Small towns near D.C. go big for the holidays
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Middleburg's holiday hunt and hound parade. Photo: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images
Small towns in the D.C. region are celebrating the season with holiday markets, Christmas parades, and plenty of Main Street charm.
Why it matters: It's a nostalgia-filled year, and nothing says Hallmark Christmas like a big small-town celebration.
Be smart: Book any reservation — especially ticketed events — as soon as you can.
We've mapped our holiday destinations from closest (and Metro accessible!) to farthest afield.
🎄 Alexandria and Mt. Vernon, Virginia
Details: Nearby Old Town feels a world away during the holidays — especially this weekend during the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade and Holiday Boat Parade on Saturday. Festivities continue throughout the season: Take in the giant tree at historic city hall, skate through Ice & Lights park, or check out a holiday market.
- Our favorites: the Christmas Market & Holiday Craft Show (Dec. 9) and Del Ray's fine art and craft market (through Dec. 23).
- George Washington's Mt. Vernon, meanwhile, goes all-out for the holiday season with candlelight tours, fireworks displays, and meet-and-greets with Aladdin the Christmas camel, George's favorite.
Distance: Alexandria (8.3 miles); Mt. Vernon (22.8 miles)
🛥️ Annapolis, Maryland
Details: Maryland's charming capital hosts holiday events throughout the month, including the fantastic Eastport Yacht Club boat parade (Dec. 9), a downtown holiday market (Dec. 7-10), "midnight madness" shopping, and plenty of waterfront lights.
- Sandy Point State Park (a 15-minute drive) is aglow during Lights on the Bay, a two-mile, drive-thru holiday light display inspired by historic Annapolis (through Jan. 1). Online passes start at $20 per vehicle.
Distance: 32 miles
🏇 Middleburg, Virginia
Details: Holidays in hunt country aren't complete without Middleburg's famous Christmas parades, which start at 11am Saturday with the must-see procession of mounted sportsmen and their hunting hounds. Throughout the month go for carriage rides, free cocoa, caroling, and a ton of great shopping (don't miss German holiday finds at The Christmas Sleigh).
Distance: 43 miles
✨ Washington, Virginia
Details: Christmas in Little Washington, the tiny Rappahannock County town made famous by The Inn, is a big affair. On Sunday, horses and hounds parade with Santa in the streets, kids ride ponies and get face paintings, shoppers can browse a local artisan market, and bonfires keep everyone warm (see the full activity lineup here).
- The Inn at Little Washington's gift shop is a personal favorite for stocking up on luxe treats, ornaments and home goods, as is R.H. Ballard Shop & Gallery down the road.
Distance: 70 miles
🦪 St. Michaels and Easton, Maryland
Details: Charming decorations and maritime shops are always a draw, but the small harbor town's big event is Christmas in St. Michaels (Dec. 8-10). The packed weekend includes ticketed tours of historic homes decorated for the season, parades by boat and land, and church-hosted holiday meals with local fried oysters.
- Nearby Easton has chic local shops, light displays and holiday events throughout the month. On Dec. 16, there's a special Christmas concert with football-turned-opera star Morris Robinson — a regular at the Metropolitan Opera — and famed Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero at the Ebenezer Theater ($150 per person).
- We also love the decadent Friday afternoon tea at nearby Bonheur, which serves a special holiday tea on Dec. 16 in connection with the concert.
🧑🎄 Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Details: They don't call it "Christmas City" for nothing. You could make a weekend out of the Pennsylvania town's Bavarian Christkindlmarkt, filled with local vendors and warm food and drinks, a new ice rink, and tons of holiday light displays. The historic Sayre Mansion even has a Christmas Suite for overnight guests.
Distance: 193 miles
Go deeper: Holiday light displays around D.C.