Holiday lights and Christmas events in Arlington 2026

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Dates come from the National Landing BID, the Ballston BID, the Clarendon Alliance and Melwood. Where an organizer has not posted 2026 dates yet, we say which year a date is from. Tree lightings are on our separate Christmas parade and tree lighting page.

Arlington’s holiday season runs through its business districts. The biggest free day is The Lodge, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, in Metropolitan Park, with Santa photos and a holiday train. Ballston’s one-day Holiday Market follows on Friday, Dec. 11, and Clarendon keeps its lights and decorations up from Thanksgiving to mid-January. For questions about road closures on event nights, call police non-emergency at 703-558-2222.

What this means for you

• Santa: The Lodge, Saturday, Dec. 5, at Met Park, 1330 S. Fair St., near the Pentagon City Metro station.
• Markets: Rosslyn’s Holiday Market is Saturday, Nov. 21; Ballston’s is Friday, Dec. 11.
• Hanukkah: sundown Friday, Dec. 4, to nightfall Saturday, Dec. 12.
• School: Arlington Public Schools are off Dec. 23 to Jan. 1.

The season at a glance

The Lodge at National Landing

The National Landing BID turns Metropolitan Park, 1330 S. Fair St., into a ski-themed winter festival it calls The Lodge. The 2026 date is Saturday, Dec. 5, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The BID lists:

• a holiday train ride
• family photos with Santa
• gifts from local makers
• live music and theater
• a dog holiday sweater contest

It is free and runs rain or shine under covered tents. The BID suggests coming by the Pentagon City Metro station, bike, bus or car, and says more details are coming.

Light Up Clarendon

The Clarendon Alliance runs Light Up Clarendon as a season of decorations and events from Thanksgiving through mid-January. Its kickoff night in 2025 was 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at Clarendon Metro Park, with:

• a photo opportunity with Santa
• live caroling by the Arlington Chorale
• a holiday market of local artisans and small businesses
• “Cereal Mountain,” a collection drive for boxed cereal for Arlington families in need
• refreshments for sale

The alliance had not posted the 2026 kickoff date when we checked. We will add it here.

Ballston Holiday Market

The Ballston Holiday Market, formerly the Singing Tree Market, is 3 to 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, 2026, in Welburn Square, 901 N. Taylor St., across from the Ballston Metro station. The Ballston BID describes festive music, live choral performances and handcrafted gifts from local makers. More holiday markets and store hours are on our Black Friday and holiday shopping guide.

Miracle on 23rd Street

Melwood, the Arlington nonprofit that supports people with disabilities, holds Miracle on 23rd Street at 750 23rd St. S. In 2025 it ran 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, with:

• a tree lighting ceremony
• photos with Santa
• holiday crafts
• a vendor market, some of it run by people with disabilities, kids and friends of Melwood

Guests are asked to bring a nonperishable item for Melwood’s holiday food drive. In 2025, 23rd Street South between South Hayes and South Grant streets closed to traffic from 4:30 p.m.; there is limited street parking and paid parking nearby. The 2026 date was not posted on Oct. 19.

Hanukkah

Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown Friday, Dec. 4, and ends at nightfall Saturday, Dec. 12, according to Hebcal. Arlington Public Schools’ calendar lists the same dates. We have not yet seen a public menorah lighting in Arlington announced for 2026. Hosting one? Send it through our contact page and we will list it.

Light displays

Arlington has no county-run drive-through light show. Its lights are on the business districts, the plazas above and front yards across the county. Know a street that goes all out? Tell us through the contact page with the block and the dates the lights are on.

Planning around Christmas

• Christmas is Friday, Dec. 25, 2026. County offices close that day under the county’s holiday schedule. Parking meters are not enforced on county holidays; residential permit parking stays in effect.
• Libraries close at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 24, and stay closed Friday, Dec. 25, according to the library’s holiday closings page.
• Schools: Arlington Public Schools’ 2026-27 calendar has winter break Dec. 23 to Jan. 1.
• Wreaths Across America Day at Arlington National Cemetery is Saturday, Dec. 19. Details are on our Christmas parade and tree lighting page.
• New Year’s Eve plans are on our New Year’s Eve guide.

Related guides: things to do this month, getting around Arlington and kids’ activities.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I see Santa in Arlington in 2026?

The Lodge at Metropolitan Park, 1330 S. Fair St., has family photos with Santa from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. Light Up Clarendon and Melwood’s Miracle on 23rd Street also had Santa photos in 2025.

When is The Lodge at National Landing in 2026?

Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Metropolitan Park. It is free and runs rain or shine under covered tents.

When is Light Up Clarendon?

In 2025 it was 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at Clarendon Metro Park, with Santa photos, carols and a holiday market. The Clarendon Alliance had not posted the 2026 date on Oct. 19.

When is Hanukkah in 2026?

Hanukkah begins at sundown Friday, Dec. 4, and ends at nightfall Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026.

When is winter break for Arlington Public Schools?

The 2026-27 calendar has winter break from Wednesday, Dec. 23, through Friday, Jan. 1.