. 4, 2025 with festive happy hour food and drinks, winter crafts and live music while enjoying the most beautiful Christmas tree in Washington, D.C.
Washington DC Christmas Event: National Christmas Tree Washington DC 2025
The 103rd National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on December 4, 2025 and will feature performances from The ceremony will include performances by Alana Springsteen, Brett Young, Gabby Barrett, Jillian Cardarelli, Jon Pardi, Matthew West, The Beach Boys, and Warren Zeiders, with Gabby Barrett and Matthew West serving as co-hosts. The ceremony will take on the Ellipse at The White House and President’s Park. Great American Family will broadcast the ceremony on Dec. 5.
Several days after the lighting ceremony, through January 1, the grounds are open to the public. The lights are typically on from sunset until 10:00 pm Sunday-Thursday and until 11:00 pm Friday-Saturday.
To attend in person for the ceremony, you would have had to enter the lottery.
DC Holiday Hunt 2025
DC Holiday Hunt is an interactive experience for DC residents and visitors. Race throughout DC to accomplish as many missions as possible for a chance to win incredible prizes. You will have the opportunity to try out new foods, meet new businesses, and experience DC like never before.
Dates: November 23, 2025 – January 3, 2026
As many of the districts, holiday attractions, and lights are closed this year, this is a nice way to get in the holiday spirit while shopping locally!
For details on where to see the lights: https://dcholidayhunt.com/
ICE at Gaylord Resort & Convention Center 2025
How many Christmas events in DC can boast that they have TWO MILLION TONS of ice carved into colorful sculptures?
Pretty epic right?
ICE! featuring “The Polar Express™” is a dazzling, immersive, story-driven scenes from the story / movie, including iconic moments: the train arriving, hot chocolate in the passenger car, Glacier Gulch, the North Pole, and more.
This is an event the whole family will enjoy. The amazing ice sculptures were created by artisans flown in from Harbin, China and treated by chemists with a proprietary formula to ensure they closely match each character’s specific colors and to maintain its bright color for the entire season.
ICE at Gaylord is kept at a chilly 9 degrees Fahrenheit, but not to worry your ticket comes with a hooded calf-length parka to keep you nice and toasty. Remember to still dress warmly, especially your feet and legs.
Definitely get your camera ready for ICE because it is an Instagrammers dream and such a fun event for Christmas in Washington DC! Remember to bring one of those lens wipes (like for your sunglasses) because your camera will fog up from the cold.
- Fun & Entertaining for All Ages
- 14 Immersive, Whimsical Scenes
- Ice Hand-Sculpted with Love – More Than 12,000 Carving Hours
- 9 Degrees Fahrenheit Inside with Signature Blue Parkas Provided
- No Time Limits (Average time is 20-40 minutes)
Dates for ICE at Gaylord National
ICE! runs from November 14, 2025 through January 4, 2026.
ICE at Gaylord Ticket Prices
General admission for ICE! starts at $41.49 per person.
Washington DC Christmas Lights Event: Light Yards 2025
Light Yards is another DC Christmas lights experience! It’s running from November 25th – January 2nd
5pm-10pm.
Location
The Yards Park
355 Water Street Southeast, Washington, DC 20003
DC Christmas Lights Event: Festival of Lights at Washington DC Mormon Temple
The Festival of Lights at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints aka the Mormon Temple to the locals and aka Disneyland if you grew up in this area, is a DC Christmas lights event that’s completely free!
The Mormon Temple definitely puts on a show during the holidays. The entire temple is dazzling in 500,000 sparkling lights.
Go during the middle of the week before the sun is down to avoid long lines getting into the parking lot. I absolutely loved walking through this DC Christmas lights event.
If the line for parking is too long you can also turn off and park on the street. The trick is to park on the residential street right off of Stoneybrook Dr. If you are driving north on Stoneybrook take a right on Hill St and park, if you are heading south on Stoneybrook take a left on La Duke Dr and park. You can easily walk to the temple from both these streets and there was plenty of parking when we went on Monday.
Location:
Washington DC Temple Visitors’ Center
9900 Stoneybrook Drive
Kensington, Maryland 20895
Dates & Time: December 4, 2025 through January 1, 2026, Christmas Lights Hours:
4:45 PM – 9:00 PM
More information on the driving route and parking: https://dctemple.org/festival-of-lights/
Zoolights 2025 DC Christmas Lights at the National Zoo
The National Zoo glitters with Zoolights, an annual Christmas in DC tradition. This beloved DC Christmas lights tradition is NOT FREE anymore as of 2023. There is a $9 per person fee for DC Zoo Lights for 2025.
Of all the Christmas events in DC, Zoolights is probably the most kid-friendly. This annual holiday light spectacular welcomes visitors to walk down festive pathways and explore immersive displays throughout the Zoo. Marvel at glowing lantern animals in their dazzling habitats, watch live nightly musical performances, take a ride on the train or the Conservation Carousel, sample sweet and savory seasonal treats, and check gifts off your holiday shopping lists at our Asia Trail, Panda Plaza and Great Cats stores.
Though there is parking at the zoo for $30 per car, it is HARD to find a spot! I would recommend taking the Metro.
The National Zoo is on the Red Line and the stops for the zoo are Woodley Park-Zoo or Cleveland Park metro station, both are about the same 10-minute walk to the zoo.
Dates and Hours
Zoolights runs from November 208, 2025 to January 3, 2026
Get tickets: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/visit/events/zoolights
Zoolights Address
3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
Ice Skating at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden 2025
A list of Christmas events in DC would not be complete without some ice skating!
The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden transforms into a stunning ice skating rink every year.
Come during the day for fun with the whole family or come at night for a romantic date night, either way, ice skating at the Sculpture Garden is a must-do for the holidays in Washington DC.
The ice rink does get quite crowded though so if you have young children be careful.
Fees cover two back-to-back, 45-minute skating sessions that each begin on the hour. Ice
maintenance happens the last 15 minutes of each hour. The last full session begins two hours
before closing.
$15: Ages 13+
$12: Ages 12 and under, 60+, military service members with ID, students with school ID
$250: Season pass
$7: Skate rental
Free lockers are available first come, first served.
Dates and Hours for the Ice Rink at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden
November 24, 2025–March 1, 2026 (weather permitting)
Sunday–Thursday, 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
Friday–Saturday, 11:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.
Location of National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden
Constitution Ave NW & 7th Street, Washington, DC 20408
US Botanical Gardens Season’s Greetings Holiday Exhibit, Best Free Christmas Event in DC
Looking for a free holiday event that doesn’t require tickets?
Well, add the Botanical Garden’s Holiday Train display to your Christmas events in DC checklist because it’s spectacular.
This year, the outdoor holiday display will include a train display in the gated outdoor gardens, with trains running from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. between Nov. 28, 2024, and Jan. 5, 2025, closed Dec. 25. The train display will run until 8:00 p.m. on select Tuesdays and Thursdays. The trains will run through displays of pollinators made from plant parts. These scenes will range from oversized models of native U.S. flowers, butterflies, bats, and hummingbirds to an orchid bee pollinating a vanilla orchid flower, a chocolate midge pollinating a cacao flower, a lemur pollinating a traveler’s tree flower, and more!
Step inside the Conservatory to enjoy Christmas decorations and poinsettia displays!
And while it’s looking a bit bare outside beautiful holiday blooms will be on display inside including over 3,000 poinsettias. This was probably my favorite part visiting during the holidays!
Dates and Hours
- The outdoor train display and Conservatory hours are both 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily between Nov. 28, 2024, and Jan. 5, 2025, closed Dec. 25.
- On Dec. 8, the gated outdoor gardens will open at 10:00 a.m. to accommodate the Garden’s sensory-friendly programming. For additional information on programs for special audiences, please visit our Accessibility page.
- The Terrace Gardens and Bartholdi Fountain and Gardens are open dawn to dusk daily.
- There is no admission fee and no tickets are required to visit any area of the U.S. Botanic Garden, including the holiday train display.
- On select Tuesdays and Thursdays — December 10, 12, 17, 19, and 26 — the Conservatory and outdoor train display will have extended hours, staying open until 8:00 p.m. There will be live holiday music and food and drink vendors during these evenings.
Location
100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC 20001
Ice Skating at the Wharf
Ice skating at the Wharf is a relatively new activity in DC because the whole area was redeveloped in recent years.
The ice rink is over the water and would provide a beautiful sunset skating experience.
The start times are less rigid than at the Sculpture Garden so could offer a more relaxed experience. There are plenty of restaurants for dinner and drinks after your skate.
The Wharf Ice Rink is open every day from November 22, 2023 through late February, depending on weather conditions.
Dates and Hours
Monday-Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: 4pm-10 pm (no public skating in January and February due to Curling events)
Thursday-Friday: 4pm-10pm
Saturday: 12pm-10pm
Sunday: 12pm – 8pm
Special Events
Sunday, November 24 from 12pm-6pm | Southwest Skate Day
Wednesday, November 27 from 4pm – 10pm | Open to Public
Thursday, November 28 from 12pm-8pm | Thanksgiving
Friday, November 29 from 12pm-10pm
Monday, December 23 from 12pm-10pm | DCPS Holiday Break
Tuesday, December 24 from 12pm-6pm | Christmas Eve
Wednesday, December 25 from 12pm-8pm | Christmas Day
Thursday, Dec. 26 – Monday, Dec. 30 from 12pm-10pm | Holiday Break
Tuesday, December 31 from 12pm-6pm | New Years Eve
Wednesday, January 1 from 12pm-8pm | New Years Day
Monday, January 20 from 12pm-5pm | MLK Day
Monday, February 17 from 12pm-5pm | Presidents Day
Sunday, February 23 from 12pm-8pm | Projected Last Day
Prices for Admission
Adult Admission (12+) with Skates – $25
Adult Admission without Skates – $19
Youth Admission (12 and under) with Skates – $20
Youth Admission (12 and under) without Skates – $15
Senior (65+)/Military (Valid ID Required) – $20
Rental Prices:
Skate Aid Rental – $9
Locker Rental (one time use) – $3
MGM National Harbor Christmas Decorations
If you want a spectacular indoor display of Christmas decorations near Washington DC definitely check out the MGM National Harbor in Maryland.
Their atrium, which is just outside their theater has a beautiful display featuring a giant train, nutcracker, and even a snowman!
They have the hallway leading from the garage to the atrium decorated with pretty photo spots!
This casino resort is completely free to enter, though if there’s a show going on be prepared to wait in line for food, seating, and bathroom access.
One of the Best Things to Do for Christmas in DC is Enchant Christmas DC for 2023
UPDATE: Enchant will not be back in DC for 2024.
The world’s largest Christmas light maze and market is going to be at National’s Stadium this holiday season for 2023. This DC Christmas lights experience has it all!!
Ice skate under twinkling lights, enjoy hot cocoa while wondering through life-sized light displays.
Honestly, I’m super excited to go to this for Christmas in Washington DC!! I think it will be the most photogenic of all the Christmas events in Washington DC this winter.
Enchant sells tickets based on time windows.
I would buy the earliest window possible because you get as much time as you want at Enchant in Washington DC and also it does tend to get colder the later it is. We got the 4:30 to 5:30pm tickets.
You can arrive after your ticket window but not before which is why I recommend getting earlier tickets. Enchant was not crowded at all, though we did go on a Sunday night after it had rained all day.
Actually the later it got the less crowded it was, probably because of the cold. It was such a beautiful experience! We even did ice skating. Watch my video of our experience below and subscribe!
Enchant Christmas DC Dates and Hours
- November 24 – December 31 2023
Prices start at $32 for adults and $24 for juniors, more price and ticket information here: https://enchantchristmas.com/washington-dc-nationals-park/
Christmas Tree Farm at Gaver Farm
There’s nothing quite like getting a real Christmas tree and cutting it yourself!
Gaver Farm has over 60 acres of beautiful Blue Spruce, Douglas Fir, Fraser Fir and Canaan Fir trees on their farm for you to cut your own.
Experience the magic of being surrounded by endless rows of Christmas trees and bringing one home to enjoy for your holidays!
Though this farm is not in DC it’s close enough at about 1 hour outside of DC in Mt. Airy Maryland.
Dates and Hours
Open November 23 -24, 27 and November 29 – December 23, 2024 from 9 am – 5 pm.
Christmas Tree Farm Location
5501 Detrick Road, Mount Airy, MD 21771
Colorado Blue Spruce (up to 8 feet) $85: Premium tree with strong, sturdy branches; blue-green in color; excellent needle retention.
Douglas Fir (up to 9 feet) $85: Most popular variety with dense branch structure, green needles. Great for decorating with kids!
Canaan Fir (up to 8 feet) $85: similar to the Fraser Fir with beautiful bottlebrush needles and bright green color.
White Pine (up to 8 feet) $65: traditional tree with long needles and whimsy soft branches.
Cut your own trees are priced by the type of tree, plus MD sales tax.
More information at https://gaverfarm.com/christmas-trees/
Have Fun Cocktails at Christmas Bars Washington DC
Miracle on 7th Street Pop Up Bar has become number one on our Christmas in Washington DC checklist since the first one about 3 years ago. – Unfortunately, the original Miracle has closed, keep reading to see all the new Christmas bars in DC for 2024.
Brought to you by The Drink Company (responsible for the infamous Game of Thrones Bar and the magical Cherry Blossom Bar), Miracle on 7th is spot on every year in decorating this location into an epic Christmas explosion.
Between the boozy holiday beverages and exploding Christmas vibes, you may actually believe that Santa does exist. My favorite cocktails? Definitely Let the Muletide Roll and The Mortimer Duke because I like my drinks more on the refreshing side.
During the weekend (Thursday – Sunday) lines here are LONG so get there early or else you could be waiting a while out in the cold. Though during the week, the lines are much shorter so you could just walk right in.
If you are a DC local or visiting during the holidays, Miracle on 7th should definitely be on your winter bucket list.
Miracle on 7th is now family friendly too! Before 9pm those that are UNDER 21 can enter accompanied by a parent or gaurdian that’s 21 and over. They’ve also extended their hours to day time on Saturday and Sunday. I can’t wait to take my toddler here!
Death Punch Bar in Adams Morgan
Death Punch Bar in Adams Morgan has taken up this holiday DC tradition by opening Miracle and offers a fully immersive holiday experience upstairs!
They’ve partnered with “Miracle” which has bars all over the country. You will need to make a reservation because of the pandemic and they are for 90 minutes each.
The Christmas Bar at Death Punch in DC was cute, but definitely not as over the top as the original Miracle.
Their drinks are not as good either.
Honestly, I didn’t enjoy their holiday drinks that much and we pretty much sampled all of them even the shots!
death
The best drink was the one that came in a reindeer glass with a marshmallow on top!
The saving grace however was the FOOD!! We ordered all their skewers, the shio peppers, and even the mini yule log for dessert. Every single item was absolutely delicious! No reservations required this year!
Hours:
OPENING DAY: WED 11/27 5PM
CLOSED THANKSGIVING DAY
FRI 11/29 5PM – 3AM
SAT 11/30 12PM – 3AM
SUN 12/1 12PM – 2AM
FROM 12/2 TO 12/22:
MON-WED 5PM – 2AM
THURS-SUN 12PM – 2/3AM
MON 12/23 2PM
TUES 12/24 2PM
CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY
12/26 TO 12/31 5PM-2/3AM
More information: https://www.deathpunchbar.com/miraclepopup
Maxwell Park in Navy Yard
Maxwell Park in the Navy Yard has also opened up a Christmas-themed bar in Washington DC.
This DC Christmas Bar has partnered with the original designer of Miracle on 7th from the Drink Company, Salame Aspiazu to transform its bar into an over-the-top holiday explosion! No reservations are required for Maxwell Park, but I expect it to be packed.
You can also reserve a candy cane greenhouse for a more intimate holiday experience for groups of up to 6 with a $300 deposit that goes toward your food and drink.
Personally, I don’t think the greenhouses are worth it for the price.
Even though Maxwell Park is working with one of the designers from the original Miracle on 7th, the decor lacked the “Christmas threw up in here” factor. It is nicely decorated, but again having gone to Christmas Bar in DC from Drink Company this one does not live up to that standard. It’s still a cute bar and I would recommend it.
The Christmas drinks however here were terrible, worse than Death Punch Bar! One drink we had tasted like cough syrup, except worse than cough syrup. Again Drink Company had really nailed their cocktail recipes and neither Maxwell nor Death Punch has quite come up to par. I would stick to their wine selection here instead of the Christmas cocktails.
The food here however was pretty tasty we had the caviar and trout dip!
This Washington DC Christmas Bar runs from 11/26/2021 to 12/31/2021.
2024 UPDATE: They have not announced a Christmas bar yet for this year!
Urban Roast near DC City Center
Urban Roast, a cocktail, and coffee bar just 2 blocks from DC’s hip City Center has really stepped it up this year with their Christmas bar! Their decorations, food, and holiday cocktails will blow your mind with holiday cheer in DC!
The decorations and “Instagramble Spots” were definitely the best at Urban Roast! Even upon entering you have a little selfie station that’s absolutely adorable. Even their little restaurant next door Urban Eats has cute decorations up!
We sampled their artichoke dip and cheese plate, both perfectly delicious and sharable.
Now let’s talk about those holiday drinks, every single drink we had at Urban Roast’s Christmas bar was good!
If you like a tart drink, their hot toddy will warm you right up.
Their holiday shooters were not only adorable but equally delectable.
I’ve got a soft spot for margaritas so their Holly Jolly ‘Rita, a holiday-inspired margarita definitely hit home for me!
For seating, you need to make a reservation. They also have outdoor reservations available that come with firepits where you can roast marshmallows and make smores!
I highly recommend indoor seating though for all the holiday vibes!
Location: 916 G Street Northwest, Suite C-2, Washington, DC 20001
https://www.urbanroastdc.com/reservations
The Willard InterContinental for Christmas in Washington DC
The Willard InterContinental is a hotel that outdoes itself every year with the Christmas décor.
If you are looking to get into the holiday spirit a stop here to check out their Christmas decorations is a must.
And if you want to really take it all in, stop for their Holiday Afternoon Tea at Peacock Alley.
Holiday afternoon tea at the Willard is spectacular. They have a delightful selection of holiday-themed teas and treats. I absolutely loved their scones.
Afternoon Tea at the Willard is child friendly and our daughter enjoyed it. The Willard gave her the option of having tea or hot chocolate. Of course she chose hot chocolate!
Holiday tea is served in December from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., excluding December 24, 25 and 31st. Reservations are required.
Location of The Willard
1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004
Wunder Garten DC Winterfest
Wunder Garten is a cute little beer garden in DC hosting a Winter Festival. This Christmas even in DC continues to be our favorite year after year.
The outdoor space is cozy with fire pits and heaters. They transformed the Bier Garden into an epic Christmas explosion that rivals Miracle on 7th! This DC Christmas pop up is not to be missed!
And definitely try their spiked cider, super yummy and it’ll keep you warm. For 2024 you can rent private cabanas for you and your group to enjoy!
Even the entrance to Wunder Garden is adorable!
Wunder Garden Winterfest Hours and Dates
December 6, 2024, through December 21, 2024. This year’s WINTERFEST is set to be the biggest and best one yet. Find everything from Christmas trees, seasonal beers and warm cocktails, live entertainment, and evening holiday dance parties at the city’s most festive Bier Garten!
Location: 1101 FIRST STREET NE, WASHINGTON, DC 20002
More info: https://www.wundergartendc.com/winterfest
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So many things to do!!
Jennifer
Effortlessly Sophisticated