# Christmas parades and tree lightings in Washington, DC, 2026

> We found four Christmas parades and tree lightings in and around Washington, DC with 2026 dates: two parades and two tree lightings and lighting nights, all free to watch. Each one has the date, start time, price and a link to the organizer’s page.

- Last checked: 2026-10-29
- 4 parades and tree lightings with 2026 dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/washington-dc/christmas-parades/
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- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/washington-dc/llms.txt

## Christmas parades

- **Holiday Boat Parade & Party at The Wharf** at The Wharf, Southwest Waterfront. When: Sat, Dec 5, 2026. Time: Evening; fireworks around 8pm. Price: Free. More than 60 lit boats, Santa photos in The Grove and ornament decorating. Official page: https://www.wharfdc.com/boatparade/ (checked 2026-10-28)
- **Alexandria Scottish Walk Holiday Parade** at King, Royal and Fairfax streets, Old Town, Alexandria. When: Sat, Dec 5, 2026. Time: 10:30am–12:30pm. Price: Free. Official page: https://www.alexandriava.gov/HolidayParades (checked 2026-10-29)

## Tree lightings and lighting nights

- **Alexandria Holiday Tree Lighting** at Waterfront Park, 1 Prince St., Alexandria. When: Sat, Nov 21, 2026. Time: 6–8pm. Price: Free. Official page: https://www.alexandriava.gov/Holidays (checked 2026-10-29)
- **National Christmas Tree Lighting** at The Ellipse, President’s Park, Downtown. When: Thu, Dec 3, 2026. Time: Not listed. Price: Free tickets by lottery (enter by 3pm ET Nov 4). Lottery winners are told Nov 12; up to five tickets each. Official page: https://www.nps.gov/whho/learn/news/2026-national-christmas-tree-lighting-ticket-lottery-opens-oct-28.htm (checked 2026-10-28)

## Parades and tree lightings that come back every year

- [Holiday Boat Parade & Party at The Wharf](https://littlesweekly.com/washington-dc/events/holiday-boat-parade-and-party-at-the-wharf/): next dates Dec 5, 2026

## 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

### When is the Christmas parade in Washington, DC in 2026?
Holiday Boat Parade & Party at The Wharf: Sat, Dec 5, 2026, Evening; fireworks around 8pm (Southwest Waterfront). Alexandria Scottish Walk Holiday Parade: Sat, Dec 5, 2026, 10:30am–12:30pm (Alexandria).

### When is the Christmas tree lighting in Washington, DC?
Alexandria Holiday Tree Lighting at Waterfront Park, 1 Prince St.: Sat, Nov 21, 2026, 6–8pm. National Christmas Tree Lighting at The Ellipse, President’s Park: Thu, Dec 3, 2026, Not listed.

### Are Christmas parades and tree lightings in Washington, DC free?
All of the ones we list are free to watch: Alexandria Holiday Tree Lighting, National Christmas Tree Lighting, Holiday Boat Parade & Party at The Wharf and Alexandria Scottish Walk Holiday Parade. Some charge for extras like Santa photos or rides, and each card says so.

### Which are best for little kids?
Daytime ones are easiest with toddlers: National Christmas Tree Lighting and Alexandria Scottish Walk Holiday Parade. Evening ones start after dark and are colder, so bring layers and a blanket for the stroller. Get there early for a curb spot near the start so little ones can see.

### How do you check these parades and tree lightings?
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 every week through early December. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).