45 Things to Do in the DC Area This Week: National Menorah Lighting, Disney’s Encanto x CAMP Experience, and Step Afrika’s Holiday Show

Happy Monday, DC!

We are days away from some of the season’s biggest holidays, and there’s plenty of fun happening around town to mark the occasion. You can join thousands on the White House Ellipse in celebrating the National Menorah Lighting, or take your youngsters to the newest family adventure at Disney’s Encanto x CAMP.

Best Things to Do This Week and Weekend

December 4-December 10

1. National Menorah Lighting. Attend the National Menorah Lighting on the White House Ellipse this week in commemoration of Hanukkah. The glowing ceremony features a performance by the Military Bands of the Military District of Washington, guest appearances from diplomats and members of Congress, food, and the annual National Menorah Essay Contest (Thurs through December 15, free, White House).
2. Disney’s Encanto x CAMP experience. Youngsters will love this immersive experience that brings Disney’s hit film Encanto to life. La Familia Madrigal is opening up their home for visitors to sing along to music, explore magical passages, and journey through an interactive theatrical experience based on scenes from the heartwarming movie (opens Fri, $34+, Tysons).
3. Step Afrika’s Holiday Show. Step Afrika’s energetic holiday show returns to Arena Stage for crowd-enthusing flips, stomps, and dances. The annual show tags itself as the world’s first holiday show to incorporate the African American tradition of stepping. Get ready to sing and move along with DJ Nutcracker and DC’s favorite step ensemble as they commemorate the holidays (Fri through December 17, $76+, Southwest DC).
4. GMCW Holiday Show. Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington jazzes up the stage with a colorful holiday show this weekend. After a season of pop and country music covers including Whitney Houston and Dolly Parton, the playful chorus is closing out 2023 with a holiday extravaganza that is sure to get you out of your seat (Sat-Sun, $20+, Lincoln Theatre).
5. “Knotted Clay” exhibit. Browse “Knotted Clay: Raku Ceramics and Tea” to view traditional Japanese tea bowls and artifacts designed from 400-year-old techniques of serving matcha tea (opens December 9, free, Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art).
6. Tudor Lights. The historic Tudor Place is shining bright for the season. On this Christmas tour, can stroll through the festive house and garden to view light installations, dazzling decor, and rarely displayed objects from the Tudor Place Collection and Archive. Also, there are guided candlelight tours and family holiday-themed craft workshops happening throughout this month (Thurs, $50, Northwest DC).
7. Ugly Sweater Holiday Concert. Here’s your chance to enjoy the live harmonies of an orchestra dressed in ugly sweaters instead of tuxedos. The National Symphony Orchestra is donning their favorite holiday outfits, and hosting a concert at The Anthem to perform winter hits like “Sleigh Ride” and “Carol of the Bells.” Fellow carolers are invited to dress up in an ugly holiday sweater, and enter a contest to win free Kennedy Center tickets (Wed, $25+, Wharf).

Want More Things to Do?

Arts and culture:

• Authors Christine Platt and Catherine Wigginton Greene discuss their joint project Rebecca, Not Becky at the library (Tues, free, MLK Library).
• Watch a live poetry reading in honor of Emily Dickinson’s birthday (December 5, pay-what-you-can $5+, virtual).
• Local author Stephen Spotswood chats about his new murder-mystery title at One More Page Books (Tues, free, Arlington).
• Economist Dr. Julianne Malveaux discusses her book Surviving and Thriving: 365 Facts in Black Economic History at Mahogany Books (Wed, free, $22 for book, Anacostia).
• Planet Word is open for after-hours crafts, karaoke, and more for Wordplay Wednesday (Wed, free, Downtown).
• Watch a film screening of Noirs en France followed by a talk-back with novelist Alain Mabanckou at the Embassy of France (Wed, $5+, Georgetown).
• Art historian Jennifer Stager leads the final fall session of Research + Practice at Corcoran School for the Arts and Design (Wed, free, George Washington University).
• Celebrate Winter Solstice with origami, live music, and seasonal tastings at Phillips After 5 (Thurs, $20, Dupont).
• Discover the basic fundamentals of digital photography from award-winning photographer Elody Crimi (Sat, $95, Falls Church).

Community and heritage:

• Be a part of a conversation led by community leaders and activists about responding to gun violence (Tues, free, but registration required, virtual, Downtown).
• Learn about the US-South Korea alliance from researcher Scott A. Snyder (Thurs, free, Downtown).
• This year marks the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. History buffs can learn about the historic event at Mount Vernon’s family day (Sat, $26, Mount Vernon).

Theater and shows:

• Off-Broadway ragtime and blues hit One Mo’ Time as it jazzes up Anacostia Playhouse (through December 31, $35+, Anacostia).
• As You Like It is a revival of Shakespeare’s production—’60s-style (through December 31, $35+, Penn Quarter).
• Keegan Theatre’s Irish Carol is an homage to Dickens’ winter classic (through December 31, $60, Dupont).
• Broadway actress, singer, and author Cynthia Erivo performs with special guests Joaquina Kalukango and Ben Platt (Wed, $89+, Kennedy Center).
• Comedian and actor Eric Andre arrives in DC for a live show (Wed, $55+, Silver Spring).
• TV star Josh Thomas presents his new comedy special Let’s Tidy Up at Sixth & I (Thurs, $30, Downtown).
• This comedic show dives into the Depths of Wikipedia at Capital Turnaround (Sat, $23, Southeast DC).

Music and concerts:

• Cuban American rapper La Goony Chonga is live in concert at The Atlantis (Tues, $17, U Street Corridor).
• The Washington National Cathedral Choir and Baroque Orchestra sing Handel’s cherished Messiah (Fri-Sun, $25+, Northwest DC).
• Broadway star Norm Lewis lights up the Kennedy Center with a A Holiday Pops! concert (Fri-Sat, $29+, Kennedy Center).
• DC native saxophonist Elijah Jamal Balbed plays jazz melodies at the Kennedy Center (Fri, $30, Kennedy Center).
• Award-winning fiddler Seán Heely performs Celtic Christmas at Strathmore (Fri, $28+, Bethesda).
• The US Air Force Band will present a series of festive concerts in Season of Hope at DAR Constitution Hall (Sat-Sun, free, Northwest DC).
• R&B singer Bryson Tiller is live in concert at The Fillmore (Sat, $145+, Silver Spring).
• The Washington Master Chorale sings classic carols and English songs at St. Ann’s Catholic Church (Sun-December 11, $10+, Northwest DC).

Holiday experiences:

• Shop vintage clothing and art at Union Station Holiday Market (Thurs, free, Union Station).
• The Tiny Timber tree returns to Columbia Heights to be lit up for the season; visitors can shop for gifts at the pop-up market, too (Fri, free, Columbia Heights).
• Glide around the outdoor Menorah, and sip hot cider at Hanukkah Skate Night (Fri, free, Capitol Riverfront).
• Put on your Christmas pajamas or ugly sweater and raise a mug to the holidays at Santa Bar Crawl (Sat, $10+, Dupont).
• Meet Frozen movie character Elsa, and build gingerbread homes at Chevy Chase Winter Market & Small Business Party (Sat, free, Chevy Chase).

Things to do with kids:

• Kiddos can make gingerbread houses with fellow youngsters at the library (Thurs, free, Arlington).
• Craft a paper wreath, decorate a wooden ornament, and participate in more family-fun at a Children’s Christmas Festival (Sat, free, Greenbelt).
• Visit Holly Jolly Hideaway to have storytime and cookies with Mrs. Claus (Sat, $10, Annapolis).
• There’s a hot chocolate bar and DJ dance party for all ages at Santa’s Workshop Holiday Extravaganza (Sat, free, Tysons).

Get involved:

• Your children can have Storytime with Santa for a good cause; ticket proceeds support Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital (Sat, $10, Fairfax).

Plan Ahead:

• Avant-garde composer William Basinski is touring to promote his latest music. This show at The Atlantis will be a popular one (December 13, $35, U Street Corridor).

If you enjoyed these events, please don’t forget to share this post with a friend on social media, and sign up for our newsletter for more things to do.

Briana Thomas

Briana A. Thomas is a local journalist, historian, and tour guide who specializes in the research of D.C. history and culture. She is the author of the Black history book, Black Broadway in Washington, D.C., a story that was first published in Washingtonian in 2016.