12 Things to Do in Washington DC in December

Travelling to Washington in December is an excellent idea, as you will be able to enjoy a wide 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 early December, one of the most anticipated events in Washington DC takes place: the Boat Parade of Lights. At this event you will see a huge number of boats parading 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 luminary-filled decorations. The parade is complemented by other attractions on both sides of the river: festivals, live music, ice skating and numerous food stalls. Admission to the event is completely free. A great plan is to end the event with a cruise around Washington DC

Here are some of the options you can choose from:

• Cruise with brunch in Washington DC, from £83.
• Cruise with lunch in Washington DC, from ** £51**.
• Dinner cruise in Washington DC, from ** £103**.

Practical information

• Location: starts at the Wharf Waterfront.
• Celebration dates: around 7 December.
• Price: free of charge.
• Time: from 5.30pm.

One of the must-do's on your trip to Washington is a visit to Arlington National Cemetery. And December is a great time to do it, as it's even more beautiful with the arrival of Christmas.

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

• Arlington National Cemetery Sightseeing Tram, from £15
• Arlington National Cemetery Tour, from ** £45**.
• Arlington National Cemetery Tour for small groups, from ** £44**.

Practical information about Arlington National Cemetery

• Location: Arlington, VA.
• Price: A tour starts at €47.
• Hours: 8am to 5pm.

And what better plan for the month of December than to take shelter from the cold at one of Washington DC' s best museums, such as the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, from £99:

• The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, from £80, which is the second most visited Natural History Museum in the world after the one in London.
• The National Archives in Washington DC, from £77, where you can see original documents such as the US Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, among others.
• The Museum of the Bible in Washington DC, from £39, which has eight floors and 40,000 square metres and an extensive collection of biblical artefacts.

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'll be guided through the picturesque streets of Georgetown, where you'll see the incredible light installations by various local and out-of-state artists.

As you walk through this historic neighbourhood, 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 for the sheer beauty of Georgetown, with its typical brick houses, streets and even elegant cemeteries.

You can also 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: Themed tours cost from €39 at Hellotickets.
• Hours: Afternoon and evening

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.

Washington DC is the home of the famous National Christmas Tree, one of the most iconic symbols of Christmas in the United States. Located very close to the White House, in the northeast part of La Elipse Park, it is decorated year after year with thousands of lights.

In early December, the President of the United States, after giving his traditional Christmas speech, turns on the lights of the tree which, each 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 noting that, to participate in the lighting of the lights ceremony , there is an online contest 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 Washington bus tour.

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

An ideal event for the whole family to enjoy. If you are travelling with children, here the little ones can enjoy an exclusive area with lots 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: 26 November to 2 January.
• Price: from approximately €28.
• Opening 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. The event is held at the Ronald Reagan Building, where the embassies of different countries from all over the world present their nations through food, art, music and dance.

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

Practical information

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

During the month of December, the Washington Botanical Garden is decked out in lights to celebrate Christmas. It's one of the most beautiful places you can't miss during your visit to the city. In addition to some 26,000 plants and numerous plant species, there is a special room dedicated to the world's deserts, where you can see 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 colourful events, live traditional Scottish music, and over 100 Scottish soldiers dressed in their classic kilts.

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

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

Practical information

• Location: Old Alexandria.
• Celebration dates: around 7 December.
• Price: free of charge.
• Time: from 11am.

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

Zoolights is an event held at the National Zoo every year. It mainly consists of decking it out in the most beautiful light decorations imaginable. The brightest lights decorate the park's pathways and resting areas and everywhere you go you will come across glowing 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 best things to do with kids in Washington DC, but adults will certainly enjoy it too.

Practical information

• Location: 3001 Connecticut Ave.
• Dates: to be confirmed
• Price: free of charge
• Time: Afternoon

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

This market offers all kinds of goods: crafts, clothing, groceries and artwork are just a few of the things you'll find. Ideal for buying Christmas gifts for all the members of the family.

In addition to 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, like 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 tends to be 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, and 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 on 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, woolly hat and boots should not be missing in your luggage.

It's also advisable to pack light jumpers and at least one mid-season jacket, just in case you get caught on one of those 18-degree days.

Although cooler temperatures prevail, it's advisable to pack light clothing as well, as you can get warm quickly on hikes.

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

However, 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 for locals and tourists alike.