What to do with kids in Washington, DC over Christmas break, from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day. We read the holiday hours posted by four museums, zoos and play places: four say they’re open on Christmas Day and four on New Year’s Day. Plus five dated outings on Christmas Eve and the days in between.
Dec 24 · Dec 25 · Jan 1
Holiday hours from each place’s own page, side by side. Many are standing rules (“closed Christmas Day”) that hold year to year, but a quick check that morning is worth it.
“Not posted” means the place’s own page doesn’t say. Call or check the morning of.
Day by day
Pick a day to see what’s on. Many places close early on Dec 24 and Dec 31, so check each card’s times.
Tysons Corner Center, Level 1 near Wasabi · 1961 Chain Bridge Road, Tysons, VA 22102
Good to know: Reserve a spot online to skip the line.
Smithsonian’s National Zoo · 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
Good to know: Open Nov 20–22, Nov 27–29, Dec 4–6, 11–13, 16, 18–23, 26–30 and Jan 2–3. Dec 16 is adults only. A $6 Zoo Choo Choo train and a $6 maze are extra.
Brookside Gardens · 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902
Good to know: A half-mile walk through the lights. Closed Nov 23–26, Dec 24–25 and Jan 1. Tickets online only.
Bull Run Regional Park · 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville, VA 20121
Good to know: 2.5 miles of lights from the car, with a carnival area at the end.
The Washington Harbour, 3000–3050 K St. NW · Georgetown
Good to know: Public skating runs in 90-minute sessions starting at 11am, weather permitting. Weather closures go up on the rink’s Instagram and Facebook.
Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center · 10209 Main St., Fairfax, VA 22030
Good to know: A midday countdown for families. Registration opens Dec 10.
Arlington Public Library – Central Library (Barbara M. Donnellan Auditorium) · Arlington, VA
Good to know: For kids of all ages with an adult: a New Year’s Eve storytime, crafts and a photo booth, then a countdown to noon in the auditorium (doors open 11:45am).
Arlington Public Library – Aurora Hills · Arlington, VA
Good to know: For kids of all ages with an adult: a New Year’s Eve storytime, crafts and a dance party before the countdown to noon.
Montgomery County Public Libraries – White Oak · Silver Spring, MD
Good to know: For babies through elementary age: a dance party, then a New Year’s craft.
Gaithersburg Library · Gaithersburg, MD
Good to know: New Year's crafts and games, then a countdown to noon. It's for preschool through 5th grade, and kids under 8 need a grown-up with them.
Smithsonian’s National Zoo · 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
Good to know: Open Nov 20–22, Nov 27–29, Dec 4–6, 11–13, 16, 18–23, 26–30 and Jan 2–3. Dec 16 is adults only. A $6 Zoo Choo Choo train and a $6 maze are extra.
Bull Run Regional Park · 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville, VA 20121
Good to know: 2.5 miles of lights from the car, with a carnival area at the end.
Open on New Year’s Day: National Museum of Natural History, U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory, Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens, Smithsonian’s National Zoo.
Rainy-day backup
These don’t post holiday hours yet, so check before you go. More on our indoor play page.
Keep planning
November: things to do in DCEvery dated listing for the month, by weekDecember: things to do in DCEvery dated listing for the month, by week
Free things to do in DCFree days, free events and places that never chargeIndoor play in DCIndoor playgrounds, toddler times, museums and classes, with prices
Library storytimes in DCBaby, toddler and preschool storytimes by day and branch
Ice skating in DCHoliday and indoor rinks, skate aids and prices
Thanksgiving weekend in DCParades, turkey trots and what’s open on Thursday
Noon Year’s Eve in DCKid-friendly countdowns, home by nap
Christmas parades in DCParades and tree lightings with dates and start times
Christmas trains in DCPolar Express, Santa and lights trains with datesThe Nutcracker in DCBallet and touring shows, sensory-friendly flagged
Christmas markets in DCChristkindlmarkts and winter wonderlands with hours
This week in DCDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
National Museum of Natural History (Dec 24: open; Dec 25: closed), U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory (Dec 24: open; Dec 25: closed), Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens (Dec 24 and Dec 25: closed), Smithsonian’s National Zoo (Dec 24: open; Dec 25: closed) post that they’re open on Christmas Day.
On the calendar: Santa at Tysons Corner Center.
National Museum of Natural History (Open 10am–5:30pm), U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory (Open 10am–5pm), Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens (Closed), Smithsonian’s National Zoo (Open on New Year’s Day).
On the calendar for Jan 1: ZooLights at the National Zoo and Bull Run Festival of Lights. Check each one’s own page before you go, since holiday hours can change.
ZooLights at the National Zoo, Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens, Bull Run Festival of Lights and Washington Harbour Ice Rink. Check each one’s calendar for the exact nights; some close on certain days.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 29, 2026, and we recheck them in early December and again the week before Christmas. How we choose and check.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in DC, through the holidays.
