The DC Winter Lantern Festival features over 1,000 Chinese lanterns. Photo courtesy of the festival
Christmas Weekend 2024 in DC Top Things To Do: Christmas Lights, Breakfast with Santa, Waterskiing Santa, and More
Take a lighted trail walk at Reston's Winterfest. Photo courtesy of Winterfest
24 Best Things to Do in DC December 2024 with Kids: Sing-A-Longs, Christmas Events, and New Year's Eve
GUIDE
Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for DC Kids
Tackle the slides at Ice! featuring A Charlie Brown Christmas. Photo courtesy of Gaylord National Harbor
What's Open on Christmas Day in DC: A List of Awesome Things To Do
The DC Winter Lantern Festival dazzles through January 12. Photo courtesy of the festival
Ultimate Winter Bucket List: 35 Best Things To Do with Kids in DC
Photo courtesy of Canva
Restaurants Open on Christmas Day in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia
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
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
Photo courtesy of Canva
Restaurants Open on Christmas Day in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia
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
Pull on a signature blue parka for Ice! featuring A Charlie Brown Christmas. Photo courtesy of Gaylord National Resort
Christmas in DC: Ultimate 3-Day Itinerary for a Magical Holiday with Kids
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
Skate in the shadow of the National Gallery of Art. Photo by Elvert Barnes/CC BY 2.0
GUIDE
DC Winter Vacation Guide: Best Getaways and Activities for Families
The popular Sculpture Garden ice rink is back at the Smithsonian National Gallery of Art. Photo by Elvert Barnes via Flickr 2.0
Best Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia for Kids and Families
There are so many places to have breakfast with Santa throughout the DC area. Photo courtesy of Theissman's Restaurant's Facebook page
Breakfast with Santa in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia
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
Find the perfect tree for your family at Snickers Gap Tree Farm. Photo courtesy of the farm
Christmas Tree Farms Near DC
Sometimes you can lend a helping hand, sometimes you need a helping hand. Because every kid deserves presents on Christmas. Photo by Jaime Sumersille
How To Find Free Toys for Kids this Christmas and Holiday Season—Apply Soon!
Child's Play has a great selection of toys, games, children's books, and more. Photo by Tony Ventouris Photography
Coolest Stores for Kids in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia
Enjoy storytime each Wednesday at the Hirshhorn. Photo courtesy of the Hirshorn Museum
101 Free Things To Do in DC with Kids

Christmas Vacation in DC: 19 Staycation Ideas for Things To Do With Kids

Christmas vacation is the perfect time to catch Monet: The Immersive Experience before it leaves town in January! Photo courtesy of the experience
Christmas vacation is the perfect time to catch Monet: The Immersive Experience before it leaves town in January! Photo courtesy of the experience
12/13/24 - By Jennifer Swope

Christmas vacation can be a long stretch of time to keep children entertained. If you're in the DC area over the winter break, we have ideas for some fun things to do with kids.

For the lover of all things LEGO, the National Building Museum's Brick City showcases large builds and opportunities to build your own creation. My kids loved this exhibit. And LEGO Discovery Center's Holiday Bricktacular has several kid-friendly activties and festive decorations for families to enjoy.

If a show is something your family will enjoy, there are three running during Christmas vacation—Disney's Frozen at Olney Theatre Center, 'Twas The Night Before Christmas at Adventure Theatre, and Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood at Imagination Stage.

Need even more ideas? We have lists of the best outdoor ice skating rinks near DC, the best holiday lights drive-thrus and Christmas light shows in DC, The Nutcracker ballet and other holiday shows, and DC New Year's Eve celebrations for kids.

Check our other cities if you’re traveling for Christmas vacation. We have entire sites dedicated to the best things to do with kids in most major US cities!

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Sneak over to the special Bond in Motion installation at the International Spy Museum. Photo courtesy of the museum
Sneak over to the special Bond in Motion installation at the International Spy Museum. Photo courtesy of the museum

Things to Do with Kids Over Christmas Vacation in DC

Creating Family Kwanzaa Bags (Kwanzaa at Anacostia Community Museum)

Anacostia - Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Free
Join the artist Rain as she leads families into an arts and crafts workshop celebrating the sixth principle of Kwanzaa, Kuumba (creativity). Participants are encouraged to allow their creativity to flow as they create and decorate their family Kwanzaa bags. These bags can be used for a variety of purposes including carrying handmade Kwanzaa gifts or the fruits of the harvest. READ MORE

Dopamine Land: A Multisensory Experience

Friendship Heights - Fridays - Sundays, through January 31, 2025 (also open on January 20)
Dopamine Land is a multisensory experience combining media, technology, and play in one place. Visitors travel through an interactive museum boasting multiple rooms and activities that provide something new and exciting at every corner. READ MORE

Monet: The Immersive Experience (at Rhode Island Center)

Eckington - Daily, through January 31, 2025 (except Christmas Day and Tuesdays; also open on December 24 & 31)
Embark on an astonishing journey through the incomparable universe of Claude Monet, one of the greatest artistic geniuses of the 19th century. Explore his life, his career, and his secrets like never before with the help of 360-degree digital projections and a unique virtual-reality experience. READ MORE

Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures at Rhode Island Center

Eckington - Daily, through January 5, 2025 (except Tuesdays; also open on December 24 & 31)
Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures is an exhibition that offers guests an unprecedented glance into Ancient Egypt. With hundreds of perfectly reconstructed objects, breathtaking decorations, and fascinating explanations, visitors can step right into the wonder of the most famous archaeological discovery site of the 20th century. Ready to travel to the era of the pharaohs? READ MORE

Placita Mágica at National Children’s Museum

Downtown - Daily (except Christmas Day and Tuesdays), through January 3, 2025
Explore Mexican cultural traditions in this enchanting plaza bursting with STEAM concepts and interactive play. The immersive setting includes decoration, architecture, and cityscape silhouettes of Mexican cities that expand the worldview and sense of place for young learners. In Mexico, plazas function as gathering spots where communities come together.  READ MORE

Baseball: America's Home Run at the National Postal Museum

NOMA - Daily (except Christmas Day), through January 5, 2025
Free
This special exhibit explores the surprising ways that baseball and postal history are deeply intertwined. It features historic objects that have never before been on public display, including game-used uniforms and bats, jackets, hats, and memorabilia. It's a must-visit for anyone who loves the game. READ MORE

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood: A Grr-ific Exhibit (at National Children's Museum)

Downtown - Daily (except Christmas Day and Tuesdays), through January 5, 2025
Step into Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood where Daniel and his friends help young children navigate their world, and parents guide their journey. Play, sing, explore, and pretend in some favorite and familiar places from the Neighborhood. Try a fun activity, share a memory, and create grr-ific new ones on this beautiful day. READ MORE

Brick City at National Building Museum

Gallery Place - Thursdays-Mondays (except Christmas Day), through April 6, 2025
LEGO® lovers will marvel at architecture from around the world through recreations made from these bricks by UK-based artist Warren Elsmore. Brick City features lively streetscapes from Cartagena, Columbia; Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans; intricate temples from India to Mexico; and imaginative castles from medieval Japan to modern Las Vegas. READ MORE

Bond in Motion at the International Spy Museum

L'Enfant Plaza - Daily, through April 30, 2025 (except Christmas Day)
The International Spy Museum hosts an official exhibition of vehicles used on-screen by 007 and his many allies and adversaries. While James Bond is a fictional character, he embodies the spirit of many real spies in this museum. These men and women from around the world were inspired by over six decades of the Bond film franchise and its enduring cultural influence.  READ MORE

Building Stories at National Building Museum

Gallery Place - Ongoing, Thursdays-Mondays (except Christmas Day)
Building Stories brings visitors into an immersive exploration of the world of architecture, engineering, construction, and design found in the pages of children’s books. The exhibit is geared toward an intergenerational audience, with special attention paid to children in grades K-3 and their parents and caregivers. READ MORE
Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood is the perfect live show to see with kids. Image courtesy of Imagination Stage
Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood is the perfect live show to see with kids. Image courtesy of Imagination Stage

Things To Do with Kids Over Christmas Vacation in Maryland

Holly-Days at Maryland Zoo

Baltimore, MD - Saturdays & Sundays, through December 31, 2024 (also December 20, 23, 24-27, 30-31)
Celebrate the magic of the season with Holly-Days at the Zoo. This festive event includes holiday crafts, photo ops, special appearances, and more.  READ MORE

The Princess Bride in Concert at Music Center Strathmore

North Bethesda, MD - Friday, January 3, 2025
Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles… Experience one of the most beloved films of all time as never before… with the power of the BSO performing the entire musical score live-to-picture. READ MORE

The Princess Bride in Concert at Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall

Baltimore, MD - Saturday & Sunday, January 4 & 5, 2025
Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles… Experience one of the most beloved films of all time as never before… with the power of the BSO performing the entire musical score live-to-picture. READ MORE

Disney's Frozen at the Olney Theatre Center

Olney, MD - Wednesdays - Sundays, through January 5, 2025 ( except Christmas Day, also December 24 & 31)
Disney has asked a select few regional theaters to take a shot at their own productions of this animated classic, and it’s no surprise that Olney Theatre Center got the call. This musical delivers everything families love about the adventures of Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, and Olaf, along with a unique production that won’t be experienced anywhere else.  READ MORE

'Twas The Night Before Christmas at Adventure Theatre

Glen Echo, MD - Fridays - Sundays, through January 5, 2025
"‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.” But wait! A mouse is stirring – because Santa missed his house last year. Before you can say “Merry Christmas!," we are off on the wild adventures of a mouse, an elf, and a spunky little girl who just will not take no for an answer. Do not miss this joyful tribute to the holiday season! READ MORE

Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood at Imagination Stage

Bethesda, MD - Various dates, through February 8, 2025
A Cajun Red Riding Hood updates the classic tale, sending the plucky heroine—now a red-robed little duck—and her ‘fraidy cat friend Te Jean on a perilous journey through the bayou. Along the way the pair tangle with a Big Bad Gator. Petite is no sitting duck, though, and leads her nemesis on a merry Mardi Gras chase through New Orleans. A chorus of swamp dwellers sings backup to the Zydeco-driven score in this foot-stomping musical. READ MORE
The DC Winter Lantern Festival will dazzle young and old. Photo courtesy of Fever Productions
The DC Winter Lantern Festival will dazzle young and old. Photo courtesy of Fever Productions

Things To Do with Kids Over Christmas Vacation in Northern Virginia

Holiday Bricktacular at LEGO Discovery Center Washington DC

Springfield, VA - Daily, through December 30, 2024 (except Christmas Day)
Build the best memories at Holiday Bricktacular! Families can enjoy a winter wonderland of activities, festive decorations, and more at LEGO Discovery Center Washington, DC.    READ MORE

Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience (at Morven Park)

Leesburg, VA - Various dates, through January 5, 2025
Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience lets fans venture into an illuminated forest brought to life. Unicorns, Nifflers, and Hippogriffs are only some of the magical creatures guests come face-to-face with. The interactive, family-friendly experience also gives fans the opportunity to cast spells to illuminate the dark forest and try their hand at summoning a Patronus. In the depths of the Forbidden Forest, who knows what spellbinding surprises could be lurking between the trees?  READ MORE

Winter Lantern Festival (at Tysons Corner)

Tysons, VA - Various dates, through January 12, 2025
The Winter Lantern Festival is back this holiday season, with a display of electrifying lights made from more than 1,000 handmade Chinese lanterns. Guests will enter and wander through a wonderland of light and color inspired by Chinese myths, legends, and zodiacs. Attractions will include a bounce house, sugar paintings, dino ride, interactive light swings, see-saws, tunnels, and many majestic creatures. READ MORE

Places featured in this article: