For family fun or a holiday outing there is enough happening in the DC Metro area to satisfy everyone’s interest. The DC Metro area’s holiday lineup of events can be staggeringly varied. So, are you confused what to do this holiday season? Simple! Let us help you discover the spirit of the season. Check out these activities...
Flickering lights to delight you!
The DC Metro area boasts of some of the best light displays. 
During the festive season lights adorn the streets and huge brightly lit Christmas trees pop up everywhere. The two most finely decorated trees in the area open to the public can be found at the White House Ellipse and at the Capitol lawn. Old Town Alexandria, VA, is beautifully lit and it also hosts the Holiday Boat Parade of lights where decorated boats light up the night sky along the Potomac River. The parade begins at Alexandria and ends at Maine St, Washington DC. The Gaylord National Resort, holds a lavish holiday celebration with ice castles, colorful fountains, spectacular shows, ice skating, movies, brunch with Santa etc, all of this with nightly snowfall. The National Zoo lights with plenty of animated lights is another popular spot with the local crowd. Both MD and VA parks have plenty of light displays and some of the prominent and popular ones are Bull Run Park, in Virginia and Seneca, Watkins and Brookside Gardens in Maryland.
Harmonious music to set your feet tapping!
A variety of musical performances which include symphonies, operas, sing-alongs, Christmas classics and Hanukkah songs fill the metro area during the holiday season. Though most of these concerts are ticketed, you can find a range of music concerts 
that you can choose to attend with your family and friends. Handel’s Messiah a holiday classic offered by the Washington National Cathedral is a masterpiece. The National Cathedral, also hosts the classic carol concerts throughout December. The Folger Shakespeare Theater is hosting a German Christmas this year with the festive music of Michael Praetorius, a German composer of the 17th century. If you want to grab some free concerts make sure you attend the Army Band at the DAR Constitution Hall or head to the Willard Hotel on Pennsylvania Ave, DC. In Maryland, the Music Center at Strathmore hosts concerts throughout the holiday season and in Virginia, the Wolf Trap Farm Park Holiday sing along is the best holiday event. You can also catch some free concerts at Old Town Alexandria, VA.
Unique offerings to satisfy your senses!
The DC metro area lines up a dizzying array of holiday shows and entertainment. The choices are plenty and if you plan early you can get
some reasonably priced tickets to the best shows in town. The most awaited holiday show this year is the Radio City Christmas Spectacular which is coming to DC for the first time ever. You can watch this show at the Patriot Center (15-16 Dec) or Verizon Center (18-20 Dec). At the Smithsonian Discovery Theater you can catch the Seasons of Light show that takes you around the globe showcasing various festivals. The Ford Theater runs the traditional Dickens tale of the Christmas Carol, which explores the story of Uncle Scrooge. What is Christmas without the Nutcracker, this holiday classic is staged at various venues all over the DC Metro area, so if you have never been to one before, be sure to see this family entertainer this holiday season.
Help others and feel good in the process!
For many of us with charitable ideas during the holiday season the DC Metro area is the perfect place to bestow our extra to someone deserving. The Bank’s Community Outreach Group launched the “Giving Trees” last year—a way to gift a local child with an item he/she wants. The trees with wish cards will be located in the lobbies of buildings MC, H, I, and J, so you can ask your spouse to get a card and buy a gift. Also, if your spouse attends an office party, the Bank will make a corporate donation of $3 to nonprofit agencies. Other places where you can give during this season are Martha’s Table on 14th St NW, an organization that works to improve lives of at-risk kids and families by providing education, food, and clothing () and a nonprofit hunger and nutrition resource on Taylor Street NE, the Capital Area Food Bank (www.capitalareafoodbank.org). Here you can donate funds, food as well your time sorting and repacking food, staffing special events or preparing mailings.
Whatever you do, just remember—Holidays are a time to chill out, appreciate life’s best things, share and enjoy doing what you like the most! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Vidya Rangan