Norwegian Christmas Tree Lighting
DATE: Monday, November 28, 5PM
LOCATION: Union Station, Washington DC
TICKETS: FREE
One of Washington’s most popular holiday traditions, the annual Norwegian Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony, which began in 1997, kicks off the Christmas season with festive music, special guests, and of course, the lighting of the magnificent Norwegian Christmas Tree. This year’s performance line-up includes: tenThing, Wicked Sycamore, Rayshun Lamarr, and East of the River Steelband.
Fairmont Washington, D.C. Georgetown is pleased to announce its 19th annual tree lighting ceremony in the hotel’s Courtyard beginning at 5:30pm on Tuesday, November 29. Filled with tiny white lights and a shimmering Christmas tree, the courtyard becomes a glittering crystal garden – the perfect venue for holiday celebrations.
Families will take the chill off next to heaters as they listen to the award-winning Georgetown Visitation Madrigals perform holiday classics under the direction of Director of Performing Arts, Neptune Pringle, III. Children will enjoy decorating holiday cards and families will be entered to win prizes.
Steve Chenevey, co-anchor on FOX 5 Morning and Good Day DC, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies. Santa Claus will make a special appearance with Georgie the hotel’s Canine Ambassador, and spend time listening to children’s Christmas wishes after the ceremony.
Fairmont’s tree lighting ceremony, which is free and open to the public, encourages all guests to bring a gift for Horton’s Kids* – such as Legos, basketballs, footballs, dolls, books, games or arts and crafts. The donations will help spread holiday cheer to over 500 children, ages 5 – 18.
To secure reservations for Fairmont’s tree lighting ceremony, please visit Eventbrite:
Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown will also be accepting toy donations for Horton’s before and after the tree lighting ceremony from November 18 until December 14.
* Horton’s Kids empowers children growing up in one of Washington, DC’s most under-resourced communities so that they graduate from high school ready for success in college, career and life. https://www.hortonskids.org/
Christmas Sweater Party & Animal Welfare League of Arlington Fundraiser
This one is for all you cat lovers! Join Wilson Hardware on Thursday, Dec. 1 from 4PM-7PM for an Ugly Sweater Party & AWLA fundraiser. The event will include drinks, snacks, family photo opportunities, a raffle and even a few VIP feline guests. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at AWLA.org.
Special Community Program & Candlelight Vigil
The Corner at Whitman Walker
1701 14th Street, Washington, DC
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
DC community is invited to honor and pay tribute to those lost during the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The program will include remarks and reflections from community members, Whitman-Walker leadership, Japer Bowles, Director of the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs Office, and other notable guests and activations. Program begins at 6:00 p.m. at The Corner followed by a candlelight vigil outside the building.
Bad Santa Bar Crawl (Clarendon)
Party it up with all day food and drink specials, DJs and bands, souvenir mugs, raffles, giveaways, costume contests and entry to the most popular bars, clubs & heated rooftops in Clarendon. Featured bars include Jingle Bell Rock at B Live, Winter Wonderland at Clarendon Ballroom (main floor, a Very tiki Christmas at Clarendon Ballroom (rooftop), the Grinch’s Lair at Underground, and Miracle Blvd at Pamplona.
Native Art Market
Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3–4, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Make your holiday shopping special! Meet more than 30 award-winning Indigenous artists offering handcrafted traditional and contemporary artworks. The museum’s annual Native Art Market features works by Indigenous artists from the Western Hemisphere. The weekend event offers visitors a unique opportunity to purchase traditional and contemporary handcrafted artworks—including beadwork, jewelry, paintings, photography, pottery, and sculpture. In its 15th year, the Native Art Market invites art lovers of art and craftsmanship to meet Native artists and learn about traditional Native arts and contemporary Native creativity.
Artist Discussion: Ancestors Know Who We Are
Saturday, Dec. 3, 2–3 p.m.
Join five artists featured in the museum’s online exhibition Ancestors Know Who We Are for a discussion about Black-Native identity and its expression through art. Participating artists are Joelle Joyner (African American and Kauwets’a:ka [Meherrin] descent); Moira Pernambuco (African and Amerindian [Wapishana]); Paige Pettibon (Black, Salish, and white descent); Monica Rickert-Bolter (Prairie Band Potawatomi, Black, and German); and Storme Webber (Alaskan Sugpiaq [Alutiiq] and Black descent). Amber Starks, aka Melanin Mvskoke (Black/Muscogee Creek), moderates, with introductions by exhibition curator Anya Montiel (Mexican and Tohono O’odham descent).
The event will be livestreamed at AmericanIndian.si.edu/livestream.
From 4-8pm on Saturday, December 3, ring in the holidays at City Ridge’s Christmas Tree Lighting Festival! The neighborhood is celebrating its first holiday season by hosting fun, FREE seasonal activities all evening long, including:
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Tree Lighting Ceremony: Hosted by NBC4’s Shawn Yancy, City Ridge’s tree lighting ceremony will kick off at 7pm, featuring a performance and sing-along with a local choir.
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Festive, Kid-Friendly Activities: Throughout the evening, families are invited to join all kinds of fun activities across the property, including face painting, crafts, train rides, opportunities to write letters to and take photos with Santa, and watch live performances from carolers, choirs and more.
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Goodies & Giveaways: Warm up with delicious bites from King Street Oyster Bar before they open their permanent doors at City Ridge! At the Sweets Shoppe, guests can also select from a variety of seasonal treats including a cup of hot chocolate from Tatte Bakery & Cafe or decorate cookies with Wegmans. Guests will also walk away with gifts and goodies to bring home and keep the celebrations going throughout the season.
WHEN: The event will be from 4-8pm on Saturday, December 3, with the Tree Lighting Ceremony from 7-7:30pm.
WHERE: The Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on the Great Lawn at the entrance to City Ridge (14 Ridge Square NW), with activities scattered throughout the property. Parking is available on-site.
HOW: Click here to register.
ABOUT CITY RIDGE: City Ridge is a brand new community located along bustling Wisconsin Avenue, with 690 apartment residences, CAVA’s new corporate headquarters, and the recently-opened Wegmans and Tatte Bakery & Cafe. For more information on City Ridge and its incoming retailers, click here.
On December 3, over sixty beautiful boats will parade down the Washington Channel in the 30th anniversary of the District’s Holiday Boat Parade. In addition to the parade, guests will enjoy ornament decorating and face painting, roast s’mores at the Camp Wharf fire pit, skate at the The Wharf Ice Rink, and visit the area’s lighted 45ft Christmas Tree.
Native Art Market
Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3–4, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Make your holiday shopping special! Meet more than 30 award-winning Indigenous artists offering handcrafted traditional and contemporary artworks. The museum’s annual Native Art Market features works by Indigenous artists from the Western Hemisphere. The weekend event offers visitors a unique opportunity to purchase traditional and contemporary handcrafted artworks—including beadwork, jewelry, paintings, photography, pottery, and sculpture. In its 15th year, the Native Art Market invites art lovers of art and craftsmanship to meet Native artists and learn about traditional Native arts and contemporary Native creativity.