The time between Christmas and the New Year can be many things. These few fleeting days may allow you to relax and recharge while munching on leftover holiday cookies; they may be a time to assess your holiday spoils and perhaps head to the mall to make some returns; they may even be filled with intermittent naps and Netflix binges.
However, if you’re not indulging in any of these self-care tactics, it’s easy to fall into the trap of the post-holiday blues. But don’t panic, I’m writing to assure you that the magic of the holiday season isn’t quite over yet – at least not in Washington, DC. Check out these fun, festive (and affordable) things to do in the District to keep the joy of the holidays alive.
Wander through the City’s Light Displays
CityCenterDC’s Dream Closet Installation
Check out the Dream Closet installation at CityCenterDC where you’ll find 400 snowflake ornaments hanging above Palmer Alley. Bonus: You can buy yourself anything on your wishlist that didn’t make it under your tree this year.
Navy Yard’s Light Yards
Yards Park’s interactive light installation is back with bells on this year, and you can experience it nightly between 5pm-10pm through January 2, 2026. This is a great one to pair with a wine tasting at District Winery if you want to turn your visit into a little date night!
Frosted at Franklin Park
Through January 7, 2026, you’ll once again have the chance to wander beneath thousands of lights at Franklin Park. This installation is free to visit and will be lit nightly from 4:30PM to 7AM. Check out a little walk-through of our experience here last year.
Zoo Lights at the National Zoo
Grab your beau or your besties and some mulled wine and head over to the National Zoo to admire the environmentally-friendly light displays. Tickets: Tickets are required for this event, and cost $9. Proceeds from the event (including tickets, concessions, and parking sales) will directly benefit animal care and conservation science at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.
Zoo lights will be sparkling through 1/3/2026
Indoor & Outdoor Ice Skating
There is something special about gliding over a sheet of ice surrounded by the city’s museums, office buildings, music venues, and high-rise apartment buildings. Washingtonians and visitors of all ages can take pleasure in this quintessential DC winter activity, and rinks typically remain open through February.
If you want to warm up indoors, the National Building Museum will once again be opening its doors to offer ice skating on its artificial rink. From December 27th through February 8th, 2026, you can experience the Winter Skate Spectacular in the museum’s Great Hall. Snag your tickets here.
Holiday Evening Hours at the US Botanic Garden
The National Botanic Garden is set to host two after-hours events (on 12/30/25 and 1/1/26), complete with live music. On these evenings, the Conservatory and outdoor train display will remain open until 8:00PM and offer food (there were baked goods for sale when we went) and drink vendors (hot apple cider, hot chocholate, mocktails, etc).
While you’re there, you can check out the “Season’s Greenings” holiday exhibit featuring miniature DC landmarks made entirely of plant-based materials in their indoor conservatory and their G-gauge model trains surrounded by plant-based scenes in their outdoor gardens. The color scheme in the conservatory and model train scenes changes each year, so even if you’ve visited during the holidays before, it is 100% worth checking out again. This year’s theme is dinosaurs, and it was so cool to be able to see them lit up outside after dark!
There is no admission fee and tickets are not required to visit any area of the U.S. Botanic Garden, including the holiday train display, and beyond the after-hours events, the exhibit will be open through January 4, 2026 from 10AM – 5PM daily.
Bonus/Honorable Mention: National Harbor
If you’re up for a little (30-minute tops) drive, Maryland’s National Harbor is another great option for getting in that last dose of festive fun. You can check out the 60-foot Christmas tree in the Harbor’s Spirit Park that hosts nightly light shows set to music from the U.S. Air Force Band. They also have fireworks every Saturday night at 5:30 PM through December 27th.
As far as entertainment goes, Bobby McKey’s dueling piano show is always fun, as is taking a ride 180 feet above the Potomac River on the Capital [Ferris] Wheel! ICE! at Gaylord National is also running through January 4th this year, featuring larger-than-life scenes from The Polar Express. After donning a blue parka to keep you warm in the chilly 9°F space, you’ll have the opportunity to twirl through ice tunnels, race down frozen slides, and literally marvel at characters from this beloved tale that have been carved into 1,000 tons of colorful ice.
Washington, DC is full of magical, memory-making experiences between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Whether you’re wandering through sparkling light displays, cozying up with a seasonal drink, or using the quieter days to hit the ice, the city offers endless festive ways to savor the season. No matter how you choose to spend this in-between week, DC delivers that perfect mix of holiday charm and winter adventure—making it one of the best places to celebrate the final days of the year.
Love all your adventures. Nan & jojo