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The Thanksgiving leftovers are gone, and ’tis the season for gift shopping and holiday lights.
The National Christmas Tree Lighting happens Thursday night (watch out for road closures downtown!). The White House’s tree display is expected to open to the public a few days later, joining several other favorite holiday light displays returning to the DMV.
Here’s what to do this week in the Washington, D.C. area.
What to do in Washington, D.C.
Ongoing winter favorites
Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show: Dec. 5 to 21, Arena Stage, $49+ (see website for discounts)
“A Christmas Carol”: Through Dec. 31, Ford’s Theatre, $42+
“The Nutcracker” by The Washington Ballet: Through Dec. 29, Warner Theatre, $63.50+
Sculpture Garden Ice Rink returns: Daily through winter, National Gallery of Art, $12-$15 admission and $7 skate rental
Light Yards: Through Jan. 2, The Yards Park, free
Season’s Greenings: Dino-Mite!: Through Jan . 4., U.S. Botanic Garden, free
Downtown Holiday Market: Through Dec. 23, F Street NW (between 7th and 9th streets), free
Winter Wonderfest: Through Dec. 30, Nationals Park, $29.50
ZooLights: Through Jan. 3, National Zoo, $9
Frosted at Franklin Park: Through Jan. 7, downtown D.C., free
Theater – “ho ho ho ha ha ha ha” with Julia Masli: Through Dec. 21, Woolly Mammoth, $49
Weekend happenings
Comedy – Adam Conover: Thurs., 7 p.m., The Lincoln Theatre, $45.30
Christmas Markt: Thurs. to Sun., Heurich House Museum, $14 (adult)/$2 (kids 2-15)
Room Service – Holiday Edition: Dec. 5-7 and 12-14, 1345 4th Street NE, free
FONA’s Winter Festival: Sat., National Arboretum, Visitor Center, free
Holiday Her-Story Market: Sat., 1-5 p.m., Hotel Zena, free
Georgetown Jingle: Sat., 1-4 p.m., throughout Georgetown, free
Holiday Boat Parade: Sat., 5-8 p.m. (boats expected about 7 p.m.), The Wharf, free
Native Art Market: Sat. and Sun., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., National Museum of the American Indian (National Mall), free entry
HCC Holiday Market: Sun., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Congressional Cemetery, free entry
What to do in Maryland
Gingerbread House Contest & Show: Opens Fri., Darnall’s Chance House Museum, $2 (free for kids 4 and under)
Jingle Jubilee & Tree Lighting: Fri., 6:30-8:30 p.m., Gaithersburg Concert Pavilion, free
“Elf” with live accompaniment by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: Fri., 7:30 p.m., Music Center at Strathmore, $29+
Santa Fly-In and holiday celebration: Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., College Park Aviation Museum, $10 for residents or $13 for nonresidents (Santa arrives at 11 a.m. and departs at 3 p.m., weather permitting)
Bethesda’s Winter Wonderland: Sat., noon to 4 p.m., Norfolk and Cordell Avenues, free entry
Winter’s Eve: Sat., 3-6 p.m., Glen Echo Park, free
Light Up the Lakefront: Sat., 4-7 p.m., rio in Gaithersburg, free entry
National Harbor Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Show: Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 21, free entry
Concert – Lea Salonga: Sat., 8 p.m., The Music Center at Strathmore, $28 to $108
Concert – Rare Essence: Sun., BlackRock Center for the Arts, $45
Concert – Monaleo: Sun., The Fillmore Silver Spring, $67+
Luminocity’s Wonder Journey holiday lights festival: Through Jan. 1, Montgomery County Fairgrounds, $33.47 (child)/$40.23 (adult)
What to do in Virginia
Holiday Walk of Lights at Neabsco Regional Park: Select dates through Dec. 4-28, Woodbridge, free
Ice & Lights – The Winter Village at Cameron Run: Through Feb. 28, Alexandria, $9-$24
Rosslyn Cheer tree lighting, yappy hour and holiday market: Thurs. to Sun., free
Concert – Johnnyswim: Fri. and Sat., The Barns at Wolf Trap, $60+
McLean Holiday Art & Crafts Festival: Fri. Sat and Sun., McLean Community Center, $5 entry (free for kids 12 and under)
Norwegian Festival: Fri. to Sun., Norway House in Fairfax, free but reservations required
Del Ray Artisans 30th Annual Fine Art & Fine Craft Holiday Market: First three weekends in December, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave. in Alexandria, free entry
Holiday Gift & Craft Show, plus Children’s Holiday Shop: Sat., 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Sun., 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Community Center in Falls Church, free entry
PCRS WinterFest: Sat., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park, free
The Lodge, a ski-inspired winter festival: Sat., 1-7 p.m., Metropolitan Park in Arlington, free entry
Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade: Sat., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Old Town Alexandria, free
Holiday Boat Parade: Sat., 2-8 p.m. (boat parade at 5:30 p.m.), Old Town Alexandria Waterfront (here’s a map of viewing locations), free
Fairfax Holiday Market: Dec. 5-7 and Dec. 12-14, Old Town Square in Fairfax, free entry
Bull Run Festival of Lights: Daily through Jan. 4, Centreville, $32.45
Winter Lantern Festival: Through Jan. 18, Lerner Town Square at Tysons II, $18.99-$25.99
Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights: Through Jan. 4, Vienna, $20.85
9th Annual Old Town TUBACHRISTMAS: Sun., 3 p.m., Market Square, free
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