Events to Get You in the Holiday Mood
It is going to be a cold weekend in the DMV with temperatures only expected to reach 39 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday and 42 on Sunday. But if you don’t want to spend your weekend in the malls shopping or gambling at the new MGM National Harbor, which opened Thursday, there are plenty of other events that will keep you warm indoors and out.
SafeTrack Surge 11 continues on Metro with single tracking between East Falls Church and West Falls Church with trains Blue, Orange and Silver Line trains operating every 20 minutes. Blue Line trains will also single track between Addison Road and Largo Town Center. Silver Line trains will operate between Wiehle-Reston East and New Carrollton ONLY. Red Line trains will single track between Van Ness-UDS and Medical Center on Friday and Saturday and between NoMa-Gallaudet and Rhode Island Avenue on Sunday with trains running every 12 minutes on Saturday and every 15 minutes on Sunday. Green and Yellow Line trains will run on regular weekend schedules.
Six Flags American is decorated with millions of lights for Christmas and is open weekends through Jan. 2. (Photo: Six Flags America)
Holiday in the Park
Millions of twinkling lights, seasonal food, seven shows and 26 holiday-themed rides and characters make up Holiday in the Park, a new Christmas event at Six Flags America. Running during weekends and select days this winter, make the drive to enjoy the thrills of Six Flags accompanied by plenty of holiday cheer. Kids will love the interactive experiences, stunning decorations and Christmas singalongs.
Weekends through Dec. 23 then daily from Dec. 26-Jan. 2 Through Jan. 2 from 2-9 p.m. at Six Flags America, 13710 Central Avenue, Upper Marlboro, Md. Tickets are $32.99-$55.99 online or $65.99 for adults and $45.99 for children under 48 inches tall at the gate.
Rosslyn Holiday Market Festival
The Rosslyn Holiday Market Festival features more than 25 local vendors, a bonfire, music and more.
(Photo: Rosslyn Business Improvement District)
The Rosslyn Holiday Market Festival returns to Gateway Park for two days of family-friendly fun, starting with food, shopping – there are more than 25 local vendors — cider and more during the day, and bonfires, DJ sets and live music from The Reflex at night. There’s also holiday music performances by the Children’s Chorus of Washington and the Women’s Camerata from HB Woodlawn School, and gingerbread house workshops.
Dec. 9 from 3-11 p.m. and Dec. 10 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at Gateway Park, 1300 Lee Highway, Arlington. Admission is FREE!
Upshur Street Arts and Crafts Fair
The Upshur Street Arts and Craft Fair features more than 50 vendors selling handmade items. (Photo: Upshur Street Arts and Craft Fair)
One of Petworth’s busiest streets transforms into a holiday market for the 11th annual Upshur Street Arts and Craft Fair with more than 50 vendors selling art, food, clothing and other crafts that can help you cross off items on your shopping list. Four bands will provide the soundtrack for the day. And there will be plenty of places nearby to warm up: grab a beer and a bite at Hank’s Cocktail Bar, Slim’s Diner or Timber Pizza Co., or stop by Upshur Street Books or the Petworth Library for the annual used-book sale. There will be a bounce house, crafts and tree decorating for kids at CrossFit Petworth.
Dec. 10 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in the 800 block of Upshur Street NW. Admission is FREE!
Nationals Winterfest
Max Sherzer reads a story to children at last year’s Nationals Winterfest. (Photo: Washington Nationals)
In an event that always produces classic moments between players and fans, Nationals Winterfest returns. Many of the Nats’ stars will be on-hand for fun interaction, games and autographs. Coaches and mascots will be hanging around, too, as the city celebrates its beloved, division-winning baseball team. On the line up is clinics with players and coaches, a Homerun Derby featuring the mascots, a steal home challenge, batting practice, a giant slide, Video Pitch, where fans can give virtual batters their best pitch, photos with Santa and more. Ten fans who donate a new, unwrapped toy to the toy drive will be entered to win a meet and greet with a player each day.
Dec. 10 and 11 from 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place NW. Tickets are $33 for adults and $23 for children. Two-day passes are $56 for adults and $36 for children.
Live Ice Sculpting with Palmer Alley Glittering Gallery
CityCenterDC will feature more than 20 fashion-themed ice sculptures and ice carving demonstrations on Saturday.
(Photo: CenterCityDC)
Enjoy a glittering ice gallery that will sport more than 20 fashion-themed ice sculptures, accompanied by a live DJ and a live ice-carving demonstration. You will also be able to admire the epic 75-foot Christmas tree and 25-foot reindeer. Warm up with free hot cocoa and cider while enjoying holiday music. There will also be Hashtag Mailboxes – a touchscreen mailbox that creates real, mailable physical postcards of your social media phoots when posted with the designated postcard — from noon-6 p.m. Friday and 1-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Type in a message to family or friends and either print out a post card you can mail or the mailbox will print a postcard and mail it for you, including postage.
Dec. 10 from 1:30-4 p.m. at CityCenterDC, 825 10th St. NW. Admission is FREE!
Silent Disco
Art Soriee hosts a silent disco Saturday night at Grace Episcopal Church at the “On the Wings of Freedom” light display as part of Georgetown Glow. (Photp: Georgetown BID)
Imagine a silent dance floor full of people dancing up and down to the beat of their own…headset. As part of Georgetown Glow, Art Soiree and the Silent Dance Society are hosting a Silent Disco next to one of this year’s light art installations – On the Wings of Freedom by Aether & Hemera. Dance your heart out among a crowd of glowing headsets, one of three different genres of music pumping through each one. As you switch between the channels, your headset will light up with a designated color for each DJ so you can tell what others are dancing to. Wireless headsets are limited and available on a first come basis. A valid government issued ID is required in exchange for the headsets. ID will be given back when the headphones are returned. Damaged or headsets not returned will be charged $125.
Dec. 10 from 7-11 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, 1041 Wisconsin Ave. NW. Admission is FREE!
Russian Winter Festival
Hillwood Estate hosts its annual Russian Winter Festival on Sunday. (Photo: Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens)
Celebrate like it’s the 19th century at Hillwood Estate’s annual Russian Winter Festival, which brings holiday cheer and Russian traditions to Upper Northwest. Meet Grandfather Frost (the Russian Santa Claus) and his granddaughter, the Snow Maiden. You can also make and wear your own traditional headwear and enjoy live performances as you explore the grounds of this historic estate.
Dec. 11 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m at Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. Admission is $18 for adults, $15 for seniors, $10 for college students, $5 for children 6-18 and free for children 5 and younger.
Christmas Movie Festival
Will Ferrell star in Elf, playing at the Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse at 1 p.m. Sunday. (Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)
Here is the best Christmas deal you will find: Six movies at the theater for less than you would typically pay to see one. That is what you get at the Christmas Movie Festival at Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse, which also allows moviegoers to come and go as they please. The holiday fun starts with a noon showing of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, followed by A Charlie Brown Christmas at 12:30 p.m., Elf at 1 p.m. followed by repeats of the first film at 2:30 p.m., and then A Christmas Story at 3 p.m., a Charlie Brown repeat at 4:30 p.m., Scrooged at 5:15 p.m. and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation at 7:20 p.m.
Dec. 11 from noon-9 p.m. at Arlington Cinema & Drafhouse, 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington. Tickets are $8.
A Candlelight Christmas
The 200 voice Washington Chorus presents A Candlelight Christmas at the Kennedy Center on Sunday. (Photo: The Washington Chorus)
The Washington Chorus consists of 200 voices, which work in tandem with brass, organ and percussion to create wonderful renditions of Christmas classics such as The Dream Isaiah Saw and the Hallelujah Chorus in A Candlelight Christmas. The chorus will also be accompanied by high school ensembles and the audience will be asked to join in sing-alongs. The traditional candlelight processional will also take place at this annual event.
Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St. NW. Tickets are $18-$72.
