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Christmas Weekend 2022 in DC: Christmas Lights, Waterskiing Santa, Holiday Shows, and More Things To Do with Kids

The DC Winter Lantern Festival features over 1,000 Chinese lanterns. Photo courtesy of the festival
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12/21/22 - By Jennifer Swope

Looking for the best things to do in DC this Christmas weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this holiday weekend.

Santa Claus is coming to town this weekend! Assuming you have some free time, the Washington, DC area is brimming with things to do this Christmas weekend. Enjoy several fantastic light shows, including Watkins Regional Park Festival of Lights and Bull Run Festival of Lights. Children can delight in eating breakfast with Santa on Christmas Eve at Theismann's Restaurant, Ada's on the River, or Mia's Italian Kitchen. And be sure to watch Santa on waterskis in Old Town Alexandria on Christmas Eve!

It's also the last weekend of Hanukkah. The Lighting of the Menorah at the Wharf will continue until the eighth day, and Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins continues its run at Glen Echo.

Don’t miss our lists of what is open on Christmas Day near DC, the best things to do in DC over the holiday break, and holiday lights drive-thrus and Christmas light shows near DC.

Whatever you do, happy holidays from your friends at Mommy Poppins!

More Things To Do in Washington, DC this Week with Kids:

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Season's Greenings at the US Botanic Garden is a quintessential DC holiday experience. Photo courtesy of the Garden
Season's Greenings at the US Botanic Garden is a quintessential DC holiday experience. Photo courtesy of the Garden

Things to do in Washington, DC this Christmas Weekend with Kids

Waterskiing Santa

Alexandria, VA - Saturday, December 24
Free
Watch Santa take to the Potomac on waterskis! After the show, he and his merry crew greet children on the waterfront and behind the Torpedo Factory. READ MORE

A Family Christmas Concert

Washington, DC - Saturday, December 24
The Choral Arts Chorus sings holiday classics in this one-hour performance. Families are invited to sing along to their favorites and enjoy a visit from Santa, Rudolph, and Frosty. READ MORE

Family Activity at the National Museum of the United States Army

Ft. Belvoir, VA - Saturday, December 24
Free
Children ages 4-8 can create crafts and learn more about the US Army at the National Museum of the United States Army's Experiential Learning Center. READ MORE

German Christmas Village

Baltimore, MD - through Saturday, December 24
Free
Experience an authentic German Christmas market at West Shore Park at Baltimore's Inner Harbor. There are a variety of vendors, thousands of Christmas lights, live music, rides, food, and more. READ MORE

Breakfast with Santa at Theismann's Restaurant

Alexandria, VA - Saturday, December 24
Enjoy a family-style breakfast in Old Town Alexandria with French toast, scrambled eggs, breakfast meats, and more. Adult tickets include a mimosa, and child tickets include a photo with Santa. READ MORE

Breakfast with Santa at Ada's on the River

Alexandria, VA - Saturday, December 24
Ada's on the River offers a family-style breakfast with pancakes, scrambled eggs, breakfast meats, and more. Adult tickets include a mimosa, and kids' tickets include a Santa photo. READ MORE

Breakfast with Santa at Mia's Italian Kitchen

Alexandria, VA - Saturday, December 24
Enjoy a family-style breakfast with Santa that includes French toast, scrambled eggs, breakfast meats, and more at this Old Town Alexandria Italian restaurant. Adult tickets come with a mimosa, and kids get a keepsake Santa photo. READ MORE

Lighting of the Menorah at District Wharf

Washington, DC - through Monday, December 26
Free
District Wharf continues its tradition of lighting the menorah in District Square for each night of Hanukkah to celebrate the Festival of Lights. READ MORE

The Washington Ballet: The Nutcracker

Washington, DC - through Friday, December 30 (except December 25)
Watch the classic ballet with 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

Ice! featuring A Christmas Story

National Harbor, MD - through Saturday, December 31
Ice! is back at the Gaylord National. Visitors can experience the beloved holiday classic A Christmas Story through larger-than-life sculptures carved by expert artisans out of two million pounds of colorful ice. Don't miss the chance to race down ice slides or take pictures in the various scenes throughout. READ MORE

Winter City Lights

Olney, MD - through Saturday, December 31
The largest light show in the DC and Baltimore areas, Winter City Lights is one of the most technologically advanced Christmas light experiences in the US. It includes a 1.5-mile-long trail of Christmas lights and displays through the woods, a 52-foot-high programmable Christmas lights tree and light show, an eight-lane snow tubing ride, 14 bonfires, and more. READ MORE

Watkins Regional Park Festival of Lights

Upper Marlboro, MD - through Sunday, January 1, 2023
Watkins Regional Park brings a little twinkle to the holidays with a drive-thru event featuring dazzling displays of more than 2.5 million lights throughout the park, culminating in a giant, 54-foot LED musical tree. READ MORE

Light Yards 2022

Washington, DC - through, Sunday, January 1, 2023
Free
Enjoy a free festive lighting installation in Yards Park. Light Yards 2022 features illuminated, 22-f00t- tall trees trimmed top to bottom in holiday decor and lights, designed by Australian artist studio Amigo & Amigo. READ MORE

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins

Glen Echo, MD - through Sunday, January 1, 2023 (except December 24)
The Puppet Co. brings to life the children's book Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins. Hershel wants to light the candles and celebrate Hanukkah in his village, but the King and Queen of the Goblins have forbidden it. Attendees of the performance during Hanukkah from December 18-26 receive a special gift. READ MORE

Season's Greenings at US Botanic Garden

Washington, DC - through Monday, January 2, 2023
Free
The US Botanic Garden's popular holiday display returns this year with both indoor and outdoor displays. The garden-wide "Season's Greenings" features G-gauge model trains in the outdoor gardens, while the Conservatory features DC landmarks made of plants, holiday decor, and more. READ MORE

Bull Run Festival of Lights

Centreville, VA - through Sunday, January 8, 2023
Families can enjoy 2.5 miles of holiday light displays from the comfort of their own cars, then get out to visit the Holiday Village and carnival complete with rides, a visit with Santa, bonfires, and more. READ MORE

DC Winter Lantern Festival

Tysons, VA - through Sunday, February 12, 2023
Lerner Town Square at Tysons II transforms into a dazzling world of light with over 1,000 Chinese lanterns portraying Chinese myths, legends, and zodiacs; a world of ice including mammoths, polar bears, and penguins; and interactive light swings, see-saws, and tunnels. READ MORE

Stonebridge Ice Rink

Woodbridge, VA - through Sunday, February 26, 2023
Make a reservation online fort a 1.5-hour skating session at the outdoor ice skating rink at Stonebridge Potomac Town Center. Skating aids are available on a first-come, first-served basis. READ MORE

The Washington Harbour Ice Rink

Washington, DC - through Sunday, March 12, 2023
DC's largest outdoor ice rink welcomes families to enjoy recreational skating in a scenic setting. Penguins for beginner skaters are available for an additional fee. READ MORE

Reston Town Center Ice Skating Pavilion

Reston, VA - through Sunday, March 12, 2023
The ice skating rink at Reston Town Center offers daily public skating, with extended hours for the holidays. The skate shop has over 500 pairs of skates for rent in both figure and hockey styles, ranging from toddler size 8 through men’s size 15. Beginner skaters can try double-bladed, flat-edge skates to walk across the ice until they’re ready to advance to single-bladed skates. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Old Town Alexandria Waterfront
The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
National Museum of the United States Army
Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
Lerner Town Square at Tysons II
Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center