Events and Activities for Kids in DC in November

Winter Lantern Festival (at Tysons Corner)
Tysons, VA - Thursdays - Sundays, October 31, 2024 - January 12, 2025
The Winter Lantern Festival is back this holiday season, with a display of electrifying lights made from more than 1,000 handmade Chinese lanterns. Guests will enter and wander through a wonderland of light and color inspired by Chinese myths, legends, and zodiacs. Attractions will include a bounce house, sugar paintings, dino ride, interactive light swings, see-saws, tunnels, and many majestic creatures. Visit the website here.

Meadowlark's Winter Walk of Lights
Vienna, VA - Daily, November 8, 2024 - January 5, 2025
Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights is an elegant garden trail decorated with thousands of sparkling lights. The half-mile walk through the enchanting Meadowlark Botanical Gardens features lighted nature themes and animated displays along a paved wheelchair- and stroller-accessible trail. Stay warm by sipping on a hot beverage (with or without spirits) while walking, and enjoy s’mores to finish out the evening. Visit the website here.

National Harbor Holiday Tree Light Show
National Harbor, MD - Saturdays, November 9 - December 28, 2024
Free
Each night, families can enjoy a beautiful light show as a 60-foot Christmas tree at National Harbor lights up. On Saturdays at 5:30pm, the show is followed by fireworks. Visit the website here.

Ice! featuring A Charlie Brown Christmas (at Gaylord National Harbor)
National Harbor, MD - Daily, November 15 - December 28, 2024
Visitors can experience the beloved holiday ICE! featuring "A Charlie Brown Christmas", a dazzling, immersive, story-driven holiday showplace complete with larger-than-life ice sculptures, thrilling frozen slides, and awe-inspiring tunnels. Visit the website here.

Bull Run Festival of Lights
Centreville, VA - Daily, November 15, 2024 - January 5, 2025
Experience the magic of the holidays at the Bull Run Festival of Lights, Northern Virginia’s largest drive-through holiday light experience! A family favorite for three decades, the Bull Run Festival of Lights dazzles with a 2.5-mile display of holiday and fairytale vignettes. Visit the website here.

Ice & Lights: The Winter Village at Cameron Run
Alexandria, VA - Daily, November 15, 2024 - January 5, 2025
(except November 18-21, 25-28)
Ice & Lights offers a fun, outdoor family experience to see unique holiday lights, take family pictures or selfies with a variety of displays, and take a spin on the outdoor ice rink. The Village opens on November 15, 2024, and ice skating begins on November 29. Visit the website here.

Cirque Kalabanté: Afrique en Cirque (at Hylton Performing Arts Center)
Manassas, VA - Saturday & Sunday, November 16 & 17, 2024
Cirque Kalabanté invites the whole family to Afrique en Cirque, a unique fusion of African arts and European circus traditions that makes for a multi-sensory extravaganza like no other. With colorful costumes and scenery, daring acrobats and dancers perform gravity-defying feats accompanied by the pulsating rhythms of a live Afro jazz ensemble. Visit the website here.

Disney in Concert: A Dream is a Wish (at Capital One Hall)
Tysons, VA - Sunday, November 17, 2024
Disney in Concert: A Dream is a Wish transports audiences into the musical world of classic and contemporary Disney Animated Feature films to discover that dreams really do come true. The stories of The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, Aladdin, and more are told through the talents of some of the region's most brilliant young artists, with sweeping symphonic scores performed by YAA's own brilliant orchestra, singers, and dancers, plus original Disney film footage. Visit the website here.

Ford's Theatre A Christmas Carol
Washington, DC - Tuesdays - Sundays, November 21 - December 31, 2024
(also on December 23; not on December 24 & 25)
Experience a reinterpretation of Charles Dickens' classic Christmas story in historic Ford's Theatre. This version of Ebenezer Scrooge's story is a music-infused production, capturing the magic and joy of this Yuletide classic. Visit the website here.

Finn at The Kennedy Center
Washington, DC - Fridays - Sundays, November 22 - December 22, 2024
From the creator of Doc McStuffins and Vampirina, Finn is filled with quirky sea creature characters and catchy tunes. Hilarious and heartwarming, this world-premiere musical chronicles the coming-of-age journey of a young shark following his dreams. Visit the website here.

ZooLights at the National Zoo
Washington, DC - Thursdays - Sundays, November 22, 2024 - January 4, 2025
(also on December 23 & 30; not on November 18, December 5 & 12, January 2)
This annual festive event features a variety of attractions including light shows, musical performances, inflatable slides, a train ride, and an outdoor market. ZooLights does not feature animals, and all indoor exhibits are closed. Attractions may not be open when temperatures are 35 degrees or below. Visit the website here.

Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens
Wheaton, MD - Daily, November 22, 2024 - January 5, 2025
(except on November 25-28, December 24 & 25, January 1)
Brookside Gardens transforms into a dazzling winter wonderland with over one million colorful lights. The display includes original works depicting animals, flowers, and other natural elements, as well as computerized light displays complete with music and fog. Visit the website here.

Winter City Lights (in Olney, MD)
Olney, MD - Fridays - Sundays, November 23 - December 29, 2024
(also on December 12, 18, 19, & 23-26)
The largest light show in the DC and Baltimore areas, Winter City Lights is one of the most technologically advanced Christmas light experiences in the US. It includes a 1.5-mile-long trail of Christmas lights and displays through the woods, a 52-foot-high programmable Christmas lights tree and light show, an eight-lane snow tubing ride, 14 bonfires, and more. Visit the website here.

Philadelphia Ballet: George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® (at The Kennedy Center)
Washington, DC - Wednesday - Sunday, November 27 - December 1, 2024
Full of warmth and holiday cheer, George Balanchine’s beloved classic The Nutcracker returns in a whimsical production from Philadelphia Ballet (formerly Pennsylvania Ballet). Marvel at the magic of swirling snowflakes, dancing candy canes, and enchanted toys. Visit the website here.

Reston Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting
Reston, VA - Friday, November 29, 2024
Free
The Reston Holiday Parade marches down Market Street in Reston Town Center. Featuring balloons, marching bands, antique cars, and more, the half-mile parade ends with the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus via horse-drawn carriage. Following the parade, kids can meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus at the annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Fountain Square at 6pm. Visit the website here.

NSO Pops: Elf™ in Concert (at The Kennedy Center)
Washington, DC - Friday - Sunday, November 29 - December 1, 2024
Buddy was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa’s elves. Unable to shake the feeling that he doesn’t fit in, the adult Buddy travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father. This holiday season relive this heartwarming holiday classic on a giant screen as every note of John Debney’s wonderful score is played live to picture in: Elf™ in Concert! Visit the website here.

Gaithersburg Winter Lights Festival
Gaithersburg, MD - Daily, November 29 - December 31, 2024
(except on December 25)
The popular drive-thru winter lights display at Seneca Creek State Park includes more than 450 illuminated displays and beautiful lighted trees. Visit the website here.

The Nutcracker (at The Puppet Co. Playhouse)
Glen Echo, MD - Thursdays - Sundays, November 29 - December 29, 2024
The Puppet Co. at Glen Echo Park presents its 36th annual performance of The Nutcracker, featuring the familiar story of Clara and the nutcracker prince with some nursery rhyme spin. Visit the website here.

The Polar Express at the B&O Railroad Museum
Baltimore, MD - Fridays - Sundays, November 29 - December 22, 2024
(also on December 12, 18, & 19)
Come in your pajamas to watch a live performance of The Polar Express. Once on the train, the classic hot chocolate song and dance is performed and everyone meets Santa and receives the First Gift of Christmas, a silver sleigh bell. At the North Pole, enjoy crafts at Santa’s village, shop for fun goodies, and have your picture taken with Santa. Visit the website here.

Sesame Street Live! Say Hello at Capital One Hall
Tysons, VA - Saturday, November 30, 2024
Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster, and their friends from Sesame Street are coming to your neighborhood to say hello! At Sesame Street Live! Say Hello, sing, dance, and play alongside favorite furry friends, all while following Elmo’s puppy, Tango, in a fun game of hide-and-seek. Put on some dancing shoes and head to where the air is sweet for this all-new celebration on Sesame Street. Visit the website here.

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