1. Visit the National Christmas Tree: Every Night in December The National Christmas tree located near the White House will be lit and available for visit from dusk until 10 p.m. Tickets to see the forty foot tree are free, but be prepared for the limited parking.

2. See the Nutcracker: The classic Christmas Ballet will be performed at many theaters in the DMV including The Warner Theatre, W.T. Woodson High School, NOVA, The Kennedy Center, Ernst Community Cultural Center, and many more. Ticket prices and additional information are available online.

3. Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen: Celebrate the season of giving by volunteering at a local soup kitchen. D.C. Central Kitchen, Bean’s Cafe, and House of Mercy are three successful Soup Kitchens operating in the area.

4. See the Gaylord National Resort’s ICE!: ICE! is a popular annual holiday event held at the Gaylord, where dozens of themed ice sculptures are put on display. This year’s theme is ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Another attraction of ICE! is the two-story-tall ice slide that you can go down. Tickets are available for purchase online. The event is located at 201 Waterfront Street · National Harbor, Maryland.

5. See the Bull Run Christmas Lights: Officially named the Bull RUn Festival of Lights, the display is a 2.5 mile stretch of exquisite holiday lights. This year’s display will include over 40,000 animated lights set to music. After viewing the lights you can visit the Wonderland Holiday Village which includes an array of food, carnival rides, a skating rink, shopping and entertainment. Ticket prices and hours are listed online.