12 Things to Do in Washington DC in December

Traveling to Washington in December is an excellent idea, as you can enjoy a variety of plans beyond Christmas and Christmas carols. Join me on this tour and I'll show you everything you can't miss.

From a touching tribute to its war veterans to an enchanting light show at the zoo, Washington is full of amazing places and original activities to enjoy.

Every year, in the first days of December, one of the most anticipated events in Washington DC takes place: the Parade of Lights Boat Parade. In this event you will be able to see a huge number of boats that will cruise along the Potomac River, decorated with the most beautiful lights and Christmas motifs.

Boats, sailboats and even local fire boats star in this event and light up the sky with their decorations full of luminaries. The parade is complemented by other attractions on both banks of the river: festivals, live music, ice skating and numerous food stalls. Admission to this event is completely free. A great plan is to end this event by enjoying a cruise around Washington DC

Here are some of the options you can choose from:

• Cruise with brunch in Washington DC, from $140.
• Cruise with lunch in Washington DC, from ** $60**.
• Dinner cruise in Washington DC, from ** $143**.

Practical information

• Location: starts at the Wharf Waterfront.
• Celebration dates: around December 7.
• Price: free of charge.
• Hours: starting at 5:30 p.m.

One of the must-do plans on your trip to Washington is to visit Arlington National Cemetery. And the month of December is an ideal time to do so, since, with the arrival of Christmas, it is even more beautiful.

This legendary military cemetery will bring you closer to the history of the United States. I recommend that you book a guided tour so that a professional guide will show you the most outstanding and secret places such as the tomb of President John F. Kennedy. In addition, you can witness the changing of the military guard at the iconic Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

• Arlington National Cemetery Sightseeing Tram, from $20
• Arlington National Cemetery Tour, from ** $50**.
• Arlington National Cemetery Tour for small groups, from ** $93**.

Practical information about Arlington National Cemetery

• Location: Arlington, VA.
• Price: A tour starts at €47.
• Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

And what better plan for the month of December than to take shelter from the cold in one of the best museums in Washington DC such as, for example:

• The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, from $105, which is the second most visited Natural History Museum in the world after the one in London.
• The National Archives of Washington DC, from $105, where you can see original documents such as the Constitution of the United States and the Declaration of Independence, among others.
• The Museum of the Bible in Washington DC, from $35, which with eight floors and 40,000 square meters brings together an extensive collection of biblical objects.

Which one do you choose? Include them in your list and book your tickets in advance.

The Georgetown Glow Tour is a year-round Washington tour, but the Georgetown Glow Tour is unique to December and has its own special twist. On this tour you will be guided through the picturesque streets of Georgetown, where you will see the incredible light installations by various local and out-of-state artists.

As you walk through this historic neighborhood, the guides will tell you stories about the former residents of Georgetown and the history of DC. This is a unique visual experience, both for the lighting and the sheer beauty of Georgetown, with its typical brick houses, streets and even elegant cemeteries.

In addition, you can enjoy a themed experience by booking the Georgetown Ghost Tour or the Georgetown Food Tour.

Practical information about Georgetown

• Location: Georgetown
• Celebration dates: during the month of December
• Price: the themed tours start at $39 at Hellotickets.
• Hours: afternoon and evening

The Washington National Cathedral is a true musical landmark. Here you can see and hear one of the largest pipe organs in the world, a male choir and a mixed choir.

Its choirs sing during evening masses. Specifically, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and at Sunday morning masses. But in December you can enjoy these same choirs giving special concerts.

In December you can see, in addition to this beautiful building adorned with Christmas lights and special decorations, the main show of the month, The Joy of Christmas, where classic Christmas musical works and the essential Christmas carols are performed. If you want to get up close and personal, book a bus tour of Washington.

The city of Washington DC is the site of the famous National Christmas Tree, one of the most emblematic icons of Christmas in the United States. Located very close to the White House, in the northeast area of La Elipse Park, it is decorated year after year with thousands of lights.

At the beginning of December, the President of the United States, after giving his traditional Christmas speech, turns on the lights of the tree that, every year, is surrounded by many other trees decorated with all kinds of ornaments made by artisans from different states and regions of the United States. This is one of the reasons why you should visit Washington DC in December.

It is worth mentioning that, to participate in the lighting of the lights ceremony , an online contest will be held starting in October. If you are one of the winners you will be able to witness this great spectacle and live the experience in a much more complete way. Another option to see the Christmas tree is to book a bus tour of Washington.

Known as Enchant Christmas, this maze of Christmas lights is composed of large sculptures made of luminous structures. The tour invites you to look for Santa's reindeer.

An ideal event to enjoy with the family. If you are traveling with children, here the little ones can enjoy an exclusive area of fun games. You can also go ice skating and, of course, stroll through a classic Christmas market.

Practical information

• Location: 1500 Capitol Street.
• Dates of celebration: from November 26 to January 2.
• Price: from approximately 28 €.
• Hours: from 4:30 pm to 10:30 pm.

Every year during the month of December, the Winternational Annual Embassy Showcase takes place in Washington DC, an event that takes place at the Ronald Reagan Building and in which the embassies of different countries from around the world participate and present their nations through gastronomy, art, music and dance.

In addition, an international market is organized where hundreds of artisans offer their creations. Here you can buy all kinds of handicrafts, jewelry, decorative objects, works of art and food from all over the world without leaving DC.

Practical Information

• Location: in the Ronald Reagan Building.
• Dates of the celebration: approximately December 8.
• Price: free of charge.
• Hours: to be confirmed.

During the month of December, the Washington Botanical Garden dresses in lights to celebrate Christmas. It is one of the most beautiful places you can't miss during your visit to this city. In addition to seeing some 26,000 plants and numerous plant species, it has a special room dedicated to the deserts of the planet, where you can appreciate succulents, shrubs and flowering plants characteristic of these regions.

Also during this month there are a series of festive concerts and an annual exhibition with the best plant species and miniature replicas of emblematic buildings, such as the Smithsonian National Museum of History.

Inside the Botanical Garden is the Children's Garden, a space designed for children, where they can have fun and learn using gardening tools, interacting with the plants, while their parents relax surrounded by nature.

Practical Information

• Location: 100 Maryland Ave.
• Price: free.
• Hours: from 10 am to 5 pm.

Every year during the first days of December, the city of Washington DC pays homage to its Scottish heritage. The Old Town Alexandria district presents its Annual Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend, where you can enjoy a series of colorful events, live traditional Scottish music, and more than 100 Scottish soldiers dressed in their classic kilts.

The streets of Old Alexandria are filled with the unmistakable sound of bagpipes, while around the event you can enjoy the most delicious food, wine and beer.

In addition, there are activities designed for the little ones, such as games, music and the presence of Santa. Live a different experience and enjoy the most interesting Scottish tradition in DC.

Practical Information

• Location: Old Alexandria.
• Celebration dates: around December 7.
• Price: free of charge.
• Hours: from 11 a.m.

The Smithsonian National Zoo is one of the city's most popular tourist spots and is visited each year by nearly two million visitors from all over the world. This charming zoo, where you can see numerous species of animals and also works for their conservation, dresses up in December in a celebration known as ZooLights.

Zoolights is an event held at the National Zoo year after year. It mainly consists of decking it out with the most beautiful light decorations you can imagine. The brightest lights decorate the paths of the park and its resting areas and everywhere you go you will come across brilliant animal sculptures.

In addition to this light show, there are also some musical performances. Of course, the more than 500,000 LED lights that make up this annual spectacle are totally respectful of the environment and the zoo's species. This is one of the plans to do with children in Washington DC, but, no doubt, adults will also enjoy in a big way.

Practical Information

• Location: 3001 Connecticut Ave.
• Celebration dates: to be confirmed
• Price: free of charge
• Hours: afternoon

Nearly a hundred exhibitors gather year after year at the Downtown Holiday Market in Washington DC.

This market offers all kinds of products: crafts, clothing, groceries and artwork are just a few of the things you can find. Ideal to buy your Christmas gifts for all the members of the family.

Besides shopping, you can enjoy the most delicious gastronomy. The Downtown Holiday Market also hosts jazz, country, rock, soul and of course, of course, Christmas carols.

December in the United States, as well as the rest of the winter, is a generally cold month. Daytime temperatures in Washington DC tend to be low, between approximately 11 and 12 degrees Celsius.

Warmer days can reach a maximum temperature of 18 degrees Celsius. At night, on the other hand, it is usually quite cold, averaging between 1 and 3 degrees Celsius.

From mid-December temperatures tend to drop even further, averaging between 6 and 7 degrees Celsius during the day, even in the early hours before sunrise temperatures can be between -3 to -1 degrees Celsius. However, most days in December are usually sunny in Washington DC and snow only makes an appearance a few days of the month.

What I recommend is that you pack clothes to maintain your body temperature while touring the city. A warm jacket, gloves, scarf, wool cap and boots should not be missing in your luggage.

It is also advisable to bring light sweaters and at least one mid-season jacket, in case you get caught on one of those 18-degree days.

Although cooler temperatures prevail, I advise you to bring light clothing as well, as you can get warm quickly on hikes.

Generally, the most ideal months to visit and enjoy all the things to see and do in Washington DC are June, July and August, as they feature the most pleasant temperatures of the year.

However, the month of December has many unique events and attractions that make up for the cooler temperatures. Just bundle up and enjoy the many treasures that Washington DC has to offer, both for locals and tourists alike.