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Northern Virginia ‘Experience Gifts’ for Everyone on Your List

Give friends and family lasting memories with tickets to local shows, classes, lessons, and more.

By Kate Oczypok December 19, 2025 at 8:00 am

Sometimes the best present of all isn’t a present, it’s an experience. Here are nine Northern Virginia experience gifts perfect for anyone on your list — from teens, to spouses, to friends, and everyone in between.

Book a Fireside & S’mores Getaway at Wilderness Presidential Resort

Now through February 1

Sometimes, the best present of all is a weekend post-holidays getaway with your loved ones. Presidential Resort in Spotsylvania, a camping resort specializing in affordable family getaways, is offering a “Fireside & S’mores Getaway” for $115 per night. It includes a firewood bundle, s’mores kit, and a round of mini golf. The getaway offer is available through February 1, 2026. 9220 Plank Rd., Spotsylvania

Discover How to Take Great Phone Photos at The Art League

January 11 and February 27

These days, everyone can be a photographer with their smartphones. The Art League’s Phone Photography class teaches guests to learn how to capture better photos with their phones. The class currently runs Sunday, January 11 from 2 to 4:30 p.m. and Friday, February 27 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Attendees will look at the use of different camera lenses, shooting modes and what combinations are best for specific subjects. Students should plan on bringing their phone to class. 105 North Union St., Alexandria

Take a Ceramics Class Series at Art House Seven

January 15 through February 19

If you have an art-loving teen in your life, Art House Seven’s Ceramics Class for seventh through 12^th graders runs from January 15 through February 19. All levels are welcome, and beginners will learn how to center a ball of clay and shape it into various shapes, like bowls, pots, and vases. More advanced attendees will work on their pottery making skills and work will be glazed and fired. Students are required to attend the first and last day of class. 5537 Langston Blvd., Arlington

See Gaby Moreno at Wolf Trap

January 23

Grammy winning singer-songwriter Gaby Moreno will debut at The Barns at Wolf Trap with a set of blues, Latin soul, and folk music. Expect tracks from her latest albums X Mi (Vol 1) and DUSK. Moreno has also produced the theme song for the Disney animated series Elena of Avalor. Seeing Moreno live is a fun option for those who are fans, or singer-songwriter lovers who want to discover a new artist to enjoy. 1635 Trap Rd., Vienna

**Treat the Little One in Your Life to Zootopia Mini Camp at Encore Stage & Studio**

January 30

Fresh off the success of Zootopia 2, Encore Stage & Studio is hosting a Zootopia Mini-Camp for children in kindergarten through second grade on January 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kids will be able to explore theater through the world of Zootopia. The last day for registration is January 26. Encore at Cherrydale United Methodist Church, 3701 Lorcom Ln., Arlington

**See Kinky Boots at Capital One Hall**

January 31 and February 1

The Tony and Grammy Award winning musical is at Capital One Hall for two days and four performances only, January 31 and February 1. With a score by pop icon Cyndi Lauper, Kinky Boots is a great experience for the Broadway lover in your life. 7750 Capital One Tower Rd., Tysons

Learn to Bake at Knead & Know

Weekends

Bakers (and aspiring bakers) will love Knead & Know’s weekend classes. January offerings include croissant making, Fundamentals of Bread, and country loaf making. In February, there will be classes on bagels, sourdough bread making, baguettes, and more. 6322 Hopewell Rd., The Plains

Have a “Retreat” at Calvert Rejuvenations

Have a tired mom or overworked spouse in your life? Calvert Rejuvenations in Herndon has a “Retreat” experience that includes a 90-minute serenity massage with LED and CBD, 90-minute relaxation facial with a lush lip enhancement and hand and foot exfoliation, and a 90-minute meditation experience cocoon wrap. 485 Carlisle Dr., Herndon

Early Mountain Wine Club

For the wine enthusiast in your life, gift a wine club membership, like the one offered at Early Mountain. In addition to four monthly product shipments, when members visit the tasting room, they get special benefits like a free glass of wine for the member plus a guest on every visit. Members also receive priority access to winery events. 6109 Wolftown-Hood Rd., Madison

Feature image courtesy Knead & Know

Kate Oczypok

Contributing Writer

Kate Oczypok has been a freelance writer since 2011, and is proud to be a regular contributor to Northern Virginia Magazine in digital and print since 2020. Her bylines have appeared in The New York Times, People.com, Better Homes and Gardens, and locally The Georgetowner and Washingtonian Magazine, among others. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Print Journalism from American University and a M.Ed. in Education from Penn State. She also teaches virtual piano lessons in the after school hours and does portrait photography on weekends.