1. Visit the National Christmas Tree
The National Christmas Tree and the Pathway of Peace is illuminated daily at dusk until 11 p.m. Each night in December, musical groups from the Washington, DC area will entertain visitors to the Ellipse. Parking is extremely limited near the National Christmas Tree. Limited parking is available along Constitution Avenue between 15th and 17th Streets after 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and all day on weekends. The best way to get to the area is by metro. The closest stops are Metro Center, Federal Triangle, and McPherson Square.
2. Bull Run Christmas Lights
Bull Run Christmas Lights, officially named the Bull Run Festival of Lights, is a 2.5-mile drive through holiday light show at Bull Run Regional Park featuring penguins, snowmen, candy canes, jumping deer, Santa’s workshop, Frosty the Snowman, tin soldiers, elves and Santa. The seasonal event will include more than 40,000 animated lights set to music!
Address: Bull Run Regional Park, 7700 Bull Run Dr. Centreville, VA (703) 359-4633
Dates and Hours: Festival of Lights: November 23, 2011 to January 8, 2012. Hours: Monday – Thursday & Sunday: 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., Fridays, Saturdays & holidays: 5:30 to 10 p.m. Carnival: November 25 – November 27, December 1 – 4, 8 – 11, 15 – 31, 2011 and January 1, 2012 (weather permitting)
3. Visit Gaylord National Resort’s ICE!
Step inside a winter wonderland created entirely of 5,000 BLOCKS of ice weighing 1.5 MILLION POUNDS! hand-sculpted by 40 international artisans and kept at a chilling nine degrees Fahrenheit. With a new theme each year, this is an interactive holiday attraction you won’t want to miss.
Location: Adjacent to the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at National Harbor.
Dates: November 18, 2011 through January 8, 2012. (hours will vary)
Tickets: Adults $25-35, Kids (ages 4-12) $20-$30, Children ages 3 and under are free. Discounted tickets for military, seniors and group of 20 or more are available.
4. Christmas at Mount Vernon Estate
Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens celebrates the holiday season with a special daytime program from Thanksgiving Day weekend through the Twelve Days of Christmas. Special festivities include themed decorations, a gingerbread Mount Vernon, historical chocolate-making demonstrations, 18th-century dancing, and even a Christmas camel just like George Washington had on the grounds during Christmas of 1787.Dates: November 25, 2011 – January 6, 2012
Tickets: All programs are included in general admission: $15/adult; $7/child, free for children 5 and younger.
Tickets: All programs are included in general admission: $15/adult; $7/child, free for children 5 and younger.
5. Holiday Lights at the National Zoo
ZooLights at the National Zoo in Washington, DC is a winter holiday event that is sure to be fun for the whole family. The National Zoo presents a display of thousands of sparkling lights featuring sculptures of many of the Zoo’s most popular animals, including giant pandas, Asian elephants, gibbons, a sea lion, an octopus, and a Komodo dragon. ZooLights is FREE! No tickets are required.Dates and Times: November 25-December 11 (Friday-Sunday nights) and December 16, 2011-January 1, 2012 (every night except December 24, 25 and 31), 5-9 p.m.
