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The Nutcracker Ballet and Other Holiday Shows for Kids in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia

The Washington Ballet gives The Nutcracker a historic twist at the Warner Theatre. Photo by XMB photography
The Washington Ballet gives The Nutcracker a historic twist at the Warner Theatre. Photo by XMB photography
11/11/25 - By Jennifer Swope

Seeing The Nutcracker ballet is a classic holiday experiences for families, and no two productions are alike. The DC area has shows from both local and touring companies, as well as abridged versions for the youngest audience members. If you have very small children, consider The Mini-Nut, tailored for short attention spans.

Some families, like mine, have seen The Nutcracker ballet and are looking for a new holiday tradition. Step Afrika! Magical Musical Holiday Step Show at Arena Stage brings holiday cheer in the form of stepping. And Ford's Theater A Christmas Carol is a music-filled version of the holiday classic in a historic location.

Our list below has more than two dozen productions of The Nutcracker 2025 and other holiday shows. Keep in mind that many of them are popular and sell out quickly, so be sure to purchase advance tickets.

Find more festive fun in our Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for DC Kids.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

The Nutcracker Ballet Performances in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia

Cincinnati Ballet: The Nutcracker® (at The Kennedy Center)

Washington, DC
Wednesday - Sunday, November 26 -30, 2025 (except November 27)
Full of warmth and holiday cheer, Cincinnati Ballet is back to enchant with its colorful, family-focused production of The Nutcracker. Follow Clara and her Nutcracker Prince on a grand adventure, where no holiday is complete without a trip to the Land of Sweets! READ MORE

Northern Virginia Ballet's The Nutcracker (at Hylton Performing Arts Center)

Manassas, VA
Friday, November 28, 2025
Kick off the holiday season with the Northern Virginia Ballet’s traditional and family-friendly production of The Nutcracker. Featuring guest artists and company dancers, the performance includes exquisite costuming and Russian-produced sets. READ MORE

The Nutcracker (at The Puppet Co. Playhouse)

Glen Echo, MD
Thursdays - Sundays, November 28 - December 28, 2025 (except December 25)
The Puppet Co. at Glen Echo Park presents its 36th annual performance of The Nutcracker, featuring the familiar story of Clara and the nutcracker prince with some nursery rhyme spin. READ MORE

The Washington Ballet: The Nutcracker (at The Warner Theatre)

Washington, DC
Tuesdays - Sundays, November 29 - December 28, 2025 (except December 25)
This classic ballet has a historic twist this holiday season in one of DC's most iconic theaters, the Warner Theatre. The Washington Ballet's adaptation is set in 1882 Georgetown, with characters that include George Washington, Harriet Tubman, King George III, and others.  READ MORE

Ravel Dance Company presents The Nutcracker (at Capital One Hall)

Tysons, VA
Saturday, November 29, 2025
The Ravel Dance Company presents the beloved holiday tradition The Nutcracker. Featuring lavish costumes and magical dancing, the show is a treat for ballet lovers of all ages. READ MORE

Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet (at Capital One Hall)

Tysons, VA
Sunday, November 30, 2025
This acclaimed holiday tradition is live in theaters again this Christmas season. The show includes larger-than-life puppets, breathtaking acrobatics, and dazzling costumes. The international cast features stars of Ukraine ballet, performing at the highest level of classical technique.  READ MORE

The Rockville Civic Ballet: The Nutcracker (at F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre)

Rockville, MD
Fridays - Sundays, December 5-14, 2025
Join Clara on her magical journey as the Rockville Civic Ballet presents the holiday classic The Nutcracker for eight performances. READ MORE

The Mini-Nut (at Cultural Arts Center)

Silver Spring, MD
Saturday & Sunday, December 6 & 7, 2025
The Mini-Nut, Maryland Youth Ballet's abbreviated version of The Nutcracker, is a one-hour performance with no intermission. It's a wonderful introduction to ballet for families with young children. READ MORE

Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet (at the Hippodrome)

Baltimore, MD
Saturday, December 6, 2025
This acclaimed holiday show includes larger-than-life puppets, breathtaking acrobatics, dazzling costumes, and an international cast. READ MORE

Cirque Nutcracker (at Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall)

Baltimore, MD
Friday & Saturday, December 12 & 13, 2025
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra presents a spectacular twist on the classic Nutcracker featuring Troupe Vertigo’s acrobats, jugglers, and high-flying aerialists. READ MORE

The Nutcracker with the Fairfax Symphony and Fairfax Ballet (at GMU Center for the Arts)

Fairfax, VA
Saturday & Sunday, December 20 & 21, 2025
The Fairfax Symphony joins The Fairfax Ballet to present The Nutcracker. This production is unique in the Washington region as one of few presented with live musical accompaniment. READ MORE
Step Afrika!'s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show is high-energy and fun. Photo by Margot Schulman
Step Afrika!'s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show is high-energy and fun. Photo by Margot Schulman

More Holiday Shows for Families Near DC

Cirque: Spirit of Christmas (at Gaylord National Harbor)

National Harbor, MD
Daily, November 14 , 2025 - January 3, 2026
This 35-minute, Broadway-style Christmas show featuring dazzling acrobatics, feats of flexibility, and high-flying stunts centers around Noel, a child dismayed and distressed by the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Trying to recapture her lost love of the season, she is visited by spirits who bring back the true meaning of the season in energetic, dreamlike chapters. READ MORE

Ford's Theatre A Christmas Carol

Washington, DC
Tuesdays - Sundays, November 20 - December 31, 2025 (except November 27, December 24 & 25)
Experience a reinterpretation of Charles Dickens' classic Christmas story in historic Ford's Theatre. This version of Ebenezer Scrooge's story is a music-infused production, capturing the magic and joy of this Yuletide classic. READ MORE

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer: The Musical (at Hylton Performing Arts Center)

Manassas, VA
Fridays - Sundays, November 21-30
Actor’s Theatre at the ARTfactory presents Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical. This beloved stage adaptation of the classic holiday TV special tells the heartwarming story of Rudolph, the misfit reindeer with a glowing red nose, and his journey to find acceptance and save Christmas. READ MORE

Little Theatre of Alexandria: A Christmas Carol

Alexandria, VA
Wednesdays - Sundays, December 5-20, 2025
Little Theatre of Alexandria presents the holiday classic A Christmas Carol for the entire family to enjoy, complete with special effects, Victorian carols, and Tiny Tim himself. READ MORE

Step Afrika! Magical Musical Holiday Step Show (at Arena Stage)

Washington, DC
Thursdays - Sundays, December 5-21, 2025 (also on Wednesday, December 17)
This fun holiday show highlights the African American tradition of stepping with engaging choreography and energetic beats. Furry friends from the Arctic, including Popper the Penguin and Polo the Polar Bear with DJ Nutcracker, take audiences on a magical holiday journey. READ MORE

American Festival Pops Orchestra: Holiday Pops: Songs of the Season (at GMU Center for the Arts)

Fairfax, VA
Saturday, December 13, 2025
The American Festival Pops Orchestra presents Holiday Pops: Songs of the Season, a festive program of musical favorites, including an uplifting audience singalong of beloved carols.  READ MORE

The Barter Players: “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” at the Alden Theater

McLean, VA
Monday, December 22, 2025
It’s Christmastime at the zoo, and everyone is eagerly awaiting the birth of Bella, the zoo’s first baby hippo! Seven-year-old Lois Jean, the zookeeper’s daughter, is especially excited—she’s counting on Bella's arrival to shift her father's attention back to his family in time for the holidays. When the unexpected happens, there is only one person who can prevent tragedy. Will Santa arrive in time? A heartwarming musical adventure for the whole family! READ MORE

Miracle on 34th Street The Musical (at Capital One Hall)

McLean, VA
Friday - Sunday, December 26-28, 2025
Enjoy Miracle on 34th Street The Musical, about a kind old man named Kris Kringle who is hired to be the department store Santa Claus and claims he is the real Santa Claus. This claim is met with skepticism, and when his sanity is questioned and he is put on trial, it tests the faith of everyone involved, particularly a cynical mother and her daughter READ MORE

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical (at National Theatre)

Washington, DC
Tuesday, December 30, 2025 - Saturday, January 3, 2026
The musical version of Dr. Seuss' holiday classic includes the hit songs, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Ginch," and "Welcome Christmas." Max the Dog serves as narrator. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre- Rockville Civic Center Park
Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall
George Mason University Center for the Arts
Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
George Mason University Center for the Arts

About the Author

Jennifer Swope
Jennifer Swope, a DC resident since 2003, transitioned from humanitarian work to freelance editing in 2012 to stay home with her two kids. This shift sparked her passion for finding fun ways to keep them entertained—and inspired her to contribute to Mommy Poppins. When she's not navigating DC's chaos with her kids, she and her husband love watching sports, planning their next trip, and attending concerts. Follow Jennifer on Instagram @jenniferswope.
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