Celebrate the Holiday Season: Your 2024 Guide to Family Fun

The holiday magic is back, and we are ready to share all the local family-friendly holiday fun this season! From festive events to spectacular light displays and Santa visits, Macaroni KID Gainesville has your ultimate guide to the best local holiday events - not only in Gainesville, but Manassas, Haymarket, Bristow, Nokesville, Catlett, New Baltimore, and Warrenton as well! Explore our curated list of activities and make your holidays unforgettable.

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Must-See Holiday Attractions

Discover the best holiday attractions and festive experiences that will bring cheer and winter magic all season long:

Bull Run Festival of Lights & Carnival

Location: Bull Run Regional Park, 7700 Bull Run Drive Centreville, VA 20121
Highlights: 2.5-mile drive-through of festive light displays, walk-through Holiday Village and Carnival, Nov 15 - Jan 5
More Info: https://www.novaparks.com/events/bull-run-festival-of-lights

Christmas at Maple Tree Farm

Location: 8275 Maple Tree Lane, Warrenton, Virginia 20187
Highlights: Campfires, delicious treats, two trains, Santa photos, and puppet and light shows
More Info: https://www.mapletreefarmva.com/

Holiday Walk of Lights

Location: Neabsco Regional Park, 15125 Blackburn Rd, Woodbridge, VA 22191
Highlights: Free event! Stroll through a sparkling winter wonderland filled with thousands of twinkling lights, holiday themed characters, a holiday market and joyful holiday music.
More Info: https://www.pwcva.gov/department/neabsco-regional-park/holidaylights

Ice & Lights - The Winter Village at Cameron Run

Location: 4001 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria VA 22304
Highlights: A fun, outdoor family experience to see unique light displays, take family pictures or selfies with a variety of light displays, enjoy a hot beverage, and snack, and take a spin on the ice rink under the stars.
More Info: https://www.novaparks.com/events/ice-lights

Meadowlark's Winter Walk of Lights

Location: Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Court, Vienna VA 22182
Highlights: Elegant garden trail aglow with countless sparkling lights, featuring nature, winter, and holiday themes.
More Info: https://www.novaparks.com/events/winter-walk-of-lights

Winter Lantern Festival

Location: 8025 Galleria Drive, Tysons, VA
Highlights: Over 1000 Chinese lanterns. A walk-through experience to light up and warm up the season! Featuring live entertainment by the Zigong Acrobatic Troupe, food, drinks and gifts, there’s something for the whole family to enjoy.
More Info: https://www.winterlanternfestival.com/virginia
Be sure to use the code KIDSFIRST at checkout for 20% off!

Zoo Lights

Location: National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW Washington, DC 20008
Highlights: Walk down festive pathways and explore immersive displays throughout the Zoo. Marvel at glowing lantern animals in their dazzling habitats, watch live nightly musical performances, take a spin on the Conservation Carousel, sample sweet and savory seasonal treats, and check gifts off your holiday shopping lists at our Asia Trail, Panda Plaza and Great Cats stores.
More Info: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/visit/events/zoolights

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Upcoming Local Holiday and Winter Events

Looking to find local holiday events? Want to know where to meet Santa? Stay updated with the best seasonal events happening. From tree lightings to Santa visits and holiday craft fairs, there’s something for everyone!

We’ll update this list frequently as more events are announced, so make sure to check back often!

November 30

December 1

December 6

December 7

December 8

December 9

December 12

Scrooge the Musical

December 13

December 14

December 15

December 16

December 17

Winter Snowflake Making

December 18

December 19

December 20

December 21

December 22

December 23

December 28

December 29

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

December 31

Parent tip: Event details can change! Always confirm event details before heading out.

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More Holiday Fun!

While Christmas is the highlight, don’t miss out on all the local winter festivities happening this season! Explore more:

Ice Skating at Harris Pavilion

Location: 9201 Center St, Manassas, VA 20110
Highlights: Outdoor skating rink in the heart of Old Town Manassas.
More Info: https://visitmanassas.org/event/ice-skating-at-harris-pavilion-3/

Ice Skating at Reston Town Center

Location: 1818 Discovery St, Reston, VA 20190
Highlights: Public skating daily.
More Info: https://www.restontowncenter.com/skating/

Bookmark this page, as we’ll be adding even more local holiday events and family-friendly activities throughout the season!

Have you found some great, family-friendly events through Macaroni Kid? Share the love and forward the newsletter to a friend, share it with a Facebook group, or tell your child's school about this free resource!

Macaroni Kid Gainesville is a free weekly newsletter and website focused on fun family events and information in Manassas, Gainesville, Bristow, Nokesville, Haymarket, Catlett, New Baltimore, and Warrenton. We gather together all kinds of local family events and activities each week and add useful information about classes, family-focused businesses, book and product reviews, recipes, crafts, school and camp guides and more. Macaroni Kid Gainsville is full of useful local information like this PLUS tons of kid-friendly events on our event calendar. Have an event you'd like submitted to our calendar for consideration? Submit an event here.

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