Local Brief
Don't miss these winter festivals around D.C.
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Bring your pup to the Lodge's dog holiday sweater contest. Photo: Courtesy National Landing BID
A white winter is up in the air — but you can count on frosty festivals and holiday villages to bring faux snow and real fun.
What's new: Winter Wonderfest at Nationals Park (starting Nov.28), takes over the stadium with an active playground for all ages, replacing the long-running Miracle pop-up.
Go for: A six-lane snow tubing hill, curling, putt putt and snowball speed throw. Plus:
- A light show with illuminated art installations and LED dance floor.
- An après-ski area for the 21+ crowd with seasonal cocktails and a batting cage speakeasy.
- Frozen hot cocoa, winter funnel cake and more ballpark-meets-"Frozen" food throughout.
🎟️ Tickets $30 each (parking passes vary).
More festivals!
🍻 Wunder Garten Winterfest (through Dec. 21): NoMa's dog-friendly beer garden glows up with fire pits, a Christmas tree lot, and festive weekly events (e.g. Krampusnacht, ugly sweater "Swiftmas").
🌟 Winter City Lights (through Dec. 29): The 10-acre winter wonderland in Olney, Maryland boasts snow tubing, bubble snow, 1 million lights and festive fare.
- Tickets vary.
🎄 Christmas at the Harbor (through Jan. 4): National Harbor goes big for the holidays with Ice! featuring "The Polar Express." The immersive winter experience has frosty tunnels, ice carvings and a train ride amid thousands of pounds of ice (BYO parka or rent one).
- Ticket prices vary.
🇳🇴 Norwegian Festival (Dec. 5-7): Norway House throws an indoor/outdoor festival in Fairfax with plenty of Nordic fun, including Lefse demonstrations, fjord horse riding, a holiday market and a Norwegian cafe.
- Admission is free, but advance registration is required (it books up).
🌲 National Arboretum Winter Festival (Dec. 6): Shop from 30+ local vendors, take a holiday train ride through the park's Capitol Columns and partake in free family-friendly activities — plus caroling and cocoa.
- Register here for the free event.
⛷️ Lodge at National Landing (Dec. 6): The Arlington neighborhood hosts a ski-themed winter festival with a peppermint mocha latte contest, vendor market, dog holiday sweater contest, family-friendly activities and a "lodge after dark" for adults with holiday karaoke.
- RSVP for the free event.