Christmas in DC Day 1: National Mall and Downtown Area

Season’s Greenings at the US Botanic Garden

You don’t have to be a train lover to be dazzled by this popular—and FREE—annual display at the United States Botanic Garden. G-gauge model trains wind throughout the gated outdoor gardens, which are filled with festive lights, poinsettias, and other holiday decor. Inside the Conservatory, you’ll find DC landmarks made from plants.

Shopping at Holiday Markets

For 20 years, holiday shoppers have flocked to the DowntownDC Holiday Market, a festive shopping village where you can buy unique gifts from regional artisans, crafters, and boutique businesses while enjoying live performances. A second holiday market is also taking place in 2024—the DC Holiday Market at Dupont Circle. There, you’ll find over 30 small businesses with unique gifts, popular holiday treats, local performers, and festive decor.

The Nutcracker Ballet at the Warner Theatre

Even if you’ve seen The Nutcracker before, the Washington Ballet’s adaptation is truly unique. It’s set in 1882 Georgetown, with characters that include George Washington, Harriet Tubman, King George III, and others. December 15, 2024 is Family Day, when kids can do crafts, take photos with dancers, and more before the matinee performance.

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The President and First Lady typically light the National Christmas Tree each year. Photo by Kelsey Graczyk, for the National Park System

National Christmas Tree and Pathway of Peace

The National Christmas Tree is located south of the White House on the Ellipse. Surrounding it are 56 smaller trees adorned with student-designed ornaments representing all of the US states and territories. The trees are typically lit from sunset until 10pm.

US Capitol Christmas Tree

Each year, a different national forest provides a tree that stands on the west lawn of the US Capitol building for the holiday season. The 2024 tree comes from Tongass National Forest in Alaska. The towering tree stands 80 feet tall and is a sight to behold.

If you have time:

Walk, bike, or take a quick taxi ride over the Arlington Memorial Bridge to Arlington National Cemetery, which is quite the sight to behold at Christmastime with wreaths lying against most of the white headstones.

Christmas in DC Day 2: National Harbor, MD

The waterfront Maryland community of National Harbor, located on the banks of the Potomac River, is packed with holiday cheer at Christmastime.

Ice! at Gaylord National is kept at 9 degrees Fahrenheit, so bundle up! Photo courtesy of the resort

Christmas at Gaylord National Resort

You can have a full day of Christmas fun without leaving Gaylord National Resort. Bundle up to experience Ice! featuring A Charlie Brown Christmas. Enjoy cookies and storytime with Mrs. Claus. Take photos with Santa. Get creative at the Gingerbread Decorating Corner. Go ice tubing down Snow Flow Mountain. Participate in a Snoopy-themed scavenger hunt. Challenge yourself at the Snowball Build and Blast. And enjoy two shows in the dazzling atrium, Cirque: Spirit of Christmas and the Here We Glow A-Caroling light show.

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See a tree light show each night at National Harbor. Photo courtesy of National Harbor

National Harbor Holiday Tree Light Show

The 60-foot National Harbor holiday tree dazzles nightly with a light show every half hour from sunset until 9pm, set to a holiday medley recorded by the United States Air Force Band. But if you happen to be there on a Saturday evening, you can enjoy 5:30pm fireworks, too!

Holiday Movies on the Potomac

If the National Harbor portion of your three-day itinerary falls on a Sunday, you can enjoy an afternoon holiday movie outdoors on the big screen. The Santa Clause, Jack Frost, and The Polar Express are just a few of the offerings.

Capital Wheel

Soar 180 feet above the Potomac River in a climate-controlled gondola on this giant Ferris wheel and enjoy breathtaking views of National Harbor, the Washington Monument, and more. On December 7, 14, and 21, you—and your pup!—can take photos with Santa before your ride (humans can also meet the jolly guy on November 29, 2024).

National Harbor Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Show 

This holiday market and craft show takes place every Saturday and Sunday from November 30 – December 22, 2024. This market offers something unique every day with a rotating selection of artisans and crafters, along with delicious holiday sweets and desserts.

MGM National Harbor Conservatory

The conservatory of this hotel and casino gets all decked out for the holidays with poinsettias, larger-than life installations, and dazzling lights. If you find some extra time in your packed day, it’s worth checking out!

If you have time:

Score some holiday deals at the Tanger Outlets National Harbor.

Experience an old-fashioned Christmas at Mount Vernon. Photo courtesy of Mount Vernon

Christmas in DC Day 3: Mount Vernon and Old Town Alexandria, VA

Mount Vernon

While George Washington’s home in Alexandria is worth a visit any time of year, it’s even more fun at Christmas. See a gingerbread model of Mount Vernon, meet Aladdin the Christmas camel, learn about holiday practices observed by the Washingtons, and more. There are also some fantastic holiday events throughout the season, including Winter Glow and Christmas Illuminations.

Old Town Alexandria

Walking through the cobblestone streets of Old Town Alexandria feels like stepping back into colonial times, and its especially charming at Christmastime. You’ll feel like you’re in a Hallmark movie as you stroll along historic King Street with its twinkling lights, flickering lamps, wreathed doors, decorated storefronts, and more. The unique shops are great places to do your holiday shopping. Be sure to check out the giant Christmas tree at Market Square.

 The Nutcracker Ballet and Other Holiday Shows for Kids in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia

 
Head to the Old Town Alexandria waterfront for the holiday boat parade. Photo by Adam Fagan, via Flickr 

Depending on when you visit, there are some fun—and free—holiday events in Old Town, too. Head to the waterfront on the evening of December 7, 2024 for the Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights, or on Christmas Eve to catch a glimpse of Waterskiing Santa. Also on December 7 is the Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend and Parade, when dozens of Scottish clans parade through the streets of Old Town along with pipe and drum bands, terriers and hounds, and more.

If you have time:

About a 15-minute drive from Old Town is Ice & Lights: The Winter Village at Cameron Run. There you can see unique holiday lights and displays and go for a spin on the ice skating rink.

Where to Eat During Christmas and the Holidays in DC

If you want to eat near the National Mall during your festive day in DC, check out our list of the best kid-friendly restaurants near the National Mall. Some of them, including The Hamilton and Carmine’s, go crazy with the holiday decor. You can also begin one of your mornings with breakfast with Santa at one of several great eateries.

Best Things To Do in DC’s Georgetown Neighborhood with Kids

Nearly every inch of Filomena is decorated for Christmas. Photo courtesy of Filomena Ristorante

If you’re willing to venture to Georgetown for dinner, Filomena Ristorante is famous for its over-the-top holiday decorations and its heaping portions of homemade pasta and other Italian food. After dinner, you can stroll the cobblestone streets to enjoy the lights and decorations.

On your National Harbor day, Old Hickory Steakhouse is a delicious and festive option right inside Gaylord National.

If you’re at Mount Vernon from December 6-8 or December 13-15, you can enjoy afternoon tea as you listen to live harp music and take in the holiday decorations at the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant.

Old Town Alexandria has a plethora of great dinner options, most of which go all out with the holiday decor. Mia’s Italian Kitchen serves up brick-oven pizza and family-style Italian food in a warm and cozy setting. Virtue Feed & Grain has a large menu and a great ambience that will please the whole family. And Ada’s on the River offers delicious food and stunning panoramic views of the Potomac River.

 All Aboard A Polar Express Train Ride, Plus More Christmas Trains Near DC

The Willard InterContinental is a must-see at Christmas. Photo courtesy of the hotel

DC Hotels for a Holiday Stay

Willard InterContinental Washington, DC

If you want to splurge on a luxury hotel, you can’t get much better than the Willard. It transforms into a holiday wonderland come Christmastime, with elegant lights and decorations that belong on a postcard. The hotel’s Afternoon Tea and Christmas Day Brunch are legendary. Each night, choral and vocal ensembles from the DC area do holiday caroling in the lobby. Bonus: The Willard is located just steps from the White House and the National Christmas Tree.

Fairmont Washington, DC

If you stay at this Georgetown hotel, you’ll have some VIP company—Santa! And on Saturdays and Sundays from December 7-22, 2024, you can visit and take photos with him in his elaborately decorated suite for a fee (100% of which will go to the non-profit Horton’s Kids). Email WDC.santasuite.DL@fairmont.com to reserve your visit. The Fairmont also has a beautiful lobby tree and an elaborate gingerbread display.

Gaylord National Resort

Even if you live locally, the Gaylord National is a great place to have an overnight staycation. You’ll get a front-row seat to all of the resort’s fun Christmas offerings, leaving you more time to explore the rest of National Harbor. And the resort offers several holiday deals, like the Celebrate Christmas package that includes tickets to Ice! as well as savings for AAA and Marriott Bonvoy members.

The Alexandrian

This beautiful Old Town Alexandria hotel, located in a prime spot on King Street, has a cozy lobby fireplace, pretty Christmas decor, and a Holiday Cheer package that includes drink vouchers for the grown-ups, a tote bag for holiday shopping, and more.

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WASHINGTON (7News) — Security company SafeWise has just released its annual theft report, just in time for the busy holiday shopping season.

While porch piracy may be leveling out, numbers are still very high and in the District, there’s reason to be concerned. D.C. ranks fourth worst city in the country for package theft, with over $231 million in losses this year. The released report reveals insights into crime rates, local security trends, and how communities combat porch pirates.

Around 120 million packages were stolen throughout the U.S. in 2023; 92 million incidents were of package theft and 261,000 package theft incidents per day.

Porch pirates snatched $16 Billion in goods.

Security.org also released its report this week, which shows similar numbers.

Based on a survey of 11,000 adults in 50 states, the report also noted that one-quarter of American adults have had a package stolen, and 4%, 14 million people, suffered a theft within the last three months.

Now, as you start making online holiday orders, here are the 10 worst cities for package theft in 2024.

1. New York City, N.Y.

2. Philadelphia, Pa.

3. Chicago, Ill.

4. Washington, D.C.

5. Houston, Texas

6. Atlanta, Ga.

7. Charlotte, N.C.

8. Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas

9. Boston, Mass.

10. Cleveland, Ohio

The average value of each stolen parcel was $204, meaning nearly $3 billion in e-commerce merchandise was swiped over this past summer. The survey found that nine out of ten consumers shop online at least once per month, and half do so weekly. 42% of the population sometimes leaves their doors unlocked, while around 15% do so even when they are not home. Such negligence makes their homes easy targets for burglars and increases the chances of package theft.

“We estimate that there are about 213 package theft incidents per 100 households in the D.C. area. That could represent nearly 500 out of a thousand people actually being impacted by this. So we know that it’s happening, we are definitely shopping online. I don’t want to tell people to stop shopping online, I myself am an avid online shopper, just take some proactive measures,” said Rebecca Edwards, safety expert at SafeWise.

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One of the biggest changes these reports have found is that more people are taking action to prevent package theft. Consumers are getting smarter. Nationwide, just one in four people don’t do anything to deter porch pirates. Those numbers change drastically after someone loses a package — more than eight in 10 added a deterrent after falling victim. Security.org’s survey shows that 52% of all households — renters and homeowners — have a security camera, compared to 42% in 2023.

Proactive Steps To Avoid Porch Piracy:

• Don’t leave packages unattended.
• Ship to store, storefront, or post office box.
• Require a signature.
• Opt-in to shipping-related emails. Set up your own notifications with your smartphone or app
• Make alternative arrangements. If you can’t be home to bring in those packages, have them delivered somewhere else. You can use a package locker service, ask a friend or neighbor, use a personal delivery locker on your porch.

SafeWise took a closer look at how people are fighting package theft. One in four Americans don’t do anything to protect their packages. Over eight in ten added some type of protection after being hit by porch pirates.

Of those who use a deterrent, 21% had a security camera or video doorbell in place when their packages were stolen. 32% said they installed a security camera after a package theft.

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“I have a package locker that sits on my porch that I have personally but I’ve also lived in apartments or in cities where Amazon lockers and things like that are available. So, take the extra time. This one little step is going to save you so much headache, money, and stress especially if a special Christmas present gets taken, it messes up your whole holiday plan,” added Edwards.

Ring was the most-purchased brand of security camera (46%). Package tracking and working with neighbors are the most used deterrents after cameras. People prefer to pick up prescription drugs, food and groceries, and computers and other electronics in person, rather than risk a package theft.

Package theft by the numbers:

Around 120.5 million packages were stolen in 2023.

Nearly 92 million incidents of package theft occurred in 2023. The US sees 261,000 incidents of package theft every day. 43 of the 327 metro areas had more than 1,000 incidents per 1,000 households. 8 in 10 victims had more than one package stolen in the past 12 months.

Amazon delivered the majority of packages stolen.

The D.C. region will be hearing more and more about the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, in the coming months as he leads a task force that will make recommendations to President-elect Donald Trump on how to reshape the federal workforce.

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At least in some areas, Musk and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser seem to agree.

Musk will lead a task force called the Department of Government Efficiency alongside Vivek Ramaswamy. The group posted a statement on social media late Wednesday saying federal agencies are using, on average, just 12% of the space in their D.C. headquarters.

“Why are American taxpayer dollars being spent to maintain empty buildings?” the statement asked.

More Trump Impact

When asked whether Bowser had any advice for the group related to that topic, the D.C. mayor said, “We think the federal government needs a centralized remote work policy.”

“Our message about that is the same as it’s been for the last almost four years,” Bowser said. “We think that government workers should be in their offices more than they’re on telework.”

When asked whether Bowser would be willing to work with the task force if it reached out to her, she responded by saying, “I absolutely will share my ideas.”

Plans for the Department of Government Efficiency are still coming into focus.

The group put out a call for “small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting.”

Applicants are encouraged to submit their resumes through X, the social media company that Musk owns.

In an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal, Musk and Ramaswamy said that they want to “identify the minimum number of employees required at an agency for it to perform its constitutionally permissible and statutorily mandated functions,” leading to “mass head-count reductions across the federal bureaucracy.”

Some employees could choose “voluntary severance payments to facilitate a graceful exit,” the pair wrote.

Others would be encouraged to quit by mandating that they show up at the office five days a week, ending the pandemic-era flexibility that remote work provides.

The requirement “would result in a wave of voluntary terminations that we welcome,” Musk and Ramaswamy said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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