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.

December 11: Tudor Lights: Christmas at Tudor Place – Tudor Place —

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.