‘ Tis The Season:
15 Holiday Sightings, Winter Wonders and Festive Celebrations
1. Winter Lights Festival
Nov. 27-Dec. 31, Sunday-Thursday: 6-9 p.m.;
Friday-Saturday: 6-10 p.m.

Seneca State Park, 1950 Clopper Rd., Gaithersburg, MD
More than 350 illuminated vignettes and 65 animated displays in a
3 ½ mile drive through beautiful Seneca Creek State Park.

2. Manassas Christmas Parade
5. Gaylord National’s ICE!
Through Jan. 3
Marriott Gaylord National Harbor, National Harbor, MD
Enjoy a winter wonderland created from 5,000 blocks of ice hand-
sculpted by international artisans.

6. Bethesda’s Annual Winter Wonderland
Dec. 5, 10 a.m.

Old Town Manassas, VA
Come see amazing floats, local celebrities, marching bands,
equestrians, animated characters and, of course, Santa!
Dec. 5, 1-4 p.m.

Veterans Park, Woodmont and Norfolk Ave., Bethesda, MD
Blocks of ice will be transformed into wintery works of art before
your eyes during the live ice sculpting presentation followed by
choral performances from local school groups.

3. Gingerbread Architecture Workshop
7. Middleburg Hunt & Christmas Parade
Dec. 5, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW, Washington, D.C.

Build your own edible house using gingerbread and royal icing,
and decorate it with a variety of materials. A group of four can
comfortably work together on one gingerbread house.

4. Christmas at Mount Vernon
Nov. 27, 2015-Jan. 6, 2016, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA
Enjoy sparkling holiday decorations, 12 dazzling Christmas trees
and historical chocolate-making demonstrations.

SCHOOLS / preschools
Dec. 5, 11 a.m. (Hunt); 2 p.m. (Parade)
Main Street, Middleburg, VA
One hundred horses with their riders in red coats and dozens of
hounds take to the streets of Middleburg for this annual event.

The parade features floats, marching bands, local community
groups, Santa, antique fire trucks and a variety of animals.

8. Frederick Festival of Lights
Dec. 18, 7 p.m.

All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 106 W. Church St., Frederick, MD
Holiday greetings, carols and an inspirational message are all part



of this event, which highlights the true meaning of the holiday
season. 9. Kwanzaa Celebration 2015
Dec. 12-13, Saturday: 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.; Sunday: 4 p.m.

Coyaba Dance Theater, 3225 8th St. NE, Washington, D.C.

Welcome the holiday season with Dance Place’s annual Kwanzaa
Celebration! Gather family and friends to watch and celebrate the
seven principles of Kwanzaa.

10. National Hanukkah Menorah Lighting Ceremony
Dec. 6, 4 p.m. (rain or shine)
The White House Ellipse (at the NW end, near Constitution Ave.),
Washington, D.C.

Festivities at the lighting ceremony include musical performances,
hot latkes and donuts. This year’s celebration will feature the U.S.

Army Band. The Menorah will be lit each night of Hanukkah.

One of the most exciting events of the season is back: The Water
Skiing Santa! The annual event features a water-skiing Santa,
flying elves, the Jet-skiing Grinch, and Frosty the Snowman
performing sing-a-longs on the Potomac River.

13. Bull Run Festival of Lights
Through Jan. 3
Bull Run Regional Park, Centreville, VA
This 2 ½-mile drive-through holiday light show has more than
40,000 animated lights set to music. Afterwards, visit the Winter
Wonderland Holiday Village that includes rides, an ice skating
rink, shopping, contests, food and more.

14. The Nutcracker Puppet Show
Nov. 27-Dec. 30 (check www.thepuppetco.org for show times)
Glen Echo Park, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD
Music from Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet blends with marionettes
and costume characters to create this unique production.

Pleas Imme e Proof
diate 703-318-5509
ly!
11. The Christmas Revels
Dec. 5-13 (check www.revelsdc.org for show times)
Lisner Auditorium, George Washington University,
Washington, D.C.

The annual show will be a lively celebration with spirited dances
celebrating the Irish spirit of the Emerald Isle in the mid-1800s.

12. The Water Skiing Santa
Dec. 24, 1 p.m.

Old Town Alexandria, VA
15. Holiday Sing-A-Long
Dec. 5, 4 p.m.

Wolf Trap, 1635 Trap Rd., Vienna, VA
An annual musical celebration hosting a performance by the U.S.

Marine Corp Band and a Sing-A-Long of Christmas carols and
Hanukkah songs with choir and vocal groups from the area. Bring
along a candle to join the tradition of exiting the Filene Center
with a candlelight processional during the last verse of “Silent
Night.” SCHOOLS / preschools
Bilingual Montessori
Now Enrolling!
Academy For Age 2 - 6 Years
F rench • S paniSh • i talian
H alf D ay or f ull D ay • E arly B irds & a ftEr -C arE
O pEn H OusE : Jan. 9, 2016 • 10a.m. - 12 p.m.

For information call: (301) 962-7262
3514 Plyers Mill Rd., Kensington, MD
www.spring-bilingual.org • info@spring-bilingual.org
Chevy Chase United
Methodist Church Preschool
Preschool for ages 2-5 offering a creative, play-based environment.

• Kindergarten readiness
• Foreign language immersion programs
• Emphasis on socio-emotional development
• Virtues Curriculum
www.ccumcpreschool.org • 301.652.7660