Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for DC Kids

The most magical time of year is here: the holiday season! Find fun Christmas activities near DC, restaurants open on Thanksgiving, Hanukkah events, holiday day trips to see Christmas lights, and find out where to call and see Santa Claus this season.

Check out our Holiday and Christmas Activities Guide to all the best things to do in DC this season, as well as in nearby NOVA and Maryland.

Christmas Activities for DC Kids
Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens will dazzle the whole family. Photo by Tony Ventouris for Montgomery County Parks
30 Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities in DC for Kids
Enjoy milk and cookies and meet Santa aboard the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad's North Pole Express. Photo by Kimberly Byard
Best Polar Express Train Rides and Christmas Trains Near DC (2025 Guide for Families)
The Holiday Boat Parade is visible from both the Wharf and the Alexandria waterfront. Photo courtesy of the Wharf DC
32 Free Holiday and Christmas Events in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia for Kids
The Washington Ballet gives The Nutcracker a historic twist at the Warner Theatre. Photo by XMB photography
The Nutcracker Ballet and Other Holiday Shows for Kids in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia
Enjoy snow every night at Winter City Lights. Photo by Kyle Lanzer courtesy of the Winter City Lights .event.
Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia
Take a stroll through the Marshall Pond Christmas Village in Burke, VA. Photo courtesy of Kristy Case, from the Marshall Pond Christmas Village Facebook page
Best Neighborhood Christmas Light Displays and Holiday Lights Near DC in Maryland and Northern Virginia

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Holiday Gift Ideas for Kids
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The KidKraft Wooden Train Set & Table is hours of creative fun that grows with your kids.
Best Toddler Gifts: Toys, Books, and More for 2- & 3-year-olds
There are tons of creative ways to use Magna-Tiles, like playing matching games or making your own marble runs. Photo courtesy of Magna Tile
Best Gifts and Toys for 4- & 5-Year-Olds: Top Birthday Gift Ideas for Preschoolers
Suspend Family is a game the whole family can play. Photo courtesy of the Melissa & Doug Toy Company
Gift Guide to the Best Toys & Gifts for Kids, 5-Year-Olds to 9-Year-Olds
Holiday & Christmas Crafts for Kids
Armed with our giant list of Christmas crafts, you'll keep kids busy until the New Year!
101 Christmas Crafts for Kids, Plus Christmas Games and More At-Home Activities
Those eight crazy nights are approaching and we’ve got everything you need to celebrate Hanukkah with your family. Photo courtesy Cottonbro Studios
8 Ways to Celebrate Hanukkah with Kids: Hanukkah Gifts, Fun Crafts, and a Little History
There are so many fun ways to incorporate dreidels into your Hanukkah festivities.
How To Play Dreidel and Other Dreidel Games
The Furoshiki method is a practical way to wrap gifts using pieces of cloth. Photo courtesy of Invaluable
Eco-Friendly Gift Wrapping Ideas Kids Can Do: Holiday and Christmas Gift Wrap with Less Waste
Easy Handmade Thumbprint Holiday Cards Kids Craft
Hot chocolate bombs are a tasty winter treat for kids!
How to Make Hot Chocolate Bombs in 5 Easy Steps

Latest Christmas/Hanukkah News

Concord's Colonial Inn is one of Greater Boston's coziest restaurants open on Christmas 2024. Photo courtesy of the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism
Restaurants Open on Christmas Day in Boston
Leave the cooking to these fine restaurants open on Christmas 2024 in Boston.
READ MORE
Head to Boston for affordable seasonal fun with the top free Christmas and holiday events for 2024! The menorah in Copley Square. Photo by Leslee/Flickr 2.0
Free Holiday and Christmas Events in Boston for Kids
See our picks for the best free holiday activities for Boston families in 2024!
READ MORE
Make the season bright with best holiday lights drive-thrus and Christmas light shows in Boston! Naumkeag Winterlights photo by Stephanie Zollshan Photography, courtesy of The Trustees of Reservations
Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows in Boston
Get out and explore Boston's best and brightest holiday lights in 2024!
READ MORE
Christmas tree farms near Boston provide a magical holiday moment for families.
Best Christmas Tree Farms Near Boston
Cut your own at Christmas tree farms near Boston in 2024!
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Uh-oh! The elf tangled up your tree lights! Photo by Mark Baylor, courtesy of Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
  VIDEO
50 Best Elf on the Shelf Ideas for 2025: Easy & Funny Ideas to Delight Kids
Simple but hilarious Elf on the Shelf shenanigans that will delight your kids.
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All around Boston, the best neighborhood Christmas light displays are making the season bright! Illuminations Tour in Somerville photo by Andrew Malone via Flickr 2.0
Best Neighborhood Christmas Light Displays and Holiday Lights in Boston
Find the neighborhoods with the best holiday lights in Greater Boston!
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