Tasty food, drinks, shopping, and quality time with family and friends are just a few reasons to love the holidays.

This week’s wins include all of those things and more. Think of DC as a hub for the holidays.

Need to find an awesome gift for your office Secret Santa? We’ve got you covered with some really cool holiday pop-up shops! Need an excuse to party? Two holiday themed bar crawls are going on in The District this weekend! Just don’t want to sit at home again when you could be doing something fun? We feel you. Cirque du Soleil is in town, so there is no excuse to have a boring Friday night!

Wednesday, December 5

By now, you know we love a good wine Wednesday. The Washingtonian Winter Wine Classic will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at Ajax. Guests will listen to live music, eat hors d’oeuvres, and sip wine from various vendors all night long. General admission tickets are $55, but for 10 more dollars, you can become a VIP guest and enter the event an hour early.

Find some holiday cheer at Mad Fox Brewing Company’s 5th Annual Holiday Beer Tasting. A variety of winter selections from local and regional breweries will be available to taste. Featured breweries at the event include Right Proper Brewing Company, Old Ox Brewery, Union Brewing, 2 Silos Brewing Company and more. The event begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $55.

Thursday, December 6

The Capitol Christmas Tree lighting (different from the National Christmas Tree) will light up the DC sky at 5 p.m. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan will do the honors of lighting the tree, and the United States Marine Band will play holiday music. The tree is located on the West Front Lawn of the U.S. Capitol.

Come out to the Dacha Holiday Market from 4-9 p.m. for all the fun holiday festivities your heart could desire. There will be heaters, blankets, and Dacha hot-tails, so throw those weather excuses out the window! As if this market could hear you say that’s not enough to get you out of the house, the Human Rescue Alliance will be doing pet photos with Santa in the garden from 5-8 p.m. So get your puppers and get over to this cozy market!

Celebrate culinary and cultural traditions at Winternational. Each international embassy will show off their country’s art, food, and handcrafts, and travel and tourism exhibits. This event is free and open to the public. Come travel the world in just three hours! (11 – 2 p.m.)

The 2nd Annual People’s Hanukkah Party at the Casolare Ristorante and Bar, will begin at 6:30 p.m. Prepare for a fun night with lights, latkes, and libations. Traditional dishes in addition to yummy surprises will be served at the event, and there will be a cash bar with drink specials. DJ Nes Gadol will liven up the party with funky mixes and beats! The candle-lighting ceremony will start at 8 p.m. General admission tickets are $25.

Friday, December 7

Hit the Waverly Street Gallery’s annual holiday show in Bethesda, Maryland to find a unique gift for someone special. Products available include ceramics, paintings, photography, prints and sculptures. The show begins at 6 p.m.

Cirque du Soleil is in town. If you have never seen this spectacular performance, you don’t want to miss this high-quality entertainment! The show begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Capital One Arena. The lowest priced tickets are $69.

‘Tis the season of holiday markets. At Miss Pixie’s 6th Annual Holiday Market, local makers and small businesses will bring their goods for true local shopping. Live music from The Bitter Dose Combo will entertain you while you shop, and if you get hungry, vegetarian paella from Barcelona Wine Bar will be served.

Saturday, December 8

Party in holiday style at the 8th Annual Capital City Christmas Classic, This is an annual Box & Friends holiday party. More than 500 people attend this event each year, and all proceeds go to the SVGS Foundation and The Black Annual Scholarship. There will be an open bar, two DJs and a fundraiser. The party begins at 10 p.m. at Hard Rock Cafe in DC. A standard ticket is $25, and a ticket that includes the open bar is $80.

Another holiday calls for another bar crawl. The annual Del Ray Candy Cane Bar Crawl will take place Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m. There will be drink specials at all of the participating restaurants, raffles, an ugly sweater contest, and more! Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.

*DJ Khaled voice* Anotha one! Another bar crawl in the DC area Saturday night is the perfect reason to be jolly. The DC Santa Crawl is from 2 to 10 p.m. Participants will receive a refillable signature Santa mug, access to Dupont’s best bars, a raffle, and of course food and drink specials. Make sure to wear your most creative holiday outfit! Tickets are $30.

Sunday, December 9

Experience a Russian Winter Festival at the Hillwood Estate, Museum and Garden from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sviatki is the festive winter season, and will be celebrated in traditional Russian style with live entertainment from the Samovar Russian Folk Music Ensemble, festive dances performed by the Kalinka Dance Ensemble, and a special appearance from Grandfather Frost and the Snow Maiden. Tickets are $18.

Warm up with a beer (or two) at 3 Stars Brewing Company’s 7th Holiday Extravaganza. Rare and limited releases will be available on draft, food trucks to cure your drinking munchies, DJs, live performances, a photo booth, games, and more! General admission tickets are $10 and include admission, a custom glass, and a complimentary drink ticket. The fun begins at 1 p.m.

Another holiday pop-up shop that could help you find that special gift you’re looking for, will be at Dock 5 at Union Market on Sunday. Unique Markets Holiday Pop-up will feature products from independent designers, artists, and emerging brands for a unique shopping experience. Come shop from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.! Tickets are $5, and include a free limited edition cotton tote, refreshing drinks, DIY watercolor gift tags, gift wrapping, holiday portraits, a photo booth, and lounges to take a shopping break when you need it!

Monday, December 10

There is one event that brings in some of the most popular musical artists to DC every December – Hot 99.5’s Jingle Ball. This year’s lineup includes Shawn Mendes, The Chainsmokers, Meghan Trainor, and G-Eazy. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Capital One Arena. The lowest priced tickets are $60.

The White House Historical Association will host a Holiday Book Fair from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. You will have the opportunity to browse a variety of gifts and books. 14 authors will be at the event to sign copies of their award-winning books. You can see a full list of authors at the event here.

Tuesday, December 11

Need something to cheer up your boring work week? Heineken & Brightest Young Things’ Afterwork Party is just for you! Head to Cantina Bambina at 6 p.m. for free games and crafts, giveaways, music, and more! The first 100 people at the event will receive free Heineken. If you don’t make it in time, no worries. $5 Heineken will be available all night long! RSVP here.

If you like to consider yourself a food connoisseur, come taste the foods created by up and coming chefs at StarChefs D.C.-Chesapeake Rising Stars Gala. The delicious plates will be paired with beverages and cocktails. General admission tickets are $95, and the $150 VIP ticket includes entry into the private, pre-awards reception with champagne and caviar. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. at Dock 5.

Know of any other can’t-miss local events going on this week? Let us know in the comments below or tag us on social using #DCFray or #FrayLife.


Get in the holiday spirit all month long with 25 Days of Festive Fun. Check out our article on even more holiday happenings going on in the District.

View More Articles By Briana Florez

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