If you want to have a (jingle) ball around Washington this holiday season, you’re in luck: There are seriously lit displays, pop-up bars, crafty workshops, and festive performances on the calendar. Here’s a guide to what to check out, whether you’re solo or hoping to introduce your kids to Mr. Claus.

FAMILY FUN

Bethesda’s Winter Wonderland: If you want to see some really nice ice, check out the ice sculpting demonstration at Bethesda’s one-day holiday extravaganza. Also on the agenda: games, arts and crafts for kids, and choral performances from local high school groups. If you can’t make it, catch the music live on 97.1 WASH-FM.
Norfolk Ave. Streatery. Dec. 4. FREE.

Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights: You’re in for a boat-load of nautical festivity at this 21st annual event. The parade begins at the Alexandria City Marina at 5:30 p.m., and you’ll be able to see it from anywhere along the waterfront. In addition to dozens of lit-up boats, enjoy dockside festivities such as a pop-up beer garden, holiday music, a hot chocolate bar, and a Letters to Santa postcard station.
Old Town Alexandria Waterfront. Dec. 4. FREE.

The Polar Express: All aboard this festive train that heads to the North Pole Western Maryland. After departing from either Frostburg or Cumberland, expect a fun journey that brings The Polar Express movie to life. There will be caroling, dancing, hot chocolate, and cookies — plus, naturally, a visit from the man of the season, Mr. Claus himself. Passengers will head home with a silver sleigh bell to ring throughout the holidays.
Frostburg and Cumberland, Md. Dec. 3-5, Dec. 10-12, Dec. 17-23. Starting at $35.

Ice Maze at CityCenterDC: If you have no chill about big, fancy ice displays, you’ll want to check out this 130,000-pound maze in CityCenter (according to organizers, it’s the largest in the U.S.). It will be lit with multicolored lights, and you can wander through the frosty rainbow of colors.
CityCenterDC. Dec. 10-12. FREE.

Christmas Illuminations at Mount Vernon: George Washington’s homestead is always a rather majestic place. For two days, it will become even more special: Blue and lavender lanterns will set the mansion aglow, while classic holiday music plays in the background. Plan to peruse an 18th-century Winter Market featuring old-fashioned wares and crafts, or explore a winter encampment that stars everyone’s favorite holiday livestock: Aladdin the Camel. There will be holiday fireworks over the Potomac in the evening.
Mount Vernon. Dec. 17-18. Starting at $36.

Ward 8 Woods Winter Solstice Hike and Vigil: On the shortest day and longest night of the year, join the Ward 8 Woods Conservancy for a half-mile walk through the Shepherd Parkway to a wooded hilltop overlooking the city. There, the group will light candles and reflect on the past year and what’s to come in 2022.
Shepherd Parkway. Dec. 21. $10. 

Kings Dominion WinterFest: If you’re up for a holiday road trip, you’ll be rewarded with millions of twinkling lights and grand displays at King’s Dominion: The Eiffel Tower, for example, will transform into a 300-foot-tall Christmas tree, and the park’s big fountain will turn into an ice-skating rink. The immersive experience also includes entertainers such as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Ice Princess, carriage rides, cookie decorating, and lots of holiday-themed snacks. Nearly two dozen rides will be open during WinterFest.
Kings Dominion. Through Jan. 9. Starting at $23.

PERFORMANCES

Wolf Trap Holiday Sing-A-Long From Home: No need to venture into the cold to participate in this virtual sing-a-long. Rest your vocals, because you’ll be belting out holiday favorites led by more than 500 local singers, plus instrumentals by the United States Marine Band. One of the bonuses of the virtual format is that none of the professionals will judge if you haven’t quite mastered the high notes in “O Holy Night.”
Dec. 4 and 18. FREE.

The Washington Ballet’s The Nutcracker: This beloved production is set in 1882 Georgetown and features lots of Georges, such as George Washington and King George III. More than 100 dancers will star in 30 performances at the Warner Theatre this season.
The Warner Theatre. Through Dec. 26. Starting at $48.

The Hip Hop Nutcracker: Tchaikovsky, remixed. If the traditional Nutcracker doesn’t do it for you, perhaps you’ll enjoy this reimagining at Strathmore. It features a dozen dancers, a violinist, and MC Kurtis Blow, who’s considered one of hip hop’s founding fathers.
The Music Center at Strathmore. Dec. 20-22. Starting at $34.

A Christmas Carol: The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future return to Ford’s Theatre for this reimagining of Charles Dickens’ classic story. The production, directed by José Carrasquillo, will feature traditional caroling and new staging. Missing out could cause one to feel like a Scrooge.
Ford’s Theatre. Through Dec. 27. Starting at $54. 

The Spirit of Kwanzaa: This is the Dance Institute of Washington’s most popular and longest-running production. It draws on the agricultural ceremonies of Africa and promises a show where dance, drumming, spoken word, singing, and video will explore, “the struggles, resilience, and creativity within the Black experience.”
Dance Institute of Washington. Dec. 18-19. Starting at $20.

CRAFTS AND WORKSHOPS

Follies Winter Workshop: Mark your calendar for this holiday-inspired STEM workshop, which will be accompanied by snacks and music. It’s happening at the Halcyon Arts Lab in Georgetown and will feature the Follies Playset, a 40-piece kit that can be used to create giant, elaborate structures.
Halcyon Arts Lab. Dec. 4. FREE.

Eat Peach Market Party Cheese Virtual Class: This celebratory class will center on how to pair seasonal cheeses with sparkling wine, dried fruit, seasonal fruit preserves, and chocolate. The ticket price includes a box of party cheeses. As the organizers say: “Join us, and unleash your inner curd nerd.”
Dec. 9. Starting at $50.

Making Non-Alcoholic Holiday Drinks with Derek Brown: If all you want for Christmas is to not have a hangover, this is the class for you. Derek Brown, the bartender who owns Columbia Room, will teach you the recipes and techniques for super tasty, non-alcoholic holiday drinks.
Columbia Room. Dec. 15. $80.

Wreaths and Whiskey: Ali Chrisler, who owns Blue Ribbon Floral, will teach you how to make a holiday wreath while you sip on whiskey or spiked hot cider. The class will last one hour, after which you can head home to hang up your new wreath.
Hook Hall. Dec. 12. $49.99. 

Crafts + Cocktails: Make Your Own Holiday Ornament: During this two-hour, outdoor class organized by Shop Made DC, learn how to use recycled materials to make holiday ornaments. The ticket price includes one cocktail.
Shop Made in DC Union Market. Dec. 12. $25. 

HOLIDAY LIGHTS

Gaithersburg Winter Lights Festival: This place has been “socially distancing since 1995,” organizers boast. Expect a 3.5-mile drive through the “enchanted” Seneca Creek State Park, featuring more than 450 illuminated displays and trees. Tickets must be purchased in advance, and the event is likely to sell out, so plan ahead.
Seneca Creek State Park. Through Dec. 31. Starting at $15. 

Enchant Christmas: It’s beginning to look a lot like — well, not like Nationals Park. The baseball stadium’s annual holiday glow-up has happened, and visitors can amble through a maze of twinkling lights. Other attractions: an ice-skating rink, Christmas market, Santa meet-and-greets, and a play area for kids. On Dec. 16, a Paws & Claus event invites canines to join the merriment.
Nationals Park. Through Jan. 2. Starting at $29. 

Bull Run Festival of Lights: Hop into your car and drive 2.5 miles through this annual display in Centreville. Organizers recommend you “turn off your headlights and just follow the magical glow.” Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and the weeks before and after Christmas are busiest, so plan ahead if you want to avoid the crowds.
Bull Run Regional Park. Through Jan. 2. Starting at $30. 

Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights: Take a self-guided, half-mile walk through this Vienna park, and check out the “TREEmendous” display. After your tour, gather around the fire pit for some s’mores or a hot chocolate topped with jumbo marshmallows.
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. Through Jan. 2. Starting at $16. 

POP-UP BARS

Sippin’ Santa: This pop-up holiday tiki bar promises the vacation you deserve this year. New additions to the menu include a White Russian Christmas, Azul Navidad, and Yule Log Grog; you can also count on returning favorites such as the Kris Kringle Kolada and Christmas Eve of Destruction. Find the pop up at D.C.’s Archipelago bar and Reston’s Tiki Thai. Where else can you pair a Hawaiian shirt with a Santa hat?
Tiki Thai Reston and Archipelago in D.C.

Miracle Pop-Up Bar at Death Punch: Expect “kitschy holiday décor, professionally-developed cocktails, and the nostalgic energy of the best office party you’ve ever been to” — which might be a low bar, but enticing nonetheless. Look forward to fan-favorite drinks such as the Christmapolitan, Snowball Old-Fashioned, Jingle Balls Nog, Nice Shot, and Naughty Shot.
Death Punch Bar. 

Winterfest at Wunder Garten: Holiday cheer awaits at this annual month-long celebration. Planned activities include a workshop on screen printing your own cards, an ugly sweater party, drag queen bingo, Christmas trivia, and a holi-gay party. Plus, of course, there will be plenty to eat and drink.
Wunder Garten. Dec. 4-20. 

Ivy & Coney’s Hanukkah Bar: As the organizers put it, “The Manischewitz shall flow, the dreidels shall spin, and fun will be had by all.” Stop by and wash away the past 20 months with a round on the Shotnorah.
Ivy & Coney. Through “Decemberish.”