Happy Monday, DC!
The government shutdown has come to a close, and some of our favorite galleries and museums have reopened—and it means ZooLights will brighten up the National Zoo starting this weekend. This week is also the kick-off of other seasonal favorites, including the Downtown DC Holiday Market and A Christmas Carol at Ford’s Theatre.
Best Things to Do This Week and Weekend
November 17–November 23
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- ZooLights. The National Zoo has reopened just in time for its annual holiday light show, ZooLights. Lantern displays of sea and land animals include giant pandas, birds, ocean creatures, and more. Also, guests can watch nightly live musical performances and sip hot cocoa to keep warm (select nights Fri through January 3, 2026, $9, National Zoo).
- Downtown DC Holiday Market. The Makers Show returns downtown to two blocks of F Street, from 7th to 9th streets, Northwest, with glimmering lights and an array of wintertime favorites. The outdoor holiday shopping village is a great place to find presents and indulge in bites from a local food truck (Fri through December 23, free, Downtown).
- A Christmas Carol. Ford’s Theatre’s seasonal classic A Christmas Carol returns to tell the grumpy and merry tale of Ebenezer Scrooge—as performed again this year by talented actor Craig Wallace. The cheery production packed with detailed costumes and energetic dance breaks is sure to usher in the Christmas spirit (Thurs through December 31, $51+, Ford’s Theatre).
- “Korean Treasures” exhibit. See a variety of remarkable works of art—ranging from 18th-century landscapes to modern abstractions— collected by the late Samsung chairman Lee Kun-Hee at the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art’s new exhibit “Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared” (through February 1, free, Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art).
Want More Things to Do?
Arts and culture:
- Renowned DC author Jason Reynolds discusses his new book, Coach, with teens at the library (Mon, free, MLK Library).
- Prep for the release of Wicked: For Good by playing a round of trivia at Alamo Drafthouse DC (Tues, free, Brentwood).
- Go on an after-hours exploration of the exhibit “Women Artists from Antwerp to Amsterdam, 1600-1750” at NMWA Nights; there will also be flower crafts and a DJ (Wed, $25, Downtown).
- View a collection of photography from a group of regional artists in the new exhibition “PhotoGenesis 2” at McLean Project for the Arts (opens Thurs, free, McLean).
- Shop wreaths, ornaments, and more yuletide goodies at the Maryland Christmas Show (Fri-Sun, November 28-30, $10 for adults, $4 for children under 10, Frederick).
- Umbrella Art Fair has a new location to show off art pieces and cuisine from around the globe (Fri-Sun, free, Downtown).
- Shop fashionable size-inclusive finds at Femme Fatale DC’s Falling For Myself pop-up market (Sun, free, Woodley Park).
- Swap jigsaw puzzles with neighbors (Sun, free, Mount Pleasant).
Community and heritage:
- Astronomy on Tap is back at DC9, hosting science and space talks with astronomers (Tues, free, Shaw).
- Embark on a Christmas Express Cruise to the Baltimore Christmas Village (select dates Fri through December 24, $28 for adults, $15 for youth 11 and younger, Baltimore).
Theater and shows:
- Hadestown—a musical based on a mythical Greek tale—arrives at the National Theatre (Tues-Sun, $128+, Downtown).
- Melodies from Beyoncé are performed by the Listeso String Quartet at St. Francis Hall’s Candlelight concert (Thurs, $45+, Northeast DC).
- Comedian Gary Gulman does standup at Sixth & I (Sat, $77+, Downtown).
Music and concerts:
- The rhythmic hip-hop veterans of Digable Planets arrive in DC to celebrate their 30th music anniversary (Tues, $56, Lincoln Theatre).
- Rapper Gunna has a sold-out show at the Anthem; you can still snag a seat from a third-party seller (Thurs, $94+, Wharf).
- Up-and-coming local band Kids Table is live in concert at Songbyrd (Fri, $15+, Brentwood).
- Amaarae performs a fusion of pop, R&B, and Afro-beats at the Anthem (Fri, $46+, Wharf).
- DJ & Friends headlines entertainment group Nü Androids’ weekend dance party at Culture (Fri, $34+, Ivy City).
Bites and beverages:
- Sip tiki drinks and snap Instagram-worthy photos amid beach holiday decor at Hank’s Dupont Circle; a portion of the proceeds supports the local nonprofit Food and Friends (Mon through December 31, $10 entry, Dupont Circle).
Get involved:
- Volunteers can assist the Edlavitch DCJCC and DC Central Kitchen with preparing Thanksgiving dishes for community members experiencing food insecurity and homelessness (Sat-Mon, $22, but registration required, Downtown).
- You can make a financial contribution to the Holiday Helpings giveaway at Bread for the City to support families in need with a holiday meal (through November 25, $100 will provide a family of four with a holiday meal kit, Shaw, Anacostia).
Things to do with kids:
- Gaze at glowing animal displays and lit up fairytale worlds at the family-friendly Lumino City experience (through January 1, 2026, $30+ for adults, $23+ for ages 4 to 12, Gaithersburg).
- Take a nighttime stroll through hundreds of Chinese lanterns, and catch live acrobatics at the Winter Lantern Festival (opens Thurs, $26 for adults, $19 for ages 4 to 12, free for toddlers ages 3 and under, Tysons).
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.
