It's the season of lights in the Washington DC metro area. Many parks and botanical gardens are hosting beautiful light displays through the new year: Brookside Garden of Lights - Montgomery County MD hosts its annual display at Brookside Gardens through January 5th. Walk among the outdoor twinkling lights and glimmering displays that dot the paths and flowerbeds in 50 acres ...
(DC) (National Gallery of Art) Enjoy a winter skate at the NGA's iconic ice rink surrounded by sculptures and the National Mall. Purchase skating passes in person. Fees cover two back-to-back, 45-minute skating sessions that each begin on the hour. Enjoy a hot cocoa and food at the adjoining Pavilion Cafe. The skating rink will be open through March 2nd ...
(DC) (United States Botanic Garden) The annual holiday display “Season’s Greenings” features model trains in the gated outdoor gardens, festive lights throughout the Garden, and the poinsettias, holiday decor, and D.C. landmarks made from plants inside the Conservatory. On the lawn in the gated outdoor gardens, G-gauge model trains circulate from 10:00-5:00 daily through displays of pollinators made from plant ...
(VA) (Friends of Dyke Marsh) Join FODM for a bird walk every Sunday at 8 a.m. The Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve is a freshwater, tidal marsh on the Virginia side of the Potomac River in Fairfax County. It is a unit of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, U.S. National Park Service.
(DC) (US Botanic Garden) Join us outside of public hours for a sensory-friendly morning at our annual “Season’s Greenings” holiday exhibit! Explore model trains in the gated outdoor gardens circulating through large models of pollinators made from plant parts, as well as poinsettias and D.C. landmarks made from plants inside the Conservatory. These pollinator scenes include sculptures of a bat ...
(DC) (National Park Service) Come check out this seasonal pop-up exhibit in the Rock Creek Nature Center to learn about the plants of the winter solstice. Craft your own winter solstice-plant inspired decoration to help us decorate the exhibit hall for the holiday season. Ongoing through Dec. 29th.
(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Join park naturalist and artist Margaret Wohler on a walk through the park to learn about the techniques of drawing winter trees and landscapes. Drawing supplies included. Ages 12 to Adult.
(DC) (Rock Creek Park) Join Rock Creek Conservancy, the National Park Service and Rock Creek Weed Warrior Leader Kathy Sykes for this invasive plant removal restoration event in Rock Creek Park. Invasive plants are a major threat to our fragile forests, and stopping their spread helps allow native plants to thrive in the understory. Event location, directions, and information will be ...
(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) All aboard for a train ride on the Holiday Express. Take a spin on the Carolers Carousel, play Gingerbread Man Golf or warm yourself by the fire and cook s'mores as you usher in your holidays. Families will enjoy a visit with Santa, hot chocolate and candy canes. Passes can be picked up at ice cream parlor ...
(VA) (Arlington Parks) Help us with improving Glencarlyn Park. Each Sunday we will have stewardship projects like weed pulling, raking, trail maintenance and trash pick-up. Your hard work will make the park a better place for both people and nature. Teens ages 12 to 17.
(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Try making holiday ornaments inspired by history. Get inspired by history and nature to create festive decorations for your home. All materials provided. Ages 6 to Adult.
(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join Weed Warrior Supervisor Monica for a non-native, invasive plant removal workday in Wheaton Woods Local Parkin the Aspen Hill/Wheaton area. We will focus on non-native, invasive vines and shrubs, including round-leaf bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) and porcelainberry (Ampelopsis glandulosa var. brevipedunculata). Plan to meet in the northern section of the park at Magellan Ave & Wissahican Ave.
