NOVA Christmas Activities

you can do the Festival of Lights at Bull Run...that's always fun...

When we lived in the area we always liked to go see the light displays on Juniper Street in Sterling.
We lived just a few blocks away so we'd walk over on Christmas Eve and enjoy the sights.

Does the "Macaroni Kids" online newsletter publish one for your area? They can be a wealth of information for family friendly things to do, and I'm sure your area is populated enough to have one since they are national. Hopefully that can give you plenty of ideas.

The ICE display is awesome, I saw it with my daughter when it was Shrek (in Texas) and she loved it. However, since she is only 4, she doesn't really know much about Twas the Night Before Christmas, which is the theme this year, so I'm not spending the money. So something to think about before going to ICE.

I think it's this weekend, but the National Harbor is having a Holiday Festival I think at the Gaylord, which is separate from ICE.

Check out Dulles Moms.com. They have a Calendar of Events for the area.

We tend to do stuff in DC and MD as well.....Pick up a "Northern Virginia Parents" magazine, the free ones that are left outside grocery stores, or anywhere kids gather.

Also check the Washington Post online! They have huge listings of events and are a great resource.

Lights at Meadowlark Gardens on Beulah Road in Vienna/Tysons area. Walk-through but not too huge for kids. Fairly new so not overcrowded.

Lights at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, Maryland. Farther afield but WELL worth the drive around the Beltway (Beltway to Georgia Ave. to Randolph Road, shorter than it sounds). Walk-through. Nature-themed lights including things like "animated" squirrels that seem to run up the trees, a rainstorm, giant colorful bugs and much more. Has a simply fantastic model train display in one of the greenhouses -- do not miss the trains. This is magical--you can get hot chocolate and listen to live seasonal music indoors at the end, too. Worth the money and the drive.
http://www.montgomeryparks.org/brookside/visit_hours_dire...

Indoors: The United States Botanic Garden in DC (sits on Capitol Hill right at the base of the Capitol Building) has indoor plant displays and is great for kids to roam around in! Gets busy at certain times so I'd call to ask what their "off-peak" times are so you aren't waiting at a line. Other times you can walk right in. It's not about huge light displays but about the plants. Has some trains some years, and also cool displays of well-known DC landmarks rendered entirely in plant materials. Parking can be tough, though, and I'd go at opening time on, say, a Sunday.

Indoors and quiet: The National Cathedral has a wonderful display of its many nativity sets every year and too many folks don't know it's there! They have a huge collection of nativities and put as many as they can on display, so if you like nativity sets (from around the world) this is great. It's on the lower level. Parking there is now very easy since they built an underground garage (yes, you pay, but it's better than finding street parking). Best to do during a weekday rather than weekend when it's more heavily visited. The Cathedral is soon going to start charging tourists to visit (essential since the quake caused millions in damage, sadly) but they may not be charging yet, and I'd never begrudge them a penny.

I have heard that National Harbor's annual "Ice" display is, well, cool, but have not seen it myself. It is very pricey, about $30 a ticket (ouch) but check it out if your kids would like it.

Reston Town Center has an ice rink in winter and a lot of people like that, plus the town center does a Christmas parade one day -- not sure when this year's parade takes place.l A lot of folks also like to ice skate on the fountain rink outdoors in DC near the Mall -- it's located directly across from the National Archives.

Someone mentioned the Bull Run festival of lights -- yes, that's closer to you if you are coming from Stafford! And it's drive-through if you need that option. Check it out online.

Will try to think of more. Lots to do, the Post will help.

Macaroni Kid does indeed have list for this area & are on FB. The most comprehensive website for VA, DC, and MD is www.our-kids.com!
List tons of family friendly seasonal activities, consignment sales etc. Also has reviews and there is plenty free stuff available. If you become a member for $26 a year, which I finally did after years... Amy, the founder sends out a crazy organized newsletter with activites for the following Fri, Sat & Sun with activities for DC, VA, & MD.
A family tradition for us is Wolf Trap's Holiday Singalong this Sat. Its in Vienna and bit of a drive for us since we moved but a great free fun time.
Put it in the search engine of Our Kids website for details.
Another family tradition is going to the US Botanic Gardens to see their miniture train display, a great set up! They also have all the monuments in miniture made out of flora & fauna. I believe it runs until January.
Also google Holly's Tacky Lights list. She lists all the homes in MoVA with fun, extreme, or outrageous light displays. Thats a fun free activity thst can be done in jammies! A few homes we go & park & they have dancing light displays & music to go along. They have sign in their yard with what radio station to tune into & what time the end like 10pm etc.
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