How to Celebrate Christmas in Washington, D.C.

Christmastime in Washington, D.C., offers plenty of magic and lots of free events to attend. The cold air makes it fun to dress up, and December is one of the city’s drier winter months—though you just might see a few snowflakes.

Instructions

1. Toast yourself by the Yule Log in the President’s Park, just south of the White House. The National Christmas Tree is displayed here, along with 56 small trees that represent the 50 states, 5 territories, and the District of Columbia. Ornaments for these small trees are made by artists and organizations from each state.

2. Take in the twinkling lights of the Capitol Christmas Tree on the lawn of the Capitol building. Every year, the ornaments are handmade by school children from a given state.

3. Visit the United States Botanic Garden on Capitol Hill. Their elaborate Christmas decorations include numerous toy trains running through miniature towns, scale models of D.C. landmarks made entirely out of plant material, and a lush, towering Christmas tree housed in the main greenhouse.

4. Celebrate Christmas Norwegian-style at Union Station. Attend concerts, taste Norwegian food, watch the lighting of the Christmas tree, and donate to Toys for Tots.

5. See “A Christmas Carol” at Ford’s Theatre. This theater is one of the most famous in the United States—it’s where John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln. The classic Charles Dickens tale is staged here every year, and the historic venue adds to the spooky holiday fun.

6. Stroll through the streets of downtown D.C., and enjoy the city Christmas decorations. A little snowfall makes this particularly special.