🧒 With kids
- DowntownDC Holiday Market · Penn Quarter
- National Landing Christmas Market · Arlington, VA
- Old Town Alexandria Christmas Market · Alexandria, VA
- St. Nicholas Market at St. Rita · Alexandria, VA
- Gustave Marché de Noël · Del Ray, Alexandria
- National Harbor Christmas Market · National Harbor, MD
✨ Date night
- DC Holiday Market at Dupont Circle · Dupont Circle
- Heurich House Christmas Markt · Dupont Circle
- Del Ray Artisans Holiday Market · Del Ray, Alexandria
🎉 With friends
- Union Station Holiday Market · Capitol Hill
Holiday market
IllustrationHoliday market · Penn Quarter
DowntownDC Holiday Market
DC's main market, now in its 22nd year: 115-plus vendors in a lit-up village of stalls on F Street outside the Smithsonian American Art Museum, with concerts Thursday to Sunday.
🧒 With kids🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- The bigger DC market
- Rudolph Reindeer Games kids' area by the stage
- Food tents
DC's main market — go early in the season on a weekday.
- 2026
- Nov 13 – Dec 23, 2026 (Mon–Thu noon–8, Fri–Sat 11–9, Sun 11–8; closed Thanksgiving)
- Last season
- Nov 21 – Dec 23, 2025
- Cost
- Free
Getting there and parking
- Gallery Place–Chinatown Metro; all stations are ADA-compliant
Worth knowing
- Open later on Friday and Saturday (to 9 pm)
- Service animals welcome
- Combine with the free Smithsonian American Art Museum and Portrait Gallery next door
- Illustration
Holiday market · Dupont Circle
DC Holiday Market at Dupont Circle
A newer market in the circle itself, heavy on local artisans.
✨ Date night🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- Tents on closed New Hampshire Ave
- Mostly handmade gifts
- Dupont Circle restaurants steps away
What visitors sayGoogle 4.2 ★ · 607 reviews
A pretty, compact market with good handmade gifts; crowded at weekends and pricey, and smaller than the downtown one.
A nice hour before dinner in Dupont — pair it with the bigger DowntownDC market.
- 2026
- Nov 12 – Dec 23, 2026 (weekdays noon–8, weekends 11–8; closed Nov 26 & 30)
- Last season
- Nov 14 – Dec 23, 2025
- Cost
- Free
Getting there and parking
- Dupont Circle Metro (Red Line), one block
- Reserve parking ahead via SpotHero if you drive
Worth knowing
- Closed Thanksgiving and Nov 30 in 2026
- Weekday afternoons are quietest — it's busy on weekends
IllustrationHoliday market · Arlington, VA
National Landing Christmas Market
National Landing's one-day ski-lodge-themed winter festival in Met Park: a covered market of Made in Arlington vendors, a holiday train, Santa and ornament decorating.
🧒 With kidsWhat's there
- Covered holiday market of Made in Arlington vendors
- Holiday train rides and Santa photos
- Ornament decorating and face painting
A free family afternoon if you're in Arlington — it is a one-day festival, not a month-long market.
- Last season
- Dec 6, 2025, 1 – 7 pm (The Lodge winter festival)
- Cost
- Free
Worth knowing
- Dogs welcome
- One day only — check the 2026 date before going
- Illustration
Holiday market · Capitol Hill
Union Station Holiday Market
Four days of 40-plus local vendors — vintage, art, books, records, baked goods — in the station's Main and East Halls.
🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- 40-plus vendors in the Beaux-Arts Main Hall
- Vintage, records, books, art and baked goods
- Free holiday concerts at the station in December
A warm indoor stop the week before Christmas — easy to combine with a train.
- Last season
- Dec 17–20, 2025, 11 am – 7 pm
- Cost
- Free
Worth knowing
- Indoors — good on a cold or wet day
- Four days only, 11 am – 7 pm
European-style market
IllustrationEuropean-style market · Dupont Circle
Heurich House Christmas Markt
A German-style Markt in the garden of a brewer's Gilded Age mansion: 45-plus local makers a day, Glühwein, local beer and German snacks.
✨ Date night🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- Local makers only — 45-plus a day
- Glühwein and local beer at the garden bar
- German snacks, coffee and hot chocolate
- Craft station and holiday exhibits
DC's most German-feeling market and the best for locally made gifts — go on a weekday evening.
- 2026
- Dec 3–6, 2026 (hours vary by day; early-bird tickets through Oct 31)
- Last season
- Dec 4–7, 2025 (Thu–Fri 4–8 pm, Sat noon–8, Sun noon–6)
- Cost
- Timed ticket; drinks and food extra
Worth knowing
- Only four days — buy early-bird tickets
- House tours are not offered during the market
Weekend market
IllustrationWeekend market · Alexandria, VA
Old Town Alexandria Christmas Market
Old Town's biggest one-day market: 100-plus artisans and crafters, carolers and a DJ, ornament-making for kids and Santa photos. Rain or shine.
🧒 With kids🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- 100-plus artisans and crafters
- Carolers and a holiday DJ
- Kids' ornament station
- Santa photos
Alexandria's biggest Christmas market — worth a Saturday trip, then walk down to King Street.
- 2026
- Dec 12, 2026, 11 am – 5 pm
- Last season
- Dec 13, 2025, 11 am – 4 pm
- Cost
- Free
Worth knowing
- One day only
- Runs rain or shine
IllustrationWeekend market · Alexandria, VA
St. Nicholas Market at St. Rita
A parish Christmas market of 50-plus Catholic artists and makers, with Glühwein, live music and a visit from St. Nick.
🧒 With kidsWhat's there
- 50-plus Catholic artists and makers
- Glühwein and festive refreshments
- Live performances
- Meet St. Nick
A small, warm parish market on St. Nicholas Day — good with children.
- 2026
- Dec 6, 2026, 10:30 am – 3:30 pm
- Last season
- Early December, annual (2026 is the 6th)
- Cost
- Refreshments for sale
Getting there and parking
- Parish lot on Russell Rd (limited; arrive early)
Worth knowing
- One Sunday only — 10:30 am to 3:30 pm
- Illustration
Weekend market · Del Ray, Alexandria
Gustave Marché de Noël
A French-flavoured weekend market outside a Del Ray bakery-brasserie: artisan gifts, raclette and hot spiced wine, Santa photos on Friday night.
🧒 With kids✨ Date nightWhat's there
- Raclette, bratwurst and hot spiced wine
- Bûche de Noël and hot chocolate
- Artisan gifts and ornament-making
- Santa photos and pony rides
The most European-tasting market around DC — come hungry.
- Last season
- Dec 12–14, 2025
- Cost
- Food and drink for sale
Getting there and parking
- On Mount Vernon Ave in Del Ray; street parking
Worth knowing
- Santa is there on Friday night
- In 2025 a makeup day was added on Dec 20 — check the bakery's posts for changes
- Illustration
Weekend market · Del Ray, Alexandria
Del Ray Artisans Holiday Market
A fine-art and craft market in the Del Ray Artisans gallery, running 30 years; about 50 local artists, with a different line-up each weekend.
✨ Date night🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- About 50 local artists; line-up changes weekly
- Pottery, glass, jewelry, prints and ornaments
- Running for 30 years
The place for original art gifts — come on two different weekends to see different artists.
- 2026
- Dec 4–6, 11–13 & 18–20, 2026 (Fri 6–9 pm, Sat 9 am–5 pm, Sun 11 am–5 pm)
- Last season
- Dec 5–7, 12–14 & 19–21, 2025 (Fri 6–9 pm, Sat 9 am–5 pm, Sun 11 am–5 pm)
- Cost
- Free
Getting there and parking
- Mount Vernon Ave in Del Ray; street parking
Worth knowing
- Friday evenings are short (6–9 pm)
- Gallery is accessible
- Illustration
Weekend market · National Harbor, MD
National Harbor Christmas Market
A weekend makers' market on the waterfront by National Harbor's big Christmas tree — handmade gifts, candles, specialty foods, Santa and carolers.
🧒 With kids🎉 With friendsWhat's there
- Makers' stalls by National Harbor's Christmas tree
- Candles, jewelry and specialty foods
- Santa photos and carolers
Pair it with the harbor's lights and the Capital Wheel on a December weekend.
- 2026
- From Dec 5, 2026, noon – 7 pm
- Last season
- December weekends 2025, noon – 6 pm
- Cost
- Free
Worth knowing
- Dogs welcome
- Rain or shine