The holiday season in Bethesda - Chevy Chase - Potomac is pure magic — twinkling lights, cozy cocoa, and family traditions that make memories to last all year. Macaroni KID Bethesda - Chevy Chase - Potomac is your go-to guide for everything merry and bright — from festive events and dazzling light displays to Santa visits and local holiday fun. Explore our list below and make this a season your family will never forget.
Bookmark this guide and check back often — we’ll keep adding new events and activities all season long!
Last Update: December 19, 2025
Want to add your event to the Macaroni KID calendar?
 |
 Raven GS | Canva |
Upcoming Holiday Events in Bethesda - Chevy Chase - Potomac
Looking for parades, tree lightings, Santa photo ops, and holiday markets? We’ve got you covered! These family-friendly holiday events in Bethesda - Chevy Chase - Potomac are the perfect way to celebrate the season.
We do our best to verify event details, but always double-check before heading out as organizers may change plans without notifying us.
Friday December 19 |
Garden Railway Exhibit at Brookside Gardens 10 am
Photos with Santa at the Glen Echo Fire Department 5 pm
Menorah Lighting at the Square Rockville 6 pm
Saturday December 20 |
Santa Brunch at Pinstripes Bethesda (Reservations Required) 10 am
Holly TrolleyFest 10 am
Garden Railway Exhibit at Brookside Gardens 10 am
2nd Annual North Pole-tomac Winter Fest 10 am
Merry Market in Bethesda 11 am
Free Holiday SWAPS craft at sweetFrog Wheaton 12 pm
Make an Ornament at Michael's Craft Stores 1 pm
The Snowman™ and Snowdog at Imagination Stage 1 pm
Ornament Decorating at Centrado Coffee 3 pm
The Snowman™ and Snowdog at Imagination Stage - Meet the Actors After the Show! 4 pm
Sunday December 21 |
Santa Brunch at Pinstripes Bethesda (Reservations Required) 10 am
Holly TrolleyFest 10 am
Garden Railway Exhibit at Brookside Gardens 10 am
Santa Brunch at Silo Falls (Reservations Required) 11 am
Merry Market in Bethesda 11 am
Photos with Santa at the Wildwood Shopping Center (Tickets Required) 12 pm
The Snowman™ and Snowdog at Imagination Stage + Meet the Dogs! 1 pm
Santa and the sweetFrog Mascot are Coming to Town at sweetFrog Wheaton 1 pm
Winter Ice Show at Wheaton Ice Arena 1:15 pm
Santa Social at the Urban Winery 2 pm
Ahkmedovah Ballet Academy Mini-Nut (Tickets Required) 3 pm
A Winter Celebration at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater 3 pm
All Together Outdoors Winter Solstice Lantern Walk (Registration Required) 3:30 pm
Akhmedova Ballet Academy Nutcracker Night at Montgomery College Silver Spring 7 pm
Monday December 22 |
Holly TrolleyFest 10 am
Garden Railway Exhibit at Brookside Gardens 10 am
Sounds of the Season Live Music at Westfield Wheaton Mall 4 pm
Caroling around Flinn Fountain in Kensington 6:30 pm
 Jill Wellington | Canva |
More Holiday and Winter Fun in and near Bethesda - Chevy Chase - Potomac
There’s so much happening this winter! Explore even more ways to make the season special:
On-going Holiday Events |
🩰 Holiday Shows in and near Bethesda - Chevy Chase - Potomac
The Snowman™ and Snowdog at Imagination Stage (Nov 21 to Jan 4)
Frosty the Snowman at Adventure Theater (Nov 26 to Jan 11)
Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood Pantomime at Kensington Town Hall (Dec 5 to Jan 10)
A Christmas Carol at the Silver Spring Stage (Dec 12 to Dec 21)
The 37th Nutcracker on Strings at the Glen Echo Puppet Co. (Nov 28 to Dec 31)
Herschel and the Hanukkah Goblins at Glen Echo Puppet Co (Dec 11 to Dec 22)
Maryland Youth Ballet Nutcracker at the Montgomery College Rockville Arts Center (Dec 19 to Dec 27)
Rockville Civic Ballet Nutcracker at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater (Dec 5 to Dec 14)
Olney Ballet Theatre Nutcracker (TBD)
The Washington Ballet's Nutcracker at Warner Theater (Nov 29 to Dec 28)
A Christmas Carol at Ford's Theater (Nov 20 to Dec 31)
A Magical Christmas Circe at National Theater (Dec 12 to 15)
Elf: The Musical at Toby's Dinner Theater (Nov 7 to Jan 4)
✨ Light Displays and Holiday Festivals/Markets in and near Bethesda - Chevy Chase - Potomac
(See our Holiday Light Display Guide for more information)
Maryland
Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens (Nov 21 to Jan 4)💲
Garden Railway at the Brookside Gardens Conservatory (Nov 29 - Jan 3) 🆓
Festival of Lights at the Mormon Temple (Dec 4 to Jan 1) 🆓
Winter City Lights (Nov 28 to Dec 29) 💲
LuminoCity at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds (Nov 14 to Jan 1) 💲
Markoff's Christmas Village and Trail (Nov 29 to Dec 13) 💲
Winter Lights Festival at Seneca Creek State Park (Nov 28 to Dec 31) 💲
Festival of Lights at Watkins Regional Park (Nov 28 to Jan 1) 💲
Merriweather Symphony of Lights (Nov 28 to Jan 3) 💲
German Christmas Village at Baltimore's Inner Harbor (Nov 22 to Dec 24) 🆓 to visit
Savage Mill Yuletide Festival (Nov 29 to Dec 21) 🆓 to visit
Washington, D.C.
ICE! at Gaylord National Harbor (Nov 14 to Jan 4) 💲
Winter Wonderfest at Nationals Park (Nov 28 to Dec 30) 💲
Zoo Light at the National Zoo (Nov 21 to Jan 3) 💲
Seasons Greenings at the United States Botanical Garden (Nov 27 to Jan 4) 🆓
National Christmas Tree (Dec 4 to Jan 1) 🆓
Downtown Holiday Market in Dupont Circle (Nov 14 to Dec 23) 🆓 to visit
Virginia
Meadowlark Botanical Garden's Winter Walk of Lights (Nov 8 to Jan 5) 💲
Bull Run Festival of Lights (Nov 11 to Jan 8) 💲
Winter Lantern Festival (Nov 22 to Jan 20) 💲
Benjamin's Winter Circus Adventure (Dec 12 to Jan 3) 💲
🎅 On-going Santa Photos and Sightings in and near Bethesda - Chevy Chase - Potomac
At the Mall (Reservations Required) 💲
Ellsworth Place (TBD)
At Area Events 💲
Butler's Orchard Holiday Harvest - Only on Sundays
Green Meadows Santa's Farm Fest
Free Options (Reservations Required) 🆓
Bass Pro Shops (Hanover, MD)
Homestead Gardens (Davidsonville, MD)
Savage Mill (Savage, MD)
Triadelphia Farm (Gleneg, MD)
Santa Firetruck Routes (To be Updated)👨🚒
Takoma Park Volunteer Fire Department
Hillandale Volunteer Fire Department
Cabin John Volunteer Fire Department
Glen Echo Volunteer Fire Department
Rockville Volunteer Fire Department
More Holiday Content |
 | |
 |
