SEASONAL FESTIVALS & PLANT SALES
WINTER FESTIVAL & CHRISTMAS TREE SALE
Get in the holiday spirit at the National Arboretum! FONA’s Winter Festival returns this year on Saturday, December 6th — and it’s going to be better than ever! You can also shop for Christmas trees and other holiday greenery at FONA’s Christmas Tree Sale, held from Friday, November 28th through Sunday, December 7th.
All Winter Festival activities will take place near the National Arboretum’s Visitor Center. However, the Christmas Tree Sale will take place in the Arboretum’s Grove parking lot, which is ~2 minute drive or 10 minute walk from the Visitor Center. Enter the Arboretum by either the R Street entrance (2400 R Street NE) or New York Avenue entrance (3501 New York Ave NE). Free parking is available at the Arboretum. See map below for details.
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WINTER FESTIVAL
Saturday, December 6: 10 AM – 3 PM
On December 6th, shop from 30+ local artisans in the gift vendor village, take a holiday train ride around the Capitol Columns, and enjoy free family-friendly activities! There will also be plenty of hot chocolate and caroling to ring in the holiday season. This event will take place near the National Arboretum’s Visitor Center.
The Winter Festival is hosted by Friends of the National Arboretum in partnership with DC Squared and DC Child Care Connections. This event kicks off DC Squared’s Its a Wonderful Ward series in Northeast D.C. during the month of December.
Scroll through the tabs to learn more about the event.
Enjoy curated holiday attractions like a holiday train ride, a Cocoa Chalet fueled by Zeke’s Coffee, Santa’s Mailbox, a caroling performance, and festive photographic moments. The event will feature a clothing swap and a special donation drive with Community of Hope, collecting new and gently used infant and maternity clothing for local families.
DC Child Care Connections will also offer free child-centered, family-focused activities for children ages 2 to 12. They will include face painting, arts, crafts, and games. DC Child Care Connections is the District’s Child Care Resource and Referral program funded through the Office of the State Superintendent of Education’s Division of Early Learning. Adult supervision is required during all family activities.
The full list of vendors is coming soon!
Without the help of volunteers like you, events like the Winter Festival would not be possible. To learn more about volunteering at the Winter Festival, please fill out FONA’s volunteer interest form and we will get back to you soon with more details.
What happens if there is inclement weather on December 6th?
In the event of inclement weather, some or all of this event may be moved to Sunday, December 7th. Check our website or social media channels (Facebook, Instagram) for any updates.
Can I bring my dog to this event?
Dogs are allowed on leash, but are not recommended since the event can get very crowded.
Do I have to carry my Christmas Tree all the way back to my car?
Drive and park your car directly in the Grove parking lot. We’ll load your tree onto your car for you.
Do I have to pay for parking?
No, all parking at the National Arboretum is free. Please park at either the R Street lot or Grove lot, and a free shuttle bus will transport you to the event.
How do I become a volunteer for the Winter Festival?
This event is not possible without volunteers! Fill out our volunteer interest form and we will get back to you soon with more details.
What else is there to see at the National Arboretum this time of year?
There is lots to see! The Camellia Collection within the Asian Collections is often in bloom during this event, and the Gotelli Conifer Collection offers evergreen trails to explore. Visit the National Arboretum’s website to learn more about what the Arboretum has to offer.
Throughout December, DC² will keep the spirit alive with community clothing swaps, donations and The Giving Tree, where neighbors can adopt a local family or individual and bring their gifts to the Procrastinator’s Holiday Market (PHM) at Kraken (December 20) for a joyful exchange celebration. See more details on It’s A Wonderful Ward, PHM vendors, activations and more at www.procrastinatorsmarket.com.
CHRISTMAS TREE SALE
Friday, November 28 – Sunday, December 7
Shop for Christmas trees and other holiday greenery at the Arboretum from Friday, November 28th through Sunday, December 7th. This year’s Tree Sale will take place in the Grove parking lot. The sale will be open Monday to Friday from 12 PM to 8 PM, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 AM to 8 PM.
When you buy your Christmas tree or other holiday greenery from our sale, 10% of your purchase is donated directly back to FONA.
Trees are available now for pre-order and home delivery. Pre-ordering is not required but guarantees you a great tree at the best price. When pre-ordering, please select “Friends of the National Arboretum” as the fundraising partner at checkout to ensure your purchase supports FONA.
LAHR NATIVE PLANT SYMPOSIUM & NATIVE PLANT SALE
The National Arboretum’s Lahr Native Plant Symposium brings together expert speakers for an engaging day of presentations about native plants, pollinators, and ecosystems. FONA’s Native Plant Sale hosts a small number of native plant vendors from across the mid-Atlantic region to sell spring ephemerals and other choice perennials and woody plants.
Both of these events are held together on the same day in late March. Registration for the Lahr Symposium often opens in January.
GARDEN FAIR & PLANT SALE
Celebrate spring at the National Arboretum during FONA’s annual Garden Fair & Plant Sale! This is our largest seasonal festival and is an important fundraiser for FONA. Shop from thousands of plants, browse from dozens of local vendors, and enjoy free family activities. You can also get advice from our expert gardeners.
We will share more details about this event in early 2026. Learn how to become a vendor at this event.
GARLIC PLANTING PARTY & BULB SALE
Our annual Garlic Planting Party & Bulb Sale is a great way to celebrate fall and FONA’s community at the National Arboretum! This event takes place each year in the Washington Youth Garden on the last Saturday in October. Attendees can plant garlic, harvest sweet potatoes, try fresh sugar cane juice, and enjoy free nature-based family activities. They can also buy edible and ornamental bulbs to plant in their own gardens. We will share information about the 2026 event in the late summer or early fall of 2026.
BECOME A VENDOR
2025 Events
FONA is accepting vendor applications for the upcoming Winter Festival on Saturday, December 6th. This event will take place near the Arboretum’s Visitor Center, and will include an artisan vendor village gift market, holiday train ride, food trucks, free family-friendly activities, Christmas tree sale, and more. If you are a local business, artisan, or food truck interested in vending at the Winter Festival, please apply today! A limited number of booths are available and space fills quickly.
2026 Events
Apply today to be a vendor at one of FONA’s 2026 seasonal festivals! Our seasonal festivals draw thousands of visitors to the National Arboretum throughout the year. Each event is unique: the Native Plant Sale connects with native plant enthusiasts; the Garden Fair & Plant Sale provides everything a gardener needs to get growing in the spring; and the Winter Festival offers holiday cheer and a gift market. Apply today if you are a local business, nursery, or food truck interested in vending at one or multiple 2026 seasonal festivals. A limited number of booths are available at each event and space fills quickly.
CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS
FONA offers many corporate sponsorship opportunities throughout the year at our community events, visitor programs, and annual Dinner Under the Stars. These events connect thousands of people from the D.C. region and beyond to nature, science, and plant stewardship at the National Arboretum. Corporate sponsors gain digital and in-person visibility leading up to and at these events. FONA has over 16,000 engaged followers across Instagram and Facebook and reaches 17,000+ subscribers through FONA Field Notes, our weekly e-newsletter.
Sponsorships are available for a variety of events of different sizes and audiences. They include but are not limited to the Garden Fair & Plant Sale (April), 5K races (March and November), Summer Evening Hours (June through August), Dinner Under the Stars (September), Garlic Planting Party & Bulb Sale (October), and Winter Festival & Christmas Tree Sale (December).
Upcoming event sponsorship opportunities are featured below. Email donations@fona.org to learn more about becoming a corporate sponsor.
Photo by Josh Peterson
Winter Festival Sponsorships
The 2025 Winter Festival & Christmas Tree Sale will take place near the Arboretum’s Visitor Center and Ellipse Meadow on Saturday, December 6th. This festive event typically draws over 1,500 visitors, and features fun for all ages including a Christmas tree sale, a train ride, specialty gift vendors, free family activities, and tasty treats.
FONA offers three event sponsorship levels and welcomes both monetary or in-kind contributions. We are also happy to customize a sponsor package that works best for you. Email donations@fona.org to sponsor FONA’s Winter Festival.
EVENT VOLUNTEERING
Volunteering at FONA’s events throughout the year is a great way to support our work building community at the National Arboretum. Spend a day enjoying plants and people by volunteering at our annual Garden Fair and Plant Sale, or help with other seasonal festivals, concerts, 5K races, and more. No experience is required, but we greatly appreciate when people can commit to volunteering at multiple events throughout the year. Fill out our event volunteer interest form and we will get back to you with more details.
