Make the most of your winter in Washington, DC by enjoying festivals, taking in live performances and catching a couple of sports games.
December 2025
DC Cocktail Week – Citywide | Dec.1–7
Dozens of DC restaurants showcase inventive cocktails paired with bites during this RAMW-curated celebration of mixology.
Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show – Arena Stage | Dec.5–23
Celebrating its 15th anniversary, this beloved “step‑stravaganza” returns with DJ Nutcracker, high‑energy stepping, festive music and new additions including the debut dance piece “Candy Cane Lane.” Now extended through Dec. 23 due to overwhelming demand. The first professional company dedicated to stepping brings a family-friendly, percussive holiday spectacle to Arena Stage.
Georgetown Jingle – Georgetown | Dec.6
Live music, pop-ups and festive cheer fill the cobbled streets of DC’s oldest neighborhood during its first-ever holiday music event.
The District Holiday Boat Parade – The Wharf | Dec.6
A free waterfront event featuring dazzling boats, live entertainment, fireworks and festive activities.
An Irish Carol – Keegan Theatre | Dec.11–28
A witty Irish take on Dickens’ classic tale, filled with humor, reflection and holiday spirit.
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC Holiday Show – Lincoln Theatre | Dec.13, 14 & 20
Tap-dancing elves, snow and iconic holiday music highlight this joyful annual production.
National Symphony Orchestra: Handel’s Messiah – The Kennedy Center | Dec.18–21
A holiday classic performed by the NSO under Baroque specialist Masaaki Suzuki.
Christmas Illuminations at Mount Vernon – Mount Vernon | Dec. 20–21
Celebrate the holidays at George Washington’s estate with a winter market, mansion tours and fireworks on the Potomac.
DowntownDC Holiday Market – Penn Quarter | Nov.21–Dec.23
The city’s beloved open-air market returns with an expanded vendor lineup will feature over 115 local artisans offering unique, handcrafted goods, gifts and holiday décor.
DC Holiday Market at Dupont Circle – Dupont Circle | Nov. 14–Dec.23
Shop 30+ local vendors offering gifts, crafts and festive foods in one of DC’s most charming neighborhoods.
Winter Wonderfest – Nationals Park | Nov.28–Dec.30
A family-friendly wonderland with tubing, curling, light installations and a hidden speakeasy.
A Christmas Carol – Ford’s Theatre | Nov.20–Dec.31 Craig Wallace stars in the Kennedy Center’s classic production of Dickens’ timeless story.
ZooLights – Smithsonian National Zoo | Nov.21–Jan.3
Eco-friendly light displays, live music and festive treats create a winter wonderland.
Season’s Greenings – U.S. Botanic Garden | Nov.27–Jan.4
A botanical holiday showcase with poinsettias, model trains and plant-based sculptures.
Folger Frost Fair – Folger Shakespeare Library | Nov. 28–Jan.4
A month-long winter festival inspired by historic London frost fairs with crafts, tours and live music.
January 2026
Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955–1985 – National Gallery of Art | Through Jan.4
A monumental exhibition featuring works by 100+ Black artists exploring cultural identity and creativity.
Women Artists from Antwerp to Amsterdam, 1600–1750 – National Museum of Women in the Arts | Through Jan.11
A historic exhibition of 17th-century Dutch and Flemish women artists across various mediums.
Professional Women's Hockey League - Capital One Arena | Jan.18
Capital One Arena will host its first-ever PWHL Takeover Tour game when Montréal Victoire faces New York Sirens.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebrations – Citywide | Jan.20
DC honors Dr. King’s legacy through parades, performances and volunteer opportunities.
Unbound: Narrative Art of the Plains – National Museum of the American Indian | Through Jan.20
Historic and contemporary Plains art highlight Native storytelling traditions.
Washington, DC Auto Show – Walter E. Washington Convention Center | Jan. 23–Feb. 1
Explore cutting-edge automotive innovation at one of the nation’s largest indoor car shows.
February 2026
Capitol Hill Volleyball Classic – Walter E. Washington Convention Center | Feb.14–16
One of the largest youth volleyball tournaments in the U.S. returns with over 1,000 teams.
Presidents’ Day & Washington’s Birthday – Citywide | Feb.17
Celebrate American leadership with museum exhibits, tours and festivities across the city. Visit the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorial, Washington Monument, National Portrait Gallery and more.
Celebrate Lunar New Year – Citywide | Begins Feb. 17
Ring in the Year of the Snake with parades, performances and cultural programs at museums and venues throughout DC such as the Chinatown Friendship Arch, National Museum of Asian Art, China Chilcano and many more.
Rik Freeman: Wade in the Waters – Phillips@THEARC | Through Feb.19
DC artist Rik Freeman explores the cultural connections of waterways in this reflective exhibition.
March 2026
Mardi Gras at The Wharf – The Wharf | March 1
Parades, floats, stilt walkers, live music and fireworks light up DC’s waterfront.
Awesome Con – Walter E. Washington Convention Center | March 13–15
DC’s signature pop-culture festival welcomes 70,000+ fans for celebrity panels, cosplay and art.
1776 – Ford’s Theatre | March 13–May 16
The Tony Award-winning musical about the signing of the Declaration of Independence returns to the historic stage.
The Crucible – The Kennedy Center | March 19–29
Robert Ward’s opera adaptation of Arthur Miller’s classic play explores hysteria and power in Salem.
National Cherry Blossom Festival – Citywide | March 20–April 12
DC’s iconic spring celebration marks the 1912 gift of cherry trees from Tokyo; peak bloom expected March 28–31.
Sasha Velour’s Travesty – Woolly Mammoth Theatre | March 24–April 12
A multimedia performance on queer history and resistance by the RuPaul’s Drag Race winner.
NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament: East Regional – Capital One Arena | March 27–29
March Madness comes to DC with high-stakes collegiate matchups in the East Regional bracket.