Soon The Fairmont's Crystal Garden will look like this again.
On November 29th, kick off the holiday season with complimentary hot chocolate and sweets at The Fairmont's fourth annual tree-lighting ceremony with Santa Claus, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and the caroling Georgetown Visitation Madrigals; the hotel's Crystal Garden will remain glowing with illuminated reindeer all month long; guests are asked to bring an unwrapped gift for the Marine Corps' Toys for Tots project (5 PM–6:30 PM; 202-429-2400).
Bring your kids back to The Fairmont on December 1st, when the pastry chef will coach them in assembling and decorating their very own gingerbread house; parents can snack on free hot chocolate, bagels, muffins and other treats while they watch (10:30 AM; $35 per child; 202-457-5019).