It may be freezing outside, but these can’t-miss events are hot, hot, hot. Step away from your to-do list, gather up the kids and check out one of these fun family outings to make your holiday season a bit more merry and bright.
VENTURE OUTSIDE AND BRAVE THE BRRR
Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade
You’ve seen lights in trees, lights on houses, even lights on fire engines. But on Dec. 5, prepare to ooh and aah as more than 50 boats twinkling from bow to stern cruise past you on the Potomac. Get a prime spot at the Alexandria waterfront behind the Torpedo Factory Art Center (105 N. Union St.) to watch as the boats sail to the Washington Harbour in Georgetown. There will be live music, holiday treats and even a hot chocolate bar as you wait for the holiday’s superstar—Santa!—to arrive by fireboat. Then visit the full-size recreation of Santa’s fireboat for a one-of-a-kind photo op with the big guy.
White House Christmas Tree Lighting
Celebrate the holidays with the president and his family at The National Christmas Tree Lighting on Dec. 3. The tradition began in 1923 with President Calvin Coolidge and continues to draw large crowds and cool musical performances. Watch as the tree is illuminated with lots of (now LED) lights in The Ellipse, the park south of the White House. To attend, you can apply through an online lottery.
Meadowlark Winter Walk of Lights
Wear comfortable shoes and dress warmly to walk through this nature-themed LED light show, including locally made light displays like birds in flight, twinkling stars, geese, bears, squirrels jumping from tree to tree and more. While the Winter Walk of Lights began Nov. 13, staff started installing the lights in August to make sure you walk away awe-inspired. Stroll through the botanical gardens, walk beneath the new 50-foot tunnel of lights and try to spot all of the woodland creatures (like the spitting fish) on “The Nature Walk.” For an extra dose of fun and fancy, buy special glasses at the Snowflake Shoppe—they transform the lights into different holiday shapes. Afterward, warm up by the fire pit, where you can enjoy hot chocolate and s’mores. Some tickets are available at the door, but for the best prices, buy yours beforehand.
Middleburg Christmas Parade
On Saturday, Dec. 5, the streets of Middleburg transform into a winter wonderland for a full day of festivities including breakfast with Santa, a Hunt Review with dozens of horses and hounds, live music, a craft fair, wine tasting and, of course, the main event: the parade with floats, animals, musicians and Santa. Find tips on how to avoid traffic and great places to park for just $5 when you visit their website.
From Nov. 27-Jan. 1, visit the zoo after dark to see more than 500,000 environmentally friendly LED lights on display. Ride the solar energy-powered carousel, hop aboard the National Zoo Choo-Choo, check out animal exhibits and enjoy live music near The Great Ape House.
Long Branch Nature Center
After one too many mall runs or hours spent online shopping, you might be looking for a bit less parking-lot chaos and laptop glow and a little more fresh air and vitamin D. If that’s the case, venture out to one of the many parks or nature centers in the area. Nestled in the woods of Glencarlyn Park, you’re almost sure to spot some cool wildlife (like frogs, turtles, wood ducks and warblers) during a visit to Long Branch Nature Center. On Dec. 5, they’re offering a Holiday Wreath Workshop for ages 12 and up. And on Dec. 9, families with children ages 5 and up can gather to make Holiday Nature Crafts.
Bull Run Festival of Lights
Don’t let dreary weather dampen your holiday spirit. Load the family into the car, turn on some holiday tunes and drive 2 1/2 miles through this lively light display in Centreville. Afterward, if weather permits, visit the holiday village and carnival to ride some rides, eat some tasty treats, buy souvenirs and take pictures with Santa.
Visit this working farm in Fairfax County to add a little fresh air to your holiday festivities. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., visitors can sign up for beginner horseback riding lessons, take wagon rides through the pastoral property, visit the animals (including pigs,
goats and sheep) or milk cows (every day at 4 p.m.). On Dec. 5, volunteers will help kids do some holiday shopping and gift-wrapping on-site (there are plenty of items perfect for an under-$10 budget) while their parents wait at the schoolhouse. On Dec. 6 and 13, visitors can celebrate “Christmas On The Farm” by decorating cookies, making crafts and getting wagon rides from Santa. But be sure to sign up early for this event, which is $8 per person, as it fills up fast. On Dec. 22, master puppeteer Bob Brown will be putting on a “Winter Wonderland Puppet Show” at 10 and 11:30 a.m. Admission is $5 per person.
Cut Your Own Christmas Tree
For some families, the perfect Christmas tree is pink, plastic and lights up when you plug it in. For others, it just doesn’t feel like the holidays until your fingers are stuck together with sap after you’ve chopped down a spruce. For those itching to fell a fir, check out these spots where you can cut down your own Christmas tree.
Moose Apple Christmas Tree Farm
Have a picnic, shop for Christmas gifts in their holiday store and take pictures in the scenic Shenandoah Valley. / 2425 Wickliffe Road, Berryville
Oakland Tree Plantation
Take free tractor-drawn hayrides, feed the goats and sip a cup of hot mulled cider./ 633 Oakland Lane, Berryville
Bees and Trees Farm
Toast marshmallows for s’mores at the fire pit, take family pictures in the beautiful refurbished sleigh, attend one of their wreath and garland demonstrations and shop for presents, holiday decorations and all things honey in their Christmas store, Santa’s Hive. / 18028 Carrico Mills Road, Elkwood
Middleburg Christmas Tree Farm
Sit around the fire pit, grill, have a picnic and enjoy the gorgeous scenery. / Christmas Tree Lane, Round Hill
Snickers Gap Christmas Tree Farms
Enjoy hot or cold apple cider in the barn, peruse the handmade wreaths and Christmas decorations and enjoy a tractor ride back to your car. / 34350 Williams Gap Road, Round Hill
Outdoor Ice Skating
If you love bundling up in hats and mittens to glide around the ice in the open air, check out these outdoor ice skating rinks. Hey, maybe this will be the year you master that triple axel … or, at the very least, figure out how to stop.
Reston Town Center’s Open Air Pavilion
1818 Discovery St., Reston
Pentagon Row
1201 S. Joyce St., Arlington
Tysons Corner Ice Rink
1961 Chain Bridge Road, McLean
Harris Pavilion
9201 Center St., Manassas
National Gallery of Art Sculpture Gallery
7th St. and Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
INDOOR ADVENTURES
Children’s Science Center at Fair Oaks Mall
Engage curious minds at this hands-on science center with fun activities based on STEM learning principles. Kids will learn more about topics like wind, robotics, power and how different machines work. But forget dull lectures—here visitors can order off an experiment menu, craft, build, make art, play music, dissect toys and more.
Arlington Arts Center
If your family has a mini Monet on its hands, check out the Arlington Arts Center housed in the historic Maury school, complete with Tiffany windows, where kids can take classes from professional artists. Then, register for the Gift Mania! workshop, which will be held on Dec. 12, where kids from ages 4-10 can make a special handmade gift for a loved one.
Roller Skating Rinks
When it’s snowing outside and you need to burn off some holiday cookie energy, head over to one of these roller skating rinks, lace up and skate a few laps.
Skate-N-Fun Zone
7878 Sudley Road, Manassas
Skate Nights at Thomas Jefferson Community Center
3501 Second St. S., Arlington;
Purcellville Pavilion
250 S. Nursery Ave., Purcellville
Cavalier Family Skating
1924 Jefferson Davis Highway, Stafford
Rollerworks Family Skating
12099 Marsh Road, Bealeton
The Zone in Ashburn
This is a one-stop adventure with fun activities for you and your kids. You can play laser tag, bowl in the dark with black lights, challenge each other to games in the arcade and have a family dinner all under one roof.
Paint Your Own Pottery
Want to go the extra mile and have your kids make homemade holiday gifts? Or do you just want to peel them away from their devices for a few hours of fun, IRL (in real life)? Check out one of the many spots in the area where you can spend a few hours unleashing your inner artist by painting your own pottery.
Clay Café Studios 101 N. Maple Ave., Falls Church
Paint This! 1013 King St., Alexandria
Jimmy Potters Studio and Workshop 11215 Lee Highway, Suite N, Fairfax
Color Me Mine 4209 Fairfax Corner Ave. E., Fairfax
WHEN THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS FRIGHTFUL
Gaylord at National Harbor ICE!
From Nov. 21 to Jan. 3 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, this indoor attraction made from 2 million pounds of colorful, hand-carved ice sculptures (and kept at a not-so-balmy 9 degrees) will make your family’s winter wonderland dreams come true. There are five ice slides, seven different rooms depicting scenes from this year’s story, “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” and “The Frostbite Factory,” where you can watch as ice sculptors carve, chip and chainsaw their way to a North Pole paradise. The resort is beautifully decorated for the holidays and lit with more than 2 million lights. There are nightly fountain shows, indoor snow, gingerbread decorating and an indoor train ride, and visitors can have their pictures taken with Santa.
If you’re looking for a way to keep idle hands busy during cold winter days, check out some of the fun classes at Fluffy Thoughts bakery in McLean. Starting Dec. 5, there are a number of holiday-themed classes for both kids and adults. Take a class on baking holiday pies from scratch and learn from the experts how to decorate gingerbread houses, holiday-themed cupcakes, sugar cookies, a Yule log and even a Christmas wreath cake. Note: Children 5 years old and younger must be accompanied by an adult, and some classes have age specifications.
Gingerbread House Decorating at Lansdowne Resort
If you have a child who loves to craft (and enjoys the occasional piece of candy), enjoy a pretty drive out to Leesburg for a fun day of decorating gingerbread houses at the Lansdowne Resort.
SET THE STAGE FOR HOLIDAY FUN
See Your Kids’ Favorite Characters Live
If your kids have access to books, toys, a TV or computer, they have probably discovered some favorite characters. And the holidays are a great time to see those famous friends in the flesh (or fur, as it may be). On Nov. 27-29, you can climb aboard and take a “The Polar Express” train ride—complete with cookies, hot chocolate and silver sleigh bells—at The B&O Railroad Museum. On Dec. 4 and 5, Disney Live! will be performing “Three Classic Fairytales” at the Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric in Baltimore. And, on Dec. 13, Sesame Street Live will be performing “Make A New Friend” at EagleBank Arena.
Encore Stage
Encore Stage is a unique theater experience in that the productions are made for kids, by kids. Children can start taking classes at Encore as young as 4 years old; they can begin auditioning at 9 years old; and they can work behind the scenes of the productions as technicians starting when they’re 12 years old. This year, Dec. 4-6, Encore Stage will be putting on “A Fairytale Christmas Carol,” a remake of the classic starring fairy tale characters like Mother Goose and The Three Little Pigs. This particular show is geared toward audience members 4 years old and older.
Wolf Trap Holiday Sing-A-Long
Start practicing your vocal scales. It’s time to take your shower singing to the next level at Wolf Trap’s annual Holiday Sing-A-Long on Dec. 5. This free event, which began in 1968, is held rain or shine and features “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, hundreds of chorus singers and special guests including Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman and Santa. Bring your own bells to play during “Jingle Bells” and candles to carry in a powerful procession during the performance of “Silent Night.” Then join in and sing along with some of your holiday favorites.
Workhouse Art Center
Housed in an old D.C. prison, the Workhouse Arts Center includes studio spaces, a theater, galleries, an art school and more. Visitors to the center are encouraged to interact with artists when they visit, and stage performances range from the dramatic to music and dance. On Nov. 28, visit the Workhouse Winter Wonderland, a free, family friendly event where artists will have their work on display and for sale. (Tip: Bring a canned good and get 20 percent off of art purchases.) Take horse-drawn carriage rides around the historic campus, sample delicious holiday goodies like s’mores and roasted chestnuts, watch classic holiday movies and enjoy a light show and singalong at dusk. Information on performances and holiday workshops like ornament-making and Christmas cookie exchanges can be found online.
The Alden
Part of the McLean Community Center, the 386-seat Alden Theatre hosts a number of holiday events and shows. On Dec. 12, there are two performances of “A Christmas Carol” tailored for families with kids 5 years old and older (minus the scary parts). And on Dec. 19, there will be a John Eaton Holiday Spectacular filled with jazzy renditions of holiday classics as well as his trademark humor. Also in December, the community center will be hosting a Breakfast With Santa (tickets sell out fast, so buy yours early), a craft fair and a gingerbread house workshop.
( December 2015 )