Is this the most festive week of the year? Between the holiday parades, holiday markets, holiday concerts and Christmas tree lightings, you’ve also got the first night of Hanukkah. (We made a separate guide to Hanukkah events, but we’ve included some fun things to do throughout the column.) Other highlights include an attempt to set a record for the most couples kissing under mistletoe, a tribute to wrestler John Cena before his final match, the Embassy of Argentina celebrating the National Day of Tango with wine and music, and dueling hot cocoa and bar crawls on Saturday afternoon.
Thursday, Dec. 11
Hanukkah Story Time at Capital Jewish Museum
The theme for this month’s museum story time was a given: doughnuts. Author Zoe Judith will visit the museum for a reading of “Plain and Powdered,” her book about family history, cooking traditions and Hanukkah celebrations. The programming, which includes songs and crafts, is focused on kids under 5. 10 a.m. Free.
Sparkling December at Free State
If you’re feeling festive this holiday season — or you could use an excuse to be a bit more bubbly — make your way to Free State. The annual Sparkling December promotion finds the basement bar adding four or five sparkling wines to the menu — Lambrusco from northern Italy, sparkling rosé from Austria, champagne-method brut from South Africa. Try them all and earn a spot in the Hall of Fame on the wall, as well as VIP perks. Through Dec. 31. Wines $10-$25 per glass; most selections $15 or less.
Friday, Dec. 12
Washington Performing Arts’s ‘Season of Hope’ at D.A.R. Constitution Hall
The U.S. Air Force Band takes the stage at Constitution Hall to perform holiday favorites — including “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)”, “Winter Wonderland/Don’t Worry Be Happy,” and “Go Tell it on the Mountain” — with WPA’s Children of the Gospel Choir. The show ends with a visitor from the North Pole. Friday at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday at noon and 3:30 p.m. Free.
Winter Welcome at Torpedo Factory
Explore the artist studios at the Torpedo Factory and you might find the perfect holiday gift for a loved one — or yourself. The after-hours event includes a performance by Crab Shack Music; complimentary beer, wine and snacks; ornament-making; printmaking demonstrations; and a market with locally made products from Made in Alexandria’s vendors. 7 to 10 p.m. Free.
Marché de Noël Gift Market at Gustave Boulangerie
Del Ray’s cozy French cafe hosts a three-day holiday market with seasonal European snacks — think raclette, bûche de Noël or mulled wine — and activities that include photos with Santa (Friday), holiday music from carolers and choirs (Friday and Saturday), and ornament-making stations and pony rides for kids (Sunday). Friday from 3 to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free admission; pony rides $10.
‘Muppet Christmas Carol’ at Electric Snappy’s Tree Lot
Is Electric Snappy’s Tree-tacular a Christmas tree lot that sells warm cocktails or a pop-up holiday bar that sells Christmas trees? Yes. The two-year-old venture — held at Electric Cool-Aid’s Shaw cocktail garden and run in conjunction with Snappy’s Small Bar — takes care of multiple holiday needs. Stop by on Friday evening for a screening of “The Muppet Christmas Carol,” and fight the cold winds that chill you, chill you to the bone with hot cider or cocoa, which can be spiked with your choice of at least three spirits. 6 p.m. Free.
National Day of Tango at the Embassy of Argentina
Since 1977, Argentina has celebrated National Tango Day (Dec. 11), recognizing the impact that the music and dance has had on the country’s cultural heritage. In Washington, the Pan American Symphony Orchestra commemorates the day with a special concert and dance Friday in the Embassy of Argentina’s ballroom, highlighting the legacy of the tango. Naturally, Argentine wine is included in the ticket price. 7:30 p.m. $50.
‘The Muslims Are Coming!’ comedy show at Atlas theater
Five comics — three Muslim, one Jewish and a Christian — walk into Atlas Performing Arts Center. That’s the setup for a comedy show called “The Muslims Are Coming!,” featuring “Fake the Nation” host Negin Farsad; Ophira Eisenberg from NPR’s “Ask Me Another”; and touring comics Yasmin Elhady, Corey Ryan Forrester, Gibran Saleem and Rola Z. The show will be taped to create a sequel to Farsad’s Netflix documentary, which came out a few years ago, also titled “The Muslims Are Coming!” 7:30 p.m. $25.
Rock the Rink at Washington Harbour
We’re in prime outdoor-ice-skating season, and the Washington Capitals are hosting events for fans and youth around the region. They begin with the unveiling of a hockey-themed mural by local artist Austin Thomas at Georgetown’s Washington Harbour rink, which also features appearances by former player and current broadcaster Alan May, mascot Slapshot, giveaways and a Capitals-themed skating session. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free; RSVP requested.
Drag Bingo Holiday Party at Unconventional Diner
The diner’s monthly drag bingo dinner gets a festive spin for December. Spend an hour settling in, eating a spread from the buffet and grabbing a holiday-themed cocktail before the show, which includes games, costume contests and drag from artists like Perry’s India Larelle Houston. Tickets include five bingo cards, with more available for $2 each. 6:30 p.m. $60.
Christmas tree lighting and caroling at the Omni Shoreham Hotel
Carolers in Victorian period attire provide the soundtrack to the Omni Shoreham’s lobby tree lighting. Bring kids along to meet Merry the Shoreham Elf, or keep it adults-only over Mistletoe Martinis (and other themed drinks from Julie Reiner, co-founder of New York’s Clover Club) at Blitzen’s, the hotel’s decked-out holiday pop-up bar. 3 to 5 p.m. Free.
‘Cirque Nutcracker’ at the Music Center at Strathmore
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra teams with dance company Troupe Vertigo at Strathmore for a “Cirque Nutcracker,” a circus-style production full of acrobatics and aerial tricks. 7:30 p.m. $39-$107.
Saturday, Dec. 13
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington’s ‘The Holiday Show’ at Lincoln Theatre
This holiday tradition is part musical performance, part comedy show and wholly delightful. It spins classics on their heads (“Silver Bears,” anyone?) but keeps all the jingly requirements of a finger-snapping holiday show: “Let It Snow,” “O Holy Night” and a “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” rendition with costumes to match. What it does take seriously? Community, joy and Abba covers. All the ensembles of the Gay Men’s Chorus will perform, so expect a cappella, gospel, a youth chorus and a dance troupe when the show returns to U Street’s Lincoln Theatre. Saturday and Dec. 20 at 3 and 8 p.m. Sunday’s show is sold out. $26-$90.45.
Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade
Dozens of decorated boats cruise around Annapolis Harbor and Spa Creek during the 43rd Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade, with sailboats and dinghies decorated to look like lighthouses, rum-laden pirate ships, the Abominable Snowmonster or the leg lamp from “A Christmas Story.” Arrive early to find standing room: The buzzing City Dock, waterfront areas in the Eastport neighborhood and the Spa Creek Bridge are popular viewing spots. 6 to 8 p.m. Free.
Taylor Swift’s Birthday
Taylor Swift fans don’t just get together for album release (and rerelease) parties — they celebrate her birthday, too. Barrel’s “The End of an Era” party features a screening of the new documentary series about Swift’s “Eras” tour, along with dancing and themed cocktails. Tickets include a T-shirt by D.C.’s Dear Ivy Design, one drink and snacks. (Saturday from 6 to 11 p.m. $50.) Wunder Garten is celebrating Swiftmas, “a Taylor Swift-inspired ugly sweater party,” with a night of Swiftian tunes and cocktails, an ugly sweater contest, and a toast to the birthday girl. Sweaters matching one of Swift’s eras are recommended. (Saturday at 8 p.m. Free.) Santa, not Taylor, is the special guest at Metrobar, where kids of all ages can craft and write letters to Santa while grooving to a full afternoon of Swift’s hits and deep cuts. Santa arrives for photo ops at 12:30 p.m. (Saturday from noon to 7 p.m. Free.)
National Kiss Under the National Mistletoe at Anthem Row
If you’ve ever wanted to get into the Guinness Book of World Record, here’s your chance: the DowntownDC BID is trying to get at least 489 couples to kiss simultaneously under the National Mistletoe, the 10-foot installation on Anthem Row, just south of the Carnegie Library. Beyond a seven-second smooch, the afternoon features live jazz by the Ellington Carthan Quartet with Valentina Maria, food and drink vendors, artists creating works before your eyes, and photo booths. 3 to 6 p.m. Free. On-site capacity is limited, so admission is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Yalda Market at Brookland Arts Walk
A market celebrating the winter solstice brings dozens of makers and bakers to the Brookland Arts Walk. Explore works by potters, printmakers, artists and jewelers before listening to poets, snacking on baked goods or Persian treats, and participating in hands-on crafting activities. 3 to 7 p.m. Free.
Takoma Cocoa Crawl
Good news: You don’t have to get up early to enjoy the annual Takoma Cocoa Crawl. Fourteen restaurants are offering warming drinks for both adults and kids on Saturday afternoon. Cielo Rojo has Mexican hot chocolate with fair trade cocoa and chilies. The Girl and the Vine is pouring “Bourbon Mochas,” made with coffee-infused Buffalo Trace bourbon. Red Hound Pizza pairs orange-and-cinnamon hot chocolate with orange-and-cinnamon soft-serve. Takoma Beverage Co. lets customers go nuts with a hot chocolate toppings bar featuring crushed candy canes, marshmallows and other add-ons. Many businesses are offering the option to spike the cocoa for adults. As you move from restaurant to restaurant, you can also stop in at the neighborhood’s small shops for holiday gift ideas. 1 to 4 p.m. Free to participate; drink prices vary.
Del Rey Candy Cane Bar Crawl
At least 18 restaurants and bars, including the holiday pop-up Joy on the Avenue, are participating in Del Rey’s 10th annual Candy Cane Bar Crawl, which traverses Mount Vernon Avenue in search of good cheer and discounted food and drinks. Along the way, there’s trivia, giveaways, photo ops, trolley transportation and a costume contest, all in support of Alive!, a nonprofit fighting food and housing insecurity in Alexandria. 12:30 to 6 p.m. $17.85 in advance, $25 at the door.
Leesburg Holiday Parade
Expect vintage fire trucks, marching bands, and festively decorated floats from sports teams, businesses and the local Moose Lodge at this old-school holiday parade through the heart of historic Leesburg, beginning at Ida Lee Park. The most festively decorated float gets its name on a trophy at City Hall. 6 p.m. Free.
Christmas Extravaganza at the Roost
It’s a festive and busy Saturday in Hill East, where the Roost’s Christmas Extravaganza features nonstop action, including wreath-making and gingerbread house classes; a pop-up market with Shop Made in DC’s makers; a hot cocoa bar and s’mores fire pits; and a fundraiser for Sasha Bruce Youthwork. Donate requested items, such as socks, toothpaste or laundry detergent, and receive a complimentary small pour of beer from the Shelter bar. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission; classes extra.
Winter Wonderland Market at Wonderland Ballroom
Female Rage Hotsauce, chain-mail wearables, tarot readings and botanical art are among the items on sale at Wonderland Ballroom’s fourth-annual holiday market. Booths line up along the sidewalk, making the day family- and pet-friendly. Stick around to try the bar’s seasonal drink: spiked hot cider. 11 to 4 p.m. Free.
Vintage Market: Holiday Edition at the Line Hotel
One of the city’s most popular markets, courtesy of Disco Loft and Evolve, returns to the Line Hotel. More than 25 vendors selling vintage clothes, home goods, jewelry, homemade crafts, art prints and more take over three levels of the hotel. Timed-entry tickets are required; some of the earliest sessions, for 1 and 1:30 p.m., are sold out. Noon to 5 p.m. $25 for early entry at noon; $5 for sessions on the half hour until 5 p.m.
All Souls Holiday Market
It makes sense that one of D.C.’s best low-key cocktails bars would host one of D.C.’s best low-key holiday markets. Drop into All Souls for books from Bold Fork Books, frozen treats by Happy Ice Cream, and tables full of handmade jewelry, art, prints and vintage clothing. You can accompany the browsing with a drink. Noon to 4 p.m. Free.
Cleveland Park Winter Market and Festival
The Cleveland Park Promenade — the expanded sidewalk area on the east side of Connecticut Avenue — hosts makers and local businesses on Saturday afternoon, with gifts including candles, housewares and beauty accessories. Local businesses are offering specials and hosting pop-ups throughout the day: decorate ornaments at All Fired Up or cookies at Captain Cookie and the Milkman, browse used books at Fat Pete’s BBQ, or get $5 spiced cider and peppermint hot chocolate at Buffalo and Bergen. The Grinch and Santa are making appearances to pose for photos. Noon to 5 p.m. Free; some activities have costs.
Holiday Market and Festival at Edgewood Community Farm
For the third year, a holiday market returns to the two-acre nonprofit urban farm with handcrafted gifts, live music, hot cocoa and cider, fire pits, farm tours and a children’s holiday story time. Noon to 5 p.m. Free; registration requested.
John Cena’s Final Match Fan Fest at Capital One Arena
After almost a quarter-century of wrestling in the WWF and WWE, 14-time champion John Cena is facing his last bout during “Saturday Night’s Main Event” at Capital One Arena. The WWE is hosting a farewell fan-fest block party on F Street NW, featuring a live broadcast of the event’s “Countdown Show”; music from DJ Heat and Britt Waters; sign-making stations for farewell messages; video booths where fans can record their memories of Cena’s career; and food trucks. Doors to the arena open at 6, and the show begins at 7:30. 2:30 to 6 p.m. Free; Registration required.
Strathmore Presents: Elijah Balbed and the JoGo Project at Good Hope Neighborhood Recreation Center
Saxophonist Elijah Balbed is a leader on the D.C. jazz scene, but he’s also a veteran of the Chuck Brown Band. He fuses his passions for jazz and go-go into the funky beats and charging riffs of the JoGo Project. This concert, sponsored by Strathmore’s Bloom initiative, promises “festive classics, original tunes and the unmistakable rhythm of go-go for a uniquely D.C. take on seasonal cheer” at the Silver Spring rec center. 5 p.m. Free.
S.O.M.E. benefit concert at Songbyrd
Those who prefer their seasonal giving with a side of sparkly synth-pop, psychedelic funk or garage punk will feel at home at this fundraiser for So Others Might Eat, an organization that provides aid to people experiencing homelessness in D.C. The lineup includes Pretty Bitter, Dim Wizard, Argo and the Violet Queens, and Home Remedies. 8 p.m. $19.
Holiday Haute Dish at Crush
A team of drag performers, including Girlbxy, Diva D’licious and Kel Basa, perform at a holiday-themed matinee at Crush to raise money for the Capital Area Food Bank. Bring dollars to tip the performers. 3:30 p.m. Free.
Sunday, Dec. 14
National Menorah Lighting on the Ellipse
The first night of Hanukkah begins in D.C. when the National Menorah is lit in front of the White House. Expect performances by military bands and Jewish artists, plus surprise guest appearances; in past years, the lighting ceremony has been attended by the president, the vice president, and members of the Cabinet and Congress. Free; RSVP required.
Make It! Mount Pleasant Holiday Market
More than 60 artists fill Lamont Plaza and Mount Pleasant Street to sell pottery, paintings, home decor, jewelry and other items to aid your gift-giving this season. The market also features “Author’s Alley,” where local writers table to discuss and sign their books, and a craft table will provide supplies to make cards for hospitalized children. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free.
Seasonal cocktails at OKPB
OKPB is small, discreetly marked, and often hard to get into. But the Mount Pleasant bar’s cocktails — modern and vintage takes on the classics, prepared with exacting skill and care, make a visit worth the effort. It’s even more rewarding to stop by this weekend, when the bartenders are promising “rare seasonal cocktails” with all proceeds benefiting La Clínica del Pueblo, which has provided health care to D.C’s Latino community since 1983. 5 to 10 p.m. Free admission.
Lagos Nights at Cafe Saint-Ex
It’s Detty December, when Nigeria and Ghana enter full-on celebration mode with music and food festivals and nonstop parties. If you’re not visiting Lagos or Accra this year, you’ll find the rhythms at Saint-Ex on Sunday night, as DJ Marino spins Afrobeats, amapiano and other African dance music. 4 p.m. Free.
First Night of Hanukkah at Metrobar
Hosted by a Jewish run club and Jewish dating organization, this celebration of Hanukkah at Brookland’s semi-outdoor bar features a menorah lighting (BYO menorah optional) and warm seasonal drinks. Mix, mingle and spin the dreidel. 4 to 8 p.m. Free.
Gingerbread House Competition at Susie Q’s
Across the street from Nationals Park, the no-frills Suzie Q’s welcomes customers to a gingerbread house construction competition Sunday night. Grab a kit (first come, first served) and start building while listening to holiday music and sipping festive drinks. The best house wins a gift card. 7 p.m. Free.
Monday, Dec. 15
‘Merry Tuba Christmas’ at the Kennedy Center
Nothing gets at the absurdist joy of the holiday season quite like hundreds of tubas, euphoniums and trombones honking out an out-of-tune “Jingle Bells” to an echoing concert hall. “Merry Tuba Christmas” brings together low brass players from elementary to retirement age in a celebration of instruments that rarely get to be the stars. As with other Tuba Christmases around the country, including the ice rink at Rockefeller Center, the players’ first rehearsal directly precedes the performance on the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, making for a fair bit of chaos. Can’t catch the D.C. show? Leesburg’s edition takes over the Villages at Leesburg shopping center at 2 p.m. Sunday. 6 p.m. Free.
Lights, Candles, Action! Hanukkah at Pozez Jewish Community Center
Bundle up for this outdoor Hanukkah celebration, where festivities include an on-site community service project, children’s activities, doughnut decorating and a menorah lighting. Donate a nonperishable item to support Food for Others and Hypothermia Prevention Week (and/or come in Hanukkah-themed attire) to receive a raffle ticket for the chance to win a Hanukkah gift basket. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free; RSVP required.
Wednesday, Dec. 17
Main Hall Holiday Market at Union Station
Union Station is trying to help cut down on your errands this week, or at least make your commute more tolerable, with its third-annual holiday market. Look for more than 40 local makers and artists selling their wares in the soaring main hall, alongside the pop-up 1908 “holiday bar,” with beer, wine and cocktails. Some afternoons, including Thursday and Saturday, feature performances by youth choirs. Wednesday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free.
Photos with Santa at Boundary Stone
The Bloomingdale bar, which hosts an annual St. Baldrick’s head-shaving party in March, is hosting another holiday-centric fundraiser; tickets for your photo op with Santa go entirely to the pediatric cancer-research foundation. Bring an unwrapped toy for the bar’s drive and receive a complimentary Atlas Brew Works Beer. 5 to 8 p.m. $10 photos with Santa.
Pop Fizz’s Third Birthday Party
Pop Fizz is a bar built for celebrations — especially its own. Mark its three years across the street from 9:30 Club with a party featuring half-price bottles of sparkling wine, vintage and nonvintage champagnes; live jazz; and a karaoke session. 5 p.m. to midnight. Free.
Christmas Music Bingo at Mixt Food Hall
The airwaves and your streaming playlists are plastered with holiday music right now, but how well do you know “Merry Christmas Baby” from “Merry Xmas Everyone”? Mixt Food Hall’s festive bingo game lets you sing along to your favorite holiday songs while marking them off your cards — and sipping holiday cocktails. 7 p.m. $12.51.
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