# Christmas break with kids in Washington, DC, 2026

> 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.

- Last checked: 2026-10-29
- 4 places’ holiday hours; 12 dated outings
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/washington-dc/christmas-break/
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/washington-dc/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/washington-dc/llms.txt

## Open or closed: Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1

- **National Museum of Natural History**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 24: open; Dec 25: closed; New Year’s Day Open 10am–5:30pm. Their page says: “Daily 10am–5:30pm including holidays; closed Dec 25” Source: https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit (checked 2026-10-28)
- **U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 24: open; Dec 25: closed; New Year’s Day Open 10am–5pm. Their page says: “Conservatory daily 10am–5pm, including most holidays; closed Dec 25” Source: https://www.usbg.gov/visit/hours-and-location (checked 2026-10-28)
- **Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 24 and Dec 25: closed; New Year’s Day Closed. Their page says: “Nov 20 – Jan 3; closed Nov 23–26, Dec 24–25 and Jan 1” Source: https://montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/brookside-gardens/special-events/garden-of-lights/ (checked 2026-10-28)
- **Smithsonian’s National Zoo**: Christmas Eve not posted; Christmas Day Dec 24: open; Dec 25: closed; New Year’s Day Open on New Year’s Day. Their page says: “Open every day except Dec 25. Winter hours: grounds 8am–4pm, indoor exhibits 9am–4pm” Source: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/visit/hours (checked 2026-10-29)

## Christmas Eve

- **Santa at Tysons Corner Center** at Tysons Corner Center, Level 1 near Wasabi, 1961 Chain Bridge Road, Tysons, VA 22102. When: From Nov 6, 2026. Time: Mon–Fri 11am–7pm to start; see the schedule. Price: Free visit; photo packages for sale. Reserve a spot online to skip the line. Official page: https://www.tysonscornercenter.com/SantaPhotos (checked 2026-10-28)

## Between Christmas and New Year’s (Dec 26–30)

- **ZooLights at the National Zoo** at Smithsonian’s National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008. When: Select nights, Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Mon–Sat 5–9pm, Sun 5–8pm. Price: $10 per person; parking $30 in advance. 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. Official page: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/news/zoolights-returns-nov-20-smithsonians-national-zoo-and-conservation-biology-institute (checked 2026-10-28)
- **Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens** at Brookside Gardens, 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902. When: Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Timed entry from 5pm. Price: Sun–Thu $13.99, Fri–Sat $16.99; 4 and under free. A half-mile walk through the lights. Closed Nov 23–26, Dec 24–25 and Jan 1. Tickets online only. Official page: https://montgomeryparks.org/parks-and-trails/brookside-gardens/special-events/garden-of-lights/ (checked 2026-10-28)
- **Bull Run Festival of Lights** at Bull Run Regional Park, 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville, VA 20121. When: Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: From 5:30pm nightly. Price: $30–$45 per vehicle online, by date. 2.5 miles of lights from the car, with a carnival area at the end. Official page: https://www.novaparks.com/events/bull-run-festival-of-lights (checked 2026-10-28)
- **Washington Harbour Ice Rink** at The Washington Harbour, 3000–3050 K St. NW, Georgetown. When: Nov 19 – Feb 28. Price: $12 adults; $10 kids 12 and under. Public skating runs in 90-minute sessions starting at 11am, weather permitting. Weather closures go up on the rink’s Instagram and Facebook. Official page: https://thewashingtonharbour.com/ice-skating/ (checked 2026-10-29)

## New Year’s Eve and Day

- **Noon Year’s Eve at the Fairfax Museum** at Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center, 10209 Main St., Fairfax, VA 22030. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11am–noon. Price: Free; registration required. A midday countdown for families. Registration opens Dec 10. Official page: https://washington.org/event/noon-years-eve-museum (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Noon Year’s Eve Celebration at Arlington Central Library** at Arlington Public Library – Central Library (Barbara M. Donnellan Auditorium), Arlington, VA. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11:15am–12:15pm. Price: Free. 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). Official page: https://arlingtonva.libcal.com/event/16955201 (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Noon Year’s Eve Celebration at Aurora Hills Library** at Arlington Public Library – Aurora Hills, Arlington, VA. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11am–noon. Price: Free. For kids of all ages with an adult: a New Year’s Eve storytime, crafts and a dance party before the countdown to noon. Official page: https://arlingtonva.libcal.com/event/16993660 (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Noon Year’s Eve Celebration at White Oak Library** at Montgomery County Public Libraries – White Oak, Silver Spring, MD. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11am–noon. Price: Free. For babies through elementary age: a dance party, then a New Year’s craft. Official page: https://mcpl.libnet.info/event/17637917 (checked 2026-10-29)
- **Noon Year's Eve at Gaithersburg Library** at Gaithersburg Library, Gaithersburg, MD. When: Thu, Dec 31, 2026. Time: 11:30am–12:30pm. Price: Free. 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. Official page: https://mcpl.libnet.info/event/16724427 (checked 2026-10-30)
- **ZooLights at the National Zoo** at Smithsonian’s National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008. When: Select nights, Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: Mon–Sat 5–9pm, Sun 5–8pm. Price: $10 per person; parking $30 in advance. 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. Official page: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/news/zoolights-returns-nov-20-smithsonians-national-zoo-and-conservation-biology-institute (checked 2026-10-28)
- **Bull Run Festival of Lights** at Bull Run Regional Park, 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville, VA 20121. When: Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027. Time: From 5:30pm nightly. Price: $30–$45 per vehicle online, by date. 2.5 miles of lights from the car, with a carnival area at the end. Official page: https://www.novaparks.com/events/bull-run-festival-of-lights (checked 2026-10-28)

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
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## FAQ

### What’s open on Christmas Day in Washington, DC with kids?
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.

### What can we do with kids on Christmas Eve in Washington, DC?
On the calendar: Santa at Tysons Corner Center.

### What’s open on New Year’s Day in Washington, DC?
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).

### What can we do with kids on New Year’s Day in Washington, DC?
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.

### What is there to do with kids between Christmas and New Year’s in Washington, DC?
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.

### How do you check these holiday hours?
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](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).