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.
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.
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.
FitDistrict Studios & Energy Cafe will be hosting their Wellness Day & Grand Opening Event. FitDistrict is a premier fitness studio in the heart of Arlington, VA tha has an indoor cycling studio, a hot yoga room, an interval studio and an attached Energy Cafe serving up healthy food and drinks! Additionally, Local artist, Rajan Sedelia will be creating a live original piece of art during the event and there will be live music in the Energy Cafe by local group Sidewalk Soul.The event will be on Saturday, December 10th from 8am-5pm at 2300 Wilson Blvd. Arlington VA 22201 Arlington, Virginia 22201 and will feature complimentary samples from the cafe, complimentary fitness classes happening throughout the day, spots can be reserved by emailing aelman@fitdistrict.
Winter Blast: A Weekend of Indigenous Games
Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 28–29, 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Games can be fun as well as teach important life skills. Jeremy Red Eagle (Sisseton Wahpeton) from the International Traditional Games Society, Julia Garcia (Aymara), and members of the Native Hawaiian school Hālau O‘Aulani, share Indigenous games from the Great Plains, Bolivia, and Hawai’i.
Tysons Corner Center Announces Lunar New Year Celebration
Asian American Chamber of Commerce to Hosts Line-Up of Activities at Center
Saturday, January 28, 2023
1:00 – 3:00 p.m. ET
1961 Chain Bridge Road, Tysons Corner, VA
www.TysonsCornerCenter.com
Tysons Corner Center in partnership with the Asian American Chamber of Commerce brings in another year of hosting the Lunar New Year. Located in the Fashion Court on the Lower-Level Nordstrom Wing at the center, this free event will include an array of artists and performances to celebrate the year of the rabbit including:
- Vietnamese Song by CDVNDMV
- Chinese Musical Instrument – Guzheng, Alice Gu-Zheng Ensemble
- Chinese Dance by Fairfax Chinese Dance Troupe
- Magic Show by Sun Magic
- Korean Dance by Korean Culture and Art of MD
- Indonesia Dance by Santi Budaya Performing Arts, LLC
- Mongolia Fashion Show, MONDO TRIP TODAY
- Dragon Dance, by Chinese Culture Institute
As part of the tradition, Tysons Corner Center will provide fortune cookies and offer giveaways and prizes during the event. This event is free and open to the public and sponsored by
Sunrise McLean Village Retirement Home.
Winter Blast: A Weekend of Indigenous Games
Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 28–29, 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Games can be fun as well as teach important life skills. Jeremy Red Eagle (Sisseton Wahpeton) from the International Traditional Games Society, Julia Garcia (Aymara), and members of the Native Hawaiian school Hālau O‘Aulani, share Indigenous games from the Great Plains, Bolivia, and Hawai’i.
Native Cinema Showcase Screening: Encanto
Saturday, Feb. 11, 2 p.m.
(USA, 2021, 120 mins.) Directors: Byron Howard, Jared Bush, and Charise Castro Smith
Encanto tells the tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in a magical house in a vibrant town in the mountains of Colombia. The magic of this wondrous, charmed Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift, from super strength to the power to heal—every child that is except one, Mirabel (voice of Stephanie Beatriz). But when she discovers that the magic surrounding Encanto is in danger, Mirabel decides that she might just be her exceptional family’s last hope.
Special support for Native Cinema Showcase provided by the Walt Disney Company.
The event is NOW ON SUNDAY, MARCH 26 in pursuit of better weather! Same time, same place, same fun and FREE activities.
National Kite-Flying Day is the perfect day for the National Cherry Blossom Festival to share all the ways attendees can “spring” on the fun of kite flying, including its signature Blossom Kite Festival, taking place Saturday, March 25, 2023 (10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.) at the Washington Monument Grounds. Presented by Hilton, National Cherry Blossom Festival’s proud Premier Hotel Provider, the Blossom Kite Festival is free, fun, and open to the public and features activities, music, competitions, and performances suitable for all ages.
The Blossom Kite Festival showcases kite performances and competitions, kite-making activities, a Family Field with children’s activities, and more. Special guest, Mr. Mikio Toki, a master of traditional Edo-style kites, has traveled the world showcasing his kites and will travel from Japan to be at this year’s Blossom Kite Festival.
FEATURED PARKS: People of all ages can join Blossom Kite Festival from their homes, favorite neighborhood parks, or anywhere around the world. Participating parks in all eight D.C. wards, Maryland, and Virginia will offer free activities for local residents between April 1 and 2. All interested parties can show off their skills, virtually learn how to make and fly kites, and take to the skies on March 25. Featured parks will be listed on the Blossom Kite Festival event page.
Attendees at the Festival’s kite-flying activities can bring their own kites, purchase kites onsite, or pick up free kite kits they can decorate (while supplies last), courtesy of Hilton. Kite flyers can even purchase the official 2023 Festival kite onsite or online at National Cherry Blossom Festival Store.
COMMEMORATIVE KITES: Kite flyers can purchase commemorative kites from previous years (while supplies last) at the Festival’s online gift shop. The 2023 commemorative kite, featuring the work of the 2023 National Cherry Blossom Festival’s Official Artist Orlando Quevedo, will be available for purchase in March during the Festival at select events and in the online store.
PLANNING YOUR FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE: The Festival begins March 20 and runs through April 16. Visit the Festival website to add the Blossom Kite Festival to your calendar. When planning your Festival experience, it matters where you stay. As Premier Hotel Provider, Hilton has over 100 properties in the Washington, D.C., area to meet the needs of any kite enthusiast seeking a staycation or vacation throughout the Festival season. Visit the Festival hotel page to learn more about recommended Hilton hotels.
