Date: November 28, 2024 – January 5, 2025
Location: 100 Maryland Avenue SW Washington, DC 20001
Cost: Free
Washington Botanical Garden dresses in lights to celebrate Christmas. It is one of the most beautiful places you can't miss during your visit to this city. In addition to seeing some 26,000 plants and numerous plant species, it has a special room dedicated to the deserts of the planet, where you can appreciate succulents, shrubs, and flowering plants characteristic of these regions. Also during this month, there are a series of festive concerts and an annual exhibition with the best plant species and miniature replicas of emblematic buildings, such as the Smithsonian National Museum of History
Date: Continuous at 10AM to 5PM on Monday and Wednesday through Friday, 10AM to 6PM on Saturday and Sunday, and Closed on Tuesday
Location: 925 13th Street, NW
Cost: Free
Planet Word is the only museum in the country dedicated to renewing and inspiring a love of words and language and includes immersive exhibits for all ages. Visitors can deliver a famous speech, watch a library book come to life, sing karaoke tunes, and more. The museum also offers a variety of virtual programs.
Date: Nov. 23 to March 2
Location: ice skating rinks at the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden, Washington Harbour in Georgetown, Canal Park in Capitol Riverfront, and The Wharf
Cost: Varied
Lace-up some skates and triple axel around the District at popular ice skating rinks.
Date: October 4 – April 13 from Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Location: 707-709 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Cost: Free
For the duration of the 2024-25 NBA and NHL seasons, Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Ted and Lynn Leonsis, and Jeff Skoll present a landmark exhibit featuring more than 150 photographs by legendary photojournalist Harry Benson, renowned for his chronicles of culture, politics, music, movies, television, and sports. The free exhibit includes photographs of every President and First Lady since Dwight Eisenhower, iconic images of legendary athletes and musicians, a behind-the-scenes look at The Beatles' arrival to the United States, stunning moments from the Civil Rights Movement, and much more.
Kennedy Center Millennium Stage – Trio Sefardi
Date: Friday, January 3, 2025 at 6pm
Location: 2700 F St., NW, Washington DC 20566 Kennedy Center (In-Person and Livestream)
Cost: Free
Trio Sefardi, a Northern Virginia–based ensemble, performs traditional songs of the Sephardim, the descendants of Jews exiled from Spain in 1492. The Washington Post said the ensemble “gave lovely and luminous performances.”
Date: October 8 – January 4 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Location: 3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
Cost: $6
Zoolights is an event held at the National Zoo year after year. The brightest lights decorate the paths of the park and its resting areas, and everywhere you go you will come across brilliant animal sculptures. In addition to this light show, there are also some musical performances. Of course, the more than 500,000 LED lights that make up this annual spectacle are totally respectful of the environment and the zoo's species. This is one of the plans to do with children in Washington DC, but, no doubt, adults will also enjoy it in a big way.
Kennedy Center Millennium Stage – Vienna Teng
Date: Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 6pm
Location: 2700 F St., NW Washington DC 20566 Kennedy Center (In-Person and Livestream)
Cost: Free
Songwriter Vienna Teng reemerges this fall with her We’ve Got You—her first new music in over a decade—but her fans have been here the whole time. Teng’s new mini-EP reflects the complexity of her life over the past decade: climate change work, community building, and parenthood.
Date: Friday, January 17, 2025 at 12pm
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Join the Asian Art Museum for a 30-minute midday meditation session! Friday sessions take inspiration from art in the museum’s collections.
GW MLK Day of Service and Leadership
Date: Saturday, January 18, 2025, 10am to 4pm
Location: University Student Center
Cost: Free
Registration: MLK Day of Service and Leadership Registration Page
Dr. King recognized the power of service. He famously said, "Everyone can be great because everybody can serve." GW’s MLK Day of Service and Leadership is a day to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through a day of service, workshops, and reflection.
This day of service is a unique opportunity for hundreds of GW students, faculty, staff, alumni, and DC community members to strengthen their service values, create positive and impactful contributions to our communities, and commit to continuing acts of service as exemplified by Dr. King.
Fresh Start Yoga for the New Year
Date: Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 11am
Location: Anacostia Community Museum
Cost: Free (ticket required)
Join the Anacostia Community Museum to commit to a fresh start to your health goals for the year, in a motivational yoga session by Khepera Wellness.
Date: Jan 27 to Feb 2
Location: All around DC
Cost: Varied
Here’s a chance to dine at your favorite DC restaurants, and save money while you do it! Multi-course dinner menus are available at $40, $55, and $65 per person, and lunch and brunch options are $25 or $35.
