DC Winter Calendar

With so many embassy partners, Washington, DC goes big during the Chinese New Year. The lantern display at the Kennedy Center is a can't miss, free event. — With so many embassy partners, Washington, DC goes big during the Chinese New Year. The lantern display at the Kennedy Center is a can’t miss, free event.

Bring on the holiday cheer! Winter is the time of traditions in Washington, with performances of the Nutcracker, a nightly lighting of the National Tree (with traditional music daily at 4:30p), and the bright lights of the National Menorah outside the White House. Seasonal favorites also include the Holiday Displays at the National Basilica, the Botanic Garden and Union Station, Christkindlmarkt at Heurich House, Holiday Market at the American Art Gallery, and the excellent lighting displays of Georgetown Glow and Zoo Lights (all of which happen roughly Thanksgiving through the end of December).

And First Night Alexandria is just the beginning of the New Years Celebrations, as Korean, Vietnamese and Chinese New Year celebrations extend into February throughout the many Cultural Centers of the Washington, DC region. Valentine’s Day craft events at museums and galleries round out the winter, marking a love-strewn path into our Spring Calendar.

Upcoming Events:

December 2: Holiday Wreath Workshop | Tudor Place — Craft your own beautiful historic wreath with greenery from the Tudor Place garden.

December 2: Dinosaur Park Open House — Tour the archeological site near Baltimore. The Dinosaur Park located in Laurel, Maryland is a property of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). M-NCPPC, Department...

December 3: Holiday Tea & Tour | Tudor Place — Enjoy a festive Victorian tea party with seasonal tea, sandwiches and desserts before your guided historic house tour and garden visit.

December 5: Arlington Career Fair and Networking Event — Career Fair and Networking Event

December 7: Tudor Lights: Christmas at Tudor Place | Tudor Place — See Tudor Place in all it's holiday finery before enjoying seasonal treats.

December 8: Candlelight Tour | Tudor Place — Take a candlelit tour of the Historic House and discover the stories behind the Christmas gifts in the collection.

December 9: Family Gingerbread Workshop | Tudor Place — Follow the gumdrops to Tudor Place before building your own edible gingerbread house.

December 13: Tudor Tots: What Are Your Traditions? | Tudor Place — Learn about holiday traditions and make your own present to give a loved one.

December 14: Sip N Shop: DC — An elevated shopping experience. A night of light refreshments and celebration of our newest collections.

December 31: 12TH ANNUAL NYE CASINO NIGHT - MARDI GRAS EDITION — 12TH ANNUAL NYE CASINO NIGHT - MARDI GRAS EDITION

Seasonal ideas:

With DC’s temperate climate, there are always great options indoors and out. Most people know about the skating at the National Gallery Rink, but few know about all the dozen other excellent skating rinks in and around Washington, DC. If it’s too cold to take the kids outside, find some interesting indoor spaces where they can run around. Our two favorites are the 17-acre hangar at the Udvar-Hazy Air & Space Museum, and the labyrinthine indoor streets of Eden Center.