guides

2024 Holiday Events near Takoma Park, Silver Spring, and Bethesda

Your Ultimate Holiday Guide to Where to Celebrate this Season

By Leah Spencer, publisher Macaroni KID Takoma Park-Silver Spring & Macaroni KID Bethesda-Chevy Chase-Potomac November 20, 2024

Welcome to the Holiday Season in Takoma Park, Silver Spring and Bethesda!

Takoma Park, Silver Spring, Bethesda and our surrounding areas are full of family-friendly festive fun this holiday season and Macaroni KID Takoma Park-Silver Spring and Macaroni KID Bethesda-Chevy Chase-Potomac has it all listed for you in our 2024 Local Holiday Events Guide! 

This guide will help you explore the best holiday happenings in the Takoma Park-Silver Spring and Bethesda-Chevy Chase-Potomac areas, so you can make the most of this magical time. From cozy gatherings and holiday parades to unique shopping experiences, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Let’s dive into the festivities and make this season unforgettable in Montgomery County, MD! 

Last Update: December 2, 2024

Want to add your event to the Macaroni KID calendar?




November 22

Comet's Craft Room at Westfield Montgomery Mall

November 23

Comet's Craft Room at Westfield Montgomery Mall

Mrs. Claus' Library at Westfield Montgomery Mall (Registration Required)

Holiday Open House at Butler's Orchard

Glen Echo Light Up the Holiday Art Show and Sale Opening Night

November 24

Mrs. Claus' Library at Westfield Montgomery Mall (Registration Required)

Holiday Open House at Butler's Orchard

November 26

Holiday Movie Night with the Montgomery County Police at Wheaton Rec Center 

November 27

Kensington Town Thanksgiving Dance

November 29

Comet's Craft Room at Westfield Montgomery Mall

Butler's Orchard Holiday Harvest Days

November 30

Home Depot Holiday Kids' Workshop

Brunch with Santa at Pinstripes (Reservations Required)

Breakfast with Santa at Maggiano's in Chevy Chase (Reservations Required)

Butler's Orchard Holiday Harvest Days

Comet's Craft Room at Westfield Montgomery Mall

Holiday Maker's Market at Babycat Brewery

Garden Railway Exhibit in the Brookside Gardens Conservatory Opens

Christmas at Cavella Farm

Holly Trolley Fest at the National Trolley Museum (Reservations Required)

December 1

Silver Spring Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Fair 

Storytime at People's Book - How Carrot and Cookie Saved Christmas

Butler's Orchard Holiday Harvest Days

Brunch with Santa at Pinstripes (Reservations Required)

Holiday Maker's Market at Babycat Brewery

Holly Trolley Fest at the National Trolley Museum (Reservations Required)

Kensington Christmas Tree Lighting

December 3

Gingerbread House Ornament Making at Merry Pin DC

December 4

Butler's Orchard Holiday Harvest Days

December 5

Butler's Orchard Holiday Harvest Days

Make a Handprint Trinket Dish at Merry Pin

Chevy Chase Lake Jingle Jubilee

December 6

Butler's Orchard Holiday Harvest Days

Comet's Craft Room at Westfield Montgomery Mall

Mrs. Claus' Library at Westfield Montgomery Mall (Registration Required)

Christmas at Cavella Farm

Rockville Town Center Tree Lighting

December 7

Home Depot Kids' Workshop - Make a snow globe

Butler's Orchard Holiday Harvest Days

Breakfast with Santa with the Kensington Fire Department 

Breakfast with Santa at Maggiano's in Chevy Chase (Reservations Required)

Breakfast with Santa at St. Johns (Tickets Required)

Gift Wrapping Workshop at People's Book

Holiday Craft Show at Bauer Recreation Center

Christmas on the Farm at the Agricultural Farm Park

North Pole-tomac Winter Fest

Winter Festival at the Collection Chevy Chase

Brunch with Santa at Pinstripes (Reservations Required)

Comet's Craft Room at Westfield Montgomery Mall

Fair Hill Holiday Festival in Olney

Winter Market in Chevy Chase DC

Bethesda Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland with the Flash Bus at the East County Rec Center

Holly Trolley Fest at the National Trolley Museum (Reservations Required)

Mrs. Claus' Library at Westfield Montgomery Mall (Registration Required)

Hot Cocoa with Santa at the Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home

A Winter’s Eve, Celebrating the Season’s Holidays With Dance!

Winter's Eve

Bah Humbug: An Improvised Christmas Carol

Light Up the Lakefront at Rio

North Hills and South Four Corners Artisan Fair

11th Annual Empowered Women International Holiday Market

Takoma Park Alternative Gift Fair

December 8

Takoma Park Pajamarama

Butler's Orchard Holiday Harvest Days

Breakfast with Santa

Photos with Santa at the Tot Space (Reservations Required)

Sensory Santa Visit at Westfield Wheaton Mall (Tickets Required)

Brunch with Santa at Pinstripes (Reservations Required)

Breakfast with Santa at the Collection Chevy Chase

Christmas on the Farm at the Agricultural Farm Park

Takoma Park Pajamarama Holiday Market

Holly Trolley Fest at the National Trolley Museum (Reservations Required)

Holiday Craft Show at Clara Barton Rec Center

Second Sunday at Merry Pin DC

All Aboard with Santa

December 11

Butler's Orchard Holiday Harvest Days

December 12

Butler's Orchard Holiday Harvest Days

DIY Snow Globes at Merry Pin

December 13

Takoma Park Gift Market

Butler's Orchard Holiday Harvest Days

Cookies & Cocoa at My Gym Potomac

Comet's Craft Room at Westfield Montgomery Mall

Mrs. Claus' Library at Westfield Montgomery Mall (Registration Required)

Holiday Night Out at Praisner Rec Center (Registration Required)

December 14

Holly Trolley Fest at the National Trolley Museum (Reservations Required)

Butler's Orchard Holiday Harvest Days

Breakfast with Santa with the Burtonsville Lions

Zinnia Holiday Market

Sleigh the Season! in Downtown Silver Spring

Takoma Park Cocoa Crawl

Olney Dance Studio Performance at Westfield Wheaton Mall

Long Branch Winter Mercado

Brunch with Santa at Pinstripes (Reservations Required)

Comet's Craft Room at Westfield Montgomery Mall

Cocoa and Crafts at the Ross Boddy Rec Center (Registration required by Dec 4)

Mrs. Claus' Library at Westfield Montgomery Mall (Registration Required)

Deck The Halls with Spaghetti and Meatballs at Good Hope Rec Center (Registration Required)

Winter Celebration at Longwood Rec Center

Cabin John Winter Ice Show

Ahmedova Ballet Nutcracker at Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center

December 15

Holly Trolley Fest at the National Trolley Museum (Reservations Required)

Storytime at People's Book with Santa and Mrs. Claus

Butler's Orchard Holiday Harvest Days

Brunch with Santa at Pinstripes (Reservations Required)

Snow and Ice Family Festival at North Potomac Rec Center

December 17

Game Night with Santa at Chuck E. Cheese Takoma Park (with the Police Department)

December 18

Kensington Park's 5th Annual Winterfest Drive-Thru (RSVP)

December 19

Caroling Around the Fountain in Kensington

December 20

Holly Trolley Fest at the National Trolley Museum (Reservations Required)

Comet's Craft Room at Westfield Montgomery Mall

Mrs. Claus' Library at Westfield Montgomery Mall (Registration Required)

December 21

Holly Trolley Fest at the National Trolley Museum (Reservations Required)

Brunch with Santa at Pinstripes (Reservations Required)

Santa Social at the Urban Winery (RSVP Requested)

Comet's Craft Room at Westfield Montgomery Mall

Mrs. Claus' Library at Westfield Montgomery Mall (Registration Required)

Sleigh the Season! in Downtown Silver Spring

December 22

Holly Trolley Fest at the National Trolley Museum (Reservations Required)

Comet's Craft Room at Westfield Montgomery Mall

Mrs. Claus' Library at Westfield Montgomery Mall (Registration Required)

Transformation Dance Competition at Wheaton Westfield Mall

On-going Holiday Events

🩰 Shows

Frozen at Olney Theater (Oct 27 to Jan 5)

A Christmas Carol at Ford's Theater (Nov 21 to Dec 31)

Twas the Night Before Christmas at Adventure Theatre (Dec 6 to Jan 5)

The Nutcracker on Strings at the Glen Echo Puppet Co. (Nov 26 to Dec 31)

The Washington Ballet's Nutcracker at Warner Theater (Nov 30 to Dec 29)

A Magical Christmas Circe at National Theater (Dec 12 to 15) 

Olney Ballet Theatre Nutcracker (Dec 19 to Dec 24)

Maryland Youth Ballet Nutcracker at the Montgomery College Rockville Arts Center (Dec 20 to Dec 26)

The Hip Hop Nutcracker at National Theater (Dec 20 to Dec 22)


🎪 Markets/Festivals

(See our Holiday Market Guide for more information)

German Christmas Village at Baltimore's Inner Harbor (Nov 23 to Dec 24)

Downtown Holiday Market in Dupont Circle (Nov 22 to Dec 15)

Savage Mill Yuletide Festival (Nov 30 to Dec 22)


✨ Lights and Holiday Displays 

(See our Holiday Light Display Guide for more information)

Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens (Nov 22 to Jan 5)

Garden Railway at the Brookside Gardens Conservatory (Nov 30 to Jan 4)

Festival of Lights at the Mormon Temple (Dec 5 to Jan 1) 

Winter City Lights (Nov 23 to Dec 29) 

ICE! at Gaylord National Harbor (Nov 20 to Dec 28)

Merriweather Symphony of Lights (Nov 29 to Jan 4) 

Winter Lights Festival at Seneca Creek State Park (Nov 29 to Dec 31; Closed Christmas) 

Festival of Lights at Watkins Regional Park (Nov 29 to Jan 1; Open Christmas)

 Zoo Light at the National Zoo (Nov 22 to Jan 5) 

Seasons Greening at the United States Botanical Garden (Nov 28 to Jan 5)

National Christmas Tree (Dec 5 to Jan 1) 

District Dazzle (Nov 29 to Jan 5) 

Winter Lantern Festival (Oct 31 to Jan 12) 

Tingle Bells at Artechouse (Nov 22 to Jan 5)

Meadowlark Botanical Garden's Winter Walk of Lights (Nov 8 to Jan 5) 

Bull Run Festival of Lights (Nov 11 to Jan 8) 


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