With the big feast behind you, it’s time to get out and take advantage of the long weekend. Embrace the holiday spirit at a seasonal event. Enjoy an outdoor adventure. Have some CANned fun. Skate under the sun or stars. Keep the kids entertained at the theatre. And much more. Happy Weekend!
#OptOutside
Where: Throughout the DMV
When: All weekend long
Admission:Varies by Locale
I love this initiative started by REI. Skip the shopping (or do it off hours online) and get out to enjoy the sublime autumn weather and some family QT outdoors! You’ve got your pick of places around the DC-Metro for adventures in the fresh air. Bundle up and take a hike, hit a playground, explore a garden, visit animals, or see what else there is to do al fresco in this post with tons of inspiration for fun in the sun.
Post-Thanksgiving Puppets
Where: Library of Congress | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Friday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Join the Library of Congress to for their 5th Annual Puppet Show post-Thanksgiving. Inspired by the stories of Ashley Bryan, shows will take place at 11am and 1:15pm in the Whittall Pavilion, with puppet-making crafts following them in the Young Readers Center. Read more about the Library of Congress in this KFDC post.
Season’s Greenings
Where: U.S. Botanic Garden | National Mall area, DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
Easily one of DC’s most popular holiday attractions, Season’s Greenings is an annual delight for all ages. The conservatory exhibit features Washington landmarks constructed from plant materials, including a new botanical inspired National Museum of African American History & Culture. But the highlight, hands-down, is the garden railway, which never fails to impress and enchant with intricate, imaginative designs. This year’s Roadside Attractions-themed exhibit is as pretty and whimsical as it is impressive. Get a glimpse of it before you go in this new post!
Thankszipping
Where: Adventure Park at Sandy Spring | Sandy Spring, MD
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission:
After all of that turkey, what’s better than a climb? Bring out-of-town relatives or just the fam to the Park for a day in the trees. And on Friday, you can avoid the crowds in the shops and get 20% off of merchandise from their store!. Read about past KFDC experiences at the Adventure Park.
Light Up Old Town
Where: Market Square | Old Town Alexandria, VA
When: Friday, 6-8pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate Alexandria’s official start to the holiday season in Old Town’s Market Square this evening. Along with the tree lighting, entertainment will include a visit from Santa, musical performances, plus caroling and a community sing-a-long.
Night Lights
Where: Around the DMV
When: Evenings
Admission: Varies by locale
Twinkling lights forming enchanting displays are easily a holiday season favorite. Visit one of several parks or gardens (or the Zoo!) in the area that has transformed into a sparkling wonderland. Some you can walk through for an up-close experience, others you tour by car. If you opt for the latter, dress the kids in PJ’s, turn up the holiday tunes, and bring along a thermos of hot chocolate — it doesn’t get much cozier than that.
Small Business Saturday
Where: Around the DMV
When: Saturday!
Admission: Free, but plan to buy & support local!
If you’re planning to do some holiday shopping this weekend, make a point of going to local, independent stores, both to score great, unique gifts and to support people and places that help make our communities thrive. Here are some local recs from Washingtonian, and a few of my neighborhood faves for gifts: East City Bookshop, Labyrinth Games & Puzzles, Hill’s Kitchen, and the many local vendors at Eastern Market.
Show Time
Where: Theatres around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
* Enjoy a magical evening with the NSO Pops at the Kennedy Center as they perform the score of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets while they film plays on a giant screen
* Get Gobsmacked! by a capella superstars at the Kennedy Center
* Me… Jane: The Dreams & Adventures of Young Jane Goodall is also at the Kennedy Center
* Charlotte’s Web is on the Imagination Stage
* Little ones will enjoy Cajes! Cajes! Cajes! at the Bestheda theatre
* Kids’ fave Annie is at Olney Theatre
* Make it a grown-up night for Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Twelfth Night
Nina Simone: Four Women
Where: Arena Stage | Southwest DC
When: Through December 24
Admission: Ticket prices vary
This exceptional show gets a stand out listing here. Powerful and incredibly moving, this portrait of songstress Nina Simone takes place during the aftermath of the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. With Simone’s songs of protest woven into the stories of four women fighting for social change, the show strikes a heavy, emotional chord in these times. I’d recommend it for teens (or mature tweens) and up.
Holidays on the Stage
Where: Local theatres
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
If you’re looking for holiday-inspired entertainment to get into the spirit, it’s starting! Several productions of The Nutcracker will enchant audiences of all ages this weekend. Have some holiday fun with Frosty the Snowman at Adventure Theatre. Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they lead Scrooge on A Christmas Carol journey at Ford’s Theatre. Get details on these shows and see what else is coming up soon in the 2017 Holiday Guide.
More Holiday Happenings
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
This weekend is the start of even more big holiday events around DC and the continuation of others. If you hope to hit ‘em all during the season, you should get going now. For the complete rundown on all the area’s holiday happenings, see the 2017 KFDC Guide to the Holiday Season in DC.
Can You CANstruct?
Where: National Building Museum | Judiciary Square, DC
When: Saturday, 11am – 2pm
Admission: Free
Complementing AIA DC’s CANstruction event which runs through November 26 in the Great Hall, this Family Afternoon welcomes all to engineer ycan-tastic creations! Design a plan for an original CANstruction piece using paper mosaics. Explore the engineering challenges on display in the Great Hall as you try your hand at building your own 3-dimensional structure. Don’t forget to bring a canned good to vote for your favorite CANstruction!
Family Fun Day
Where: National Museum of the American Indian | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 5:30pm
Admission: Free
This unique family celebration of Native American Heritage Day showcases different ways that Native people give thanks. Interactive programs include dancing, games, short children’s films, and storytelling. PS: The signpost from the Standing Rock protest is now on display at the Museum, and it’s pretty cool — you can see it on the 4th floor.
Downtown Holiday Market
Where: 8th & F Strets NW | Penn Quarter, DC
When: Through December 23, 12-8pm
Admission: Free
This, to me, is the holiday market in DC. It’s not even so much about the merchandise for sale (though there’s always a great variety of gift items — I never leave empty handed). There’s something about the usually bustling block in the middle of Penn Quarter transforming into an open air market for a few weeks that is so charming and kind of magical, making our big city feel like a small town. A bonus is the free live entertainment along with treats and coffee drinks available for purchase. And after you’ve done your shopping and enjoyed a snack and music, you can pop into the National Portrait Gallery/American Art Museum that are literally right next to the market.
Dueling Pianos, Kiddie-Style
Where: Bobby McKeys | National Harbor, MD
When: Saturday, 1pm
Admission: Starts at $18
The whole family can enjoy an afternoon of fun at one of Bobby McKey’s dueling piano shows. It’s two hours of all-request live music paired with a lunch buffet, that’s sure to make everyone happy. And this is a performance where kids are encouraged to wiggle in their seats and dance in the aisles! Plan on more holiday fun at National Harbor while you’re there.
Drag Story Hour
Where: Edlavitch DCJCC | Downtown DC
When: Sunday, 10:30-11:30am
Admission: Free
Bring kids to the library at the Edlavitch DCJCC when Mrs. Kasha Davis of Rupaul’s Drag Race shows up for a reading of children’s stories that focus on diversity, inclusion, love, and acceptance. Drag storytime fun for kids of all ages!
Get Your Skate On
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by rink
It’s ice skating season, and just about all outdoor rinks (and indoor, too) around the area are welcoming folks to glide the day — and night — away! Enjoy art as you skate at the Sculpture Garden; circle the rink with costumed characters at Washington Harbour on Saturday morning or Rock n Skate at night; meander along the Figure 8 path at Canal Park; or do some holiday shopping then skate at Pentagon Row, Veteran’s Plaza, Rockville Town Square, or Reston Town Center. This post has details on alfresco (and indoor) ice skating options in the area. And note Washington Harbor is hosting Cartoon Skate on Saturday morning!
Insider Info
Where: Around the DMV
When: All weekend long
Admission: Varies by locale
If you’d prefer to spend the day indoors, or just want more options for activities around town, this post lists more than 90 suggestions for things to do!
**PLAN AHEAD**
Around the World in 80 days
Where: Arena Stage – Kogod Theater | Southwest DC
When: January 6, 2018, 2pm & 5pm
Tickets: $15-30
No one thinks Phileas Fogg can do it.
He believes he can achieve the unthinkable, setting out on a hilarious race against time!
Told through songs from the American songbook, this world premiere from The American Pops revisits Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days — a musical adventure for all ages.
***MORE GOOD STUFF TO KNOW***
* DC Way is kicking off a new futsal program in December and will have evem more indoor soccer prorgams for kids all winter!
* There are many great volunteer opportunities with kids around DC during holiday season — and any time of year, for that matter.
* This photo took my breath away…and led me to check out Global Guardian Project, which is launching a digital magazine subscription especially for kids!
* DC Diaper Bank is hosting a Baby Gear Drive on December 2 in Arlington. If you have gently used or new items to pass on, consider donating them to this wonderful organization!
