DC's most popular holiday events for families are already starting to go on sale, and many of them sell out fast! Book them—or be ready to book them—before you miss out.

The holidays in DC are magical, but the season is jam-packed. Between school schedules, holiday parties, and shopping lists, it can be hard to keep track of all the holiday and Christmas events for kids and families.

Whether you’re visiting a cherished family tradition or starting a new one, DC offers countless things to do with kids at Christmas and the holidays. Hop aboard a holiday train ride, watch a Christmas-themed performance, or wander through an impressive light display. You’ll also find plenty of Santa sightings along the way.

Here are 15 DC family Christmas events 2025 that will likely sell out, plus when tickets for them go on sale. Book these events ASAP, then explore more holiday activities with DC's Holiday Fun Guide. Sign up for our free newsletter to ensure you don't miss anything!

While there are tons of Halloween events throughout the DC area, many of them fall into the not-so-spooky category. Those activities are perfect for the younger crowd, but don't quite fit the bill for tweens and teens looking for a good scare.

But never fear (or maybe you should be afraid)... there are plenty of haunted houses, spooky trails, and other creepy events in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia that brave tweens and teens will love. Laurel House of Horrors in Maryland; Workhouse Haunt in Lorton, Virginia; and nighttime theme-park events like Kings Dominion Halloween Haunt are just a few.

If your teen is looking for less scary and more unique Halloween events, have them check out the Hill Family Biking of the Monuments, which takes tweens and teens around the monuments at night, or the 17th Street High Heel Race, which supports the LGBTQ+ community and encourages costumes.

Read on for the top scary, spooky, and teen-approved Halloween events near DC. Our Halloween Fun and Activities Guide for DC Kids has many more ways to celebrate the spooky season!

Spooky season arrives with October, and we have the best family-friendly events for little ghosts and goblins all month long.

Halloween events and fall festivals will keep your family busy this month as you celebrate the harvest season, pick pumpkins, and dress up for trick-or-treating.

Need a break from all things autumn? Ride go-karts at Race the District in Union Market, get artsy at Capital One Center Celebration of the Arts, see Gabby's Dollhouse LIVE! in Baltimore, or attend a touch-a-truck in McLean!

We have so many more great events listed below for your family in October, but don't forget to check our family activity calendar every day, as we're always adding more events.