Jennifer Swope

Latest posts by Jennifer Swope

Christmas Weekend 2022 in DC: Christmas Lights, Waterskiing Santa, Holiday Shows, and More Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Wed, 12/21/2022 - 10:00am

The DC Winter Lantern Festival features over 1,000 Chinese lanterns. Photo courtesy of the festival

Looking for the best things to do in DC this Christmas weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this holiday weekend.

Santa Claus is coming to town this weekend! Assuming you have some free time, the Washington, DC area is brimming with things to do this Christmas weekend. Enjoy several fantastic light shows, including Watkins Regional Park Festival of Lights and Bull Run Festival of Lights. Children can delight in eating breakfast with Santa on Christmas Eve at Theismann's Restaurant, Ada's on the River, or Mia's Italian Kitchen. And be sure to watch Santa on waterskis in Old Town Alexandria on Christmas Eve!

It's also the last weekend of Hanukkah. The Lighting of the Menorah at the Wharf will continue until the eighth day, and Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins continues its run at Glen Echo.

Don’t miss our lists of what is open on Christmas Day near DC, the best things to do in DC over the holiday break, and holiday lights drive-thrus and Christmas light shows near DC.

Whatever you do, happy holidays from your friends at Mommy Poppins!

Holiday Break in DC: Things to Do Between Christmas and New Year's Eve

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sun, 12/18/2022 - 10:31am

See Beauty and the Beast live on stage at Olney Theatre. Photo by Teresa Castracane, courtesy of the theatre

The holiday break can be a long stretch of time to keep children entertained. If you're in the DC area between Christmas and New Year's Day, we have ideas for your family to have a great time outside the house during Christmas break.

Several area museums have exhibits closing at the beginning of 2023. Don't miss Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience at National Geographic Headquarters, Emotions at Play with Pixar's Inside Out at the National Children's Museum, and ARTECHOUSE's Spectacular Factory: The Holiday Multiverse.

Want to wow your children? Visit the DC Winter Lantern Festival, where they can wander around 1,000 Chinese lanterns. We also have lists of the best outdoor ice skating rinks near DC, the best holiday lights drive-thrus and Christmas light shows in DC, The Nutcracker ballet and other holiday shows, and DC New Year's Eve celebrations for kids.

Check our other cities if you’re traveling for holiday break. We’ve got whole sites dedicated to the best things to do with kids in most major US cities, and if we’re not there, we’ve got calendars of things to do. Heck, even if you’re traveling abroad, we’ve got you covered!

Free Holiday and Christmas Events in DC for Kids and Families

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sun, 12/04/2022 - 11:20am

Be dazzled by the Shine Light Show at Gaylord National Resort. Photo courtesy of the resort

The holiday season can be an expensive time of year. Luckily, the DC area is full of free holiday activities and Christmas events to get families into the festive spirit. These free holiday events and Christmas activities include tree and menorah lightings such as the National Harbor Tree Light Show and the National Menorah Lighting, Christmas markets like the Downtown Holiday Market, dazzling Christmas light displays such as ZooLights at the National Zoo, and so much more.

Read on for the ultimate list of free holiday and Christmas events in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia in 2022. For more ideas for seasonal fun, check out our Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for DC Kids, which includes our list of the best holiday and Christmas activities and events near DC. Happy holidays!

Best of December: Christmas Lights, Holiday Events, First Night Alexandria, and More Fun Things To Do in DC with Kids

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Fri, 12/02/2022 - 9:01am

Kids can delight in a holiday train show. Photo courtesy of the College Park Aviation Museum and the Field of Firsts Foundation

The are so many festive things to do in DC with kids this December, from Christmas light shows and holiday parades to menorah lightings and New Year's Eve events. Here are our favorite kid-friendly events and activities near DC this month.

Don't miss seeing Santa while he visits the DC area. He'll fly into the College Park Airport early in the month, then waterski around the Alexandria waterfront on Christmas Eve. You can also find him riding the rails on one of these Christmas and Polar Express trains.

Throughout the month, learn to construct and decorate a gingerbread house, kick off your Hanukkah celebration at the National Menorah Lighting, or ring in 2023 at Noon Yards Eve or First Night Alexandria. If you need a break from holiday activities, catch Disney's Beauty and the Beast or Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed live on stage, or check out Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experiencebefore it leaves town in early February.

Find more top December fun in our lists of the best outdoor ice skating rinks near DC, places to have breakfast with Santa near DC, and the best holiday activities and Christmas events near DC in 2022.

We’re adding more events to our family activity calendar every day, so don’t forget to check it frequently.

Get our picks for every weekend in your inbox—sign up for our newsletters.

Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows in DC: Where to See Dazzling Christmas Lights

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sun, 11/27/2022 - 8:41am

The District's Holiday Boat Parade lights up the Potomac River. Photo courtesy of The Wharf DC

When you've gotta glow, DC is merry, bright, and lit up like—well—a Christmas tree. In fact, there are so many dazzling Christmas light shows, holiday lights drive-thrus, and other Christmas lights displays in the DC area in 2022 that your only problem will be fitting them all in!

There are Christmas light displays that you can walk through, such as Georgetown GLOW and Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens. There are holiday lights drive-thrus like the Gaithersburg Winter Lights Festival and the Bull Run Festival of Lights. And there are tree and menorah lightings, boat parades, and other Christmas lights displays throughout the area. Plus, don't miss the return of the popular ZooLights at the National Zoo.

While you're in a festive mood, check out our list of the best holiday activities and Christmas events near DC this year, and keep an eye on our Washington, DC event calendar for up-to-the-minute access to all the great events happening for DC families.

Pictures with Santa Claus Near DC: Where to Take Santa Photos

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Fri, 11/25/2022 - 11:12am

Take a free picture with Santa at the District's Holiday Boat Parade. Photo courtesy of The Wharf DC

The holiday season is full of festive photo ops, including the most important photos of all—pictures with Santa. There are so many places for families to meet Santa Claus and take Santa photos throughout the DC area. You can take pictures with Santa at the mall, visit him at fun events, and even see him fly into the College Park Airport and Aviation Museum. Most visits with Santa are free with the option to purchase photo packages, but there are even some places where you can get free pictures with Santa. Don't forget to secure a reservation ahead of time at most of these places—Santa is very busy this time of year.

Read on for our list of places to take Santa pictures near DC. Then check out our Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for DC Kids, which includes our roundups of the best holiday and Christmas activities and events in DC, Christmas and Polar Express trains near DC, and more. Happy holidays!

Thanksgiving Weekend in DC: ZooLights, Bluey's Big Play, and More Fun Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Tue, 11/22/2022 - 12:32pm

Bluey fans will delight in seeing Bluey’s Big Play. Photo by Darren Thomas

Looking for the best things to do in DC this Thanksgiving weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

We can't believe Thanksgiving weekend is already here! This year we are grateful for meaningful time together with family, and there are loads of holiday events kicking off around DC to help you create magical memories. Enjoy dazzling Christmas lights shows like ZooLights at the National Zoo and the Festival of Lights at Watkins Regional Park. Take in a festive holiday parade in Reston. Or check out the popular (and free) holiday display at the US Botanic Garden.

If you're not quite ready for Christmas—or simply need a break from all the holiday madness—check out Disney's Frozen in Concert or Bluey's Big Play. However your family celebrates, we hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend together!

Don’t miss our lists of family-friendly holiday volunteering opportunities near DC, the best holiday and Christmas events near DC for kids and families in 2022, and the best things to do in Washington, DC in November with kids.

The Nutcracker Ballet and Other Holiday Shows for Kids Near DC in 2022

Submitted by Jennifer Swope on Sun, 11/20/2022 - 10:24am

See The Nutcracker performed by the Kansas City Ballet. Photo courtesy of the Kennedy Center

Seeing The Nutcracker ballet is one of the most classic holiday experiences for families, and no two productions are alike. We've found over a dozen variations of The Nutcracker taking place in the DC area in 2022, from the Washington Ballet's historic twist to The Hip Hop Nutcracker to Maryland Youth Ballet's abbreviated version of the show, The Mini-Nut.

In addition to the The Nutcracker, families can take in a variety of other holiday shows, including A Christmas Carol at Ford's Theatre, Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins at Glen Echo Park, and contemporary shows such as Step Afrika! Magical Musical Holiday Step Show.

Read on for our list of performances of The Nutcracker ballet and other holiday shows near DC. For more holiday fun in 2022, check out our Christmas Activities and Holiday Guide for DC kids and our Family Activity Calendar.