# Christmas lights in Washington, DC for little kids, 2026

> 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: 2026-10-30
- 6 listings with 2026 dates; 0 without posted dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/washington-dc/christmas-lights/
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## Walk-through lights and light trails

- **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
- **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/
- **National Christmas Tree Lighting** at The Ellipse, President’s Park, 15th St. and Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20004. When: Thu, Dec 3, 2026. Time: Evening. Price: Free tickets by lottery (enter Oct 28 – Nov 4). Winners are told Nov 12 and can get up to five tickets. Official page: https://www.nps.gov/whho/learn/news/2026-national-christmas-tree-lighting-ticket-lottery-opens-oct-28.htm
- **Holiday Boat Parade & Party at The Wharf** at The Wharf, 760 Maine Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20024. When: Sat, Dec 5, 2026. Time: Evening; fireworks around 8pm. Price: Free. More than 60 lit-up boats on the Washington Channel. Official page: https://www.wharfdc.com/boatparade/
- **DowntownDC Holiday Market** at F St. NW between 7th and 9th Streets, F St. NW and 8th St. NW, Washington, DC 20004. When: Nov 13 – Dec 23, 2026. Time: Daily; hours vary by day. Price: No admission. Closed on Thanksgiving. Official page: https://www.downtowndc.org/holiday-market/

## Worth the drive from DC

- **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. Drive: About 45 min drive from downtown DC. 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

## Light displays that come back every year

- [DowntownDC Holiday Market](https://littlesweekly.com/washington-dc/events/downtowndc-holiday-market-f-st-nw-between/): next dates Nov 13 – Dec 23, 2026
- [Bull Run Festival of Lights](https://littlesweekly.com/washington-dc/events/bull-run-festival-of-lights-regional-park/): next dates Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
- [Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens](https://littlesweekly.com/washington-dc/events/garden-of-lights-at-brookside-gardens/): next dates Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
- [ZooLights at the National Zoo](https://littlesweekly.com/washington-dc/events/zoolights-at-the-national-zoo-smithsonians/): next dates Nov 20, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027
- [National Christmas Tree Lighting](https://littlesweekly.com/washington-dc/events/national-christmas-tree-lighting-ellipse/): next dates Dec 3, 2026

## Christmas trains near Washington, DC

- [Christmas train rides near Washington, DC](https://littlesweekly.com/washington-dc/christmas-trains/index.md): Holiday lights trains, Polar Express rides and more, 7 with 2026 dates, ages, prices and booking notes.

## More holiday outings in Washington, DC

- [The Nutcracker with kids in Washington, DC](https://littlesweekly.com/washington-dc/nutcracker/index.md): 4 shows with 2026 dates, run times, ages and sensory-friendly performances.
- [Christmas markets in Washington, DC](https://littlesweekly.com/washington-dc/christmas-markets/index.md): 4 markets and winter wonderlands with 2026 dates, hours and stroller notes.

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### Are there free Christmas lights in Washington, DC?
Yes. National Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Boat Parade & Party at The Wharf are free in 2026.

### What’s the cheapest Christmas light show in Washington, DC?
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.

### Drive-thru or walk-through: which is better with little kids?
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.

### What time do the Christmas lights start in Washington, DC? We have an early bedtime.
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.

### Which light shows are best for kids under 3?
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.

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