Few things are more festive than zillions of brightly colored lights, and Northern Virginia venues understood the assignment this holiday season, decking not just the halls, but all sorts of outdoor surfaces, too. Here’s where to find some of the most dazzling displays in and around Arlington.
Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights
Watch as more than 50 decorated watercraft parade down the Potomac River shoreline during this 24th annual event at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 7 in Old Town Alexandria. Get there early and stay late for dockside fun from 2-8 p.m., including a pop-up beer garden from Port City Brewing Co., food vendors and kids’ activities.
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Ballston’s Singing Tree
Starting Dec. 4 and extending through the holiday season, the beloved tree, with its custom interactive, sound-responsive lighting system and 1,200-plus lights, returns to party with onlookers. // 901 N. Taylor St., Arlington (Ballston)
Bull Run Festival of Lights
Take a drive and roll through 2.5 miles of holiday light displays at this Northern Virginia park, now through Jan. 5, 2025. Turn off your headlights to get the best effect. Tickets cost $30 per car online or $40 at the door, although there are some promo nights, so check the website for discounts. The journey ends at the Holiday Village & Carnival (open through Jan. 7) with bonfires, s’mores and carnival rides for an extra fee. // 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centreville
Holly’s Tacky Christmas Lights
If you on the hunt for a Clark Griswold special, this website tracks the best homemade holiday light displays in Alexandria, Arlington and Fairfax neighborhoods, complete with ratings so you can quickly figure out which houses to include on your must-see list. The site also offers tips on how to be neighborly, and the best and worst times to go.
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ICE! at Gaylord National
This year’s theme, A Charlie Brown’s Christmas, brings iconic Peanuts characters, larger-than-life ice sculptures, frozen slides and chilly tunnels to National Harbor, now through Dec. 28. More than 40 artists spent six weeks hand-carving about 6,000 blocks of ice to create 14 immersive scenes spanning 17,000 square feet. Pro tip: Dress warmly. The temperature inside is 9 degrees, and although special parkas are provided, you’ll still want to bundle up. Ticket prices change based on the day. While you’re there, stop in the massive lobby to gawk at the 55-foot Christmas tree and watch the nightly Here We Glow A Caroling laser light show. // 201 Waterfront St., Oxon Hill, Maryland
Ice & Lights at Cameron Run
From Nov. 29-Jan. 5, Cameron Run Regional Park’s Great Waves Waterpark transforms into a Winter Village that’s a selfie-taker’s wonderland. Pose by winter-themed light displays of giant wreaths, stars and even a photo frame for an instant holiday keepsake. The Slice ’n Ice kiosk will serve hot (non-alcoholic) drinks, pizza, hot dogs, doughnut holes and s’mores kits. True to its name, Ice & Lights also includes an ice rink with rental skates available. Tickets start at $8.55 for the village only and $21.01 for the village and an hour of ice skating. // 4001 Eisenhower Ave., Alexandria
Light Up the Village
The annual Village at Shirlington event returns Dec. 5 to welcome 20 local artisans, carriage rides, visits with Santa (at Hardwood Artisans) and a Christmas tree lighting at 6:30 p.m. Signature Theatre gets things going with a 6 p.m. musical performance, and Bishop O’Connell High School will provide live holiday music throughout the evening. Kiddos can get free face painting and balloon animals. While you’re there, stop at Dogma Bakery & Boutique to buy a discounted bag of dog food for the Animal Welfare League of Arlington’s (AWLA) Pet Pantry. (Dogma will take care of delivery.) // 2700 S. Quincy Ave., Arlington (Shirlington)
Light Yards
Visit The Yards Park in D.C. for an installation of Swinging Bells, which play holiday bell sounds as visitors swing and create animated light displays. The five bells are each 13 feet tall. Take a ride on them nightly from 5-10 p.m. through Jan. 3. // 305 Water St., S.E., Washington, D.C.
MGM National Harbor
The gargantuan hotel on the other side of the Potomac goes big for the holidays. Stop by now through Jan. 5 to see its Conservatory display featuring 10,000 glittering ornaments, Christmas trees standing as tall as 25 feet, a 15-foot snow globe and a 20-foot toy snowman, plus 18,000 poinsettias. Make it a full experience by ogling the decorations before or after seeing Leslie Odom, Jr. The Christmas Tour concert on Dec. 15 at 8 p.m.
Winter Glow at George Washington’s Mount Vernon
The first president’s old stomping grounds are getting festive. Stroll the estate with a hot drink or a treat from the on-site food truck, play 18th-century tavern games and search for “General George Washington” hidden throughout the property. Aladdin, a camel that visits the mansion during the holiday season, will be on hand to greet guests. Tickets ($25-$54) are available for three evening entry times Nov. 29-Dec. 23. Note that this is an outdoor-only event. // 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon
Winter Lantern Festival
This sprawling display returns to light up Tysons every Thursday through Sunday from now through Jan. 12, with the addition of performances by the Zigong Acrobatic Troupe. This year’s festival theme is an homage to the giant pandas—Bao Li and Qing Bao—that recently took up residence at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. Each lantern is made of hand-painted silk cloth draped over a frame filled with LED lights and inspired by Chinese myths, legends and zodiacs. Other attractions include a bounce house, sugar paintings, dino ride, interactive light swings, seesaws, tunnels and many majestic creatures. Tickets are $16.99-$26.99. // 8025 Galleria Drive, Tysons
Winter Walk of Lights at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens
A wonder to behold in daylight, the botanical gardens become a holiday haven at night for the 110,000 visitors who walk the half-mile of paved trails to enjoy the nature-, winter- and holiday-themed displays. Pick up a Fun Search in the Lights paper at the ticket-scanning stations in the visitor center to participate in a scavenger hunt. Show your completed sheet to get a sticker. Keep your hands warm with a cup of hot cocoa or coffee (with or without a splash of Bailey’s or peppermint schnapps) from the Sips & Sparkles shop, and save time at the end to make s’mores. The lights display lasts through Jan. 2. Tickets cost $18-$23. // 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna