As a child of the ‘90s who felt a certain symmetry to Home Alone 2’s Kevin McCallister and his love of Christmas trees, I had to put together a list of great trees to check out in the area. Enjoy the extraordinary fir trees from Sterling, Fairfax, Reston, and more.
Tinsel! In Sterling
For the kids (and kids at heart), this jolly experience celebrates the season with a remarkable 18-foot Christmas tree. There are also carolers roaming around to get you into the spirit of the season, as well as selfies with Santa. If you catch the day right, there are crafts for families and girls’ nights out too! One dollar from every ticket purchased goes to Inova Health Foundation.
Mosaic District Christmas, Fairfax
The Mosaic District is offering lots of festive happenings, including a large tree in Strawberry Park. While the tree lighting was Thanksgiving weekend, you can still check out Santa at Mosaic through December 23, Santa’s motorcade on December 17, and lots of shopping too. Don’t miss the annual toy drive through December 13.
Reston Town Center Holidays
If you live in or near Reston, check out all their holiday fun. If you want to see the town’s Christmas tree, it might be best to try a horse-drawn carriage ride. They run December 11 and 18 from 4-9 p.m. (masks strongly recommended and proceeds benefits local charities). There are also mini train rides Sunday December 12 and 19 from noon until 4 pm around Reston Town Center.
Tysons Corner Christmas Tree
Tysons Corner’s 51-foot Christmas tree is worth stopping by to gaze up at its beauty (and maybe snap a selfie or two!). Shopping is a lot more fun and less hectic when you have a majestic Christmas tree as your backdrop. Also, pet parents will be happy to know that you can bring your furry friend to photos with Santa on December 13 and 20.
Holiday Road in Leesburg
Leesburg’s Morven Park is home to a brand-new light display this year. If one Christmas tree isn’t enough, Holiday Road is home to a Christmas tree forest. Through January 2, enjoy holiday displays, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and gingerbread and candy canes galore. The trail is a self-guided, half-mile long walk that typically takes about 90 minutes. Parents will be pleased to know there are holiday bars too with seasonal cocktails to take with you as you meander the trails.
Worth a Trip with the Family: The National Christmas Tree
While it’s not technically in Northern Virginia, the National Christmas tree is worth a trip downtown at least once with the whole family. Kids will love to see the ornaments from across the U.S.—every year, baubles are made for every state, territory and DC. If you look closely, you’ll see they symbolize history, heritage, and culture of each home. The tree will be lit from dusk until around 11 p.m. nightly through the holiday season.
Feature image courtesy Reston Town Center
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