Discover the charm of the season in Montgomery Village with our ultimate guide. For Montgomery Village experts and novices alike, our guide reveals hidden gems and beloved traditions.
One of the highlights of the holiday season is the dazzling National Harbor Tree Light Show, where a spectacular Christmas tree sparkles with lights and music. You can also experience the festive atmosphere at Christmas at the Harbor, featuring a delightful waterfront market and seasonal activities for the whole family. And the Gaylord National Hotel Show is something you definitely don't want to miss, showcasing a stunning display of festive decorations and interactive experiences. See more details on these and other fun events and activities below!
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Top Holiday Events In and Around Montgomery Village
- National Harbor Tree Light Show (National Harbor)
- Christmas at the Harbor (National Harbor)
- ICE featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (National Harbor)
- Gaylord National Hotel Show (National Harbor)
- Winter City Lights (Baltimore)
- Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens (Wheaton)
- Festival of Lights at Watkins Regional Park (Upper Marlboro)
- Lights On the Bay (Annapolis)
- Winterfest of Lights (Ocean City)
- Merriweather Symphony of Lights (Columbia)
See these and even more events listed below!
Montgomery Village Holiday Light Displays
National Harbor Tree Light Show
What to Expect:
Spectacular RGB tree lighting show with holiday music.
Description:
The National Harbor Tree Light Show features a 60-foot RGB tree that comes to life nightly with a breathtaking light show dancing alongside a holiday medley recorded by the United States Air Force Band.
Where: National Harbor | More Info: National Harbor Tree Light Show
Christmas at the Harbor
What to Expect:
Spectacular fireworks display following the tree lighting show.
Description:
Celebrate the holiday season at National Harbor with a 60-foot RGB tree light show, festive fireworks, and access to ICE featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Stroll through Waterfront District shops and Tanger Outlets for the perfect gift, enjoy special meals at various restaurants, and soar above it all with a ride on The Capital Wheel.
Where: National Harbor | More Info: Christmas at the Harbor
Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens
What to Expect:
Interactive light displays and seasonal exhibits.
Description:
Brookside Gardens transforms into a vibrant winter spectacle with over one million twinkling LED lights, featuring intricate displays of animals, flowers, and natural elements along a half-mile paved trail.
Where: Wheaton | More Info: Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens
Winter City Lights
What to Expect:
Technologically advanced light show with eco-friendly, low-energy lighting.
Description:
Winter City Lights features over 1 million twinkling lights across 18 acres, including a 1.5-mile trail, a 52-foot tall programmable Christmas tree, and a 200-foot diameter canopy. The event also offers an 8-lane Snow Tubing Ride, tasty concessions, and cozy bonfires.
Where: Baltimore | More Info: Winter City Lights
Lights On the Bay
What to Expect:
Scenic drive with 70+ animated and stationary light displays.
Description:
Drive through a two-mile scenic route along the Chesapeake Bay at Sandy Point State Park, featuring over 70 animated and stationary light displays, including festive holiday designs and historic Annapolis-inspired lights.
Where: Annapolis | More Info: Lights On the Bay
Festival of Lights at Watkins Regional Park
What to Expect:
Dazzling LED light displays with interactive musical tree and seasonal activities.
Description:
The 37th Annual Winter Festival of Lights at Watkins Regional Park features over 2.5 million LED lights, a 54-foot LED musical tree, and new this year, hayrides and horseback riding.
Where: Upper Marlboro | More Info: Festival of Lights at Watkins Regional Park
Merriweather Symphony of Lights
What to Expect:
Dazzling display of over 300,000 lights.
Description:
Merriweather Symphony of Lights is a dazzling holiday light display at historic Merriweather Post Pavilion in Howard County, featuring over 300,000 bulbs and larger-than-life animated and stationary light creations.
Where: Columbia | More Info: Merriweather Symphony of Lights
Winterfest of Lights
What to Expect:
Interactive light displays and a 50-foot Christmas tree.
Description:
Explore thousands of sparkling holiday lights and animated displays along paved paths in Northside Park. Enjoy hot chocolate, meet Santa, and visit the gift shop. The 50-foot Christmas tree is a highlight of the event.
Where: Ocean City | More Info: Winterfest of Lights
City Center Christmas Tree Lighting
What to Expect:
Iconic 75-foot tree lighting ceremony with live music and festive activities.
Description:
Join CityCenterDC for its 10th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting on November 25th, featuring a joyful music performance by The Revels, balloon artists, face painters, and holiday treats. NBC4’s Eun Yang will host the official tree lighting ceremony and countdown. Enjoy the dazzling 75-foot tree, visit the two resident 25-foot reindeer, and capture the holiday spirit with a photo under the Palmer Alley Dream Closet art installation.
Where: Washington, DC | More Info: City Center Christmas Tree Lighting
Washington D.C. Temple Festival of Lights
What to Expect:
Spectacular light display with diverse nativity exhibits.
Description:
The Washington D.C. Temple Festival of Lights features over 400,000 lights, beautifully decorated Christmas trees, and exhibits showcasing nativity scenes from around the world. The event includes numerous free holiday performances and is open to the public.
Where: Kensington | More Info: Washington D.C. Temple Festival of Lights
Georgetown GLOW
What to Expect:
Free outdoor light art exhibition with walking tours and shopping events.
Description:
Georgetown GLOW is a free outdoor light art experience featuring national and international artists' commissioned works, displayed nightly from 5 pm to 10 pm in Georgetown's historic commercial district. The event includes walking tours, shopping promotions, and a holiday cocktail crawl.
Where: Georgetown | More Info: Georgetown GLOW
Light Yards
What to Expect:
Interactive light installation with swinging bells.
Description:
Light Yards is an interactive holiday light installation at The Yards Park in Washington, DC, featuring five 13-foot tall bells that play a jingle as you swing, allowing guests to become part of the artwork.
Where: Washington, DC | More Info: Light Yards
Montgomery Village Holiday Markets and Shopping
Downtown Holiday Market
What to Expect:
Diverse local vendors and community activations.
Description:
The DowntownDC Holiday Market in Penn Quarter-Chinatown offers a diverse array of local vendors, artisans, and community activations. Expect upgraded vendor kiosks, fresh artisanal goods, and a delectable food and beverage lineup.
Where: Washington, DC | More Info: Downtown Holiday Market
German Christmas Village at Baltimore's Inner Harbor
What to Expect:
Authentic German Christmas market with a variety of local and international vendors.
Description:
German Christmas Village at Baltimore's Inner Harbor features over 60 vendors offering unique gifts and European cuisine, including a wide selection of German mulled wine and traditional foods.
Where: Baltimore | More Info: German Christmas Village at Baltimore's Inner Harbor
Silver Spring Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Fair
What to Expect:
Unique gifts and local artisans in a festive marketplace setting.
Description:
The Silver Spring Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Fair at Veterans Plaza offers a festive celebration featuring seasonal artisans, delicious treats, and unique gifts. Explore a merry marketplace filled with handcrafted treasures from local artisans, savor delightful food and desserts from carefully selected vendors, and immerse yourself in festive melodies of Christmas music.
Where: Silver Spring | More Info: Silver Spring Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Fair
Montgomery Village Holiday Shows and Entertainment
Gaylord National Hotel Show
What to Expect:
Interactive ice sculptures and thrilling frozen slides.
Description:
At Gaylord National Hotel, immerse yourself in a holiday spectacle featuring stunning ice sculptures, thrilling frozen slides, and spectacular light shows. Enjoy larger-than-life sculptures and festive activities like gingerbread decorating and ice skating.
Where: National Harbor | More Info: Gaylord National Hotel Show
ICE featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
What to Expect:
Immersive ice sculptures and thrilling frozen slides.
Description:
ICE featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a spectacular holiday attraction at Gaylord National, showcasing larger-than-life ice sculptures, thrilling frozen slides, and awe-inspiring tunnels. Over 40 world-renowned master artisans hand-carve approximately 6,000 blocks of ice to create this immersive, story-driven showplace featuring iconic scenes from the beloved film.
Where: National Harbor | More Info: ICE featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
The 35th Annual Puppet Nutcracker
What to Expect:
Seasonal celebration with a unique Puppet Co. nursery rhyme spin.
Description:
The 35th Annual Puppet Nutcracker is a time-honored seasonal celebration featuring Tchaikovsky's familiar story of Clara and her prince, with a unique Puppet Co. nursery rhyme spin. Originated by the founding team of Allan Stevens, Christopher Piper, and MayField Piper, this production includes music by the Arlington Symphony Orchestra.
Where: Glen Echo | More Info: The 35th Annual Puppet Nutcracker
The Hip Hop Nutcracker
What to Expect:
Innovative visual effects and hip-hop dance transform the classic Nutcracker tale.
Description:
The Hip Hop Nutcracker is a contemporary dance spectacle that reimagines Tchaikovsky's classic score with hip-hop dance, set in modern-day New York City. Featuring all-star dancers, a DJ, a violinist, and guest MC Kurtis Blow, this production transforms the traditional Nutcracker story into a vibrant and diverse representation of urban life, celebrating love and community.
Where: Silver Spring | More Info: The Hip Hop Nutcracker
Montgomery Village Other Holiday Activities
US Botanic Gardens Holiday Display and Trains
What to Expect:
Unique plant-based pollinator scenes and DC landmarks.
Description:
The US Botanic Gardens' holiday display features model trains running through pollinator sculptures made from plants, along with festive lights, poinsettias, and DC landmarks crafted from plant materials.
Where: Washington, DC | More Info: US Botanic Gardens Holiday Display and Trains
Christmas in Middleburg
What to Expect:
Historic town celebration with horse-drawn carriages and festive events.
Description:
Christmas in Middleburg is a festive holiday event featuring a tree lighting ceremony, a mile-long Christmas parade, and various activities like the Middleburg Hunt Review and caroling. The town transforms into a charming holiday setting with shopping, dining, and entertainment options.
Where: Middleburg | More Info: Christmas in Middleburg
Holly Trolley Fest
What to Expect:
Holiday celebration with historic street car rides and model railroad display.
Description:
Visit Santa on a historic street car ride, enjoy a holiday model railroad display, and participate in children's crafts and photo opportunities at the National Capital Trolley Museum.
Where: Colesville | More Info: Holly Trolley Fest
Christmas in St. Michaels Talbot Street Parade
What to Expect:
Traditional Christmas parade with diverse participants.
Description:
The Talbot Street Parade in St. Michaels is a traditional Christmas celebration featuring marching bands, antique cars, boats, fire engines, horses, kazoo bands, and llamas. Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive to close out the parade, making it the largest holiday parade on the Eastern Shore.
Where: St. Michaels | More Info: Christmas in St. Michaels Talbot Street Parade
Festive Fun in Nearby Cities!
Discover Holiday events in hundreds of cities worldwide. Check out these nearby locations for more festive fun!
- Gaithersburg (2 miles)
- Rockville (7 miles)
- Olney (7 miles)
- North Potomac (7 miles)
- Aspen Hill (9 miles)
- North Bethesda (10 miles)
- Potomac (11 miles)
- Wheaton (12 miles)
- Bethesda (14 miles)
- Fairland (15 miles)
- Silver Spring (16 miles)
- Scaggsville (16 miles)
- Reston (16 miles)
- McLean (17 miles)
- Sterling (17 miles)
- Herndon (18 miles)
- Ashburn (18 miles)
- Chillum (18 miles)
- Laurel (19 miles)
- College Park (19 miles)
- Columbia (20 miles)
- South Laurel (20 miles)
- Frederick (20 miles)
- Leesburg (20 miles)
- Eldersburg (20 miles)
- Oak Hill (21 miles)
- Greenbelt (21 miles)
- Arlington (21 miles)
- Oakton (21 miles)
- Washington (21 miles)
- West Falls Church (22 miles)
- Ellicott City (22 miles)
- Baileys Crossroads (23 miles)
- Landover (23 miles)
- Chantilly (23 miles)
- Fairfax (24 miles)
- Ilchester (24 miles)
- Annandale (24 miles)
- South Riding (24 miles)
- Lincolnia (25 miles)
- Randallstown (25 miles)
- West Elkridge (25 miles)
- Hanover (25 miles)
- Milford Mill (26 miles)
- Catonsville (26 miles)
- Centreville (26 miles)
- Severn (27 miles)
- Springfield (27 miles)
- Burke (27 miles)
- Alexandria (27 miles)
- Suitland (27 miles)
- Woodlawn (27 miles)
- Suitland-Silver Hill (27 miles)
- Arbutus (27 miles)
- Rose Hill (27 miles)
- Odenton (27 miles)
- Lochearn (28 miles)
- Owings Mills (28 miles)
- West Springfield (28 miles)
- Reisterstown (28 miles)
- Pikesville (29 miles)
- Oxon Hill-Glassmanor (29 miles)
- Gwynn Oak (29 miles)
- Bowie (30 miles)
- Crofton (30 miles)
- Glen Burnie (31 miles)
- South Gate (31 miles)
- Woodlawn (32 miles)
- Baltimore (32 miles)
- Clinton (33 miles)
- Manassas (33 miles)
- Pasadena (34 miles)
- Fort Washington (34 miles)
- Lake Ridge (34 miles)
- Linton Hall (35 miles)
- Towson (35 miles)
- Severna Park (36 miles)
- Cockeysville (36 miles)
- Dundalk (36 miles)
- Hunt Valley (37 miles)
- Parkville (38 miles)
- Dale City (38 miles)
- Arnold (38 miles)
- Carney (39 miles)
- Essex (40 miles)
- Annapolis (40 miles)
- Waldorf (41 miles)
- Middle River (42 miles)
- St. Charles (42 miles)
- Saint Charles (42 miles)
- Perry Hall (42 miles)
- Hagerstown (43 miles)