Christmas Guide for Families: Centreville, South Riding, Clifton, Aldie & Middleburg
Light shows, parades, Santa visits, tree farms, Nutcrackers and holiday markets near home, plus free ways to make the season merry.
What is there to do for Christmas near Centreville and South Riding? Start with the drive-through Bull Run Festival of Lights in Centreville, then mark Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026 for Christmas in Middleburg, with the Middleburg Hunt at 11 a.m. and the Christmas parade at 2 p.m. Families also love Winter Wonderland at Burke Lake Park (holiday train, carousel and Santa), cutting a tree at a Loudoun tree farm, a local Nutcracker, and a firehouse or brewery breakfast with Santa.
Many organizers haven't posted 2026 dates yet. We show last year's dates so you can plan, and we update this guide as new dates are announced.
🎉 Biggest tradition: Christmas in Middleburg, Sat., Dec. 5, 2026
🚂 Best for little kids: Winter Wonderland at Burke Lake Park (train, carousel, Santa)
🎄 Cut your own tree: Snickers Gap Tree Farm or Hank's Christmas Trees (Santa train)
💰 Free: the Middleburg parades, Jingle in the Burg, neighborhood light drives
✨ Christmas Light Shows
Our area's big light show is right in Centreville. Book online: tickets cost less in advance, and popular nights fill up.
Bull Run Festival of Lights & Holiday Village Centreville 20121
Drive a 2.5-mile route of light displays from your warm car, then stop at the Holiday Village with bonfires, s'mores, carnival food, a Ferris wheel and holiday shopping. Open nightly, roughly 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. (10 p.m. on weekends), with a few closed dates.
📍 Bull Run Regional Park, 7700 Bull Run Dr., Centreville • 💵 Last year $30 per car online, $40 at the gate • Festival page →
Holiday on the Farm at Frying Pan Farm Park Herndon
Ride a farm wagon through holiday light displays, visit Santa and the farm animals, warm up at a campfire and make a craft. Tickets include a wagon, trackless train and carousel ride.
📍 2709 W. Ox Rd., Herndon • 💵 Last year $15 in advance, $20 at the gate • Light show list →
Meadowlark Winter Walk of Lights Vienna
A half-mile paved walk through glowing gardens. Stroller friendly. Reservations required.
📍 Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna • 💵 Last year $18 online (ages 2+), under 2 free • Light show list →
💡 Parent tip: Weeknights early in the season have the shortest lines at Bull Run. Tune the radio, pack cocoa, and let the kids ride in pajamas.
🎉 Parades & Tree Lightings
Middleburg goes all out for Christmas, and it's right in our area.
Christmas in Middleburg Middleburg 20117
One of the most-loved Christmas parades in Virginia. Breakfast with Santa runs 8 to 11 a.m., the Middleburg Hunt rides through town with horses and hounds at 11 a.m., and the Christmas parade steps off at 2 p.m. Food trucks, music and shopping fill the day.
📍 Downtown Middleburg (Washington St.) • 💵 Parades free; reserved parking required (Mickie Gordon Park lot $50 per car, prices rise closer to the day) • Parking & schedule →
Middleburg Christmas Tree Lighting Middleburg 20117
A small-town tree lighting the evening before the parades. A sweet, less crowded way to kick off the season.
📍 The Pink Box, Middleburg • 💵 Free • Town holiday page →
💡 Parent tip: There's no parking in town or on Route 50 on parade day, and cars get towed. Buy your parking pass early, ride the shuttle, and bring a blanket to sit on along the curb.
🏠 Neighborhood tree lightings: South Riding, Stone Ridge and other HOAs often host resident tree lightings and Santa visits. Check your community calendar, and tell us about yours so we can add it!
Get our free newsletter →
🎅 Where to See Santa
Breakfasts and photo visits book up early, so reserve as soon as tickets open.
Firehouse Santa at Arcola VFD Arcola / South Riding area
Book a time to visit Firehouse Santa at the Arcola Volunteer Fire Department annex for photos. The department collects donations at the event for the Dulles South Food Pantry and Mobile Hope.
Breakfast with Santa at Lark Brewing Co. Aldie 20105
A hearty breakfast with a visit from Santa at a family-friendly brewery.
📍 24205 James Monroe Hwy., Aldie • 💵 Last year $25; kids 3 and under free
Breakfast with Santa at Lost Barrel Brewing Middleburg 20117
Breakfast and Santa visits at the brewery on Route 50.
📍 36138 John Mosby Hwy., Middleburg • 💵 Last year $10
Breakfast with Santa on Christmas in Middleburg day Middleburg 20117
Start parade day with Santa before the Hunt rides at 11.
Santa at Burke Lake Winter Wonderland Fairfax Station 22039
Meet Santa as part of Winter Wonderland at Burke Lake Park (see Festive Outings below).
💡 Parent tip: Bring Santa a wish list and ask if the event has a sensory-friendly time slot. Many now do, and they're calmer for little ones.
🎄 Christmas Tree Farms & Lots
There are no cut-your-own farms inside our ZIP codes, but several family favorites are a short, pretty drive west or south.
Snickers Gap Christmas Tree Farm Round Hill (Loudoun)
Wander fields of more than 36,000 trees to cut your own. Wreaths, a vintage 1948 Ford truck photo op and a snack shack with cider and soft pretzels. Free admission.
📍 34350 Williams Gap Rd., Round Hill • Farm website →
Hank's Christmas Trees at Hartland Farm Markham (Fauquier)
Cut your own or choose a pre-cut Fraser fir, then warm up with cocoa and cider. Santa visits, and a reservable Santa's Magical Train ride winds through the trees.
📍 12230 Belle Meade Rd., Markham • 💵 Free admission; train ride extra by reservation • Farm website →
Middleburg Christmas Tree Farm Round Hill (Loudoun)
Billed as Loudoun's oldest and largest Christmas tree farm, open for cut-your-own on a single day each season. Cash only.
📍 Christmas Tree Ln., Round Hill • Farm website →
Evergreen Acres Nokesville (Prince William)
Cut-your-own only, with a wagon shuttle out to the fields and saws provided.
📍 12801 Hazlewood Dr., Nokesville • Farm website →
Pre-cut trees close to home Gainesville & Burke
Merrifield Garden Center in Gainesville (6895 Wellington Rd.) and Burke Nursery & Garden Center (9401 Burke Rd.) sell fresh-cut trees, wreaths and greens each season.
💡 Parent tip: Bring work gloves, a tarp or old blanket for the car roof, and twine. Measure your ceiling height before you go!
🩰 The Nutcracker & Holiday Shows
A Nutcracker is a magical first theater trip. Local dance schools offer shorter, kid-friendly versions at lower prices.
Mia Saunders School of Ballet: The Nutcracker Clifton 20124
A hometown Nutcracker on stage at Centreville High School, with local dancers kids may know from school.
📍 Centreville High School, 6001 Union Mill Rd., Clifton
Manassas Ballet Theatre: The Nutcracker Manassas
A full professional production with live music at the Hylton Performing Arts Center.
📍 Hylton Performing Arts Center, Manassas • Nutcracker list →
Virginia National Ballet & Academy of Russian Ballet Manassas
Two more Nutcracker productions at the Hylton over Thanksgiving weekend, a great way to start the season.
📍 Hylton Performing Arts Center, Manassas
Loudoun Ballet: The Nutcracker Purcellville
Western Loudoun's community Nutcracker.
📍 Loudoun Valley High School, Purcellville
💡 Parent tip: For kids under 6, pick a matinee and an aisle seat. Many productions run about two hours with an intermission.
Subscribe FREE →
🚂 Festive Outings & Holiday Markets
Trains, carousels, cocoa and shopping.
Winter Wonderland at Burke Lake Park Fairfax Station 22039
A holiday train ride, the carousel, Gingerbread Man Golf, s'mores, hot cocoa and a chance to meet Santa. One of the best holiday outings for kids under 8.
📍 Burke Lake Park, 7315 Ox Rd., Fairfax Station • 💵 Last year about $20 to $25 • Burke Lake events →
Jingle in the Burg Middleburg 20117
Carolers, dancers, actors and musicians fill Middleburg's streets, including scenes from A Christmas Carol and warm wassail.
📍 South Madison St. and around town • 💵 Free to stroll • Town holiday page →
Horse-drawn carriage rides in Middleburg Middleburg 20117
Clip-clop through the historic town in a carriage. Tickets go on sale in November.
Northern Virginia Christmas Market Chantilly
More than 300 artisans selling gifts, decor, pottery and treats at the Dulles Expo Center. Great for teacher gifts.
📍 Dulles Expo Center, Chantilly • 💵 Last year $9 adults; under 12 free
🎁 Free Christmas Fun
🎉 Watch the Middleburg parades on Dec. 5. Watching is free; only parking costs money.
🎶 Stroll Jingle in the Burg for carolers and street performers.
🚘 Do a neighborhood light drive. Pajamas, cocoa in travel mugs, a holiday playlist, and a vote for the best house.
📚 Check your library. Fairfax and Loudoun County libraries host free holiday story times and crafts each December.
🍰 Bake and deliver cookies to neighbors, your fire station or a local nursing home.
💖 Give together. Let kids pick a toy for a toy drive or help fill a bag for the Dulles South Food Pantry.
📅 Christmas Planning Calendar
Early November: Holiday markets; book Santa breakfasts and Nutcracker seats
Mid-November: Bull Run Festival of Lights opens
Thanksgiving weekend: Tree farms open; first Nutcrackers
Sat., Dec. 5: Christmas in Middleburg (the town tree lighting is usually the evening before)
December weekends: Burke Lake Winter Wonderland, Santa breakfasts, Jingle in the Burg
Week before Christmas: Nutcrackers, a last light-show night, cookie deliveries
🔗 More Local Guides for Families
☔ Indoor Play Places for Cold & Rainy Days
💰 Free Things to Do with Kids in Chantilly & South Riding
🎈 Kids Birthday Party Guide
⭐ Things to Do with Kids in Centreville
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Christmas in Middleburg 2026?
Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026. Breakfast with Santa runs 8 to 11 a.m., the Middleburg Hunt rides at 11 a.m. and the Christmas parade starts at 2 p.m. Reserved parking is required, and shuttles run from the parking lots.
Where can I see Christmas lights near Centreville?
The Bull Run Festival of Lights at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville is a 2.5-mile drive-through light show with a Holiday Village. Nearby, Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon offers wagon rides through lights, and Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna has a walk-through show.
Where can we cut our own Christmas tree near South Riding?
There are no cut-your-own farms inside Centreville, South Riding or Aldie. The closest options are Snickers Gap Tree Farm and Middleburg Christmas Tree Farm in Round Hill, Hank's Christmas Trees in Markham and Evergreen Acres in Nokesville. Most open Thanksgiving weekend.
Where can my kids see Santa near Aldie or South Riding?
Look for Firehouse Santa at the Arcola Volunteer Fire Department, breakfast with Santa at Lark Brewing in Aldie or Lost Barrel Brewing in Middleburg, Santa at Burke Lake's Winter Wonderland, and the breakfast with Santa on Christmas in Middleburg day.
Is there a Nutcracker in Centreville?
Yes. The Mia Saunders School of Ballet has performed The Nutcracker at Centreville High School in mid-December. Manassas Ballet Theatre and other companies perform at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas.
What are free Christmas activities near Centreville and South Riding?
Watch the Christmas in Middleburg parades, stroll Jingle in the Burg, drive neighborhood light displays, and check Fairfax and Loudoun County library calendars for free holiday story times and crafts.
Hi, local parents! 👋
I'm Farnaz, your Macaroni KID Centreville–South Riding publisher and your local family-fun finder.
I'm always looking for family-friendly events, free activities, seasonal fun and local gems in Centreville, South Riding, Chantilly, Clifton, Aldie, Middleburg, Catharpin and Fairfax Station.
🎄 Our family tradition: [ADD YOUR TIP, e.g., your family's favorite Christmas outing]
💌 Want more ideas delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe FREE so you don't miss what's happening each week.
Subscribe FREE →This guide was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by your local publisher.
