Winter Holiday Activities Near DC for Kids and Families

1. Look at Christmas Lights

The DC area dazzles at Christmastime, and there are some breathtaking holiday lights drive-thrus and Christmas light shows to check out. Or, keep it simple and head to some of our favorite neighborhood Christmas light displays near DC.

2. Meet Santa

There are lots of places to meet the big guy throughout the DC area. Try one of these breakfast with Santa events, or head to your local mall to snap a photo with Saint Nick.

3. See The Nutcracker

If seeing The Nutcracker each year isn't yet a holiday tradition for your family, why not start this winter? Our list of The Nutcracker ballet and other holiday shows for kids near DC includes some great performances.

4. Take a Festive Train Ride

Hop aboard a Polar Express train ride or another one of the many Christmas trains near DC for hot chocolate, caroling, Santa visits, and all sorts of other magic.

5. Ring in the New Year

From fireworks and ball drops to Noon Year's Eve parties, here are 25 places to celebrate New Year's Eve with kids in the DC area.

Bask in the glow of the DC Winter Lantern Festival. Photo courtesy of the festival

Outdoor Things To Do Near DC This Winter for Kids and Families

6. Check out the DC Winter Lantern Festival

On Thursday through Sunday evenings through January 12, 2025, Lerner Town Square in Tysons, Virginia shines with the glow of over 1,000 Chinese lanterns portraying Chinese myths, legends, and zodiacs.

7. Go Ice Skating

Ice skating is one of the most popular winter activities, and there are plenty of places to skate in the DC area. Glide around the ice at one of these outdoor ice skating rinks in DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland. Many of them require booking ice time in advance, so check the details before heading out.

8. See Lighted Sailboats

Carroll Creek Park in Frederick, Maryland comes alive with individually designed lighted sailboats every day through March 15, 2025 as part of the Sailing Through the Winter Solstice event. Vote on your favorite boat and make a donation to support local non-profit organizations.

RELATED: Top Tourist Attractions in DC: The Best Things To See and Do with Kids

There are so many ways to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the DC area. Photo courtesy of the Arlington National Cemetery Tour

9. Honor Martin Luther King Jr.

What better time to visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial than on MLK Day itself on January 20, 2025? The memorial to the civil rights icon is near the National Mall. Families can also join the MLK Holiday DC Peace Walk & Parade or participate in the MLK Day of Service.

10. Explore the US National Arboretum

Winter can be a gorgeous time to visit the 446-acre US National Arboretum. Many shrubs have berries or blossoms that visitors won't see in other seasons, and evergreen trees such as pine, cedar, spruce, and hemlock trees abound. Be sure to stop by the on-site Washington Youth Garden. Admission is free.

11. Visit Mount Vernon

Whatever the weather, a visit to Mount Vernon is always worthwhile. What better time than on Presidents Day or on George Washington's birthday, when admission is free? Get tickets for a mansion tour so your family can warm up indoors for a bit. And look at our handy guide to visiting Mount Vernon with kids.

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There are lots of places to hit the slopes near DC. Photo courtesy of snowshoemountain.com

12. Hit the Ski Slopes

There are several great ski resorts near DC that are perfect for everyone from young kids and beginners to the most seasoned skiers. Many of them are also on our list of snow tubing spots near DC, so you can have a full day or weekend of wintry fun in the snow!

13. Go Snow Tubing

Take a day or overnight trip to one of these great places to go snow tubing near DC and participate in one of the most classic winter activities there is. Don't forget hats and gloves!

14. Take a Winter Hike

Bundle up, go out in nature, and get some exercise! Head to a national park like Rock Creek Park (free every day) or Great Falls Park, hit one of the kid-friendly trails at Theodore Roosevelt Island, or try a state park such as Mason Neck State Park in Lorton, Virginia or Seneca Creek State Park in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

See traditional lion and dragon dances in the DC Chinese Lunar New Year Parade. Photo courtesy of DC Parade

15. Celebrate Lunar New Year

Celebrate the Year of the Snake by heading to the free DC Chinese Lunar New Year Parade on February 2, 2025. It includes traditional lion and dragon dances, live music and marching bands, Kung Fu demonstrations, and more, culminating in a firecracker finale.

16. See DC's Famous Monuments and Memorials

With thinner crowds, winter can be a great time to visit DC's National Mall and Memorial Parks. Bundle up and check a bunch of the monuments and memorials off your list. Hint: Climbing or jogging the steps at the Lincoln Memorial and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial can warm you up quickly!

17. Pay Your Respects at Arlington National Ceremony

Wreaths Across America takes place at Arlington National Cemetery on December 14, 2024, and kids of all ages can volunteer to lay wreaths at each gravesite. But even if you can't attend that event, the cemetery is truly a site to behold in the days before Christmas, with wreaths resting against rows and rows of white headstones. Check out our guide to visiting Arlington National Cemetery with kids.

RELATED: The Best Children's Museums in the US

DC is a treasure trove of free, kid-friendly museums. Photo courtesy of the National Gallery of Art

Indoor Things To Do Near DC This Winter for Kids and Families

18. Visit a Museum or Two (or Three!)

There are so many free museums in DC to visit with kids, including Smithsonian institutions like the National Air and Space Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. But there are also plenty of other great options on our lists of the best museums for kids in the DC area and the top quirky museums for kids near DC, including the National Children's Museum.

19. Splash Around at an Indoor Water Park

Swimming may not be one of the most common winter activities, but you don't have to wait until summer to have fun in the water. Just head to one of these amazing water parks near DC for families.

20. Explore the Madrigal Family's Casita

Disney Encanto x CAMP is at the CAMP store in Tysons Corner Center through January 5, 2025. If you haven't had a chance yet to check out this magical immersive experience, now is the time! Read my glowing review of the experience.

21. Visit a King Tut Exhibit

Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures is at the Rhode Island Center through December 31, 2024. Head over there while you still can to get a glimpse at reconstructions of the most famous archaeological discovery site of the 20th century.

22. Blow Off Steam at an Indoor Playground

If your kid has the wiggles and it's too cold for the park or playground, head to one of our favorite indoor play spaces in the DC area.

23. Bowl a Lucky Strike

Bowling is a great indoor activity when the weather is cold, and some of these fun bowling alleys near DC for kids and families have fun extras like arcade games and bocce.

24. See Artists at Work

The Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria is home to the nation’s largest collection of working artists’ open studios under one roof. Stroll through, watch the artists while they work, and see some of their finished products on display. Visit the Alexandria Archaeology Museum on the third floor to see artifacts from Alexandria's past. Admission is free!

25. Get Up Close to Animals at a Free Nature Center

Nature centers are like mini zoos where visitors can see reptiles, amphibians, fish, and other small animals up close. They also offer plenty of hands-on activities, crafts, and special programs like animal feedings. When it's cold, families can stay warm inside the nature centers or bundle up to explore the trails and other outdoor areas.

26. See a Live Show

The DC area offers many opportunities to introduce kids to theater, and there are some great shows happening this winter. Check out Disney's Frozen at the Olney Theatre Center, Black Diamond at Discovery Theater, Paper Dreams at Imagination Stage, Dragons Love Tacos at Adventure Theatre, or Roald Dahl's Matilda at Little Theatre of Alexandria.

27. Go to the Library

Visit your local library to borrow books and participate in free events for kids and families, like storytimes and sing-alongs. Or, head to the largest library in the world—the Library of Congress!

28. Climb a Wall

Challenge yourselves as a family at one of the best indoor rock climbing gyms and spaces for kids near DC.

29. Jump and Bounce at a Trampoline Park

Bounce, jump, and burn calories at one of the DC area's great indoor trampoline parks. One of our favorites, ZavaZone, has locations in Rockville, Maryland and Sterling, Virginia.

30. Become a Scientist

Visit the Children's Science Center in Fairfax, Virginia, a small museum where families can explore STEM concepts through hands-on exhibits, activities, and experiments. Or go all-out and head to the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore.

31. Escape with the Kids to an Escape Room

Work together as a family to solve puzzles and clues at one of these great escape rooms for kids in the DC area. If you'd prefer to relax while the kids do the work (and have the fun), Escapology in Fairfax, Virginia offers its themed escape rooms in Kid Mode for ages 7-14.

32. Play a Round of Indoor Mini Golf

While the DC area's outdoor mini golf courses are closed, there are plenty of places to play putt-putt indoors. Check out our list of great places to play indoor mini golf near DC.

33. Tour a Government Building

Winter is a great time to set up a family tour of the US Capitol, the White House, the National Archives, or another government building. Many tours need to be arranged in advance, so check the requirements ahead of time.

34. Get Creative at the LEGO Discovery Center

The LEGO Discovery Center in Springfield, Virginia offers all kinds of hands-on fun for brick lovers. I visited with my family when it first opened, and we had a blast. Check out my review of the LEGO Discovery Center, then go experience it for yourself.

35. Channel Your Inner Ninja Warrior

Got a fan of American Ninja Warrior? Bring them to one of these ninja warrior gyms and obstacle courses near DC so they can practice their moves!

Writers James Smith, Drew Kristofik, and Christine Mooney contributed additional reporting.