Thanksgiving Weekend – Things to Do

Going to Germany or France for the Christmas markets can be really expensive …. and unnecessary now that DC has its own Christmas Market at Dupont Circle.  Make your way to the 1500 block of 19th Street NW for the DC Holiday Market at Dupont Circle, which will feature 30-plus small businesses with artisans, boutique brands, worldwide handcrafts and unique gift items from Nov. 22 to Dec. 15 (closed on Nov. 28). The market (which used to be situated Downtown) brings its signature style, local performers, bright festive décor and popular holiday treats, including Migue’s Mini Donuts and the Capital Candy Jar’s hot roasted nuts. The neighborhood will also host its holiday pop-up on Dec. 7 and 8.

The original downtown Christmas Market is centrally located in front of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery, this popular market stretches across two blocks of F Street between 7th and 9th streets. Explore the unique gifts and delicious food from dozens of businesses. This year, the market’s 20th anniversary, may feel different since there will be a greater variety of vendors, exciting community and family activations, a more extensive food and beverage program and additional can’t-miss activities.

This Thanksgiving weekend, you can take your houseguests to ZooLights,  powered by Pepco. The event includes live music performances, tasty winter treats and plenty of opportunities for holiday shopping. Environmentally friendly LED lights and dozens of glowing animal lanterns transform the Smithsonian’s National Zoo into a winter wonderland. Note that timed passes are required.  Zoolights runs this year from November 22 to January 4, 2025.  Admission is just $6 – hot chocolate not included!

Trade in your dreams of a white Christmas for something even better – a green Christmas. At this year’s Season’s Greenings exhibit at the U.S. Botanic Gardens, there will be model trains in the gated outdoor gardens, festive lights throughout the Garden, and the poinsettias, holiday decor, and D.C. landmarks made from plants inside the Conservatory. On the lawn in the gated outdoor gardens, G-gauge model trains  circulate from 10:00-5:00 daily through displays of pollinators made from plant parts. These scenes  range from oversized models of native U.S. flowers like milkweed and bats pollinating a banana to an orchid bee pollinating a vanilla orchid flower, a chocolate midge pollinating a cacao flower, a lemur pollinating a traveler’s tree flower, and more! The Garden will be closed on December 25. Tickets are not required.
Free Admission
U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20001

Take your houseguests to the National Gallery over Thanksgiving weekend.  It’s the perfect place to walk off all that turkey.  You will fall in love with the blockbuster Paris 1874: the Impressionist Moment, a new exhibit which explains the origins of one of the most important art movements in history. The museum is replicating a legendary exhibit from Paris in 1874 that helped bring about the dawn of Impressionism. In the display, you will be able to view beloved paintings by Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissaro and many more.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC

DC’s favorite ballet company, Washington Ballet, pulls out all the stops for this classic Christmas tale that features a special DC twist. The Russian ballet goes local thanks to a Nutcracker Prince in the likeness of George Washington and cherry blossom set designs. Choreographed by Septime Webre and set in historical 1882 Georgetown, you will enjoy the dancers – many of them from the Washington Ballet school – and the beautiful Tchaikovsky score. This year marks the 20th anniversary of this ballet performance that is a highlight of every holiday season in the District – and every little girl’s dream to dance in the Nutcracker. (I remember when my daughter danced with the Washington Ballet as a mouse and then later as a toy soldier!)  Septime Webre gave DC a real gift in his version of the Nutcracker – and now he is the Artistic Director of the Hong Kong Ballet.

Even if you watched a hundred times over, there’s a new way to enjoy the beloved Christmas classic Elf this holiday season. At the Kennedy Center, you can see the film’s timeless score come to life with live performance by the National Symphony Orchestra on November 29-December 1.
Tickets
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566

See George Washington’s home, Mount Vernon, illuminated with brilliant lights and patterns set to holiday music. Visit an 18th-century winter encampment, purchase gifts from the Mount Vernon shops and enjoy holiday drinks and treats from the Mount Vernon Food Truck, Executive Orders.  During Christmas Illuminations (Dec. 20-22), you can tour the gorgeous mansion, witness chocolate-making demonstrations and hang out with the estate’s favorite pet, Aladdin the Camel. To cap it off, enjoy an incredible fireworks display along the Potomac River.
Tickets
George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA 22121

In my house the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is always on in the background as I start the turkey and all the fixings!  One year my daughter and I were in New York for Thanksgiving and we walked over to the West Side on Wednesday evening to watch the parade balloons being inflated.  That was so much fun!

The Silver Spring Thanksgiving Parade – the only parade for Thanksgiving in Washington DC metro area – has everything you could want in a parade – marching bands, giant characters and balloons, candy thrown to the kids, and an appearance by Father Christmas himself.  It takes place on November 16 this year from 10 am to 12 pm.  The parade route starts at Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street and goes south on Georgia Avenue, ending at Silver Spring Avenue.

There are lots of different kinds of trots, runs, and walks hosted around Thanksgiving weekend. Not only can you get active and burn off that last slice of pumpkin pie, but you’ll be able to get sponsors and raise money for a good cause! Here are a couple that might appeal to you:

• Arlington Turkey Trot
• Alexandria Turkey Trot
• Prince Williams Turkey Trot
• Trot for Hunger
• Cranberry Crawl DC
• Turkey Chase Bethesda
• Gingerbread Man Mile

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to reflect on your blessings whether you are surrounded by a crowd of family and friends or just a small group.  Here are some organizations that could use your help.  Just a heads up – lots of people have the same idea so give a call to make sure there is room for you!

Clean up Rock Creek Park

• Address: 1755 S St NW, Washington, DC 20009
• Website

Blue Planet DC has many similar events scheduled throughout the year but also has an annual morning cleanup post-Thanksgiving. Wear comfortable clothes, grab your gloves and a couple of trash bags, and help keep the neighborhood clean!

Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen

There are several charitable organizations where you can help prepare and serve holiday meals in DC. Some popular local charities you can reach out to are:

• DC Central Kitchen
• Bright Beginnings
• Food and Friends
• So Others Might Eat
• Food For All DC