Dec3Thu
National Christmas Tree Lighting
The Ellipse, President’s Park · 15th St. and Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20004
- When
- Thursday, Dec 3
- Time
- Evening
- Price
- Free tickets by lottery (enter Oct 28 – Nov 4)
December 2026Washington, DC · The District
December in Washington, DC with little kids.
16 things to do with kids up to age 6 in and around Washington, DC in December 2026, sorted by week. Each listing links to its own page and to the organizer’s page, and we add more as new dates are posted.
5 listings
Dec 1 to Dec 6
Dec5Sat
Alexandria Scottish Walk Holiday Parade
King, Royal and Fairfax streets, Old Town · Alexandria
- When
- Saturday, Dec 5
- Time
- 10:30am–12:30pm
- Price
- Free
Dec5Sat
Holiday Boat Parade & Party at The Wharf
The Wharf · 760 Maine Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20024
- When
- Saturday, Dec 5
- Time
- Evening; fireworks around 8pm
- Price
- Free
Dec5Sat
Santa at the Holiday Boat Parade
The Grove at The Wharf · 760 Maine Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20024
- When
- Saturday, Dec 5
- Time
- Evening; fireworks around 8pm
- Price
- Free
Dec6Sun
Breakfast with Santa at the Willard
Willard InterContinental · 1401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20004
- When
- Sunday, Dec 6
- Time
- 10am or 1pm
- Price
- See the event page
1 listing
Dec 14 to Dec 20
Dec19Sat
Breakfast with Santa at Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe Washington, DC · 999 E St. NW, Washington, DC 20004
- When
- Saturday, Dec 19
- Time
- 11am–1pm
- Price
- Adults $65.30, kids 3 and up $44.70, under 2 free
5 listings
Dec 28 to Dec 31
Dec31Thu
Noon Year's Eve at Gaithersburg Library
Gaithersburg Library · Gaithersburg, MD
- When
- Thursday, Dec 31
- Time
- 11:30am–12:30pm
- Price
- Free
Dec31Thu
Noon Year’s Eve at the Fairfax Museum
Fairfax Museum and Visitor Center · 10209 Main St., Fairfax, VA 22030
- When
- Thursday, Dec 31
- Time
- 11am–noon
- Price
- Free; registration required
Dec31Thu
Noon Year’s Eve Celebration at Arlington Central Library
Arlington Public Library – Central Library (Barbara M. Donnellan Auditorium) · Arlington, VA
- When
- Thursday, Dec 31
- Time
- 11:15am–12:15pm
- Price
- Free
Dec31Thu
Noon Year’s Eve Celebration at Aurora Hills Library
Arlington Public Library – Aurora Hills · Arlington, VA
- When
- Thursday, Dec 31
- Time
- 11am–noon
- Price
- Free
Dec31Thu
Noon Year’s Eve Celebration at White Oak Library
Montgomery County Public Libraries – White Oak · Silver Spring, MD
- When
- Thursday, Dec 31
- Time
- 11am–noon
- Price
- Free
5 listings
Open for weeks at a time
Light displays, exhibits and other runs that last longer than a week. Check each page for the nights or days they’re closed.
Dec1to 24
Santa at Tysons Corner Center
Tysons Corner Center, Level 1 near Wasabi · 1961 Chain Bridge Road, Tysons, VA 22102
- When
- Nov 6 to Dec 24
- Time
- Mon–Fri 11am–7pm to start; see the schedule
- Price
- Free visit; photo packages for sale
Dec1to 23
DowntownDC Holiday Market
F St. NW between 7th and 9th Streets · F St. NW and 8th St. NW, Washington, DC 20004
- When
- Nov 13 to Dec 23
- Time
- Daily; hours vary by day
- Price
- No admission
Dec1to 31
Bull Run Festival of Lights
Bull Run Regional Park · 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville, VA 20121
- When
- Nov 14 to Jan 3
- Time
- From 5:30pm nightly
- Price
- $30–$45 per vehicle online, by date
Dec1to 31
Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens
Brookside Gardens · 1800 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton, MD 20902
- When
- Nov 20 to Jan 3
- Time
- Timed entry from 5pm
- Price
- Sun–Thu $13.99, Fri–Sat $16.99; 4 and under free
Dec1to 31
ZooLights at the National Zoo
Smithsonian’s National Zoo · 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
- When
- Nov 20 to Jan 3
- Time
- Mon–Sat 5–9pm, Sun 5–8pm
- Price
- $10 per person; parking $30 in advance
Guides
More December guides for DC
Christmas lights in DCKeep planning
More for little kids in DC
November: 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 charge
Indoor 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
Christmas break in DCWhat’s open on Dec 24, Dec 25 and Jan 1
This week in DCDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday
Good questions
December in DC: the FAQ
16 dated listings so far, including National Christmas Tree Lighting (Dec 3), Alexandria Scottish Walk Holiday Parade (Dec 5), Holiday Boat Parade & Party at The Wharf (Dec 5) and Santa at the Holiday Boat Parade (Dec 5). The rest are below, by week. We add more as organizers post their dates.
National Christmas Tree Lighting (Dec 3), Alexandria Scottish Walk Holiday Parade (Dec 5), Holiday Boat Parade & Party at The Wharf (Dec 5), Santa at the Holiday Boat Parade (Dec 5) and Noon Year's Eve at Gaithersburg Library (Dec 31), plus 5 more marked Free below. For free days and places that never charge, see free things to do in DC.
10 start this December: National Christmas Tree Lighting (Dec 3), Holiday Boat Parade & Party at The Wharf (Dec 5), Santa at the Holiday Boat Parade (Dec 5), Breakfast with Santa at the Willard (Dec 6) and Breakfast with Santa at Hard Rock Cafe (Dec 19), plus 5 more below.
Yes, at the same address. After Dec 31, 2026 it switches to December 2027, starting with the events that come back every year.
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 30, 2026, and we recheck them every Monday and Thursday. How we choose and check.
The checked list, every Thursday.
One short email every Thursday evening with the best things to do with little ones in DC that weekend.
