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.

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A ticket winning a $1 million Powerball prize was sold at Green Meadows Exxon at 6762 Riggs Road in Hyattsville, the Maryland Lottery said in a release.

Powerball drew numbers for its fifth-largest jackpot in history – $842.4 million – on New Year’s Day.

The winning numbers were 12, 21, 42, 44, 49, and the Powerball was 1.

The Maryland winner matched the first five numbers to notch a second-tier win. Million-dollar tickets were also sold in California, Connecticut and Florida, Powerball said.

In Maryland, lottery winners have 182 days from the date of the drawing to collect their prize. Big winners are advised to immediately sign the back of their ticket and make an appointment to claim their prize.

The jackpot-winning ticket that matched all six numbers was sold in Michigan. The instant millionaire can choose to receive the full amount in 29 annual payments or take a lump sum of $425.2 million.

The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million, Powerball said.

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 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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The native of Fredericksburg, Virginia, a father of two, impressed the judges from day one and won America over with his soulful voice. The Team Niall singer beat four other finalists in the competition.

“As soon as I got my name called, I was in shock,” Huntley said. “You know, [with] just how many no’s I’ve gotten in my life, to get one ‘yes’ was insane. “

At the beginning of the season, Huntley brought his 6-year-old daughter, Stella, on stage to choose his coach. She picked Niall Horan, who helped bring him to the next level.

“Everyone knows I can go out there, and I can belt, and I can scream with a lot of soul,” Huntley said. “But I think he really helped with the story side of my voice and really made me feel confident.”

Huntley sang “Another Love” by Tom Odell and “Higher” by Creed for his final solo performances on night one of the finale, before votes were cast.

On night two, the final five performed with their coaches. He and Horan sang “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” by Bob Dylan.

Huntley looked shocked and overcome with emotion as he was announced as the winner, crying and finally smiling as silver confetti fluttered down over the stage.

“As I said in a past episode, I went from a park bench to the ‘The Voice.’ Now I went from a park bench to a winner of ‘The Voice,’ he said.

This was a second win for Team Niall.

Huntley will receive $100,000 and a record deal with Universal Music Group. As for his future plans: He said that he’s looking forward to some downtime over the holidays before he continues his rise to music stardom.

Until then, check out his “Holdin’ On” single and his music video, which was filmed in Fredericksburg.

“Every time I get out there, I just feel like it’s where I belong,” Huntley told News4’s Tommy McFly. “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.”

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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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Perhaps the ultimate coming-home movie, “Apollo 13,” and the ultimate staying-home one, “Home Alone,” are both being honored this year, selected for preservation in the National Film Registry They’re part of an annual group of 25 that this year spans more than 90 years of filmmaking.

The 2023 collection includes the sci-fi sequel “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” the Disney animated classic “Lady and the Tramp,” and the searing, Oscar-winning drama “12 Years a Slave.” Just in time for the holidays, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is included.

The oldest film is from 1921: “A Movie Trip Through Filmland,” a very early look at the impact of movies. The newest are both from 2013: “12 Years a Slave” and the Oscar-winning documentary “20 Feet From Stardom,” about backup singers.

The registry is housed at the Library of Congress, which since 1988 has selected movies for preservation based on their cultural and historic importance. The current picks bring the registry to 875 films — some, but not all, among the 2 million items in the library’s collection. Turner Classic Movies will host a TV special on Thursday, screening a selection of this year’s movies.

A look at some of the films entering the registry

”The Wedding Banquet” (1993): Ang Lee’s romantic comedy about a gay man from Taiwan trying to hide his orientation from his family, featuring an over-the-top wedding banquet.

”Bamboozled” (2000): Spike Lee’s stinging satire about race in entertainment, with Damon Wayans as a program executive at a cable network.

”Maya Lin: A Strong, Clear Vision” (1994): Freida Lee Mock’s Oscar-winning documentary about the artist who created two famous memorials.

“Apollo 13” (1995): Ron Howard’s impeccably told chronicle of the near-tragedy involving U.S astronauts trying to get back to Earth, featuring Tom Hanks and the famous (and slightly altered) quote: “Houston, we have a problem.”

“Desperately Seeking Susan” (1985): Susan Seidelman’s uniquely New York saga featuring Rosanna Arquette and none other than Madonna as the elusive Susan.

“Matewan” (1987): John Sayles’ tale of efforts in 1920 to unionize a company town in West Virginia.

“Home Alone” (1990): Chris Columbus’ holiday classic about, let’s face it, deeply questionable parenting that made wide-eyed Macaulay Culkin — aka Kevin — a star.

“Alambrista” (1977): Robert M. Young’s story of a Mexican migrant laborer in the United States.

“Fame” (1980): A story of students seeking fame at the High School of Performing Arts in New York City, and known for Irene Cara’s version of the title song.

“Lady and the Tramp” (1955): The classic Disney canine love story, featuring surely the most famous spaghetti kiss in animated film.

The full list

• “A Movie Trip Through Filmland” (1921);
• “Dinner at Eight” (1933);
• “Bohulano Family Film Collection” (1950s-1970s);
• “Helen Keller: In Her Story” (1954);
• “Lady and the Tramp” (1955);
• “Edge of the City: (1957);
• “We’re Alive” (1974);
• “Cruisin’ J-Town” (1975);
• “Alambrista” (1977);
• “Passing Through” (1977);
• “Fame” (1980);
• “Desperately Seeking Susan” (1985);
• “The Lighted Field” (1987);
• “Matewan” (1987);
• “Home Alone” (1990);
• “Queen of Diamonds” (1991);
• “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (1991);
• “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993);
• “The Wedding Banquet” (1993);
• “Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision” (1994);
• “Apollo 13” (1995);
• “Bamboozled” (2000);
• “Love & Basketball” (2000);
• “12 Years a Slave” (2013);
• “20 Feet From Stardom” (2013).

The 2023 Holiday Boat Parade from Alexandria, Virginia, to The Wharf in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 2 featured over 60 decorated boats along the Washington Channel where they competed for the prize of best decorated boat.

Two themes reigned supreme this year: Barbie and tributes to the late Jimmy Buffett.

Indeed, Thanks for the Memories Jimmy Buffett on Captain Steve Gwensberg’s power boat won best in parade.

Then, a first-place prize went to Ken’s Mojo Dojo by Captain John Stevens. And it wasn’t the only Barbie boat on the water!

This holiday tradition is a big spectacle every year. Take a look at the best holiday boats this season had to offer!

The holiday boats weren’t the only ones that paradegoers saw in the water. Extinction Rebellion D.C. used a canoe to protest the Washington-Gas sponsored parade and demand an end to a project to update the natural gas distribution pipes in D.C.

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Opera singer Renée Fleming, music star Barry Gibb and prolific hitmaker Dionne Warwick were also honored at the Sunday night black-tie gala. Each received personalized tributes including appearances and performances that are typically kept secret from the honorees themselves.

President Joe Biden welcomed the honorees to the White House before the event, saying the performing arts “reflect who we are as Americans and as human beings.”

The honorees “have helped shape how we see ourselves, how we see each other and how we see our world,” said Biden, who then introduced this year’s class with a set of glowing superlatives about their work.

Biden and first lady Jill Biden then headed to the Kennedy Center to attend the festivities. The ceremony began with 2017 Kennedy Center honoree Gloria Estefan leading a troupe of dancers down the aisle while performing her megahit “Get On Your Feet.”

In announcing the recipients earlier this year, the Kennedy Center’s president, Deborah F. Rutter, called them “an extraordinary mix of individuals who have redefined their art forms.”

Crystal, 75, came to national prominence in the 1970s playing Jodie Dallas, one of the first openly gay characters on American network television, on the sitcom “Soap.” He went on to a brief but memorable one-year stint on “Saturday Night Live” before starring in a string of movies, including hits such as “When Harry Met Sally… ,” “The Princess Bride” and “City Slickers.”

On the red carpet before the show, movie director Rob Reiner — who cast Crystal in multiple iconic roles — poked fun at the honoree. “I hope this doesn’t give him a big head, because honestly his head’s already big,” Reiner said.

Reiner later narrated a large portion of Crystal’s tribute, speaking from a stage made up as a replica of the diner from the famous scene in “When Harry Met Sally … .” Further testimonials came from his “When Harry” costar Meg Ryan, Whoopi Goldberg, Bob Costas and 2009 Kennedy Center honoree Robert De Niro. Lin-Manuel Miranda, a 2018 honoree, performed an original song in Crystal’s honor.

Crystal, who also received the Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize for lifetime achievement in comedy in 2007, joins an elite group of comedians cited for both: David Letterman, Steve Martin, Lorne Michaels, Lily Tomlin, Carol Burnett and Neil Simon. Bill Cosby received both honors, but they were rescinded in 2018 following his sexual assault conviction, which later was overturned.

Warwick, 82, shot to stardom in the 1960s as the muse for the superstar songwriting team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Her discography includes a multidecade string of hits, both with and without Bacharach, that includes “I Say a Little Prayer,” “I’ll Never Love This Way Again” and “That’s What Friends Are For.”

Warwick’s tribute kicked off the show with a testimonial by 2021 honoree Debbie Allen, a performance by Cynthia Erivo, and Saturday Night Live cast member Ego Nwodim recounting how scary it was to perform her famous impression of Warwick in front of the diva herself. 2022 Kennedy Center honoree Gladys Knight performed Warwick’s signature hit, “I Say a Little Prayer.”

Fleming, 64, is one of the leading sopranos of her era, with a string of accolades that includes a National Medal of Arts bestowed by President Barack Obama, a Cross of the Order of Merit from the German government and honorary membership in England’s Royal Academy of Music.

Although she had participated in five other tribute performances for previous honorees, Fleming said being the focus of attention was a “wild” experience.

“It’s a different kind of whirlwind,” she said on the red carpet. “Lots going on, but I don’t have to worry about performing tonight.”

Fleming received testimonials from actors and friends Christine Baranski and Sigourney Weaver. A quartet of opera singers performed one of her signature tunes: “Song to the Moon” from Antonín Dvořák’s opera “Rusalka.”

Latifah, 53, has been a star since age 19 when her debut album and hit single “Ladies First” made her the first female crossover rap star. She has gone on to a diverse career that has included seven studio albums, starring roles in multiple television shows and movies and an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress for her role in the movie musical “Chicago.”

Latifah, whose real name is Dana Owens, was honored with performances from prominent female rappers of her generation, including Yo-Yo, MC Lyte and Monie Love. Missy Elliott spoke on the cultural importance of her stage name: Latifah is Arabic meaning “gentle” or “kind” while the queen moniker conveyed respect, dignity and a determination to play a leadership role in the culture.

“She was saying, ‘You WILL respect me. I won’t just set the bar. I AM the bar,’ ” Elliott said.

Gibb, 76, achieved global fame as part of one of the most successful bands in the history of modern music, the Bee Gees. Along with his late brothers Robin and Maurice, the trio launched a nearly unmatched string of hits that defined a generation of music.

“I’m proud of what my brothers and myself accomplished,” Gibb said on the red carpet. “When we were good, and when we were on, it was really special.”

His tribute featured performances from country stars Little Big Town, singer Michael Bublé, Broadway star Ben Platt and a show-closing greatest hits medley by Academy Award-winning singer and actor Ariana DeBose.

The 2023 Kennedy Center Honors ceremony will be broadcast on Dec. 27 on CBS.

___

AP video producer John Carucci contributed to this report.

“Who’s ready to skate?” she asked after ice-skating performances by Olympic gold medalist Brian Boitano and Snoopy, among others. Earlier this week, the first lady unveiled decorations inside the executive mansion that she said were designed to help visitors experience the “magic, wonder and joy” of the holidays as they did when they were kids.

The 50-by-70-foot rink will operate throughout December, but the White House did not specify days and hours. D.C.-area schoolchildren and children from families with service members, frontline workers, first responders and teachers will be invited to skate.

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The first lady reminisced about skating with her sisters on the frozen canals of the Delaware River when they were growing up in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.

“We spent hours gliding across the glistening ice, our cheeks pink from the cold,” she said. “And in those hours, what was normally an ordinary town and an ordinary bridge, you know, transformed into a bright sparkling landscape, and just glittering as if it were covered in magic.

“That’s how children often see the world in this time of the year, with magic wonder and joy,” she continued. “What’s more magical and wonderful and joyful than, you know, being on an ice rink in the South Lawn of the White House. Who knew, right? It’s so great to look out the window and to see this down here.”

As he escorted her off the ice, Boitano teased that he had an extra costume in the dressing room in case she wanted to join the show.

“Why not,” Biden said, laughing all the way.

“We could do a really good pair number,” Boitano said. The first lady stepped off the ice, took her front-row seat in the audience and covered her lap with a blanket in the brisk, 30-degree weather.

The National Hockey League and the NHL Players Association will provide lessons through their “Learn to Play/Learn to Skate” program, which provides first-time participants with free head-to-toe equipment, weekly sessions and coaching.

This rink is not the first one built on the White House grounds.

In 1980, President Jimmy Carter and first lady Rosalynn Carter, who was buried Wednesday in her hometown of Plains, Georgia, had an ice rink built on the South Lawn for Olympian Peggy Fleming to perform during White House Christmas receptions.

Other supporters of the new rink include the National Park Service, the National Park Foundation and Comcast Spectacor.

Editor’s note: Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal.

A Metro train and four buses will be wrapped to look like they’re made of gingerbread — complete with icing trim.

Metro says it’s also transforming the inside of the vehicles with candy canes, lollipops, gumdrops, red bows and gingerbread men.

The decorated train and buses will join the fleet in December, and riders can go here to track them when they launch, Metro said.

Two of the buses will be on D.C. routes, one on a Virginia route and another on a Maryland route.

“We hope our gingerbread-themed train and buses bring a smile to everyone’s face as they travel around the region for shopping, visiting family and friends, and attending holiday events,” Metro General Manager and CEO Randy Clarke said in a release.

Metro pop-up holiday market

If sitting on a gingerbread bus still doesn’t fulfill your Metro holiday spirit needs, WMATA has opened a “First Stop” pop-up shop at the Martin Luther King Jr. Library in downtown D.C.

Merch at the shop includes a shirt that reads “Fa la la la L’Enfant Plaza,” Metro ornaments, a “Ho ho go” sweatshirt and transit-themed wrapping paper.

There are also a lot of non-holiday Metro items, including shirts, umbrellas, mugs and more.

The shop is open daily through Dec. 17 on the first floor of the library.

Go here for more information.

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The president and his wife, Jill, participated Thursday in the annual tradition of lighting the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse, an area known as President’s Park, on the south side of the White House.

“Merry Christmas, everyone,” Biden said after he switched on the lights. “This is a great tradition.”

This year’s tree is a 40-foot (12-meter) Norway spruce from West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest.

The National Christmas Tree site opens to the public on Saturday, according to the National Park Service.

There was a moment’s doubt earlier this week about whether the 101-year-old tradition would go ahead as planned after the tree was felled by strong gusty winds Tuesday. But the tree was upright again within hours after a cable securing it was replaced, according to the National Park Service.

None of the 58 smaller trees surrounding the National Christmas Tree was damaged. About 20 ornaments fell from the tree but did not break. The NPS announced Wednesday that crews are “installing concrete blocks and additional cables to further secure the tree.”

The cut Norway spruce replaced an older, planted tree that NPS said had developed a fungal disease that caused its needles to turn brown and fall off. That tree was removed earlier this month.

The tree lighting ceremony is an annual White House holiday tradition with a countdown and musical performances.

Country singer Mickey Guyton was the ceremony’s host, with musical performances by Dionne Warwick and St. Vincent, among others.

Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, also attended Thursday’s ceremony.

On Monday, the first lady helped open Washington’s holiday season by unveiling the White House holiday decorations. On Wednesday, she opened a holiday ice rink on the South Lawn for children to skate and play hockey throughout December.

___

Associated Press writer Ashraf Khalil contributed to this report.

“Each room on display is designed to capture the pure, unfiltered delight and imagination of our childhoods, to see this time of year through the wondrous, sparkling eyes of children,” she says in remarks prepared for a Monday afternoon reception to formally unveil the décor and thank hundreds of designers and decorators who volunteered to spend last week transforming the executive mansion.

Throughout the décor are numerous nods to the 200th anniversary of the publication in 1823 of the poem and book “’Twas the Night Before Christmas.”

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The Library of Congress provided samples of editions from the past 200 years that are on display along the ground floor corridor. The traditional gingerbread White House recreates the classic story by featuring a sugar cookie replica of the book along with Santa’s sleigh flying above the grounds. Santa’s sleigh and his reindeer are also suspended above the Grand Foyer.

The White House released a fact sheet and was allowing the news media to see all the trees, lights and ornaments before the first lady’s event. National Guard families, who were joining Biden as part of Joining Forces, her White House initiative to show appreciation for military families, will be among the first members of the public to see the decorations.

Children of these and other military families were also to be treated to a performance by the cast of the North American tour of the Disney musical “Frozen.”

One of the first Christmas trees visitors will see is decorated with wooden gold star ornaments engraved with the names of fallen service members.

The official White House Christmas tree, an 18.5-foot-tall (5.6-meter-tall) Fraser fir, takes its usual place in the Blue Room, where the chandelier has to be taken down in order to accommodate its height. The massive tree this year celebrates cheerful scenes, landscapes and neighborhoods from across the country.

The State Dining Room has been transformed into Santa’s workshop, with elves’ workbenches, stools and ladders circling the Christmas trees and tools and gifts-in-progress rounding out the décor.

The dining room is also the customary stage for the gingerbread White House, made using 40 sheets each of sugar cookie dough and gingerbread dough, 90 pounds (41 kilograms) of pastillage, a cake decorating paste, 30 pounds (14 kilograms) of chocolate and 50 pounds (23 kilograms) of royal icing.

The library honors the tradition of bedtime stories with golden moons and shimmering stars dangling overhead while the China Room becomes a sweet shop featuring flavors and scents of the season wafting from the holiday cakes, cookies and gingerbread filling the space.

The official White House Menorah is on display in the Cross Hall, which runs between the State Dining Room and the East Room.

In her prepared remarks, the first lady says she knows that magic, wonder and joy can be hard to find, especially as the days grow shorter, the weather turns colder “and our hearts grow heavy in the face of a tumultuous world.”

“But it’s in these times, when we are searching for hope and healing, that we need those points of light the most, that we need each other the most,” she says. “It’s in these times that I hope you remember, if even just for a moment or a season, how you saw the world as a child.”

Nearly 15,000 feet (4,600 meters) of ribbon, more than 350 candles and over 22,000 bells were used for the decorations, the White House said. More than 142,425 lights twinkle on trees, garlands, wreaths and other displays.

Seventy-two wreaths sporting red ribbons adorn the north and south exteriors of the White House.

Can I take a White House holiday tour?

Anyone is welcome to walk around the outside of the White House; wreaths, lights and other holiday decor are usually visible from The Ellipse and Lafayette Square.

The National Christmas Tree, located in President’s Park, is scheduled to open to the public on Saturday, Dec. 2. The festive Pathway of Peace and national tree will be free to visit and open to the public through Jan. 1, 2024.

With a little luck, you may be able to go inside the White House and see it decked out for the holidays.

You’ll need to schedule a regular White House tour during the holiday season.

White House tours must be booked 90 to 21 days in advance.

To book a White House tour, you can contact your Member of Congress and Congressional Tour Coordinator.

• Call the U.S. House of Representatives Switchboard at 202-225-3121
• Call the U.S. Senate Switchboard at 202-224-3121
• Visit www.congress.gov/members to contact your representative directly

Tours are typically offered from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday, excluding federal holidays. Here’s more information.

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The multimillion-dollar mansion was built in 2016 and features six bedrooms, nine-and-a-half bathrooms, an arcade and two basketball courts. 

The property is over 13,000 square feet and is designed with a Miami contemporary chic vibe. 

It hit the market in late September and was listed for $10 million. News4’s Erika Gonzalez got an in-depth tour:

Access to the home was granted by Justin Levitch, founder and president of RLAH Real Estate – as well as Jill Schwartz and Andres Serafini of RLAH who held the listing.

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Hart, 44, launched his career as a teenager performing at venues such as The Laff House in his native Philadelphia under the name of Lil Kev. He recalled his early stand-up performances as a string of brutal failures that included being booed off the stage multiple times and at one point, he claimed, having a piece of chicken thrown at him on stage.

Gradually, Hart honed a signature style that combined his diminutive stature, expressive face and motormouth delivery and made him a wildly successful touring act. He made his movie debut in the 2002 film “Paper Soldiers” and came to mainstream fame through a string of scene-stealing cameos in mega-hits such as 2005’s “The 40-Year-Old-Virgin.”

Hart has gone on to become one of the country’s most bankable and ubiquitous performers, with 11 of his films opening at No. 1 at the box office. All told, his films have grossed more than $4.23 billion in global revenue.

“For over three decades, Kevin Hart has been a source of laughter across America and throughout the world with his iconic characters, inimitable physical comedy, and relatable narratives,” Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter said in a statement Wednesday. “We express our gratitude to Kevin for enriching American culture and look forward to celebrating his exceptional career.”

Now in its 25th year, the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor annually honors performers who have made a lasting impact on humor and culture. Honorees receive a bronze bust of Twain, the iconic American writer and satirist whose real name was Samuel Clemens.

Hart, in a statement, noted that the launch of the Mark Twain Prize in 1998, with inaugural recipient Richard Pryor, basically coincided with the start of his comedic career.

“To be honored in this commemorative year feels surreal,” Hart said. “Comedy is my outlet for social commentary and observations on life. I am grateful to the Kennedy Center for recognizing my voice and impact on culture.”

Hart will receive his prize at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts on March 24. The ceremony will be broadcast later on a dated to be determined.

Mark Twain recipients are honored with a night of testimonials and video tributes, often featuring previous award winners. Other comedians receiving the lifetime achievement award include George Carlin, Whoopi Goldberg, Bob Newhart, Carol Burnett and Dave Chapelle. Bill Cosby, the 2009 recipient, had his Mark Twain Prize rescinded in 2019 amid multiple allegations of sexual assault.

Organizers of Don’t Mute DC, members of the go-go community and elected D.C. leaders unveiled plans for the museum at a ceremony on Wednesday.

A ribbon cutting celebrated the opening of the mobile museum and a groundbreaking announced the construction of a physical museum at Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE in the historic Anacostia neighborhood, according to a release.

The museum’s purpose is twofold. First, to preserve the history and culture of go-go music in the District, the release said. Second, to serve as a safe space for the city’s youth who need a positive outlet, Ronald Moten, co-founder of Don’t Mute DC said.

“One of the reasons why we have all this violence is our young people don’t have the platforms that we used to have, to get attention the right way,” Moten said. “So, they’re doing all this negative stuff to get attention. We used to have hundreds of go-go bands. Every community had a band. So, we can use those bands to put out positive messages and things. That’s what we used to do.”

The mobile “Go-Go Museum & Café” is a 28-passenger bus with a hydraulic performance stage on the rooftop. Inside it has a pop-out DJ booth, exhibits and the hologram of Anwan “Big G” Glover, the release said. It plans to bring the music to communities and schools in all eight wards. 

A mural of go-go musicians is painted on the side of the mobile museum. It includes Big Tony, Anwan “Big G” Glover, Frank Sirius, Sweet Cherrie and Lil’ Boggie and  J’Ta Freeman and Lil’ Chris. 

The physical museum will showcase the history of the music and house its archives. It will include a restaurant, performance space and recording studio, “to help future generations embrace and produce D.C.’s official music,” the release said.

The Go-Go Museum is slated to open in spring 2024.

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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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Tysons Corner Center nowlets shoppers to put a “twist” on their shopping experience by allowing them to sip a drink from one of the mall’s restaurants while they shop.

“Shopping with a Twist” launched at the shopping center on Nov. 1. Shoppers 21 years old and older can purchase alcoholic beverages at participating restaurants and drink on The Plaza and in the common area of the mall.

And if you’re trying to pick up some gifts while enjoying your drink? Just look for signs at retail stores that say: “C’mon in with your drink.”

For a full list of participating retailers, go to the Tysons Corner Center website.

Tysons Corner Center says it’s the first indoor shopping center in the DMV region to allow public cocktail consumption to its shoppers.

“Shopping with a Twist” will be in allowed during normal center hours.

Where can guests purchase their “Sip & Stroll” beverage?

• American Girl Bistro
• Barrel & Bushel
• California Pizza Kitchen
• Earls Kitchen + Bar
• Eddie V’s
• La Sandia
• Seasons 52
• Shake Shack
• TGI Fridays

Beverages must be in a disposable cup with the restaurant’s logo showing where it was purchased. Only beverages purchased from the restaurant will be allowed outside of the restaurant and into the shopping center.

Drinking is not permitted in parking garages or any parking areas.

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It’s a day thousands of visitors to the National Zoo have been dreading for months, or possibly years. The zoo’s famed giant pandas have left D.C.

As crowds of hastily gathered fans looked on, the three pandas — each aboard an individual FedEx truck adorned with a signature furry black-and-white face — emerged from the zoo gates, traveled down Connecticut Avenue and then through Northern Virginia. They then took off aboard a specially equipped FedEx plane en route to China.

Tian Tian, 26; Mei Xiang, 25, and their youngest offspring, 3-year-old Xiao Qi Ji, will move to new homes in the China Wildlife Conservation Association. Tian Tian and Mei Xiang were born in China; Xiao Qi Ji was born at the zoo, along with three older surviving siblings who have already moved to China.

Giant pandas have been a beloved fixture in D.C. since the first duo arrived in the 1970s. Wednesday isn’t the first time we’ve seen pandas leave the region, but it’s the first time in 23 years that the panda exhibit at the zoo is empty.

In opening remarks marking the start of the pandas’ journey, National Zoo Director Brandie Smith said it was a “hard morning.” She spoke in front of the zoo’s Asia Trail and the just-vacated panda enclosure. The zoo’s online Giant Panda Cam broadcasted an empty hammock before the page switched over to offer a compilation of old footage.

“It’s a moment of joy because this is one more step in 50 years of a successful giant panda conservation program, and hopefully the beginning of 50 more years,” Smith said. “Please know the future is bright for giant pandas. We remain committed to our program, and we look forward to celebrating with all of you when pandas can return to D.C.”

Xu Xueyuan, a Chinese diplomat, had a parting message for the three pandas, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and Xiao Qi Ji.

“As a diplomat in Washington, I say goodbye and bon voyage. As a Chinese government official, I say welcome back,” Xueyuan said.

The zoo had carefully guarded the pandas’ planned departure date, saying only that they would leave before mid-November — until the announcement came early Wednesday. Visitors who’d turned out planning to see the pandas at the zoo instead ended up witnessing the trucks’ departure. 

“We are just sending good wishes with them on their travels,” a woman who planned to see the pandas Wednesday said.

A family from Minnesota said they were disappointed to find the zoo closed in the morning. One member of the family, a little boy, was clutching a panda stuffie named “Panda Panda Panda.” He said he loves pandas.

“I’m gonna cry when they leave,” he said.

Others told News4 they’d seen the news and wanted to say goodbye.

“I thought it was right to say goodbye to a D.C… a D.C. part of our family,” a man from the D.C. area said.

The long journey

Mei Xiang was the first panda to be loaded into a white FedEx crate and onto a truck at about 8 a.m. Tian Tian followed close behind. Xiao Qi Ji was carried out in his crate about 9:15 a.m.

The crates are large and were moved like heavy fragile equipment. They included air holes, up arrows and the words “Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute” on the side. 

In specially marked trucks, the pandas were escorted by a police motorcade fit for a president. They departed the zoo on Connecticut Avenue at about 9:30 a.m., taking Interstate 66 toward Dulles International Airport.

The Boeing 777 transporting the pandas, a.k.a. the FedEx “Panda Express” plane, flew from Memphis and touched down shortly after the pandas left the zoo.

When the pandas arrived at the airport their crates were carefully off-loaded from the trucks.

Mei Xiang peaked out from her crate on the way to being loaded onto the plane, giving the D.C. area one last adorable glimpse of a panda face.

A final news conference was held with FedEx officials at the tarmac as the pandas prepared to depart.

“We are once again honored to be a part of their journey. This time back to their homeland,” a FedEx official said.

“It is a moment with some heartbreak in it, but it is also a moment of joy, because we are celebrating the world’s longest running conservation program for a single species,” Smith said.

The plane lifted up its wheels just before 1 p.m. People watching below erupted into applause as the plane ascended into the sky.

The flight, which can be tracked here using number N886FD, will make a stop in Anchorage, Alaska, to refuel before continuing to China.

“The pandas, animal care experts and flight crew will then depart on a trans-Pacific route, from Washington, D.C., to Chengdu, China,” zoo officials said.

In-flight amenities

Two Smithsonian zookeepers and a veterinarian joined the pandas for the roughly 19-hour journey to ensure they’re well cared for.

Zookeepers also packed plenty of food and snacks to keep the pandas happy during the long trek, including:

• 220 pounds of bamboo
• 8 pounds of leaf-eater biscuits
• 5 pounds of low-starch biscuits
• 6 pounds of apples
• 5 pounds of carrots
• 6 pounds of sweet potatoes
• 3 pounds of sugar cane
• 1 pound of pears
• 1 pound of cooked squash

A National Zoo without pandas

Once the pandas left the zoo, signs went up indicating the panda enclosure was closed.

The panda cam was taken off the zoo’s website, with the following message in its place: “Thank you for visiting the Giant Panda Cam page. Tian Tian, Mei Xiang and Xiao Qi Ji have departed the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute and are now on their way to China.”

The National Zoo’s now-empty panda enclosure will undergo a $2.5 million renovation, Smith said. The zoo expects to finish the renovations in the next eight to 10 months, and might put other animals in the enclosure temporarily.

After today, the last two pandas in the U.S. will be at Zoo Atlanta.

‘Heartbroken for us’

D.C. residents have been lamenting the impending loss of the pandas since the National Zoo announced its “Panda Palooza” event back in August.

“I’m very sad; I will miss him very much,” said Rachel Weidner, a tourist who came from Philadelphia to visit Xiao Qi Ji on his last birthday in the U.S.

“But I know that he will be well taken care of,” she said. “And I know that I can still follow him, and maybe even come visit him someday.”

Weidner sported an entirely black-and-white outfit during her visit, complete with a headband topped with mini panda heads, hoping that the pandas might see a kindred spirit and “come and say hi” while she was at the zoo

The pandas’ keepers are just as sad about their departure, although they also know the pandas will be well cared for in their new home.

“The one-on-one relationship is probably the best part of my job,” said curator of pandas Laurie Thompson. “They know us really well. They are comforted by us and they trust us. So in a time of stress when they don’t know what’s going on, I suspect they will come and sit next to me and tell him he’s a good boy.”

Thompson said she was focused on getting the pandas ready to travel — and will “have my breakdown” after the pandas disembark their plane in China.

“I’m excited for their future,” Smith, the zoo’s director, told News4. “Although I’m a little bit heartbroken for us.”

Reliving DC’s panda history (including all those squishy, adorable babies)

Those living in the DMV know they had something special with these pandas.

As News4’s Eun Yang — the biggest panda fan in our newsroom — said: “Seeing these roly-poly black-and-white floof balls at the National Zoo enjoying life has been a joy for me. And I aspire for a time when I, too, can just frolic in my yard, sleep whenever and wherever I want, and eat and eat again.”

“They remind me that even in D.C., you can be relaxed and carefree,” Yang said.

Since the beginning of the research exchange program, pandas have always served as a kind of soft diplomacy between China and the U.S. The zoo’s first pair of pandas, Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, were gifted in 1972 to commemorate President Richard Nixon’s historic trip to China that year.

Those pandas died in the 1990s, leaving behind no surviving cubs. But Mei Xiang and Tian Tian turned that luck around for the zoo.

The second pair arrived at the zoo in 2000, when they were loaned to the Smithsonian Institution by the Chinese government. An agreement with China that year “stipulated [Mei Xiang and Tian Tian] would live at the Zoo for 10 years in exchange for $10 million,” according to the zoo’s website.

A decade later, in January 2011, the Smithsonian and the China Wildlife Conservation Association signed a new Giant Panda Cooperative Research and Breeding Agreement, which stated the pandas would stay until December 2015. That contract was extended to 2020, then again to 2023, shortly before each previous contract expired.

But there were no more extensions.

Over the years, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian bore four surviving cubs amid several losses. Starting with Tai Shan, born in 2005, the cubs became the first ever to grow up at the National Zoo after decades of dashed hopes.

One after another, the roly-poly babies delighted visitors and Panda Cam viewers with their antics.

There was plenty of heartbreak along the way.

When Tai Shan was born in 2005, D.C. went wild for the cub who would become known as “Butterstick,” nicknamed for the tiny size of a panda cub at birth.

But the next seven years ticked by with no more cubs, despite the efforts of keepers and vets. A new cub arrived to much excitement in 2012, only to die a week later.

The following year, another baby arrived, along with a stillborn twin. The living cub, Bao Bao, survived and thrived. And two years after that, twin cubs were born. While one did not survive; the other, Bei Bei, would go on to delight panda fans once more.

Previous panda departures

All three of Tian Tian and Mei Xiang’s oldest offspring moved to China when they were a few years old.

Tai Shan took his flight in 2010, to much fanfare and sadness from District residents.

Bao Bao, his younger sister, traveled to China in 2017 and settled into her new home quickly, according to the Associated Press.

“True to her character, Bao Bao was very independent and began taking food from her new keeper immediately,” a Smithsonian zookeeper who traveled with her to China said at the time.

In China, Bao Bao has since had cubs of her own.

Bei Bei moved to China in 2019, landing safely after a 16-hour direct flight, complete with road snacks in the form of bamboo, apples, sweet potatoes, leaf eater biscuits and water.

pandas Oct 3, 2023

Pandas could be gone from America's zoos by the end of next year

pandas Aug 30, 2023

Why are the pandas at the National Zoo going to China?

Why are the pandas leaving now?

The short answer is that this year is simply the expiration date for the research agreement contract between the U.S. and China. But the long answer is a little more complicated than that.

The pandas are leaving D.C. at a time when, according to the Associated Press, there’s a larger trend of China pulling back its pandas from multiple western zoos as their agreements expire. It’s happening as diplomatic tensions run high between Beijing and a number of western governments.

National Zoo officials have remained tightlipped about the prospects of renewing or extending the agreement, and repeated attempts by News4 and the Associated Press for comment on the state of the negotiations did not receive a response.

Dennis Wilder, a senior fellow at Georgetown University’s Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues, called the trend “punitive panda diplomacy” when talking to the AP. He noted that two other American zoos have lost their pandas in recent years, while zoos in Scotland and Australia are facing similar departures with no signs of their loan agreements being renewed.

Despite the links to U.S.-China diplomacy, the negotiations are researcher-to-researcher and not based in politics, Smith, the National Zoo’s director, told News4 back in August.

“We’re a bunch of scientists; we’re a bunch of animal people,” Smith said. “This is not a political conversation. This is absolutely a conversation between colleagues talking about, what’s best for the overall program, and also, what can be best for individual animals?”

While the zoo won’t be quite the same without our giant friends to roll around eating bamboo, at least we have Basil to console us.

A new life in China

Tian Tian, Mei Xiang and Xiao Qi Ji’s ultimate destination is the China Wildlife Conservation Association.

It’s basically “a panda base, if you will,” according to Bryan Amaral, senior curator at the National Zoo.

“It’s a place where they have lots and lots of giant pandas, very similar to what you would see — how our giant pandas live here, very similar to that,” Amaral said. “They just have a lot more giant pandas than we have. Where we have elephants and, you know, all kinds of other things, they have just pandas.”

The Associated Press and Carissa DiMargo contributed to this report.

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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.

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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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Now, D.C.’s hometown hero has gone from the bottom of the heap to king of the News4 Zoo Bracket.

That’s right — thanks to you, Basil the one-eyed opossum is officially D.C.’s Next Animal Obsession. More than 155,000 votes were cast in our bracket challenge, with Basil triumphing over the lion, the tiger and the sloth bear.

Here’s how he reacted when we told him the news:

Read on to learn more about the District local now living in the National Zoo’s Small Mammal House, and four fun facts about the species for which he serves as an ambassador.

1. Opossums are marsupials

Contrary to what you may think after spotting that pink nose and long tail, opossums like Basil are not rodents. They’re actually the only marsupial that lives in North America.

The vast majority of marsupials live in Australia, according to the country’s national science agency, and most of the others call South America home.

Much like the other members of the marsupial family — which includes wombats, kangaroos and koalas — female opossums carry their young around in a pouch.

When baby opossums are born, they’re about the size of a honeybee, and they’re totally helpless, according to the National Zoo.

“They climb directly into their mother’s pouch after birth to nurse,” the zoo said in a press release. “Once they get too big for the pouch, they will climb onto mom’s back and ride there until they are fully grown.”

Opossums have an opposable “thumb” on their hind feet, which helps them cling to Mom when they’re young, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Once they get older, it helps them climb trees and survive on their own.

2. Opossums are not the same as possums

Though we in North America often shorten the name “opossum” to just “possum,” the words actually describe two entirely different animals.

Australia is home to several species of possums, according to Australian Geographic — and none of them are quite as scraggly-looking as the Virginia opossum we see in backyards around the United States.

It turns out that researchers believe that early relatives of the opossum actually wandered from South America into Australia millions of years ago, when the continents were joined.

That common ancestor led to all those Australian marsupials, including its possums, and to the opossum now living at the Smithsonian.

3. Opossums help control pests

While the disheveled and muppet-y appearance of opossums might give you some pause if you see this critter in the wild, opossums are no threat to people.

In fact, opossums help control the population of something that is a hazard to humans: ticks.

Opossums are a scavenger species, and like most fuzzy creatures, ticks love to burrow in their fur as they wander around. But when opossums groom themselves, they also eat the ticks that have latched on.

“In this way, opossums help to control tick populations, which is great for humans and our pets, too!” the National Zoo said.

Their position as scavengers means opossums aren’t picky. Their diet includes insects, small rodents, and even some snakes — but they dabble in vegetation, too.

And according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, opossums can digest just about anything, including bones, without getting sick and spreading disease. That means they’re keeping those diseases out of the environment.

They’re unlikely to carry rabies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and wild opossums don’t attack so long as you keep your distance and are respectful of their space, according to the National Zoo.

As another bonus, opossums also tend to leave homes alone, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, without chewing through wires or scurrying into attics.

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4. Opossums are not endangered

Unlike many of the animals housed at the National Zoo, opossums aren’t endangered — in fact, the zoo classifies them as “of least concern.”

They still have predators, ranging from birds of prey to the dogs humans keep as pets, if the dogs aren’t leashed.

But the National Zoo hopes Basil will serve as an important messenger for his species, and for conservation efforts as a whole.

“Historically, all species were of least concern at one point,” the zoo said in a press release. “If we took the necessary steps to protect our endangered species before they became endangered, we could have made a big difference in those species’ current wild population status. It is still important for us to be aware of species that are currently not threatened, so that we can protect existing wild populations.”

Facts about Basil, DC’s newest animal obsession

According to the National Zoo, Basil is non-releasable. The animal attack that caused him to lose his eye and sent him to City Wildlife, an organization that rehabilitates injured and orphaned wildlife in Washington, D.C., also means he would not survive in the wild.

The National Zoo is therefore his permanent home — but he’s settled in nicely.

“He willingly interacts with keepers and seems to be exploring his exhibit overnight,” the zoo press release from September said. “He does spend most of his days sleeping because opossums are nocturnal. When we interact with him, we’ve learned that he is curious, mellow and very much enjoys being cozy!”

The zoo added that Basil loves fleece blankets, curling up in the logs of his exhibit, and foraging for snacks.

He loves eating capelin fish, mice, canned wet food and bananas, and is apparently “not a big fan of mushrooms or green peppers,” the zoo said.

You can visit Basil in the National Zoo’s Small Mammal House. Timed-entry passes are required to enter the National Zoo, and include entry into the House. Entry passes free, and you can get them online.

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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 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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The pandas — Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their youngest offspring, 3-year-old Xiao Qi Ji — will board a plane in mid-November to travel to the China Wildlife Conservation Association. The exact date of the departure has not been released due to security concerns.

The panda’s keepers said the next couple of weeks will be emotional. Tian Tian did not seem to notice the extra attention Wednesday, continuing to eat a healthy serving of bamboo for breakfast.

“It’s gonna be hard for all of the keepers that work with them on a day-to-day basis because we spend so much time with the pandas,” Assistant Curator of Giant Pandas Laurie Thompson said. “Holidays, and you know, every day we’re here. And so, it’s, it’s a little bit heartbreaking to not have them here.”

The pandas are part of a research exchange program between the U.S. and China. An initial 10-year agreement to have Mei Xiang and Tian Tian live at the National Zoo was extended three times. But the contact between the Smithsonian and the China Wildlife Conservation Association will expire in December.

Mei Xiang and Tian Tian have lived most of their lives thus far at the National Zoo, arriving in December 2000 to much fanfare.

Now 25 and 26, both Mei Xiang and Tian Tian have already lived longer than the zoo’s previous female giant panda, Ling-Ling. The zoo’s first pair of pandas, with male Hsing-Hsing, was gifted to the U.S. in 1972 to commemorate President Richard Nixon’s historic visit to China.

Those pandas died in the 1990s, leaving behind no surviving cubs. But Mei Xiang and Tian Tian turned that luck around for the zoo.

Over the years, they bore four surviving cubs amid several losses. Starting with Tai Shan, born in 2005, the cubs became the first ever to grow up at the National Zoo after decades of dashed hopes. One after another, the roly-poly babies delighted visitors and Panda cam viewers with their antics. The three oldest offspring each moved to China when they were a few years old.

Now keepers are getting Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and Xiao Qi Ji ready for their 19-hour journey. They’ll travel by FedEx on a plane reserved just for this occasion.

Their destination, the China Wildlife Conservation Association, is basically “a panda base, if you will,” Bryan Amaral, senior curator at the National Zoo, previously told NBC Washington.

“It’s a place where they have lots and lots of giant pandas, very similar to what you would see — how our giant pandas live here, very similar to that,” Amaral said. “They just have a lot more giant pandas than we have. Where we have elephants and, you know, all kinds of other things, they have just pandas.”

If you want to see the pandas before they leave, you should plan your visit as soon as possible, zoo officials warned.

The National Zoo hosted Panda Palooza: A Giant Farewell last month.

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But there’s one issue: The street sign was never hung after lawmakers passed a law designating Annie’s Way in 2013.

The official designation for Annie’s Way was listed at the restaurant’s original location, a block and a half from where Annie’s is now. Since that first location is now home to JR’s Bar, Annie’s wants the sign outside their current location.

So, The Scene and the News4 I-Team paired up to see when the D.C. institution might be able to take the sign off one of the restaurant’s tables and display it for all to see.

Recognizing an institution near and dear to D.C.’s LGBTQ+ community

With or without the street sign, the restaurant on 17th Street NW near Dupont Circle has long held the banner for LGBTQ+ acceptance.

“Back when D.C. was a very segregated, discriminatory city, restaurants wouldn’t serve openly gay and lesbian people,” Vincent Slatt of Rainbow History Project told News4 as the restaurant celebrated its 75^th anniversary in spring.

Annie served drinks, sass and love from behind the bar. She remains the spirit of the place a decade after her passing. Her love and the restaurant’s love for D.C.’s gay community as it was stigmatized during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s will never be forgotten.

After Annie passed away, then-mayor Vincent Gray suggested naming a street after her.

The D.C. City Council agreed. Employees, the community, neighbors: Everyone was so excited. In February 2014 – nine years and eight months ago – Gray and the D.C. Council first designated Annie’s Way.

“It was so recently after Annie’s passing that it just meant so much to not only our family, but everyone who’s a part of the Annie’s community,” general manager Georgia Katinas said.

It’s now 2023, and no sign has been mounted. People will be flocking to the area on Tuesday for the annual 17th Street High Heel Race – which started with a race between JR’s Bar and Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse in the 1980s. But no sign reading “Annie’s Way” will be officially displayed.

“I think it would be really cool to show that there was, in fact, a street named after her. And that’s so rare. How many people get that kind of recognition?” Katinas said.

What’s the holdup? We asked the News4 I-Team

The D.C. Council and the mayor can bestow honorary names on streets any time they want to recognize people and places. It’s part of their special powers. But the name changes must go through the legislative process.

“This is a D.C. law, and everything in D.C. is complicated, so the law needs to change the name of the road outside the current restaurant,” I-Team Reporter Ted Oberg said.

Oberg has been asking about the sign for months.

Just two weeks ago, Councilmember Brooke Pinto and four of her colleagues introduced the Annie’s Way Designation Amendment Act of 2023, which would allow the sign to be put up where Annie’s family wants it.

We’re told it could get a hearing in December, then a vote.

Then, maybe – just maybe – the sign can be placed somewhere other than a table inside the restaurant it recognizes.

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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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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.

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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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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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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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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President Harry Truman probably never said, “If you want a friend in Washington, buy a dog.” But D.C. still loves its canine friends, and luckily the whole Beltway has plenty of ways to entertain them.

Leash up your good boy or girl and head to these places in D.C., Maryland and Virginia where human’s best friend is more than welcome.

Summertime Pup at Meadowlark Botanical Gardens

9750 Meadowlark Gardens Ct, Vienna, Virginia

The first and third Wednesdays of the month though September, you can bring your dog to Meadowlark Botanic Gardens between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets cost $6 per dog, plus $6 for humans 18 to 54, or $3 for adults 55+ and kids 6-17.

Dog owners must sign a risk form and keep their pup on a leash that’s 6 feet long at most. Details.

Bark Social

935 Prose Street, North Bethesda

A dog haven inside Pike & Rose hosts lots of events and offers a menu of drinks and food for two- and four-legged friends. Doggy visitors will need to register, plus get a day pass ($10.99-$14.99 for the first dog) or membership. Details.

Barkhaus

529 East Howell Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia

This dog-friendly bar and restaurant offers an off-leash indoor and outdoor dog park. There are menus of puppucinos, peanut butter snacks and Bark-Ables (Lunchables for pups) for dogs, plus specials and a yappy hour for people. You must register and provide proof of vaccines. Daily passes cost $10, or you can purchase a membership. Details.

Baseball Game: Pups in the Park

Nationals Park (1500 S Capitol St SE, Washington, D.C.)

Bring your dog to Nationals Park! Fur babies can sit in the pet-friendly outfield reserved section during select games. Pups in the Park dates for 2023 include May 19, June 7, Aug. 16, Sept. 5 and Sept. 25. You’ll need to buy tickets for each human ($35) and one for the dog ($10), plus sign a waiver. Proceeds from dog tickets go to the Humane Rescue Alliance. Details. 

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Brookeville Beer Farm

20315 A Georgia Ave., Brookeville, Maryland

Grab your pooch, a pizza and a pint then sit at the outdoor picnic tables. Dogs should remain leashed. Details.

See also: Doc Waters Cidery in Germantown, Maryland.

Congressional Cemetery

1801 E St SE, Washington, D.C.

Pick up a day pass ($15 per dog) or join the K9 Corps to roam the 35-acre historic site. Dogs are not allowed during certain events, including funerals. Text DOG to 515-608-8682 for the latest updates. Details. 

Lost Boy Cider

317 Hooffs Run Dr., Alexandria, Virginia

Grab a cider (including uncommon options like Gherkin pickle and sugar-free) and chill with Sparky while enjoying special weekly events. Details.

Mount Vernon

3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, Virginia

Your pup is welcome to visit George Washington’s historic estate during regular daytime hours. Just stick to the outdoor attractions and follow a few rules. Details.

Swampoodle Park

Corner of 3rd & L Streets NE, Washington, D.C.

Of course, a park named Swampoodle welcomes dogs and even lets them run wild on an agility course. The nonprofit Friends of NoMa Dogs maintains the space. Details.

Wet Dog Tavern

2100 Vermont Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 

Two dog-friendly patios and a weekday happy hour will keep humans and furry friends happy in the Shaw area. Details.

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From the Smithsonian museums on the National Mall to the suburbs of Maryland and Virginia, the D.C. area has a thriving arts scene.

Check out these off-the-beaten-path museums and art galleries to expand your view.

ARTECHOUSE

1238 Maryland Ave., SW, Washington, D.C. 

Every few months, this digital immersive art museum blows our minds with innovative ways to look at the world through a technology and art lens. Plus, sometimes the cocktails dance if you scan them with your phone. Details.

Glenstone Museum

12100 Glen Rd., Potomac, Maryland

The expansive, grassy grounds and distinctive architecture would be worth the trip even before you lay your eyes on the collection of modern art inside. The museum was created by Mitchell and Emily Rales — potentially among the future Washington Commanders owners. Tickets are free. Pro-tip: Reserve passes well in advance, or take the Ride On bus (route 301) for walk-in admission, no reservation required. Details.

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Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington

3550 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, Virginia

Billed as one of the area’s largest contemporary art venues that’s not federally run, the art museum features nine galleries with rotating exhibits from around the world. It’s free to visit. Regular hours are Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Details.

National Gallery of Art

Fourth St. & Constitution Ave. NW Washington, D.C.

Maybe this massive complex along the National Mall isn’t far from the beaten path, but you’ll need multiple visits to take it all in. Stroll the Sculpture Garden, explore two vast buildings of arts for all ages, take a selfie in the underground moving tunnel of light that connects both buildings, peep the big blue rooster on the roof and try to snag Jazz in the Garden tickets. Whatever you do — stop by the cafe. Delish! Details.

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Pazo Fine Art

4228 Howard Ave Kensington, Maryland

Their Dorothy Fratt exhibit is a great example of how PFA is breaking the mold and bringing unique art experiences to the D.C. area. The gallery is open by appointment. Details.

Pyramid Atlantic Art Center

4318 Gallatin Street, Hyattsville, Maryland

Featuring a gallery with rotating exhibits, public workshops and private or public studio space, the center is bringing new meaning to community art. Details.

Rhizome

6950 Maple St NW, Washington, D.C.

The nonprofit community arts space in Takoma hosts several programs a week ranging from musical performances to artist talks — plus some classes and workshops. Details.

Rubell Museum

65 I (eye) St. SW, Washington, D.C.

The contemporary art museum is housed inside a former school building that counted Marvin Gaye among its pupils. Director Caitlin Berry says it’s the only museum in the District dedicated exclusively to showcasing contemporary art. Adult tickets start at $15, but D.C. residents can visit for free. It’s recommended that visitors reserve passes online. Details.

Torpedo Factory Art Center

105 N. Union St., Alexandria, Virginia

Meet artists and observe makers at work as you browse one of Virginia’s foremost artist havens. The Torpedo Factory says its home to the nation’s largest collection of working artists’ open studios under one roof. It’s free to visit. Details.

Workhouse Arts Center

9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton, Virginia

Performing and visual arts, events ranging from Tai Chi to a beer festival and a history lesson on the women’s suffrage movement at the Lucy Burns Museum make the Fairfax County venue a cultural hub. Details.

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D.C.’s bar scene is reaching new heights. Nothing lifts our spirits like sipping a cold drink while looking at sweeping views of the District.

Whether you’re looking for a sophisticated date night spot or a place to watch sports, D.C. has a rooftop for you.

Here are The Scene’s top rooftops (in the order they were added to the list):

Whitlow’s DC

📍 901 U St. NW, Washington, D.C.
🔗 Details

Whitlow’s is moving into the space formerly known as The Brixton so it can have more space for live music a few times a month, DJs on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays — and a rooftop serving beach shack vibes.

The menu includes classic bar appetizers ($10-$14), sandwiches ($10-$15), smash burgers ($16+) and entrees ($14-$25), plus fresh, frozen and draft cocktails ($12-$13), beers ($6-$9) and wine ($9).

The spot just reopened in early June with a happy hour menu including $5 rail drinks and draft beers running 5 p.m. to close on Monday, 5-8 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday and 9 p.m. to close on Sunday. Brunch is coming soon.

Baja Tap

📍 2436 18th St., NW Washington, D.C.
🔗 Details

Offering one of the most affordable rooftop happy hours we’ve found — complete with live music — this Adams Morgan newcomer does tacos, tequila and more California-inspired Mexican fare. The regular menu includes seven margaritas by the glass ($10-$14) or pitcher ($39-$54), plus $8 tap beers, $5 tacos… and a festive $85 torre de tacos.

Ciel Social Club

📍 601 K St., Washington, D.C.
🔗 Details

Go here for a good sunset view and late-night hours (until 2 a.m. on weekends) atop the AC Hotel by Marriott near the Washington Convention Center. The cherry blossom-themed food and drink menu offers cocktails for $18-$20, Japanese whiskies, beers ($8), wines ($16-$35) and Red Bull, plus Japanese bites ($15-$27 or $13 during happy hour and late night).

Weekend brunch includes Southern-influenced eats like chicken and waffles ($20) , classic AM drinks and an option for bottomless Campo Viejo ($40) or Perrier Jouet ($120).

Tickets for their Independence Day fireworks viewing party ($180) are on sale through July 3.

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Cleveland Park Bar and Grill

📍 3421 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, D.C.
🔗 Details

Just in time for NHL and NBA playoffs season! This Cleveland Park bar has 40 TV screens, making it a great choice for catching the game on the partially-covered roof deck. Snack on burgers, sandwiches, pizza and pasta ($13-$21) while sipping a cold one (most cocktails are $13).

Crimson View

📍 627 H St. NW Washington, D.C.
🔗 Details

You’ll find southern appetizers and mains ($7-$17), fresh mixed drinks ($12-$16), beers, ciders and wine, plus a “low to no” proof menu ($10) inside the Motto by Hilton Washington DC City Center hotel.

Lucha Rosa

📍 1011 K St., NW Washington, D.C.
🔗 Details

This bar with Southern Mexican vibes just arrived at the Moxy Hotel rooftop with flavorful cocktails ($16-$20), wines ($16-$19 per glass), bottled and canned beer ($7-$16) and long lists of tequila and mezcal offerings. Entradas, including shrimp or rockfish ceviche, run $16-$18, and individual tacos are $8-$12.

Moonraker at the Pendry

📍 655 Water St., SW Washington, D.C.
🔗 Details

Sweeping views of the Potomac River make this an impressive date spot. The Japanese-inspired menu includes sushi, light bites, handcrafted cocktails ($22), wines by the glass ($20 to $175 for Dom Pérignon Rosé) and Japanese whiskies.

Salazar

📍 1819 14th St. NW Washington, D.C.
🔗 Details

Ring the bell with your ice shot glass, and you’ll feel like you’re in college again. Happy hour runs all night on Thursdays and 4-6 p.m. on weekends. The regular menu includes $6 tacos, big plates ($10-$16+), beers and seltzers ($7-$10) and specialty cocktails ($13-$15).

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Tiki TNT

📍 1130 Maine Ave., SW Washington, D.C.
🔗 Details

The Wharf’s lively tiki bar has a roof deck serving views of the Washington Channel — although we often land on the outdoor patio. Go for tropical drinks, beers and wines, then stay for shareable bowls and snacks.

Zebbies Garden

📍 1223 Connecticut Ave., NW Washington D.C.
🔗 Details

Zebbies Garden is a nighttime into early morning club above the Mayflower restaurant in Northwest. The wildly Instagramable party spot has a retractable roof that makes you feel like you’re not on Connecticut Avenue. Look for them to host themed parties as well like the LGBTQ+ friendly day party “Flower Factory” monthly.

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Living in D.C. is great, but it’s also expensive. It can seem like walking out the door alone costs you $50.

However, that doesn’t have to be the case — we can have fun while being frugal!

Going beyond the National Mall monuments and museums, we’re sharing our favorite free activities in the D.C. area right now.

Anacostia Park Roller-skating Pavilion

Roller-skating can be intimidating: the face plants, the wall-grabbing, the embarrassing falls. We have all been there. But take a chance this summer, grab some friends and laugh off the stumbles at the National Park Service’s only roller-skating rink.

Anacostia Park’s roller-skating pavilion is open every day of the week. Admission and skate rentals are free with a government-issued ID — but bring your own socks. Details.

Check with Friends of Anacostia Park for special events, including Late Skates.

Comedy

Do you like to laugh? Do you like free things? If you answered no to either of those questions, we are concerned. If you answered yes, there is no other choice but to visit some of the amazing D.C. comedy venues that offer free shows. We recommend checking schedules for Room 808 (Petworth), Hotbed (Adams Morgan), Choir Boy Comedy (various venues) and Underground Comedy (various venues). Capital Laughs is another option; a donation is requested to keep the laughs going.

Kennedy Center: Millennium Stage and the REACH

If you’re anything like us and love a Friday night theater outing or a Sunday matinee, we recommend a visit to the Kennedy Center. The Millennium Stage hosts free performances Wednesday through Saturday at 6 p.m. (reservations reccomneded). The REACH screens films on Sundays at 3 p.m., plus has free dance classes, kids’ activities at the Moonshot studio — and is a good picnic spot. The JFK Exhibit is also worth a stop.

Planet Word

The immersive language museum in the historic Franklin School is a certified hit. The sound-and-touch activated exhibits are both educational and fun — our favorite is a globe lit with 5,000 LED lights that enable messages in about 30 different languages with just a tap of a screen. Details.

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Library of Congress

The ornate Library of Congress recently opened its doors to its main reading room to walk-in visitors after years of only allowing entry to those with a photo ID library card (which are available to the public). Visitors can access the ornate room from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and 2 to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays through Fridays, as well as Thursday evenings from 5 to 8 p.m. for the Live at the Library event series. Make sure to reserve passes in advance. Details.

National Cathedral

Circumnavigate the formidable building and try to spot its most unique carvings, including grotesques of Darth Vader, Medusa and a rattlesnake (consider bringing binoculars). Then, make sure to visit the Bishop’s Garden, Cathedral Garth and Olmstead Woods. Go on Saturday afternoons to hear a Carillon (bell) recital. Keep an eye on the calendar for special events, including free choral concerts and donation-based organ concerts (note that cathedral general admission is not free — formal tours and tower climbs cost $10-$15).

Open-air Markets

Yes, these markets are filled with vendors who are trying to get you to spend money, but isn’t half the fun of an outdoor market the people-watching and vendor-grazing? If you have enough self-control, these markets can be free and fun! D.C. offers a number of these events weekly, including Eastern Market (with indoor shopping Tuesday to Sunday and an outdoor market on weekends), dozens of FRESHFARM markets citywide, plus the Georgetown Flea Market every Sunday. Leave your credit card at home and take what we like to call a frugal frolic.

Smithsonian National Zoo

D.C.’s very own Smithsonian National Zoo is always a classic and always free of charge. Spend a day with family or friends and take in the diverse range of animals the zoo has to offer. In just the last few months, the National Zoo has welcomed eight new fuzzy babies to the family — seriously way too cute to pass up! You must reserve passes in advance. Pro transit tip: If you get off Metro at Cleveland Park, it’s a downhill walk to the zoo entrance. Details.

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Teddy Roosevelt Island

This 89-acre island and national memorial located in the Potomac River is not your average park. What was once a U.S. Civil War training camp is now a haven for daytime fun with wildlife viewing, National Park Service ranger-led programs and island safari tours. FYI: Pedestrian and car access is from the Rosslyn, Virginia, area only, but the island is technically in D.C. Don’t forget the sunscreen! Details.

U.S. National Arboretum

Stroll the massive grounds with 9.5 miles of roadways, stopping by collections of azaleas, plants from around Asia, ferns and the iconic National Capitol Columns. Another big highlight is the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum.

More free activities in D.C.

• Bike or hike the Capital Crescent Trail
• Explore the Capital Jewish Museum
• The Parks at Walter Reed regularly hosts weekend concerts and other events — check the schedule here.
• Festivals, movie nights, music and more can be found at The Wharf.
• Stroll through Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. Cyclists can ride to the entrance near the Anacostia River Trail.

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On the twelfth day of Christmas, Three Kings Day or Día de Los Reyes is celebrated.

What is Three Kings Day?

Three Kings Day (Día de Los Reyes) or the Feast of Epiphany is a holiday that commemorates the day the three wise men — Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar — arrived with gifts for baby Jesus.

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When is Three Kings Day?

Three Kings Day or Epiphany is celebrated by Roman Catholics on Jan. 6, as the culmination of the 12 days of Christmas.

Although the birth of Jesus is celebrated on Christmas Day, the three Kings didn’t actually reach him until twelve days later—which is why Three Kings Day is celebrated on the 12th day of Christmas.

Orthodox Christian faiths celebrate Epiphany on Jan. 19.

The symbolism behind the Magi’s gifts

“The Three Kings” or the “wise men” or the “Magi” followed a star to Bethlehem to show their adoration for baby Jesus.

The Bible says a bright star led the magi from the east until it stopped “over the place where the child was,” and “upon entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother” (Matthew 1:24).

They presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Gold has always represented wealth and power. It symbolized Christ’s royal status as King of the Jews. Frankincense, a type of incense and perfume, represented His divinity and identity as the Son of God. Myrrh, an anointing oil and embalming fluid, referred to Jesus’ mortality.

What countries celebrate Three Kings Day?

Día de Los Reyes is celebrated in Spanish-speaking countries like Mexico and Spain in addition to other countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, France, Poland, and by some Latinos in the United States, especially Puerto Rico.

How is it celebrated?

Popular traditions during the holiday include gift-giving, large feasts, and indulging in King Cake or Rosca de Reyes.

King Cake is most often associated with Mardi Gras but is also eaten in honor of Epiphany. Louisiana-style king cakes consist of a cakey bread dough twisted into a ring and decorated with icing and colored purple, green and yellow sprinkles.

Rosca de Reyes is a special bread with fruit and sugar that comes in the shape of an oval to represent a crown. Candied figs and cherries symbolize the crown jewels.

Inside both variations of cake, a baby Jesus doll is hidden.

Whoever finds the doll is believed to receive good luck but must also host a party on Candlemas (February 2nd) or host next year’s celebration.

Similar to stockings at Christmas, many children leave out their shoes the night before for the wise men to leave candies and toys in. 

And like the tradition of leaving cookies and milk for Santa, children will pick grass or hay and leave water for the camels to eat and drink.

Three Kings Day parades also take place around the world from New York City to Madrid and Uruguay.

How is it celebrated in D.C.?

A Three Kings Day parade (Fiesta de los Reyes Magos) is hapening right here in D.C. at the GALA Hispanic Theatre on Jan. 7 at 2 p.m.

A procession of the Kings and live animals will make their way around the block with a street parade, local musicians and dance troupes. Free gifts will be given out to children.

Tickets are available on the day of the event at the box office between 12:45 and 1:30 p.m. A maximum of four tickets is allowed per family (1 adult for every 3 children). The event is free.

Where can I buy Rosca de Reyes in the DMV?

Cocolita Food

Chef Carla of Cocolita Food is offering her traditional Rosca de Reyes adorned with white chocolate wise men for pickup at the National Union Building in D.C.

💲 Price: $30 when ordering through Instagram or WhatsApp (571-228-4890). $35 when you order through Shef.

📍 Address: 918 F St NW, Washington, D.C.

Panaderia Mi Pueblo

This traditional Mexican bakery in Alexandria will offer Rosca de Reyes from Jan. 4 through Jan. 10.

To pre-order, call (703) 746-8697 or walk in for same-day pick-up. It is cash only but an ATM is available.

💲 Price: $37

📍 Address: 8401 Richmond Hwy. Suite F Alexandria, Virginia

Cinco de Mayo Bakery & Taqueria

This bakery and restaurant in Glen Burnie will offer Rosca de Reyes in small, medium and large sizes. They come packaged in a festive red box and will be available from Jan. 3 through Jan. 6 or 7.

Cost: The small is $25, medium is $35 and the large is $45.

📍 Address: 445 N. Crain Hwy Glen Burnie, Maryland

Where can I buy King Cake?

Bayou Bakery

This local bakery in Arlington will begin selling their King Cakes on Jan. 6. As a bonus, cakes will include Mardi Gras beads and a card explaining the history behind the tradition.

Place your pre-order by Jan. 4 by calling (703) 243-2410.

💲 Cost: $50 plus tax.

📍 Address: 1515 N. Courthouse Road Arlington, Virginia

Best Buns

With locations in Shirlington, Springfield and Tysons, you can pre-order your king cake now! Best Buns requires at least 48-hour advance notice and King Cakes are only available for pick-up on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

💲 Cost: $32.32

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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.

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Huntley, a singer-songwriter from Fredericksburg, Virginia, has made a big impression on NBC’s “The Voice.”

He quickly went from playing gigs across Virginia to placing top five in the singing competition. The finalists left it all on the stage Monday night for their final performances. He sang an engaging rendition of Creed’s rock ballad “Higher.”

“Not for nothing, Huntley closed out the night with a rocking performance of this Creed classic! #TheVoice,” @NBCTheVoice tweeted.

Since day one he has wowed the coaches – getting four coaches to turn their chairs during his initial performance. The coaches are musicians Reba McEntire, Niall Horan, Gwen Stefani and John Legend respectively.

“Every time I get out there, I just feel like it’s where I belong,” Huntley told News4’s Tommy McFly. “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.”

Ahead of the finale he shared the lessons he’s learned from his coach, Niall, who his 6-year-old daughter chose.

“Everyone knows I can go out there, and I can belt, and I can scream with a lot of soul,” Huntley said. “But I think he really helped with the story side of my voice and really made me feel confident.”

Huntley is considered a favorite to win (especially if you ask Virginians), but it depends on viewer votes. Voting closed Tuesday morning.

Watch night two of “The Voice” finale to see who wins season 24 on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. on NBC.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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From wreath-laying ceremonies at the war memorials on the National Mall to free rides on National Harbor’s Capital Wheel to a vet’s comedy special taping, here’s a look at what to do.

U.S. Navy Band concert

📅 Fri., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
📍 MLK Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C.
💲 Free
🔗 Details

In association with the D.C. Mayor’s Office and DC Public Library, the National Museum of the United States Navy will hold two concerts featuring the band’s vocal ensemble, Cruisers, and the concert band’s 12-member brass ensemble. The concerts will take place at the MLK Jr. Memorial Library.

The Cruisers will perform at 1 p.m. followed by the brass ensemble at 3 p.m. in the library’s New Books Room located on the main floor.

National Mall

📍 National Mall
💲 Free
🔗 Details

The National Park Service and its partners will host several wreath-laying ceremonies and other in-person and virtual programming on Friday and Saturday.

On Friday, a candlelight ceremony will be held at the Vietnam Women’s Memorial.

Here’s the schedule for Saturday’s ceremonies:

• World War II Memorial: 9 a.m.
• Old Post Office Tower: 9:30 a.m.
• World War I Memorial: 10:30 a.m.
• African American Civil War Memorial: 11 a.m.
• Vietnam Veterans Memorial: 1 p.m.
• Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II: 2 p.m.
• U.S. Navy Memorial: 2 p.m.
• Korean War Veterans Memorial: 3 p.m.

Arlington National Cemetery: National Veterans Day Observance

📍 Arlington National Cemetery
💲 Free
🔗 Details

The 70th annual National Veterans Day Observance will take place on Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Memorial Amphitheater at the Arlington National Cemetery.

Scheduled events include:

• The United States Air Force Band and U.S. Air Force Chanters performing a prelude in the amphitheater at 10:30 a.m.
• Wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
• National observance inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans’ organizations and remarks from dignitaries

The observance is open and free to the public and seating in the amphitheater is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Arrive early to find parking, get through security and get to the ceremonies.

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.

National Army Museum

📍 1775 Liberty Drive Fort Belvoir, Virginia
💲 Free
🔗 Details

The National Museum of the United States Army will be offering a weekend of events in honor of Veterans Day.

Highlights include:

• Family-friendly activities in which guests can write greeting cards to veterans, participate in a history scavenger hunt and enjoy the Museum’s Tiny Troops Story Time for kids aged 3-6.
• History demonstrations that explore a soldier’s daily and their equipment.
• A Volunteer Showcase where museum volunteers share stories from their military service.
• Documentary Screening of PBS’s documentary “American Veteran.”

A special exhibit called “Loyal Service: Working Dogs At War” will be open during the weekend, as well. The traveling exhibition pays tribute to military working dogs with hand-carved wooden sculptures that symbolize their sacrifice.

“Some exhibition sculptures depict images that could be sensitive for children and veterans. Visitor discretion is advised,” the museum said.

For the full schedule of activities at the museum, visit their website. Admission is free.

National Museum of the Marine Corps

📍 1775 Semper Fidelis Way, Triangle, Virginia
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Visit the museum for a traditional cake-cutting ceremony in honor of the 248th Marine Corps Birthday on Friday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

On Saturday, guests can create patriotic crafts, participate in Marine Corps birthday-themed activities and learn about the significance of Veterans Day. During the museum’s Family Day on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., children under 5 can also enjoy storytime and a sing-along.

The events, plus museum admission, are free and open to the public.

National Veterans Parade

📅 Sun., steps off at noon
📍 Parade along Constitution Avenue starts at the National Archives
💲 Free
🔗 Details

The inaugural National Veterans Parade will feature floats, marching bands, special vehicles and more along Constitution Avenue.

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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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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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Tank and the Bangas – nominated for a 2020 Best New Artist Grammy – will headline the benefit Monday at The Hamilton.

“D.C shows us so much love,” Tarriona “Tank” Ball said. “I have family there. Every time I come there, it’s an amazing crowd. I love D.C.”

Ball is the driving force behind the New Orleans-based group performing to raise money for JusticeAid, a non-partisan nonprofit that uses music and the arts to promote social awareness.

“Particularly in marginalized communities and minority, lower income communities, it’s important that everybody get out the vote,” said Kim Duckett Coaxum of JusticeAid. “In Virginia, for example, the entire legislature is up for election. This is a pivotal time.”

This year, JusticeAid chose to partner with Black Voters Matter, a non-partisan group focused on increasing civic engagement in states, including Virginia.

“Our role is to help people better understand why it is important that they’re participating in the process and really understand the process better,” said LaTosha Brown of Black Voters Matter. “And even to the extent that they think that things should be changed, how can they use their power as an individual, their power as a citizen, their power as a Virginian, to really be able to change and shift and make that state the state that they desire and the state that they deserve.”

For Tank, blending her music with social change is a perfect fit.

“It pays so much homage to those that came before me – to my grandfather, who was such a freedom fighter in New Orleans; to my mom, who desegregated the first school in the South in New Orleans,” she said. “It just means a lot to me to know that every vote truly does matter.”

“All of that is your life. Politics is life, and art is life,” she said. “So, to combine all of these things, all it does is take away the name of what it already is, which is basically life. And we have to connect these things together, so people won’t see it as such a divide. That’s where we come into play. We’re reminding you there’s no divide. We’re all in this together. Don’t forget.”

Tank and the Bangas will perform Monday night at The Hamilton Live in downtown D.C. Monday afternoon, MSNBC’s Joy Reid will moderate a forum on social justice. Both events are open to the public.

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.

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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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