Six Christmas light displays in and around Washington, DC have 2026 dates: 1 drive-thru and 5 walk-throughs. Two are free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 5 p.m. at Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens. They’re spread over three areas, with the most in Washington.
Last checked · How we choose
Tap a filter to narrow it down. Every card has hours, price and what it’s like with a little one.
Smithsonian’s National Zoo · 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
Checked Oct 28 on the official page
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Brookside Gardens · 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902
Little-kid take: Opens at 5 p.m., so an early visit gets you home in time for bedtime.
Checked Oct 28 on the official page
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The Ellipse, President’s Park · 15th St. and Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20004
Little-kid take: Free, so it’s an easy one to try for a short visit.
Checked Oct 28 on the official page
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The Wharf · 760 Maine Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20024
Little-kid take: Free, so it’s an easy one to try for a short visit.
Checked Oct 28 on the official page
Report a problemF St. NW between 7th and 9th Streets · F St. NW and 8th St. NW, Washington, DC 20004
Checked Oct 28 on the official page
Report a problemBigger out-of-town shows parents make a night of. The drive time is on each card.
Bull Run Regional Park · 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville, VA 20121
Little-kid take: Stays in the car: the easiest pick with a baby or a toddler who may fall asleep. PJs on, car seat buckled, no stroller needed.
Checked Oct 28 on the official page
Report a problemNothing is lit yet. DowntownDC Holiday Market opens first, on Nov 13. ZooLights at the National Zoo and Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens run into the new year.
In early December the sun sets around 4:45 p.m. in DC (the dashed line). Here’s when each display opens, on a scale from 4 to 9 p.m.
5 p.m. start · plan about an hour
Timed entry from 5pm
8 p.m. start · plan about an hour
Evening; fireworks around 8pm
9 p.m. start · plan about an hour
Mon–Sat 5–9pm, Sun 5–8pm
No drive-thru with 2026 dates in town yet.
Picks: ZooLights at the National Zoo, Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens, National Christmas Tree Lighting, Holiday Boat Parade & Party at The Wharf and 1 more
Mittens on a stringLittle hands get cold fast after dark.
Warm drink in a thermosA treat to look forward to at the halfway point.
Hat and a blanketFor the stroller, or the car once the heat is off.PJs before you goSo a car-seat nap can turn straight into bedtime.From each venue’s own page. Check whether a price is per car or per person before you book.
| Display | Price | Little kids | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZooLights at the National Zoo | $10 per person; parking $30 in advance | See the venue | Walk-through |
| Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens | Sun–Thu $13.99, Fri–Sat $16.99; 4 and under free | 4 and under free | Walk-through |
| Bull Run Festival of Lights | $30–$45 per vehicle online, by date | See the venue | Drive-thru · About 45 min drive from downtown DC. |
| National Christmas Tree Lighting | Free tickets by lottery (enter Oct 28 – Nov 4) | See the venue | Walk-through |
| Holiday Boat Parade & Party at The Wharf | Free | See the venue | Walk-through |
| DowntownDC Holiday Market | No admission | See the venue | Walk-through |
See all 6 Santa outings in and around DC: breakfasts, photo spots and evening visits, with 2026 prices.
Santa in DC →
Yes. National Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Boat Parade & Party at The Wharf are free in 2026.
Going by the lowest posted 2026 price: ZooLights at the National Zoo ($10 per person; parking $30 in advance); Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens (Sun–Thu $13.99, Fri–Sat $16.99; 4 and under free); Bull Run Festival of Lights ($30–$45 per vehicle online, by date). Check whether a price is per car or per person before you compare.
With a baby or a sleepy toddler, a drive-thru is easiest: they stay buckled in and warm. One of the 6 displays can be driven: Bull Run Festival of Lights. Walk-throughs (five here) are better for kids who want to run around.
The earliest evening starts: Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens at 5 p.m., Bull Run Festival of Lights at 5:30 p.m. and Holiday Boat Parade & Party at The Wharf at 8 p.m. The first hour after opening is the easiest with an early bedtime.
Little ones get in free at Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens (4 and under free). With a baby, a drive-thru keeps everyone warm in the car.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page, and links to it. We list dates, times and prices only when that page shows them for 2026; anything without posted dates goes in “Dates not posted yet” instead. These were last checked Oct 30, 2026, and we recheck them in early November and again in early December. How we choose and check.
Keep planning: This week in DC · Washington, DC city guide · Visiting DC
One short email every Thursday evening with what works for ages 0–6 in DC that weekend, including the Santa and light-show dates worth knowing.
Every year
Each of these comes back every year. Its page keeps the last confirmed dates, and the new ones go up there once they’re posted. Every year in DC
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Things to do with kids in Washington, DC in November · Things to do with kids in Washington, DC in December
Christmas trains
Christmas train rides near Washington, DC: Holiday lights trains, Polar Express rides and more. 7 with 2026 dates, ages, prices and booking notes.
More holiday outings
The Nutcracker with kids in Washington, DC: 4 shows with 2026 dates, run times, ages and sensory-friendly performances. Christmas markets in Washington, DC: 4 markets and winter wonderlands with 2026 dates, hours and stroller notes.
DowntownDC Holiday Market