December 1, 2025

Washington, DC’s Winter Wonders

by Necole Jackson

The holiday season in the District always brings an abundance of FREE holiday festivities and events. From annual tree lightings to family-friendly ZooLights, to ice skating and so much more — the city celebrates all winter long! With so much to see, many visitors come to share seasonal joys with family and friends. Avoid the traffic and take transit to visit all the different events. Transit options include Metrorail, Capital Bikeshare, Metrobus, and dockless vehicles like bikes and scooters.

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With so many events to enjoy this holiday season, we’ve highlighted some of our favorites below:

Downtown Holiday Market

The 21st annual Downtown Holiday Market returns, serving as DC’s one-stop shop and winter wonderland! This outdoor market brings a unique and festive shopping “village” to Downtown DC, featuring over 115 exhibitors plus exciting performances and tasty treats from local food vendors.

When: November 21 – December 23, 2025
Time: Monday – Thursday: 12-8pm
- Friday – Saturday: 11am-9pm
- Sunday: 11am-8pm

Where: F St NW (Between 7^th and 9^th Streets NW)
How to get there:
- Capital Bikeshare
  - 7^th& F St NW/National Portrait Gallery
  - 5^th & F St NW
  - 9^th & G St NW
  - 10^th & E St NW
- Metrobus
  - D40, D2X, D94, D32, D4X, D20, D34, D36, D24, D30, D80
- Metrorail
  - Green/Yellow/Red Line – get off at Gallery Place/Chinatown

Georgetown Jingle

Attend Georgetown’s second annual holiday music event, Georgetown Jingle, featuring 10 live music performances at 10 outdoor locations throughout Georgetown. Over 40 restaurants, shops, and more will be offering pop-ups and refreshments while listening to your favorite holiday classics.

When: December 6, 2025
Time: 1-4pm
Where: Throughout Georgetown
How to get there:
- Capital Bikeshare
  - Potomac & M St NW
  - 34^th & Water St NW
  - 28^th & M St NW
  - Wisconsin Ave & O St NW
  - Thomas Jefferson & Water/K St NW
- Metrobus
  - C85, D80, D82, A58, C91, D94, D96
- Metrorail
  - Blue/Orange/Silver Line – get off at Foggy Bottom-GWU

National Christmas Tree

An American holiday tradition since 1923, the National Christmas Tree will be celebrating over 100 years this December. This special occasion is one of the few times of year that continues to bring citizens together to share in a message of hope and peace. The National Christmas Tree will be lit every day from December 4, 2025 to January 1, 2026, at approximately 4:30pm to midnight as part of the America Celebrates display on the Ellipse at President’s Park (White House). The display will be open to the public after the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 4.

When: December 4, 2025 – January 1, 2026
Where: The Ellipse (Between 15^th and 17^th St NW & Constitution Ave)
How to get there:
- Capital Bikeshare
  - 14^th & D St NW/John A Wilson Building
  - 15^th St & Constitution Ave NW
  - 15^th St & Pennsylvania Ave NW
  - 14^th & G St NW
- Metrobus
  - D50, F19, D10, D5X, D34, D20, D80, D94, D72, A49, D60
- Metrorail
  - Blue/Orange/Silver Line – get off at Farragut West or McPherson Square

National Chanukah Menorah

As the world’s largest menorah, the National Menorah Lighting has become a premier symbol of the festival of Chanukah. The annual lighting ceremony on December 14, 2025 is open to the public and televised to reach everyone across the globe. The National Chanukah Menorah can easily be found on the Ellipse, just across from the White House. Make sure you stop by to see and celebrate the miracle of Chanukah – “The Festival of Lights.”

When: December 14, 2025
Where: The Ellipse (Between 15^th and 17^th St NW & Constitution Ave)
How to get there:
- Capital Bikeshare
  - 14^th & D St NW/John A Wilson Building
  - 15^th St & Constitution Ave NW
  - 15th St & Pennsylvania Ave NW
  - 18^th & C St NW
- Metrobus
  - D50, F19, A49, D96, D10
- Metrorail
  - Blue/Orange/Silver Line – get off at Farragut West or McPherson Square

US Capitol Christmas Tree

The Capitol Christmas Tree, or “The People’s Tree,” is a tradition dating back to 1964. Every holiday season, a different national forest is selected to provide a tree for the west lawn of the US Capitol building with this year’s tree coming from Nevada’s Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. The tree will be lit by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson on December 2, 2025.

When: December 2, 2025
Where: U.S Capitol Building, West Lawn (1^st St SW)
Time: 5pm
How to get there:
- Capital Bikeshare
  - 4^th & C St SW
  - 3^rd St & Pennsylvania Ave SE
  - 4^th St & Madison Dr NW
  - Washington & Independence Ave SW/HHS
  - Constitution Ave & 2^nd St NW/DOL
- Metrobus
  - D10, D1X, C43, C51, D24, C55
- Metrorail
  - Blue/Orange/Silver Line – get off at Capitol South or Federal Center SW

ZooLights

This annual holiday tradition is making its return! Experience the colorful glow of more than 500,000 environmentally-friendly LED lights that transform the National Zoo into a winter wonderland. You can also enjoy live music performances, tasty winter treats, and plenty of holiday shopping opportunities.

When: November 21, 2025 – January 3, 2026
Time: Monday – Saturday: 5-9:30pm
- Sunday: 5-8:30pm

Where: National Zoo (3001 Connecticut Ave NW)
How to get there:
- Capital Bikeshare
  - 3000 Connecticut Ave NW/National Zoo
  - Connecticut Ave & Ordway St NW/Cleveland Park Metro
  - Calvert St & Woodley Pl NW
- Metrobus
  - C61, D70, C87, D72, C53
- Metrorail
  - Red Line – get off at Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan

Sculpture Garden Ice Rink

Welcome the winter season with an ice skating session! Whether going just for fun or taking lessons to become a pro, it’s a great way for all ages to get into the holiday spirit. Celebrate the holidays on two wheels (skate wheels) with the ice rink opening on November 24, 2025, and continue the fun until closing March 1, 2026.

When: November 24, 2025 – March 1, 2026 (weather permitting)
Where: National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden (7^th St & Constitution Ave NW)
How to get there:
- Capital Bikeshare
  - 4^th St & Madison Dr NW
  - 6^th St & Indiana Ave NW
  - 10^th St & Constitution Ave NW
  - Constitution Ave & 2^nd St NW/DOL
  - Smithsonian-National Mall/Jefferson Dr & 12^th St SW
- Metrobus
  - D1X, D40, D60, D10, D4X, D30, D24, D32, D6X, D44, D50
- Metrorail
  - Green/Yellow Line – get off at Archives/Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter or L’Enfant Plaza
  - Blue/Orange/Silver Line – get off at Federal Triangle or L’Enfant Plaza

District’s Holiday Boat Parade

Don’t miss the 33rd anniversary of this iconic DC event, featuring 60+ festively decorated boats parading along the Washington Channel. You can decorate ornaments, warm up by the fire pit, visit the Christmas Tree, go ice skating, sample winter drinks, and meet Santa!

When: December 6, 2025
Time: 5-8pm
Where: The Wharf (35 Sutton Sq SW)
How to get there:
- Capital Bikeshare
  - Maine Ave & 9^th St SW
  - Maine Ave & 7^th St SW
  - Maine Ave & Water St SW
  - Waterfront Park
- Metrobus
  - A40, D50, C11, C55, D40, D60
- Metrorail
  - Green Line – get off at Waterfront
  - Green/Yellow/Blue/Orange/Silver Line – get off at L’Enfant Plaza
- Water
  - Transit Pier, 950 Wharf St SW

National Kiss Under the National Mistletoe

Join DowntownDC BID in their attempt to break the Guinness World Records^TM title for the most couples kissing under the mistletoe! Enjoy live music, food and drinks, photo booths, live art, and more. You must register in advance to participate in this event.

When: December 13, 2025
Time: 3-6pm
Where: Anthem Row (800 K St)
How to get there:
- Capital Bikeshare
  - 8^th & H St NW
  - 10^th & K St NW
  - 7^th & K St NW
  - 5^th St & Massachusetts Ave NW
- Metrobus
  - D40, D80, D4X, D20, D2X, D34, D36, D90, D94, D32, D44
- Metrorail
  - Green/Yellow/Red Line – get off at Gallery Place/Chinatown