Author: yvylee

Ice Skating at the Washington Harbour
Date: January thru February 24, 2024. Dates and hours vary
Location: K St. NW & 30th St. NW.
Cost: Adults $11, Children, Senior, Military $9. Skate rental $7.00

Lace-up your skates and go outdoor ice skating this winter at the Georgetown Waterfront. The Washington Harbour skating rink is the largest outdoor rink in DC, larger than the Rockefeller Center in New York City! Enjoy scenic views of the Potomac River, Kennedy Center, Key Bridge, and historic Georgetown while ice skating. The rink is even more magical at night with twinkling snowflakes and decorations lighting up the rink. It’s perfect for the whole family or a special date night. They offer skate rentals, lessons, and open skating in 90-minute increments.

First Friday ArtWalk Dupont
Date: Friday, January 5, 2024. 6:00 pm-8:00 pm. Continues every first Friday of the month.
Location: Dupont Circle Area
Cost: FREE!

ArtWalk Dupont takes place on the First Friday of each month and features Dupont Circle art galleries, embassies, and cultural centers. The monthly event includes a self-guided gallery walk and live performances. Visitors can start at any participating location and visit the art galleries listed on the map. Come and celebrate the arts throughout the greater Dupont Circle neighborhood.

Sound Health Friday & NSO Coffee Concert
Date: Friday, January 12, 2024. Starts at 9:30 am for coffee and health-inspired activities.
Location: THE REACH, Kennedy Center
Cost: FREE! Registration Required

Attend Sound Health Fridays at The REACH. Arrive at 9:30 am. for coffee, and wander the REACH. At 10:00 am., participate in a Morning Sing, attend a health-inspired talk and performance, or join a wellness-inspired workshop. At 11:30, attend NSO coffee concert, Noseda conducts Wagner: The Ring without Words.

MLK Day of Service – National Park Service (Fee-Free Day)
Date: Monday, January 15, 2024
Sponsor: National Capital Parks – East (NACE)
Cost: FREE! Submit Volunteer Event Interest Form

Participate in a day of service in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on his birthday. National parks will waive entrance fees for everyone on Monday, January 15, 2024, as the first fee-free day to honor his life and legacy. Places where he made history and of the greater Civil Rights Movement he influenced are preserved in many national parks and local communities. It’s also a day of service when thousands of volunteers participate in service projects across the country, including at national parks. Service opportunities are available throughout the MLK weekend. Check them out.

GW MLK Day of Service and Leadership
Date: Monday, January 15, 2024. 11:00 am-4:00 pm.
Location: Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement & Public Service. 2300 H. Street NW.
Cost: Free! Register as an Individual or as a Group

Dr. King recognized the power of service. He famously said, "Everyone can be great because everybody can serve." In honor of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., GW students, faculty, staff, alumni, and DC community members are invited to participate in a day of service, leadership development, and interfaith dialogue.

Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week
Date: Monday, January 15 – Sunday, January 21, 2024
Location: Greater DC Area
Cost: Lunch/Brunch $25/35. Dinner $40/$55/$65

Treat yourself this January by taking advantage of discount meal prices during Winter Restaurant Week. Many popular restaurants will participate throughout DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. This is the perfect time to try a new restaurant or revisit an old favorite.

Walk the DC Peace Trail (Self-guided walking tour)
Location: The United States Institute of Peace (USIP). 2301 Constitution Ave. NW and DC Mall.

The northwest corner of the National Mall could be considered the “War and Peace Corner” of our nation’s capital. It is home to this country’s most famous veterans memorials, which draw millions of visitors each year. The Peace Trail is anchored at USIP, tracing a path to a dozen other key sites bringing a “peace lens” to the experience of visiting the National Mall. The self-guided walking tour or reference guide elevates stories of key figures, institutions, and moments in history that demonstrate America’s enduring commitment to peace. The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) is a national, nonpartisan, independent institute that provides analysis, education, and resources for those working for peace around the world.

Georgetown Glow – Free Light Art Experience
Date: Friday, December 1 – Sunday, January 7, 2023. Nightly 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Location: Throughout Georgetown Commercial Districts
Cost: FREE!

Set against the historic backdrop of DC’s oldest neighborhood, Georgetown GLOW is the region’s only free curated outdoor public light art experience. The popular holiday celebration will feature national and international artists and their commissioned works, on display at outdoor locations throughout Georgetown. In addition to the light art installations, GLOW programming will include more than 30 walking tours, a special shopping night, and much more!

District's Holiday Boat Parade
Date: Saturday, December 2, 2023, 6:00-9:00 pm.
Location: District Wharf. 760 Maine Ave. SW.
Cost: FREE!

Celebrate the holidays with this iconic DC event that features over sixty beautifully decorated boats parading along the Washington Channel. This year’s parade will be supporting the Washington Area Fuel Fund. Get into the spirit with ornament decorating by the Recreation Pier. Roast s'mores at the Camp Wharf at the Firepit and visit the lighted 45ft Christmas tree. Skate at the Wharf Ice Rink on the Transit Pier, bring your camera for pictures with Santa, and more!

Winter Festival
Date: Saturday, December 2, 2023. 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Rain date Sunday, December 3, 2023.
Location: National Arboretum. 2400 R Street NE.
Cost: FREE! Registration is encouraged but not required.

Shop from local vendors and enjoy free holiday-themed activities at the Winter Festival Holiday Market. There will be vendors who specialize in jewelry, home goods, gardening accessories, food, drink, and more including a Christmas tree sale. While at the event, explore the Gotelli Conifer Collection, Camellia Collection, and National Bonsai & Penjing Museum which offer spectacular things to see during the winter months.

Downtown Holiday Market
Date: Thru December 23, 2023, 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm. Daily (Closed Thanksgiving Day and 12/4)
Location: F Street between 7th and 9th Streets NW.
Cost: FREE!

Kick off the holiday season at DC’s beloved outdoor shopping village. The market supports small businesses across the region, welcoming shoppers for a safe, secure, and enhanced shopping experience. This year’s retail lineup will feature more than 70 exhibitors including Black-owned and minority-owned businesses, local food vendors, and live entertainment.

Yoga Under the Stars (GW)
Date: Tuesday, December 12, 2023. 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm.
Location: City View Room. 1957 E Street NW, Top Floor
Cost: FREE! RSVP to the Event.

Join GW Campus Recreation and the Health Promotion & Education office for a yoga class in the City View Room! Often considered GW's best view of DC, the City View Room is an incredible place to prioritize yourself and your body during finals. All attendees will be entered to win a raffle prize. This class will be accessible to all levels.

In the Spirit of Kwanzaa: Every Girl Has a Story
Date: Saturday, December 16, 2023. 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm. Sunday, December 17, 2023. 4:00 pm.
Location: Dance Place. 3225 8th Street NE.
Tickets: Students $20 (General Admission $30, Seniors $25)

Celebrate Kwanzaa and the Black experience through the eyes of the young women of Coyaba Dance Theater. Along with Coyaba’s signature live drumming and dance, various stories will be told that honor and highlight the Seven Principles of the Nquzo Saba: Umoja, Kujichagulia, Ujima, Ujamaa, Nia, Kuumba, and Imani. In the Spirit of Kwanzaa is a holiday festival of heritage and Black culture filled with love, excitement, and tradition.

2023 Annual Hanukkah Party
Date: Tuesday, December 12, 2023. 6:30 – 9:00 pm.
Location: National Museum of American Jewish Military History. 1811 R Street, NW.
Tickets: FREE! Tickets Required.

Join the Annual Hanukkah Party for latkes, jelly doughnuts, gelt and song! Explore the museum while you eat, play games and sing. Learn about the ways Jews in the American military have continued the tradition of the Maccabees. Tour the museum at 6:00 before the party begins at 6:30. Bring your own Hanukkah menorah for a group lighting. They will also be collecting winter clothing to benefit homeless veterans. This event is co-sponsored by Jewish Study Center

The Peace and Carol Ringers
Date: Saturday, December 30, 2023. 6:00 pm.
Location: Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
Cost: FREE! Seating is first come, first served. Limited number of advanced registrations available on a rolling basis.

Under the direction of Tamara Freeman, the Peace and Carol Ringers will perform Songs of the Season. The program will include a variety of sacred and secular music performed on seven octaves of handbells, chimes, and an assortment of other percussion instruments.

Live at the Library! Free Concerts and Performances Every Thursday
Date: Thursday, November 3 - December 18, 2023. Times vary.
Location: Library of Congress. Coolidge Auditorium
Cost: FREE! Registration required.

Check out November performances. See their events calendar for details:

• Rising Star Alto Saxophonist - Lakecia Benjamin (11/2, 8:00-9:30 pm)
• Charly Lowry: Lumbee-Tuscarora Singer and Songwriter, in celebration of Native American Heritage Month (11/9, 12:00-1:00 pm)
• Live at the Library! Shakespeare Everywhere Festival Concert (11/9, 6:30-8:00 pm)
• Richard O'Neill, Viola and Jeremy Denk, Piano (11/20, 8:00-10:00 pm)
• Escher Quartet with Jason Vieaux, Guitar (11/29, 8:00-10:00)

Diwali
Date: Sunday, November 5, 2023. 3:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Location: National Museums of Asian Art
Cost: Free! Advance registration is recommended

Celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights at the National Museums of Asian Art. This is an after-hours event where they light up the museum in celebration of light overcoming darkness. Enjoy food and sweets, watch performances, create crafts, and more. Lights will turn on at sundown (around 5 p.m.) and will be preceded by a traditional blessing called an arti.

Silent Sky
Date: Thursday, November 9, 2023. 7:30 pm (Additional performances: Friday 11/10, Saturday 11/11, Sunday 11/12 @ 2:00pm)
Location: Dorothy Betts Marvin Theatre. 800 21st Street NW.
Cost: Tickets $10 Students/Seniors, $10 General Admission

This compelling production by Lauren Gunderson shines a light on 19th-century astronomer, Henrietta Leavitt. Immerse yourself in this luminous tale that blends history and entertainment.

Museum of Failure
Date: Through November, 2023 (closed Mondays). Duration: 1 hour
Location: Georgetown Park, 3270 M St. NW.
Cost: Student, Senior, Military: $16.50. Regular ticket prices start at $25.

Making mistakes is a fact of life—and that’s not a bad thing. Museum of Failure is here to celebrate that! The museum showcases a collection of failed products and services from around the world. Every item provides unique insight into the risky business of innovation. Let's face it, the majority of innovation projects fail at some point. But that's okay because embracing failure and taking meaningful risks paves the way for real innovation and progress. After all, as Confucius once said: "our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail."

Sandwich Saturdays - Feeding Homeless Veterans
Sponsored by: United Soldiers and Sailors of America (USASOA)
Date: Saturday, November 25, 2023. 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Location: 300 New Jersey Ave. NW.
Cost: FREE!

Volunteer to help homeless veterans this fall and winter. Join USASOA to make and distribute sandwiches on Saturday mornings as a part of their HOMELESS AND ELDERLY VETERANS OUTREACH PROGRAM for veterans living on the streets and in transitional housing units. During the winter months, they will also make soup along with sandwiches. USASOA also provides nonperishable food items, toiletries, and clothing to the DC Department of Veterans Affairs Homeless Shelter and Resource Center and the US Vets Transitional Housing unit.

Zoo Lights
Date: Friday, November 24 - December 30, 2023. 5:00 pm- 9:00 pm Thursday – Saturday.
5:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Sundays
Location: Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW.
Cost: $6.00 per person.

Washington, D.C.’s beloved Smithsonian’s National Zoo holiday tradition is back and brighter than ever! Now in its 15th year, ZooLights will take thousands of visitors into a winter wonderland lit by more than half a million environmentally friendly LED lights and illuminations. Visitors can stroll through immersive lantern displays showing rainforest, grassland, desert, ocean, and polar habitats and the animals that call them home. Live musical performances, delicious treat offerings, and plenty of opportunities for holiday shopping make this special event a dazzling and immersive experience for families and nature aficionados.