With the weather getting colder and festive cheer in the air, there’s an influx of new and enjoyable activities to do outside this holiday season. Staying inside in a warm and cozy bed is fun, but there’s a multitude of fun activities and events that will be missed out on by doing that. Here is a list of activities and events that you can do in the DMV for this holiday season.
Downtown DC Holiday Market – Washington DC
Want a practical thing to do with friends and family? Go to Downtown DC and visit its Holiday Market located on F Street NW (between 7th and 9th Street NW). Visit about 119 different vendors within the area that sell a myriad of different things from apparel & accessories to imported handcrafts. Once you’re done shopping, there’s still a lot of things to do around the market. From food and museums to entertainment and theaters, you’d be here for hours exploring downtown DC. The market is open from November 21st – December 23rd and the hours vary depending on the day. From Monday – Thursday the market is open from 12 PM – 8 PM, from Friday – Saturday the market is open from 11 AM – 9 PM, and on Sunday the market is open from 11 AM – 8 PM.
Festival of Lights – Upper Marlboro, MD
Are you a fan of Christmas light shows for their creativity or their beauty? Well check out the Festival of Lights at Watkins Regional Park from November 28th to January 1st during the hours of 5 PM – 9 PM. Located on 301 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro, the Festival of Lights is a drive-thru light show that showcases the creativity of Upper Marlboro. The cost of 1 car/van that fits up to 6 passengers is $20. Prices for other types of vehicles like buses and limousines are $75. They also offer a Hayride that’s available from Thursday – Saturday with the time slots being 6 PM, 7 PM, 8 PM, and 9 PM. The price for the Hayride is $10 per person for up to 5 people. More information about registration and reservations is located on the website.
The Washington Ballet presents The Nutcracker – Washington DC
Do you have money to spend and enjoy theatre and dance? Would you like a chance to see a Christmas classic in person? Feel free to visit the well-renowned performance The Nutcracker from The Washington Ballet. With the choreography by Septime Webre and the music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, this performance is something that everyone should be able to experience at least once. This classic ballet performance runs from November 29th – December 28th at the Warner Theater, located on 513 13th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004. This gorgeous production runs for about 2 hours. Tickets can be purchased online with prices ranging from $49 – $180. If you’re interested in getting a chance to view this show, it’d be best to go with family and friends so the costs won’t be a large burden.
Sparkle Mart Juried Art and Craft Fair – Greenbelt, MD
All of the other options are fairly far from here. Would you like something that’s more local? Visit Greenbelt Recreation’s Winter Lights Festival: Sparkle Mart Juried Art and Craft Fair. Compared to all the other events, this festival only runs from December 6th – 7th with the hours being from 10 AM – 5 PM and 10 AM – 4 PM respectively. Located in Greenbelt Community Center on 15 Crescent Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770, the Sparkle Mart Juried Art and Craft Fair features different youth and adult vendors who are all fine artists and artisans with the intention to show their art to multiple different audiences. Visiting the art fair is free but don’t be afraid to bring cash if you’d like to support your local artists in the Greenbelt area.
Ice Skating at National Landing – Arlington, VA
Want something to do all throughout the season? Visit WestPost Outdoor Ice Skating Rink at National Landing. This ice skating rink located at 1201 S. Joyce Street, Arlington, VA 22202 is a highly-praised ice skating venue in the DMV with friendly staff, great service, and good prices. Despite its distance, it’s still worth going to for the view and the stores around the area. The hours for this rink vary depending on the day; on Sunday & Monday the hours are 10 AM – 10 PM, from Tuesday – Thursday the hours are 12 PM – 10 PM, on Friday the hours are 12 PM – 11 PM, and on Saturday the hours are 10 AM – 11 PM.
You can reserve a time to skate here up to 2 weeks in advance. Reservations get a discount compared to walk-ups and admission tickets are only valid for up to 2 hours. It is recommended that you arrive within 10 minutes of your reservation. When it comes to reservations, for 13 year olds and above, the price is $12, for 12 year olds and under, the price is $11. The price for seniors is $11 and skate rentals are $6. When it comes to walk-ups, for 13 year olds and above, the price is $13, for 12 year olds and under, the price is $12. The price for seniors and skate rentals stays the same.
There’s tons of activities to do in the DMV during the season, so much so that they all couldn’t be listed here. From the Smithsonian Zoo Lights to the Bowie Ice Arena and even snowboarding opportunities, this list doesn’t hold a candlelight to the sheer amount of events that are in the DMV area. It is encouraged to look up different activities to do in your area and find out which ones fit your schedule and budget. Do not miss your chance to properly experience the area that you live in!