November Culture Guide: 44 Things to Do in the DC Area

Happy November, DC!

Fall is in full swing. Music artists Amaarae, Samara Joy, and Noochie are live in concert at local entertainment venues, and holiday cheer begins with the opening of pop-up markets and festive plays.

10 Best Things to Do in DC

Books

Mark Z. Danielewski

November 8

It’s been 25 years since the New York author made his debut with the postmodern novel House of Leaves, which inspired a devoted cult following. His latest book, Tom’s Crossing, is a typically sprawling horror story of two childhood friends that has earned a glowing endorsement from Stephen King.

Museums

“Korean Treasures: Collected, Cherished, Shared”

November 8, 2025–February 1, 2026

The late Samsung chairman Lee Kun-Hee amassed thousands of works of art in his lifetime. His collection has since been donated to the Korean people, and this exhibit displays selections–from an 18th-century landscape to a 1970s abstraction–that exemplify a tradition of Korean innovation spanning centuries.

Music

Noochie’s Live From the Front Porch

November 9

DC rapper Antwon Vincent’s hit YouTube series has featured local stars like Backyard Band and national names such as Snoop Dogg performing from his Temple Hills porch. Noochie now brings the show to the Kennedy Center, with special guest performers to be announced.

Music

Geese

November 12

The Brooklyn quartet delivers countrified post-punk through frontman Cameron Winter’s unusual vocals, which range from rock braggadocio to sensitive crooning. The band’s latest, Getting Killed, will build on the momentum of Winter’s acclaimed solo album, the deceptively titled Heavy Metal.

Theater

Mother Play: A Play in Five Evictions

November 12–December 21

Pulitzer-winning playwright Paula Vogel (above), who is originally from DC, set her recent Broadway hit in our area, and now the drama–which was nominated for a bunch of Tonys–is finally arriving here.

Theater

Ho Ho Ho Ha Ha Ha Ha

November 13–December 21

When Julia Masli was sent to a UK boarding school far from her native Estonia, she broke the language barrier via the use of mime. Now a professional clown, she’s adapting her off-Broadway hit, Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha,for a holiday-themed night of improv and audience participation.

Rom-com sequels far predate Hollywood: Mozart’s perennial favorite, which continues the story of The Barber of Seville, hits the Opera House as performed by the Washington National Opera under the guidance of music director Robert Spano.

Music

Midori

November 15

The Japanese American violinist, educator, and Kennedy Center Honors recipient brings pianist Ieva Jokubaviciute to accompany her on works by Beethoven as well as Clara and Robert Schumann, plus a piece written for Midori by New York composer Che Buford that adds bold electronics to more typical chamber-music sounds.

Music

Amaarae

November 21

Raised in both the United States and Ghana, Ama Serwah Genfi–who makes music under the single name Amaarae–taps into aspects of her varied background to create wide-ranging R&B and pop. She comes to town with an arena-ready glamour that personifies the title of her enthusiastically reviewed latest album, this summer’s Black Star.

Theater

Some Like It Hot

November 25–December 7

This Tony Award–winning musical comedy, based on the classic Billy Wilder film about musicians cross-dressing to escape the mob, is a perfectly hilarious way to kick off the holiday season.

Things to Do in November

Arts and culture:

• Book-lovers can find reads from regional Black authors at Blk Author Expo (November 1, free, Suitland).
• Sit in on a conversation about the future of fashion (November 4, $25, National Museum of Women in the Arts).
• Watch movies and films from local creators at the Alexandria Film Festival (November 6-9, $80 pass, Alexandria).
• Attend panel discussions, keynote addresses, and master classes with industry professionals and HBCU graduates at HBCU First LOOK Film Festival (November 6-8, $40 pass, $30 pass for students, Howard University).
• Shop art from artists such as Ron Stokes and Victoria Powell at The Superfair (November 7-9, $20+, Gallery Place).
• Wheaton Film Festival spotlights short films, creates a space for industry networking, and hosts educational talks (November 8, $30, Wheaton).
• “Out of Many: Reframing an American Art Collection” celebrates America’s 250th birthday with a presentation of diverse artworks (November 8 through February 15, 2026, $20, free for ages 18 and younger, Dupont Circle).
• Former First Lady Michelle Obama is in conversation with Wesley Morris at Sixth & I; in-person seats are full, but there’s still a chance to grab a virtual ticket and a copy of her book (November 12, $58, virtual, Downtown).
• Cookbook author Alison Roman discusses her new recipes at Sixth & I (November 13, $15 for virtual,  in-person is sold out, Downtown).
• Umbrella Art Fair has a new location to show off art pieces and cuisine from around the globe (November 21-23, free, Downtown).

Community and heritage:

• Embark on a candlelit guided tour of historic Mount Vernon (select days November 28 through December 23, $41 for adults, $33 for ages 6 to 11, free for ages 5 and younger, Mount Vernon).

Theater:

• Check out Signature Theatre’s in-the-round staged production of the musical Fiddler on the Roof (November 4 through January 25, 2026, $47+,  Arlington).
• Hadestown—a musical based on a mythical Greek tale—arrives at National Theatre (November 18-23, $128+, Downtown).
• Ford’s Theatre’s seasonal classic A Christmas Carol returns to tell the grumpy and merry tale of Ebenezer Scrooge—as performed by talented actor Craig Wallace (November 20 through December 31, $51+, Ford’s Theatre).

Shows and performances:

• Tickets are selling quickly for the chance to laugh out loud with Iliza Shlesinger (November 8, $56+, DAR Constitution Hall).
• Comic and podcaster Felipe Esparza does standup at Lincoln Theatre (November 8, $35+, U Street Corridor).
• Melodies from Beyoncé are performed by Listeso String Quartet at St. Francis Hall’s Candlelight concert (November 20, $45+, Northeast DC).
• Tap into the holiday spirit at The Washington Ballet’s beloved tradition, the Nutcracker (November 29 through December 28, $63+, Warner Theatre).

Music:

• Rock out to live tunes at Fall PorchFest (November 1, free, Adams Morgan).
• Rapper Playboi Carti has a tour stop at Capitol One Arena (November 11, $63+, Capital One Arena).
• Popular jazz vocalist Samara Joy brings her stunning melodies to Warner Theatre (November 12, $86+, Downtown).
• Rapper Gunna has a sold-out show at The Anthem; you can still snag a seat from a third-party seller (November 20, $94+, Wharf).
• Up-and-coming local band Kids Table is live in concert at Songbyrd (November 21, $15+, Brentwood).

Holiday:

• The Polar Express is the theme of this year’s ICE! attraction at National Harbor (November 14 through January 4, 2026, $41+, National Harbor).
• Shop local goods and treats at the DC Holiday Market (November 14 through December 23, free, Dupont Circle).
• Take a nighttime stroll through hundreds of Chinese lanterns, and catch live acrobatics at the Winter Lantern Festival (opens November 20, $26 for adults, $19 for ages 4 to 12, free for toddlers ages 3 and under, Tysons).
• ZooLights brings dazzling decor to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo (select nights November 21 through January 3, 2026, tickets TBA, National Zoo).
• Find the perfect gift at the Downtown DC Holiday Market (November 21 through December 23, free, Downtown).
• Glamorous Greetings graces Hillwood Museum with avant-garde Christmas tree displays and glitzy decor (November 25 through January 4, $17 for adults, $5 for ages 6 to 18, free for children 5 and younger, Northwest DC).
• Run for a good cause at SOME’s Thanksgiving Day Trot for Hunger 5K (November 27, $45 for virtual, $65 for in-person, Downtown).
• A new frosty playground dubbed Winter Wonderfest arrives in DC (opens November 28, $29.50, Nationals Park).

Bites and beverages:

• Sample drinks from more than 80 breweries at the DC Beer Festival (November 8, $55+, Nationals Park).

Things to do with kids:

• Young learners can play with STEM installations and vehicles at the National Children’s Museum (November 8, free, Downtown).
• Families can read Pippi Longstocking stories in celebration of the Swedish storybook character’s 80th anniversary (November 9, free, MLK Library).

Part of this article appears in the November 2025 issue of Washingtonian.