Trains are magical during the holidays! There is no better place to be a child than at the B&O Railroad Museum! All aboard the B&O’s Magical Holiday Express, a holiday spectacular celebration in the B&O Roundhouse devoted to trains of all sizes and shapes, holiday festivities, and a winter wonderland of family fun and activities. There is something to see and do every day at this annual holiday event! Walk through a 30-foot Christmas tree in the center of the B&O’s historic roundhouse and enjoy all new holiday themed weekends featuring some of your favorite guests. All Aboard!
Greenberg’s Great Train & Toy Show is the largest and longest-running model train and collectible toy show in the country and it’s at Dulles Expo Center this weekend. The show is geared towards the general public and towards modelers and hobbyists, featuring hundreds of tables of trains and accessories for sale, huge operating exhibits, activities for kids, and more. All aboard!
Georgetown Glow and Light Yards are two exhibits you won’t want to miss!
Other holiday events (not highlighted below, because there are just SO many) can be found here:
Holiday shows, ballets & concerts
Ice skating, holiday light displays and outdoor fun
Saturday
8:00am: Wreaths across America
Remember the fallen, honor those who serve, teach our children the value of freedom. Thank you for your interest and support of the wreath laying event at Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday, Saturday, December 15, 2018 at 8:00 AM. Gates open at 8 a.m. and the opening ceremony will take place at the McClellan Gate beginning at 8:30 a.m. General wreath placement will also begin at this time with the exception of those trucks in vicinity of the opening ceremony. They will begin wreath placements no later than 9 a.m. All are welcome. There is no requirement to register or sign-up in order to participate. We do not assign individuals or groups to any specific locations in which to place wreaths. You are free to participate at any section you like.
10:00am-3:00pm: Udvar-Hazy Center 15th Anniversary Celebration
The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center opened to public on December 15, 2003, and since then they have welcomed nearly 20 million people through the doors. Join to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Udvar-Hazy Center with a day packed full of everything you know and love about the museum. From talks with curators about your favorite artifacts to concerts, this event will highlight why the northern Virginia community has embraced the Udvar-Hazy Center as a must-visit destination.
10:30am: HIRSHHORN KIDS Tour
Enjoy a playful child-led tour featuring kids’ favorite artworks. During the darkest month of the year, brighten up your weekends at the Hirshhorn! Makers of all ages are welcome to join us at MAKER MORNINGS: Illuminate as we explore the exhibition Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Pulse through hands-on activities.
10:30am-11:30am: Meet David and Mark Shannon
Hosted by the DC Public Library Georgetown Branch, brothers and author/illustrator team Mark and David Shannon will offer a reading of their book, The Acrobat and the Angel. This beautifully written and illustrated story will delight young audience members, who will also be able to engage with the Shannons and participate in other fun activities after the reading. This event will take place at the DC Public Library Georgetown Branch, located at 3260 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20007. Following the event, we encourage attendees to visit the Juggling the Middle Ages exhibition at Dumbarton Oaks, located just a block away at 1703 32nd Street NW.
12:00pm-5:00pm: Holidays at Rocklands Farm
Choose to decorate tasty holiday cookies or handmade wooden ornaments. Santa will be here! Come meet Saint Nick in person before he starts his long, annual worldwide journey 🙂 Live caroling starts at 3pm. $10 pre-purchase ticket includes all materials for either cookie OR ornament decorating and a cup of local hot cider.
2:00pm: 12th Annual Rocknoceros Holiday Singalong
As every family with youngsters in the DC area already knows, Rocknoceros (pronounced like rhinoceros) is three guys: Coach Cotton, Williebob, and Boogie Woogie Bennie, who make wildly popular, award-winning music for the whole family. Rocknoceros has since dominated the Washington, DC children’s music scene and gained significant national recognition as well.
4:00pm-6:00pm: DC Youth Orchestra presents Prelude to the Holidays at UDC
Join DCYOP’s premier ensemble, the Youth Orchestra, as they kick off the holiday season with a free concert of holiday favorites and Strauss! Repertoire includes preludes such as Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel Overture and Strauss’s Fledermaus Overture, as well as A Christmas Festival and other works by Strauss. Come early to enjoy extra festivities! DCYOP faculty will host a musical instrument petting zoo in the lobby before the performance. Bring your younger children so that they can try out different musical instruments with the help of our teachers!
Sunday
10:00am-4:00pm: Takoma Park WinterFest
Holiday shipping with 40+ local artisans and vendors. Visit with Santa, enjoy music, performances, community crafting for charity, face painting, food and more.
10:00am: Nous Bloomons
The Alliance Francaise is very proud to continue its partnership with BloomBars, bringing back a weekly music program for children. Nous Bloomons is a celebration of French language and culture through song and dance, led by Achille Ango. Achille grew up in Cameroon (Central West Africa). After graduating from High School, he went to France where he lived for seven years studying and playing music. He has taught French to children, and played music with various bands in the Washington area for more than 20 years. He now teaches French in an immersion school using music as a vehicle. If you want to have fun, dance, jump and sing “à tue-tête”, join us at BloomBars! $7 suggested donation per child. $5 per adult.
10:00am-12:00pm AND 4:00pm-6:00pm: Sunday Workshop at Red Panda Art Studio: Gift making workshop
Each two hour workshop includes a variety of art and sensory activities related to the day’s theme. Drop-off welcome.
11:00am-11:45am: Sunday Funday at Imagination Stage
Your child’s favorite stories will come to life through dramatic play activities, music, movement, and visual art. Each session you leave with a special take-home item we used or created that day, as well as a Parent Pack to extend the experience at home. These popular workshops are themed around beloved children’s books. The Snowy Day is the theme!
As always, we post last minute events on Facebook and Instagram pages, so make sure you follow us!
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Thank you for a nice variety of activites .