With Halloween past, preparations for the winter holiday season are getting underway across Fairfax County.
Patch has compiled a sample of three festive light shows residents will soon be able to enjoy.
When: Nov. 14-Jan. 3
Where: Bull Run Regional Park, Centreville
Cost: $30-$45 per vehicle online, with discounts available on select weekdays
Starting Nov. 14, Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville will light up as it has every year since 1995. Displays line the 2.5-mile drive, which ends at a Holiday Village with walking paths covered in lights and a carnival featuring a Ferris wheel. Visitors can also enjoy a petting zoo and camel rides.
Food, beverages and holiday shopping are available in the village. If it is a bit chilly out, visitors can warm up by a bonfire while roasting marshmallows and making s'mores.
The event will run every day, weather permitting, through Jan. 3. Tickets range from $30 to $45 per vehicle when purchased in advance online, though promo codes can lower the price on select weekdays. Taxes and transaction fees are extra, as are carnival and camel rides.
The carnival will be closed on Thanksgiving, but the light show, Holiday Village, petting zoo and camel rides will remain open.
When: Nov. 11-Jan. 3
Where: Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna
Cost: $19-$24 online; children under 2: free; dogs on designated nights: $6
If walking is more your style, Meadowlark's Winter Walk of Lights might be the show for you. Located at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, the event will begin Nov. 11 and continue through Jan. 3. Animated and interactive light displays line a half-mile trail that is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.
Hot drinks are available, including adult beverages. This year, organizers are also offering an Amaretto Snow Globe drink. A limited-edition 2026 holiday ornament is available for purchase.
Dog nights are also available, though your pup will need a separate $6 ticket.
Online tickets cost $19 from Nov. 11 to Dec. 3 and Jan. 1-3. Tickets increase to $24 from Dec. 4 to the end of the month, before taxes and transaction fees. Children under 2 get in free.
When: Dec. 19-20
Where: George Washington's Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon
Cost: Ages 12 and older: $58; ages 6-11: $36; ages 5 and younger: free
History and holiday buffs alike might want to check out George Washington's Mount Vernon estate this holiday season to see the home of America's first president illuminated in holiday lights.
Mansion tours are available for an additional $5, and the evening will feature fireworks set to music over the Potomac River. There will also be a winter market with handcrafted goods, food and holiday drinks.
Historical interpreters will keep the historical vibes going, sharing what it was like to prepare for Christmas in the 18th century. Visitors can meet interpreters portraying George and Martha Washington, hear Washington's holiday remarks before the fireworks and enjoy live 18th-century music in the greenhouse.
The event runs Dec. 19-20 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $58 for ages 12 and older and $36 for children ages 6-11. Children ages 5 and younger get in free, and discounts are available for Mount Vernon members.
When: Nov. 14-22 (weekends only); Nov. 27-Jan. 3 (daily)
Where: Cameron Run Regional Park, Alexandria
Cost: $9 online; $12 at the door, plus taxes and transaction fees
Just outside Fairfax County in neighboring Alexandria, there's also the Bright Nights event at Cameron Run Regional Park.
Described as an outdoor family event with dazzling light displays, it includes a variety of festive scenes, with hot beverages and snacks available. This year, the event has added a lighted mini-golf course, a scavenger hunt and a giant maze.
Tickets are only $9 when purchased online and $12 at the door, so it might be an event worth leaving the county for.
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