Top Winter Events in Washington DC, Baltimore and Northern Virginia
It may be cold outside, but there are plenty of fun winter events in Washington D.C., Baltimore and Northern Virginia. We hope you enjoy our list of winter activities that includes festivals, museum events, and lots of other ways to have fun indoors for the first few months of the new year!
We will be adding new events often, so be sure to check back!
Winter Events in Baltimore
Monster Jam Jan 17-19
Monster Jam is a family favorite full of BIG trucks doing insane stunts and jumps. You’ll love cheering for your favorite monster trucks including Grave Digger® and El Toro Loco®! On Saturday and Sunday, you also have the option to take pictures with the trucks and meet their famed drivers at the Monster Jam Pit Party.
📍Location: CFG Bank Arena, 201 W Baltimore St, Baltimore, MD
Dine to Donate Jan 17-26
Don’t wait for Valentine’s Day for a romantic night out! Atlas Restaurant Group is offering a chef-designed prix fixe dining experience across 14 of its restaurants including several top spots in Baltimore: Azumi Japanese fine-dining, Maximon Mexican restaurant, Monarque French Brasserie, James Joyce Irish Pub, Tagliata Italian Chophouse, and The Bygone 1920’s inspired hotspot. Take a look at our past visit to The Bygone….the best view of the city IMHO! During this special event, Atlas Restaurants is donating to TasteWise Kids, a non-profit that educates Maryland kids about food and healthy eating. Note: Must be an Atlas Rewards Member to participate. This free program allows you to earn rewards on your dining experience too!
Paw Patrol Live! Jan 25-26
Little ones will love PAW Patrol Live! “A Mighty Adventure”! This fabulous show is in Baltimore for two days only at the Hippodrome Theatre! If you cannot make it to this show in Baltimore, it will be returning to the DMV’s EagleBank arena in Fairfax in February. See our entry down below for more details.
📍Location: 12 N. Eutaw Street, Baltimore, MD
Disney on Ice Presents Find Your Hero Feb 8-11
𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗢𝗻 𝗜𝗰𝗲 is returning to CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore from February 8th to 11th with a new magical adventure! 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘖𝘯 𝘐𝘤𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘍𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘰 brings your favorite Disney characters to life through world-class figure-skating, breathtaking acrobatics, and spectacular stunts.
Disney character appearances will include Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck Goofy, Mirabel, Moana, Maui, The Little Mermaid, Rapunzel, Belle, Olaf, Anna and Elsa, and more! This is a stunning show that your entire family will love.
This fabulous show is on tour around the United States and in Canada too! Check out the full list of Disney on Ice locations and dates!
📍Location: CFG Bank Arena, 201 W Baltimore St, Baltimore, MD 21201
Shen Yun at the Hippodrome Theatre Feb 10-11
Shen Yun is touring the D.C. area and will stop in Baltimore after its stint at The Kennedy Center. Step back in time to ancient China for an enchanting evening of Asian culture and an enduring message of hope. Scroll down to the D.C. listing to find out more about the show.
📍Location: 12 N. Eutaw Street, Baltimore, MD
Max’s Belgian Beer Festival Feb 14-17
With over 200 beers on tap and a couple hundred additional bottles to choose from, Max’s Annual Belgian Beer Festival in Baltimore is a must-do for any beer lover! It is held annually every President’s Day weekend in the historic Fells Point district of the Inner Harbor. Each year, there are special beer events planned for each day with different brewers. Beer choices range from popular wheat and blondes to dark beers, fruit-flavored framboise, and even sour beers for those with rare taste.
📍Location: 733 S. Broadway, Baltimore, MD
Winter Events in Washington DC
Monet: The Immersive Experience Thru Feb 28
If you missed your chance to see the VanGogh Experience when it was in D.C., then you must check out the Claude Monet: The Immersive Experience! It will have a similar layout to the VanGogh experience above with immersive art elements, state-of-the-art technology, and virtual reality.
Claude Monet is most famous for founding the art principle of Impressionism, which focused on more abstract art exploring light and vibrant colors. This well-known art genre arose from his most famous painting entitled Impression, Sunrise. His art also centered around nature and includes several paintings of garden scenes, lilies, and coastal settings.
Monet: The Immersive Experience is located at Bryant St NW, just steps from MetroBar, and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. It is also on view in Cincnnati, Albany, and London.
📍Location: 524 Rhode Island Ave NE, Washington, DC
Monster Jam Jan 24-26
Monster Jam is back in the DMV! Unexpected, unscripted and unforgettable, this action-packed Monster Jam® event features world-class athletes controlling 𝟭𝟮,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 monster machines capable of doing backflips, vertical two-wheel skills and racing up to 𝟳𝟬 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿! Monster Jam will roar into the Capital One Arena in downtown DC for one weekend only starting Friday January 24th. During the daytime events Saturday and Sunday, there is a Monster Jam Pit Party before the event that allows you to meet the drivers, get up-close to the cars, and take lots of pictures! We highly recommend going to the Pit Party! It is a ton of fun!
Monster Jam also touring other cities including Takoma WA, Sacramento CA, Newark NJ, Brooklyn NY, Fargo ND, Tampa FL and more. Click here to see all upcoming Monster Jam dates and locations!
📍Location: Capital One Arena, 601 F Street NW, Washington, DC
Shen Yun at The Kennedy Center Feb 20-Mar 2
Shen Yun is a must-see show for all ages! This beautiful stage production features a live orchestra, classical dance, and multi-dimensional scenes of China. If you cannot make it to The Kennedy Center, it will head over to Baltimore on March 15 and 16.
📍Location: Kennedy Center Opera House, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC
DC Travel & Adventure Show Mar 29-30
The DC Travel & Adventure Show is the only place that you can travel the globe under one roof! Browse hundreds of vacation booths, attend seminars led by travel experts, shop for travel-related products, and enjoy entertainment at this annual event at the Washington Convention Center March 29th and 30th. Read our full post on the DC Travel Show for more reasons why you should attend!
📍Location: Washington DC Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place NW, Washington, DC
ARTECHOUSE DC: Twilight Zone Jan 9-Mar 3
ARTECHOUSE is the first independent arts organization focused on blending art and technology with science. The DC. location is located under a 10-minute walk from the Smithsonian and L’Enfant Plaza Metro stops and offers rotating exhibits. This winter, ARTECHOUSE Twilight Zone: Hidden Wonders of the Oceanhttps://tripadvisor.tp.st/WFw7rWmH will run through March 3. This fascinating collaboration with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution takes you under the sea into a bioluminescent world for a cinematic journey along with other immersive experiences.
In addition to the self-paced exhibits, the extended reality XR Bar serves up themed cocktails and mocktails plus beer and wine from 4 to 10 pm weeknights and 11 am to 10 pm Fridays thru Sundays. Kids under 4 are free. ARTECHOUSE offers student, senior, military, first responder, and group discounts along with weekday family pack pricing. ARTECHOUSE has two other locations with rotating installations in New York City and Miami. Watch highlights from our previous visit to ARTECHOUSE here.
📍Location: 1238 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC
Dopamine Land Experience On-Going
Dopamine Land is a brand-new multisensory experience in the Friendship Heights neighborhood of Washington D.C. combining media, technology and hands-on experiences throughout 10 unique rooms that you walk through at your own pace designed to release dopamine – aka your happy hormone!
It is also a fun chance to be a kid again….Color on furniture, let your creativity shine, have a pillow fight, and take some fun pics! There is also an optional Oxygen Bar that offers 10-minute aromatherapy and oxygen sessions to help you relax and focus. Watch a recap of our experience on Instagram. As of now, this limited-time experience runs through March 17th.
📍Location: 5333 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC
Winter Events in Northern Virginia
Harry Potter: A Forbidden Experience Thru Jan 26
Looking for a fun way to experience winter? Head to Harry Potter: A Forbidden Experience at Morven Park in Leesburg! Harry Potter fans will NOT want to miss this whimsical wonderland that takes you through life-size scenes from all the Harry Potter movies with interactive elements, spell-casting delight, and a few surprises from Fantastic Beasts too! See highlights from our visit on our Instagram channel! Note that a communication will be sent out for you to rebook in cases of bad weather.
📍Morven Park, 41580 Sunday Morning Lane, Leesburg, VA 20176
Paw Patrol Live! Feb 1-2
Tickets are on sale NOW to see PAW Patrol Live! “A Mighty Adventure” at the EagleBank Arena in Fairfax from February 1st through February 2nd. Paw Patrol will also be in Baltimore in late January.
This show is a great opportunity to introduce your kids to live theater and is recommended for children from one to six years old. It will include interactive sing-along numbers, dancing, clapping, and audience participation to keep your kids engaged.
VIP (Very Important Pup) packages are also available. The VIP experience includes preferred seating and a special Meet and Greet photo opportunity with two Paw Patrol characters after the show. Note that during the show, there will be flashing lights and may be confetti at the end of the performance. ADA seating is available for all performances. Contact the local venue to find out more about accomodations as they vary by theater.
Looking for discount tickets to Paw Patrol Live? Use discount code* RYDER to save 20% on select tickets.
📍Location: EagleBank Arena, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax, VA
DMV Winter Lantern Festival Thru Jan 12
New York’s Winter Lantern Festival is now in the DMV! The Winter Lantern Festival will be at Lerner Town Square at Tysons II in Tysons Virginia. It is open daily through January 12th and is just a two-minute walk from the Tysons Corner metro stop.
The festival will feature over one thousand handcrafted Chinese lanterns. This winter festival offers lots of fun insta-worthy photo opps and hands-on play opportunities that will put a smile on everyone’s faces! Head to our Instagram page to see highlights from last year’s event!
📍Location: 8025 Galleria Drive, Tysons, VA
LEGO® Creativity Academy Jan 30-Mar 2
Find your creative superpower at LEGO Discovery Center Washington DC! At this brand-new event, you can get insider tips from LEGO Master Model Builders, go on a fact-finding scavenger hunt, create mosaic LEGO art, and more!
In addition, you can enjoy 12 themed play zones including Imagination Express ride, LEGO 4D Cinema, DUPLO Park and more!
📍Location: 6563 Springfield Mall, Springfield, VA
Winter Events in Howard County, MD
Evening in the Stacks – Columbia, MD Feb 22
Help support the Howard County Library System’s early childhood initiatives by getting your party at one of the county’s most anticipated annual events! This annual four-hour party is non-stop fun with a DJ and gourmet food! Your entry ticket also includes open bar provided by The Wine Bin and Sobar and other fun surprises!
📍Location: Howard County East Columbia Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, MD
Winter Events in Montgomery County, MD
Imagination Stage Family Theatre On-Going
Imagination Stage, the D.C. is one of the area’s top venues dedicated to introducing young people to live theatre. t’s a great placed to have a family day or night out at the theatre while staying warm and cozy!
The theatre offers shows for all ages as well as special ASL-interpreted and sensory friendly performances on select dates. There are also several show dates that include a Meet the Actors session that allows kids to talk to the cast and take pictures with them. Click the link above for more details and showtimes.
📍Location: 4908 Auburn Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814
Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas On-Going
If you’re looking to stay warm and not worry about a thing, check out Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas in Gaithersburg, Maryland! This wonderful movie theater has a full menu including specialty drinks, appetizers, pizza, entrees, kids meals, snacks, and dessert. And the best part is that it is delivered right to your comfy reclining leather seat!
Enjoy your movie in state-of-the-art high-definition sound and screen. There is also a nice lounge area so you can have a drink before or after the show. Read our full review of Cinepolis here!
📍Location: Kentlands Square, 629 Center Point Way, Gaithersburg, MD
