What To Do The Week Between Christmas And New Years

Buzz
Just like that, there's more than just a chill in the air and the puffy coat has made its appearance. Heavy coats aren't the only addition to the seasonal change look around! Light shows, skating rinks, holiday markets, teas and pop-ups AND all the cinnamon, sugar, and spice of the season for to tantalize all your senses:

18th Annual Downtown Holiday Market
The Downtown Holiday Market is back this year with new vendors, performers, food and so much more marking its 18th year. You can make the most of their holiday shopping experience this winter supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs across the region, including Black-owned and minority-owned businesses such asas Choquette, Terratorie, Tora Mata, Kin & Care and Shade Metals. Centered at 8th and F Street, NW; downtownholidaymarket.com

Bull Run Festival of Lights
Experience the Bull Run Festival of Lights this holiday season with 2.5 miles illuminated by holiday light displays. Drive the festival route from the comfort of your car, turn off your headlights and just follow the magical glow. There is also a walk through Christmas Village and Carnival at the end of your lighted journey through the park. Get you tickets here.

Christmas Lights Show Northern Virginia & Fairfax
Each year Fairfax County, Virginia welcomes in the wintery holiday season with fantastic light shows, decorations, and displays that families from all over the region have made a part of their Christmas and winter holiday traditions. Find the best light shows near you here.

Clarendon Ballroom 
Clarendon Ballroom welcomes you into their "Very Tiki Christmas" pop-up on their rooftop. In anticipation of the winter, the nightlife legends added heaters and enclosures to their rooftop bar to make it heated and completely wind and waterproof. You can expect a lot of Christmas decor (think decorated Palm trees), warm cocktails including a peppermint patty hot chocolate and a Tiki Irish coffee with coconut rum. For bold holiday drinkers, they’ll also have an eggnog shooter menu with flavors like tropical, cinnamon, peppermint, and mocha. 3185 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA; clarendonballroomva.com

Colada Shop 
Colada shop’s holiday rooftop bar features four seasonal cocktails developed by renowned beverage experts in the industry. Cocktails include the Bananas for Santa by Andra “AJ” Johnson of Serenata, Rudolph’s Tipsy Tonic Princess Johnson of Allegory, and more. 10 Pearl Street, SW, Washington, D.C.; coladashop.com

Conservatory Display at National Harbour 
The new holiday conservatory welcomes the season at MGM national harbor with a 20-foot-tall snowman, 1,500 poinsettias and festive delights. The Conservatory showcases an 8-foot-tall gift box filled with oversized ornaments, and 8 large white Christmas trees ranging from 16 feet to 25 feet tall stand throughout with gold stars atop. 101 MGM National Avenue, Oxon Hill, MD; 844.646.6847; mgmnationalharbor.mgmresorts.com

Enchant 
Enchant, the world’s largest Christmas light maze and village, returns to the Nation’s Capital with an all-new, immersive experience featuring more than four million sparkling lights. The event also includes an impressive 100-foot-tall holiday tree—as well as a unique ice-skating trail, live entertainment, Santa visits, and a holiday shopping marketplace with crafts, gifts, and culinary treats, including festive holiday beverages and cocktails in special lightbulb cups.Nationals Park; enchantchristmas.com

Fairmont 
Fairmont’s Courtyard Bar becomes The Cool Yule Bar illuminated by thousands of tiny white lights and Fairmont’s elves clad in holiday attire. The Cool Yule Bar showcases yule cocktails like the cold fashioned (Woodford reserve bourbon, mr. black coffee liqueur, chocolate bitters), arctic berries (Tito’s, white cranberry juice, Grand Marnier, frosted berries), and more. 2401 M Street, NW; 202.429.2400; fairmont.com

Four Season’s Holiday Market 
Each Friday, Saturday and Sunday (from December 2nd to the 18th) the Four Seasons becomes an outdoor holiday shopping destination, with entertainment, light and snow displays, showcasing unique gifts and culinary offerings created by local craftspeople and artisans. Shop unique gifts such as handmade clay jewelry and contemporary art, as well as culinary offerings from local makers and artisans. You can enjoy a hot chocolate or coffee from the Bourbon Steak Hot Chocolate Bar that benefits Children’s National. 2800 Pennsylvania Avenue NW; 202.342.0444; fourseasons.com

Guinness Open Gate Brewery
The Guinness Open Gate Brewery has kicked off its annual holiday light walk. All month long, you can enjoy a beer and stroll through the 2-acre lawn to view festive decor, outdoor light installations and the iconic keg tree made with over 250+ kegs. The installations feature historic Guinness artwork, such as a toucan, harp, seal, Maryland crab, turtle and alligator. In addition, three specialty beers: Old Fashioned Inspired Ale, Winter Warmer, and Coquito Stout have been brewed to commence the holiday spirit, embodied in classic cozy flavors. 5001 Washington Boulevard, Halethorpe, MD; 442.575.6893; guinness.com

Ivy and Coney
Ivy and Coney, celebrate Hanukkah with latkes, sufgani-shots (jelly donuts in shot form), and Manischewitz’s. Each night they will be lighting the Hanukiyah at approximately 7:00 PM (December 18th through December 25th) and invite you to participate. They’ll be donating all proceeds from the sale of kosher wine to HIAS. 1537 7th Street NW; 202.670.9489; ivyandconey.com

The Salt Line 
The Salt Line is once again hosting a Christmas tree lot at its Navy Yard location. Now in its 11th year, the Christmas tree lot offers Fraser and Balsam firs ranging in sizes from tabletop to 12 feet tall, as well as tree stands, wreaths, garlands, and ornaments. 100% of sales proceeds benefit the DC Firefighters Burn Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to the rehabilitation and recovery of injured firefighters and burn patients. The lot will be open daily starting Friday, November 25, until inventory is sold out. Anyone who purchases a tree will receive a free hot cocktail from The Salt Line. 79 Potomac Avenue SE; 202.506.2368; thesaltline.com

Tudor Place
This year, the holiday installation at Tudor Place guides you through the Christmas traditions of these three families. You’ll experience the excitement of the children on Christmas morning, the adults planning and preparing an intimate Christmas dinner for extended family and the traditions that may have marked their domestic workers’ family celebrations. You can also experience holiday workshops like gingerbread workshops, candlelight tours, and more. 1644 31st Street NW; 202.965.0400; tudorplace.org

Shawlidays from JBG Smith 
JBG SMITH is celebrating the season of giving with ‘Shawlidays’, 24 days of exciting gifts. On December 1, gather with friends and celebrate the season of giving at Gogi Yogi, Haikan, Cafe Unido and Roy Boys for exclusive (and free!) holiday cocktails. The crawl commences the start of Shawlidays, a shopping event leading up to Christmas Day, where the first 24 shoppers at participating retailers will receive a fun gift with purchase when they spend $25 or more. Hot-ticket items include Bonobos holiday sock packs, the GLO30 three-step facial system, Rewild phalaenopsis orchids, mystery gifts and more. The full advent calendar of participating restaurants and retailers will be announced at the cocktail crawl. Register here.

Tonari 
Tonari has created a pop-up dessert bar called Hole in the Wall. The multicourse feast features five courses of sweets, from an opening cocktail to parting petit fours. 707 6th Street NW; 202.289.8900; tonaridc.com

The Willard 
The Willard is offering Christmas Day Brunch and nightly caroling. You can enjoy an array of epicurean delights created by Executive Chef Luca De Marchis and Willard’s culinary team. This year’s menu highlights include a Fruit de Mer and charcuterie displays, slow-roasted prime rib, and sweet treats. Now in its 21st year, you can enjoy the Willard’s nightly Caroling Program with a wide array of highly accomplished choral and vocal ensembles from around the metropolitan area. 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue NW; 202.628.9100; ihg.com

Winter City Lights 
Winter City Lights is officially open for the season. Enjoy over 1 million lights covering 18 acres and a huge compound with 20 bonfires. There is an 8-lane 200-foot long snow tubing ride called the Penguin Plunge, and try holiday food including BBQ Sandwiches, freshly made pizza and extra chocolatey hot chocolate with funnel cakes and fried Oreos and more. Find out more here.

**REMINDER - Please call ahead to confirm the status of the event or offer**