Gingerbread house contests. Santa sightings. Holiday light shows. When it comes to seasonal activities, there are plenty of choices. In Prince George’s, you can catch a performance of your favorite Christmas shows; drive, bike, or walk your way through a sparkling holiday showcase; race down an indoor tubing track; and much more. Get ready for the holidays by filling your calendar with the best events in the region.

 

Add some of these 11 holiday events to your calendar now:

 

  1. The beloved Christmas at Gaylord National event is back again in 2025. From November 14, 2025, to January 4, 2026, the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor will host holiday displays across three acres, festive shows, two million twinkling lights, and public activities. ICE! is undoubtedly the main attraction. Ticket holders can step into scenes from The Polar Express, hand-carved from over two million pounds of ice. There’s also ice tubing, a gingerbread decorating corner, photos with Santa, and a snowball throwing game. Book an ICE! overnight package to extend the fun.


 

  1. On December 4, 2025, College Park will host its Holiday on the Drive. Edgewater Drive will be closed from Smith to Winter Park Street from 3 to 11 p.m., with the main event running from 5 to 9 p.m. At the free family-friendly event, there will be live holiday music, a Santa visit, lots of opportunities to shop at local stores and vendors, and dining at the nearby restaurants and parked food trucks.

 

Just two days later, on December 6, you can head to the Plaza at City Hall in College Park to enjoy its Winter Wonderland celebration. There will be a holiday market, and you can catch the moment the city lights its tree.


 

  1. The Santa Fly-In event at the College Park Aviation Museum on December 6 is a jam-packed day of holiday fun. It will start with a shortened performance of The Nutcracker from the Berwyn Ballet, followed by on-theme activities and crafts. Santa will fly into the event, and participants can take photos with him. Kids can explore how different cultures celebrate their winter traditions, and families can enjoy treats from local vendors.


 

  1. Don’t miss the Christmas events at the National Harbor, where some of the most exciting holiday events take place. There’s a nightly tree lighting show that runs every half hour from sunset to 9 p.m. at the 60-foot tree, accompanied by a recorded holiday medley from the United States Air Force Band. Stop by on Saturday nights from November 8 through December 27 for a 5:30 p.m. fireworks display. Join Santa Claus at the Capital Wheel from November 29 through December 21. Head to the harbor for outdoor showings of your favorite holiday films.


 

  1. Catch a showing of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at the Bowie Center for the Performing Arts. The performances will run from December 6–21, 2025, and you can get tickets now to enjoy one of the holiday’s most beloved stories. Performers will use music, magic, humor, and heart to tell this classic tale.


 

  1. Showcase your best holiday crafting skills at the 26th Annual Gingerbread House Contest and Show at Darnall’s Chance House Museum. Look into the deadlines and dates ahead of time, and you can walk through the outstanding creations of the builders — all of which represent the region’s rich history and vibrant culture.


 

  1. Walk, drive, or bike your way through a winter lights display at one of Prince George’s fantastic parks. At the Winter City Lights display in Bowie, you can walk around a route of enormous Christmas ornaments, lighted tunnels, a light show, and a 52-foot high “dancing” Christmas tree. You can also warm yourself by one of the bonfires, enjoy some s’mores and hot chocolate, or ride down the eight-lane snow tubing slides. 

 

At the Festival of Lights in Watkins Regional Park in Upper Marlboro, visitors can drive through a magical maze of dazzling holiday scenes. While the driving route is open from November 28, 2025, through January 1, 2026, you can also bike through the presentation on November 23, 2025. Be sure to add lights to your bike for the event.


 

  1. Watch a brilliant holiday showcase at the Cirque Dreams Holidaze show at MGM National Harbor. The Broadway-style theater production brings contemporary circus artists to the stage, captivating audiences with the holiday-themed stories and gravity-defying feats. Get tickets now for the December 19th and 20th shows to see the live performers, musical acts, dazzling sets, and stunning costumes.


 

  1. No Christmas is complete without a showing of The Nutcracker. Catch one from the National Ballet Company at the Prince George’s Publick Playhouse in Hyattsville. The company will perform the Tchaikovsky show on December 6 and 7, 2025, bringing its magical storyline, vibrant costumes, and powerful choreography to local audiences. Don’t miss the Nutcracker Prince, Mouse King, and Sugar Plum Fairy this holiday season.


 

  1. Catch a local holiday concert. The Eric Byrd Trio will be at the Montpelier Arts Center in Laurel on December 20, 2025, to perform the familiar songs from A Charlie Brown Christmas. Motown lovers will enjoy the Holiday in Harmony: Motown & Soul Holiday Classics show on December 12, 2025, at the Prince George’s Publick Playhouse in Hyattsville. The child-friendly Holiday Jingle Jam at the Southern Area Aquatic and Recreation Complex (SAARC) in Brandywine on December 13, 2025, will start with an Elf on the Shelf craft, cookies and cocoa, and a photo with Santa. Then, the Canady Foundation for the Arts Repertory Theatre will kick off a Holiday Block Party with music, dance, puppetry, and storytelling.


 

  1. Join Santa for a movie on December 13 at the Prince George’s Publick Playhouse in Hyattsville. Kids can take photos with the jolly guest, work on a coloring craft, and watch the short animated film Kung Fu Panda Holiday. After those activities, families can stay to watch “Prancer: A Christmas Tale.”

 

Add some outdoor adventures to your winter fun with these eight Prince George’s activities.