Experience the season’s most enchanting light displays and holiday attractions with family and friends this year. We’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite bright lights to help you choose:
Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights
Northern Virginia’s botanical escape gets all glammed-up for the holidays with twinkling decor and lighted trees. Take an evening walk along the garden’s half-mile-plus trail to spot a light show of butterflies, birds, flowers, and other nature-themed sparkles. After your stroll, stop into the gazebo for stunning views reflected on the lake, or cozy up with roasted s’mores and hot cocoa near the fire ($19+).
Bull Run Festival of Lights
Stay warm in your vehicle as you drive past two-and-a-half miles of imaginative vignettes, LED archways, prancing animals, and lots more sparkles. At the end of the drive you can explore additional bright lights on foot through the Holiday Village and Carnival. Families can see live camels and ride carnival attractions ($30+).
Ice and Lights Winter Village
Tis’ the season for ice-skating at Cameron Run Regional Park. The frosty Winter Village bursts with vibrant wreaths and giant stars on select nights through December 30. You can glide on the outdoor ice rink through February 28; there’s hot chocolate and donut holes for purchase, too ($9+).
Wonder Journey
Have a holly jolly time touring glowing animal displays and lit up fairytale worlds at the family-friendly Lumino City experience this holiday season ( $30+ for adults, $23+ for ages 4 to 12, Gaithersburg).
Winter Lantern Festival
Take a nighttime stroll through hundreds of Chinese lanterns, and catch live acrobatics outdoors at the Winter Lantern Festival in Tysons ($26 for adults, $19 for ages 4 to 12, free for toddlers ages 3 and under).
ZooLights
The National Zoo has reopened just in time for its annual holiday light show, ZooLights. Lantern displays of sea and land animals include giant pandas, birds, ocean creatures, and more. Also, guests can watch nightly live musical performances and sip hot cocoa to keep warm ($9).
“Season’s Greenings”
The US Botanic Garden’s floral holiday exhibition gets a dino upgrade this year. Visitors can see plant-created DC landmarks and monuments, while model trains chug through the holiday display in the gated outdoor gardens—which this year will also feature Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, Velociraptor, and other dinosaur-themed botanical creations. There are festive lights woven throughout the garden exhibit, and live holiday music on select nights (free, closed December 25).
Winter Lights Festival
Seneca Creek State Park’s 3.5-mile loop marks its 30th anniversary with glimmering themes such as Toyland, Winter Woods, and the Enchanted Forest. Cars can ride past more than 450 illuminated displays and sparkling trees ($15+, closed on Christmas).
Winter Wonderfest at Nationals Park
Nationals Park transforms into a wintry playground this season, illuminated with LED seesaws, glowing curling lanes, and a Northern Lights-inspired pop-up. Inside the new frosted ballpark experience there’s a six-lane snow-tubing hill, train rides, a sculpture garden displaying local artworks, and a hidden speakeasy where adults can warm up with cocktails ($29.50).
Mount Vernon
November 28–29, December 12-13, 19, 22-23
location_on 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon
language Website
George Washington’s Mount Vernon is a favorite historic destination during the holidays. Guests can see eye-catching illuminations, meet Aladdin the camel, and take a candlelight tour. Leading up to Christmas, there’s a two-day fireworks event happening at the 18th-century landmark December 20-21 ($41 for adults, $33 for ages 6-11, free for ages 5 and under, Christmas Illuminations: $58 for adults, $36 for ages 6-11, free for ages 5 and under).
Wharf Holiday Boat Parade & Party
Every December, The Wharf sets the sky and Washington Channel aglow with festive fireworks, and a shimmering fleet of more than 60 decked-out boats. In addition to the must-see parade, visitors get to meet Santa, craft ornaments, snap photos of a holiday tree built with Jack Daniel’s barrels, drink hot toddies, and sing along to carols at karaoke (free).
Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights
Alexandria’s waterfront parade on the Potomac River features vivid sailboats and powerboats brighten up the night. There’s more merriment over at Waterfront Park, where neighbors can make crafts and drink brews from the Port City Brewing Company pop-up beer garden (free).
Briana A. Thomas is a local journalist, historian, and tour guide who specializes in the research of D.C. history and culture. She is the author of the Black history book, Black Broadway in Washington, D.C., a story that was first published in Washingtonian in 2016.
