Your D.C. Weekend: Holiday blowout edition
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The Wharf's holiday boat parade and fireworks. Photo: Courtesy The Wharf
Fasten those jingle bells — it's a holiday blowout weekend.
Why it matters: The Thanksgiving turkey is barely cold, but D.C. is in full glow-up mode with festive ice rinks, pop-up bars and big holiday bashes.
🛥️ State of play: The region's biggest holiday party parades roll out Saturday — all free.
- Alexandria's Scottish Christmas Walk Parade (11am-1pm) and Holiday Boat Parade and dock party (2-8pm) are the marquee events of Old Town's "Biggest Holiday Weekend," which includes lights, shopping sales and more.
- The Wharf's Holiday Boat Parade & Party (5pm-late) brings an equally festive light show to the Washington Channel, plus live music, hot toddy bars and s'mores.
🐴 Meanwhile, one of the most popular small town festivals, Christmas in Middleburg, brings Virginia hunt country horses and hounds to the charming streets (Sat., 11am) after a tree lighting on Friday (5pm).
☃️ Between the lines: It's also a huge weekend for winter festivals, including:
- Fairfax's Norwegian Festival (Fri.-Sun., free RSVP)
- National Arboretum Winter Festival (Sat., free RSVP)
- Georgetown Jingle (Sat., free)
- The Lodge at National Landing (Sat., free RSVP).
👛The intrigue: Yes, there are holiday markets. Design lovers shouldn't miss Room Service: Holiday Edition, a vintage-chic takeover of a Union Market motel.
- Expect local designers and creatives (see Mimi's first look), holiday shopping and a courtyard winter pop-up bar — Hot Lotty by Bar Betsie — with mulled wine, toddies and fire pits.
- It runs Sat.–Sun. this weekend and Dec. 12–14. Free RSVP.
🎶 Meanwhile, holiday concert season is underway, including favorites like "A Christmas Carol" at Ford's Theatre (through Dec. 31) and The Washington Ballet's "The Nutcracker" at Warner Theatre (through Dec. 28).
Opening this weekend:
- "Resplendent Joy" by the Folger Consort — early Spanish Christmas carols in the Folger's Shakespearean theater (Sat.–Dec.14; $20–$65)
- "Handel's Messiah" by the Washington National Cathedral Choir (Fri.-Sun., prices vary).
- Step Afrika!'s "Magical Musical Holiday Step Show" at Arena Stage (Sat.-Dec. 23, prices vary).