Washington, DC, is one of America’s best places to spend time during the Christmas holidays. The city gives itself over to Christmas and the displays are among the most lavish in the country. Better yet, many of the festivities are free. Even many of the concerts at the Kennedy Center are free.
Botanic Gardens Christmas Garden
For me this is one of the most wonderful and surprising Christmas happenings in Washington, DC. The Botanic Gardens just in front of the southwest corner of the Capitol has a beautiful collection of models of DC’s monumental buildings created from stems, stalks, leaves and blades if different plants.
In a room on the eastern side of the garden entrance a fanciful train chugs through tunnels and around scenes of mountains, toy villages, tiny trolls and ferries.
The United States Botanic Garden Conservatory is open to the public, free of charge, every day of the year from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 100 Maryland Avenue, SW. Cost: Free.
Union Station Norwegian Train
This is the home of the Washington DC official Christmas Tree. The railway station is decorated fantastically and include one of the country’s best model trains chuffing through a Norwegian countryside complete with mountains and fjords. Plus, parking is a deal if you want to stop in for a couple of hours — Pay one dollar ($1.00) for two hour parking with shopping validation. Cost: Free.
White House National Christmas Tree
Set up right in front of the White House on the Ellipse, the National Christmas Tree and Christmas trees from all 50 states and the nation’s territories sparkle surrounded by trains and gifts.
The event began back in 1923 when President Calvin Coolidge walked from the White House to the Ellipse to light a 48-foot fir tree decorated with 2,500 electric bulbs in red, white and green. Festivities then included as a local choir and a “quartet” from the U.S. Marine Band. The National Christmas Tree website has a very interesting page with pictures of select trees over the past 85 years.
Now, 86 years later, this holiday tradition continues to bring citizens together to share in a message of hope and peace. This year Miss America, BB King and the US Coast Guard Band all came to celebrate the lighting. Click here to watch the 2010 Christmas tree lighting. Cost: Free.
Capitol Christmas Tree
The Capitol Christmas Tree has been a tradition at the U.S. Capitol since 1964. The tree will be lit from night fall until 11 p.m. each evening through January 1, 2011.
This year’s tree was donated by the State of Wyoming and is decorated by 5,000 ornaments and lit with LED lighting. I find this tree one of the most beautiful in the city and with the Capitol dome in the background, the scene is hard to beat. Cost: Free.
Mt. Vernon by candlelight
Across the Potomac River from the District is the home of George Washington, the first President of our country. It will be decked out for Christmas and will offer weekend candlelight tours. Every day enjoy themed decorations, a five-food-wide gingerbread Mount Vernon, chocolate-making demonstrations, 18th-century dancing, a Christmas camel just like George Washington had on the grounds during Christmas of 1787 and the turkey pardoned by President Obama add to the historic atmosphere.
The popular tradition continues with the opening the rarely-seen third floor of the Mansion and a chance for visitors to meet the charming “Mrs. Washington.” Cost: $15 for adults, $7 for youth (6-11), and free for children five and younger.
National Building Museum
This is home to the holiday musical celebration, Christmas in Washington, that will be televised nationwide on December 17th. The atrium of this building is one of the most amazing spaces in Washington, DC. It is always decorated to the hilt for Christmas and this event.
This year the show will feature Andrea Bocelli, Mariah Carey, Miranda Cosgrove, Annie Lennox, Maxwell and Matthew Morrison who will be performing for the President and First Lady. The show is a fundraiser for the Children’s National Medical Center.
Wreaths at Arlington Cemetery
This is a particularly emotional time to visit Arlington National Cemetery. The dramatic laying of wreaths at tens of thousands of tombstones in the cemetery is a dramatic thank you to the sacrifice of our armed forces. About 24,000 balsam wreaths have been placed on the graves of military personnel at Arlington National Cemetery.
It’s the 19th consecutive year that wreaths from Worcester Wreath Co. in Maine were laid on soldiers’ gravestones to pay tribute to the nation’s veterans. Walking through the cemetery is meditative and reminds us that freedom isn’t free. With the wreaths added to the scene for the rest of this month, it seems as through the country is giving back thanks. Cost: Free.
Holly’s Tacky Christmas Lights
This is a wonderful website that highlights the best of Fairfax’s Christmas Light displays in the neighborhoods of the county. Holly’s website also tells visitors what station to tune to to follow the music to which many of the light shows are choreographed.
Kennedy Center Millennium Performances
All month long performances are held on the Millennium Stage that are free of charge. These include shows such as the Sweet Heaven Kinds, An Irish Christmas, the Children of the Gospel Choir. Check the schedule for free events.
Charlie Leocha is the President of Travelers United. He has been working in Washington, DC, for the past 14 years with Congress, the Department of Transportation, and industry stakeholders on travel issues. He was the first consumer representative to the Advisory Committee for Aviation Consumer Protections appointed by the Secretary of Transportation from 2012 through 2018.
