The place to Go For Holiday Weekend Enjoyable

The Holidays have begun! Whether you have got household visiting or are simply within the temper to start celebrations already, there’s rather a lot to do in our neighborhood and actually close by. We’ve made a listing of some methods you possibly can take pleasure in a festive ambiance Friday by way of Sunday, locations you possibly can stroll to –or attain simply by transit. Enjoy! Happy Holiday from your folks on the Hill Rag.

FESTIVALS

Folger Frost Fair | Folger Shakespeare Library (201 East Capitol Street SE).  Nov 28 – Jan 4

The Frost Fair runs every day by way of Jan. 4, 2026; typically open 11 a.m.–6 p.m., with prolonged hours till 9 p.m. on Fridays.  This weekend, drop in any time after 11 a.m. on Friday or Saturday. On Saturday, there are additionally printing-press demonstrations at 1:30 p.m. and three:00 p.m. Most occasions are free however there are ticketed occasions, reminiscent of afternoon tea and a few occasions require RSVP. Check the listings

Light Yards at Yards Park | 305 Water St. SE | Nov. 25 to Jan. 2, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

For the Tenth Year working, the Yards’ Light Yards returns with a blinding family-friendly artwork expertise. The Swinging Bell, will return to let guests step into the art work, setting off animated mild shows and amplifying the joyful sounds of vacation bells as they swing. Standing 13 ft tall, 5 illuminated bells will mild up The Yards’ Sun Deck, creating the right backdrop for festive photographs and vacation recollections.

This free set up is open to the general public from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Nov 25 by way of Jan 2.

Winter Wonderfest at Nationals Park (150 South Capitol St. SE) | Select Days Nov. 28 to Dec. 30 | Ticketed, $29.50+

Nationals Park transforms into the District’s headquarters for seasonal household enjoyable! Activities embrace a 100’ snow-tubing slide, winter prepare rides, LED seesaws, 9-hole putt-putt, snowball-throwing challenges, curling, a hidden 21+ speakeasy and extra. Dress for the climate! Last entry two hours earlier than shut.

Sat: 4:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m., Sun: 4:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m., and weekdays (beginning December) 5:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m. Nov. 28 – 30; Dec. 4 – 7, 11 – 14, 18 – 24 and 26 – 30.

CELEBRATE AT EASTERN MARKET

Friday, Nov. 28 – Eastern Market & Hill Is Home Holiday Time Machine (21+) 6:00–10:00 p.m. Eastern Market (North Hall, 225 Seventh St. SE) | $25

This ticketed night occasion options native makers, artists, fancy sizzling chocolate from Melt by Hippie Sippin’ and spirits from Republic Restoratives. It’s a homegrown various to Black Friday big-box purchasing.

Sunday, Nov. 30 – Betty the Yeti Welcome and Parade |11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. | Free

This family-friendly parade welcomes “Betty the Yeti” again to the market. Afterward, you possibly can repeatedly discover Santa showing Saturdays 11 a.m.–1 p.m. and Betty on Sundays 11 a.m.–1 p.m. till January.

SHOP

Eastern Market Holiday Markets | Eastern Market Plaza, 200 Block Seventh St, 700 block C Street SE | now till Jan. 4

The many distributors of the market are gathered across the Eastern Market constructing and on C Street SE close by, providing you distinctive, hand-crafted and exhausting to seek out items for everybody in your record! Make a stroll by way of the markets a part of your vacation weekend, from the plaza across the historic constructing onto the blocks past. Check out the gathering of classic furs, now that the climate feels festive!

Small Business Saturday Better Together Gift Card Exchange | Eastern Market/Barracks Row companies | til Dec. 7

Of course, you wish to assist the shopkeepers that make our village sturdy. And they wish to give again to you! Capitol Hill small companies within the EMMS/Barracks Row/Eastern Market space are once more collaborating on the Better Together marketing campaign (Nov. 22 to Dec. 7). If you store at taking part small companies, you possibly can earn reward playing cards for different native outlets! When items really do carry on giving.

Downtown Holiday Market | F Street NW between Seventh and Ninth Streets NW | Nov. 21 – Dec 23

Each winter, two blocks of downtown rework right into a glowing vacation village when the DowntownDC Holiday Market fills two blocks of F Street NW (between seventh and ninth Streets). The open-air market affords greater than 115 distributors promoting handmade items, artwork, crafts, décor, books, bathtub and physique merchandise — plus a festive mixture of meals, sizzling drinks and reside leisure.

The market is free and open to the general public Monday to Thursday 12 p.m.–8 p.m.; Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.–8 p.m.

SKATE

Ice Rink on the Sculpture Garden at National Gallery of Art (NGA) | Nov. 24 to Mar. 1 | $12-$12

The Sculpture Garden’s ice rink reopened for the 2025–2026 winter season beginning Nov 24. kating right here affords one thing each festive and classically “DC” — artwork, structure, and winter enjoyable on the National Mall.  Makes a very good pairing with a museum go to or a holiday-market outing downtown.

Sunday–Thursday, 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, 11:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m. (climate allowing). National Gallery of Art 12–$15 for skaters, plus a skate rental payment (sometimes round $7).

The Wharf Ice Rink | 970 Wharf St. SW | Nov. 26- Feb. 22 | $15-20

This waterfront rink affords a scenic, “out-on-the-water” ambiance that’s particularly good for a date evening or post-skate dinner. The rink is on Transit Pier proper, exterior The Anthem. Lace up your skates—deliver your individual or lease some rink-side.

Public-skating hours are sometimes Wednesday–Friday 4:00–10:00 p.m.; Saturday 12:00–10:00 p.m.; Sunday 12:00–8:00 p.m. Check web site for particular occasions, holidays and up to date closures for personal events (Dec. 4, 10 and Jan 29). Adult admission $20; youth $15. Skate rental $5.

Canal Park Ice Rink | *Not but open | Late November till early March | $11-13

It’s not formally open but, however this figure-eight rink is a enjoyable vacation expertise, that includes the Capitol Riverfront Holiday Tree in a single loop. The rink affords public skating classes from 2 p.m. to eight p.m. seven days per week from late November till early March. General admission is $13 and skates could be rented for $7 per individual. Each session is 90 minutes with an intermission to look at the zamboni!

Confirm opening data and lease skates at skatecanalpark.com/public-skating/ or test instagram @skatecanalparkdc