Doja Cat, Boat Parade, Georgetown Glow

Happy Monday, DC!

Welcome back from Thanksgiving weekend. There’s a lot more holiday fun ahead to fill up your week. The boat parade at the Wharf is launching holiday fireworks, and the National Christmas Tree gets lit on the White House lawn.

Best Things to Do This Week and Weekend

November 27-December 3

1. Doja Cat in concert. Billboard-charting star Doja Cat’s latest album Scarlet introduces fans to a creepier bass-heavy side of the pop star’s repertoire. Expect to hear songs from her latest work, and hopefully a few throwback hyperpop hits like “Kiss Me More” and “Woman.” Also, rising rap queen Ice Spice will perform (Mon, $79+, Capital One Arena).
2. National Christmas Tree Lighting. The country’s ultimate Christmas tree gets lit this week; the display  showcases ornaments crafted by people from every state. The 40-foot Norway Spruce tree will be on display for spectators to visit from Saturday through January 1. The lighting ceremony will feature musical performances and stream on CBS Network on December 15 for those who don’t have a raffle ticket to attend in-person (Thurs, free, White House).
3. District’s Holiday Boat Parade. Watch decorated boats parade across the Washington Channel. In addition to the festive fleet, there’s ornament decorating, holiday karaoke, photos with Santa, live music by the Royals and Too Much Talent Band, and a fireworks finale (Sat, free, Wharf).
4. DC Cocktail Week. Dive into the area’s cocktail culture at a cocktail class, happy hour, or music session during DC Cocktail Week. The multi-day celebration highlights cocktail, mocktail, and bites from more than 100 participating restaurants and bars. The opening party at Bar Charley is boasting an all-night happy hour, and a a complimentary buffet-style family meal (Mon through December 5, prices vary, various participating locations).
5. Georgetown Glow. Outdoor art installations radiate colorful neon when the LED lights are turned on from 5 to 10 PM throughout the historic Georgetown neighborhood. This year’s sculptures and light exhibits feature nods to Star Wars, facial expressions, and hang-drying laundry. Guided walking tours are available to learn more about the artistry (through January 7, free, Georgetown).
6. Heurich Christmas Markt. History, mulled wine, and German inspirations come together in the Heurich House Museum’s Castle Garden for the annual Christmas Markt. The lineup this December features more than 50 small-scale makers, an exhibition about Chr. Heurich Brewing Co.’s Senate Beer, and ornament-making for children (Fri-Sun, $12, Dupont).
7. Winter Festival and Christmas Tree Sale. Ring in Christmastime with a real tree from the National Arboretum. The seasonal festival is a one-stop shop for holiday browsers hoping to snag decor and gifts; there are book giveaways, face painting, and nature-inspired crafts for kids, too (Sat-Sun, free, but registration encouraged).
8. Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade. Bring the entire family to the Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade for live music and holiday cheer. The more than 50-year-old traditional march down Old Town features dozens of Scottish clans dressed in colorful tartans, pipe and drum bands, and dogs. Special guest performers for this year are fiddler Sean Heely, local singer Shenna, and the Ethiopian Community Support Center (Sat, free, Alexandria).
9. Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights. This waterfront parade has been running for more than 20 years. View the decorated sailboats and powerboats from any spot on the Old Town waterfront or head to Waterfront Park for crafts and a Port City Brewing Company pop-up beer garden (Sat, free, Alexandria).

Want More Things to Do?

Arts and culture:

• Visit the US Botanic Garden to see some of your favorite DC landmarks in floral form during their special holiday exhibition, “Season’s Greenings” (closes January 1, free, Southwest DC).
• Shop for holiday ornaments, candles, and gift wrap at Salt & Sundry’s holiday pop-up (through early January, free, 14th Street).
• Metro’s First Stop Pop Up Shop has DMV-themed merch and souvenirs for you to browse (closes December 17, free, MLK Library).
• Visit the Inner Harbor to explore the local German Christmas Market (closes December 24, free, Baltimore).
• Rare Greek and Roman books that inspired Shakespeare will be on view in “Will’s World: European Literature in Shakespeare’s Time” (Mon through December 29, free, National Gallery of Art).
• Model and artist Ella Emhoff leads a style session at Rubell Museum (Thurs, free, Southwest DC).
• You’ll find artworks from local painters, ceramicists, photographers, and more at Del Ray Artisans’ Fine Art & Fine Craft Holiday Market (Fri through December 23, free, Alexandria).
• Transform a succulent terrarium into a winter wonderland at PlantHouse (Fri, $30+, Alexandria).
• Stroll galleries and museums to explore local artworks at ArtWalk Dupont (Fri, free, Dupont).
• Create cheerful paperwhites flowers from crepe paper (Sat, $85, virtual).
• Attend a Piñata Making Workshop with friends (Sat, $35+, Brentwood).
• Add body care products, jewelry, and baked goods to your holiday shopping list at Silver Spring Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Fair (Sun, free, Silver Spring).

Community and heritage:

• Filmmakers discuss two films about school integration with American Experience PBS (Wed, free, George Washington University).
• Hear first-hand narrations on independence from immigrant storytellers (Thurs, free, but donations welcome, MLK Library).
• Browse the Native Art Market to discover traditional arts and meet Native crafters and makers (Sat-Sun, free, Smithsonian National Museum of American Indian).
• Are you a fan of sappy holiday flicks? Sit in on this Analysis of Hallmark Channel Holiday Movies (Sun, $35, virtual, Southwest DC).

Theater and shows:

• You can expect energetic tap dancing to the tunes of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn at Dorrance Dance’s Nutcracker Suite (Thurs-Sat, $39+, Kennedy Center).
• Watch the Washington Opera Society perform sounds from Mozart at Embassy of Austria (Fri, $50+, Northwest DC).

Music and concerts:

• Lil Tjay brings his “Beat the Odds Tour” to Echostage (Thurs, $51+, Northeast DC).
• Tap your feet to seasonal tunes at the 20th Anniversary Peter White Christmas concert (Thurs, $59, Alexandria).
• Mix, mingle, and dance to a live DJ with friends at Christmas Formal (Sat, $90+, Georgetown).
• NPR’s A Jazz Piano Christmas spotlights cuban pianists: Melvis Santa, Alfredo Rodriguez, and Hilario Durán (Sat, $59+, Kennedy Center).

Holiday lightings:

• Speaker of the House Mike Johnson will light up the Capitol Christmas Tree (Tues, free, Capitol Hill).
• Light Up the Village features a performance by Signature Theatre, horse and carriage rides, and photos with Santa (Thurs, free, Arlington).
• Enjoy caroling, Christmas crafts, and more family-friendly fun at City Ridge Tree Lighting and Holiday Market (Sat-Sun, free, Northwest DC).
• Herndon’s Tree Lighting includes a sing-along and meet and greet with Santa (Sat, free, Herndon).
• The Del Ray neighborhood will shine bright with a Christmas tree and Menorah display (Sun, free, Alexandria).

Things to do with kids:

• Check out Cameron Run’s light display, and skate on the ice rink in Ice and Lights Winter Village (through January 1, $8+, Alexandria).
• Ride a holiday-themed train, and venture through a yard of giant illuminations aboard the Light Yards Express (Wed, free, Navy Yard).
• The Discovery Theater is presenting joy, warmth, and community in their new production Seasons of Light (Fri through December 20, $6+, Southwest DC).
• There’s family-friendly snow-themed fun at Met Park ranging from glitter tattoos to letters to Santa (Fri-Sun, free, Arlington).

Exercise and wellness:

• Create-your-own candle and relax with a sound healing session (Wed, $44, Southeast DC).
• Take your puppy to Barkfit for a playful yoga class (Sat, $15, Arlington).
• Deepen your awareness and creativity with salt therapy and Kundalini Yoga (Sun, $25, Falls Church).
• Travel to Pactamere Farm to cuddle and laugh with baby goats at this Felted Ornament Workshop (Sun, $30+, Glen Allen).

Plan Ahead:

• Tickets are on sale for another John Waters Christmas show at Birchmere Music Hall (December 20, $59, Alexandria).

If you enjoyed these events, please don’t forget to share this post with a friend on social media, and sign up for our newsletter for more things to do.

Briana A. Thomas is a local journalist, historian, and tour guide who specializes in the research of D.C. history and culture. She is the author of the Black history book, Black Broadway in Washington, D.C., a story that was first published in Washingtonian in 2016.