Things to Do

26 Things to Do in the DC Area This Week and Weekend

Sculpture Garden Ice Rink, Winter Wonderfest at Nationals Park, and The Washington Ballet's "Nutcracker" ring in the holiday week.

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Sculpture Garden Ice Rink season will open Monday, November 24, and run through Sunday, March 1, 2026. Photo courtesy of National Gallery of Art.

Happy Thanksgiving week, DC!

We are excited for the long weekend ahead. From a new wintry playground at Nationals Park, to the return of our cherished ice rink at the National Gallery of Art, there are a lot of options to keep your relatives entertained during the Thanksgiving break.

 

Best Things to Do This Week and Weekend

November 24–November 30

    1. Sculpture Garden Ice Rink. Attention all ice-skaters: The Sculpture Garden Ice Rink is back at the National Gallery of Art this week. Skaters of all skill levels can glide across the ice while taking in the gorgeous views of the artwork, the National Mall, and nighttime’s dazzling lights. We recommend you dress cozy, but if you need to warm up you can grab a hot cocoa at the cafe (Mon through March 1 weather permitting, $15 for adults, $12 for ages 12 and under, $7 skate rental, National Gallery of Art).
    2. Winter Wonderfest. Nationals Park transforms into a wintry playground this season illuminated with LED seesaws, glowing curling lanes, and a Northern Lights-inspired pop-up. Inside the new frosted ballpark experience there’s a six-lane snow tubing hill, train rides, a sculpture garden displaying local artworks, and a hidden speakeasy where adults can warm up with cocktails (Fri through December 30, $29.50, Nationals Park).
    3. The Washington Ballet’s Nutcracker. This Russian classic is reimagined with dreamlike choreography by DC’s gifted Washington Ballet. Watch as the dance troupe puts a Georgetown twist on Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s storied tale with dancing cherry blossoms, a Rat King villain, and a heroic George Washington Nutcracker to save the day (Sat through December 28, $63+).
    4. CityCenter Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration. You’ll want to get a front-row look at this oversized 75-foot tree embellished with thousands of lights and ornaments at CityCenter’s Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration. NBC 4 news anchor Eun Yang will host the event and there will be a special performance by Grammy-winning vocalist and Broadway star Michelle Williams. The wintry cheer will continue with face painting, balloon art, and holiday treats; there are two 25-foot reindeer to snap photos with, too (Sat, free, Downtown).
    5. Alexandria Turkey Trot. Race with your family (and your dog) through the Del Ray neighborhood for a good cause. The 50th Alexandria Turkey Trot welcomes walkers and runners to circle the holiday course beginning at 9 AM on Thanksgiving morning. Racers are encouraged to bring shelf-stable food items to donate to the Alexandria nonprofit ALIVE! (Thurs, $30 for adults, $25 for ages 13 to 21, $15 for ages 12 and under, Alexandria).
    6. Some Like It Hot musical. This jazzy Tony Award–winning musical comedy—a rendition of the classic Billy Wilder film about musicians cross-dressing to escape the Chicago mob—opens this week at the National Theatre just in time for some toe-tapping holiday fun (Tues through December 7, $59+, National Theatre).
Related
November Culture Guide: 44 Things to Do in the DC Area

Want More Things to Do?

Arts and culture:

  • View sculptures, landscapes, and paper art works in “Body Language” at Black-owned art gallery Chela Mitchell Gallery before the exhibit closes (closes Sat, free, Union Market).
  • Glamorous Greetings graces Hillwood Museum with avant-garde Christmas tree displays and glitzy decor (Tues through January 4, $17 for adults, $5 for ages 6 to 18, free for children 5 and younger, Northwest DC).
  • Author Rosie Grant shares cemetery recipes in her new book To Die For: A Cookbook of Gravestone Recipes. Readers can learn how to prep their next yummy meal at her library talk (Tues, free, Mount Pleasant).
  • See dinosaur florals, and plant-created DC landmarks at the US Botanic Garden’s “Season’s Greenings” (Fri through January 4, free, Southwest DC).
  • It’s the last chance to shop Yuletide finds at Frederick’s giant Maryland Christmas Show (Fri-Sun, $10 for adults, $4 for children under 10, Frederick).

Community and heritage:

  • Embark on a candlelit guided tour of historic Mount Vernon (select days Fri through December 23, $41 for adults, $33 for ages 6 to 11, free for ages 5 and younger, Mount Vernon).
  • Celebrate Native American Heritage Day with a performance by top-ranking hoop dancer Joseph Secody (Fri, free, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian).

Theater and shows:

  • Olney Theatre puts on an entertaining revival of Hello, Dolly! starring DC’s own Nova Y. Payton (through January 4, $27+, Olney).
  • Sit in on four new play readings by Theatre Prometheus at Firecracker Festival of New Works (through December 6, $15 individual tickets, Silver Spring).
  • To celebrate the release of the new Wicked, you can catch a throwback screening of The Wizard Oz at AFI Silver Theatre (Tues-Fri, December 2, $10 for adults, $5 for children, Silver Spring).
  • This international take on the Nutcracker features puppets, acrobats, and more family-fun at Capital One Hall (Sun, $57+, Tysons).

Music and concerts:

  • R&B singer Vedo is live in concert at Howard Theatre (Mon, $44+, Shaw).
  • Taiwanese rock band Com’z plays live at Union Stage (Tues, $46+, Wharf).

Plan ahead:

  • Tickets are on sale now to browse more than 45 small-scale makers, visit a mini craftsmanship exhibition, and munch on German snacks at Heurich Christmas Markt (December 4-7, $12+ for adults, $2 for children under 15, Dupont Circle).

Get involved:

  • Runners and walkers can race through Bethesda to help raise proceeds for the YMCA Bethesda-Chevy Chase and the Bethesda Chevy Chase Rotary (Mon-Sun, $48+, virtual, Bethesda).
  • The Salvation Army is requesting volunteers to help with this holiday’s Safeway Feast of Sharing at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center (Wed, free, but registration required, Mount Vernon Square).
  • Run for a good cause at SOME’s Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger 5K (Thurs, $45 for virtual, $65 for in-person, Downtown).

Things to do with kids:

  • Take the kiddos to for an evening swing on a glowing art installation at Light Yards (Tue through January 2, free, Navy Yard).
  • Cars can ride past more than 450 illuminated displays and sparkling trees at Winter Lights Festival (Fri through December 31, $15+, closed on Christmas, Gaithersburg).
  • Watkins Regional Park is all lit up with holiday glimmers and decor for families to drive through (Fri through January 1, $15+, Upper Marlboro).

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Briana Thomas

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.