Wrap Up the Holidays for Another Year
Many are still out of town for their holiday vacation. Freshmen members of Congress and their staffs haven’t arrived yet. This weekend’s calendar is pretty empty so you can recover from too much champagne on New Year’s Eve, take down the decorations and write your thank you notes. There are a few holiday events that wrap up this weekend and for brides-to-be, there’s a bridal show at the D.C. convention center on Sunday, so you can finalize plans for those summer nuptials.
Metrorail is running on a regular schedule Friday. There will be no track work this weekend, but all trains will operate with six cars because of lighter than normal ridership.
The Washington Wedding Experience bridal show comes to the D.C. convention center on Sunday. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Washington Wedding Experience
If you have a wedding coming up in 2015, the Washington Wedding Experience bridal show can help you plan your perfect day. Find your dream dress on the runway fashion show, discover new ideas and uncover the latest trends, chat with local wedding professionals and receive practical advice, taste delicious cakes, see beautiful flower and explore all our options so you can make informed decisions. You’ll get a book of wedding deals with discounts and special offers from exhibitors, a year subscription to Brides Magazine, at 12-by-22 inch custom glass print and entry into drawings for prizes including a free honeymoon.
Jan. 4 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place NW. Tickets are $10 online or at the door. A $2 discount is available online.
Symphony of Lights
The Symphony of Lights in Columbia is a half hour drive through Christmas lights. (Photo: Baltimore Sun)
Symphony of Lights is a spectacular display of 70 larger-than-life, animated and stationary light creations. It is a treasured community tradition and a “must-see” during the holiday season. It is the largest annual fundraising event benefitting Howard County General Hospital. Enjoy a 20-30 minute drive through the annual display of holiday light creations, illuminated by a fantasy of color, design and animation.
Through Jan. 4 at Symphony Woods, 10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, Md., from 6-10 p.m. Admission is $20 per carload at the gate.
ICE!
ICE! is open at Gaylord National Resort with a Frosty the Snowman theme through Jan. 4. (Photo: Gaylord National Resort)
ICE!, the life-sized ice show is back at Gaylord National Resort, this year featuring Frosty the Snowman, everyone’s favorite snowman. Carved from over 2 million pounds of colorful ice, enjoy larger than life scenes from the classic tale, slide down two-story high ice slides and watch artisans in action at the new Frostbite Factory, an interactive live carving area. As part of Christmas on the Potomac, the Gaylord atrium is also transformed into a winter wonderland with a free nightly indoor snowfall at 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m., more than 2 million lights that illuminate the glass atrium and outdoor garden areas, the free fountain show with the water and lights “dancing” to the music of the Christmas story at 7 and 9 p.m. and classical Christmas carols at 6 and 8 p.m. There is also a 60-foot-tall Christmas tree made of synthetic “candy” glass suspended from the center of the atrium.
Through Jan. 4 at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, 201 Waterfront St., Oxen Hill in National Harbor. Adult tickets range from $21-$34 and children’s tickets range for children 3-11 range from $14-$28 depending on dates. Tickets and the schedule are available here.
Ice skating in the Sculpture Garden
Enjoy time ice skating in the Sculpture Garden on the Mall. (Photo: Jon L. Hussey)
Experience ice skating in the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden, surrounded by the grand architecture of national museums and monuments. The ice skating rink, a long-time favorite destination, attracts thousands of visitors to skate in the park-like setting on the National Mall, surrounded by extraordinary sculptures by renowned modern and contemporary artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. The Pavilion Café offers a panoramic view of the Sculpture Garden and ice rink as well as a variety of food and beverages.
Through Mar. 16 at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Rink on the National Mall, Seventh Street and Constitution Ave. NW. from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday. Closed New Year’s Day. Admission to a 2-hour session is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors over 50, students with school ID and children 12 and under at the door. Skate rental is $3.
