As holiday celebrations are poised to begin, Washington, D.C., is stringing up dazzling holiday light displays all around the city.
So put on a scarf and hat, grab a warm beverage, and bask in the cheerful spirit of the holiday season with these stunning displays!
1. Washington, D.C. Temple Festival of Lights
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Washington, D.C., Temple will return with its iconic holiday light festival, aptly called Festival of Lights, from December 4th through January 1, featuring 500,000 twinkling lights!
2. Winter Lantern Festival
The Winter Lantern Festival is back in D.C. again this holiday season in Tysons, VA, taking inspiration from traditional Chinese Lantern fests and creating an incredibly unique and beautiful immersive light show experience that’s fun for the whole family!
It reopened on November 22nd and will remain open on the weekends until January 20th, 2026.
3. ZooLights at the National Zoo
ZooLights is back at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo!
The purchase of a $9 general entry pass allows you to peruse the zoo’s beautiful light displays, shop, and take in live performances and tasty treats after dark on select nights between Nov. 21st and Jan. 3rd.
For a full list of dates and to reserve an entry pass, please visit the zoo’s website.
4. The Holiday Boat Parade & Party at The Wharf
Get in the spirit of the holiday season with this stunning light display on the water that is free to attend! The Wharf is hosting its 33rd annual District Holiday Boat Parade on Dec. 6th, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The free event features dozens of boats, decked to the bow with holiday lights, setting sail down the Washington Channel.
You can watch the boats and then head to The Wharf to roast s’mores, get pictures with Santa, have a cocktail (if you’re 21 or older!), and even skate at the ice rink!
5. Fairfax Ave. Lights Circuit
In Northern Virginia, about 25 minutes away from DC, is a neighborhood known for its extravagant Christmas light route that will take you across Fairfax County (with some residences in other areas of NoVa).
A DC local, Holly, runs a website that goes into detail about all of the best houses, different routes to follow, and addresses.
Known as “Tacky Lights,” as a term of endearment, the light displays are categorized, ranked, and dated to ensure ease.
Create your own route or choose a pre-made one along the beltway for thousands of dazzling lights, animatronics, and themed displays.
Where: Residences throughout Northern Virginia
6. Frosted at Franklin Park
From November 21st to January 7th, enjoy a decked-out holiday light installation at Franklin Park every day from 4:30 pm to 7 am!
The enchanting display will light up Franklin Park for another year in a row with glittering photo opportunities, an icicle walkway, giant ornaments, and hundreds of dazzling lights.
Best of all, it’s free!Where: Franklin Park
7. Lighting ceremony of The National Menorah
The Festival of Lights will dazzle in the District with the lighting of the world’s largest menorah.
Head on over to the White House Ellipse on Sunday, Dec. 14th, to admire the giant, 30-foot menorah and celebrate the start of Hanukkah.
As is tradition, a new candle will be lit on each of the eight days of Hanukkah, so make sure to stop by!
8. Light Yards at The Yards Park
Open every night from November 25th to January 2nd, the Light Yards at The Yards Park will be an interactive holiday lights display that lets you hop on a special seat that activates animated light displays and fills the air with the sounds of holiday bell chimes!
9. Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights
Alexandria’s Holiday Boat Parade of Lights is hosting its 25th celebration this year as part of the town’s biggest holiday weekend.
The parade will take place at the Old Town Alexandria Waterfront and start at around 5:30 pm, but dockside festivities will be hosted earlier in the day from 2 to 8 pm, which means you have a good baked-in excuse to show up early and ensure you have a good spot to view the parade.
10. Georgetown Jingle
Taking place for just one night only, this December 6th, you can participate in the Georgetown Jingle event that will take you all around Georgetown, featuring live music, incredible holiday discounts, and, of course, dozens of local businesses decorated with sparkling displays of holiday lights!
The event will be taking place from 1 pm to 4 pm on the 6th of December, and is completely free to participate in.
11. Attending the annual lighting ceremony of the National Christmas Tree
The annual National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is taking place on Thursday, Dec. 4th, on the Ellipse in President’s Park.
Just one week after Thanksgiving, the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will help Washingtonians and visitors alike kick off the holiday season.
12. CityCenterDC
The holiday season is descending upon the District—and CityCenterDC is helping kick it off with its 12th annual Holiday Tree Lighting on Saturday, Nov. 29th!
Days after Thanksgiving, as Washingtonians begin to swap out their autumn ornamentation for winter decorations, CityCenterDC will be helping the transition as it alights its 75-foot tree, complete with more than 150,000 lights and 4,500 ornaments.
It will stop you in your tracks!
13. Holidays at the Harbor—National Harbor
National Harbor kicked off the holiday spirit on Nov. 8th, lighting its Christmas tree to kick off its Holidays at the Harbor series.
It was the inaugural lighting for National Harbor’s 60-ft. RGB tree, which now will illuminate the evening skies each night—every 30 minutes from sunset to 9 p.m.—alongside the sounds of a “holiday medley performed by the United States Air Force Band.”
But the holiday festivities don’t stop there.
Holidays at the Harbor also features several festive activities suitable for all ages: Festive Fireworks every Saturday night through Dec. 27th, the winter wonderland of ICE! at Gaylord National, holiday shopping at the Tanger Outlets, and more!
14. DC Holiday Hunt
While not a holiday market set in one location, this interactive “scavenger hunt” will take you all around the District to explore participating neighborhoods around the District and complete tasks in the ‘DC Holiday Lights Scavenger Hunt’!
Entrants in the ‘hunt’ can win great prizes leading up to the holidays from local businesses participating in the event!
15. DC Holiday Market at Dupont Circle
Taking place from November 14th to December 23rd, one of the most popular holiday markets in the District is back again, this year taking place just north of Dupont Circle Park on New Hampshire Ave, NW!
The market features dozens of small businesses, local artisans, and more, perfect for one-stop shopping for small holiday gifts that might mean the world to someone!
During the week, the market is open from 12 to 8 pm, and on weekends, it’s open from 11 to 8 pm.
16. Downtown Holiday Market
D.C.’s stunning seasonal outdoor market is returning from Friday, Nov. 21, until Tuesday, Dec. 23!
The outdoor market sprawls across two city blocks— F Street NW, from 7th to 9th Streets NW—the Downtown Holiday Market allows Washingtonians to check out several local small businesses while checking off a few things from their holiday shopping list!
Don’t have anything specific in mind to buy? No problem! The hot drinks and fresh food vendors at the market make it perfect for an outdoor walk, whether for a unique plan with friends or a romantic outdoor date!
- Where: F Street NW, from 7th to 9th Streets NW
- When: Daily (Nov. 21- Dec. 23) from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm