DMV Parks and Gardens Holiday Lights

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 ...

55+ Nature Book Club

Meadowside Nature Center 5100 Meadowside Lane, Rockville, MD, United States

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Join our new 55+ Nature Book Club and become part of a community that celebrates the beauty of literature and the outdoors! Explore a range of books centered around nature, wildlife, conservation, and environmental issues. Our meetings take place every third Tuesday of the month at a Montgomery Parks Activity Building. Locations will vary.

Rooted in Nature, Winter Solstice Gathering

Fort Stanton Recreation Center 1812 Erie St SE, Washington DC, United States

(DC) (Casey Trees) Let's celebrate the Winter Solstice! Join us for reflective nature time, crafts, tea and snacks that give thanks to our trees as they enter the winter months. We will gather on this transition day and acknowledge it as the shortest day of the year, and the darkest. Learn about the work we do to protect our trees, ...

Free

Winter Solstice Campfire

Brookside Nature Center 1400 Glenallan Ave, Silver Spring, MD, United States

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Let’s honor the year’s shortest day around the campfire! We’ll roast marshmallows, enjoy S’mores, and create luminaries to take home to celebrate. All attendees must register. Inclement weather could cancel this program. Be sure to check BrooksideNature.org for day-of event status. Ages 3+

$7

Winter Tales and Trails at Winkler

Winkler Botanical Preserve 5400 Roanoke Ave., Alexandria, VA, United States

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Join us for the first meeting of Tales and Trails, a book club meeting at Winkler Botanical Preserve. Following the death of his father, Gil sets out on the Joun Muir Trail with Syd, his father's best friend. While hiking, they come to terms with life and death, learn the healing power of nature and unplugging, and ...

Fields, Forests, and Friends at Black Hill

Black Hill Discovery Center 20926 Lake Ridge Drive, Boyds, MD, United States

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Come out to the Discovery Center and spend some time outdoors! We will explore the trails, play games in the fields and forests, and make the most of what Black Hill has to offer.

$7

My Dog & Me Hike

Brookside Nature Center 1400 Glenallan Ave, Silver Spring, MD, United States

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Put on your sneakers and dress for the outdoors! Bring your fur babies along for this adult only 1.5-2 mile hike on natural surface trails in Wheaton Regional Park. Dogs participating in this program must be on-leash, up to date on vaccinations and familiar with being around other dogs and people. Ages 18+.

January Bird Walk at Kenilworth

Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens 1550 Anacostia Ave, NE, Washington DC, United States

(DC) (DC Bird Alliance) Let's start the year in community around birds in this beautiful DC hotspot. We'll meet in the parking lot. Please look for the DC Bird Alliance banner. The coordinates to the parking lot are, 38.91305, -76.93966. See you outside!

Astronomy Festival at Turner Farm

The Turner Farm 925 Springvale Road, Great Falls, VA, United States

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Gaze up at the autumn night sky at the Astronomy Festival at Turner Farm Park. There will be guided stargazing sessions and telescope viewing. Gather round the campfire for some ancient constellation tales, while sipping some hot chocolate. More Fairfax County Parks nature programs can be found here.

$10

Year of the Snake at Winkler

Winkler Botanical Preserve 5400 Roanoke Ave., Alexandria, VA, United States

(VA) (NOVA Parks) 2025 is the Year of the Snake! What better way to celebrate serpents than with a free outdoor adventure? Explore the sights, sounds, and textures of winter with our Naturalist on a short sensory hike. Then listen to a story about snakes and the Lunar New Year and enjoy a fun craft! More NOVA Parks events can ...

55+ Nature Book Club

Meadowside Nature Center 5100 Meadowside Lane, United States

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) Become part of a community that celebrates the beauty of literature and the outdoors! Explore a range of books centered around nature, wildlife, conservation, and environmental issues. Our meetings take place every third Tuesday of the month at a Montgomery Parks location, in person only. Please complete our FREE membership registration to stay updated on the meeting ...

Flying Squirrel Campfire

Long Branch Nature Center & Park 625 S Carlin Springs Rd, Arlington, VA, United States

(VA) (Arlington Parks) The whole family is invited to join us at the Long Branch Nature Center for lots of old-fashioned fun. This engaging program will be filled with entertaining activities which may include stories, special animal guests, games, songs and of course, S’mores. (We will provide the marshmallows, chocolate & graham crackers). Families. Find more Arlington Parks nature and ...

$6
Capital Nature