Holiday 2026 Guide for Washington, DC
Museum Holiday Parties 🎁
Dec 2 Wordplay Wednesday: Holiday Edition at Planet Word (5-8pm, $5+)
Dec 3 Holiday Nordic Nights at The Phillips Collection (5-8:30pm, $20)
Dec 8, 10, 15 ,17, 22, 29 Evening Hours and Music at the US Botanic Gardens (until 8pm, free)
Dec 16 Adults-Only Night Zoolights (5-9pm, $19)
Dec 17 Nat Geo Nights: Arctic Adventures at the Museum of Exploration (7-10:30pm, $40)
Decorations and Light Shows ❄️
Until Jan 9 Frosted at Franklin Park (4:30pm-7am)
Nov 20-Jan 3 Zoolights at the National Zoo (5-8/9pm, $10)
Nov 23 Light Yards Swinging Bells at Yards Park (5-10pm, free)
Nov 26-Jan 3 Seasons Greenings: US National Parks at the US Botanic Gardens (free)
Dec 5 Holiday Boat Parade & Party (5-8:15pm, free)
Neighborhood Festivals 💃🏾
Nov 21 Capitol Hill Annual Holiday Christmas Tree Lighting (5:30pm)
Dec 2 Jingle Bell Rock (5-7pm)
Holiday Music 🎶
Dec 4-6 Handel’s Messiah at the National Cathedral ($67+)
Dec 13 “The Muppets Christmas Carol ” in Concert with NSO at The Anthem (7pm, $65+)
Dec 14 Hot 99.5 Jingle Ball ($171)
Holiday Pop-Up Bars 🍹
Sippin Santa at Hank’s Oyster Bar (Dupont) (starts Nov 16)
Snowglow at The Dome at Hi-Lawn (starts Nov 20, $29+)
Miracle at Hank’s at The Wharf (starts Nov 16)
Lulu’s Wine(ter) Garden (starts Nov 18)
Chai-vy and Cohen-y at Ivy and Coney (starts TBD)
Silver Lyan: Holiday Listening Bar (starts Nov 27)
Holiday Drinks and Food 🍪
Dec 4 & 11 Party Cheeses Class with Each Peach Market (6-7:30, $75)
Dec 5 Holiday Tea & Tour at Tudor Place (1-3pm, $65)
Dec 5 & 12 Georgetown Cookie Tour
Holiday Theatre and Dance 🎄
Nov 14- Dec 13 Hanukkah Spectacular ($30+)
Nov 17-22 The Hip Hop Nutcracker at The National Theatre ($49+)
Nov 28 - Dec 27 The Washington Ballet’s The Nutcracker at Warner Theatre ( $97+)
Dec 4-23 Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show at Arena Stage (
Dec 5-31 An Irish Carol at The Keegan Theatre ($55-65)
Dec 11 A Hoot for the Holidays! at Atlas Performing Arts Center ($32)
Hanukkah and Jewish Events 💙
Nov 14- Dec 13 Hanukkah Spectacular ($30+)
Nov 18 Chanukah Holiday Market (6:30-9pm, free but registration required)
Dec 8 Hanukkah Happy Hour with GatherDC ($5, 5:30-8:30pm)
Dec 9 Halfway Through Hanukkah Market at the Capital Jewish Museum (12-7pm, free)
Dec 10 Disco Under the Dome: A Chanukah Party (8pm, $18)
Dec 25 Chinese Food & Movies at Chai-vy and Cohen-y Pop-Up at Ivy and Coney (TBD)
Kwanzaa Events
Dec 5 & 6 Umoja Market by Anacostia BID (1800 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE) (12-8pm, free)
Dec 26 Kwanzaa Opening Celebration at Anacostia Community Museum (12PM, free)
Dec 30 Fruit Bowls of Abundance Art Workshop at Anacostia Community Museum (12pm, free)
Other Cultural & Holiday Events
Dec 3-6 Heurich Christmas Markt at Heurich House ($13+)
Dec 5 Swedish Holiday Market at House of Sweden ($15, 10am-5pm)
Dec 6 Yalda Market at Brookland Arts Walk (12-4pm, free)
Dec 7 La Noche De Las Velitas at Union Market (6-8:30pm, free)
Holiday Markets at Bars & Restaurants
Dec 2 Dacha Shaw Holiday Market (4-9pm, free)
Dec 5 Winter Wonderland Market at Wonderland Ballroom (12-4pm, free)
Dec 18 Big Bear Cafe Holiday Market (4-8pm, free)
Neighborhood Holiday Markets
Until Dec 23 Downtown Holiday Market
Until Dec 23 DC Holiday Market
Nov 18 Chanukah Holiday Market (6:30-9pm, free but registration required)
Nov 19 Holiday Sip + Shop in Dupont Circle (5-7pm, free)
Nov 21 Parks at Walter Reed Holiday Market and Celebration (12-4pm, free)
Nov 21 Latino Economic Development Center Holiday Market at La Cosecha (10am-5pm, free)
Dec 5 Chevy Chase Winter Market (12-5pm, free)
Dec 9 Halfway Through Hanukkah Market at the Capital Jewish Museum (12-7pm, free)
Dec 12 Cleveland Park Winter Market (12-5pm, free)
Dec 13 Make It! Mt. Pleasant Holiday Market (11am-5pm, free)
Dec 13 Van Ness Main Street Pop-Up Market (10am-3pm, free)
Dec 16-19 Union Station Main Hall Holiday Market (11am-7pm, free)
Unique Markets
Dec 2-3 US Department of Agriculture Christmas Market (3-9pm, free)
Dec 5 Holiday Market at the National Arboretum (10am-2pm, free)
Dec 5-6 Holiday Craft Sale at District Clay Center (12-4pm, free)
Dec 6 Holiday Market at the Congressional Cemetery (10am-4pm, free)
Dec 20 Rock’N’Shop: a Rock’n’Roll Holiday Market at Black Cat (2-6pm, free)