What To Do Around Northern Virginia This Week

The holiday season is in full swing! We know it can be hard to stay on top of all the possible events and happenings. Luckily we’ve compiled a list of 12 family-friendly events to keep you busy and entertained.

Keep reading for our recommended events happening around Northern Virginia now through December 4. There’s lots of holiday happenings like Christmas markets, holiday sing-a-longs, and a quick round-up of tree lighting events, but also stargazing, STEAM workshops, and a family movie night.

Church Street Holiday Stroll

Enjoy live holiday music from local groups, a tree lighting led by Mayor Linda Colbert, and great deals from local Church Street businesses! Church Street Holiday Stroll invites the community to visit local historic sites, like the Freeman Store and Museum, Little Library, Caboose, Train Station, Knights of Columbus (formerly First Baptist Church), and Vienna Presbyterian’s Old Chapel. Plus, enjoy roasted marshmallows and seeing Santa ride on the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department’s antique truck at 6:15 pm.

When: Monday, 11/28 at 6 pm
Price: Free
Address: Historic Vienna, Church St., Vienna, VA 22180
Learn more here.

Holiday Open House at the Historic Vienna Train Station

In conjunction with the Holiday Stroll, the Historic Vienna Train Station will be welcoming visitors to see and hear HO-scale model trolleys and trains, including Thomas and some of his friends, on display and in operation. In the spirit of the season, the Train Station will be decorated for the holidays and the Polar Express will join Thomas and Friends on the layout!

When: Monday, 11/28 from 6 pm - 9 pm
Price: Free
Address: Historic Vienna Train Station, 231 Dominion Rd. NE, Vienna, VA 22180
Click here to learn more.

STEAM Club at Rust Library

Children in grades K-5 are invited to join Rust Library to follow their curiosity, build experiments, and get messy. This month’s topic is dinosaurs!

When: Wednesday, 11/30 from 4 pm - 5 pm
Price: Free
Address: Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Rd. NW, Leesburg, VA 20176
Visit the library’s website to learn more.

Heurich Christmas Markt at Heurich House Museum

This beloved DC Christmas market is back! This weekend, join Heurich House Museum for their festive German-style craft market. The market stretches from the Heurich House Museum’s garden up New Hampshire Avenue NW towards Dupont Circle. Enjoy a mug of Glühwein and find the perfect holiday gifts for your loved ones. The Markt will feature 50+ local small-scale makers, a mini exhibit about the museum’s historic revival of the Chr. Heurich Brewing Co.’s Senate Beer, children’s ornament making, and more!

When: Friday, 12/2 from 4 pm - 8 pm; Saturday, 12/3 from 12 pm - 8 pm; and Sunday, 12/4 from 12 pm - 6 pm
Price: Free for children under 2 and $2 for children ages 2-15. General admission + a beer is $18 online and $20 at the door. General admission without a beer purchase is $12 online and $14 at the door.
Address: Heurich House Museum, 1307 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036
Learn more and purchase tickets here.

Holiday on the Farm

Join Frying Pan Farm Park for a family-friendly evening of wagon rides, indoor activities, food, animal interactions, campfires, and more! There is a fee for wagon rides, and s’mores will be provided to everyone who buys a ticket. Bring the whole family and see the farm in a new, festive way!

When: Friday, 12/2 and Saturday, 12/3. The first time slot is at 5:30 pm and the last time slot starts at 7:30 pm.
Price: $10
Address: Frying Pan Farm Park, 2739 West Ox Rd., Herndon, VA 20171
Click here sign up.

Lorton Holiday Extravaganza & Craft Show

The Lorton Holiday Extravaganza & Craft Show, held at South County High School, is a holiday event for the whole family! Browse from 180 vendors offering handcrafted goods, and enjoy holiday entertainment, a silent auction, a Candy Cane Kids Fun Run, food trucks, and Santa arriving on a fire truck!

When: Saturday, 12/3 from 9 am - 3 pm
Price: Free
Address: South County High School, 8501 Silverbrook Rd., Lorton, VA 22079
See more info here.

76th Greater Manassas Christmas Parade

The Greater Manassas Christmas Parade has become one of the largest holiday parades in Northern Virginia with marching bands, floats, high-flying balloons, and more! The theme for this year’s parade is Hometown Christmas.

When: Saturday, 12/3 beginning at 10 am
Price: Free
Address: Historic Downtown Manassas & Harris Pavilion, 9201 Center St., Manassas, VA 20110
Click here to learn more.

51st Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade

Bring the whole family to enjoy this local tradition! The city of Alexandria was founded by Scottish merchants and named after Scotsman John Alexander. Every year, dozens of Scottish clans dressed in colorful tartans parade through the streets of Old Town, joined by pipe and drum bands from around the region, terriers and hounds, and more!

When: Saturday, 12/3 beginning at 11 am
Price: Free
Address: Old Town Alexandria, 221 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314
Find out more here.

The Polar Express Movie Party

The Polar Express Movie Party is coming to Alamo Drafthouse Cinema this Saturday! Once your family comes aboard this special holiday Movie Party (The Polar Express is rated G), there will be all sorts of fun surprises waiting for you, including kid-friendly props like a Santa hat and sleigh bells, and some fun activity sheets for you to take home. With fun props and tasty treats, The Polar Express Movie Party promises to be a delightful, interactive holiday activity the whole family will love.

When: Saturday, 12/3 at 12 pm and 1 pm
Price: Seat tickets are about $14 plus fees. This event is appropriate for children ages 3 and up.
Address: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, 20575 Easthampton Plz., Ashburn, VA 20147
Get your tickets here.

Holiday Sing-A-Long at Wolf Trap

Celebrate the holiday season with family and friends at Wolf Trap’s Holiday sing-a-long on Saturday! This annual musical celebration includes a beautiful performance by the United States Marine Band and a sing-a-long of Christmas carols and Hanukkah songs with choir and vocal groups from the metropolitan Washington area. There will also be a “Jing-A-Long” during the singing of “Jingle Bells,” so remember to bring some bells. Guests are also invited to bring a candle and join the tradition of exiting the Filene Center with a candlelight processional during the last verse of “Silent Night.” Wolf Trap will be participating in Toys for Tots by collecting new, unwrapped toys at the Filene Center entrance before the sing-a-long; donations are voluntary and greatly appreciated.

When: Saturday, 12/3 at 4 pm. Gates open at 3 pm.
Price: Parking and admission are free but limited, so arrive early
Address: Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna, VA 22182
Find out more on their website.

Christmas in Middleburg

Ring in the Christmas season with a day steeped in tradition and celebration. Join one of the most fun-filled family festivals of the year in Middleburg with activities, special events, great eats, the famous Middleburg Hunt Review, and a mile-long Christmas parade. Activities will include carols, a tree lighting, breakfast with Santa, and more!

When: Saturday, 12/3 from 8 am - 6 pm. The tree lighting is the night before on Friday, 12/2 at 5 pm.
Price: Free, but tickets need to be purchased for Breakfast with Santa.
Address: Washington Street in Middleburg, VA 20117.
See a full schedule of events here.

(Psst . . . Christmas in Middleburg was featured in our Loudoun County Parent’s Guide to the Holidays. Be sure to download your copy here!)

Stargazing at the Udvar-Hazy Center

Do you ever look up at the night sky and wonder what exactly you’re seeing above you? Join Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center staff and members of the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club for an evening of stargazing. They will help you use telescopes to observe planets, stars, and more.

When: Sunday, 12/4 from 5 pm - 7 pm
Price: Free
Address: Udvar-Hazy Center (National Air & Space Museum), 14390 Air and Space Museum Pkwy., Chantilly, VA 20151
Learn more here.

Tree Lightings & Celebrations

The first weekend in December rings in many holiday celebrations. This is the time when many towns are hosting their tree lightings! Here’s a quick round-up:

Leesburg on Friday, 12/2
Dulles Town Center on Friday, 12/2
Purcellville on Friday, 12/2
Manassas on Friday, 12/2
Stafford County on Friday, 12/2
Fairfax on Saturday, 12/3
Ashburn (One Loudoun) on Saturday, 12/3
Del Ray on Sunday, 12/4

If you’re in Loudoun County, be sure to grab our Parent’s Guide to the Holidays to see more holiday celebrations and Santa sightings happening throughout December!