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.
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.
Calico is welcoming the holiday season with a festive Cookie Decorating + Ornament Painting Party on Sunday, December 4 from 1 to 6 pm. The heated urban backyard in Blagden Alley will be decked out as a charming winter wonderland for the holidays, with seasonal fun activities, hot cocktails, boozy gifts and wintry eats. The party is free to attend and open to the public.
Guests can get crafty by decorating their own freshly-baked cookies with a selection of edible adornments, including sprinkles, icing and other sweet toppings.
Attendees can also show off their artistry by painting ornaments (starting at $5/each) with complimentary communal painting supplies.
Other wintry food and drink specials will include boozy cookie shots and hot cocktails from bar director Ian Fletcher, and comforting mugs of soup from Chef Nathan Beauchamp.
There will also be a Christmas tree embellished with boozy ornaments and surprises from WhistlePig.
Calico’s holiday Cookie Decorating + Ornament Painting Party is free to attend and open to the public, with cookies, ornaments, food and drink sold a la carte. For more information, please visit www.calicodc.com or call 202-791-0134.
WHO: Calico
WHEN: Sunday, December 4, 2022
1 pm – 6 pm
WHERE: Calico
50 Blagden Alley NW
Sunday, December 4
World AIDS Day: A Time to Pause, Honor, and Resolve
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Guest Speaker: Whitman-Walker Health CEO, Naseema Shafi
Each December the world pauses to observe World AIDS Day, honor those affected by HIV, and resolve to end the epidemic. Despite all the pharmaceutical tools available to stop new infections and halt the progression of HIV to AIDS, a situation still exists where the benefits are not being equally shared across racial, ethnic, and regional groups of people. Ending the HIV epidemic requires a commitment to reaching those at greatest risk of contracting the virus and removing the stigma, social, and economic barriers that culminate in continued transmission and lack of access to health care. This World AIDS Day we take stock of the U.S. HIV AIDS epidemic, celebrate those working to end the epidemic and assess the work yet to be done.
Whitman-Walker has been part of the fabric of Washington, DC, and nationally for almost 50 years as a first responder and care-provider for those living with HIV; a leader in LGBTQ care and advocacy; a research center working to discover breakthroughs in HIV treatment; and one of DC’s most trusted partners during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whitman-Walker envisions a society where all people are seen for who they are, treated with dignity and respect, and afforded equal opportunity to health and wellbeing.
Holiday Cocktail Classes
The Loft at Lena’s – Velvet & Rye
December 12 (Monday) & December 13 (Tuesday)
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap brings an interactive holiday experience for adults to enjoy. A cocktail class, taking place in Lena’s loft, Velvet & Rye located on the second floor to host a cocktail class for beginners and those wanting to learn a crafted mix drink happening on December 12 & 13 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. The start of the class starts with a welcome cocktail for beginners and three other signature drinks to curate and learn. A starter and entree course meal is included in the package for $170 per person, which includes tax and tip. Interested parties must be 21 or older; to join the cocktail-making experience visit Eventbrite to register or visit Lena’s website for more information.
Holiday Cocktail Classes
The Loft at Lena’s – Velvet & Rye
December 12 (Monday) & December 13 (Tuesday)
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap brings an interactive holiday experience for adults to enjoy. A cocktail class, taking place in Lena’s loft, Velvet & Rye located on the second floor to host a cocktail class for beginners and those wanting to learn a crafted mix drink happening on December 12 & 13 from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. The start of the class starts with a welcome cocktail for beginners and three other signature drinks to curate and learn. A starter and entree course meal is included in the package for $170 per person, which includes tax and tip. Interested parties must be 21 or older; to join the cocktail-making experience visit Eventbrite to register or visit Lena’s website for more information.
