Things to Do

26 Things to Do in the DC Area This Week and Weekend

DC Holiday Market, Michelle Obama book talk, and Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights are great things to do.

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Photograph courtesy of NOVA Parks.

Good day, DC!

Get a head start on holiday shopping and sightseeing at the DC Holiday Market or Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights. Also, Michelle Obama graces Sixth & I with conversation and a sneak peek of her latest book.

 

Best Things to Do This Week and Weekend

November 10–November 16

    1. DC Holiday Market. Diverse Markets Management’s glowing DC Holiday Market—formerly Downtown Holiday Market— returns to Dupont Circle. Shoppers can snack on doughnuts from Migue’s Mini Donuts and Capital Candy Jar’s hot roasted nuts while browsing seasonal goods from more than 30 small businesses along New Hampshire Avenue (Fri through December 23, free, Dupont Circle).
    2. Michelle Obama at Sixth & I. Former First Lady Michelle Obama is in conversation with Wesley Morris at Sixth & I to dive into her new book, The Look, about the evolution of her style and fashion as a public figure. The in-person seats are full, but there’s still a chance to grab a virtual ticket and a copy of her book (Wed, $58, virtual, Downtown)
    3. Mother Play at Studio Theatre. DC native and Pulitzer-winning playwright Paula Vogel brings her Broadway hit The Mother Play: A Play in Five Evictions to Studio Theatre this week. The Tony-nominated drama is set in the DC area and spans four decades of family relations, struggles, and forgiveness (Wed through December 21, $42+, Logan Circle).
    4. Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights. Northern Virginia’s botanical escape gets all glammed-up for the holidays with twinkling decor and lighted trees. Take an evening walk along the garden’s half-mile-plus trail to spot a light show of butterflies, birds, flowers, and other nature-themed sparkles. After your stroll, stop into the gazebo for stunning views reflected on the lake, or cozy up with roasted s’mores and hot cocoa near the fire (through January 4, 2026, $19+, Vienna).
    5. Lucketts Holiday House. Venture through a century-old farmhouse for a multi-room shopping experience curated with seasonal goods and jolly decor. Check out holiday murals and photo vignettes on the grounds of the Lucketts store, and sip drinks from Vanish Brewery by a campfire (through December 14, $25+ timed-entry ticket, Leesburg).
Related
November Culture Guide: 44 Things to Do in the DC Area

Want More Things to Do?

Arts and culture:

  • Catch the semifinals of the DC Music Trivia Championship at Songbyrd (Mon, free, Union Market).
  • Share your go-go music memories at District E (Mon, free, Gallery Place).
  • Cookbook author Alison Roman discusses her new recipes at Sixth &  I (Thurs, $15 for virtual,  in-person is sold out, Downtown).
  • Local writers such as George Pelacanos and James Grady read noir works at Quarry House Tavern (Wed, free, Silver Spring).

Community and heritage:

  • Veterans will lay wreaths at the Freedom Wall at WWII Memorial in honor of Veterans Day (Tues, free, but registration encouraged, National Mall).
  • See military bands perform at the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery (Tues, free, Arlington).
  • Join an assembly with Vietnam Veterans of America President Tom Burke at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (Tues, free, National Mall).
  • Take a day trip to downtown Easton for the Waterfowl Festival. Families can enjoy food and live music, watch dog and bird demos, and learn about animal conservation (Fri-Sun, $25, free for children under 10 with an adult, Easton).

Theater and shows:

  • Award-winning Estonian clown Julia Masli returns to Woolly Mammoth Theatre to perform a holiday improve dubbed Ho Ho Ho Ha Ha Ha Ha (Thurs through December 21, $31+, Penn Quarter).
  • Washington National Opera puts on Mozart’s romantic comedy The Marriage of Figaro (Fri, $52+, Kennedy Center).
  • Comedic opera A Cossack Beyond the Danube takes audiences through a Ukrainian journey of dance and chorus (Sat through November 23, $60, $30 for furloughed federal workers, Sterling).

Music and concerts:

  • Rapper Playboi Carti has a tour stop at Capitol One Arena (Tues, $63+, Capital One Arena).
  • Popular jazz vocalist Samara Joy brings her stunning melodies to Warner Theatre (Wed, $86+, Downtown).
  • Local musicians in Strathmore’s Artists in Residence program perform their debut concert (Wed, $35, Bethesda).
  • Violinist Midori plays a harmonic recital with pianist Ieva Jokubaviciute at Sixth & I (Sat, $60, Downtown).

Bites and beverages:

  • Sip wine and indulge in bites from Michelin-starred chefs at Wine and Dine showcase; proceeds help support cancer research at MedStar Health (Thurs-Fri, $250+, Georgetown).

Get involved:

  • Help Food and Friends prep, package, or deliver medically-tailored Thanksgiving meals to neighbors battling serious illnesses (Mon through November 27, free, but registration required).
  • Shop holiday gifts for a good cause at MMEG International Arts and Crafts Market to help raise funds for educational grants for women (Mon-Wed, free entry, H Street Corridor).
  • You can adopt a pup from City Dogs Rescue at The Royal Sonesta Cocktails and Canines event (Sat, free, Capitol Hill).

Things to do with kids:

  • Magicians, jugglers, sword swallowers, and other circus acts bring a family-friendly Side Yards showcase to DC (Fri, free, Navy Yard).
  • The Polar Express is the theme of this year’s ICE! attraction at National Harbor (Fri through January 4, 2026, $41+, National Harbor).

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.

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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.