Happy New Year! 2024 got off to a rockin’ start with an earthquake centered in Rockville, and Storm Team4 is keeping an eye on a little snow, then plenty of rain for Saturday. We’re taking those as signs for an exciting year to come.

We’re already counting down to plenty of goodness…

We’ll share our Winter Restaurant Picks on Wednesday in The Weekend Scene newsletter.

But until then, we have fun fitness, shows with some surprising twists and more to fill up these cold January days.

Elvis Birthday Fight Club

📅 Fri. and Sat.
📍 GALA Hispanic Theatre
💲 $33
🔗 Details

The zany wrestling show celebrating The King’s birthday is back for its 13th year, so those entering the ring should expect some side-splitting bad luck. Get ready for seven rounds of cartoonish fisticuffs featuring a secret list of celebrities, pop stars and politicians (well, impersonators) with burlesque breaks and the fight club’s inaugural drag performance.

Shows will begin at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. each night; it will also be in Baltimore next weekend.

Musicals you can sing along to

Two jukebox musicals – shows powered by some of your favorite songs – will be in D.C. for a couple more weekends, through Jan. 14.

“As You Like It” at the Shakespeare Theatre Company has the Bard’s romantic comedy come together with The Beatles music and a ‘60s setting.

Fans of The Avett Brothers and roots music should check out “Swept Away”, which recently extended its run at Arena Stage.

Sandbox VR

📍 McLean, Virginia
💲 $50-$55 per person
🔗 Details

Strap on a virtual reality headset and enter a different dimension where you journey to space, fight off a zombie ambush or test your fortitude in Squid Game.

Sandbox VR just opened in December and, unlike some other VR arcades we’ve visited, this one has you wear sensors on your ankles and wrists for a full-body immersive experience.

You can book a room for two to six players, which includes 30 minutes of gameplay where you move around the room wielding swords, firing lasers and dodging enemies.

It would be a fun, weather-proof birthday outing for any gamer Capricorns or Aquarians! Guests must be 48 inches or taller to play, and people under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian.

ICYMI: Great museum exhibits

January is the perfect time to revisit a favorite museum and catch up on what’s new.

If you missed seeing Oprah’s portrait debut at the National Portrait Gallery over the busy holiday season, now is a great time to go. 

One of the most big-deal exhibits to open in the District last year, the National Gallery of Art’s Mark Rothko: Paintings on Paper, is worth checking out before it closes at the end of March. You may encounter a line, so be patient!

At the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia, you can visit the 9th Annual Workhouse Glass National through Jan. 14 in the Vulcan Gallery, showcasing local and national artists; and Kinetic Candy exhibit through Feb. 4.

The Glenstone Museum in Maryland recently opened “Iconoclasts,” and its retrospective on the work of minimalist painter Ellsworth Kelly is on display through March. Make sure to reserve tickets early. Admission is also guaranteed for students and visitors who arrive via the RideOn bus.

Concerts this weekend

Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Birchmere, $49.50
Multi-Grammy-winning country and bluegrass legend. Details. 

Jackie and the Treehorns, 8 p.m. Saturday, Pie Shop, $15
Prolific and inventive alternative rock from Alexandria. Details. 

Things to do in D.C.

First Friday Art Walk – Dupont
Fri., 6-8 p.m., free

Your Rich BFF: Vivian Tu
Sat., Miracle Theatre, $29.50+

Reopening: “Beyond the Light”
Fri., ARTECHOUSE, $26+

Last chance: Georgetown Glow
Through Sun., free

Book talk: “King: A Life” by Jonathan Eig
Mon., 7 p.m., National Museum of African American History & Culture, free (in-person and virtual)

Things to do in Maryland

Film Screening: “The Endless Summer”
Thurs., 7 p.m., Gateway Arts Center in Brentwood, free

C&O Canal Sunset Hike and Bonfire by REI
Fri., 3:30 p.m., Potomac, $60-$90

Artful Afternoon
Sun., 1-3 p.m., Greenbelt Community Center, free

Book talk on Black surgeons in the Civil War
Sun., 2 p.m., National Museum of Health and Medicine in Silver Spring, free

Things to do in Virginia

Last chance: Bull Run Festival of Lights and Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights
Open through Sun.

Visions of Resilience: Art for Climate Justice
Opening reception Fri., open through 1/27, Del Ray Artisans gallery in Alexandria, free

The D.C. Big Flea & Antiques Market
Sat. and Sun., Dulles Expo Center, $10 (adults over 12)

Navidad Flamenca
Sat., 7 p.m., McLean Community Center’s Alden Theatre, $20-$30

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

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Gyms are packed at this time of year, but staying motivated in these cold winter months can be difficult.

The number one thing that helps motivate a real change is having a “menu of options,” psychologist Carrie Wilkens said.

Mixing some fun and novel activities into your rotation can turn workouts from a chore into something you look forward to.

Whether you have specific fitness goals or you’re just fighting the urge to hibernate, here are fresh ways to get active indoors in the D.C. area.

Tommy McFly is taking you inside some of the most fun workouts in D.C. in The Scene’s Fit in 2024 series. Watch this week on News4 Today, 4-7 a.m., and check back here for new videos.

Climbing for the adrenaline seekers

If you’re excited to see new sport climbing events at the Paris Olympics, then why not learn the ropes yourself?

Intro to rock climbing classes are the best way to try out what can be an addictive hobby.

Jenna, who teaches climbing at Sportrock, has seen students as young as 3 and well past retirement age.

“Whatever your walk of life is, we have a Parkinson’s group here, and our oldest climber is 82,” she said.

Where to find it: You have a lot of options!  Sportrock has locations in Alexandria, Gaithersburg and Sterling, and there’s even a Groupon for introductory classes (ages 14+ only). Reviewers also like Movement, which has locations in Crystal City and Rockville. Vertical Rock was still running holiday deals as of Jan. 2.

Boxing for a workout that packs a punch

Maybe you’ve seen boxing gyms popping up all around the D.C. area, but you’re not quite an Olympic athlete.

That’s no problem at BASH, a boxing-inspired gym that’s growing in Northern Virginia.

“We’re going to call you by name and face when you come into the studio and every single time that you come into class, we’re going to take you through your six core punches right from the start,” BASH founder Alex Trakas said.

Trakas founded the gym specifically to get more women involved in the sport, but her goals have grown.

“The second that I learned how to throw a punch, the second that I learned how to connect the combos and just felt more empowered and confident in myself, I was like, ‘I really want to bring this to more women,'” she said.

Where to find it: Bash has locations in Ballston, Rosslyn, Alexandria and the Mosaic District. You can find more boxing suggestions courtesy of ClassPass.

Cycling that’s not a luxury

Leticia Long’s Wired Cycling in Eckington strives to do fitness better.

Her classes are just $20 each, or you can buy five classes for $85. But she doesn’t compromise on the quality of her machines, and schedules classes early on most mornings so anyone can squeeze in a workout.

“I want you to figure out what feels right for your body today,” she said at a recent workout.

Where to find it: Wired Cycling can be found at 2028 4th Street NE, Washington, D.C. Book classes online.

Water aerobics for the whole family

Aqua aerobics provides a low-impact exercise where almost everyone can find a comfort zone.

Tons of gyms offer group classes, including YMCA Anthony Bowen at W and 14^th streets NW.

Instructor and former Olympian Rush Mijuskovic trained at the gym before competing in the Beijing Olympics, representing Montenegro in the triathlon.

“And we have, like people, three generations in the family going together for a while. And I’m teaching this class for 16 years,” Mijuskovic said. “This is the exercise you can do for the rest of your life.”

Where to find it: Check the YMCA’s Find Your Y page or look for rec centers with indoor pools in your county. Classes are offered by most park districts, including Montgomery County and Prince George’s County in Maryland and Arlington County, Alexandria and Fairfax County.

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

Singer Huntley from Fredericksburg, Virginia, just got the Christmas gift of a lifetime: He won season 24 of “The Voice”!

Huntley quickly went from playing anywhere he could in Virginia – even park benches – to champion.

“Every time I get out there, I just feel like it’s where I belong,” Huntley told Tommy. “Going out there, just not knowing if that’s going to be enough and I felt I had to give it my all and I don’t want any regrets.”

We’ll share more of his D.C.-area shows in The Weekend Scene newsletter as soon as we hear about them. Until then, check out his “Holdin’ On” single and music video filmed in Fredericksburg.

The winter solstice on Thursday marks the official beginning of winter, but don’t expect a white Christmas in the D.C. area.

We’re wishing you peace, joy and many delicious cookies this holiday season!

Wrap up your holiday shopping

Present procrastinators don’t need to be Santa Claus to give a thoughtful present before the season ends! Running into a tried-and-true local store is basically as fast as two-day shipping, and more satisfying than Amazon.

Shop small at these six stores in the District open through Dec. 24, including D.C.’s glitteriest pop-up; a shop celebrating all things science and a spice store on a mission to uplift Black entrepreneurs.

It’s also your last holiday season to shop at Miss Pixies’ staple location on 14th Street NW before they downsize.

📱 ICYMI: We explored a few cute spots on TikTok!

Shopping for the person who has everything, or no space in their apartment? Museum memberships; adventurous activities and theater subscriptions can create memories that last forever with zero clutter. Add a thoughtful note to really delight your giftee.

No time to ship a gift? Here are 30+ experiences in the D.C. area that make great holiday presents, plus tips on getting the best deals.

Things to Do DC Dec 19, 2023

The best Christmas gifts for people who have everything? Fun experiences in the DC area

Disney’s “Frozen”

📅 12/20-1/21
📍 The Kennedy Center
💲 $35-$185
🔗 Details

Elsa, Anna and Olaf are coming to The Kennedy Center, and we can’t just let it go!

The Tony–nominated Broadway musical features your favorite songs from the movie, plus a dozen new tunes. It stopped at the Kennedy Center in late summer 2021, but we know a flurry of new “Frozen” fans have come of age. Plus, could there be better time of year to visit Arendelle?

Spectacular Factory at ARTECHOUSE

📅 12/20-1/3
📍 Southwest D.C.
💲 $25-$31 for adults
🔗 Details

Immerse yourself in the larger-than-life Spectacular Factory experience at ARTECHOUSE again for a limited time. The interactive digital art exhibit will be open on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and through New Year’s for a festive and family-pleasing outing. The XR Bar will be pouring merry craft cocktails, as well.

Beyond the Light, an interactive journey inside a nebula, will return on Jan. 5.

The Hip Hop Nutcracker with Guest MC Kurtis Blow

📅 Through Fri.
📍 The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda
💲 $28-$68
🔗 Details

Melding the classic score with hip-hop moves, “The Hip Hop Nutcracker” is stopping in North Bethesda along its national tour. And to turn up the hip-hop bona fides, Kurtis Blow, one of the genre’s founding fathers, will kick off the performance with a short set.

Shows are scheduled for Wednesday to Friday at 8 p.m., plus there’s a 2 p.m. matinee on Thursday.

Free pick: Washington, D.C. Temple Festival of Lights

📅 Nightly through 1/1
📍 9900 Stoneybrook Dr, Kensington, Maryland
🔗 Details

The white towers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple in Kensington sparkle with more than 400,000 lights for the Christmas season with musical performances most nights. The display illuminates between 4:45 p.m. and 9 p.m. nightly. Free parking is available.

Everyone is welcome to attend; visitors are requested to “dress modestly, use clean language, and treat everyone with respect.”

• If you’re in D.C., we recommend Georgetown Glow and Main Street displays across many neighborhoods.
• Virginians should stop by the Neabsco Boardwalk Holiday Walk of Lights in Woodbridge; it’s open through Saturday. The Franklin Park Arts Center in Purcellville is another nice option.

Things to do in D.C.

Shaw’s Tavern 12th Annual Holiday Sing-along
Weds., 8 p.m., Shaw’s Tavern in Northwest D.C., free entry
FYI: Open bar available 7-8 p.m.

Champagne Gatsby Soiree with swing dance lessons
Fri., 7-10 p.m., The Embassy Row Hotel in Northwest, $25-$35

Murder mystery comedy show: Murder on 34th Street
Thurs., DC Improv, $25

Right Round: 80s Alt-Pop Dance Night w/ DJ lil’e
Fri., The Black Cat, $10 (advance) or $15 (day of show)

Emo Night Brooklyn
Sat., 9:30 Club, $28

Edlavitch DCJCC’s December 25 Day of Service
$20 program fee requested; registration required

Matzoball
Sun., Decades in Northwest D.C., $40+

Things to do in Maryland

Winter Solstice Labyrinth Walk and Campfire
Thurs., 4-7 p.m., Locust Grove Nature Center in Bethesda, $6, Ages 6+

Screening: It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Thurs., 7 p.m., Harmony Hall Arts Center in Fort Washington, $10

DIY Project Braided Rag Rug
Sat., 10 a.m. to noon, Brookside Nature Center in Wheaton, $25 (registration required)

“The Polar Express” at Bowie Playhouse
Sat., 1 p.m., free, tickets required

“Elf” at Bowie Playhouse
Sat., 5 p.m., free, tickets required 

National Harbor fireworks and tree lighting show
Sat., 5:30 p.m., free 

Things to do in Virginia

“Die Hard” at Arlington Drafthouse
Fri., 9:30 p.m., 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington, $10

Tea with Santa
Sat., 11 a.m., Hank’s Oyster Bar Old Town Alexandria, $65

“Elf” at Arlington Drafthouse
Sat., 3 p.m., 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington, $8 

Holiday Film: A Year Without A Santa Claus
Sat. and Sun., 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., $8

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

Now, we know that New Year’s Eve is cold and can feel like the most expensive night of the year to go out. But we’ll only get to kick it up for the roaring 2020s once!

Glitzy, all-inclusive parties are a one-transaction ticket to a fun time, and we love a good dance party. And it’s always worth a trip out to see a great concert or a hilarious comedian!

One pro tip: It’s always a good idea to check on what your favorite bar, restaurant or venue has going on. Bonus points if it’s an easy trip on foot or transit from home!

Metrorail will be open from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. on New Year’s Eve, two hours more than the usual time. Because last train times vary by station, Metro urged riders to check station pages. Add two hours to the Sunday closing time at any station to find out when the last train will leave.

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3…2…1…. Here are our picks for New Year’s Eve 2023 in D.C., Maryland and Virginia!

Note: We’ve sorted most categories from cheapest to most expensive (before fees) to help you get a head start on your money resolutions! Prices reflect the day we published this article.

New Year’s fireworks in the DC area

Alexandria is the place to be if you want a front-row seat to New Year’s Eve fireworks at midnight around the Beltway. Or if you want fireworks early!

Two fireworks shows will light up the skies over Old Town this year: One at 6 p.m. and another at midnight.

Old Town Alexandria’s fireworks will fire from Waterfront Park starting at midnight, popping over the Potomac River. The best places to see the fireworks are from waterfront restaurants; riverside parks between Oronoco Bay and Jones Point and the First Night Alexandria festivities.

Here are the recommended viewing locations, courtesy of Visit Alexandria:

•  Canal Center Plaza (Center Canal Plaza)
• Rivergate Park (2 Montgomery St.)
• Oronoco Bay Park (100 Madison St.)
• Founders Park (351 North Union St.)
• Waterfront Park (1A Prince St.)
• Windmill Hill Park (501 South Union St.)
• Fords Landing boardwalk (99 Franklin St.)
• Jones Point Park (Jones Point Dr.)
• George Washington Masonic Temple (101 Callahan Dr.)

Your other DMV options for midnight fireworks are Annapolis, Maryland and WinterFest at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia. Merriweather Symphony of Lights will host fireworks at 7 p.m.; tickets are required. They cost $15 for people over the age of 4.

You can also go to National Harbor on Saturday, Dec. 30 at 5:30 p.m. for fireworks and the last tree lighting of the season.

Kid-friendly New Year’s Eve

First Night Alexandria

📍 Various indoor venues around Old Town
💲 Up to $50
🔗 Details

A host of Alexandria institutions, from museums to churches to hotels, will open their doors for dance parties, activities, live music and more. The party starts at 2 p.m. and goes until midnight, with a short pause for the family-friendly 6 p.m. fireworks show.

From 4-6 p.m., there will be an outdoor pre-fireworks block party with a live DJ, dancing, demonstrations and giveaways to hype everyone up for the early fireworks show.

Heads up: This event is known to sell out on the early side! Prices are based on each guest’s age, and there are two tiers: FNA Matinee for access from 2-6 p.m. and FNA All-Access for activities until the end of the night.

Noon Yards Eve

📅 Sat., 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
📍 The Yards Park
💲 Free
🔗 Details

How about we ring in the new year at noon?

Along the Capitol Riverfront in Southeast, delight kids at the annual Noon Yards Eve, complete with music, face painting, balloon art and a special trackless train ride.

Bonus: Light Yards is still shining bright with huge art light installations.

Falls Church Watch Night

📍 Falls Church near E Broad Street and N Washington Street
💲 Free
🔗 Details

This free and family-friendly festival is taking over Falls Church. The main stage at Broad and Washington will feature live music from 7 p.m. until midnight, leading up to the annual “dropping of the star” to welcome 2024.

Bringing kids? Stop by Grand Fun Alley (the 100 block of West Broad Street) for karaoke (until 10:30 p.m.), moon bounces, rock walls, swing rides and more. You’ll find live children’s entertainment plus a Victorian-era-style family portrait activity at  The Falls Church Presbyterian Church.

Here’s info on free parking and road closures.

Free and no-cover New Year’s Eve

Calico Game Night

📅 Sun., 1 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
📍 50 Blagden Alley NW, Washington, D.C.
💲 Free entry, first come, first served
🔗 Details

In D.C., Calico is hosting their third annual New Year’s Game Night. Board games, all-day drink specials and a complimentary midnight toast make the Blagden Alley bar a cozy and laid-back spot to pregame or watch the ball drop.

Entry is first come, first served, and the game night will go until 12:30 p.m.

Sparkling NYE at Lulu’s Winegarden

📍 1940 11th Street NW, Washington, D.C.
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details

All-night happy hour (3:30 to close at 12:30 a.m.), “2023: Year in Review” Music Bingo (3-5 p.m.) and $35 bubbly bottles can be found at the cute U Street wine garden’s NYE event. It’s free to attend; reservations are recommended if you’d like a seat.

New Year’s Eve concerts

Oh He Dead New Years Rockin’ Eve

📍 Union Stage (The Wharf in Southwest D.C.)
💲 $35-$60
🔗 Details

Known for putting on a great live show, the D.C.-based indie soul and totally infectious group just wrapped up a tour promoting their sophomore album, “Pretty.” Modern go-go greats Mambo Sauce will open.

White Ford Bronco

📍 The Lincoln Theatre (Northwest D.C.)
💲 Tickets are $55 each
🔗 Details

The ‘90s cover band makes every show a blast with the energy, sound and range of classics that get the crowd going.

The Lincoln Theatre is a seated venue, and seating for this show is first come, first served. Tickets include a complimentary champagne toast at midnight.

emmet swimming

📍 The Atlantis (Northwest D.C.)
💲 $55
🔗 Details

The rock band born at George Mason University in 1991 headlines The Atlantis’ first New Year’s Eve show. The band says their friends from Fairfax, ebo, will open, and promises special guests.

Ja Rule & Ashanti

📍 The St. James Sports, Wellness and Entertainment Complex (6805 Industrial Road Springfield, Virginia)
💲 $115-$135
🔗 Details

Ja Rule and Ashanti want to Rock Wit U in a party hosted by Little Bacon Bear and The Scholar DJ Akademiks. Doors open at 8 p.m. for the show at 9 p.m. opened by all-female go-go band Be’La Dona.

Guests will be treated to complimentary hats and horns. This event is 16+ with food and beverages available for purchase.

New Year’s Eve comedy shows

New Year’s Eve Showcase

📍 Hotbed Comedy Club (2477 18^th Street NW, Washington, D.C.)
💲 $25
🔗 Details

Doors open at 9:10 p.m. for this comedy showcase in Adams Morgan. After the show, head to the upstairs bar to toast to midnight with a DJ.

Martin Amini and Friends Comedy Show

📍 Room 808 (808 Upshur St. NW, Washington, D.C.)
💲 $30
🔗 Details

Silver Spring native Martin Amini headlines this early show at this BYOB venue in Petworth. The 90-minute show is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

Adam Conover

📍 Arlington Drafthouse (2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington, Virginia)
💲 $38
🔗 Details

He’s known for “Adam Ruins Everything,” but that probably won’t apply to your New Year’s Eve? Adam Conover is bringing his standup to Arlington Drafthouse for five shows on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of New Year’s weekend.

There will be two shows on New Year’s Eve, at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. The late show includes a champagne toast and a broadcast of the ball drop.

Food and drinks are available, but there are no minimums.

Felonious Munk

📍 The Comedy Loft Of DC (1523 22nd St NW)
💲 $35-$45
🔗 Details

Felonious Munk caps three nights in D.C. with a New Year’s Eve show.

General admission seating is first come, first served, so come early if you’re in a large group. The Comedy Loft has a two-item food and beverage minimum. This show is 18+.

New Year’s Eve dance parties

Midnight Train to New Year’s Party

📍 metrobar DC (640 Rhode Island Avenue Northeast Washington, D.C.)
💲 $10-$12
🔗 Details

Now boarding: metrobar’s cheap New Year’s party in their new, enclosed heated bar deck. There will be campfires to keep you warm at this mostly outdoor venue as DJ Miggl provides the soundtrack.

A Gatsby New Year’s Eve

📍 The Brighton on The Wharf
💲 $15
🔗 Details

The $15 GA ticket is a pretty good deal for a DJ party with complimentary midnight champagne at The Wharf. NYC’s ball drop will be shown on a big screen. Drink discounts and special menu pricing will be on tap.

The Taylor Party presents The Last Great American Dance Party

📍 The Anthem (The Wharf in Southwest D.C.)
💲 $35 in advance, $45 day of show
🔗 Details

It was Taylor Swift’s year, so why shouldn’t it be Taylor Swift’s New Year’s Eve? This Swiftie-approved celebration will have friendship bracelet giveaways, a photobooth, themed cocktails and an Eras costume contest with prizes worth $250-$1,000 and, of course, all the songs so Taylor lovers can shake it off… 2023 that, is.

There will be a complimentary champagne toast for the first midnights of our new era.

Gimme Gimme Disco: A Dance Party Inspired by ABBA

📍 9:30 Club in Northwest D.C.
💲 $55
🔗 Details

Break out your most glittery disco outfit, dancing queens. The 9:30 Club’s NYE party includes a free champagne toast to kick things up at midnight.

BTW: The Howard Theatre is also hosting a disco ABBA dance party for New Year’s Eve.

New Year’s Eve at Thompson Hotel Navy Yard DC

📍 221 Tingey St SE, Washington, D.C.
💲 $55-$75
🔗 Details

Take in 360-degree views over Navy Yard with a DJ playing top hits starting at 9 p.m. Tickets include a complimentary midnight toast. The dress code is stylist semi-formal.

DCBX 11th Ultimate Tropical New Year’s Eve

📍 The Westin Washington, DC Downtown
💲 $109-$1,199
🔗 Details

Looking for a party that goes literally all night – until 8 a.m.? DCBX has your answer. Eight ballrooms in this downtown hotel will be bumping with dancing, shows, DJs and live music. A complimentary champagne toast is just the cherry on top at this pumped up Latin dance party.

Open bars and a midnight breakfast buffet will be available for an extra charge.

All-inclusive New Year’s Eve bashes

City Tap House NYE Party

📍 City Tap House Dupont (1250 Connecticut Avenue Northwest, Washington, D.C.)
💲 $80-$299
🔗 Details

City Tap House is offering among the cheapest open bar deals we’ve found: $80 for craft beer, mixed drinks, wine, champagne, and soft drinks from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. There’s also a $40 open bar from 12:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. A DJ will provide the beats.

The Roaring 20’s

📍 The Mayflower Club (1223 Connecticut Avenue Northwest Washington, D.C.)
💲 $95-$115
🔗 Details

Mayflower’s Roaring 20’s celebration includes an open bar from 8-11 p.m., passed hors d’oeuvres, a dessert bar, Gatsby-inspired favors and a countdown alongside Times Square.  

Formal Kegger: A Capitol Hill New Year’s Eve

📍 Union Pub (201 Massachusetts Ave., NE Washington, D.C.)
💲 $100
🔗 Details

The Capitol Hill watering hole is going for prom afterparty vibes with self-serve keg beer (plus politically-themed cocktails, wine, spirits, etc.) in attire as formal as your heart desires. Tuxedo shirts are OK, too.

Fire & Ice New Year’s Eve

📍 Smokecraft Modern Barbecue in Arlington
💲 $100-$175
🔗 Details

The barbecue joint in Clarendon will ring in the new year with an open bar from 8 p.m. to midnight, BBQ, passed hors d’oeuvres, party favors and a midnight champagne toast.

Cirque du 2024 International Global Gala

📍 Omni Shoreham Hotel (2500 Calvert Street Northwest Washington, D.C.)
💲 $114-$299
🔗 Details

For a glam, open bar party that goes until 2 a.m., check out the circus-themed gala at the historic Omni Shoreham Hotel in Woodley Park. Roam four ballrooms with live bands, DJs, roaming entertainers, international performances until a huge balloon drop at midnight.

The VIP options include dinner. General admission doors open at 10:30 p.m. and those tickets include a dessert bar. The dress code is black tie preferred, or cocktail dresses, the organizers say.\

Midnight in Mykonos

📍 Limani at The Wharf (670 Wharf St SW, Washington, D.C.)
💲 $135-$3,375
🔗 Details

Take a journey to Greece at Limani’s party with sweeping views and a 360-degree heated rooftop terrace overlooking The Wharf. Tickets include an open bar, hors d’oeuvres and hot food stations.

Big Night DC

📍 Gaylord National Resort & Hotel
💲 $139.99 and up
🔗 Details

With a deep lineup of live entertainment, full open bar until 2 a.m. and multiple rooms of fun, this is sure to be a memorable night (take pictures to be sure!). Several ticket tiers have sold out, so get up to speed if you’re ready to live it up at National Harbor.

Black Tie New Year’s Eve Gala at the Luxurious Willard

📍 The Willard InterContinental Washington D.C. (1401 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest Washington, D.C.)
💲 $185 -$1,995
🔗 Details

Stay classy, D.C., at the ornate Willard Hotel party hosted by International Events Washington DC. Dress to impress while indulging in an open bar, live bands and a DJ in internationally-themed rooms. A balloon drop at midnight will make the night pop.

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

Consider giving the gift of an experience instead of a thing.

Museum memberships; tickets to concerts, games or shows; passes to activities such as Top Golf or rock climbing, or gift cards to local restaurants can create memories that last forever. And they don’t take up any space in your home!

We have 90 clutter-free gift ideas for 2023 here to kick off your brainstorming. But if your giftee lives in the Washington, D.C., area, the gifts below are sure to delight.

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Things to Do DC Nov 20, 2023

Merry and bright: Where to find holiday light displays in the DC area

Pro tip: Write a note on a card about why you picked the special experience just for them. That way, they’ll still have something special to unwrap.

Here are our editor’s picks. All featured items were independently selected, and NBC receives no compensation for these links.

Best gifts for adventurers who are out of PTO

Cookology Cooking School: The Ballston Quarter cooking school offers a range of classes for adults and kids ages 3 and up. You can give your giftee a gift card to begin fulfilling their chef-y dreams. Family classes and kids classes cost about $75, while demos on sushi making and international cuisine for those $18+ start about $120.

Profs and Pints: For about $15, give the gift of knowledge at this popular series of talks by professors on topics ranging from pirates in the Chesapeake to artificial intelligence. Make sure you clear your selected date with your gift recipient before you buy!

Spa World: The Korean spa in Centreville, Virginia, offers pools, saunas and poultice rooms made of red clay, gems, salt and more with general admission, plus you can book massages and other care services. Spa World offers gift cards and a selection of Groupons starting at $35 for a one-day general admission. Make sure to read our Groupon gifting tips at the bottom of this article. (If you haven’t been to a Korean spa before, read the FAQ and etiquette advice before committing. Pools are separated by gender, and no clothes are allowed in them.)

Museum memberships are great for all ages

College Park Aviation Museum: Air travel obsessives of all ages would love access to this gem in College Park. Memberships start at $25 and go up from there. All options include unlimited free admission, discounts on special events and more; the $50 flight pack is probably best for families because it admits six people.

National Aquarium: Visit our friends under the sea as often as you want at the aquarium in Baltimore. Memberships for a year range from $95 (individual) to $300. Note that admission is free for kids age 4 and under.

National Building Museum: Members get free admission to exhibits showcasing the wonders of design and architecture, including the Brick City LEGO exhibit, and discounts to special events. Individual memberships start at $60, while a family membership for six costs $90.

National Children’s Museum: Along with experiences and exhibits for children, from babies up to age 12, the downtown D.C. museum has memberships offering a year of free admission, members-only hours and discounts. The family membership covering two adults and all children in the household is on sale for $200 (use code HolidayPlay25Off for a $25 discount on family memberships, including gifts and renewals, through Dec. 31).

National Zoo: Someone who misses being able to pop into the zoo without reserving a timed entry pass may benefit from a membership, which starts at $74. Unlimited carousel rides, special members-only events and discounts at the zoo are the big benefits. Parking passes are part of membership at tiers of $92 and above.

Spy Museum: A $199 membership gets unlimited access for two adults and up to five children to the museum near L’Enfant Plaza. The museum is best for visitors age 9 and older, but the family tour lays out options for younger kids.

Best gifts for current and former theater kids

Subscriptions to theaters not only support the arts but allow your giftee to take a chance on a show they might not have seen otherwise. Many D.C.-area theaters offer subscriptions, but here are some stand-out options.

Arena Stage: Shows including “Swept Away” and Step Afrika!’s holiday step show are part of subscription packages of three or four plays. They cost $181-$349, depending on the seat quality and your days. You can even pick out some shows you think your giftee will love, and they can do fee-free exchanges and easy rescheduling if that date doesn’t end up working.

Mosaic Theater: The performing arts center in Northeast D.C. is currently running “a very D.C. play” that brings you back to the lives of Nancy Reagan and a Navajo mother in 1985. Next up is “Mexodus,” a hip-hop infused play about enslaved people escaping to Mexico. Through Sunday, Dec. 31, you can get over half off ticket bundles in the holiday sale: four tickets for $150, six tickets for $210 or eight tickets for $264. Subscriptions can be redeemed when later, when your giftee is ready.

The Kennedy Center: Subscription packages allow you to pick a genre, including theater, dance, jazz, the National Symphony Orchestra and performances for young audiences, and get tickets to a series of shows. Because of the unlimited no-fee ticket exchanges, you can surprise your giftee but allow them the flexibility to switch to dates that work for them. A Kennedy Center membership comes in handy when trying to get competitive tickets, too. And just in time for the holidays, the live-action stage version of Disney’s “Frozen” is playing through Jan. 21. Kennedy Center gift certificates and regular memberships are also available, starting at $75 per year.

Wolf Trap: The performing arts venue in Vienna offers memberships from $50. The “most popular” Curtain Raiser level offers presale access, reduced ticket fees and two special event invitations for $165.

Fun activities for younger kids and families

Disney Encanto x CAMP: Walk through the magic door and into La Familia Madrigal’s magical Casita for an hour of exploring themed rooms and secret passages, plus singalongs led by costumed actors playing townspeople from the movie. Tickets start at $37; a gift card is probably the best way to gift this experience.

Get Air: The trampoline park in Alexandria offers annual memberships starting at $159.99 for kids taller than 46 inches, but you’ll need the slightly pricier Ultimate Membership to get unlimited two-hour jump sessions on weekends.

Launch: Kids bouncing off the walls? That’s the whole point at this trampoline park with an arcade, ropes course and laser tag at Launch, which has locations in Capitol Heights, Maryland, and Herndon, Virginia. They’re running a “limited time deal” that offers bonus value on gift cards.

LEGO Discovery Center Washington DC: The LEGO attraction in Springfield Town Center offers memberships starting at $57.99-$115.99 that include admission (there are blackout dates, however), discounts on birthday parties and discounts on LEGO products and the café. A big bonus? Members don’t need to make reservations.

Best experience gifts for older boys and girls and teenagers

Fun Land: The indoor amusement park in Fairfax has a sky trail, go-karts, laser tag, climbing and arcade games under one roof, and FUNpass + Day Pass combos with access to all the main attractions are 20% off through Dec. 25.

Dave & Busters: With locations in Silver Spring, Gaithersburg, Capitol Heights, Springfield and Fairfax, this chain of arcades offers gift cards to unlock a lot of potential for fun.

iFLY: The indoor skydiving center with locations in Ashburn and Gaithersburg is running a special offering up to 40% off gift vouchers on flight packages.

Game tickets for the pro sports fan

Tickets to the game will please so many people on your gift list, and big fans would probably enjoy a gift card to the merch store.

If you have a Costco membership, you can purchase a limited number of e-voucher cards to the Nationals, Capitals and Wizards regular season home games. The e-vouchers get you two tickets and allow flexible scheduling.

You can, of course, buy tickets or a gift card on each team’s website, but here are some other giftable options from D.C.’s pro teams:

• Washington Capitals holiday packs and Gr8 Packs
• Washington Nationals holiday gift packs
• Washington Wizards Give & Go Pass

Note: The Washington Commanders’ main option is gift cards as their season winds down. Washington Mystics season tickets will go on sale once the 2024 schedule is released. Washington Spirit and DC United only have season tickets on sale while waiting for soccer season to kick off.

Best experience gifts for sporty friends

Top Golf: Does your giftee want to work on their swing? Platinum Memberships for 1-2 people start at $100 for a month, $420 for six months or $720 for a year at the Gaithersburg locations. Other local outposts include National Harbor and Ashburn. You can ask your local location about discounts for first responders, teachers, military members and health care workers.

Kraken: Pickleball and roller skating are great ways to get active when it’s cold outside. The family skating membership grants unlimited access to the skating rink for up to two adults and two children for $79 a month. Pickleball memberships start at $99 per month. Their Bryant Street location is the only indoor roller skating in D.C.

Rock climbing: Sportrock Climbing Centers in Sterling has a good Groupon for an introductory class (ages 14+ only), and the discount website has other climbing offers, as well! Make sure to read our Groupon gifting tips at the bottom of this article.

Reviewers also like Movement, which has locations in Crystal City and Rockville. They’re offering a BOGO holiday deal through Dec. 27.

Vertical Rock has a solid two-month membership deal and five-visit pass for its Manassas and Tysons locations.

Massages: A gift certificate to your giftee’s go-to place is great, but you have tons of options. Massage Envy offers electronic and physical gift cards to its five DMV locations. Groupon has tons of offers for all types of beauty and spa treatments. Make sure to check out our Groupon tips below.

Movie ticket gifts

Winter is exactly the time when you want to roll out the red carpet for a night at the movies.

Costco members can get steep discounts on movie gift cards and bundles.

AMC: If your giftee heads to the movies at their local AMC multiple times a month, they’ll probably enjoy an AMC Stubs A-List membership, ranging from $19.95 to $25.95 a month if you’re based at their Georgetown location.

Alamo Drafthouse: With locations in Crystal City and Northeast D.C., this dine-in movie theater is a full evening out in one stop. A single-seat subscription starts at $29.99 for one movie every day. Gift cards are also available.

Angelika Film Center: Gift cards, including ones with movie themes, are likely your best option.

Avalon Theater: The Chevy Chase movie house says it’s the only nonprofit cinema in D.C. Gift cards and memberships are available.

Landmark Theatres: Aficionado Tickets are a pack of 25 tickets for $225. At $9 per ticket, you can give out single tickets as a stocking stuffer or delight one person with a whole lot of screen time.

Regal: The theater chain offers gift cards for three months or a year of its Unlimited subscription plan.

Tips on gifting Groupons

Groupons are an easy way to gift experiences and save some dough. Their website has a guide to purchasing them as gifts.

But there are a few more important things to consider. Here are our tips:

Read the fine print: You’ll want a Groupon that allows flexible booking. Does the Groupon offer a good selection of dates, ideally for a few months at least? Are weekends included? Ideally, the answer to these is yes. Also, look for restrictions on age and other factors.

Check the location: Your giftee will appreciate something that’s a short drive or easy transit trip from their home – unless you’re also gifting them a ride, or you KNOW they’ve been desperate to, for example, go skydiving in Midland, Virginia.

Listen to your gift recipient: If someone is afraid of heights, skydiving obviously isn’t a good present. On the other hand, if they’ve been talking about their neck pain, a massage could be incredibly thoughtful.

Read reviews: If you’re not familiar with the provider of an experience, check the Groupon reviews and look up the business on another website or two.

Consider gratuity and tax: Groupons to spa services, restaurants and the like don’t include tips, and it’s good etiquette to tip for the full value of the service even if you got it for a steal. Depending on your giftee’s financial situation, consider slipping a cash for a tip into their card. Tax is also not included on some Groupons.

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

The days are dwindling until Santa comes to town, and there’s even less time before holiday shipping deadlines, but you still have time to find a thoughtful gift for everyone on your list.

But rather than rush-ordering a present from a big box store, why not make a quick stop at a cool shop in your own backyard?

• No time to ship? These fun experiences in the D.C. area can be sent via email.

If you’re looking for a unique shopping experience and even more unique gifts all while supporting business owners, you have tons of options across D.C., Maryland and Virginia. American Express’ Small Business Saturday map can help you find shops right in your zip code, but we also wanted to share some of our favorites.

Here are some great small, local businesses that you can support this holiday season.

Because Science: For the STEM lover in your life

📍 1759 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, D.C.
🔗 Website

Holiday hours: Open daily 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Dec. 23, then 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve. The store will be closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Here’s a calendar.

Pro tip for quick and easy shopping: You can shop online and pick up at the store. Orders are usually ready within 24 hours, according to their website. Free gift wrapping will be available on Dec. 21 and 22, 6-8 p.m.

Because Science will likely have something for anyone with a nerdy bone in their body.

The Adams Morgan store is sorted by interest, ranging from easy-to-like biology gifts (think pretty bird puzzles and unusual animal plushies) to kid-friendly physics kits to brain teasers that will delight your STEM-minded coworkers.

Circuit board art, ornaments and accessories are made right in the store’s lab with reused materials. There are lots of options for about $20, while framed pieces start at $54. Custom-made designs are available, too.

Looking for an experience gift? A session at the Craft Lab may be just right.

Bonus: Because Science offers free electronics recycling so you can declutter before the gifts roll in. The store may even transform some of your old tech into art.

Miss Pixie’s: For the friend who loves thrift shops and estate sales

📍 1626 14th Street NW, Washington, D.C.
🔗 Website

Holiday hours: Regular hours are 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily. The store will be open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve; noon to 5 p.m. on Dec. 26 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 31. It will be closed Christmas Day.

Pro tip for quick and easy shopping: Peruse their Instagram, then call 202-232-8171 or email pixie@misspixies.com to ask questions or confirm a purchase. Local delivery starts at $45.

The vintage home store is a fun place to shop filled with quirky and surprising wares – plus tons of options for cards.

Ornate lamps, pretty glassware, vintage dishes, floral teapots, eclectic wall art and offbeat home décor all count as great gifts in our book. Miss Pixies also carries a rotating selection of local artisans’ work. The vintage-style posters of world maps and plants are crowd-pleasers, too.

Of course, you could go big for your friend or family member who has been desperate for a new ottoman, bar cart or bookshelf (if you really get their taste).

It may be your last holiday season to shop at this 14^th Street institution: Miss Pixies has plans to downsize and relocate within Northwest D.C. by this spring!

The Spice Suite: For the foodie

📍 2201 Channing Street NE, Washington D.C.
🔗 Website

Holiday hours: The store is open Thursday to Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. They’ll be open Christmas Eve from noon to 5 p.m., but closed Christmas Day.

Pro tip for quick and easy shopping: You can look for gifts for your non-foodie friends, too. Check out their rotating selection of pop-ups from other Black-owned small businesses.

Owned by D.C. native and Howard University graduate Angel Gregorio, the store has a selection of creative spice blends; mixes for cookies, drop biscuits and other treats; hot sauces and foodie-approved apparel.

The Spice Suite isn’t just a store to help you step up your cooking game. It’s also a “dream incubator” that aims to share a space with other small businesses – so if you go, you can also find vendors selling natural beauty products, home goods and more.

The Holiday Shop by Salt & Sundry: For the socially conscious friend with luxury taste

📍 1401 S Street NW, Washington, D.C.
🔗 Website

Holiday hours: The Holiday Shop is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on most Sundays. Christmas Eve hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The shop will be closed Christmas Day.

Pro tip for quick and easy shopping: Check out the gift boxes that are ready to be handed to your lucky giftee. Options include the Sugar and Spice box with edible treats ($85) and The Crowd Pleaser with a brushed cotton throw and Virginia-made candle ($165).  

Salt and Sundry took over the former Little Leaf space with a golden and glittery holiday shop that smells as nice as it looks.

Visit for festive but modern and chic housewares, self-care products, ornaments and hosting supplies like these dip-dyed candles.  Décor, cards, stocking stuffers and edible gifts – including a tiny gingerbread house! – mean you can tick off several items from your list. Make sure to check out jewelry by Virginia artist Cindy Liebel and other items from the BIPOC Makers collection whether you visit The Holiday Shop or Salt and Sundry’s year-round locations on 14^th Street NW or at Union Market.

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Anacostia Arts Center: For the artist

📍 1231 Marion Barry Avenue SE, Washington, D.C.
🔗 Website

Holiday hours: Generally Tuesday to Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Check this page for more details.

Pro tip for quick and easy shopping: Preview what the stories have online before going. Here’s the vintage shop Dress to Manifest’s Instagram, and here’s the bookstore’s website.

The physical space for the Anacostia Arts Center houses several artists and small businesses, all with the goal of increasing equity and economic opportunities for communities in the District. Treat yourself and the people on your gift list to goodies from vegan soul food to vintage clothes – and even performances.

Our favorite on the list? Mahogany Books says it strives to elevate books written for, by, or about people of the African Diaspora (fun fact: They recently opened a location inside Reagan National Airport!).

Shop Made in DC: For a fast, reliable and very DC shopping experience

📍 Locations at Wharf, Logan Circle, Georgetown, Capitol Hill and Union Market
🔗 Website

Holiday hours: Vary by location; check all hours and locations here. Most locations are open until 7 p.m. or later from Monday to Saturday. On Dec. 24, all locations will be open until 3 p.m.

Pro tip for quick and easy shopping: Online orders can be picked up in 1-3 days. Check out the gift boxes for a ready-to-go present.

With locations across the District offering a wide range of goods and gift boxes, odds are you’ll find a great gift at Shop Made in DC. Scheduled through Dec. 23, Spotlight Maker pop-ups are a chance to meet the entrepreneurs behind locally-made products.

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It’s the last full weekend before Christmas and even the skies are getting festive with holiday lights.

The Geminid meteor shower just reached its peak, and the celestial event will continue until Christmas Eve, according to EarthSky.

This year’s timing is also great news for stargazers: We just had a new moon, meaning that moonlight won’t be able to drown out most of the meteors that will be visible to the naked eye. Just remember to give your eyes time to adjust.

And if you want to keep the “celebration” going, Madonna will play Capital One Arena on Monday and Tuesday. There are still tickets, material girls!

Things to Do DC Dec 14, 2023

Get in the Christmas spirit at these 14 holiday pop-up bars in the DC area

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Merry and bright: Where to find holiday light displays in the DC area

From holiday markets in many D.C. neighborhoods to a special performance of “The Nutcracker,” here’s what else to do this weekend in the DMV.

Hot Wheels Champion Experience

📅 Opens Fri.
📍 Tysons Corner Center, 2nd Level near Barnes & Noble
💲 $25+
🔗 Details

This immersive experience puts you inside a Hot Wheels video game. It’s geared for kids, but visitors of all ages can play in both the virtual and physical worlds.

There’s even a game where you can draw your own Hot Wheel, then race it on screen!

Holiday markets this weekend

At the Holly Jolly Sidewalk Market on Saturday, 30 local stores will create a special shopping experience in the Logan Circle and U Street area where you can see shops lit up for the holidays. Here’s a map of participating businesses.

On Saturday, you can also check out another neighborhood market in NoMa and Cleveland Park Santa Bar Crawl.

The Norooz Holiday Market (Sat., 3-7 p.m., free) celebrating the Persian new year and winter solstice is worth a trip to the Brookland Arts Walk. There’s also the Umoja Market at Anacostia Arts Center (Sat., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., free entry), Holiday Artisan Market in downtown Silver Spring (Sat. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., free entry) and Unique Markets at Union Market (Sat. and Sun., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., $12).

Classic holiday shows in the DMV 

Nothing makes the season sing like a spectacular holiday show for the whole family.

• “A Christmas Carol” is a holiday tradition at Ford’s Theatre, complete with our favorite Scrooge Craig Wallace. It’s open through Dec. 31. Our Jummy Olabanji has a preview.
• The seventh Fairfax Symphony Orchestra and Fairfax Ballet Company production says they’re the only “Nutcracker” in town where dancers share the stage with a live orchestra. Tickets are available now for Saturday and Sunday.
• Cirque Dreams Holidaze brings together a Broadway-style musical and circus artistry into five shows Friday to Sunday at MGM National Harbor.

Holiday bars

It’s the ho-ho-ho-lidays which means weeks of getting merry and bright under the twinkling lights. Cue the fake (and real!) snow, it’s time to get those spirits bright.

We shook the snow globe to find creative cocktails in Santa Claus cups, global holiday traditions and grandma-inspired decor.

In Maryland, the Grinch takes over Whoville at the Fialova restaurant in the Bethesda Hotel in “A Grinch Experience.” Grinch-themed drinks include a ginger beer and vodka drink named “Max’s Mule.” Don’t want to order off the menu? Customize your drink with your choice of alcohol and top it off with toppings like toasted coconut shavings and graham crackers.

Wunder Garten’s 7th Annual Winterfest is inspired by beer gardens in Germany. This pop-up beer garden bar will satisfy your taste for beer in the NoMa neighborhood. This weekend, check out A Night of 1,000’s Santas on Friday and A Cher Christmas Dance Party on Saturday. Here’s the full calendar of events.

Here are a dozen more pop-up bars to make your spirits extra bright.

Wreaths Across America

📅 Sat.
📍 Arlington National Cemetery and military cemeteries across the country
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Thousands of holiday wreaths are set to be placed on graves at Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday in a momentous tribute to servicemembers. As volunteers place each wreath, they’re asked to say the servicemember’s name aloud.

If you want to help, you must register and go through security. Wreath placement begins at 8 a.m.

More than 155,000 wreaths have been sponsored for Arlington National Cemetery, and Wreaths Across America is fundraising to purchase nearly 103,000 more.

Wreaths Across America will bring volunteers to 3,100 cemeteries in a nationwide effort to honor fallen veterans and soldiers during the holidays. Find other cemeteries to volunteer at here.

Maggie O’Neill pop-up at Westfield Montgomery

📅 Sat., noon to 6 p.m.
📍 Westfield Montgomery Mall
💲 Free
🔗 Details

You may know Maggie O’Neill for her colorful work or as the designer who reimagined the iconic Willard Hotel earlier this year.

On Saturday, her work will be on display at a festive pop-up gallery near the Nordstrom store at Westfield Montgomery Mall so you can shop original pieces and limited-edition prints.

And if you have anything to pick up from Nordstrom, your purchase over $200 will come with a complimentary, signed Maggie O’Neill print.

Things to do in D.C.

Beyoncé Music Bingo
Thurs., 8-10 p.m., The Diner (2453 18th Street NW), free

A Diva Christmas Drag Show featuring Shi-Queeta-Lee
Fri., 8 p.m., The Hamilton, $20-$40

‘Calling all Blerds’: Creative Seedlings Holiday Edition
Fri., 6:30-8 p.m., Phillips@THEARC in Southeast, free

Merry Grinchmas: Photos with The Grinch in Adams Morgan
Sat., 10 a.m. to noon, Truist Bank Plaza at Columbia and Adams Mill Roads NW, free

Atlas Presents: Keng Siong Sim – Peace for Ukraine
Sat., 7 p.m., Atlas Performing Arts Center in Northeast, $22

Cleveland Park Santa Bar Crawl
Sat., 5-9 p.m., $17.85

Eba-Queeta-Scrooge: A Drag Lip-Synced Stage Play
Sun., 8 p.m., Howard Theatre, $25+ 

Zinzi Christmas Party
Sun., 7 p.m. National Building Museum, $150
Black tie optional fundraiser benefitting Capital Area Food Bank

Things to do in Maryland

Christmas Bird Count
Sat., 7:30-9 a.m., Meadowside Nature Center in Rockville, free, registration required

Winter Solstice Lantern Making (ages 6-12) and Lantern-led Hike and Campfire (ages 6+)
Sat., 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.; 4:30 to 6 p.m., Maydale Nature Classroom in Colesville, $7-$8

Etch and Sip: Holiday Ornaments (21+)
Sat., 3-5 p.m., Meadowside Nature Center in Rockville, $20

Things to do in Virginia

Community Menorah Lighting
Thurs., 5-6:30 p.m., Blue Dock at Mosaic in Fairfax, free

Christmas Village at Leesburg Animal Park
12/15-12/23, 6-9 p.m., 19246 James Monroe Hwy, $16.95 (free for kids 2 and under)

Wes Iseli’s Magic Class and Magic & Illusion Show
Sat., 1 p.m./4 p.m., $25/$15-$30

Dopamine Land (Note: Now listed as sold out)

📅 Opens Fri.
📍 5333 Wisconsin Ave NW, D.C.
💲 $19+ for kids, $23+ for adults
🔗 Details

For some good feels of the nonholiday variety, explore “fantastical landscapes and into imaginary chambers” taking over a mostly-empty shopping center in Friendship Heights.

Inside, you’ll find optical illusions, a Yayoi Kusama-style Infinity Bliss room and photo-ready spaces with names like Lucid Dreams and Pillow Fight.

If you’re obsessed with the whacky golf trend or the Museum of Illusions, this might be for you.

Tickets are available through Feb. 11.

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

For decades, the organization has come to Arlington National Cemetery with the goal of placing a wreath at every headstone.

Wreaths Across America will bring volunteers to thousands of military cemeteries in a nationwide effort to honor fallen veterans and soldiers during the holidays.

“For me personally as a servicemember, it’s very special because it gives me the opportunity and my fellow servicemembers the opportunity to respect the past servicemembers who were heroes and served their country,” U.S. Army Maj. Nicholas Rodriguez said.

More than 160,000 wreaths have been sponsored for Arlington National Cemetery, and Wreaths Across America is fundraising to purchase nearly 100,000 more. Upwards of 70 trucks are expected to help deliver the wreaths.

If you want to help place wreaths, you must register and go through security. Wreath placement begins at 8 a.m.

Find other cemeteries to volunteer at here.

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

We shook the snow globe to find creative cocktails in Santa Claus cups, global holiday traditions and grandma-inspired decor.

This year, winter served as a muse for many of the District’s bars. They offer a temporary escape from bleak city streets and create the feeling of hot cocoa warming your hands under the stars.

After you’ve walked through a wonderland of lights and visited holiday markets, head into these cozy and magical bars below to thaw with some holiday-themed spirits.

Chicken and Whiskey’s Holiday Pop-Up

📅 Ongoing
📍 Ballpark location (70 N Street SE, Washington, D.C.)
🔗 Details

Festive fun is on tap at Chicken and Whiskey’s “naughty v nice fiesta” in Navy Yard.

“Elf on the Shelf” figurines climb up the bar and Christmas ornaments drip from the ceiling as bartenders mix your holiday cocktails. Sing your heart out on a stage with a silver tinsel curtain at holiday karaoke on Wednesdays from 7 to 10 p.m.

Ivy and Coney’s Hanukkah Extravaganza

📅 Through Dec. 31
📍 1537 7th St NW, Washington, D.C.
🔗 Details

This annual pop-up bar is back to celebrate Hanukkah and spin the dreidel! Visitors can expect homemade potato latkes and matzoh ball soup. For drinks, kosher wines, plum brandy, schnapps and beers will be aplenty.

Jane Jane

📅 Ongoing
📍 1705 14th St NW, Washington, D.C.
🔗 Details

Get a taste of holiday nostalgia with Jane Jane’s decorations described as “A Christmas Story” meets your grandparents’ house with tinsel, vintage ornaments and poinsettias. The bar’s mulled cider and a Monte Carlo Toddy with bénédictine liqueur are sure to warm you up.

Joy on the Avenue with Del Ray’s Pop-Up Bar

📅 Ongoing
📍 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia
🔗 Details

The holiday spirit is in full swing at Joy on the Avenue. Enjoy holiday nibbles and sip on their “Gettin’ Lit” cocktails, all named after iconic holiday characters and themes. Holiday-themed wine and beer are also available.

Mercy Me’s El Chalet

📅 Dec. 7 to March 1
📍 1143 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, D.C.
🔗 Details

Mercy Me is transformed into a chalet inspired by the winter festivities of Patagonia. Warm up by a firepit with cocktails like an Espresso Nog, a spiked hot chocolate and an infused hot toddy. The chalet will screen classic holiday movies from Dec. 20 to Dec. 24.

Miracle at Death Punch Bar

📅 through Dec. 31
📍 2321 18th Street NW Washington, D.C.
🔗 Details

If Old Saint Nick lived in D.C. he would be a regular at this pop-up bar. Every inch of the bar is decked with holiday décor like the North Pole itself. Were you naughty or nice this year? Let your friends or date choose which shot to drink.

Miracle on Exchange St.- Sense of Thai

📅 Ongoing
📍 20413 Exchange St, Ashburn, Virginia
🔗 Details

Miracle on Exchange St. brings a variety of Christmas-themed drinks at their pop-up bar at Sense of Thai. From the Chrismapolitan to Secret Santa, there are plenty of fun options to choose from. Miracle will also donate 10% of retail sales of Santa Pants, Christmas Carol Barrel and Santa’s Head mugs to the Seva Foundation.

Miracle Pop-Up Bar at Live!

📅 Nov. 24 to Dec. 24
📍 7002 Arundel Mills Cir #7777, Hanover, Maryland
🔗 Details

The second annual Miracle pop-up bar has opened at the Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland includes themed cocktails and an interactive light show. The bar will be decked out in kitschy and vintage-themed decor and some drinks featured include the Christmapolitan and the Snowball Old-Fashioned. There will be special holiday-themed nights including a cocktail class and an ugly Christmas sweater party.

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Misfit Toys on 18th

📅 Ongoing
📍 Tiki on 18th (2411 18th Street NW, Washington, D.C.)
🔗 Details

The Island of Misfit Toys finds a new home at Tiki on 18th in D.C. Choose from 10 hot or cold cocktails, each labeled with a misfit toy saying. For example, the “Ginger Snap” cocktail made with bourbon, apple cider and ginger, says, “Why am I such a misfit? I am not just a nitwit.”

Sippin’ Santa at Black Whiskey

📅 Nov. 24 to Dec. 31
📍 1410 14th St NW, Washington, D.C.
🔗 Details

For the first time, Black Whiskey is hosting the beach-themed Sippin’ Santa pop-up bar! This Santa rides a surfboard instead of a sleigh and the bar has palm trees decorated with ornaments instead of a typical pine tree. There are eight holiday cocktails with the signature Sippin’ Santa being made with Demerara rum and gingerbread mix.

Snow Globe at Cantina Bambina

📅 Ongoing
📍 The Wharf (960 Wharf St. SW, Washington, D.C.)
🔗 Details

The Wharf’s dockside bar will “shake up your holidays” with their snow globe-themed bar. Enjoy Mexican Hot Cocoa and snacks like “Christmas Crack” under a warm blue glow. A bonus, the lights and decorations look like falling snowflakes.

Northern Lights in the Garden

📅 Ongoing
📍Hook Hall (3400 Georgia Ave. NW Washington, D.C.)
🔗 Details

Visit the Garden at Hook Hall to see the magic of the Aurora Borealis. At night, lights and fabric recreate the Arctic sky with swirling purples, blues and whites. Drink seasonal favorites around a fire pit or reserve a cabana with a hot tub for your crew.

You Sleigh Me! A Grinch Experience!

📅 Until Dec. 31
📍 8120 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, Maryland
🔗 Details

The Grinch takes over Whoville at the Fialova restaurant in the Bethesda Hotel in “A Grinch Experience.” Grinch-themed drinks include a ginger beer and vodka drink named “Max’s Mule.” Don’t want to order off the menu? Customize your drink with your choice of alcohol and top it off with toppings like toasted coconut shavings and graham crackers.

Wunder Garten’s 7th Annual Winterfest

📅 Dec. 1- 23
📍 1101 First Street NE, Washington, D.C.
🔗 Details

Inspired by beer gardens in Germany, this pop-up beer garden bar will satisfy your taste for beer in the NoMa neighborhood. The festival will host various holiday-themed days, the European Union’s Holiday Food Tour and sell fresh-cut trees.

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Restaurants in D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia will offer multi-course brunches, lunches ($25 or $35) or dinners ($40, $55, $65). Some restaurants will include cocktail, wine and non-alcoholic pairings. 

This year, select restaurants will offer extended brunch offerings in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 15.

The website for Winter Restaurant Week will launch in mid-December with participating restaurants and their menus, the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) said. Diners are encouraged to make reservations early.

Check back at The Scene and subscribe to The Weekend Scene newsletter for more restaurant week suggestions.

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We’re not surprised that Taylor is the Time Person of the Year, besting co-finalists King Charles, Barbie and the Trump prosecutors… but what if she was up against Santa?

We shudder to think, and luckily we don’t have to. Although tickets to the 9:30 Club’s Bey vs. Tay Dance Party go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. (or should we say, Tay 💜 Bey?).

If D.C.’s top music on Spotify is any indication, we all need to calm down about The Anthem’s New Year’s Eve party: Taylor’s Version.

Happy Hanukkah, and safe travels to anyone headed to spend time with family.

DMV Black Restaurant Week

📅 Through Sun., Dec. 10
📍 Restaurants in every ward
🔗 Details

After you work up an appetite by holiday shopping, stop at one of dozens of eateries participating in DMV Black Restaurant Week.

Here are the participating restaurants, broken down by ward.

Holiday Craft Fair at the Brentwood Arts Exchange

📅 Sat.
📍 3901 Rhode Island Avenue, Brentwood, Maryland
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details

Live music, a Maryland Meadworks Tasting Lounge and crafts to entertain kids add some extra cheer to this holiday craft fair within Brentwood Arts Exchange.

It’s the perfect chance to explore the Gateway Arts District. Many businesses are rolling out the holiday red carpet. Stop by open artists’ studios at the Washington Glass School and Portico Gallery and Studios and shop more markets at spots including miXt Food Hall and Material Things.

10^th Annual Kris Kringle Christmas Market

📅 Dec. 8-10
📍 Charles County Fairgrounds (8440 Fairgrounds Road, La Plata, Maryland)
💲 $5 (free for  children 10 and under)
🔗 Details

This German-style Christmas market is a fan favorite every year because of its light displays, tasty Christmas treats, music and fireworks.

Fresh holiday decorations will be sold, too.

If you’re there on Friday at 5 p.m., you can take in the splendor of Santa and the official tree lighting.

Hours are Friday, 4-8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Christmas in Middleburg

Head out to Loudoun County to take carriage rides past decorated storefronts and sip free hot chocolate from Scruffy’s Ice Cream Parlor. The library’s Model Railroad Extravaganza (Fri. and Sat.) and the third annual Dickens of a Dog Show (Sat.) are just some of this weekend’s special events.

Next Saturday (Dec. 17), Middleburg will dial up the charm for “A Dickens Christmas” with a street fair/market and outdoor performances of “A Christmas Carol.”

Things to Do DC Nov 14, 2023

20 holiday markets for shopping local in DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia

Neabsco Boardwalk Holiday Walk of Lights

📅 Open at 5:30 p.m. Fri., Sat. and Sun., plus 12/12 (sensory night),12/15-12/17 and 12/20-12/23
📍 Woodbridge, Virginia
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Stroll the boardwalk, walking through light tunnels and festive displays over the water.

Free parking is available at Rippon Middle School and Porter Traditional School. A shuttle bus will take visitors straight to the light display.

Concessions and restrooms are available at the park.

Disney Encanto x CAMP 

📅 Opens Fri.
📍 Tysons Corner Center, Virginia
💲 $37+
🔗 Details

Here’s a great experience to gift for any “Encanto” obsessed little ones in your life.

Behind the magic door inside the CAMP venue/toy store, you’ll be transported to La Familia Madrigal’s magical Casita for an hour of exploring themed rooms and secret passages, plus singalongs led by costumed actors playing townspeople from the movie.

Our Melissa Mollet said it was a hit with her girls!

Winter’s Eve

📅 Sat., 3-6 p.m.
📍 Glen Echo Park in Glen Echo, Maryland
💲 Free
🔗 Details

The Art Deco designs and Cuddle Up sign make the perfect backdrop for a wintry DIY photoshoot anytime, but Winter’s Eve (Sat., 3-6 p.m.) is a lovely free, kid-friendly outing.

Expect glass-blowing demos, open studios, crafts and live music.

Don’t forget to check out the Puppet Co.’s holiday shows or Adventure Theatre’s “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.”

Concerts this weekend

Scream, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Black Cat, $20

The hardcore pioneers share the stage with another iconic D.C. band, the post-hardcore Soulside. Details.

GA-20 and Black Joe Lewis, 8 p.m. Thursday, Union Stage, $25

Named after a vintage amplifier, GA-20 offers heavy, electric blues both fresh and nostalgic. Co-headliner Black Joe Lewis is another retro artist, delivering James Brown-inspired funk and soul. Details. 

We Are Scientists, 8 p.m. Friday, Union Stage, $22/$40

Dance-rockers came to prominence amid the post-punk revival of the ‘00s and continue to bring infectious beats and frenetic riffs. Details. 

Things to do in D.C.

Norwegian Tree Lighting Ceremony at Union Station
Thurs., 6 p.m., free entry

Columbia Heights Tree Lighting & Market
Fri., 4-8 p.m., Columbia Heights Civic Plaza, free

Spark! Chevy Chase Winter Market
Sat., 1-5 p.m., Connecticut Avenue NW, free entry

Mt. Pleasant Holiday Market
Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Lamont Plaza, free

Menorah Lighting Ceremony
Sun., celebration 4-7 p.m., lighting at 4:30 p.m., Union Station, free

Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington Holiday Sing-Along
Tues., Hotel Zena, $10-$30 (pay what you can)

Things to do in Maryland

Patti LaBelle
Fri., 8 p.m., MGM National Harbor, $165+ (verified resale)

Takoma Park Gift Market
Fri., 5-9 p.m., 201 Ethan Allen Ave., free

Light Up the Lakefront
Sat., 4-7 p.m., Rio Lakefront in Gaithersburg, free

Empowered Women International Holiday Market
Sun., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Silver Spring Civic Building, free

Things to do in Virginia

Fairfax City Holiday Market
Fri. to Sun., Old Town Square, free

Old Town Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Show
Sat., 11 a.m.- 4 p.m., John Carlyle Square (300 John Carlyle St., Alexandria, Virginia), free

Santa’s Workshop Holiday Extravaganza at The Boro
at., 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., 8350 Broad Street, Tysons, free

Wine bottle engraving at Foxtrot
Sat., 1-5 p.m., Rosslyn
Sat., 2-6 p.m., Old Town
Free with purchase

Chanukah Celebration
Mon., Boro Upper Promenade, free

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

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Oh, Christmas tree… Oh, tumbling National Christmas Tree! How we hope you’re not a metaphor for our holiday season. ICYMI: The National Tree fell over on Tuesday. You saw that, right?

However, like something out of a Hallmark movie, the tree was lifted back up that night. The National Park Service said the show must go on for Thursday evening’s tree lighting ceremony, and it did.

The tree opened to the public Saturday, but locals know to wait out the initial rush. We’ll share pro tips next week in The Weekend Scene newsletter.

Heads up, Metro riders: Board those gingerbread-wrapped trains and buses now. Metro says it will temporarily shut down Red Line service at three downtown stations in from mid- to late December – yep, in the middle of the holiday market, ice skating and Caps season.

The National Landing Lodge

📅 Fri. to Sun.
📍 Arlington, Virginia
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Metropolitan Park is not only hosting a local artist market, but a whole ski-themed holiday festival with axe throwing, pet caricatures, a s’mores hut and spiked hot chocolate at The National Landing Lodge. There will be glitter tattoos, train rides and Santa for kids, too.

Sparkle Mart: Juried Art and Craft Fair

📅 Sat. and Sun.
📍 Greenbelt Community Center (Greenbelt Community Center, 15 Crescent Road, Greenbelt, Maryland)
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details

Nearly 80 local artists and artisans will offer handmade gifts, including clothes, toys, prints, housewares and even seasonings.

On Saturday, the market will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Go early for the youth craft sale (10 a.m. to noon) and a Santa visit, or 1-3 p.m. for live music from Seth Kibel and Friends. Shoppers can also enter a free drawing for a chance to win $50 in Art Bucks to spend on Sunday.

Sunday’s hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the Greenbelt Farmers Market will be outside until 2 p.m.

Things to Do DC Nov 14, 2023

20 holiday markets for shopping local in DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia

Things to Do DC Nov 30, 2023

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Shop the Red Line

Bop between many markets with holiday party vibes all along the Red Line, to the Downtown Holiday Market and beyond.

• Explore pop-ups in Dupont Circle, Cleveland Park, Van Ness and Tenley’s WinterFest on Saturday, plus the two-day URBNmarket and tree lighting festivities at City Ridge, a 15-minute walk from Tenleytown.
• Dupont will be bustling with the Ven at Embassy Row’s market featuring photos with Santa (Sat., noon to 5 p.m.) and the German-style Heurich House Chriskindlmarkt (Fri. to Sun., $12 for adults).
• Hop off at Judiciary Square to shop Indigenous artists from the western hemisphere at the National Museum of the American Indian’s Native Art Market (Sat. and Sun.).
• The Holiday Market at The Parks (Sat., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) is a 15-minute walk from the Takoma Park station.
• Swing by Silver Spring’s Christmas Market with more than 80 vendors (Sun., noon to 4 p.m., Veterans Plaza).

Georgetown Glow

📅 Began Fri.
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Georgetown Glow has returned for its ninth season through the first week of 2024. Beautiful art pieces will be lit outside for you to enjoy at five main areas below M Street. They even have a handy map.

Local artists make up a large portion of the displays, but Georgetown Glow also attracts international offerings.

If you’re down to spend a few bucks, pair the free experience with walking tours, a cookie tour on Dec. 9 and other special events.

The light and the crisp night air will make for social pics that pop.

Santa Fly-in

📅 Sat., 10 a.m.
📍 College Park Aviation Museum in College Park, Maryland
💲 $5
🔗 Details

The only thing better than meeting Santa to share Christmas wishes is to watch the big man himself fly in from the skies.

Santa is set to arrive at the College Park Aviation Museum via the magic of air travel between 10 and 10:15 a.m. After that, little ones can enjoy crafts and activities while waiting to take a photo with Santa (If you want a photo, make sure to schedule a timeslot by emailing collegeparkaviation@pgparks.com).

Festivities are scheduled to continue until 4 p.m.

Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade

📅 Sat., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
📍 Old Town
💲 Free
🔗 Details

It’s Alexandria’s Biggest Holiday Weekend (we’re spilling details on the Holiday Boat Parade below!) and this tradition ages like good cheese.

Both Scottish dogs and Scottish clans dressed in tartans will parade through Old Town with pipe and drum bands. Here’s a map of the parade route.

Now in its 52nd year, the parade celebrates the merchants of Scottish heritage who founded Alexandria and city’s namesake family.

Holiday Boat Parade

📅 Sat.
📍 Old Town Alexandria and The Wharf
💲 Free
🔗 Details for Alexandria and The Wharf

The Potomac River and Washington Channel are getting lit!

Dozens of boats competing to win prizes for their décor will journey from Alexandria to The Wharf on Saturday evening. Whatever floats your boat, this big party on both sides of the water is sure to have something for you.

The parade begins along the Old Town Alexandria Waterfront about 5:30 p.m., traveling from Waterfront Park to Ford’s Landing Park near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. Visit Alexandria has pro tips on viewing locations.

Boats are set to arrive in the Wharf about 7 p.m., and Tommy McFly will emcee the parade! Scope out your viewing spot using this map.

A fireworks salute at 8 p.m. and two stages with live music from 6-9 p.m. round out the night on the Southwest Waterfront.

Both locations have tons of pre-parade fun planned, including beverage gardens and kid-friendly activities.

• Dockside Festivities at Alexandria’s Waterfront Park run 1-8 p.m., and the Canal Center Holiday Art Mart will be open 3-9 p.m.
• The Wharf kicks things off at 6 p.m. with activities including ornament decorating, karaoke and Jack Daniel’s sampling.

If you want to be extra, CityCruises has a on-the-water watch party starting at $60.

College Park Winter Wonderland Holiday Market and Tree Lighting

📅 Sat., Dec. 2, 4-8 p.m.
📍 Plaza at City Hall, College Park, Maryland
💲 Free
🔗 Details

While you’re not browsing Made in Maryland vendors, explore the festival including live music, carolers, arts and crafts and a petting zoo.

The festival leads up to an appearance by Santa at 5 p.m. before the holiday tree lighting ceremony at 7:30 p.m.

Food and drink vendors will be on hand to fuel your holiday outing.

Cocktail Week

📅 Through Tues. 
📍 100+ restaurants and bars
💲 Deals about $10-$22
🔗 Details

It’s Cocktail Week, as declared by… cocktail creators. Cheers!

There are pairings of bites and beverages all around the area.

For example, Makers Union, Hen Quarter, Milk & Honey and The Delegate let you choose between four festive cocktails (pictured above), plus an appetizer for $20. 

Many favorites like Service Bar, Taqueria Xochi, Mozzeria and more are hosting special events along with deals.

The D.C. area’s restaurant association encourages folks to belly up responsibly for some holiday cheer.

Concerts this weekend

Velocity Girl, 8 p.m. Friday, Black Cat, $25 (advance)/$30 (day of)

Originating at the University of Maryland in the late 1980s, Velocity Girl put out three LPs of noisy-but-dreamy indie rock in the 1990s. They recently reunited after more than 20 years to the Black Cat’s 30th anniversary party, and lucky for D.C. they aren’t done yet. Tuscadero, another classic D.C. indie rock band from the ‘90s, opens. Details.

Deafheaven, 8 p.m. Saturday, Howard Theatre, $39.50-$65

Post-metal band that perfected a blend of black metal and shoegaze is touring for the 10th anniversary of the stunning “Sunbather” LP. Details.

Jon Spencer, 7 p.m. Sunday, Fillmore, $29.50

The legendary punk behind Pussy Galore, the Blues Explosion, Heavy Trash and the Hitmakers opens this show for the union of acclaimed modern blues rockers Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton, whose recent first collaboration Spencer produced. Details.

New Wet Kojak, 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Black Cat, $25

More ‘90s indie rock revival at the Cat this weekend. The post-hardcore offshoot of Girls Against Boys is playing its first shows in more than 20 years. Details. 

List: More things to do in D.C.

World Aids Day Cabaret celebrating Elizabeth Taylor
Fri., 7 p.m., The Corner in Northwest D.C., $50 (includes a cocktail)

Piñata Making Workshop with a Twist
Sat., 1 p.m., 670 Rhode Island Ave NE, $35-$40
FYI: Bilingual English and Spanish

🍸 HdF presents: Kevin Aviance
Sat., Republiq Hall in Northeast, $25+

Winter Festival at the National Arboretum
Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., The National Arboretum’s New York Avenue parking lot, free

Sidewalk Engineering: Take it Apart!
Sun., 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Adams Morgan, free

List: More things to do in Maryland

🎄 Chevy Chase Lake tree lighting
Thurs., 5:30-8 p.m., Chevy Chase Lake Terrace, free

Washington D.C. Temple Festival of Lights
Opens Thurs., 9900 Stoneybrook Dr, Kensington, Maryland, free

Deco the Halls – Greenbelt Museum Evening Open House
Fri., Greenbelt Museum, free (all ages welcome)

Bethesda Winter Wonderland
Sat., 1-4 p.m., free

“The Nutcracker” with The National Ballet Company
Sat., 8 p.m., Prince George’s Publick Playhouse in Hyattsville, $20-$25

DC South Asian Film Festival
Fri. to Sun., various venues, screenings $15, passes $25-$60

Merriweather District Holiday Market
Fri. to Sun., Color Burst Park in Columbia, free

List: More things to do in Virginia

💡 Neabsco Boardwalk Holiday Walk of Lights
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 17, plus Dec. 12 and Dec. 20-23, Woodbridge, free

McLean Holiday Art & Crafts Festival
Fri. to Sun., McLean Community Center, $5; free for children under 12

Fairfax City Holiday Market
Fri. to Sun., plus next weekend, Old Town Square, free

Leesburg’s Holiday Tree Lighting
Sat., 6-7 p.m., Town Green on Market Street, free

Tea with Santa at Hank’s Oyster Bar Old Town
Sundays through 12/17, plus 12/23, $65 per person

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

The BeyHive has been buzzing about “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé,” which showcases her summer world tour. Though the film is set to drop Friday, Dec. 1, select theaters in the area will have showings on Thursday – selling out almost as quickly as D.C. can freeze for the mute challenge.

For anyone who went to the second night of the Renaissance concert at FedExField in Maryland, reliving the highlights of Beyoncé’s tour in theaters may be cathartic and fun. Those fans can sing “I’m a Survivor” after putting up with hot crowds, storms and a long rain delay.

It’s a two-hour and 48-minute film, so bring your best friend and your Queen Bey energy.

How to get tickets for “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé” in the DC area

Visit www.beyoncefilm.com for a full list of all the theaters near you showing the film, including on Thursday — one day before the official premiere date.

AMC, Alamo Drafthouse, Landmark and Regal theaters all offer showtimes, in addition to the Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market.

Where to celebrate with the BeyHive in D.C.

Beyoncé Music Bingo

📅 Fri. Dec. 1, 6:30 p.m.
📍 Bryant Street Market (670 Rhode Island Avenue NE, Washington, D.C.)
💲 Free
🔗 Details

The “B” in this bingo game is for Beyoncé. Dance to her popular songs while testing your knowledge of her lyrics, melodies and trivia.

Beyoncé’s Renaissance DJ Dance Party @ metrobar

📅 Sat., Dec. 2, 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
📍 metrobar DC (640 Rhode Island Avenue Northeast Washington, D.C.)
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Dance away the memories of the work week with “Break My Soul” and other chart-topping hits spun by DJ Fah NR.

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The Beyoncé Brunch

📅 Sun., Dec. 3, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
📍 Shaw’s Tavern (520 Florida Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.)
💲 Cost of brunch
🔗 Details

A brunch for our inner “Church Girl” with Beyoncé themed cocktails, bottomless mimosas and special performances by Nubia Love Jackson and Erotica.  

Beyoncé Music Bingo

📅 Thurs., Dec. 14, 8-10 p.m.
📍 The Diner (2453 18th Street NW, Washington, D.C.)
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Celebrate the release of Beyoncé’s “Renaissance” film with the Beyhive and bingo.

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

With Thanksgiving in the rear view mirror, it’s time to eat some leftovers as the holiday shopping season kicks into high gear.

This weekend, you can browse local stores and markets; hear some great live music and dazzle your senses with holiday lights — some of the biggest and flashiest displays we could find are flickering on this weekend:

• Enchant: Reindeer Games at Nationals Park
• LuminoCity Festival in Gaithersburg
• Winter Festival of Lights in Upper Marlboro
• Winter Lantern Festival in Tysons

Don’t forget about Small Business Saturday, either! American Express has a map of shops, and DC Shop Small has a roundup of local deals.

The Black Market Creatives Showcase at Anacostia Arts Center on Saturday (noon to 6 p.m., free entry) and Brookland Arts Walk’s event are worth stopping by.

Whether you’re in the mood for a family outing or just a reason to get our of the house, here’s more to do this weekend around the D.C. area.

Alexandria Plaid Friday

📅 Fri., starting at 6 a.m.
📍 Old Town
🔗 Details

If you’re going outside to shop on Black Friday, Alexandria is the place to go. Several stores will offer early bird discounts of 30% off from 6-8 a.m. and 20% off 8-10 a.m., including Red Barn Mercantile. Here’s a list of participating businesses and other discounts.

BTW: It’s not just called Plaid Friday because of the cute accessories. It’s about weaving together different threads (small businesses) for a strong main street economy.

Season’s Greenings

📅 Sat., Nov. 25, 5-7 p.m.
📍 825 10th St NW, Washington, D.C.
💲 Free
🔗 Details

The U.S. Botanical Garden has unveiled its 2023 holiday exhibit. The annual tradition is a spectacular work of art featuring thousands of poinsettias, toy trains, Christmas lights, decorations and 22 iconic landmarks made from plants.

Ice skating

Ice skating season is here, and two of D.C.’s most scenic rinks will even be open on Thanksgiving Day.

Take a spin on The National Gallery of Art’s Ice Rink at the Sculpture Garden is open to 9 p.m. on weeknights and 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Adult tickets cost $12 and are sold first come, first served. Skate rentals cost $6.

The Wharf’s rink opens to the public on Wednesday, and you can visit noon to 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Adult tickets cost $13 and skate rentals cost $8.

CityCenterDC 10th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting

📅 Sat., Nov. 25, 5-7 p.m.
📍 825 10th St NW, Washington, D.C.
💲 Free
🔗 Details

CityCenterDC’s 75-foot Christmas tree is finally going to make its dazzling debut for the season, with the help of News4’s own Eun Yang.

Enjoy live music from The Revels, balloon artist, face painters, holiday treats and plenty of changes to snap a cute wintry photo.

Festivities begin at 5 p.m., and the tree lighting program begins at 6 p.m.

Concerts this weekend

Liz Phair, 8 p.m. Saturday, The Anthem, $55-$95

It’s the 15th anniversary of the 15th anniversary edition of “Exile in Guyville” – the rockstar’s epic debut that launched her out of Chicago’s testosterone-heavy alternative scene in the ‘90s. Seated show, because the album’s 30 years old. Details.

Uni Boys, 9 p.m. Saturday, Slash Run, $15 (cash only)

Playful, new wavy power pop from L.A. Local pop punk supergroup The Owners open. Details. 

Preservation Hall Jazz Band, 9 p.m. Saturday, Lincoln Theatre, $55

Thanksgiving will be 48 hours in the past, so, time for Christmas music? The legendary, long-running New Orleans jazz band brings its Creole Christmas to D.C. Details.

Things to do in D.C.

F*** Black Friday Makers Market
Fri., Right Proper in Northwest D.C., free entry

Bluey’s Big Play
Weds. to Sun., The Kennedy Center, $29-$99

Season’s Greenings
Opens Thurs., U.S. Botanic Garden, free

Native American Heritage Day: Honoring the Jingle Dress Dance
Fri., National Museum of the American Indian, free

Hot Fuss 2000s Indie Dance Party
Fri., 9 p.m., The Black Cat, $10

White Ford Bronco
Fri., 9:30 Club, $25

The Markt at MLK
Opens Sat., Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (901 G St NW), free to visit

The Nutcracker at THEARC
1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sat. and 1 p.m. Sun., 1901 Mississippi Ave SE, $30+ 

Things to do in Maryland

Cirque du Soleil’s “‘Twas the Night Before”
11/24 to 12/3, The Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, $61+

Laugh Riot
Sat., 8-9:30 p.m., Rock Bottom Bethesda, $20 (cash only) 

Makers Market & Plant Swap Sale
Sun., Plants Alive! in Silver Spring, free entry

Things to do in Virginia

Holiday Evergreen Wreath Workshop
Fri., 2 p.m., Botanologica in Falls Church, $85

Reston Holiday Parade
Fri., 11 a.m. to noon, Reston Town Center, free

Mount Vernon by Candlelight
Fri. and Sat. through 12/9, plus 12/17, Mount Vernon, $28 (adult)

Old World Christmas Market
Sat., Bear Chase Brewing in Bluemont, free entry

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Holiday festivities can’t be complete without decorations, and few things can add a merry and bright twist to your evening than twinkling bulbs, illuminated statues and shining lanterns.

Whether you want to stay in the warm comfort of your car or take a walk to view the lights up close, there’s something for everyone below.

Here’s a guide on the dazzling light displays and decked-out trees you can visit in the 2023 holiday season in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

Holiday lights in D.C.

Spectacular Factory at ARTECHOUSE

📅 Dec. 20 to Jan. 3
📍 Southwest D.C.
💲 $25-$31 for adults
🔗 Details

Immerse yourself in the larger-than-life Spectacular Factory experience at ARTECHOUSE again for a limited time. The interactive digital art exhibit will be open on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and through New Year’s for a festive and family-pleasing outing. The XR Bar will be pouring merry craft cocktails, as well.

Beyond the Light, an interactive journey inside a nebula, will return on Jan. 5.

ZooLights

📅 Select days, Nov. 24 to Dec. 30
📍 National Zoo
💲 $6 per person
🔗 Get tickets here

The zoo will glimmer and sparkle with 130 lights, 3D animal lanterns and displays showing habitats from oceans to grasslands to deserts.

The 15th year of ZooLights comes with one big change: a $6 price tag per ticket.

“The ticket fee is needed to offset the significant increase in costs associated with running this event,” the National Zoo said in a press release.

The carousel will be running, weather permitting, and tickets to ride cost $4 each. Visitors can listen to live music by local artists and school groups or browse at gift shops. Several zoo restaurants will be open, and special holiday treats will be sold along with hot chocolate and wintery adult beverages.

Here’s the full list of ZooLights dates:

• Nov. 24, 25 and 26
• Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 2 and 3. Nov. 30 is a Member Night.
• Dec. 7, 8, 9 and 10. Dec. 7 is a Member Night.
• Dec. 14, 15, 16 and 17. Dec. 14 is a Member Night.
• Dec. 21, 22 and 23
• Dec. 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30.

ZooLights runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. most days. On Sundays, it ends an hour earlier, with the zoo closing at 8 p.m.

Indoor exhibits will be closed so animals can rest, the zoo said, but you can get separate passes to visit the zoo during its regular hours. The zoo will close at 4 p.m. and then reopen for ZooLights.

The event is rain or shine. Zoo parking costs $30 for nonmembers. It’s also accessible from the Cleveland Park and Adams Morgan-Woodley Park Metro stations on the Red Line.

Enchant: Reindeer Games

📅 Nov. 24 to Dec. 31
📍 Nationals Park
💲 Tickets from $32 (adult) and $24 (junior)
🔗 Details

An all-new light maze, ice skating through a forest of Christmas lights and a holiday shopping village await in Nationals Park.

Kids can meet Santa and romp around the Play Place. Special theme nights include Paws n’ Claus (pets welcome!), College Night and Military Night.

It’s open on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.

Georgetown Glow

📅 Dec. 1 to Jan. 7, 2024
📍 Georgetown Park
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Georgetown Glow features light-up and photo-worthy commissioned work from national and international artists. Visitors can enjoy the curated outdoor light art nightly from 5 p.m.

Events around Glow include more than 30 walking tours (tour guides charge a fee), a special shopping night, a cocktail crawl and more.

The outdoor public art will feature five works of art titled “Rotifers,” “Follow the Light,” “Talking Heads,” “Darth Fisher” and “Neighborhood.” Details on specific locations are on this map.

DC Holiday Lights

📅 Nov. 17 to Jan. 7, 2024
📍 Main Streets of D.C.
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Explore D.C.’s dazzling lights and decor in your neighborhood and beyond, including Logan Circle, Petworth, Columbia Heights and more. After exploring D.C.’s Main Streets, visitors can cast a vote on which corridor has the best displays.

The fun includes a scavenger hunt where visitors can earn prizes like gift cards starting at $25. You can sign up for updates on their website.

CityCenterDC

📅 Ongoing
📍 825 10th St NW, Washington, D.C.
💲 Free
🔗 Details

CityCenterDC’s 75-foot Christmas tree is lighting up the night near the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station. It’s a great place to stop for some holiday cheer after visiting the Downtown Holiday Market.

Holiday lights in Maryland

Garden of Lights

📅 Nov. 17 to Dec. 31
📍 Brookside Gardens
💲 $10 per person
🔗 Details

Visitors can stroll through the half-mile display in a magical winter wonderland in Brookside Gardens. Garden of Lights is open Nov. 17 through Dec. 31. It’s open every night except for Nov. 20-23 and Dec. 24-25.

Tickets are $10 per person, ages 5 and older, and are timed-entry. This is a rain-or-shine event.

Hot chocolate and snacks will be available for purchase.

Winter City Lights

📅 Nov. 18 to Dec. 30
📍 4501 Olney-Laytonsville Road, Olney, Maryland
💲 $31 for kids; $34 for adult
🔗 Details

Take in the over one million lights in this 1.5-mile-long trail in Olney, Maryland. Visitors can walk through the woods and view the different displays and lights. According to the website, Winter City Lights is “one of the most technologically advanced Christmas light experiences in the country.”

Adult tickets are $34 and children’s tickets for those aged 4 to 12 are $31. Children under 4 are allowed free entry.

There will be bonfires, a Christmas tree, a snow tubing ride (for an additional fee), an ax toss and an assortment of concessions on site.

It’s open on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, every weekend and many weeknights through Dec. 30. Winter City Lights opens at 5 p.m. and stays open until 9 p.m., 9:30 p.m. or 10 p.m. depending on the night.

ICE! and Christmas at Gaylord National

📅 Through Dec. 31
📍 National Harbor
💲  $29.99+
🔗 Details

The National Harbor hotel’s annual snowy spectacular has opened its doors.

ICE! brings Christmas classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to life with hand-carved sculptures made from more than 2 million pounds of ice. Tickets start at $29.99.

It’s open on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.

The winter wonderland doesn’t end there. Fill up a day of cool activities with ice tubing, skating, the “Cirque: Spirit of Christmas” show, a snowball build and blast and storytime with Mrs. Claus.

Ticket bundles are available if you plan to hit multiple attractions.

Lights on the Bay at Sandy Point State Park

📅 Nov. 19 to Jan. 1
📍 Sandy Point State Park, Annapolis, Maryland
💲 $20 per car
🔗 Details

Watch the Chesapeake Bay come alive in this 2-mile scenic drive through Sandy Point State Park. In the 29th annual light show, drive past 70 animated and stationary displays. You can rent 3D glasses for $5 to really make the experience pop.

This year’s displays are inspired by Annapolis. Kids can play a fun scavenger hunt during the drive, challenging them to find clues within the show and answer display-related questions. At the end, they can enter a drawing to win a prize.

Funds benefit the SPCA of Anne Arundel County.

LuminoCity Festival

📅 Nov. 24 to Jan. 15, 2024
📍 Montgomery County Fairgrounds (501 Perry Parkway Gaithersburg, Maryland)
💲 General admission: $35
🔗 Details

Immerse yourself into a winter wonderland of colorful lights. In this 6-acre experience, the Montgomery County Fairgrounds transforms into a world with 20 holiday-themed areas.

A doughnut tunnel, a panda habitat and an Arctic wonderland are just a few of the things you might spot, along with a towering castle.

Winter Festival of Lights

📅 Nov. 24 to Jan. 1, 5-9:30 p.m. nightly
📍 Watkins Regional Park, Upper Marlboro
💲 $10 per car online; $15 at the gate
🔗 Details

For over three decades, families have been able to enjoy the holiday lights as they drive through Watkins Regional Park and 2023 is no different.

Visitors on Saturdays and Sundays are advised to arrive before 6 p.m. to avoid waits.

This year, attendees should enter from Route 202.

Washington, D.C. Temple Festival of Lights

📅 Nov. 30 to Jan. 1
📍 9900 Stoneybrook Dr, Kensington, Maryland
💲 Free
🔗 Details

The white towers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple in Kensington are an eye-catching sight any time of year, and there will be extra sparkle for the Christmas season.

Christmas lights will illuminate between 4:45 p.m. and 9 p.m. nightly, and musical performances are scheduled most nights. Free parking is available.

Everyone is welcome to attend; visitors are requested to “dress modestly, use clean language, and treat everyone with respect.”

Holiday lights in Northern Virginia

Bull Run Festival of Lights

📅 Nov. 10 to Jan. 7
📍 Bull Run Regional Park, Centreville, Virginia
💲 $30 per vehicle
🔗 Details

Take a 2.5-mile drive through light displays, then stroll around the Christmas Village and a carnival.

The Festival of Lights will be open nightly from Nov. 17 until the end of the season. The schedule is 5:30-9:30 p.m. from Monday to Thursday. It will stay open until 10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, plus holidays.

It’s open on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Tickets are on sale now. Visitors only need to buy one ticket per vehicle. Buses carrying more than 15 people will need to buy a $75 pass. 

Note that the Village and carnival are closed on Tuesday, Nov. 21, due to weather.

Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights

📅 Nov. 10 to Jan. 7
📍 Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, Virginia
💲 $18-$22
🔗 Details

Take an evening stroll through Meadowlark Botanical Gardens and be surrounded by lighted trees and displays featuring nature, winter and holiday themes. 

Visitors can drink a hot beverage as they walk through the half-mile display. Top the evening off with roasting marshmallows for a yummy s’more. 

The walk is wheelchair- and stroller-accessible. It’s open on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Ice & Lights The Winter Village at Cameron Run

📅 Nov. 17 to Jan. 1 (ice skating opens Dec. 1)
📍 Cameron Run Regional Park (4001 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia)
💲 $8 (Village, purchased online), $20 (Village and ice skating)
🔗 Details

Skate under the stars and take a family selfie in front of the light displays.

Ice skating tickets must be purchased online.

Daytime ice skating will also run Dec. 18 to 30 and Jan. 6 to Feb. 25.

Winter Lantern Festival

📅 Nov. 24 to Feb. 18
📍 8025 Galleria Drive, Tysons, Virginia
💲 Tickets from $17.99 (children 4-13) to $25.99 (adult)
🔗 Details

The Winter Lantern Festival’s night walk surrounds visitors with the culture and craftsmanship of traditional Chinese lantern festivals. The lanterns will illuminate tunnels, light swings and life-size majestic creatures.

The LED lanterns, created by skilled artisans, are made with small pieces of silk cloth.

Along with viewing the 1,000 lantern display, visitors can also experience dino rides, a bounce house and picture opportunities. 

Neabsco Boardwalk Holiday Walk of Lights

📅 Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Dec. 1-17, plus Dec. 12 and Dec. 20-23
📍 Neabsco Regional Park, Woodbridge, Virginia
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Stroll the boardwalk, walking under light tunnels and festive displays at Prince William County’s free light display.

Dec. 12 is a sensory night. Lights and volume will be reduced, and Neabsco expects smaller crowds.

Free parking is available at Rippon Middle School and Porter Traditional School, with overflow parking open at Featherstone Elementary. A shuttle bus will take visitors right to the light display.

Concessions and restrooms are available at the park.

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Temperatures are dropping, decorations are popping up and holiday markets are reappearing — cue the carols, the holiday season has commenced.

While the countdown to Thanksgiving is still going, many of your favorite winter fun times are back: holiday markets, sparkling light displays, ice skating rinks…

And also opportunities to give in the true spirit of the season. We wanted to take a moment to share two NBC4 and Telemundo 44 traditions that make a real difference in people’s lives: Food 4 Families and our Share the Warmth coat drive. Whether you need help or are able to give, check out those links to see how you can help us support the Greater Washington Community Foundation and the Salvation Army National Capital Area Command.

Looking for ways to entertain the whole family over the long Thanksgiving weekend? Make sure you’re subscribed to The Weekend Scene newsletter so you can start planning on Wednesday.

But don’t worry: If you’re already getting tired of constant carols, there’s plenty for you, too.

Umbrella Art Fair

📅 Fri. to Sun.
📍 Plaza at the Dock at Union Market (1325 5th St. NE, Suite A), Northeast D.C.
💲 Free to attend
🔗 Details

First dreamed up in 2019 by No Kings Collective co-founders Peter Chang and Brandon Hill, Umbrella Art Fair is growing into a D.C. tradition.

Chang, a muralist and designer by trade, said the show has something for everyone and will help support artists.

His favorite part? “Seeing [the artists] put up all their work, you know – blood sweat and tears – and then having the crowds just interact with it,” Chang said.

Visitors can weave through multiple rooms and peruse more than 150 artists’ mini-galleries over 20,000 square feet behind Union Market.

The Umbrella Art Fair artists from D.C. and worldwide showing contemporary art. Most art pieces cost $150 to thousands of dollars. There are some cheaper prints available in certain galleries.

Kelly Towles and Maggie O’Neill are among the locals to look out for.

The Umbrella Art Fair will be open noon to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, then noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Check out their Instagram for info on special events.

Downtown Holiday Market 

📅 Nov. 17 to Dec. 23
📍 Centered at 8th and F streets NW, D.C.
💲 Free to enter
🔗 Details

The Downtown Holiday Market is packed with over 70 vendors, merry music, the smell of tasty treats and, of course, people. Our pro tip: Visit during lunch on a weekday, early on weekends or even a rainy day to try to beat the crowds.

It’s steps away from Gallery Place-Chinatown (🟢🟡🔴), or use code HOLIDAYMARKET on rideshare service Alto for $15 off two rides.

🎇 Make a day of it: You can show your Downtown Holiday Market receipt or bag to get discounts at Jaleo (bar only), China Chilcano and Oyamel. You could also see Macy’s holiday windows, set to be unveiled Thursday evening.

37th Annual Holiday Craft Show

📅 Sat. and Sun.
📍 Fairfax High School (3501 Lion Run, Fairfax, Virginia)
💲 $5 (one day)/$8 (two-day pass); free for those 18 and under
🔗 Details

Fairfax’s expansive holiday craft market has been going since 1987. Families can take photos with Santa from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Get ready to go with this map, a list of vendors and info on parking and free shuttles.

DC Punk Rock Flea

📅 Sat., noon to 5 p.m.
📍 St. Stephen church (1525 Newton St. NW, D.C.)
💲 Canned food donation requested
🔗 Details

Vinyl, vintage, witchy and universally unique vendors come together with community service organizations at Punk Rock Flea. They’re infusing the spirit of the season with a canned food drive benefiting We Are Family, and we’re here for it.

ICE! and Christmas at Gaylord National

📅 Opens Sun.
📍 National Harbor
💲  $29.99+
🔗 Details

The National Harbor hotel’s annual snowy spectacular opens its doors Sunday.

ICE! brings Christmas classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to life with hand-carved sculptures made from more than 2 million pounds of ice. Tickets start at $29.99.

The winter wonderland doesn’t end there. Fill up a day of cool activities with ice tubing, skating, the “Cirque: Spirit of Christmas” show, a snowball build and blast and storytime with Mrs. Claus.

Ticket bundles are available if you plan to hit multiple attractions.

BlackHair photography exhibit

📅 Through Sun.
📍 The Ven at Embassy Row (2015 Massachusetts Ave NW, D.C.)
💲 Free
🔗 Details

A photo exhibit on the history and culture of Black hair is on display this month in D.C.

“Every strand tells a story,” artist Marvin Bowser, the older brother of Mayor Muriel Bowser, told Molette Green in her In the Community series.

The 41 images on display put forth Black joy, power, beauty and, in some cases, fantastical.

Celebrate Petworth

📅 Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
📍 800 block of Upshur Street NW
💲 Free
🔗 Details

After getting washed out by rain last month, Petworth’s neighborhood festival is back on.

We recommend stopping by Room 808 for a historian’s talk on neighborhood history and local poets at 2 p.m.; the learn to skate clinic and fitness demos.

Hang out at the main stage for music all day, and bring little ones to the Kids’ Zone for crafts, salsa dancing, storytime and music.

Plenty of local artisans will be selling goods, as well.

Here’s a map and the full schedule.

Concerts this weekend

Mipso, 10 p.m. Friday, 9:30 Club, $25

Breezy, mellow bluegrass from North Carolina — where breezy, mellow bluegrass comes from — combined with more modern indie and alternative influences. Details. 

Armand Hammer, 7 p.m. Saturday, Union Stage, $20-$40

New York City hip-hop duo exploring personal and societal depths over unconventional, often-raucous beats. Details.

Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Jon Langford, 7 p.m. Saturday, Sixth & I, $35

Two cult songwriters get together live to recreate their much buzzed-about pandemic performance, matching each other “song-for-song” — as the concert is billed — and enlightening fans with their conversation over music. Details. 

Things to do in D.C.

“A Christmas Carol”
11/17 to 12/31, Ford’s Theatre, $37-$110

Native Cinema Showcase
11/17 to 11/24, virtual, free

Heurich House Mini Market
Fri. to Sun., 1307 New Hampshire Avenue NW, free entry

Bully (show)
Sat., 8 p.m., The Black Cat, $20 (advance)/$25 (day-of)

Stand-Up for Ukraine
Sun., 7 p.m. (doors), Union Stage, $20-$40

Things to do in Maryland

Candles & Cocktails
Weds., Le Fantome Food Hall in Riverdale Park, $45

Marc Roberge (of O.A.R.) with Stephen Kellogg
Sat., 7 p.m. (doors), Rams Head Live in Baltimore, $70
21+

Holiday Centerpiece & Mimosas
Sun., noon, Windridge Vineyards in Darnestown, $150

Things to do in Virginia

Alexandria Cider Festival
Sat., 1 p.m., The Lloyd House, $25 (designated driver), $55 (in advance), $65 (door)

Herndon Turkey Trot 5K Race
Sat., 4-7 p.m., $25 (youth), $40 (adults)

Renée Fleming sings Strauss’ “Four Last Songs”
Sat., 8 p.m., Center for the Arts at George Mason University, $55-$105

Vienna Turkey Trot
Sun., 8 a.m., 400 Center Street South, Vienna, Virginia, $20-$45

Record Riot
Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fairfax, $5 (regular admission)

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

These holiday markets in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia are a fantastic opportunity to support local businesses while ticking items off your gift list.

Find out where to find a gift for a loved one, eat delicious holiday treats and maybe hear a carol or two (or 90) during these colder months.

Washington, D.C. holiday markets 

Downtown Holiday Market 

📅 Nov. 17 to Dec. 23
📍 Centered at 8th and F streets NW 
💲 Free to enter
🔗 Details

The Downtown Holiday Market is back, a sure sign of the holiday season. The outdoor market has taken over two blocks outside the National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum, featuring feature over 70 vendors, six food or drink stalls and a stage for live music.

Its hours are noon to 8 p.m. daily. Note that the market will be closed Monday, Dec. 4.

You can show your Downtown Holiday Market receipt or bag to get discounts at three José Andrés restaurants in the neighborhood: China Chilcano, Oyamel and the bar at Jaleo. Rideshare service Alto is also offering $15 off two rides for riders who use the code HOLIDAYMARKET.

The Markt at MLK & Metro’s First Shop Pop-Up Shop

📅 Nov. 25 to Dec. 18
📍 Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (901 G St. NW)
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details

Curated by the Heurich House Museum, this holiday market specializes in locally made and library-themed goods.

For the Metro fan in your life, make sure to stop by Metro’s First Shop Pop-Up Shop, where you can pick up select gifts from a collection that includes T-shirts, models and more.

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Tenleytown Winter Holiday Market

📅 Weds., Dec. 13, 5-10 p.m.
📍 East West Cafe (4619 41st St NW, Washington, D.C.)
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details

Scrambling to wrap up your gift list? Twenty local artisans will set up in the newly-opened East West Café alongside a DJ. Families are welcome to bring kids, who can enjoy the Children’s Craft Corner and watch “Elf” while parents shop.

NoMa Holiday Market

📅 Sat., Dec. 16, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
📍 The Woonerf on Quincy Lane and Alethia Tanner Park
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details

Dozens of vendors offering books, food, art and more are set to be selling giftable wares.

Yalda Winter Solstice Market

📅 Sat., Dec. 16, 3-7 p.m.
📍 Brookland Arts Walk (716 Monroe St. NE)
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details

This market with live music presented by Norooz Market will commemorate the Persian New Year, Nowruz, and the longest night of the year. Nearby Brookland Arts Walk shops will be open for the entirety of the event.

Holly Jolly Sidewalk Market

📅 Sat., Dec. 16, 1-6 p.m.
📍 14th Street (between U & T Streets NW)
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details

Thirty local retailers will create a special shopping experience in the Logan Circle and U Street area.

Enchant

📅 Nov. 24 to Dec. 31
📍 Nationals Park
💲 From $32 for adults and $27 for kids ages 3 to 17
🔗 Details

Nationals Park’s Enchant is a dazzling spot for holiday lights, featuring a light maze and ice skating trail for the whole family. There’s also a holiday market in The Village.

Maryland holiday markets

10^th Annual Kris Kringle Christmas Market

📅 Dec. 8-10
📍 Charles County Fairgrounds (8440 Fairgrounds Road, La Plata, Maryland)
💲 $5 (free for  children 10 and under)
🔗 Details

This German-style Christmas market is a fan favorite every year because of its light displays, tasty Christmas treats, music and fireworks.

Fresh holiday decorations will be sold, too.

If you’re there on Friday at 5 p.m., you can take in the splendor of Santa and the official tree lighting.

Hours are Friday, 4-8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Takoma Park Gift Market

📅 Dec. 8, 5-9 p.m.
📍 201 Ethan Allen Ave.
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Enjoy the evening by shopping small businesses, grabbing dinner from food trucks by a fire or getting a personalized tarot card reading.

Holiday Craft Fair at the Brentwood Arts Exchange

📅 Sat., Dec. 9
📍 3901 Rhode Island Avenue, Brentwood, Maryland
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details

Live music, a Maryland Meadworks Tasting Lounge and crafts to entertain kids add some extra cheer to this holiday craft fair within Brentwood Arts Exchange.

It’s the perfect chance to explore the Gateway Arts District. Many businesses are rolling out the holiday red carpet. Stop by open artists’ studios at the Washington Glass School and Portico Gallery and Studios and shop more markets at spots including miXt Food Hall and Material Things.

Empowered Women International Holiday Market

📅 Dec. 10, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
📍 Silver Spring Civic Building (1 Veterans Plaza, Silver Spring, Maryland)
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Support local female entrepreneurs at the Empowered Women International Holiday Market. Many participating businesses are owned by Black, Latina and/or immigrant women.

Annapolis Holiday Market 

📅 Dec. 7, 4-10 p.m.; Dec. 8-Dec. 9, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Dec. 10, 11 a.m.- 5 p.m.
📍 1 Dock St., Annapolis, Maryland
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Take a quick trip for four days of holiday shopping and live entertainment along the Annapolis waterfront.

If you make the trip to Annapolis on Saturday, check out the dazzling Eastport Light Parade in the waters of Annapolis Harbor from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Virginia holiday markets

Old Town Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Show

📅 Dec. 9, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
📍 John Carlyle Square (300 John Carlyle St., Alexandria, Virginia)
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Grab a gift for your loved ones from one of more than 110 local small businesses selling giftable items, ranging from baked goods to jewelry.

PAST EVENTS:

D.C.

Chanukah Holiday Market

📅 Nov. 28, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
📍 EDCJCC (1529 16th St. NW)
💲 $7
🔗 Details

Hosted by the Edlavitch D.C. Jewish Community Center, this holiday market will feature a diverse set of vendors, plus classes demonstrating how to make olive oil cake and dried flower keepsakes for an additional fee ($30).

EDCJCC recommends buying tickets online in advance so you don’t have to wait in line at the door.

Heurich House Chriskindlmarkt

📅 Dec.1 to Dec. 3
📍 Heurich House Museum (1307 New Hampshire Ave. NW)
💲 $2 (children), $12 (adults)
🔗 Details

This German-style market in the garden of a castle-style is supporting the Heurich House’s small business development program this year. The three-day event will feature more than 50 vendors.

Native Art Market

📅 Dec. 2-3, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
📍 Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details

Indigenous artists from the western hemisphere will be selling beadwork, jewelry, paintings, photography, pottery and sculpture in the museum’s atrium.

Violinist QVLN and DJ Sunny Z will provide a soundtrack for your holiday shopping.

Dupont Circle Holiday Pop-up

📅 Dec. 2, 12 p.m.-5 p.m. (rain date Dec. 3)
📍 Historic Dupont Circle main streets (9 Dupont Circle NW)
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Walk along Connecticut Avenue NW, P Street, 17th Street and 18th Street as local stores run special pop-ups outside selling pottery, wood crafts, bath and beauty supplies, jewelry and more.

A couple of highlights include the Ìpàdé Holiday Market featuring Black women-owned businesses (1734 20th St. NW) and Dupont Underground’s annual bazaar (entrance along Dupont Circle between Connecticut Avenue and 19th Street).

You can also take pictures with Santa, with proceeds benefitting the Humane Rescue Alliance, at the Washington Hilton on Connecticut Avenue.

Need something sweet or a freshly cut tree? The Ross Elementary PTA will host a Christmas tree sale, bake sale and festival at 1730 R St. NW.

Carolers, hot chocolate and popcorn will be in Dupont Circle’s park for a cheery break from shopping.

Van Ness Holiday Pop-up

📅 Dec. 2, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
📍 4320 Connecticut Ave. NW
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Van Ness Main Street will host its annual pop-up shop event, featuring more than 40 local artisans and a holiday hunt for prizes. The Singing Capital Chorus, an a cappella group, will perform from 1 to 2 p.m.

House of Sweden Holiday Market

📅 Dec. 2, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry at 4 p.m.)
📍 House of Sweden (2900 K St. NW)
💲 $10-$15
🔗 Details

This Swedish market hosted by the Embassy of Sweden is the perfect place to try traditional treats while shopping from vendors selling ornaments, Swedish glass, books, decor and more.

You can save a few dollars by purchasing tickets before Nov. 27. After that, attendees must pay Eventbrite’s processing fees.

After the market, you can watch the Swedish Lucia celebration. According to Sweden.se, it’s a December tradition when children in long white gowns sing songs and carry candles. It’s free to attend.

Cleveland Park Winter Market

📅 Dec. 2, 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
📍 3400 block of Connecticut Ave. NW
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Shop a wide selection of gifts and enjoy the holiday lights strung along Connecticut Avenue NW at this market.

Winter Festival at the National Arboretum

📅 Dec. 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
📍 The National Arboretum’s New York Avenue parking lot
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Shop local vendors and enjoy free holiday-themed activities for the whole family, including nature-based crafts and face painting. You can get into the festival through the R Street entrance (2400 R St. NE) or the New York Avenue entrance (3501 New York Ave. NE).

The event is hosted by Friends of the National Arboretum. The group will hold a Christmas tree sale on Saturday during the festival, as well as the following Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Trees are available for preorder; they can be picked up or delivered.

Holiday Market at The Parks

📅 Dec. 2, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
📍 Marketplace Plaza at The Parks (Georgia Avenue and Dahlia Street NW)
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Carolers, a 30-foot holiday tree, crafts and sweet treat giveaways will make this market at The Parks at Walter Reed extra special (plans for firepits have been sidelined for this year).

The market is partnering with Housing Up, an organization supporting homeless and at-risk families during their 2023 gift drive. Patrons can bring a gift from Housing Up’s wish list to the market or make a donation.

Union Station Holiday Market

📅 Thurs., Dec. 7 to Sun., Dec. 10, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
📍 Union Station Main Hall
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details

Walk through Union Station’s ornate main hall and shop from artisanal vendors offering art, vintage clothing, crafts, jewelry and more.

Union Station is lighting its huge holiday tree on Thursday, Dec. 7, and its Menorah on Sunday, Dec. 10, so you can soak in the festive lights and grab a selfie after browsing.

Columbia Heights Tree Lighting & Market

📅 Dec. 8, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
📍 Columbia Heights Civic Plaza (1400 Park Road NW)
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Located in the heart of Columbia Heights, this market offers shopping from small business vendors, plus a tree lighting ceremony, live music and family-friendly programming from 5 to 7 p.m.

Holiday Bazaar & Day Party for a Cause

📅  Sat., Dec. 9, 3-7 p.m.
📍 Westin DC City Center (1400 M St., Northwest D.C.)
💲 $100+
🔗 Details

A day party where you can holiday shop and help out worthy causes is a slam dunk in our book. Bonus points for its hosts, News4’s own Shawn Yancy and her nonprofit Girls’ Night Out, and all our other NBC friends participating including Doug Kammerer, Tommy McFly, Adam Tuss, Molette Green and Chuck Bell.

When you’re not walking in on the pink carpet or browsing from 20 curated boutiques, enjoy day party festivities including a celebrity fashion show and a Iive auction. Tickets come with signature cocktails and food.

Proceeds will provide new winter coats, hats, gloves, and hundreds of new Christmas toys to children in the D.C. area, Shawn says.

Mt. Pleasant Holiday Market

📅 Sun., Dec. 10, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
📍 Lamont Plaza
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Peruse dozens of vendors on Mount Pleasant Street and Lamont Plaza, bring kids to visit Santa and make cards for hospitalized kids at the Mt. Pleasant Artists Collective’s event.

Maryland

Sparkle Mart: Juried Art and Craft Fair

📅 Sat. and Sun., Dec. 2-3
📍 Greenbelt Community Center (Greenbelt Community Center. 15 Crescent Road, Greenbelt, Maryland)
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details

Nearly 80 local artists and artisans will offer handmade gifts, including clothes, toys, prints, housewares and even seasonings.

On Saturday, the market will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Go early for the youth craft sale (10 a.m. to noon) and a Santa visit, or 1-3 p.m. for live music from Seth Kibel and Friends. Shoppers can also enter a free drawing for a chance to win $50 in Art Bucks.

Sunday’s hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the Greenbelt Farmers Market will be outside until 2 p.m.

College Park Winter Wonderland Holiday Market and Tree Lighting

📅 Sat., Dec. 2, 4-8 p.m.
📍 Plaza at City Hall, College Park, Maryland
💲 Free
🔗 Details

While you’re not browsing Made in Maryland vendors, explore the festival including live music, carolers, arts and crafts and a petting zoo.

The festival leads up to an appearance by Santa at 5 p.m. before the holiday tree lighting ceremony at 7:30 p.m.

Food and drink vendors will be on hand to fuel your holiday outing.

Silver Spring Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Fair

📅 Dec. 3, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
📍 Veterans Plaza (1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring, Maryland)
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Silver Spring’s holiday market will have arts and crafts, baked goods, jewelry and more for everyone on your gift list. More than 80 vendors are expected to attend, organizers say.

Virginia

37th Annual Holiday Craft Show

📅 Nov. 18-19
📍 Fairfax High School (3501 Lion Run, Fairfax, Virginia)
💲 $5 (one day)/$8 (two-day pass); free for those 18 and under
🔗 Details

Crafters from across the United States will be selling gourmet foods, jewelry, fragrances, home decor, woodworking and more at Fairfax’s holiday craft market that’s been going since 1987. Families can also get photos with Santa from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Here’s a map of this year’s festival, and here’s a list of vendors.

Limited parking is available at Fairfax High School. On Saturday, you also have the option of parking at Willow Wood Plaza and taking a shuttle. The shuttles will begin running at 9:45 a.m., and the last one departs Fairfax High School at 5:30 p.m.

Black Friday Holiday Market

You can head to Springfield Mall on Black Friday and still support smaller local businesses. Empower Me Events Group is set to host more than 30 vendors selling crafts, health and beauty supplies and more.

McLean Holiday Art & Crafts Festival

📅 Dec.1-Dec. 3
📍 McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean, Virginia)
💲 $5 (general admission); free for children under 12
🔗 Details

This three-day indoor festival is set to feature more than 80 regional artisans. Shoppers can pick up lunch or drinks from the on-site café.

Fairfax City Holiday Market

📅 Dec. 1-3 and Dec. 8-10
📍 Old Town Square
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Enjoy live music and dance while shopping from local vendors. The list of vendors will vary between the two weekends, so you can make a return trip if you don’t complete your gift shopping at first.

The market is set to be open 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays, noon to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

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The bad news: If you planned to say goodbye to the pandas at the National Zoo this weekend… well, they’ve already left D.C. and landed safely in China.

We’ll miss Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their offspring Xiao Qi Ji. But we still have the photos, the memories, Tommy’s giant farewell card and our next obsession, Basil the one-eyed Virginia rescue opossum.

We have good news, too! We’ve got many ways to soothe your soul and fill your weekend: patriotic concerts for Veterans Day, delicious food for Pupusa Day, sparkling celebrations for Diwali, plus a bunch of Christmas markets so you can start your holiday shopping.

Saturday will have pleasant, if cool, weather for hiking, and all National Park Service entry fees will be waived for Veterans Day.

Here’s what else to do in D.C. this weekend.

Eastern Market 150th Anniversary

📅 Fri. to Sun.
📍 Southeast D.C.
🔗 Details

The mother of all D.C. food halls will host a weekend of special events in honor of its 150th birthday.

Novemberfest on Friday from 6-9 p.m. is a 21+ fundraiser featuring limited edition Atlas Brew Works beer and live music from the Rock Creek Kings. Tickets cost $25 and include one food/beverage ticket.

Daytime festivities continue on Saturday and Sunday with live music on stage at 7th Street and North Carolina Avenue SE.

You’ll also find a wide range of family-friendly activities including a silhouette artist, walking tours, Washington Commanders cheerleaders and a butcher’s demo on breaking down a chicken (just in time for Thanksgiving).

See Huntley from “The Voice” perform in Fredericksburg

A singer from Fredericksburg, Virginia, is making a a big impression on NBC’s “The Voice.” 

And this weekend, you have three chances to see Huntley perform live on his home turf.

Catch him at three venues in Fredericksburg:

• 6 Bears & A Goat Brewing Company: Thurs., 6-7 p.m.
• Castiglia’s Italian Restaurant: Fri., 8-10 p.m.
• Billiken’s Smokehouse: Sun., 1-3 p.m.

Then, tune in to “The Voice” on Mondays and Tuesdays on NBC4.

Comedian PT Bratton filming “You’re Welcome for My Service” comedy show

📅 Sat., 7:30 p.m.
📍 Veterans Growing America at Potomac Town Center in Woodbridge, Virginia
💲 Donation based on Indiegogo
🔗 Details

PT Bratton, an Air Force veteran, is sharing his humor to help people laugh through tough situations in a comedy show called “You’re Welcome for My Service” this Veterans Day weekend. The show is set to be filmed for Bratton’s first comedy special.

Veterans Day

📅 Sat.

Veterans Day on Saturday is a chance to thank and celebrate all those who have served in the U.S. Military.

• The U.S. Navy Band will perform at the MLK Jr. Memorial Library on Friday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
• Over at National Harbor, active and retired military members can ride the Capital Wheel for free if they show a military ID.
• Mount Vernon will give free admission to all active duty, former or retired military personnel on Veterans Day.
• The National Museum of the American Indian will host a festival on Saturday afternoon, and veterans are invited to have refreshments in the museum’s hospitality center from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Many nationwide retailers will also offer giveaways to servicemembers.

Here’s our full roundup of ways to observe Veterans Day in the D.C. area.

Celebrate Diwali

Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, is among the most important holidays in India and culminates on Sunday.

It’s also one of the biggest festivals held at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir spiritual center in Beltsville.

Expect luminous lights, sweets and good food, then fireworks Sunday night. If you can’t make it this weekend, there will be a kids’ Diwali celebration next Saturday (11/18). The temple tells us it’s free and open to the public; here’s more info.

At VisArts in Rockville, the whole family can enjoy Diwali crafts for $5 per person on Saturday.

Want to celebrate Diwali in Virginia? National Landing’s Water Park plans to host dancing, a DJ, sparklers and more from 6-9 p.m. Friday.

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National Harbor tree lighting and fireworks

📅 Sat.
📍 National Harbor
💲 Tree lighting is free
🔗 Details

National Harbor will light up its 60-foot LED Christmas tree for the first time on Saturday at 5:30 p.m., followed by fireworks. If you miss Sunday’s event, Christmas tree light shows will happen nightly and you can watch fireworks at 5:30 p.m. every Saturday through Dec. 30.

On Saturday, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be visiting the Capital Wheel for some extra magical holiday memories. Rides cost $13.50 for children and $17 for adults.

Holiday markets this weekend

Ready to start your holiday and hostess shopping? Not only can you shop and sip a cocktail at Tysons Corner Center now, you can find plenty of holiday markets around.

In Virginia:

Northern Virginia Christmas Market
Fri., Sat. and Sun., Dulles Expo Center, $8

In Maryland:

Strathmore Museum Shop Holiday Market
Thurs. to Sun., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, free, suggested $10 donation

Holiday Makers Market
Sat. and Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Grand Corner Avenue in Rio Lakefront, Gaithersburg, free entry

Here Come the Holidays Art Market
Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., The Arts Barn and Kentlands Mansion (311 and 320 Kent Square Road in Gaithersburg), free admission

Danish Christmas Bazaar
Sat., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saint Elizabeth’s Church (917 Montrose Road, Rockville), free
FYI: Cash or check only for purchases

Sunday is Pupusa Day

In El Salvador, the second Sunday of November is known as Pupusa Day, a delicious party for the crispy and cheesy Salvadoran national dish.

Pupusas are an important dish to D.C., too, where the area’s large Salvadoran population has fueled and fed the city’s hunger for pupusas since the ‘80s.

El Tamarindo is not just celebrating Pupusa Day. They’re in the middle of Pupusa Week, collaborating with other chefs on limited edition items like vegan, soul food, pastrami and teriyaki pupusas. It culminates Sunday in the Pupusas for the People Party with all-you-can-eat pupusas, a rum tasting, music, dance, kid-friendly activities and more. Tickets cost $25.

Another option is at the La Cosecha food hall in NoMa. La Casita Pupuseria will have live music and pupusa stickers all weekend. All month, sales of their horchata coffee cocktail will benefit the Latino Economic Development Center.

Concerts in DC this weekend

Codeine, 8 p.m. Friday, Black Cat, $25

Pioneering slowcore band reunited to tour its 1992 LP “Dessau,” which didn’t get released until last year. The plodding pace adds real weight to some very dark music. Details.

Rod Wave, 8 p.m. Sunday, Capital One Arena, $200+ (as of Friday morning)

Known for bringing a soulful voice to instrumentally-backed raps, Rod Wave rounds out his tour with openers Ari Lennox, Toosii and EElmatic. Details.

More things to do in Washington DC

Exhibit: Khalid Thompson “Chromatic Rhythms”
Through 11/30, Rhizome DC, free
Opening reception Sat.

HBCU First LOOK Film Festival 2023
Fri., Howard University, $30+

CRY ABOUT IT: Taylor Swift vs Olivia Rodrigo DJ Night
Fri., Union Stage, $20

Rock the Core Cider and Beer Festival
Sat., 2-4:30 p.m., Hook Hall, $24.99

The-Dream show
Sun., noon, Songbyrd (Northeast D.C.), $19.32 (including fees)

Mooncake Workshop
Sun., 6:30 p.m., La Cosecha @ The Union Market District, $75

More things to do in Maryland

Big Dill: World’s Largest Pickle Party
Fri. to Sun., Power Plant Live in Baltimore, $14.99-$38.99

“Fiddler on the Roof” at Olney Theater
Opens Weds., runs through 12/31, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, $35-$101

PRJC Presents: The Seth Kibel Quintet featuring Flo Anito
Sun., 1:30-4:30 p.m., Rosensteel Hall in Silver Spring, $22.50 (nonmembers), free for students with ID

Paranormal Cirque (ages 13+)
Thurs. to Sun., Waldorf, $20-$60
FYI: Attendees aged 13 to 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian over 21

More things to do in Virginia

Taylor Tomlinson: The Have It All Tour
Weds. to Sat., Capital One Hall in Tysons, $29.75+

Alexandria Film Festival
Fri. to Sun., various locations, free screenings on Friday; screenings $15

Revolutionary War Day
Sat., 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., George Mason’s Gunston Hall in Lorton, $10

Arlington Hard Cider & Doughnut Fest
Sat., Arlington Rooftop Bar and Grill, $21.99-$28.99

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The Michelin Guide held its annual award ceremony in New York on Tuesday, an event that has been held in D.C. in recent years. A one star equals “high quality cooking, worth a stop,” according to a release from the Michelin Guide. 

“The Michelin Guide inspection team is delighted [to] add the international flavors of Causa and Rania to the Washington selection of Starred establishments,” the International Director of the Michelin Guides, Gwendal Poullennec said in a release. “These world-class restaurants blend tradition with innovation to deliver a delicious meal and memorable experience.”

Causa is a Peruvian tasting counter by Chef Carlos Delgado in Shaw’s Blagden Alley. The Michelin Guide said the tasting menu, “takes diners on a journey of flavors inspired by the topography of Peru.”

Rania, a fine dining Indian spot in Penn Quarter, received a star for its “inventive” menu, the guide said. 

“Thank you @michelinguide 🙏🥂 Rania and Chef Chetan Shetty are honored to receive one Michelin star this year,” Rania wrote on Instagram.

In addition, four D.C. hospitality professionals were honored with special awards:

• Daniel Todd, The Dabney, Michelin Exceptional Cocktails Award
• Sarah Thompson, Queen’s English, Michelin Sommelier Award
• Ryan Ratino, Jônt, Michelin Young Chef Award
• Giuseppe Formica, Fiola, Michelin Outstanding Service Award 

Chef Ratino said in a release he is honored that Jônt retained its stars and “will always have our eye on a third star!”

The Michelin Guide has awarded stars to 25 restaurants in the D.C. area. Here’s a full list of the delicious restaurants.

Earlier this month, the Michelin Guide released its new Bib Gourmand selections, including two stops perfect for breakfast lovers.

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The White House Historical Association hopes to provide answers to some of those questions when it opens The People’s House: A White House Experience, in the fall of 2024.

Situated on three floors of a building at Pennsylvania Avenue and 17th Street NW – a block from the White House – the $30 million educational center will use cutting-edge technology to teach the public about the storied executive mansion and its history.

“This will be a technology-rich, immersive experience where you will actually go into spaces and, due to the miracles of modern technology, those spaces will become White House rooms around you,” Stewart McLaurin, the association’s president, told The Associated Press before the project was announced to the public on Friday.

The center will feature a large cutaway model of the White House with rooms that, with the help of technology, can morph into the Green Room, the Blue Room or the Red Room. A full-scale replica of the Oval Office will reflect the incumbent president’s décor. A recreation of the Rose Garden will offer the experience of strolling through its blooms.

Upstairs galleries will allow visitors to experience the Cabinet Room, the State Dining Room and the movie theater. Another gallery will teach about the many unseen people — ushers, chefs, florists, butlers, housekeepers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters — who care for the White House and keep it functioning in its multiple roles as a home for the president and his family, an office for the president and his staff, a ceremonial stage and a museum.

People will also learn about the slave labor that went into building the White House.

McLaurin said The People’s House is meant to be a free enhancement for people who tour the White House, but it also will be an option for those who are unable to land a tour ticket.

“When you have a tour of the White House, as wonderful as that is, because it is a working home and office, those are rather limited and you go through and you see the spaces and you have the experience of being there,” he said. “But you’re not able to linger there to really understand what happened in this space.”

Plans for The People’s House were revealed to donors attending the association’s premiere fundraising gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on Thursday. First lady Jill Biden praised the project before the crowd at the private event, which was also attended by actors Michael Douglas and Martin Sheen. Both have played presidents on TV and film.

“At its core, this project is about education,” she said. “Teaching our students about our country’s origins, bringing to life the countless people who shaped it and who made the White House into the beating heart of our democracy.”

“As an educator, I believe that our present and our future are inextricably linked to our past,” she continued. “And when we learn from the past, we come away changed, not just better informed, but with a deeper understanding of the responsibility we hold as citizens of this country, a responsibility to each other, to our democracy and to upholding our freedoms.”

“I think that’s needed now more than ever, at a time when our institutions are increasingly under attack, and some of our leaders seem intent on burying our history,” Biden added.

The center will be open seven days a week, McLaurin said.

The association is privately funded so “people can come to our experience even if the government has to close for whatever situation arises,” he said.

About 500,000 people visit the White House yearly, McLaurin said. He said he hopes the new center will attract even more visitors than that.

Besides the $30 million construction cost, the association is raising an additional $50 million for an endowment to fund operations, he said.

The center will also incorporate a feature that the association has long wanted: an educational wing with classroom space for up to 200 students.

The White House Historical Association was created in 1961 by first lady Jacqueline Kennedy to help preserve the museum quality of the interior of the White House and educate the public. It is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that receives no government funding. It raises money mostly through private donations and sales of retail merchandise.

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While fall is winding down with festivals and pumpkin chucking, there are signs that winter is coming, including that Reston Town Center’s ice rink opens on Friday!

If you’ve been following our quest to find D.C.’s Next Animal Obsession (more than 155,000 voters were cast in!), we have big news.

Basil the one-eyed Virginia opossum has gone from the bottom of the heap to king of the News4 Zoo Bracket.

It’ll be a fantastic weekend to visit the zoo with mild temps and dry weather. And you have less than two weeks to go before the pandas will depart the National Zoo for China, so make sure to visit our new unofficial mascot Basil in the Small Mammal House.

Here’s what else you can do this weekend around the D.C. area.

Adams Morgan Fall PorchFest

📅 Sat., 2-6 p.m.
💲 Free
🔗 Details

After a rain delay, Adams Morgan PorchFest is finally set to happen Saturday. Stop by dozens of performances on front porches and two main stages while roaming 18th Street NW, which will be closed to cars between Columbia and Kalorama Roads NW.

AdMo BID has a handy Google Map to help you find the music and local bars and restaurants offering discounts if you show your PorchFest wristband. Pick up your free wristband at the Truist Bank plaza or inside the pedestrian zone at 2424 18th Street NW.

Día De Los Muertos Unidos Benefit Festival

📅 Sat.
📍 Downtown D.C.
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Día de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday that honors the dead, and this festival invites people of all backgrounds to celebrate.

On Saturday from 1-3 p.m. in Franklin Park, people will gather for face painting, performance and dance before the calavera (skull) parade down 14th Street. The festival continues at the Washington Monument grounds for the rest of the evening.

More for Day of the Dead:

Visit a traditional altar at The Mexican Cultural Institute in Columbia Heights or Dupont Underground’s Mágica Muerte exhibit.

Chuck your pumpkins

📍 Various locations

Say bye-bye to spooky season with some spectacular pumpkin smashing, launching and dropping.

There’s enough pumpkin destruction for Saturday and Sunday activities at Cox Farms in Centreville ($10-$25) and Great Country Farms in Bluemont ($12-$18).

While the Christmas season is coming in hot like cocoa, you can still find fall festival fun at Montpelier Farms in Upper Marlboro (general admission is $19 on weekends) and Pumpkin Village at Leesburg Animal Park ($17.95-$22.95).

DC Beer Fest

📅 Sat., noon to 3 p.m. and 5-8 p.m.
📍 Nationals Park
💲 $50 (GA)/$90 (VIP)
🔗 Details

The Nationals may be done for the season, but you can still spend an afternoon in the ballpark sampling from more than 80 breweries in Nats Park to a soundtrack from dueling pianos, DJs and cover bands.

True baseball fans can upgrade to VIP to access the warning tracks and dugouts, plus test out their batting skills with live pitching.

Note that Nationals Park security policies will be in effect. Any bag larger than a 5 by 7-inch clutch must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC. No one under 21 may enter the park.

Concerts this weekend

Cory Hanson, 7 p.m. Saturday, Songbyrd, $15/$17

The Wand frontman’s guitar-driven third solo LP is heavily influenced by ‘70s rock, though not as psychedelic as his other band. Details. 

Mo Lowda & The Humble, 8 p.m. Saturday, Black Cat, $20/$25

Often branded as “alternative” or “indie,” this Philly band is grounded in traditional rock with ambitious songwriting and soulful vocals. Details.

Tortoise, 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Black Cat, $30

The kings of post-rock. The mesmerizing instrumental quintet has been blending krautrock, jazz and dub for decades, blazing the trail for a quintessential ‘90s Chicago sound. Go get lost. Details. 

Things to do in D.C.

Double Exposure Investigative Film Festival
Through Sun., screenings at MLK Jr. Memorial Library and Edlavitch DCJCC, $12 (individual screenings)/$65-$275 (festival passes)

Side Yards
Fri., 5:30 p.m., The Yards Park, free

Celebrity Memoir Book Club (live podcast)
Fri., Howard Theatre, $35

Czech Christmas Market
Sat., Embassy of the Czech Republic in Northwest D.C., free but tickets required

WABA’s The Cider Ride
Sat., begins and ends at metrobar, $60-$80 (adult)

Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington DC: Selfies fall cabaret
Sat., 2 p.m. (ASL), 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., Keegan Theatre in Northwest D.C., $40.50-$45

Iliza Shlesinger (standup comedy)
Sat., DAR Constitution Hall, $37 (before fees)

Black Hole Symphony
Sun., National Academy of Sciences in Northwest D.C., free

Things to do in Maryland

Alex Purdy’s “Preseason Training” Album Release show
Fri., 8 p.m., Walt Whitman Basketball Gymnasium

Maryland Corn Maze: Bring Your Dog weekend
Sat. and Sun., Gambrills, $16.95-$17.95

Crochet coffee sleeve giveaway
Sat., 10 a.m., Bump ‘n Grind Coffee Shop in Silver Spring, free

Taylor Swift Eras Night: The Finale
Sat., Elk Run Vineyards in Mount Airy, $20

The Washington Chorus and National Philharmonic: Anhelos Universales (Universal Longings)
Sun., 3 p.m., The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, $19+

Things to do in Virginia

1000 Miglia Warm-Up USA
Thurs. to Sun., Middleburg, free

Reston Town Center Ice Skating Pavilion
Opens Fri.,  $9 (youth, senior, military), $11 (adult), $7 (skate rentals) 

Chocolate Binge at the Chocolate Factory: River-Sea Chocolates Anniversary Party
Sat., noon to 5 p.m., Chantilly, $8

Purcellville Artisan Tour
Sat. and Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., free

Sushi Workshop
Sun., 4-6 p.m., Hank’s Oyster Bar Old Town Alexandria, $64

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Bib Gourmand restaurants offer high-quality meals at a good value.

D.C. is famously a brunch-loving town, but the two additions are both perfect stops for breakfast lovers.

La Tejana in Mount Pleasant is described as quick and efficient, offering a singular satisfaction: Texas-style breakfast tacos.

Each taco is made with a superb flour tortilla with fillings such as soft scrambled eggs, creamy pinto beans, queso, bacon, chorizo and even brisket.

Everything is made from scratch, co-founder Ana-Maria Jaramillo told News4’s Food Fare.

Jaramillo, who grew up on both sides of the Texas-Mexico, said she wanted to share her favorite food with her new community.

“Breakfast tacos are a way of life. It’s like church,” she said.

Yellow in Georgetown also made the cut. Chef and owner Michael Rafidi’s causal spot offers Levantine dishes from a wood-burning oven. But don’t miss the amazing pastries.

Yellow’s first location opened in Navy Yard in 2020, and chef Michael Rafidi plans to open a Union Market outpost in 2024, according to their website.

D.C. boasts 35 Bib Gourmand restaurants, including Laos in Town, Kaliwa, Unconventional Diner and Honeymoon Chicken.

Michelin’s full list of Bib Gourmands and starred restaurants is set to be released next week.

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The event will feature musical performances before the live Christmas tree lights up the night on Thursday, Nov. 30 at President’s Park (also known as the Ellipse), just south of the White House. The guest list and host haven’t been announced yet.

As usual, free tickets to the ceremony will be available through a lottery system, which opened Wednesday at 10 a.m. You can enter any time until Nov. 8 at 3 p.m.

To enter the lottery, visit recreation.gov and click/tap “TICKET LOTTERY” or call 877-444-6777, the National Park Service said. Lottery winners will be notified on Nov. 15.

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Important dates to know about the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony:

• Nov. 1: Free ticket lottery opened at 10 a.m. ET
• Nov. 8: Free ticket lottery closes at 3 p.m. ET
• Nov. 15: Lottery results will be announced
• Nov. 30: National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
• Dec. 2: The National Christmas Tree site opens to the public
• Dec. 15: CBS Network will broadcast the National Christmas Tree Lighting special at 8 p.m. ET

Last year was the ceremony’s 100th anniversary. The ceremony was first introduced by President Calvin Coolidge in 1923.

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Happy birthday month, Scorpios!

We went trick-or-treating for things to do, tossed out the candy corn and found 50+ king-sized goodies for a Halloweekend that’s boo-zy, adventurous or kid-friendly.

But first, some (heart) breaking news: Make your plans (and reserve your zoo passes) to say goodbye to the pandas.

🐼 We’ve just learned that Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and Xiao Qi Ji are heading back to China by mid-November.

We’ll deeply miss D.C.’s unofficial mascots. The weather is getting colder, and we all need something fuzzy to hold onto…

So, we’re back to the question that will hopefully warm your hearts: Who will be D.C.’s Next Animal Obsession?

Give it up for our finalists, Acadia the bald eagle and Basil the one-eyed Virginia opossum!

The final round of voting is open now at nbcwashington.com/zoo. 📱 Follow us on Instagram and check our stories on your Friday afternoon coffee break so you can cast an extra vote.

Halloween highlights

For a devilishly fired-up night out, try these spooky spirits, haunted bars and ‘boo-zy’ Halloween parties, spanning events including:

• Go back to the ‘80s with The Legwarmers in Falls Church (Fri., $25) or the ‘90s with Uncle Jesse at Hi Lawn (Sat., $5).
• Rooftop + full moon vibes will be served at The Morrow: Apocalypse on the Rooftop (Sat., $20).

Add a little color to your Halloweekend by checking out these unique experiences, including:

• Rorschach Theatre’s immersive Night of the Living Dead (you might see a familiar face!) in an empty retail space near Farragut Square (Pay-what-you-can previews on Fri., Sat. and Sun.).
• What’s scarier: A dirty ride or the Car Wash of Doom? You decide at four Northern Virginia locations (Thurs. Fri., Sat., $15-$30).
• DC Improv’s Gagsters & Dragsters Halloween-themed drag brunch (Sunday, $20 plus two-item minimum).

Here are 20+ purely sweet activities for kids. A couple of highlights:

• A “Hocus Pocus” screening on Thursday in NoMa will be a treat for any age – and kids will love the pop-up pumpkin patch with over 1,000 free gourds (free).
• The whole coven can enjoy pumpkin painting and tarot readings at metrobar’s DC Witchfest (Sat.) and Calico (Sun.).

Marine Corps Marathon Weekend

📅 Events all weekend; marathon run begins Sunday at 7:55 a.m.
📍 Arlington and D.C.
💲 Free to watch
🔗 Details

Nicknamed “The People’s Marathon,” this 26.2-mile race is one of the largest marathons in the world. More than 23,000 runners from all 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico and 63 countries are registered to run in the 48th Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday.

If you’re not running with the Marines, you can still cheer on the athletes in Arlington, Georgetown and near the National Mall.

Anyone is welcome to stop by non-running events including the MCM Health and Fitness Expo (Fri., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.) and The Rosslyn Finish Festival (Sun., 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

For our best advice on where to watch the MCM, see our complete guide to the 2023 Marine Corps Marathon. It also has transportation pro tips for both runners and spectators. Be prepared for road closures!

Washington International Horse Show

📅 Through Sun.
📍 Showplace Arena in Upper Marlboro
💲 Here’s ticket info

More than 500 of the top horses and riders from around the world are in Prince George’s County for a week of jumping, ponies and family fun in a tradition that’s been around since 1958.

Families can go for free on WIHS Kids’ Day (Sat., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) with chances to hang out with ponies and do crafts.

On Sunday, you could see jumpers riding in Halloween costumes.

Here’s the full schedule.

Fall Foliage Flights

📅 Sat. and Sun.
📍 Culpeper Regional Airport
💲 $125+
🔗 Details

There are many places to see fall foliage for free, but the Fall Foliage Flights out of Culpeper Airport are a once-in-a-lifetime experience for aviation history buffs.

Planes will be provided by the Capital Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. You can purchase rides online, or at the airport if they don’t sell out.

On the ground (and at no cost!), you can explore a hangar filled with historic machines and a reenactment of life as a WWII soldier.

Glow in the Park 

📅 Oct. 27-28, 6-11 p.m.
📍 The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring (16701 Norwood Road, Sandy Spring, Maryland)
💲 $59 ($20 for kids ages 5-6)
🔗 Details

What’s more thrilling than ziplining and climbing the night away? The Adventure Park is glowed up with neon lights and music for a night of Halloween-themed thrills.

Costumes are welcome, but hold off on capes, masks that cover your eyes and anything that could get in the way of safety.

If you miss this weekend’s Glow in the Park, there will be another on Nov. 17.

Best DC concerts this weekend

The North Country, 8 p.m. Thursday, DC9, $20

Experimental pop from here in D.C. The band has a reputation for high-energy, visually engaging live performances. Details. 

S.G. Goodman, 7 p.m. Saturday, Union Stage, $20

The roots-rockin’ singer-songwriter’s native Kentucky is all over her vocals and intimate storytelling. Details. 

Squirrel Flower, 7 p.m. Saturday, DC9, $18-$20

Somber indie-rocker from Chicago is back this month with a heavier, fuller LP — Ella Williams’ third. She delivers “witch rock,” as her Spotify profile calls it, and a Stevie vibe. Details. 

Vagabon, 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Atlantis, $20

The ever-evolving singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist delivers upbeat electro-pop on her third LP, September’s “Sorry I Haven’t Called.” Details. 

More things to do in D.C.

🎃 Pumpkin Palooza
Thurs., 4-7 p.m., Alethia Tanner Park, free
Red Bear Brewing beer garden open until 9 p.m.

Stadiumlinks
Fri. to Sun., Nationals Park, $84-$89

K-Pop Club Night
Fri., Union Stage (Southwest D.C.), $25

Nightmare in Navy Yard
Sat., Capital Turnaround (Southwest D.C.), $49.99-$79.99+

Adams Morgan Apple Festival & Pie Baking Contest
Sat., 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., free entry

DC Record Fair
Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Eaton DC (1201 H Street NW), free admission

More things to do in Maryland

Safe Harvest Festival
Sat., Municipal Building (5508 Arapahoe Drive, Forest Heights, Maryland), free

Fifteen and Fabulous: Supreme Chord acapella group benefit concert
Sat., 7-9 p.m., Church in Bethesda (5033 Wilson LaneBethesda, Maryland), $20 (advance)/$25 (door)

More things to do in Virginia

Rosslyn Live: Spooky Queens Drag Show
Thurs., 6:30-8 p.m., Gateway Park in Arlington, $10

Glow & Flow yoga
Fri., 7:30 p.m., Mind Your Body Oasis (underground Crystal City Shops in Arlington), $45

Howl-O-Ween
Fri., 3:30-5:30 p.m., Gateway Park in Arlington, free

Rock the Block Fairfax
Fri., 6:30-9:30 p.m., Old Town Square, free

The Barbie Truck
Sat., 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tysons Corner Center, merch costs $12-$75

Lucky Dog Animal Rescue’s Let’s Get Lucky Casino Night
Sat., 7-11 p.m., Sheraton Pentagon City, $125

Brews & Boos
Sat., Farm Brew Live in Manassas, free entry

Doggie Trick-or-Treating
Sun., Dogma Bakery in Shirlington (2772 S. Arlington Mill Dr., Arlington, Virginia, $20 per dog

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

Nicknamed “The People’s Marathon,” this 26.2-mile race is one of the largest marathons in the world. More than 23,000 runners from all 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico and 63 countries are registered to run in the 48th Marine Corps Marathon, organizers said in a release.

The weekend features multiple races, events and festivities for all ages.

Whether you’re joining in a race or there to cheer on the participants, read on for everything you need to know. 

MCM Weekend 2023 Races

• MCM Kids Run: This one-mile fun run will be held Saturday, Oct. 28 for kids ages 5-12. The event runs from 8 a.m. to noon, with nine start time options between 9:20 and 11:40 a.m. This event also features family-friendly games, entertainment and mascots. Registration is $15.
• MCM 50K: This race begins at 7:15 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 29 and runs the entire MCM course, with a 4.87-mile diversion at mile 4.5. It’s billed as “the largest ultramarathon in the country and the only one held entirely in an urban setting.”
• MCM 10K: This 6.2-mile journey begins at 7:50 a.m.
• MCM Wheel and Hand Cycle: This event begins at 7:50 a.m.
• MCM Duos: This event begins shortly after at 7:52 a.m.
• Marine Corps Marathon: The main event will kick off at 7:55 a.m. The sound of the Howitzer blasting off at the opening ceremony marks the beginning of the race. Runners will move through a scenic course, ending at the Marine Corps War Memorial Circle.

See the complete schedule for the entire MCM 2023 weekend here.

Non-running events on MCM Weekend 2023: 

At the MCM Health and Fitness Expo (Oct. 27, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Oct. 28, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.), you can pick up your racing packet (if you’re running) and explore multiple exhibits and booths. The event is free and open to participants, family members, friends, supporters, volunteers and the general public. Attendees will be able to sample healthy food, try out exercise equipment, test drive technology and explore recovery products. The expo will take place at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center across the river in National Harbor.

The MCM Hall of Fame Dinner (Oct. 27, 6 p.m.) will be held at the Doubletree by Hilton Washington D.C.-Crystal City. This event will honor the newest inductees into the MCM Hall of Fame. 

MCM Dining In (Oct. 28, 1-3 p.m.) at the Gaylord will offer runners a day-before meal to fuel them up for Sunday morning’s races. For $65, guests will be treated to a menu recommended by medical personnel and nutritionists. The event will also feature a special ceremony with a keynote speaker.

The Finish Festival (Oct. 29, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) will celebrate the completion of the MCM, MCM50K and the MCM10K. Located a short walk from the MCM finish line in the Rosslyn neighborhood of Arlington. The celebration will feature beer, food, music, giveaways and post-race services. You’ll find booths, giveaways and live music along N. Meade and N. Lynn streets, Fort Myer and Fairfax drives and Wilson Boulevard.

Marine Corps Marathon Oct 27, 2023

List: Road closures for the 2023 Marine Corps Marathon (including the Key Bridge)

Marine Corps Marathon Oct 26, 2023

‘Bigger than myself': Runner aided by Marine during Haiti earthquake prepares for 2023 Marine Corps Marathon

How to get to the Marine Corps Marathon via Metro, car or free shuttles

Metrorail will open early, at 5 a.m., for marathon day on Sunday, Oct. 29.

The start line for the MCM and MCM 50K is located at Runners’ Village in the Pentagon’s north parking lot. You can get there via the Pentagon Metro station on the Blue and Yellow lines.

Here’s how Marine Corps Marathon and MCM 50K participants can get to the starting line:

• Metro: Take the Blue or Yellow Line to the Pentagon Metro station. If you’re worried about crowding at that station, you can also get off at Crystal City or Pentagon City and walk a short distance to the MCM’s free shuttle.
• Shuttle: Participants can take a shuttle from 23rd Street S. and Crystal Drive to the Runners Village. The shuttle will run from 4:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. For the return trip, you can take a shuttle from the Finish Festival at Oak Street and Wilson Boulevard to 23rd Street S. and Crystal Drive in Crystal City. Return service will be available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There also will be shuttles to and from Gaylord National; those are open only to runners.
• Driving: Free parking is available in the underground lots at the intersection of 23rd Street S. and Crystal Drive, near the MCM shuttle stop.
• Drop-offs and rideshares: Runners may be dropped off at the Kiss and Run at Army Navy Drive and Fern Street.

Getting to the MCM 10K: There’s no designated parking location. MCM organizers recommend taking Metro to Archives-Navy Memorial Penn Quarter (Yellow and Green lines). L’Enfant Plaza (Yellow, Green, Blue and Orange lines) or the Smithsonian station (Blue, Orange and Silver lines) are also options.

Getting to the MCM Kids Run: Take Metro to the Pentagon station (Blue and Yellow lines), then take the free shuttle to the start line. The shuttle will run from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Getting to the Finish Festival: Anyone attending the festival is encouraged to take Metro to the Rosslyn station (Blue, Orange and Silver lines).

Getting to the MCM Health & Fitness Expo: If you’re attending the expo at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center, you can take free shuttles from the Eisenhower Avenue (Yellow Line) or Van Dorn Street (Blue Line) Metro stations in Northern Virginia across the river to National Harbor, Maryland. The shuttles will run from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Paid parking is available at the Gaylord National.

Best Metro stations for spectators: The Smithsonian station (Blue, Orange and Silver lines) in D.C. or the Crystal City station (Blue and Yellow lines) in Arlington will offer convenient access to spectator locations for the marathon. 

What’s the course map for the 2023 Marine Corps Marathon? 

The marathon takes runners from near the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, into Washington, D.C., along the National Mall and the monuments, and then back across the Potomac River to the Marine Corps War Memorial (known for its Iwo Jima statue) in Rosslyn.

Where to watch (and cheer on) Marine Corps Marathon runners

Are you looking to celebrate your friends and family? Bring some signs to the locations along the race course, where spectators can see their runners, in both Arlington and D.C.:

• MCM start line (Route 110 between Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia) — If you’re taking Metro, use the Rosslyn or Pentagon Metro station.
• Miles 10 and 16 (Lincoln Memorial in D.C.) — You can walk from the start line across Arlington Memorial Drive to the Lincoln Memorial.
• Miles 17-19 (National Mall in D.C.) – From the Lincoln Memorial, head east on Independence Avenue and past the Washington Monument on the National Mall
• Miles 22-23 (Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia) – Take Metro from the Smithsonian station and head to the Crystal City station. Your runner is almost done now!
• MCM finish line at the Marine Corps War Memorial – Finally, you’ll want to get to the Marine Corps War Memorial and the MCM finish line. Take Metro to Rosslyn or ride the MCM shuttle from 23rd Street S. in Crystal City. The finish line offers bleacher seating, where you can watch the final ascent and push to the finish. Plan to reunite with runners in the family link-up area at the Finish Festival in Rosslyn.

You can follow your runner’s progress in real time using the Track a Runner service on the MCM app and website. The virtual status reports will provide updates for one or more runners from various split locations and the finish line.

Spectators should remember to never cross the course and to steer clear of boundaries.

What’s the weather forecast for Marathon Day? 

High temperatures in the upper 70s are expected on Sunday.

If you’re running the 10K or Marine Corps Marathon, remember to stay hydrated over the next few days and especially on race day. This will be one of the warmest race days on record, Storm Team4 said.

Download the NBC Washington app and stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast.

What else should MCM runners know? 

Find an interactive version of the course map; pacing requirements; water food and aid locations, entertainment stations and lodging information online here.

Marine Corps Marathon road closures

Here’s the full list of road closures for the Marine Corps Marathon, according to the organizers.

Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023

6:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

• Boundary Channel Drive from N/S Connect Road to Route 110

Sunday, Oct. 30, 2023

3 a.m. to 11 a.m.

• Lynn Street from 19th Street N to Langston Boulevard
• Fort Myer Drive from 19th Street N to Langston Boulevard
• 19th Street North from Lynn Street to North Nash Street

3 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

• S Rotary Road from S Fern Street to N-S Connector

3 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• N/B HOT lanes from Seminary Road to 14th Street SW

3 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• N Oak Street from Clarendon Boulevard to 17th Street N
• N Kent Street from 1691 N Kent Street to Wilson Boulevard
• Route 27 East and West bound lanes from I-395 to U.S. Highway 50

3 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Marshall Drive from North Meade Street to Route 110
• North Meade Street from Marshall Drive to Lynn Street
• Marshall Drive from Route 110 to North Meade Street
• Route 110 from I-66 to U.S. Highway 1
• Wilson Boulevard from North Oak Street to Route 110
• Lynn Street from North Meade Street to 19th Street N
• Fort Myer Drive from North Meade Street to 19th Street N
• North Moore Street from Wilson Boulevard to 19th Street
• Nash Street from Key Boulevard to 17th Street N
• Fairfax Drive from N Pierce Street to Fort Myer Drive
• 17th Street N from N Oak Street to End
• Memorial Drive from Lincoln Circle to Arlington National Cemetery
• Washington Blvd from Columbia Pike to Memorial Circle
• Route 110 ramp from Washington Boulevard to Route 110
• Boundary Channel Drive from Route 110 to Long Bridge Drive
• South Eads Street from South Rotary Road to 12th Street South
• S Fern Street from S Rotary Road to 12th Street S
• Army Navy Drive from Hayes St South to 12th Street South

3 a.m. to 7 p.m.

• Marine Corps War Memorial Access Road

3:44 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Jefferson Drive SW from 3rd Street SW to 15th Street SW
• 7th Street NW from Constitution Ave NW to Independence Ave SW
• Madison Drive NW from 3rd Street NW to 15th St NW
• 4th Street NW from Constitution Ave NW to Independence Ave NW

5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

• Foxhall Road NW from MacArthur Boulevard NW to Canal Road NW
• Clark Place NW from Q Street NW to Canal Road NW
• Reservoir Road NW from MacArthur Blvd NW to Canal Road NW
• Arizona Ave NW from Carolina Pl NW to Canal Road NW
• Georgetown Canal Road Entrance
• Canal Road NW from M St NW to Chain Bridge Drive
• Francis Scott Key Bridge (all lanes)
• M Street NW from Canal Road NW to Wisconsin Avenue NW
• 35th Street NW from Prospect Place NW to M Street NW
• 34th Street NW from Prospect Place NW to Cady’s Alley
• Bank Alley from Prospect Place NW to M Street NW
• 33rd Street NW from Prospect Pl NW to C&O Canal
• Potomac Street NW from Prospect Pl NW to M Street NW
• Wisconsin Avenue from M Street NW to K Street NW
• Grace Street NW from Wisconsin Ave NW to 33rd Street NW

5:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

• 31st Street NW from Washington Harbor to South Street NW
• 30th Street NW from Washington Harbor to M Street NW *Exit maintained for Georgetown Suites
• 29th Street NW from K Street NW to M Street NW
• Whitehurst Freeway from M Street NW to K Street NW
• K Street NW from 34th Street NW to 25th Street NW
• 27th Street NW from K Street NW to I Street NW
• I Street NW from 27th Street NW to Virginia Ave NW
• E/B Langston Boulevard from North Kirkwood Road to N Lynn Street
• N Nash Street from E/B Langston Boulevard to Key Bridge
• N Rhodes Street from Key Boulevard to Langston Boulevard
• N Veitch Street from 19th Street N to Langston Boulevard
• W/B Spout Run Parkway, from Langston Boulevard to George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP)
• S/B GWMP ramp to Key Bridge
• N/B GWMP from I-395 to Spout Run Parkway
• Lorcom Lane from Spout Run Parkway to N Edgewood Road

5:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

• Fort Myer Drive from Key Bridge to Langston Boulevard
• Waterside Drive NW from Massachusetts Avenue NW to Rock Creek Parkway and Potomac Parkway NW

5:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

• Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway NW N/B to Beach Drive
• Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway NW S/B from Shoreham Drive NW
• Shoreham Drive NW S/B from Calvert Street to Rock Creek Parkway and Potomac Parkway NW
• Beach Drive NW from Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway NW to Calvert Street
• Virginia Avenue NW from New Hampshire Avenue NW to Rock Creek Parkway and Potomac Parkway NW

5:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

• F Street NW from New Hampshire Avenue NW to Rock Creek Parkway and Potomac Parkway NW
• 25th Street NW from F Street NW to Rock Creek Parkway and Potomac Parkway NW
• Rock Creek Parkway and Potomac Parkway NW from Beach and Shoreham Drives NW to Ohio Drive
• Parkway Drive closed from Rock Creek Parkway to Lincoln Circle
• 15th St S from S Eads Street to S Bell Street
• US Route 1 South from I-395 to 15th Street Exit

5:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• Independence Avenue SW from Maine Avenue SW to Ohio Drive

5:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.  

• East Basin Drive from Maine Avenue SW to Ohio Drive SW
• Buckeye Drive from I-395 ramps to Ohio Drive SW

5:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

• 1st Street from Constitution Avenue NW to Independence Avenue SW
• Pennsylvania Avenue NW from 3rd Street NW to 1st Street NW
• Maryland Avenue SW from 1st Street SW to 3rd Street SW
• Lincoln Circle from 23rd Street NW to 23rd Street SW
• West Basin Drive from Independence Avenue SW to Ohio Drive SW
• 17th Street from WWII Memorial to Independence Avenue SW
• Ohio Drive SW from East Basin Drive SW to 23rd Street NW

5:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.     

• Independence Avenue from 15th Street SW to 23rd Street SW
• Maine Avenue SW from East Basin Drive to Independence Avenue SW

5:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.     

• 15th Street from Constitution Avenue NW to Maine Avenue SW
• Independence Avenue from 4th Street SW to 15th Street SW
• 12th Street SW from Independence Avenue SW to Jefferson Drive SW
• 12th Street NW from Madison Drive NW to Constitution Avenue NW
• 14th Street NW/SW from Constitution Avenue NW to I-395

5:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• Long Bridge Drive from 12th Street to Boundary Channel Drive
• 10th Street S from Long Bridge Drive to S Ball Street
• S Ball Street from 10th Street S to 6th Street S
• 6th Street S from Long Bridge Drive to S Ball Street
• 12th Street from Eads Street to Crystal Drive
• Crystal Drive from 12th Street to S 23rd Street
• 15th Street S from S Bell Street to Crystal Drive
• 18th Street S from S Bell Street to Crystal Drive
• 20th Street S from S Bell Street to Crystal Drive
• Ft Myer Drive between Key Bridge and E/B Langston Boulevard

5:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.    

• N Nash Street between E/B and W/B Langston Boulevard

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Halloween is coming up on Tuesday, which means a full weekend of tricks and treats – plus more Barbie and Ken costumes than you can count (we bet). Get ready for the night of the living Barbie!

In our crystal ball, we see spooky craft cocktails in bars with haunted decor, drag brunches, chill crafting, cover bands and bar crawls for your weekend.

Beyond the boo-zy events below, we have more than 50 things to do in the D.C. area for any kind of Halloweekend.

• For an extra adventurous Halloween, you could go ziplining and climbing after dark, or explore a zombie-filled immersive theater experience.
• Do your little ghosts and goblins want to show off their costumes and get in an extra round of trick-or-treating? Here are 20+ things to do for Halloween with kids this weekend.
• These haunted houses in Maryland and Virginia will have you screaming.

Spooky spirits and bars to haunt

Black Lagoon at Troublebird

📅 Through Oct. 31
📍 1346 4th St SE, Washington, D.C.
🔗 Details

Navy Yard cocktail bar Trouble Bird has transformed into the Black Lagoon pop-up bar, complete with cobwebs and creepy craft cocktails. Astrology Tuesdays, Emo Wednesdays and Tarot Thursdays will give you thrills all week.

Chicken + Whiskey Spookeasy

📅 Ongoing
📍 1738 14th St NW, Washington, D.C.
💲 No cover charge
🔗 Details

Skeleton chickens and spider webs are haunting this spot to add to your DIY zombie crawl along 14th Street NW.

The Disco of the Dead on the weekend right before Halloween will have a live DJ, spooky cocktails and prizes for best costume.

Nightmare on the Avenue

📍 2312 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia
🔗 Details

Del Ray’s pop-up bar is getting spooky with its spirits, including a black cocktail dubbed the Death Eater Negroni. The food menu is spooky, too, with devilish eggs and nightmare nachos.

Halloween events in Washington, D.C.

HEIST

📅 Friday, Saturday and Tuesday
📍 1802 Jefferson Pl NW, Washington, D.C.
💲 No ticket required
🔗 Details

The black-light Glow Party on Friday, Heist Halloween on Saturday and All Hallow’s Eve party with Gud Vibes and Mark Azar will feature spooky drinks and decor. Costumes are encouraged!

Nightmare On M Street

📅 Sat., Oct. 28, 2-10 p.m.
📍 Dupont Circle
💲 $20 (general admission)
🔗 Details

The massive bar crawl is coming back to life for its 25th year. Your ticket will get you into many of Dupont’s biggest bars including Decades, Zebbie’s Garden and Blackfinn without a cover. You’ll still have to pay for any drinks or food. Drink specials include $3 Miller Lites, $4 shooters and $5 mixed drinks.

The Hip Hop Halloween Bar Crawl

📅 Sat., Oct. 28, 2-10 p.m.
📍 U Street Corridor (multiple venues)
💲 $15-$30
🔗 Details

Roll through the U Street area to a playlist of parties with different hip-hop soundtracks, from the ’90s Resurrected at Victory to the 2000s to now at Pure Lounge. Drink specials include $5 beers and spooky shots, $7 Jameson, $9 Titos and $11 Casamigos.

Hi Lawn’s Halloween Party With Uncle Jesse

📅 Sat., 5-10 p.m.
📍 Hi Lawn at Union Market (1309 5th Street Northeast Washington, D.C.)
💲 $5
🔗 Details

Party like its 1999 with ‘90s cover band Uncle Jesse and bring your carved pumpkin for a jack-o-lantern contest (there’s a $2 entry fee). Food and drink specials will be available a la carte.

The Morrow: Apocalypse on the Rooftop

📅 Sat., Oct. 28, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
📍 The Morrow Hotel, 222 M St. NE, Washington, D.C.
💲 $20
🔗 Details

Look out at D.C.’s skyline and a full moon while enjoying a DJ, plus a specialty food and drink menu.

Nightmare in Navy Yard

📅 Sat., Oct. 28
📍 Capital Turnaround (Southwest D.C.)
💲 $49.99-$79.99+ 
🔗 Details

This Halloween rager comes with two DJs, two dance floors, a five-hour open bar and haunting decor including animatronics, lasers and fog. Come in costume! Even if you don’t win a cash prize in the costume contest, you can still take a great pic in the 360-degree photo booth.

Halloween Masquerade at The Watergate

📅 Sat., Oct. 28, 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
📍 2650 Virginia Avenue Northwest Washington, D.C.
💲 $30-$75
🔗 Details

Roam the storied Watergate Hotel and show off your most creative costume for a chance to win prizes, including a two-night stay in the Presidential Suite. They also have haunted igloos available for rent!

Washington DC Oct 23, 2023

Glow-in-the-dark ropes course, Car Wash of Doom: DC-area Halloween events for adventurous spirits

Halloween Oct 19, 2023

5 things to do with your pumpkins after Halloween

The Shreking Ball: A Green Tie Affair

📅 Sat., Oct. 28
📍 Union Stage at The Wharf (Southwest D.C.)
💲 $10
🔗 Details

Bring your best Shrek look to Union Stage’s ogre-sized party complete with a costume contest, swamp-themed cocktails and all your favorite songs from the movies.

And in the morning, we’re making waffles (kidding)!

Halloween at Swingers

📅 Oct. 27-31
📍 Swingers Crazy Golf Dupont Circle (1330 19th Street NW, Washington, D.C.)
💲 $75
🔗 Details

Mini golf in costume, spin the “trick or treat” wheel for a chanc eto win prizes and avoid any errant zombies on the course. 

Looking for a spine-tingling brunch? A black margarita and two other Halloween cocktails will be summoned to Swinger’s Sunday bottomless drink menu. Look for the Sunday Set option when you book.

Calico 

📍  50 Blagden Alley NW, Washington, D.C.
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details

On Sunday, enjoy a crafty Halloween by painting a pumpkin at Calico. You’ll have your choice of gourds from their pumpkin patch. Each costs $5. There will also be a tarot card reader from 2-6 p.m. It’s a family-friendly event; kids must be accompanied by a parent.

For Halloween night, Calico will host extra spooky trivia from 7-9 p.m. It’s free to play.

Fray’s Halloween Party of the Year

📅 Tue., Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m. to midnight
📍 Dock 5 at Union Market (Northeast D.C.)
💲 $45-$65
🔗 Details

Halloween may be on a Tuesday, but you can still find live music, Les the DJ, “Instaworthy installations,” a spooky vendor market and plenty of tricks and treats. Cocktails inspired by “Hocus Pocus” will be on offer at the cash bar. Every ticket comes with a signature cocktail. There’s also an open bar ticket option.

Halloween events in Maryland

Le Fantome

📅 Various events
📍 4501 Woodberry St., Riverdale, Maryland
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details

In addition to the adult costume contest starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28, you can join a murder mystery dinner on Thursday, Oct. 26 or brunch with pumpkin painting on Saturday, Oct. 29.

BabyCat Brewery 1st Halloween-iversary Party

📅 Sat., Oct. 28, noon to close
📍 10241 Kensington Parkway, Kensington, Maryland
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Costumes are strongly encouraged for a day of live music and beer. Local restaurants will set up food tents, and kids are invited to come by to see a fire truck from noon to 3 p.m.

“Horror Story” Costume Ball

📅 Tues., Oct. 31, 10 p.m. to late
📍 MGM’s FELT Lounge (National Harbor)
💲 $50
🔗 Details

Costumes are required for this party at MGM National Harbor’s live music lounge.

Halloween events in Northern Virginia

Rosslyn Live: Spooky Queens Drag Show

📅 Thurs., Oct. 26, 6:30-8 p.m.
📍 Gateway Park in Arlington
💲 $10
🔗 Details

Dress in your Halloween finest to see Shi-Queeta Lee and her all-star cast put on a 90-minute show. The three attendees with the most impressive costumes are set to win cash prizes. Pub in the Park will be open to serve beer and wine.

The Legwarmers ‘80s Halloween: The Haunted Theater

📅 Fri., Oct. 27, doors 8 p.m., show at 9:30 p.m.
📍 220 N Washington St, Falls Church, Virginia
💲 $25
🔗 Details

Practice your “Thriller” dance and for the State Theatre’s ‘80s throwback show with cover band The Legwarmers. Come in costume for a chance to win cash prizes!

Spooky Saturday at Bar Ivy

📅Sat., Oct. 28
📍 3033 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, Virginia
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details

Looking for a day party with candy giveaways for kids and adults? Bar Ivy will have happy hour drinks all day, a DJ starting at 1 p.m. and live music from 3:30 to 6 p.m., including a Grateful Dead singalong.

Halloween Bar Crawl Alexandria and Nightmare on King Street

📅 Fri. and Sat.
📍 Check in at Alexandria Bier Garden (710 King Street, Alexandria, Virginia)
💲 Free

Live music is set to begin at 9 p.m. on Friday with Halloween cocktail specials all night. Revive yourself on Saturday for a DJ and a costume contest with $400 in cash prizes up for grabs.

Alexandria Bier Garden will also have happy hour until 9 p.m. and a costume contest on Oct. 31.

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The event will feature musical performances before the live Christmas tree lights up the night on Thursday, Nov. 30 at President’s Park (also known as the Ellipse), just south of the White House. The guest list and host haven’t been announced yet.

As usual, free tickets to the ceremony will be available through a lottery system. You can enter between Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. (yes, you’ll still be eating leftover Halloween candy at that time) and Nov. 8 at 3 p.m.

To enter the lottery, visit recreation.gov and click/tap “TICKET LOTTERY” or call 877-444-6777, the National Park Service said. Lottery winners will be notified on Nov. 15.

Important dates to know about the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony:

• Nov. 1: Free ticket lottery opens at 10 a.m. ET
• Nov. 8: Free ticket lottery closes at 3 p.m. ET
• Nov. 15: Lottery results announced
• Nov. 30: National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
• Dec. 2: The National Christmas Tree site opens to the public
• Dec. 15: CBS Network will broadcast the National Christmas Tree Lighting special at 8 p.m. ET

Last year was the ceremony’s 100th anniversary. The ceremony was first introduced by President Calvin Coolidge in 1923.

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Haunted houses for thrill seekers, plus costume parades and pumpkin painting for little ghosts, are classic like Hershey’s Kisses and M&M’s – which are, respectively, Maryland and D.C.’s favorite Halloween candies, according to Candystore.com.

Hot Tamales are Virginia’s third-favorite Halloween candy (after Butterfingers and M&M’s), the website says, and here are boo-zy costume parties featuring cover bands, rooftop vibes, open bars and more for a devilishly fired-up night out.

D.C.’s most fabulous Halloween season tradition returned for its 36th year on Tuesday. Queens, kings and anyone in between strapped on their most spectacular heels and attire for a fun run down 17th Street.

The race, which began in the 1980s, is also a commemoration of LGBTQ+ history in D.C.

It started with a group of drag queens running from JR’s Bar to Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse, where they’d take a shot on the second floor. Then, they’d run back down 16 stairs, through the crowded restaurant and back to JR’s. The winner would get $100 off their bar tab (about $275 in 2023 dollars!).

In 2023, John Kim returned for a threepeat victory. They said they did it for Michelle Obama.

In honor of that adventurous spirit, check out these unique things to do for Halloween around D.C.

Morris American Bar’s Murder Mystery Party 

📅 Thursday, Oct. 26
📍 1020 7th St NW, Washington, D.C.
💲 $60
🔗 Details

Channel your inner Sherlock Holmes while sipping two complimentary cocktails. Through Oct. 31, The bar is also offering a Halloween cocktail tasting menu with three drinks for $30.

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Car Wash of Doom

📅 Thurs., Oct. 26, Fri., Oct. 27, Sat., Oct. 28, 7-9 p.m.
📍 One Loudoun, Gainesville, Manassas, Vienna
💲 $15-$30 per vehicle
🔗 Details

Nothing is as scary as a filthy car… right? Virginia is in on the creepy car wash trend for a third year.

Four Flagship Carwash locations are transforming into a sudsy nightmare. Members of the car wash can go for $15; nonmembers can buy $25 tickets online through Wednesday or $30 tickets at the site.

Here are the locations:

• One Loudoun: Russell Branch Pkwy and Loudoun County Pkwy / 20395 Broad Overlook Dr, Ashburn, VA 20147
• Gainesville: Lee Hwy & Somerset Crossing Dr / 14570 Lee Hwy, Gainesville, VA 20155
• Manassas: Hoadly Rd & Dale Blvd / 12920 Hoadly Run Rd, Manassas, VA 20112
• Vienna: Maple Ave W & Nutley St SW / 540 Maple Ave W, Vienna, VA 22180 

Halloween Glow in the Park climbing and ziplining experience

📅 Oct. 27-28, 6-11 p.m.
📍 The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring (16701 Norwood Road, Sandy Spring, Maryland)
💲 $59 ($20 for kids ages 5-6)
🔗 Details

What’s more thrilling than ziplining and climbing the night away? The Adventure Park is glowed up for night climbing. 

Rorschach Theatre’s ‘Night of the Living Dead’

📅 Oct. 27 to Nov. 19
📍 1020 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.
💲 Pay-what-you-can previews Oct. 27-29, regular tickets $50 (adult)/$35 (student/senior)
🔗 Details

Roam a zombified former retail space near Farragut Square for a “smart, hilarious and scary” take on the cult classic film. The 8,000+ square foot space will be taken over for a “theatrical experience” following six strangers trapped in a farm house surrounded by the undead.

DC Improv

Between the Halloween Whodunit on Wednesday ($25), Sketch Night Of Frights on Saturday ($20) and Gagsters & Dragsters Halloween Edition brunch on Sunday ($20), DC Improv will have you dying of laughter. DC Improv has a two-item minimum at most shows.

Dog costume contests

Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse in Reston Station’s Paws on the Patio on Sunday doesn’t just include a costume contest for your furry companion. Each ticket ($45) includes seasonal passed appetizers and a cocktail. There’s also a menu of “dogtails.”

Doggy costume contests are popping up around the DMV. Here are some more to check out:

• Howl-O-Ween: Fri., Oct. 27, 3:30-5:30 p.m., Gateway Park in Arlington, free
• The Commentary’s Howl-O-Ween: Pups on the Patio: Sat., Oct. 28, 4-7 p.m., 801 North Glebe Road Arlington, Virginia, free
• The 4th Annual Canines on the Creek doggy parade: Sat., Oct. 28, 2-5 p.m., Carroll Creek Amphitheater in Frederick, Maryland, costume contest costs $25 per dog

Haunting tours and talks

D.C. has more than its share of creepy history, and you have ample opportunities to explore it (if you dare). 

Explore 200 years of mourning customs at the historic home in the upper end of Georgetown at Death Comes to Tudor Place (through Nov. 5, $10 for adults).

Search for any otherwordly inhabitants of the National Building Museum and hear the building’s lesser-known tales during the Spooky History Tour (Select dates through Oct. 31).

In Alexandria, check out the Apothecary Museum (ongoing, Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, $15) or Poe in Alexandria (Oct. 30-31, The Lyceum, $20).

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The National Gallery of Art’s Ice Rink at the Sculpture Garden is set to open on Monday, Nov. 20, with some help from Team USA.

On opening day, the rink will host pop-up performances from Team USA skaters at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., the NGA said in a release. They didn’t name the skaters set to participate.

Sculpture Garden Ice Rink hours, cost and essential info

Whether you’re an Olympian or a first-time skater, you can hit the rink any day of the week.

Sunday through Tuesday, the rink will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The café hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On Friday and Saturday, hours will be 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The café will stay open until 6 p.m.

The Pavilion Café will offer refreshments including hot chocolate, coffee, soups, flatbreads, wine and beer.

Tickets for individuals and small groups will be sold at the ice rink shed on a first-come, first-served basis, and they could sell out, especially on weekends and other busy days.

The fees are:

• Ages 13+: $12
• Ages 12 and under, 60+, military service members with ID, students with school ID: $10
• Skate rentals: $6
• Lockers: Free and available first come, first served.

Admission fees include two consecutive, 45-minute skating sessions. Each session begins on the hour. There will be a 15-minute break between each session so crews can do maintenance on the ice.

If you’re planning on skating a lot, you can get a season pass for $250. Season passes can be purchased online.

Skating lessons will also be available. Registrations are set to open Nov. 1.

The rink is located among the modern and contemporary statues in the Sculpture Garden. Once the NGA closes at 5 p.m., visitors can access the rink through the entrances at Constitution Avenue and Madison Drive near 9th Street.

It’s closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

The rink may close due to bad weather. You can call 202-216-9397 to check.

The ice rink will remain open through March 3, weather permitting.

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This was the museum’s first time undergoing full renovations since its initial opening in 1987.

The museum, located at 1250 New York Ave. NW near Metro Center, is debuting brand-new galleries and exhibition spaces featuring the work of female artists.  

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The museum also returns with its inaugural exhibition, “The Sky’s the Limit,” which focuses on 12 artists’ groundbreaking work in large-scale sculpture.

The weekend’s festivities includes art-making activities, interactive entertainment, live performances and spotlight conversations on special exhibitions. To celebrate its opening weekend, the museum offered free admission on Saturday, Oct. 21, and Sunday, Oct. 22. However, tickets are sold out.

Going forward, tickets will be $16 for adults and $13 for seniors. It’s free for visitors under 21, personal care attendants and visitors with disabilities. 

View the full schedule of events here.

Bad Bunny said his D.C. concert will come to Capital One Arena. Ticketmaster anticipates high demand for the tour, so if fans want a chance to buy tickets, they’ll have to enter a ticket lottery, similar to the ones used for Beyoncé and Taylor Swift’s smash-hit tours.

Fans can register at this link.

Bad Bunny fans can register until Sunday, October 22 at 11:59 p.m. ET. However, this does not ensure a fan can buy tickets or attend the show.

Fans who are randomly selected to buy tickets can expect an email from Ticketmaster on the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 24, Ticketmaster said. Ticketmaster will also send emails to fans who’ve been selected to join a waitlist.

Ticket sales will begin Wednesday, Oct. 25, at 11 a.m. local time.

Bad Bunny announced the 42-stop tour a week after his album “nadie sabe lo que va a pasar mañana” became the most-streamed album in a single day on Spotify this year, Live Nation said. The album features collaborations with artists including Eladio Carrión, Feid and Young Miko.

The tour will begin in February in Salt Lake City, Utah, then stop in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Chicago before coming to D.C. Other East Coast stops include New York, Philadelphia, Hartford (Connecticut), Charlotte (North Carolina), Atlanta, Orlando, Tampa and Miami.

Bad Bunny dropped the tour news just days before he’s set to host “Saturday Night Live” on NBC.

Even though the ticket prices haven’t been released yet, CNBC reported last year that the average Bad Bunny ticket sold for $225. Their data came from ticket resale sites.

The performer last brought a concert to D.C. on Aug. 23, 2022. “World’s Hottest Tour” stopped at Nationals Park.

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It’s that crisp time of year when you could join a roaming dance party in Logan Circle or venture out to see fall color. Maybe while exploring farms in Loudoun County and sipping at the most scenic vineyards in our guide to 50+ Virginia wineries?

Storm Team4 has some good news: The forecast is improving for the weekend. Expect rain on Friday, windy and chilly weather on Saturday and blustery winds on Sunday.

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Staying inside for a rainy Friday night? Have some fun by dropping our D.C.’s Next Zoo Animal Obsession bracket in your favorite group chat.

We’re down to four fuzzy competitors: opossum, otter, meerkat and bald eagle. The meerkat mob and Basil the one-eyed opossum are campaigning hard for your vote from the zoo’s Small Mammal House. 

Voting wraps up on Tuesday morning, so hype your favorite animal now!

Here’s what else to do this weekend.

Loudoun Farm Tour

📅 Sat. and Sun.
📍 Here’s a PDF map
💲 Free
🔗 Details

More than forty farms are inviting you in for delicious food, demos, activities and opportunities to connect with local growers.

Unicorn yoga, pumpkin patches, pick-your-own flowers and vineyard tours await. 

The Sassy Ass in Hillsboro is one of those farms opening their gates – so you can hang out with their rescued donkeys! Expect photo ops, hot cider and a firepit with s’mores.

Once you get to Loudoun, you don’t even have to drive. Hop-on, hop-off buses will visit five of the attractions.

We have more details on the shuttles and farm tour highlights here.

The Journey: A Moving Halloween Silent Disco

📅 Fri. and Sat.
📍 Starts at Hotel Zena in Northwest D.C.
💲 $30
🔗 Details

Going out for a night of dancing in D.C. can now include moving around the city, making public spaces your dance floor. 

This roving dance party is called The Journey and it’s happening again this weekend.

“It’s like a tour through the city, except there’s music involved,” organizer Glenn North told us. “This weekend’s going to be a little bit of a surprise. Okay, Spooky… we’re going to let our inner monsters out.”

👀 Tommy got an inside look at how “when you’re in it, it’s like its own little world.”

17th Street High Heel Race

📅 Tues., 10/24
📍 17th Street NW between P and R streets
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Once the weekend is over, you still have the 17th Street High Heel Race to look forward to on Tuesday night.

D.C.’s most fabulous Halloween tradition is back for its 36th year.

Queens, kings and anyone in between can strap on their most spectacular heels and attire for a fun run down 17th Street.

At 6 p.m., 17th Street will shut down so pedestrians, racers and spectators can take over. The race is set to kick off at 9 p.m., followed by awards and an after show at JR’s Bar.

News4’s Tommy McFLY will be out there reporting (read: #Partying4You) all night. Say hi and join him on News4 at 11 p.m.

Concerts this weekend

Be Your Own Pet, 8 p.m. Thursday, Union Stage, $20
After an all-too-brief career in the ‘00s, the Nashville garage rockers returned in August with a third LP, “Mommy.” Details.

Hiss Golden Messenger, 6 p.m. Friday, 9:30 Club, $29
Outside of Jason Isbell, M.C. Taylor continues to make the best Americana around. New album “Jump for Joy” has him in a ‘70s boogie, Little Feat style. Details.

Palehound, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Union Stage, $20
El Kempner’s fourth album of singalong-worthy, grunge-tinged rock is an unapologetic breakup album – not unfamiliar territory for the Boston singer/guitarist. “Eye on the Bat” is her best yet. Details. 

Clem Snide, 7 p.m. Saturday, Pie Shop, $20
Alt-country band has been at it since the 1990s, achieving cult status but falling short of fame. Their sound is lighter and poppier than most bands in the genre. Details. 

More things to do in D.C.

👻 Boo at the Zoo: Fri., Sat. and Sun., National Zoo, $35

Rock the Park DC WKNDR music festival: Sat. and Sun., 3-10 p.m., Franklin Park (downtown D.C.), free

Marvel’s “Werewolf by Night” with a live orchestra: Sat., 8 p.m., The Kennedy Center, $29

Family Mystery Day at the Library of Congress: Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., free

The Farm at Kelly Miller Fall Festival: Sat., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 301 49th Street Northeast, free

Lyle’s Drag Brunch with Miss Leggs Benedict: Sun., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lyle Hotel (Dupont), no extra charge

Kids Euro Fest: Sun., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., MLK Central Library, free 

Crispus Fall Color Fest: Sat., 3-6 p.m., Crispus Attucks Park (Northwest), suggested $25 donation

NSO Family Concert: Halloween Spooktacular: Sun., Kennedy Center, $18+

Reel Affirmations: Washington DC’s International LGBTQ+ Film Festival: In person Sat. and Sun., virtual 10/23-10/29, The Eaton Hotel, screenings $15

More things to do in Maryland

🚂 Halloween Eye Spy Train Ride: Saturdays and Sundays through 10/29, Cabin John Regional Park and Wheaton Regional Park, $6

American Indian Festival: Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Patuxent River Park in Upper Marlboro, free

Deco Chic: An Art Deco Fashion Show and Reception: Sat., 2-5 p.m., Glen Echo Park Spanish Ballroom, $25-$70

Wonder-Fall family festival: Sat., Catoctin Creek Park & Nature Center, $6 per person

Keep It Light: 18+ night at The Adventure Park: Sat., 6-11 p.m., Sandy Spring, $52

Lil’ Pumpkins Festival: Sat. and Sun., noon to 4 p.m., BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown, free

International Observe the Moon Night: Sat., 6-9 p.m., NASA Goddard Visitor Center in Greenbelt, free

Tricks for Treats drag bingo benefit: Sun., 2-7 p.m., Idiom Brewing Co. in Frederick, $50

Harbor Halloween: Sun., noon to 3 p.m., National Harbor, free

More things to do in Virginia

🍜 Arlington Restaurant Week: Through Mon.

Haunted Historic Berryville Tours: Thurs. to Sat., Berryville, $20

Goblin Golf: Sat. and Sun., Burke Lake Park (7315 Ox Rd, Fairfax Station, Virginia), $10

Poisons at the Apothecary Museum: Saturdays, Oct. 21 and 28, Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum in Alexandria, $15

Fall Festival with Maniac Pumpkin Carvers: Sat., Tysons Corner Center The Plaza, free

Rocktoberfest benefitting Liberty’s Promise: Sat., noon to 3 p.m., Rocklands Barbeque at 25 South Quaker Lane Alexandria, $40

Mount Vernon Fall Harvest Festival: Sat. and Sun., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., $26 (adult)/$13 (youth 6-11)

Loudoun Latino Festival: Sun, noon to 5 p.m., Leesburg, free

Last chance: Cirque du Soleil: ECHO: Through Sun., Under the Big Top, Tysons II, $43-$51+

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The Loudoun County Farm Tour returns Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 21-22.

Two shuttle buses will be visiting five of the attractions so you can sit back and enjoy the scenery between Paige’s Pit Stop farm market, the Old Stone School in Hillsboro, an alpaca farm and two wineries.

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Visiting farms and riding shuttles will be free, but some spots will charge for extra experiences.

Check out Loudoun Farm Tour’s interactive, searchable map that highlights kid-friendly and pet-friendly places to visit, plus where you can find public bathrooms and pick-your-own.

Loudoun Farm Tour 2023 highlights

The Sassy Ass in Hillsboro is opening its gates so you can hang out with their rescued donkeys! Expect photo opportunities, hot cider and a firepit with s’mores.

Just in time for Virginia Wine Month and the tail end of the grape harvesting season, many wineries will open their doors. Two Twisted Posts will offer vineyard tours. Zephaniah Farm Vineyard will be grilling farm-fresh burgers and pouring wine. Another pick from our Northern Virginia Winery Guide, Breaux Vineyards, will host live music.

Looking for autumnal decor? Pumpkins and mums are set to be available at Northern Virginia Wholesale Growers and Southern States Purcellville. H. Wegmeyer Farms has pick-your-own and pre-picked pumpkins for sale.

For more kid-friendly activities, stop by the Loudoun Farm Heritage Museum for a tire tunnel and hands-on sensory garden (admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors and $3 for kids aged 2-12).

Hogback Mountain Pony Rides is hosting its Halloween festival, where extras like pony rides, Disney princess meet-and-greets, a magic show and unicorn yoga will be available to those who purchase tickets on Eventbrite.

At Butterfly Hill Farm Store, you can visit friendly alpacas and learn about the butterfly garden.

Check Loudoun Farms’ Instagram for highlights from other farms. Here’s a PDF map of participating farms.

Loudoun Farm Tour shuttle details

Once you get to Loudoun, you don’t even have to drive. Two hop-on, hop-off buses will take passengers between two parking areas and attractions along the Route 9 corridor.

The shuttles will visit five spots on the tour: Paige’s Pit Stop, Double 8 Alpaca Farm, the Old Stone School in Hillsboro, Breaux Vineyards and Two Twisted Posts winery.

Here’s what Loudoun County tourism officials told us about the shuttles:

• Participants can park their vehicles at Paige’s Pit Stop (39810 Charles Town Pike, Waterford, Virginia) or Hillsboro’s Old Stone School (37098 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro, Virginia).
• Each bus will run a continuous loop along the designated farm tour route on the Route 9 corridor. 
• Buses run continuous loops from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• The first bus departs from Hillsboro’s Old Stone School at 10 a.m., traveling up the route towards Two Twisted Posts.
• The second bus departs from Paige’s Pit Stop at 10:30 a.m. traveling towards Double 8 Alpaca Farm.

Paige’s Pit Stop will host animal feedings, plus you can plant a seedling or shop the farm store with pumpkins, fresh meat and turkey.

Correction (Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 4 p.m.): The number of shuttle buses offered has been corrected.

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The event was originally scheduled to take place on the National Mall on Oct. 6-7.

The original lineup featured Ice-T and Public Enemy as the headliners. Now, Ice-T is the main headliner along with Flavor Flav of Public Enemy, The Sugarhill Gang, Kurtis Blow and Terminator X.

According to the festival organizer Chasing Live, festivalgoers who registered for the free event were able to redeem tickets to the rescheduled event at no cost.

But because of the venue change, everyone else must get a paid ticket.

How to get a ticket to the The National Celebration of Hip-Hop

Attendees can choose from floor tickets, bowl tickets and VIP tickets.

Bowl ticket prices range from $32-$112 and are available for purchase on the Nationals Park website.

VIP and floor tickets can be purchased from Lyte, which implements what they call fair market pricing. Ticket prices fluctuate based on demand, so they can differ over time. According to the event’s website, they are using this to cut down on scalpers and activity from bots.

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The organizers encourage attendees to get tickets early to get the best price possible.

As of Tuesday, the lowest ticket price was $159 for regular VIP. If attendees want to purchase upgraded packages, the tickets range from $249-$389.

Accessible options are available from both websites.

Despite these changes, they maintain that the event will still provide “an unforgettable experience for hip-hop enthusiasts.”

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Halloween is just around the corner, and that means it’s time to show off costumes and eat plenty of candy.

From train rides to costume parades to slightly spooky parties, these Halloween events in the D.C. area are great for families with younger kids (and, in some cases, their little dogs, too!).

Kid-friendly Halloween events in DC

PumpkinPalooza

📅 Thursday, Oct. 26
📍 Alethia Tanner Park (NoMa)
💲 Free
🔗 Details

More than 1,000 free pumpkins will be available on a first-come, first-served basis from 4-6 p.m.

After a visit to the pumpkin patch, you can enjoy face painting, dog portraits, a performance from Too Much Talent Band. “Hocus Pocus” will show on the big outdoor screen starting at 6:30 p.m.

Don’t forget your costume for the parade led by Mickey and Minnie Mouse starting at 4:30 p.m. Pets and people are welcome to compete in a costume contest!

Red Bear Brewing’s beer garden will be open until 9 p.m.

DPR Halloween

📅 Oct. 26-31
📍 Various locations
💲 Free
🔗 Details

D.C.’s Department of Parks and Recreation is celebrating Halloween with parties, candy, haunted houses, a silent disco and more special events at community centers across the city.

Hill-O-Ween 2023

📅 Fri., Oct. 27, 5-8 p.m.
📍 Eastern Market
💲 Free
🔗 Details

“Capitol Hill’s largest Halloween festival” is coming back for a big in-person celebration. Many details are TBA, but expect costumes, pumpkins and plenty of slightly spooky fun for the whole family.

DC WitchFest

📅 Sat., Oct. 28, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
📍 metrobar (640 Rhode Island Ave. NE)
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Kids and dogs can jump into a costume contest, and everyone’s invited to paint pumpkins and partake in mystical activities including tarot reading. 

Calico 

📅 Sun., Oct. 29
📍  50 Blagden Alley NW, Washington, D.C.
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details

Enjoy a crafty Halloween by painting a pumpkin at Calico. You’ll have your choice of gourds from their pumpkin patch. Each costs $5. There will also be a tarot card reader from 2-6 p.m. It’s a family-friendly event; kids must be accompanied by a parent.

More D.C. events:

• Pumpkins in the Park: Sat., Oct. 28, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Canal Park (Capital Riverfront in Southwest DC), free

Kid-friendly Halloween in Maryland

Cabin John & Wheaton Halloween Eye Spy Train Ride

📅 Saturdays and Sundays through 10/29
📍 Cabin John Regional Park and Wheaton Regional Park
💲 $6
🔗 Details

All aboard the miniature train! Take a ride through “Trainslyvania” on one of Montgomery County’s mini trains and see how many seasonal items you can tick off your “Eye Spy” card.

Click here for Wheaton tickets and click here for Cabin John tickets. We’ve noticed many time slots selling out, so consider booking early! Some tickets will be available onsite, but ride times won’t be guaranteed, Montgomery Parks said.

Six Flags Kids BOO Fest

📅 Select dates through Oct. 29
📍 13710 Central Ave., Bowie/Mitchellville, Maryland
💲 $45
🔗 Details

A kid-friendly haunted house, special Halloween shows, and a trick-or-treat trail will make little ones scream with delight.

BOO Fest is included with regular admission. Remember that the big Fright Fest scares begin after the sun sets!

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AVFD Station 7 Terror Trail

📅 Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 28
📍  2380 Davidsonville Rd, Gambrills, Maryland
💲 $25 (Terror Trail) or $10 (Boo Loop maze)
🔗 Details

Looking for a family-friendly haunt? Visit the Arundel Volunteer Fire Department to wind through the scary Terror Trial aimed at kids aged 8 and up. If the kids want to have a less spooky adventure, get lost in their new Boo Loop Maze for $10. It’s geared for kids under 8.

Kids are welcome to come in costume, uncover the mysteries of the Boo Loop and search for hidden clues in their new scavenger hunt, too. You can purchase tickets at the firehouse or online.

Frankenskate

📅 Saturday, Oct. 28, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
📍 Ridge Road Recreational Park in Germantown
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Skate through an afternoon of creepy fun with a DJ and lawn games while grabbing treats available for purchase from local food trucks.

“Rink users must bring their own skates, rentals will not be available. Some seating will be provided but guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and picnic blankets,” Montgomery Parks said.

Costumes are allowed, but make sure they don’t cover your face or pose a tripping hazard.

Fall Frolic

📅 Sat., Oct. 28, 1-4 p.m.
📍 Glen Echo Park
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Decorate a trick-or-treat bag, compete in a costume contest and get candy from artists’ studios on a day of artsy Halloween activities.

Parking is free, or you can take Montgomery County Ride-On bus #29 from the Friendship Heights and Bethesda Metro stations along the Red Line.

Boo Bash at Westfield Wheaton Mall

📅 Sun., Oct. 29, noon to 3 p.m.
📍 11160 Veirs Mill Rd, Wheaton, Maryland
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Come in costume for trick-or-treating at stores around the mall until 4 p.m., and stop by the Macy’s Court on the lower level for the Boo Bash. There will be activities for all ages, including cupcake decorating, pumpkin painting, a dance party and a costume contest. Little ones can also make a card and help donate candy to kids who can’t trick-or-treat this year.

More Maryland events:

• Safe Harvest Festival: Sat., Oct. 28, 1-6 p.m., Municipal Building (5508 Arapahoe Drive, Forest Heights, Maryland), free
• Macaroni Kid’s Trick or Treat at Gaver Farm: Sat., Oct. 28, 10 a.m., Mt. Airy, Maryland, included with admission ($20.25)
• Halloween Read Aloud Activity: Sun., Oct. 29, 2-4 p.m., Arts’tination (162 Waterfront Street Oxon Hill, Maryland), free
• Le Fantome pumpkin painting and brunch: Sun., Oct. 29, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., 4501 Woodberry St., Riverdale, Maryland, free entry
• Trick or Treat on Market Street: Sun., noon to 3 p.m., Reston Town Center, free
• Mount Rainier Halloween Parade + Trunk or Treat: Tue., Oct. 31, 3-8 p.m., parade begins at Joe’s Movement Emporium (3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mt. Rainier, Maryland), free

Kid-friendly Halloween in Virginia

LEGO® Discovery Center Brick-or-Treat: Monster Party

📅 Oct. 6 to Oct. 31
📍 Springfield Town Center
💲 $28.99+
🔗 Details

Lego is getting a spooky twist, plus a new movie in its 4D theater: “The Great Monster Chase.” Come in costume to build pumpkins, meet the LEGO mummy and more.

Air & Scare

📅 Sat., Oct. 28, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
📍 Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly
💲 Free (parking is $15)
🔗 Details

While the outdoor portion of the event is sold out, no tickets are required for people of all ages to enjoy Air & Scare activities inside.

The parking lot may be crowded, so consider public transit. Fairfax Connector Bus No. 983 stops at the Innovation Center Station on the Silver Line and the Udvar-Hazy Center. 

Trick or Treat at Mount Vernon

📅 Sat., Oct. 28, 2-6 p.m.
📍 Mount Vernon
💲 $25 (adult)/$15 (youth) for nonmembers
🔗 Details

Kids can collect candy around the historic grounds, join a costume parade and watch special presentations, including a Punch and Judy puppet show and lesson about 18th-century magic.

Halloween Bash at the Farm!

📅 Sat., Oct. 28, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
📍 Hope & Serenity Farm Sanctuary (10445 Manley RoadNokesville, Virginia)
💲 $20 per person donation
🔗 Details

Hang out with more than 200 farm animals (including some in costume!), look for clues at the scavenger hunt, join a costume contest and have more farm-style fun at this fundraiser for the sanctuary.

27th Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade

📅 Sunday, 10/29, 2 p.m.
📍 Del Ray, Alexandria
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Come one, come all, come in costume for Del Ray’s Halloween parade.

It is set to begin on Mt. Vernon Avenue south of E. Bellefonte and go to the Mt. Vernon Recreation Center fields.

You bet there are contests! Sign up for the best-dressed pet and the stroller decoration competition before the parade at the corner of Mt. Vernon and E. Howell Avenues.

The contests are free to enter. Registration closes at 1:30 p.m.

Stick around after the parade for live music and the awards presentation.

More Virginia events:

• Meadowlark’s Halloween Scavenger Hunt: Daily Oct. 21-31, Meadowlark’s Children’s Garden (Wolf Trap, Virginia), $7 per person
• Halloween Costume Family Skate and Dance Night: Sat., Oct. 28, 6-10 p.m., Franconia Rec Center Location (6601 Telegraph Rd, Alexandria, Virginia), $10 (advance)/$15 (door)
• Ghost Town: Oct. 28-29, Burke Lake Park (7315 Ox Rd, Fairfax Station, Virginia), $15 (advance)/$20 (day-of)
• Monster Mash 2023: Sat., Oct. 28, 3-6 p.m., Village at Leesburg, free
• Nature Spooktacular: Sun., Oct. 29, Long Branch Nature Center (625 S Carlin Springs Rd, Arlington, Virginia), $7 
• Bat Festival: Sun., Oct. 29, 3-6 p.m., Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Vienna, Virginia, free
• Vienna Halloween Parade: Weds., Oct. 25, 7 p.m., Maple Avenue, free

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

Past events

D.C.:

Family Mystery Day at the Library of Congress

📅 Sat., Oct. 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
📍 Thomas Jefferson Building – Great Hall (10 1st Street SE, Washington, D.C.)
💲 Free, but entry pass required
🔗 Details

Choose from two author events, test your skills in a scavenger hunt and check out a full day of activities on the Mezzanine level.

For kids aged 6-12+, Worm from Jerry Spinelli’s novel “Dead Wednesday” and Milo from Ben Hatke’s graphic novel “Things in the Basement” will meet kids and share stories.

For middle- and high-school-aged readers, Kayvion Lewis, author of “Thieves’ Gambit,” and Delilah S. Dawson, who wrote “Midnight at the Houdini,” will talk about writing high-stakes mysteries. 

All of the authors will also sign books in the Great Hall following their programs.

It’s free, but you’ll need a timed-entry pass to visit the Thomas Jefferson building.

NSO Family Concert: Halloween Spooktacular

📅 Sun., Oct. 22, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
📍 The Kennedy Center
💲 $18+
🔗 Details

Celebrate Halloween and Día de los Muertos with old and new classic songs. Come early for trick-or-treating and to check out a special Haunted Hall Musical PLAYspace! It’s recommended for kids aged 5 and up.

• The Farm at Kelly Miller Fall Festival: Sat., Oct. 21, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 301 49th Street Northeast, free
• Crispus Fall Color Fest: Sat., Oct. 21, 3-6 p.m., Crispus Attucks Park (Northwest), suggested $25 donation

Maryland:

Lil’ Pumpkins Festival

📅 Sat., Oct. 21, noon to 4 p.m.
📍 BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Bouncy houses, trick-or-treating, pumpkin painting, costume parades and spooky dance parties will keep the kids entertained, and grown-ups can stop by a beer garden, Artisan Market and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Music Box Concerts.

The day will wrap up with a free, outdoor screening of “Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie.”

Harbor Halloween

📅 Sun., Oct. 22, noon to 3 p.m.
📍 National Harbor
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Trick-or-treat at participating businesses from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., watch “Hocus Pocus” on the plaza at 1 p.m., or watch a pumpkin carving contest starting at 2:30 p.m.

Kids who come in costume can even take a free ride on the Capital Wheel with the purchase of adult admission.

Want to let your pet show off their costume? The Pet Pawrade is set for 2:45 p.m. – and there will be prizes!

• Calabash Carnage: Pumpkin Carving Workshop: Sat., Oct. 21, 2-4 p.m., Brentwood Arts Exchange (3901 Rhode Island Ave, Brentwood, Maryland), free but pumpkins available for $5 each

Virginia:

Fall Festival with Maniac Pumpkin Carvers

📅 Sat., Oct. 21
📍 Tysons Corner Center The Plaza
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Watch Maniac Pumpkin Carvers transform gourds into something spectacular while enjoying live music, a photobooth, face painting, crafts and a fall market.

Bring your pooch in their Halloween best: A pet costume contest will kick off at noon!

• Goblin Golf: Oct. 21-22, Burke Lake Park (7315 Ox Rd, Fairfax Station, Virginia), $10
• Children’s Science Center Family Costume Party: Sat., Oct. 21, 5-7 p.m., Children’s Science Center Lab at Fair Oaks Mall (Fairfax), $15 for visitors over 2

We’ve curated a list of wineries in Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties and broken down what you can expect at each location to make your trip easier. Need to find a winery that allows you to bring your own picnic, your children and your dog? Or do you want to bring a group of friends to a winery where you can get a break from kids? Maybe you just need to find a winery that has the full-bodied red you’ve been dreaming of. Regardless, we’ve got you covered.

Simply click on the map icons below or scroll to read more about each winery, including their hours, location, reservation requirements, special events and a lot more.

Now let’s raise a glass to Virginia wine country!

A note about the driving time from D.C.: All time estimates are based on Google Map directions from downtown D.C. We suggest looking up the best route to your winery of choice ahead of time to get a more accurate estimate of how long the drive will take from your starting point.

Nelson Hsu and Annetta Stogniew contributed to this report.

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

When Saturday comes in with the rain, we know all too well that you’ll be looking for ways to get out of the woods and stay stay stay inside.

✨ Luckily, Taylor Swift is making all the movie theaters shimmer, and you can fill the blank space before seeing “The Eras Tour” at these parties, brunches and other pregame events.

Sunday will be a better day for outdoor activities including the Bethesda Row Arts Festival, visiting pumpkin patches and the White House Fall Garden Tour. But remember your umbrella because showers are in the forecast.

Drum roll (Taylor’s Version), please! 🥁 You made our wildest dreams come true by voting in the first round of D.C.’s Next Animal Obsession.

Spoiler alert: Today was a fairytale for the opossum. See the results and vote in round two here!

What to do indoors this weekend in D.C., Maryland and Virginia

Rain in the forecast doesn’t mean you have to stay at home (although we fully endorse a cozy Saturday watching the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, the Rugby World Cup and the Illinois vs. Maryland college football game on NBC4!).

Here are some great things to do indoors:

National Building Museum’s Big Build
Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., National Building Museum (D.C.), free

The Big Build is back on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Roofers, plumbers, designers, artisans, and more will open dozens of booths to let kids try activities including writing a light, pouring concrete and hammering nails. Plus, there will be opportunities to climb inside construction equipment. Best of all, it’s free!

Washington Capitals Home Opener
Fri., 7:30 p.m., Capital One Arena, $79+

The Caps face the Penguins in their first game of the regular season on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Capital One Arena. Tickets start at $79.

On the Square
Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., DC History Center at 801 K Street NW, D.C., free

DC History Center at the Carnegie Library’s free community day celebration has crafts, tours, talks and more. Check in on the building’s second floor.

Walk about 3 minutes over to the Touchstone Gallery for crafts from 1-3 p.m. (best for people aged 3 and up). From 4-7 p.m., listen to live music while exploring the gallery with a complimentary beverage.

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Fall Fest
Sat., 1-6 p.m., The View of DC (1201 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington), free (GA) or $15 for cider tastings

Rosslyn’s Fall Fest is bringing live music, cider tastings and a pie eating contest inside for some rain-proof autumnal fun. There will be cash bar and games. All ages are welcome to attend the festivities.

DC Wine Fest
Sat., Dock 5 at Union Market, $35-$65

The unlimited wine sampling event returns for its fall edition on Saturday at Union Market’s Dock 5. There are multiple sessions to choose from; tickets cost $35-$65.

“The Others” movie brunch
Sun., Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (DC Bryant Street and Crystal City), $11 for movie ticket

You can see why “The Others” makes a good pick for a Halloween brunch movie: It stars Nicole Kidman, goes for eerie, creepy vibes and is rated 84% on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s about a mother caring for her children who have a photosensitivity disease during World War II.

During the movie, you can order brunch from Alamo Drafthouse’s menu.

Feeding Hope Festival
Sun., Dock 5 at Union Market, $100

World Central Kitchen is raising funds with a day of food and cooking demos at Dock 5 at Union Market. Tickets cost $100 and come with unlimited tasting portions from more than 15 food partners. It’s happening Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Theater

It’s a great weekend to go to the theater around the DMV (and not just for Taylor!).

First, “Mrs. Doubtfire” is saying helloooo at The National Theatre through Sunday. You can enter a lottery for $25 tickets.

Also, DC Theatre Week has extended its run through Sunday. Complete listings and the discounted tickets are available from TodayTix. Here are some options that caught our eye:

• “POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive” has brought a gaffe-prone president and the women who clean up his messes from Broadway to D.C’s Arena Stage. The $40 Theatre Week deal is a steep discount.
• “The Mountaintop” at Round House Theatre is a historical reimagining of Martin Luther King Jr.’s last night on earth. Actors Ro Boddie and Renea Brown spoke with Jummy Olabanji about the new iteration of the award-winning play.
• In the mood for something spooky? “Monstress,” an immersive horror experience in Silver Spring, and “Macbeth in Stride” employs a soundtrack of pop, rock, gospel and R&B as Lady Macbeth examines “what it means to be an ambitious Black woman.” There’s also “The Tell-Tale Heart” at Synetic Theater in Crystal City.
• Family-friendly options include bilingual play “Picasso” and “Cirque du Soleil: Echo.”
• “Something Moving: A Meditation on Maynard” is about Atalanta’s first Black mayor (here’s our preview).

Haunted Houses

Laurel’s House of Horrors is the area’s biggest indoor haunt. Built inside an abandoned movie theater, this season’s haunted house offers new chilling experiences in an eerie 28,000-square-foot space.

Can you make it through the horrifying funhouse inside Dulles Town Center? Navigate disorienting mirrors, eerie crowns and unsettling illusions at Scream.

Here’s our full list of haunted houses and ghost tours for a spooky fun October.

Museums and exhibits

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is hosting special talks and tours highlighting its Afrofuturism exhibit (you’ll still need to reserve free museum passes), and the National Gallery of Art will debut a  photography exhibit on Sunday.

In Hyattsville, the Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center is hosting events for the “Big and Little Inks” exhibition opening weekend, including a reception on Friday. Entry is free. The exhibition will be on display through Nov. 26.

In Tysons, Andy Yoder’s “Overboard” sneaker exhibit is open and free to visit. You’ll find it in Tysons Corner Center on the lower level near Barnes & Noble.

ARETCHOUSE’s new exhibit, Beyond Light, immerses visitors in the beauty of the universe. Here’s our preview.

Journey to space

The moon will complete a graceful journey between the sun and the Earth during a partial solar eclipse in the D.C. area on Saturday, Oct. 14.

The eclipse will begin locally around noon and end at about 2:40 p.m., NOVAC said. It will peak in D.C. at about 1:19 p.m.

The bad news: The weather will not do you any favors to actually observe the eclipse.

The good news: Planetariums and museums are coming through for casual astronomers. Just remember to double-check an event’s website before you go out in the rain.

• In Virginia: The Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Center has its Second Saturday Sungazing.
• In the District: Rock Creek Park’s planetarium will offer six viewings of the 30-minute film “Eclipse: The Sun Revealed,” and the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum will host Soar Together at Air and Space Family Day: Exploring Eclipses.
• In Maryland: While it’s not linked to the eclipse, NASA Goddard Visitor Center’s Sunday Experiment about NASA’s next flagship telescope telescope is great for kids aged 5-10, and it’s free.

More things to do

White House Fall Garden Tours

📅 Sat. and Sun.
📍 The White House
💲 Free
🔗 Details

The White House is opening its gardens for one weekend. 

Timed tickets are required for each visitor. The National Park Service will distribute tickets at the White House Visitor Center each day starting at 8:30 a.m. It’s first come, first served, and one ticket per person.

Capital City Africa Cup

📅 Sat., 5 p.m.
📍 Audi Field
💲 $20
🔗 Details

D.C. United will go against Ghana Premier League’s Medeama SC in a friendly match. Tickets were available for $20 as of Wednesday.

The match anchors D.C.’s first-ever Capital City Africa Week which is sharing Ghanaian culture.

Events include a Ghana Village craft fair at Howard University from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday and a fashion pop-up.

Here’s the schedule.

RESCHEDULED: PorchFest

📅 Nov 4., 2-6 p.m.
📍 Adams Morgan
💲 Free
🔗 Details

PorchFest has been rescheduled to Nov. 4 due to the rainy forecast.

Concerts this weekend

Gregory Alan Isakov, 7:30 p.m. Friday, The Anthem, $46-$76

Indie-folk singer-songwriter with a calming-to-soaring voice makes beautiful melancholy. He’s touring off “Appaloosa Bones,” released in August. Details.

Devendra Banhart, 8 p.m. Saturday, Howard Theatre, $30-$60

Singer-songwriter was the cream of the freak folk crop of the aughts with his enchanting, idiosyncratic songs. Recent release “Flying Wig,” is a mellower, synth-riding collection. Details.

The Wild Feathers, 8 p.m. Saturday, Hamilton, $15 (bar/standing)/$25 (seated)

Breezy, uplifting country rock group celebrates 10 years as a band. Details. 

Weekend events in DC

Kim Petras
Thurs., The Anthem, $59.50-$99.50

Adoption event: Lucky Dog Happy Hour And Pup Party
Fri., 5-7 p.m., The Darcy Hotel (Northwest D.C.), free

Snallygaster
Sat., The Wharf, $65 (GA)

City Ridge Fall Fest
Sat. and Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., City Ridge (Northwest D.C.), free

Weekend events in Maryland

LL Cool J book signing
Fri., National Harbor, $55

Maryland Million Day horse races
Sat., Laurel Park, free entry

Noir City DC film festival
10/13-10/26, AFI Silver Theatre (Silver Spring), $15 per screening

Weekend events in Virginia

Lucketts Fall Market
Fri. to Sun., The Old Lucketts Store and Vintage Markets (Berryville, Virginia), $15-$45 

Friendship Friday with the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington
Fri., 5-8 p.m., Nighthawk Brewery (1201 S. Joyce Street, Arlington), free

Archaeology on the Waterfront
Sat., 7 Pioneer Mill Way, free (Registration is required for your preferred time slot)

Classic Car Show
Sun., National Museum of the Marine Corps, free

Paws in the Park
Sun., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Oronco Bay Park, free

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

If you’re reading this, you probably know all too well that that “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” – the film version of her blockbuster tour – is coming to theaters on Friday.

Since The Eras Tour didn’t stop in the D.C. area, this will be many fans’ first chance to show off their style, trade friendship bracelets and sing along with a crowd of Swifties. And yes, dancing is encouraged, at least at some theaters.

You can fill the blank space before or after seeing “The Eras Tour” at these parties and brunches in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

Consider it your weekend (Taylor’s Version).

Trivia at Alamo Drafthouse

📅 Thurs., 7 p.m.
📍 Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Woodbridge and Crystal City
💲 Free

Think you know Taylor? We believe you, but prove your knowledge at trivia events at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Woodbridge and Crystal City (D.C. is sold out). Make sure to sign up in advance!

Taylor Swift Music Bingo

📅 Fri., 6:30 p.m.
📍 Bryant Street Market
💲 Free
🔗 Details

This Taylor Swift twist on Bingo features a card filled with her song titles. Kick back, sing along and check off the songs you hear – complete a line or card to win prizes!

Swiftie Soirée: Celebrating Eras in Style!

📅 Fri., 6-8:30 p.m.
📍 The Village at Shirlington
💲 $31
🔗 Details

Album-inspired cocktails, dancing and a friendship bracelet workshop and more await near the AMC Shirlington. Note that it’s for Swifties 21 and older only.

Are You…Ready for It? A Taylor Swift Tribute Concert @ metrobar

📅 Fri., 7 p.m.
📍 metrobar DC (640 Rhode Island Avenue Northeast Washington, D.C.)
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details

Taylor may have skipped D.C. on the Eras Tour, but local cover band Space Otters will help you shake it off all night.

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Swifties Unite for Brunch

📅 Sat., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
📍 City Tap Loudoun (20376 Exchange Street, Ashburn, Virginia)
💲 Free admission
🔗 Details

Show off your style while dancing along to a DJ at snacking on food and drink specials at Eras themed tables. It’s free to enter; here’s City Tap Loudoun’s regular brunch menu.

The Eras Tour Brunch

📅 Sat., noon to 3 p.m.
📍 Don Tito (3165 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, Virginia)
💲 Seating reservations $5-$25
🔗 Details

Taylor, tacos and tequila… Ready for it? Enjoy a boozy brunch with a live DJ playing “Taylor’s discography from start to finish,” plus drink specials and pinatas with prizes. The restaurant says four Swifties will win tickets to see the Eras Tour movie.

Seats can be reserved on Eventbrite. It costs $5 for one bar seat or $25 for a four-person VIP table (before fees).

Taylor Swift Brunch

📅 Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
📍 Shaw’s Tavern (520 Florida Avenue NW, Washington, D.C.)
💲 Cost of brunch; bottomless mimosas cost $21 per person
🔗 Details

Taylor Swift music, on-theme brunch cocktails and two hours of bottomless mimosas will leave you fearless. Mention “Taylor brunch” in the notes when you make your reservation. Here’s the restaurant’s brunch menu.

Taylor Swift Eras Night: The Finale

📅 Sat., Nov. 4
📍 Elk Run Vineyards (15113 Liberty Road, Mount Airy, Maryland)
💲 $20
🔗 Details

Dress up to show off your favorite era, trade friendship bracelets and belt out your favorite Taylor Swift songs along with the DJ. There will be food trucks and vendors, too!

The Taylor Party

📅 Fri., Dec. 22
📍 9:30 Club
💲 $25
🔗 Details

The 9:30 Club will be bejeweled as Swifties come to dance the night away at this Taylor Swift-inspired dance party.

Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.

It’s all things LL Cool J this weekend as the award-winning rapper and actor comes to Maryland to sign copies of his newly released book and then perform at Capital One Arena to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.

Book signing at Mahogany Books on Friday

This year is the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, and LL Cool J commemorated the anniversary by releasing “The Streets Win: 50 Years of Hip-Hop Greatness” on Oct. 3.

The book, written with journalist Vikki Tobak and Rock The Bells’ editorial director Alec Banks, covers the birth, rise and progression of hip-hop, its culture and the impact it has had on music.

Over 150 images including album covers, notebook drawings, graffiti art and street scenes are in the book. Music icons like Mary J Blige, Eminem, MC Lyte, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, A Tribe Called Quest and more share their origin stories.

To celebrate the book’s release, LL will hold a book signing at Mahogany Books in National Harbor from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 13.

The bookstore’s owner and co-founder Ramunda Lark Young said that the signing will be a fun party atmosphere with a local DJ and opportunities for attendees to take photos.

“Guests should expect an amazing opportunity to meet one of hip-hop’s most lauded legends in an environment that will be lively,” Young said.

Attendees can have up to two books signed. Only books purchased at the bookstore can be signed. No signing of memorabilia such as albums and t-shirts will be allowed. Book purchasers will have their copies signed before others can get in line, the bookstore said.

Young said she hopes to make this event accessible to people who want to discover Black books and meet LL in a bookstore that centers books around the African diaspora, which created the genre he thrives in. After all, she and her husband Derrick Young met because of hip-hop.

“We want this type of information about our culture [and] about the history of hip-hop to be available to anybody who wants it. So this event allows that to happen,” said Young.

Tickets to the signing are available on Eventbrite. They cost $55 and come with a “guaranteed autographed copy” of the book.

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Concert at Capital One Arena on Oct. 15

The fun doesn’t stop there. LL will headline the F.O.R.C.E. (Frequencies of Real Creative Energy) Tour at Capital One Arena featuring The Roots, DJ Jazzy Jeff and DJ Z-Trip at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15. Queen Latifah and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony are set to be special guests in D.C. Tickets were available starting at $25 (before fees) as of Tuesday.

The tour is LL’s first headlining arena tour in 30 years. He’s handpicked special guests to put a twist on the traditional tour: The show will be a nonstop mashup of music with several artist performances woven together through the night.

The Capital One Arena show is the second-to-last show announced on the F.O.R.C.E. Tour. It heads to Boston for the finale on Nov. 19.

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The week of events is anchored by the inaugural Capital City Africa Cup at Audi Field on Saturday, Oct. 14. At 5 p.m., D.C. United will go against Ghana Premier League’s Medeama SC in a friendly match. Tickets were available for $20 as of Monday.

Throughout the week, there will be several events around D.C. celebrating Ghanaian culture, fashion, art and more. Here’s an overview of the schedule:

The festival kicks off Monday evening with a welcome reception at the True Reformer Building, which will also house a Ghanaian art exhibition.

There is also set to be a Ghana Village at Howard University’s Blackburn Center on Wednesday from 5-8 p.m and a fashion pop-up at the Rosewood Hotel from Thursday and Friday.

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The week is hosted by the Ghana Embassy in Washington, D.C., the Ghana Tourism Authority, LIQUID SOUL-DC, Events DC, and D.C. United.

For more information, visit capitalcityafricacup.com.

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Institutions around D.C. are already prepping for fan-favorite winter events, and the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute is no exception. The zoo will glimmer and sparkle during its annual ZooLights event starting Nov. 24.

But the 15th year of ZooLights comes with one big change: a $6 price tag per ticket.

In previous years, ZooLights was free. Tickets for the event had to be reserved separately from normal zoo entry. But visitors could stop by the National Zoo later than normal, at no cost, to enjoy colorful holiday light displays and 3D glowing animal lanterns.

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“The ticket fee is needed to offset the significant increase in costs associated with running this event,” the National Zoo said in a press release.

Regular daytime passes to the zoo are still free. According to the release, on regular admission nights, the Zoo will close to all visitors at 4 p.m., then reopen to ZooLights ticket holders at 5 p.m.

If you’re a National Zoo member, you can reserve up to six entry passes to ZooLights for free, during three exclusive Member Nights, according to the release.

Here’s the full list of ZooLights dates:

• Nov. 24, 25 and 26
• Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 2 and 3. Nov. 30 is a Member Night.
• Dec. 7, 8, 9 and 10. Dec. 7 is a Member Night.
• Dec. 14, 15, 16 and 17. Dec. 14 is a Member Night.
• Dec. 21, 22 and 23
• Dec. 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30.

Tickets went on sale on Oct. 26. You can find them here.

ZooLights runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. most days. On Sundays, it ends an hour earlier, with the zoo closing at 8 p.m.

Visitors to ZooLights will get to look at “130 lanterns depicting ocean, desert, grassland, rainforest and polar habitats, and the animals that call them home,” according to the release.

If you stop by, you can also buy holiday snacks like s’mores, holiday cookies and seasonal gelato, and watch live musical performances from local artists and school groups.

Parking is available for pre-purchase online for $30 per vehicle. Zoo members can get one reserved parking pass for free.

It’s also accessible from the Cleveland Park and Adams Morgan-Woodley Park Metro stations on the Red Line.

ZooLights will take place rain or shine.

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We finally made it to spooky season!

But first, we need you to vote on the least consequential but most adorable ballot of the year: D.C.’s Next Zoo Animal Obsession!

Speaking of decision 2023, Beyoncé movie fans to the left, Swiftie movie fans to the right … You can be both, meet in the middle, as Renais-eras (yeah?) saves movie theaters like Barbenheimer.

Enjoy our last day of summer-like weather. Big changes are coming for the weekend, including chilly temps and showers.

Because They’re Funny

📅 Fri. to Sun.
📍 The Wharf
💲 $20-$80 per show
🔗 Details

The Wharf is where the laughs are this weekend as a comedy festival takes over The Anthem, Union Stage and Pearl Street Warehouse with a variety of shows putting extra emphasis on D.C.’s place as a comedy city.

Between the DMV Black Comedy Homecoming Show; a night with Nicole Byer and Maryland’s own Ego Nwodim; a breakout comedian competition and late-night laughs, how can you resist?

Club Quarantine Residency

📅 Fri. to Sun.
📍 The Kennedy Center
💲 $49-$89 per show
🔗 Details

D-Nice is bringing the viral hit Club Quarantine from the virtual space to the real world. News4’s Tommy McFly talks to the first rap artist to headline and sell out the Kennedy Center’s Opera House about his next big event in D.C. this weekend.

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Waterford Fair

📅 Fri. to Sun.
📍 Waterford, Virginia
💲 $20 for adults; free for kids under 12
🔗 Details

Way before most of us were born, the Waterford Fair had its big debut 79 years ago. It’s still going on today as one of the largest and oldest juried craft fairs in the country.

Head out to the historic village in Loudoun County for a fall festival and arts fair with live music, glimpses into 1800s life, children’s activities, food and local libations.

🚘 It’s worth the one-hour trip from downtown D.C.

College Park Day

📅 Sat., noon to 6 p.m.
📍 College Park Aviation Museum & Airport (1985 Corporal Frank Scott Dr.)
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Two stages of live music, free entry to the College Park Aviation Museum, kids’ activities, a helicopter fly-in, pumpkin painting and more are the ingredients for a cheap, fun family day out in Prince George’s County. 

• Close enough to “Mean Girls” Day, 2000s cover band So Fetch will perform. The Starlight Anthem, Black Masala and Laundry World round up the lineup.
• Kids will love big wheel races, stilt walkers, The Great Zucchini and other children’s entertainers.
• Food and beer will be on sale, too.
• Free parking and shuttles, including from Metro, are available. See details on the event’s Facebook page.

Haunted Houses

🔗 Here’s our guide

Gather up your ghouls! No matter where you live, there’s a scare close by.

• 🎃 Tommy checked out Prince George’s County favorite Laurel’s House of Horror this week, which is built inside an abandoned theater.
• 😱 Here’s why Field of Screams has been voted one of the country’s top haunted attractions.
• 😈 In Virginia, Workhouse Arts Center’s Haunt: Game Over has live bands every weekend, plus sensory-friendly time slots on Oct. 15.

Oktoberfest

Raise a stein to wash down your last Oktoberfest pretzels.

Guinness Open Gate Brewery is tapping the final kegs of their month-long party all weekend.

Several towns are hosting some of the last major celebrations of the season this weekend, including Mount Airy (Sat.), Vienna (Sat.) and Gaithersburg (Sun.).

If you’re up for a trip out toward the Blue Ridge Mountains, Oktoberfest at the Frontier Culture Museum is happening on Saturday.

Here’s our full guide to Oktoberfest.

Army Ten-Miler

📅 Sun., race set to begin at 7:50 a.m.
📍 Starts on Route 110 in Arlington
💲 $99 (adult)/$25 (youth)
🔗 Details

Sunday’s race is set to begin at 7:50 a.m. on Route 110. Participants will cross the Key Bridge into D.C. and pass iconic sites, including the Lincoln Memorial; Korean War Memorial; Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial and the Washington Monument.

Here’s what to know about road closures and directions for spectators.

Music Snob’s concert picks

Cellar Door Tribute, 8 p.m. Saturday, The Hamilton, $35

A celebration of the iconic, intimate venue in Georgetown from 1963-1982. Several artists, including Last Train Home, The Airport 77’s, The Kennedys and The Slickee Boys, pay tribute to some of the noteworthy artists who played there, including Tom Waits, The Everly Brothers, Kris Kristofferson and The Slickee Boys. Details. 

Poison Ruin, 7 p.m. Sunday, Songbyrd, $15/$18

The anthemic Philly punks take on the medieval imagery more common in heavy metal on one of the best heavy albums of the year, “Harvest.” Details.

What to do in Washington, D.C.

📚 Banned Books Week: Through Sat., D.C. libraries, free

Last chance: Theatre Week: Through 10/8, various venues

DC Metro Modern Home Tour: Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., $15-$80

First Saturdays: Indigenous People’s Day: Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., National Gallery of Art, free

Halloween Murder Mystery: Sun., Atlas Brew Works Ivy City Brewery & Taproom, $50

What to do in Maryland

😋 Taste of Bethesda: Sat., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., free admission

Glen Echo Park Outdoor Marketplace: Sat., Glen Echo Park, free

Midnight Mini-Golf: Fri., Columbia SportsPark, $15

International Poe Festival: Sat. and Sun., Poe Park in Baltimore, free

What to do in Virginia

🍷 Fall Wine Festival & Sunset Tour: Fri. to Sun., Mount Vernon East Lawn, $49+

DMV Chocolate and Coffee Festival: Sat. and Sun., Dulles Expo Center, $12.50-$22.50

Lime Connect Ride to rebrand disability: Sat., starts in Reston, $60-$130

Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix watch party: Sun., 9:20 a.m., Strawberry Park in Fairfax, free

That will soon be possible after President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden announced the dates for the traditional walks through the South Lawn of the executive mansion.

The White House’s Fall Garden Tours will be offered Saturday, Oct. 14 and Sunday, Oct. 15, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. both days, the White House said in a news release.

The tours are free and open to the public, but timed tickets are required for all attendees, regardless of age.

Unlike some other White House events, you won’t be able to enter an online lottery ahead of time for these tickets. Instead, the National Park Service will distribute tickets on a first-come, first-served basis outside the White House Visitor Center (1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW) starting at 8:30 a.m. on both days of the tours.

One ticket will be distributed to each person who comes to the visitor center, the White House said.

Once you get your ticket, head to the entry point on 15th Street NW between E Street NW and Constitution Avenue NW, near the Boy Scout Memorial, according to the White House. If you need the ADA entrance, you can find it at 15th Street NW and Alexander Hamilton Place NW.

Guided walks through the White House gardens take place twice each year, in spring and fall. Learn more about them here.

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Halloween is the time when people search high and low for thrills and chills. Whether that means a horrifying haunted house or a creepy ghost tour, you have plenty of options.

Prepare to be scared and check out these local haunted attractions in the Washington, D.C., area… if you dare!

Haunted houses and Halloween trails in Maryland

Field of Screams

📅 Thursdays through Sundays throughout October, plus Oct. 30-31
📍 4501 Olney Laytonsville Road, Olney, Maryland
💲 $62.28 (including fees)
🔗 Details

Voted the best haunted attraction by USA Today, Field of Screams is for those seeking a real scare across 55 horrifying stations.

Tickets are sold online only starting at $54 and get you admission to the trails and the Slaughter Factory, plus access to games and the bonfire areas. Carnival games and concessions cost extra.

Field of Screams is not recommended for children under 12.

“The actors are trained and professional and have been instructed not to intentionally touch or grab any of the patrons, however, we cannot guarantee they won’t accidentally bump or touch you as the environment is purposely dark and disorienting and full of moving and emotional people,” Field of Screams says.

Laurel’s House of Horrors

📅 Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 4, plus Halloween
📍 935 Fairlawn Ave., Laurel, Maryland
💲 $30-$40
🔗 Details

Get ready to be spooked in the area’s biggest indoor haunt. Built inside an abandoned movie theater, this season’s haunted house offers new chilling experiences in an eerie 28,000-square-foot space.

Explore the building’s paranormal activity and encounter terrifying creatures throughout the theater. Want more scares? Try out their “Escape the Movies” escape rooms based on ‘90s video games (for an extra fee). 

Along with general admission tickets, guests can buy additional packages with options to skip the line.

Markoff’s Haunted Forest 

📅 Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in October, plus Halloween
📍 19120 Martinsburg Road, Dickerson, Maryland
💲 $30-$50 for the trail (in advance)
🔗 Details

Venture off into the woods to experience three haunted attractions. While waiting in Markoff’s Midway, take in the creepy carnival. Then, you can then venture off into The Town where you get up close and personal with the strange residents. The mile-long Haunted Trail has twisting turns and terrifying scenes.

Depending on the night, tickets cost $30-$50 for the trail, $20-$30 for The Town and $45-$75 for entry to both. Tickets are subject to surge pricing the day-of.

A new attraction (available to purchase on-site) is See No Evil, a multisensory corn maze. 

Live entertainment is available some nights such as dance groups, live bands and fire spinners.

Haunted houses and Halloween trails in Virginia

Fields of Fear at Cox Farms

📅 Fridays and Saturdays through Nov. 4
📍 15621 Braddock Road, Centreville, Virginia
💲 $30-$40
🔗 Details

Fields of Fear turns this fall festival destination into one of your nightmares starting at 7:15 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Fear Deluxe Admission includes one entry to four haunted attractions over 20 acres: the Firegrounds, Dark Side Hayride, Cornightmare and the Forest: Back 40.

Fields of Fear is not recommended for children under 12 years old. Children under 14 years old must have a chaperone.

Be warned: “You may be touched by Fields of Fear actors, but you will not be forcefully struck or grabbed by any Cox Farms staff member or actor at any time,” Cox Farms says.

Scream

📅 Weekends in October, plus Oct. 30-31
📍 21100 Dulles Town Circle, Sterling, Virginia
💲 $20 on Fridays and Sundays; $25 on Saturdays
🔗 Details

Can you make it through the horrifying funhouse in Dulles Town Center? Navigate disorienting mirrors, eerie crowns and unsettling illusions. If you want to ward off the creepy clowns, you can purchase a “chicken necklace” for an extra fee.

The haunt is aimed at people aged 13 and up. The actors don’t touch the visitors, according to Scream’s FAQ. 

The Workhouse Arts Center

📅 Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays through Oct. 29, plus Halloween
📍 9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton, Virginia
💲 $30 online
🔗 Details

Operating on the grounds outside a notorious former prison, Workhouse Arts Center has real-life scary stories to back up its haunted trail. Before and after the haunt, check your adrenaline in a festive atmosphere with live music on Friday, Saturday and Halloween nights.

“Haunt: Game Over” immerses guests in an outdoor walk-through trail where they experience scares and laughs. Guests travel in small groups to abandoned buildings where they encounter terrifying creatures along the way. 

Food trucks, snacks, wine, beer and themed drinks will be available for guests to enjoy. 

Discounted tickets are available for groups of 10 or more. 

(On Oct. 15, the Center offered designated sensory-friendly time slots. On the trail, sound levels were less intense and strobe lights were not turned on.)

Spooky tours in Washington D.C.

Congressional Cemetery

📅 Various dates
📍 1801 E St. SE
💲 Suggested donation ($5+)
🔗 Details

While the Congressional Cemetery’s Soul Strolls 2023: Tragic Lives and Demise is sold out, you can still enjoy a variety of other tours of the permanent resting place of 65,000 people.

The Murder and Mayhem: Tragic Deaths at Congressional Cemetery Tour on Oct. 29 should scratch your Halloween itch.

National Building Museum Spooky History Tour

📅 Select dates through Oct. 31
📍 401 F St. NW
💲 $20 (nonmembers), $18 (students), $15 (members)
🔗 Details

Search for any otherworldly inhabitants of the National Building Museum and hear the building’s lesser-known tales.

Halloween Ghosts and History Tour

📅 Oct. 26, 28 and 31
💲  $21-$22
🔗 Details

Author Edward Moser is offering three ghost tours highlighting the spooky side of landmark neighborhoods: Georgetown,  Lafayette Square (outside the White House) and Old Town, Alexandria.

PAST EVENTS:

Six Flags Fright Fest in Bowie

📅 Select nights through Oct. 29
📍 13710 Central Ave., Upper Marlboro, Maryland
💲 $70 for a single-day park ticket and haunted attractions pass ($95 for an express ticket)
🔗 Details

Six Flags has even more reasons to scream during October. Scare zones and rides for all are included with standard admission tickets. Get the Haunted Attractions Pass to experience more scares, including Haunting of Hall Manor: The Return of Eleanor, Twisted Fairytales 3D and Unwrapped, a dark take on Santa’s workshop.

No costumes are allowed for visitors over 12.

AVFD Station 7 Terror Trail

📅 Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 28
📍  2380 Davidsonville Road, Gambrills, Maryland
💲 $25 (Terror Trail) or $10 (Boo Loop maze)
🔗 Details

Looking for a family-friendly haunt? Visit the Arundel Volunteer Fire Department to wind through the scary Terror Trial aimed at kids aged 8 and up. If the kids want to have a less spooky adventure, get lost in their new Boo Loop Maze for $10. It’s geared for kids under 8.

Kids are welcome to come in costume, uncover the mysteries of the Boo Loop and search for hidden clues in their new scavenger hunt, too. 

You can purchase tickets at the firehouse or online. Proceeds go toward supporting the volunteer fire department.

Haunted Hollow VA

📅 Friday and Saturday through Oct. 28
📍 8275 Maple Tree Lane, Warrenton, Virginia
💲 $25 per person
🔗 Details

Dare to explore the haunted barns around an abandoned farm.

There’s a two-ticket minimum. Haunted Hollow is recommended for people aged 13 and up.

Grief and Ghost Tours

📅 Oct. 20, 21, 27 and 28
📍 Lee-Fendall House Museum (614 Oronoco St., Alexandria, Virginia)
💲  $15
🔗 Details

Learn about Victorian mourning customs and “tragic deaths and mysterious occurrences at the Lee-Fendall House” in a rare opportunity to explore the house after dark.

Tickets must be purchased in advance. 

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So, cue the apple picking, pumpkin carving and getting lost in corn mazes, as autumn symbolizes abundance and gratitude. Something new to add to the joy of the season: stargazing, especially as the days continue to get shorter.

New seasons mean new sights high above us, like the full moon coming up on Oct. 28. These sights can enhance the experience of the night sky, but the visibility is dependent on light pollution and cloud cover.

We talked to two experts — Guy Brandenburg, president and longtime member of the National Capital Astronomers, and Kim Arcand, a visualization scientist and co-curator of “Lights Out: Recovering Our Night Sky” at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History — to get tips on stargazing in the D.C. area.

Can you actually see anything in the night sky in DC?

As Arcand notes, no matter where you are in the world, something should be visible.

“Even in a very deep urban center, you’ve got the moon. And the moon is personally one of my favorite objects,” she said.

When you look at a map of D.C. on Dark Site Finder, you’ll see the city is categorized as having the highest level of light pollution. This site uses 15 colors to depict the different levels of light pollution, with white as the brightest and black as the darkest (See how the site’s color scale works.) The light gets dimmer the farther away you get from the Beltway, Brandenburg notes. So the farther out you go, the more you’ll see.

Keep in mind: Cloud cover and dust in the air from wildfires can also impact visibility when stargazing. See the air quality here.

Get outside and attend a stargazing event

How do you stargaze in D.C.? You may want to go up on an apartment building rooftop or out to a spot without much upward obstruction, such as the National Mall. Arcand says the National Mall is actually a great place to observe the planets — plus it’s home to the National Air and Space Museum.

“We all have the right to be able to enjoy those views, and to be able to participate in what our universe has to offer, and there are some lovely public observatories around us,” Arcand said.

The National Air and Space Museum often hosts astronomy events, including Observe the Sun (with filtered telescopes); “The Sky Tonight,” s planetarium show; and it annual Solstice Saturday in June. However, the museum’s Phoebe Waterman Haas Public Observatory is currently closed for renovations.

The museum’s Virginia outpost, the Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, also offers astronomy programs, including stargazing events. Equipment is provided, and experienced members of the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club (NOVAC) and museum staff help visitors observe the sky.

In D.C.’s Rock Creek Park, the Exploring the Sky event has been welcoming amateur astronomers for 75 years. The event is coordinated by the National Park Service and the National Capital Astronomers (NCA).

If you attend, visit the planetarium at the nature center for a preview of what may be visible that evening. Afterwards, walk to the Military Meadow to join NCA members observing the sky with their telescopes.

Start with the moon and planets

The moon is a great place for beginners to start, Arcand say. Add “full,” “super,” “strawberry,” “harvest,” or even “blood” in front, and you’ve got a reason to stargaze.

The most recent events were late September’s harvest moon, and a pair of supermoons in August. A supermoon is when the moon is at its closest to Earth while it’s full. August had a rare blue moon — that’s when a second full moon happens in the same month. D.C. had a view of the total lunar eclipse in November 2022, the last until 2025.

You can join the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center for moongazing in October, and take a look at NASA’s Daily Moon Guide.

Once you tackle the moon, look for nearby planets as well. The way to tell a star from a planet is the “twinkle,” or lack of one — stars twinkle, but planets don’t, Arcand said. At certain times of the year in areas with light pollution, Venus, which is a bright planet, can often be mistaken for a star, she said.

“Venus is going to be a lovely example for many people, regardless of where you are situated for much of the year,” she said. You can also see “Jupiter, Mars, when it’s nearby, and sometimes even Saturn, depending on your light pollution level.”

Check it out: Storm Team4 Meteorologist Chuck Bell once spotted Venus and a waning moon above D.C.

Consider the season

Stargazing is a year-round activity, but you’ll need to pay attention to the forecast and when star events will occur (see below for where to find what’s visible in the sky.)

Fall may have the autumnal equinox and the harvest moon, but winter is the best season for stargazing, both Arcand and Brandenburg say. Just remember to bundle up for the cold temperatures.

“Things tend to be a little drier, you can get out a little earlier and the winter just adds a little bit of a clarity to the atmosphere that makes, to me, the night sky viewing a little sharper and a little brighter,” Arcand said.

If you stay up all night long in the winter, Brandenburg said, you will be rewarded with the “remarkable” view of the sky appearing to rotate around the north star. According to NASA, the north star, or Polaris, marks the geographic north and sits close to Earth’s North Pole. It’s not too hard to spot from a city and can help people orient their directions.

In January, Brandenburg often spots the Belt of Orion and the Big Dipper, two easily recognizable asterisms. An asterism is a prominent or familiar pattern of stars. They are often smaller than, or within, a constellation.

In the warmer months, Brandenburg likes to gaze at the moon and the summer triangle, an asterism made of the stars Vega, Altair and Deneb. He said these three bright stars are very obvious on summer nights in the area.

Heading into the summer, the days get longer. Some people in the area celebrate the summer solstice, which marks the astronomical first day of summer. Since the days are extra-long, Arcand recommends gazing at the stars closer to midnight for a better view of the night sky in the warmest months.

Do you need to use a telescope?

You won’t be able to see any galaxies with the naked eye while stargazing in D.C., Brandenburg said. With a regular telescope, he said more objects will be visible but will still be a challenge to view.

To get around this, Brandenburg said some members of the NCA stargaze with an eVscope, a telescope that uses magnification and image processing to provide a nearly real-time look at nebulae and galaxies. This modern telescope works better in urban areas such as D.C., because it was created to cut through light pollution, according to reviews.

If you’re interested in creating your own telescope, Brandenburg leads NCA’s telescope-making workshop.

Use technology

Knowing when and where to find planets and stars can be tricky. Newsletters, free star/planet finder apps and websites can help.

Brandenburg recommends the website What’s Out Tonight, which offers a sky chart, teaches users about the brightest stars and lists the best viewing times. Arcand recommends the websites Time and Date, Astronomy.com and EarthSky. They share info on what’s visible in the sky, upcoming celestial events and informative newsletters.

The National Capital Astronomers (NCA) have a newsletter called Star Dust that shares astronomy news, upcoming events and what planets and/or stars can be viewed in the coming month in the D.C. area.

Be sure to check your phone’s app store for handy stargazing apps, such as SkyView (App Store | Google Play) or Planets (App Store | Google Play). SkyView uses your camera and location to help you find nearby stars and constellations. Planets lets you aim your phone anywhere you want to show you a 360-degree view of planets and constellations around your location. Here’s where to find more stargazing apps.

Visit a dark sky site

From meteor showers to asteroids, there are many celestial events that dazzle above D.C. but can’t be seen because of light pollution. If you’re ready to see the night sky in all its glory, venture to one of the dark sky sites nearby. The magnificence of the Milky Way will make the trip worth it.

“There are a couple of really lovely parks not that far outside of the D.C. area where you could get a glimpse of that richer detailed view of your own night sky,” Arcand said.

About an hour from D.C., you’ll find Sky Meadows State Park in Delaplane, Virginia. The park — which became an International Dark Sky Park in 2021 — hosts a monthly Astronomy for Everyone event. The 1,860-acre park’s “unique, shielded landscape gives visitors the opportunity to view the stars away from higher levels of light pollution,” according to a Facebook post.

Other Virginia state parks celebrate Dark Sky Week each year in April and also offer astronomy events such as a Harvest Moon hike and self-guided Dark Sky Nights.

“To get to anything like what you would think of as a dark sky, like you would see in a desert someplace without lights nearby, you have to go a long way, you have to go into West Virginia or northern Pennsylvania,” Brandenburg said.

About four hours from D.C. is Seneca State Forest, West Virginia, is known for the Thorny Mountain Fire Tower which brings visitors high above the woodlands for unparalleled views of the night sky. Go a little farther way from light pollution to the state’s International Dark Sky Park sites:

• Watoga State Park
• Calvin Price State Forest
• Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park

“It really inspires you with awe, at least me; it’s so beautiful,” Brandenburg said about stargazing.

Learn about light pollution

Light pollution is when artificial light on the ground clouds up the sky and blocks the view of stars, according to Arcand.

During the many centuries before the invention of artificial light, humans were used to having dark skies filled with stars, she said. Now, about a third of the world’s population cannot see the Milky Way, according to the website Lights Out: Recovering our Night Sky.

She said it is worth considering whether light pollution disconnects us from a part of our culture or our creative brains. If art, like The Starry Night painting by Vincent Van Gogh, would exist if there had been light pollution in the 1800s.

“We’ve had thinkers and artists, scientists, and just everyday people being able to depend on the night sky, either for navigation across seas, for being able to light the way at night by the light of a full moon, or just being able to inspire them,” she said.

Did you know? Georgetown University is home to the third-oldest observatory in the U.S. The Heyden Observatory was built in 1844 and closed in 1971 due to light pollution.

Light pollution negatively impacts wildlife and disrupts the flight patterns of many birds. Lights Out D.C., a volunteer group featured in the Smithsonian’s Sidedoor podcast, said they collect hundreds of dead birds that fly into office buildings during the migration season.

“It’s really a problem for not just us astronomers being selfish because we like to see the stars, but every living creature that includes plants, as well as animals, is profoundly affected by light,” Brandenburg said.

Visitors can explore the potential downsides of light pollution and how much light humans need at the Lights Out: Recovering our Night Sky. exhibit until Dec. 2025.

A quick guidebook for stargazing in the DC area:

Clubs:

• National Capital Astronomers
• Northern Virginia Astronomy Club (NOVAC)
• Astronomical Society of Greenbelt

Places:

• Rock Creek Park, Washington D.C., Exploring the Sky
• The National Mall, Washington D.C., Solstice Saturday
• Fairfax County Parks, various events
• National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C. various events
• Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly, Virginia, various events
• Seneca State Forest, West Virginia
• Sky Meadows State Park, Delaplane, Virginia

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Planetariums:

• Rock Creek Park Planetarium, Washington, D.C.
• David M. Brown Planetarium, Arlington, Virginia
• Air and Space Museum Planetarium, Washington, D.C.

Observatories:

• George Mason University Observatory, Fairfax, Virginia
• Greenbelt Observatory, Greenbelt, Maryland
• Several observatories in the D.C. area are temporarily closed to the public.

Exhibits:

• Goddard Visitor Center exhibits, Greenbelt, Maryland
• Lights Out: Recovering Our Night Sky., Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C.
• ARTECHOUSE’s “Beyond the Light,” Washington, D.C.

Do you see something that should be in this guide? Email tips@nbcwashington.com and/or share your stargazing photos at #4theScene.

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You may want to send off Xiao Ji Qi, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian or visit the World Culture Festival on Friday or Saturday, just in case the government shuts down on Sunday. If the government shuts down, it’s likely that the National Zoo and Smithsonian Museums would close.

Did you know Fort Belvoir opens its gates every year for anyone to celebrate Oktoberfest? It’s happening this weekend!

The weather is starting to turn around, and it’ll feel so good to get outside on the first day of October with sunny skies and a high of 80°.

Great weather is on tap for these fall festivals with corn mazes, giant slides and apple cider doughnuts.

World Culture Festival

📅 Fri. to Sun.
📍 The National Mall
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Centered around a football field-sized stage hosting hundreds or even thousands of performers at a time, the first World Culture Festival in the U.S. will be a spectacle.

The lineup of performances for the Main Stage World Culture Festival Showcase, scheduled for 6 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, is almost unbelievable. Here’s what organizers say to expect:

• Concerts from Skip Marley (Friday) and local go-go bands
• A Chinese cultural performance with 1,000 singers, dancers and dragons (Saturday)
• A tribute to the 50th anniversary of hip-hop featuring Kurtis Blow, SHA-Rock, Sequence Girls and DJ Kool and 100 break dancers (Saturday)
• Over 100 other performances

🧘🏾‍♂️ A massive yoga class is set for 8 a.m. Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial, followed by a meditation led by the peace activist and spiritual leader behind the festival, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

“Doing a group meditation can uplift the energy and create such positive vibes. And that’s much needed,” Shankar said. He said the festival is all about fostering unity in a stressed-out world.

The rest of the weekend, explore the festival village, featuring sessions such as “Be Authentically You!” and “Water Color & Mindful Self-Expression,” food trucks and a Kids’ Zone.

If the government shuts down, the World Culture Festival will cancel Sunday’s in-person programming and broadcast performances.

“Friday and Saturday programming on the National Mall remains unchanged irrespective of the government shutdown outcome. In case the National Mall becomes inaccessible due to government shutdown, we will move the Sunday portion of our programming to a private venue and live stream it to our local, national and international audiences,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

Pro tips:

• Register for free event passes online before you go.
• A government shutdown could impact the location or schedule on Sunday (although festival organizers tell us they have contingency plans).

The Big Dig

📅 Sat., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
📍 Ashburn, Virginia
💲 $15
🔗 Details

Live out your childhood dreams of operating excavators and scissor lifts but also help families affected by pediatric cancer.

After testing out construction equipment, enjoy games, crafts, music and food trucks.

DC Coffee Festival

📅 Sat., two sessions
📍 Dock 5 at Union Market
💲 $35-$69
🔗 Details

Get your buzz on while trying specialty roasters’ unique beans.

Pick a session or get an all-day pass to coffee, vendors and entertainment. Here’s the fest’s FAQ (yes, you can BYO mug and dog!). 

Thee Phantom & The Illharmonic Orchestra

📅 Sat., show at 8 p.m.
📍 The Lincoln Theatre
💲 $35
🔗 Details

The hip-hop orchestra that previously sold out at the Kennedy Center is back with strings, horns, piano, “a party-rocking DJ, a soul-stirring female vocalist, and a fire-breathing MC.” 

Art All Night

📅 Fri. and Sat., 7 p.m. until late
📍All eight wards 
🔗 Details

Art All Night is a block party spanning all eight wards of the District.

From Congress Heights to Chevy Chase, Deanwood to Georgetown and everywhere in between, enjoy live music, dance, art, hands-on crafts, activations from local businesses and so much more homegrown D.C. goodness.

Art All Night has interactive maps for Friday and Saturday. Each map lists which locations go heavier on late-night vibes, live music and family-friendly activities (peek at the column on the left).

Concerts this weekend

Soul Glo, 8 p.m. Friday, Howard Theatre, $20

Maybe the most exciting punk band of the past few years. The fierce, exhilarating Philly trio’s influences range from hardcore to rap. Details.

The Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, 9 p.m. Saturday, Slash Run, $15

Hardcore band with one of the most charismatic frontmen on the D.C. scene celebrates 10 years with a tape release party. Longtime D.C. hardcore/punk/metal band The Mostly Dead opens. Details.

Shabazz Palaces, 8 p.m. Sunday, DC9, $25-$30

Ishmael Butler, aka Palaceer Lazaro (aka Butterfly of hip hop legends Digable Planets), carries on his other group’s tradition of thought-provoking poetry rap. Details. 

More things to do in DC

Concert to End Cancer featuring White Ford Bronco: Thurs., The Bullpen (Southeast D.C.), $25 (GA) or $50 (VIP)

March on Washington Film Festival: Through Sun., various venues and ticket prices

DC Theatre Week: Through 10/8

Last chance: Panda Palooza: Through 10/1, National Zoo, free

Atlas Brew Works 10-Year Anniversary: Sat., noon to 5 p.m., Northeast D.C., $20

Salsa Dancing on the Rooftop: Sat., 6-9 p.m., Lady Bird at the Banneker, free entry (21+)

Opera in the Outfield: La bohème: Sat., gates open 5 p.m., Nationals Park, free

More things to do in Maryland

Prince George’s Film Festival: Thurs. to Sun., various locations and events

Silver Spring Arts & Crafts Fall Fair: Sat., 1-6 p.m., Veterans Plaza, free entry 

Unwine Festival: Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Patuxent River Park, $50 (GA)

All Things Go: Sat. and Sun., Merriweather Post Pavilion, sold out but waitlist is available

PIKEtoberfest: Sun., Pike & Rose in Bethesda, Free entry

Oktoberfest at Guinness Open Gate Brewery: This weekend and next, Halethorpe, Free (general admission)/$25-$595 (VIP experiences)

More things to do in Virginia

Fields of Fear at Cox Farms: Fri. and Sat. nights 9/22-11/4, plus 10/8, Centreville, Virginia, $30-$40

Mosaic Fall Festival (rescheduled from last weekend): Sat. and Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fairfax, free

Manassas Latino Festival: Sat., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Harris Pavilion, free

Leesburg Airshow: Sat., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Leesburg Executive Airport, free

Rosslyn Reads Book Festival: Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Central Place Plaza, free entry

State Fair of Virginia: Through 10/1, Doswell, $10

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According to the announcement posted on their website, these changes come in response to the government shutdown that could possibly go into effect on Oct. 1.

“The suitability of the event’s original venue, may be uncertain due to various factors related to federal personnel, including individuals connected to the National Park Service,” the announcement said. “This situation affects the National Mall and West Potomac Park, where the event was initially scheduled to take place.”

The celebration will now occur at Nationals Park in Navy Yard on Saturday Oct. 28.

Despite these changes, they maintain that the event will still provide “an unforgettable experience for hip-hop enthusiasts.”

Though it was previously stated that Public Enemy and Ice-T would be headlining, the lineup for Oct. 28 has yet to be released.

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Fall is in full swing around the D.C. area. With the weather cooling down and October nearing, it’s the perfect time to get outside for some harvest season fun.

Grab your favorite scarf and check out these spots in Maryland and Virginia!

Virginia

Cox Farms Fall Festival

📅 Thursdays to Mondays through Nov. 6, plus Tuesday, Nov. 7.
📍 15621 Braddock Rd., Centreville, Virginia
💲 $10-$25
🔗 Details

Located less than 40 minutes from downtown D.C., you could spend hours at Cox Farms exploring the attractions, hearing live music, snacking on apple cider doughnuts and browsing the farm market. Apples and pumpkins are available for sale. 

The Cornundrum is a corn maze meets fun house with pirates, caves, jungles and other surprises. Kids will love all the themed slides while any animal lover can feed a goat or learn to milk a cow.

For anyone ready to fast-forward to spooky season, don’t miss the Fields of Fear! It’s already open and cheaper to visit early in the season.

Pumpkin Village at Leesburg Animal Park

📅 Through Nov. 7 (closed Tuesdays)
📍 19246 James Monroe Hwy, Leesburg, Virginia
💲 $17.95-$22.95 (depending on when you visit)
🔗 Details

Fall festival fun gets a little wild at Leesburg Animal Park. Admission includes access to the animals, plus access to festival activities: giant slides, a hay maze, moon bounces, wagon rides, animal petting and a train ride.

There’s even more fun to find on the weekends, including face painting, live entertainment and a kiddie zip line.

On Wednesdays, admission is discounted to $14.95 per person. There are also value weekends in September, plus Nov. 4 and 5.

Great Country Farms

📅 Through Nov. 5
📍 Bluemont, Virginia
💲 $12-$18 (save by buying online in advance)
🔗 Details

You could easily spend a whole day at Great Country Farms, picking apples and pumpkins, exploring the farm play area, trying out 18 holes of Cow Pie Putt Putt, mazes, a farm ninja course and wagon rides.

You can even bring your own fishing gear for the catch-and-release fishing pond.

Don’t forget to stop by the bakery before heading home.

September brings the Fall Apple Harvest + Corn Maze, plus the Family Flashlight Corn Maze Nights, while the month of October is all about pumpkin picking and adult corn maze nights (but you can pick both apples and pumpkins during the last week of September!).

After Halloween, bring your jack-o-lantern for some messy fun on Pumpkin Chunkin’ Weekend.

Maryland

Gaver Farm Fall Fun Fest

📅 Through Oct. 31
📍 Mount Airy
💲 $18
🔗 Details

With a 7-acre corn maze, giant slides, farm animals and pick-your-own fields for pumpkins and apples, it’s easy to fill a day with fall fun at Gaver Farm. It’s open daily (including weekdays) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

You don’t need a festival ticket to visit the farm for its market, Donut Hut, Barn Grill, hayrides, pumpkin patch or apple orchards. Hayrides to the pick-your-own areas are free!

Butler’s Orchard

📅 Wednesday through Sunday through Oct. 29, plus Monday, Oct. 9
📍 Germantown, Maryland
💲 $10-$17
🔗 Details

Jump from a hayloft, take a hayride, get lost in a twisted corn maze and take a dip in a corn pool during Butler’s Orchard’s 43rd annual Pumpkin Festival, a 35-minute drive from downtown Silver Spring.

Pick-your-own pumpkin admission is included, but pumpkins cost 75 cents per pound.

Purchase your tickets in advance because they do sell out. Save on admission by going on a weekday or purchasing tickets online.

Private campfires are also available for rent — a great option for city dwellers who want to roast s’mores without going camping!

Magnolia Meadow Farms

📅 Through Oct. 29
📍 Thurmont, Maryland
💲 $15 (online)/$17 (at the gate)
🔗 Details

Boasting Maryland’s Largest Corn Maze alongside apple cannons, giant slides, mini ziplines, farm animals and pedal carts, this working farm is a great choice if you want to get a taste of country life.

Take a hayride to pick your own produce; Magnolia Meadow offers pumpkins, gourds, sunflowers and flowers when the season is right. Or, buy produce at the farm market, along with local meats and apple cider doughnuts.

Don’t miss the Moonlit Maze nights on Oct. 7 and 28, when you can try to find your way through 5 miles of trails in the corn maze after the sun goes down.

Magnolia Farms also does private campfire rentals.

Maryland Corn Maze

📅 Through Nov. 5
📍 Gambrills, Maryland
💲 $15.95
🔗 Details

The superhero-themed corn maze is open for the season. Check out Flashlight Nights for some after-dark fun, plus this calendar for discounts and special days.

You can also pick up pumpkins and explore the farm yard with a hay pyramid, petting zoo, jump pad and more.

Miller Farms

📅 Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 29
📍 Clinton, Maryland
💲 $14.95 online, $16.95 at gate ($2 more on peak dates, Oct. 14 and Oct. 21)
🔗 Details

Scenic hayrides with wacky scarecrows, an “enormous” corn maze, giant slides and family photo ops are just some of what you’ll find at Miller Farms, located about a half-hour from downtown D.C. and Old Town Alexandria. Stop by thefarm market for apple cider doughnuts, locally-grown applies , pumpkins, mums and more.

Montpelier Farms

📅 Through Nov. 5
📍 Upper Marlboro, Maryland
💲 General admission is $19 on weekends and $14 on weekdays
🔗 Details

You don’t have to go far to find a pumpkin patch, farm activities and more.

A 7-acre, alien invasion-themed corn maze (including in haunt-free Flashlight Nights), plus a smaller version for kids, hayrides, giant hill slides, animal petting, pumpkin bowling pedal karts and more activities are all included with admission.

You must buy a ticket in advance to visit on weekends during October.

They also have private campfires available for rent.

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The festival will feature a football field-sized stage hosting hundreds or even thousands of musicians and dancers at a time, food from dozens of countries and morning yoga at the Lincoln Memorial followed by a meditation led by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the festival’s organizer and a renowned spiritual leader, organizers say.

The three-day festival will bring performances, food and relaxation to the heart of downtown D.C. — which will continue, with contingency plans in place if the federal government shuts down.

Peace advocate and spiritual leader Shankar and his meditation-focused organization, Art of Living, are behind the festival, which they describe as a cultural Olympics on the National Mall.

“It’s an Olympic without competition,” Shankar told News4’s Tommy McFly ahead of the festival. “There is no competition between cultures or between artists. They all just perform with a sense of celebration.”

More than 450,000 have registered to attend, organizers said. Parking restrictions are already in effect, and road closures are planned.

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“It’s a moment of celebration for people of all different cultures, nationalities, come together with the spirit of one world family,” Shankar said.

Hyped by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and world leaders, plus counting a former secretary-general of the United Nations and members of Congress on its reception committee, the festival is set to display cultures from 180 countries on one stage.

The festival’s goal is to energize visitors, bring them a sense of peace and increase a sense of belonging, Shankar told News4.

What can I see at the World Culture Festival?

Organizers are talking about setting up a stage the size of a football field on the National Mall. That stage is supposed to host the Main Stage World Culture Festival Showcase, featuring performances with up to thousands of dancers, musicians and others at a time.

The performance lineup spans genres and generations and cultures. A D.C.-based Brazilian drumming group and Irish dancers from Northern Virginia are among many local groups appearing, a spokesperson said.

Activities and performances include:

• Concerts from Skip Marley (Bob Marley’s grandson), local go-go bands, U.S. military bands, The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC and an Iranian folk orchestra
• Large-scale dances displaying a 7,000-dancer Garba “extravaganza” that will encourage the audience to join in, Argentinian tango and a 100-dancer Ukrainian folk dance
• A Chinese cultural performance with 1,000 singers, dancers and dragons
• A tribute to the 50th anniversary of hip-hop featuring Kurtis Blow, SHA-Rock, Sequence Girls and DJ Kool and 100 break dancers
• Morning yoga on the National Mall on Saturday, followed by meditation

The festival grounds will host international food trucks, exhibits and a festival village featuring courses with titles including “Be Authentically You!” and “Water Color & Mindful Self-Expression,” according to the schedule. There will also be a Meditation Oasis, Kids Zone and exhibit on the host organization, Art of Living.

At the festival, “in one place you can get the cuisine of 180 countries,” Shankar said.

What’s the World Culture Festival schedule?

The festival is set to be open for three days:

• On Friday, the festival village will be open from noon to 6 p.m. The Main Stage World Culture Festival Showcase is set for 6-9:30 p.m.
• On Saturday, there will be yoga from 8-9:30 a.m. at the Lincoln Memorial followed by a “Special Meditation with Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.” The festival village will be open from noon to 6 p.m. The main stage showcase is set for 6-9:30 p.m.
• On Sunday, the mainstage showcase runs from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The festival village hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Do I need tickets to the World Culture Festival?

Yes. You can register for free event passes online. The form asks for your email, name and phone number. Up to four passes can be reserved at a time.

Passes will be available at the event, but there could be long waits, according to the event’s FAQ.  

World Culture Festival Map

Would the World Culture Festival be impacted by a potential government shutdown?

During past government shutdowns, services to the National Mall and access to certain memorials has been limited.

Organizers shared their shutdown contingency plan on Thursday morning. But as of Friday afternoon, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that it would not be necessary.

No matter what happens with Congress, the Friday and Saturday plans for the World Culture Festival will continue as normal. Previously, organizers said if the government shuts down at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, they would “broadcast Sunday’s program and festivities from a private venue in Washington, D.C.,” according to a press release.

That contingency plan became less necessary Friday afternoon, when Bowser said that the District has reached an agreement with the National Park Service that would allow the festival to continue uninterrupted through Sunday.

Even if the federal government shuts down, Bowser told reporters including News4’s Mark Segraves, the D.C. government would pick up any responsibilities that day that would’ve been handled by the NPS.

Who’s behind the World Culture Festival, and what’s the goal?

Shankar and his organization Art of Living, which has an office near Meridian Hill Park in Northwest D.C., brought the fourth World Culture Festival to D.C.

The Financial Times said Shankar is “among India’s most famous godmen.”

Gurudev is a title for spiritual teachers and leaders used in Hinduism and Buddhism, while Sri Sri is an honorific or title — much like “Mr.” in English — used in India that’s associated with holiness.

The organization says it is a nonpolitical, nondenominational movement of nonviolence and peace.

Shankar and his organization emphasize breathwork and meditation, saying it can get rid of stress, and offer courses marketed as paths toward well-being.

“What is really bugging our society is loneliness, depression on one side, and aggression on the other side,” Shankar said. He believes that coming together to celebrate is “the only way to overcome these challenges.”

According to Shankar, the festival centers three things that unite people: food and “having meals together,” music and dance, and meditation.

Shankar’s guided meditation on Saturday morning, after up to 2,000 teachers lead yoga at the Lincoln Memorial, is also meant to inspire a sense of belonging.

“Doing a group meditation can uplift the energy and create such positive vibes. And that’s much needed,” Shankar said.

Three other World Culture Festivals have attracted 2.5 million attendees to Bangalore in 2006, 700,000 to Berlin in 2011 and 3.75 million to New Delhi in 2016, according to Art of Living. But this year’s will be the first in the U.S.

“Thousands of people coming together to celebrate cultures from all over the world and participate in Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar’s vision of a happier, more cohesive, less violent society,” Art of Living said in a release.

Who will be speaking at the World Culture Festival?

The list of speakers is almost as impressive as the performances.

“Inspirational messages are expected from” Ban Ki-Moon, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Former First Lady Akie Abe of Japan, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and former leaders of Ecuador, Norway and Nigeria.

More information about the speakers is expected to become available closer to the festival.

Road closures and parking restrictions

D.C. police announced the road closures and parking restrictions due to the set up, event and breakdown of the festival from Monday, Sept. 18 through Thursday, Oct. 5.

Drivers should be cautious of increased pedestrian traffic and possible delays, police said.

Emergency no parking began Monday

Parking will not be allowed on the following street from 5 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 18 until noon on Thursday, Oct. 5:

• 4th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Parking will not be allowed on the following streets from 6 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28 until 11 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 1:

• 3rd Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• 7th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• Madison Drive from 14th Street to 3rd Street, NW
• Jefferson Drive from 14th Street to 3rd Street, SW

The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic from 5 a.m. on Monday, September 18 until noon on Thursday, October 5:

• 4th Street from Jefferson Drive, SW to Madison Drive, NW
• 4th Street from Independence Avenue to Jefferson Drive, SW and 4th Street from Madison Drive to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW will be open for local traffic only

Road closures

The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic from approximately 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28 until Saturday, Sept. 30 and from approximately 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 1:

• Madison Drive from 14th Street to 3rd Street, NW
• Jefferson Drive from 14th Street to 3rd Street, SW

The following streets may be closed to vehicle traffic for public safety from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 28 until Sunday, Oct. 1:

• 3rd Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• 7th Street from Independence Avenue, SW to Constitution Avenue, NW
• 12th Street Expressway from I-395 to Constitution Avenue, NW
• 14th Street from the 14th Street bridge to Constitution Avenue, NW

How can I get to the festival?

Between parking restrictions and road closures, Metro, biking, walking or scootering are likely your best options.

The Smithsonian Metro station will get you the closest to the festival on the National Mall. Take an Orange, Blue or Silver Line train, and that Metro stop will put you right in the middle of the action. Exiting at the Federal Triangle Station would put visitors about two blocks away from the National Mall, along 12th Street NW.

The Archives/Navy Memorial station on the Yellow and Green lines puts visitors about three blocks away, closer to the Capitol and the performance stage side of the National Mall.

On the Yellow and Green lines, L’Enfant Plaza and Archives-Navy Memorial are nearby. Red Line riders can get off at Metro Center and walk for about 15 minutes.

Bus routes may be affected by the World Culture Festival, but Metro stations will remain open. You can find a comprehensive list of planned closures and changes on the WMATA website here.

Jefferson Drive SW and Madison Drive NW — those roads between the Smithsonian museums and the National Mall lawn — will be closed to traffic.

Rideshare drivers will be able to drop off passengers near the National Mall on Constitution Avenue and Independence Avenue.

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Happy (almost) birthday to all of our Libras! Known for making things happen and a love of beauty, a Libra’s energy is just what we need as the fall equinox on Saturday officially ushers in the season of leaf-peeping and apple picking.

But with a soaked Saturday and Sunday showers in the forecast, check with an event’s website and social media sites before heading over!

Storm Team4 says Saturday will be a day to stay inside. Several events, including the Celebrate Petworth Festival, The Anacostia River Splash and Fairfax Fiesta were canceled. The Falls Church Festival is rescheduled to Sunday.

The good news is that there are plenty of things to do inside on Saturday:

• 🎭 DC Theatre Week: 9/21-10/8
• American Art Museum modern and contemporary galleries: Reopen Friday
• DC Shorts Film Festival: Through Sun., various location and ticket options
• National Cathedral’s Unveiling of the Now and Forever Windows: Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Northwest D.C., free (rain or shine)
• AFI Latin American Film Festival: 9/21-10/11, Silver Spring, $15
• SANA(A) exhibition: Through 10/1, Pyramid Atlantic Arts Center in Hyattsville, free

Even though Storm Team4 says that “less than ideal” foliage is expected in the D.C. area, there are plentiful signs of autumn:

• Lovettsville’s massive Oktoberfest (the weather will be much better on Sunday).
• The Capitals’ first preseason game and another sold-out Commanders game — both on Sunday!
• Fall festivals at Gaver Farm and Cox Farms.
• Even Fields of Fear is open for early Halloween scares!

Panda Palooza

📅 9/23 to 10/1
📍 National Zoo
💲 Free
🔗 Details

9/23 to 10/1, National Zoo, free

No matter how much we try to get ready, it’s going to be tough saying goodbye to the giant pandas at the National Zoo.

The three pandas, 25-year-old Mei Xiang, 26-year-old Tian Tian and 3-year-old Xiao Qi Ji will be returned to China at the end of this year. But first, D.C.’s favorite zoo residents are getting a massive going away party.

Panda Palooza: A Giant Farewell starts Friday, and you better believe the celebration kicks off with a fruitsicle cake. The zoo opens at 8 a.m. on Saturday, then zookeepers will release the pandas into their outdoor habitats at 9 a.m.

Treats from the Chinese embassy, movie screenings, live concerts and hands-on activities for kids will help send the pandas off in style until Panda Palooza ends on Oct. 1.

DC Theatre Week

📅 9/21-10/8
🔗 Details

Snag tickets for $20, $40 or $60 to over 25 shows including “Mulan,” “Cirque du Soleil: ECHO,” “Moulin Rouge!”

Tommy checked out “My Mama and the Full Scale Invasion” at Woolly Mammoth, a comedy-drama based on the messages a mom sent to her daughter from war-torn Kyiv.

Jummy spoke to two of the women behind “Something Moving: A Meditation on Maynard” at Ford’s Theatre.

Hispanic Heritage Month

📅 Through 10/15

This weekend is bursting with ways to celebrate Latino culture.

Fiesta DC returns with two days of free music and a parade on Sunday; the Latino Heritage Celebration of Sterling will delight kids (there will be moon bounces!).

Note that Fiesta Fairfax! was canceled.

Spend a rainy afternoon exploring the AFI Latin American Film Festival; general admission tickets are $15. 

American Art Museum galleries reopen

📅 Exhibit reopens Fri.
📍 American Art Museum
💲 Free
🔗 Details

The Smithsonian American Art Museum is reintroducing D.C. to some of its most iconic and photo-friendly works.

On Friday, “the newly reimagined and reinstalled modern and contemporary art galleries” will reopen to the public.

Curators will be on hand from 12:30-5:15 p.m. to give gallery talks about the new spaces, plus special exhibitions, Many Wests: Artists Shape an American Idea and Musical Thinking: New Video Art and Sonic Strategies.

Downtown Hyattsville Arts Festival

📅 Sat., noon to 6 p.m.
📍Gateway Arts District
🔗 Details

The Downtown Hyattsville Arts Festival on Saturday will bring together live music, more than 100 jury-selected artists and artisans, plus craft breweries and food vendors— and it’s free!

Top concerts this weekend

The Breeders, 8 p.m. Thursday,  Fillmore Silver Spring, $39.50

The classic ‘90s alt-rock band is touring in celebration of the 30th anniversary (lot of these going around lately) of their masterpiece, “Last Splash.” Details. 

Boris and Melvins, 9 p.m. Friday, Howard Theatre, $35

Two genre jumping heavy metal titans are co-headlining the Twins of Evil Tour. The influential and groundbreaking Melvins came up in the ‘80s and were huge influences on stoner metal, grunge, experimental metal and more. Japanese trio Boris, who took their name from a Melvins song, have mastered shoegaze, thrash and doom. Details. 

Low Cut Connie, 10 p.m. Saturday, 9:30 Club, $30

Piano-driven bar rock with boogie from Philadelphia. Details. 

Ratboys, 8 p.m. Sunday, Songbyrd, $18/$20

Rootsy indie rock band from Chicago that’s reminiscent of the ‘90s. They’re touring in support of terrific new album “The Window.” First night sold out, so grab tickets for Sunday now. Details. 

More things to do in D.C. this weekend

🎬 DC Shorts Film Festival: Through Sun., various location and ticket options

Mid-Autumn Night Market: Wed. and Thurs., Hi-Lawn (Union Market), free admission

DC Dine All Night: 9/21-10/1

CANCELED: Celebrate Petworth: Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., 800 block of Upshur Street NW, free

Unveiling of the Now and Forever Windows: Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., free

SOLSDANCE : the equinox set to sun and sound: Sat., noon to 8 p.m., Meridian Hill Park, donation suggested

Punk & Go-Go: Live at MLK: Sun., 1-5 p.m., MLK Library (Northwest D.C.), free

Capitals vs. Sabres: Sun., 2 p.m., Capital One Arena, $29+

More things to do in Maryland this weekend

🍎 Gaver Farm Fall Fun Fest: Through 10/31, Mount Airy, $18

AFI Latin American Film Festival: 9/21-10/11, Silver Spring, $15

7 Locks Oktoberfest: Fri., 5-10 p.m., Rockville, Maryland, free entry

The Great Frederick Fair: Through Sat., Frederick, Maryland, admission is $8

Montgomery Parks Ale Trail: Sat., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lake Needwood in Rock Creek Park, free entry

2nd Annual Zinnia Oktoberfest: Sun., Zinnia (Silver Spring), $45

Commanders vs. Bills: Sun., 1 p.m., FedEx Field, $45+ 

More things to do in Virginia this weekend

🎃 Cox Farms Fall Festival: Thursdays to Mondays from 9/23-11/6, plus 11/7, Centreville, Virginia, $10-$25

Fields of Fear at Cox Farms: Fri. and Sat. nights 9/22-11/4, plus 10/8, Centreville, Virginia, $30-$40

Family Flashlight Farm & Corn Maze Nights: 9/22-9/23; 9/29-9/30, Bluemont, Virginia, $15-$17

Occoquan Fall Arts & Crafts Show: Sat. and Sun., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., free admission

Mosaic Fall Festival: Sat. and Sun., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Fairfax, free

Old Town Warrenton Fall Festival: Sat., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Main Street in Historic Old Town Warrenton, free admission

Rokeby Farm and Oak Spring Garden Fall Tours: Fri. and Sat., Upperville, $50

Beer in the Garden at The Farm at Halley Rise: Sat., noon to 3 p.m., Reston, $10 for ages 21+

State Fair of Virginia: 9/22-10/1, Doswell, $10

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