All Day

2023 Bull Run Festival of Lights

Bull Run Regional Park 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Enjoy a 2.5 mile drive-through of festive light displays, walk-through a Christmas Village and Carnival. The show is open nightly from November 11, 2022 through January 8, 2023. Times vary on weekday and weekends. PLEASE NOTE: YOU ONLY NEED TO BUY ONE TICKET PER VEHICLE.

$30 – $75

2023 Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens 9750 Meadowlark Gardens, Vienna

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Enjoy even more lights this year as Meadowlark Botanical Gardens sparkles with displays of flowers, animals, trees, and holiday scenes along the Winter Walk of Lights .6-mile trail. Times and prices vary by weekday or weekend. See website for all details.

$18 – $22

2023 Ice & Lights: The Winter Village at Cameron Run

Cameron Run Regional Park 4001 Eisenhower Ave, Alexandria

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Ice & Lights offers a fun, outdoor family experience to see unique light displays, take family pictures or selfies with a variety of displays, and take a spin on the outdoor ice rink.  Tickets are available for the Village or Village and Ice Skating daily through January 1st.  Prices and times vary from weekdays to weekends.

$8 – $20

National Audubon Christmas Bird Count

(DMV) The Christmas Bird Count occurs December 14 to January 5 every season.  Sign up to receive information and results about all of Audubon's community science programs through American Birds, our newsletter by email. Click here for a map view of the circles expected to be included in the 124th CBC. You can use ESRI's free mobile app to view updated public ...

Free

National Audubon Christmas Bird Count

(DMV) The Christmas Bird Count occurs December 14 to January 5 every season.  Sign up to receive information and results about all of Audubon’s community science programs through American Birds, our newsletter by email. Click here for a map view of the circles expected to be included in the 124th CBC. You can use ESRI’s free mobile app to view updated public ...

Free
Ongoing

Garden of Lights at Brookside

Brookside Gardens 1800 Glenallan Ave, Wheaton

(MD) (Montgomery Parks) The Garden of Lights display transforms Brookside Gardens into a magical winter wonderland. Stroll through the one-half mile, outdoor, walk-through exhibit and enjoy the twinkling lights and glimmering one-of-a-kind displays adorning the flowerbeds and grounds throughout the 50-acre horticultural gem in Wheaton. Shop for unique seasonal items at the Gift Shop. Hot chocolate and light snacks will ...

$10

US Botanic Garden Holiday and Trains

U.S. Botanic Garden 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington DC

(DC) (US Botanic Garden) The annual holiday display “Season’s Greenings” will feature model trains in the gated outdoor gardens, festive lights throughout the Garden, and the Conservatory will feature poinsettias, holiday decor, and D.C. landmarks made from plants. G-gauge model trains will circulate through displays of pollinators made from plant parts in the outdoor gardens. These scenes will range from ...

Free

US Botanic Garden Holiday and Trains

U.S. Botanic Garden 100 Maryland Ave SW, Washington DC

(DC) (US Botanic Garden) The annual holiday display “Season’s Greenings” will feature model trains in the gated outdoor gardens, festive lights throughout the Garden, and the Conservatory will feature poinsettias, holiday decor, and D.C. landmarks made from plants. G-gauge model trains will circulate through displays of pollinators made from plant parts in the outdoor gardens. These scenes will range from ...

Free

Goose Creek Geminid Meteor Shower Watch Party

Aldie Mill Historic Park 39401 John Mosby Hwy, Aldie

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Join the NOVA Parks Roving Naturalist for a late night meteor shower watch party at Goose Creek Bridge Historic Park! Every December, the earth passes through a debris field produced by asteroid 3200 Phaethon; causing the Gemenid Meteor Shower. As crazy as it seems, after midnight is the best time to get outside and see the highest ...

$8

Goose Creek Geminid Meteor Shower Watch Party

Aldie Mill Historic Park 39401 John Mosby Hwy, Aldie

(VA) (NOVA Parks) Join the NOVA Parks Roving Naturalist for a late night meteor shower watch party at Goose Creek Bridge Historic Park! Every December, the earth passes through a debris field produced by asteroid 3200 Phaethon; causing the Gemenid Meteor Shower. As crazy as it seems, after midnight is the best time to get outside and see the highest ...

$8

Exhibit: Recovering Our Night Sky

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History 1000 Madison Drive NW, Washington

(DC) (Smithsonian Natural History Museum) What do brighter nights mean for people and wildlife? Through over 100 photographs, nearly 250 objects, interactive experiences, tactile models, and a theater program, discover why dark nights matter, rekindle your connection with the night sky, and consider how much light at night is enough—for whom, for what purpose, and who gets to decide?

Free

Holiday Nature Crafting After-Hours

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History 1000 Madison Drive NW, Washington

(DC) (Smithsonian) Nature is all around us, and we are connected to it in countless ways. Our experiences with nature can inspire us to connect, care, and act. The Our Places: Connecting People and Nature exhibit features personal stories of connection and inspiration from scientists and community leaders, and is closing in 2024. Join the National Museum of Natural History ...

$30

Holiday Nature Crafting After-Hours

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History 1000 Madison Drive NW, Washington

(DC) (Smithsonian) Nature is all around us, and we are connected to it in countless ways. Our experiences with nature can inspire us to connect, care, and act. The Our Places: Connecting People and Nature exhibit features personal stories of connection and inspiration from scientists and community leaders, and is closing in 2024. Join the National Museum of Natural History ...

$30

A Celebration of Birdsong (Virtual)

(MD) (Howard County Bird Club) This talk focuses on bird song through the seasons from late winter through early spring. We’ll examine some of the songs in detail by slowing them down with visual displays to help us “see” what we are hearing. We’ll explore what the birds are conveying to one another and other fascinating aspects of bird communication ...

A Celebration of Birdsong (Virtual)

(MD) (Howard County Bird Club) This talk focuses on bird song through the seasons from late winter through early spring. We’ll examine some of the songs in detail by slowing them down with visual displays to help us “see” what we are hearing. We’ll explore what the birds are conveying to one another and other fascinating aspects of bird communication ...

Geminid Meteor Shower & Cocoa

Lake Fairfax Park 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Have you ever seen a shooting star? Join park naturalists for a special opportunity to be in the park after dark and delight in the magic of the geminid meteor shower. Peer through the telescope and enjoy an astronomy talk with a park naturalist. Bring a yoga mat or blanket and find a comfortable spot on ...

$12

Geminid Meteor Shower & Cocoa

Lake Fairfax Park 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston

(VA) (Fairfax County Parks) Have you ever seen a shooting star? Join park naturalists for a special opportunity to be in the park after dark and delight in the magic of the geminid meteor shower. Peer through the telescope and enjoy an astronomy talk with a park naturalist. Bring a yoga mat or blanket and find a comfortable spot on ...

$12
Capital Nature