New Year’s Events in the DMV
If you haven’t gotten a chance to check out the DMV’s holiday displays, this weekend is your last chance with many like Georgetown Glow, ICE!, Seasons Greenings and ZooLights going dark for another year. There’s also plenty happening in the area on New Year’s Eve for young and old.
There’s no work on Metro this week, so party while you can. On New Year’s Eve, trains will operate from 7 a.m.-3 a.m. on a Saturday schedule. On Sunday and Monday, trains will operate from 7 a.m.-midnight on a Sunday schedule.
Noon Yards Eve at Yards Park features a balloon drop for the kids at noon on Saturday. (Photo: Yards Park)
Noon Yards Eve
Get your New Year’s Eve celebration over early with the family-friendly fourth annual Noon Yards Eve on the Capitol Riverfront. There will be interactive activities for children and adults such as a stroller valet, moon bounces, face painters, balloon and temporary tattoo artists, roaming stilt walkers and magicians, crafting stations, trackless train rides and much more. There’s even a balloon drop at noon.
Dec. 31 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Yards Park, 301 Water St. SE. Admission is FREE!
Elvis’ Birthday Fight Club
Elvis’ Birthday Fight Club will have a special New Year’s Eve edition beginning at 8 p.m. on Saturday. (Photo: Stereo Vision Photography)
The King is back with a New Year’s Eve special edition of Elvis’ Birthday Fight Club. This annual tilt, which celebrates the King of Rock-and-Roll’s birthday with slapstick battle, added the countdown show this year, giving fans another chance to see the sellout showdowns. There will be two more shows Jan. 6-7. The shows are hosted by Elvis (Jared Davis) and Kittie Glitter (Jei Spatola). There will be a champagne toast and dancing at midnight with music by DJ P.VO.
Dec. 31 starting at 8:30 p.m. (doors open at 8 p.m.) with a champagne toast and dancing at midnight at the Gala Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW. Tickets are $50.
First Night Alexandria
First Night Alexandria features events all day in Old Town followed by free fireworks at midnight over the Potomac River. (Photo: Visit Alexandria)
New Year’s Eve is as good a reason as any to set off fireworks over the Potomac River. The annual family-friendly First Night Alexandria takes over King Street, with concerts by the T.C. Williams Jazz Band, Alexandria City Public School students, The Hummingbyrds, Speakers of the House, The Glimpses, the Vaughn Ambrose Trio, The Grandsons and more, tours of the George Washington Masonic Memorial, puppet shows, a jokefest and other activities throughout the day. Things heat up after dinner with bands playing at venues throughout Old Town and an old fashioned carnival. Then at 11:58 p.m. 10 minutes of fireworks will take us into 2017 with a bang. The full schedule is available online.
Dec. 31 from 10 a.m.-12:10 a.m. throughout Old Town Alexandria. A Frist Night activities badge is $30 and free for active military and children 12 and younger. The fireworks are FREE for everyone!
Watch Night Falls Church offers music, activities and more for free from 7 p.m.-1 a.m. New Year’s Eve. (Photo: Watch Night Falls Church)
Watch Night Falls Church
Watch Night Falls Church fills four city blocks with interactive amusements, activities for all ages, inflatables, nine live bands including Sudden M Pac, Hayley Fahey and Star Stragler on the main stage, other musicians, tours of the historic Falls Church with costumed guides, a caricaturist, balloon artist, puppet shows and more. A free shuttle bus will run every 30 minutes from the East Falls Church Metro between 7 p.m.-1 a.m.
Dec. 31 from 7 p.m.-midnight along four blocks in downtown Falls Church centered around the 100 block of West Broad Street. Admission is FREE!
Wale & Friends Annual New Year’s Day Show
Wale performs his annual concert New Year’s Day at the Fillmore at 8 p.m. (Photo: Kyle Gustafson/Washington Post/Getty Images)
Wale’s Shine has transitioned from being one of 2016’s most anticipated hip-hop albums to one of 2017’s most anticipated hip-hop albums. Regardless of when it lands, you can expect a preview at the Wale & Friends Annual New Year’s Day Show. D.C.’s most famous rapper and freestyler has released a number of tracks this year, including the Michael Jackson tribute My PYT and his Melo Trimble name-checking Groundhog Day.
Jan. 1 at 8 p.m. at the Fillmore, 8656 Colesville Road, Silver Spring. Tickets are $45.
A Salute to Vienna
Strathmore’s annual New Year concert is at 2 p.m. Monday. (Photo: Strathmore)
A Salute to Vienna, Strathmore’s annual New Year’s concert, takes its lead from the post-World War II Vienna tradition of Neujahrskonzert and features a full orchestra, the National Ballet of Hungary, international champion ballroom dancers, European singers, operettas and waltzes by Austrian composer Johann Strauss. Imre Kollár will conduct the Strauss Symphony of America.
Jan. 2 at 3 p.m. at the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Tickets are $69-$125.
Editor-in-Chief Mark Heckathorn is a journalist, movie buff and foodie. He oversees DC on Heels editorial operations as well as strategic planning and staff development. Reach him with story ideas or suggestions at dcoheditor (at) gmail (dot) com.
