For Immediate Release:
November 5, 2010

                        Top Events You Can't Miss: Late Fall 2010 and Winter 2011

Destination DC’s top picks for can’t-miss events coming down the pipeline include numerous holiday events including the ever-popular lighting ceremony of the White House Christmas tree on Dec. 9, 2010. Tickets can be hard to come by, and are only available by lottery. Families without tickets are invited to attend the nightly lighting and musical entertainment, December 10, 2010 -January 2, 2011.

National Gallery of Art Ice Skating Rink: Nov. 13-mid-March
National Mall One of the highlights of DC’s winter season, the ice skating rink in the heart of the National Gallery of Art’s sculpture garden will reopen for the season on Nov. 13. Surrounded by monumental pieces of art is an astonishing setting for family fun and romantic dates. The admission (good for a two-hour session) is $7 adults; $6 students. Skate rentals are $3 and ID is required.

Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show: Nov. 13- 14
Walter E. Washington Convention Center At this food-filled event for cooking enthusiasts, spend two days in cooking and entertaining world, with food and wine pairings, cooking demonstrations, and beer tastings. There will be live cooking demonstrations and the opportunity to participate in numerous cooking and entertaining workshops, events for kids, and exhibitors to buy the latest in kitchen gadgets and food from. Register in advance for cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs Paula Deen, Rachael Ray, and Bobby Flay. (703) 321-4890.
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Nov. 20-Jan. 2, 2011: “A Christmas Carol”
The holiday classic returns home to the newly renovated Ford’s Theatre. Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption. (202) 347-4833.

December 1: Lighting the National Chanukah Menorah
The Ellipse near the White House The annual lighting ceremony of the National Menorah will again take place this December, and include musical performances, hot latkes and fun for the whole family.

Washington Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”: Dec. 2 – 24, 26
Warner Theatre Artistic director Septime Webre sets the holiday classic in Washington, DC, complete with cherry blossoms and a Rat King resembling King George III. (202)362-3606.

ZooLights: Dec. 3-Jan 1
National Zoo More than 50 sculptures lit by environmentally friendly lights come to life at this annual event made livelier by activities and entertainment stations. The lights will highlight approximately 30 animal species at the zoo, including some of the zoo’s conservation successes such as Asian elephants and Giant Pandas.(202) 673-4800.

Downtown DC Holiday Market: Dec. 5 – 23
F Street, NW between 7th and 8th Streets The popular holiday market will take place on and will feature an outdoor showcase of jewelry, pottery, paintings, and textiles made by+ 150  local artisans along with live music and homemade treats. (202) 638-2033.

Handel’s “Messiah”: Dec 3-5
Washington National Cathedral A DC tradition: Michael McCarthy conducts the Cathedral Choir with Baroque orchestra in an authentic presentation of Handel’s beloved oratorio. (202) 537-6200.

16th Annual BB&T Classic: Dec. 5
Verizon Center The popular college basketball showcase offers a triple-header in 2010. The match-ups will feature: University of Florida vs. American University, George Washington University vs. Navy and University of Maryland vs. Temple.(202) 628-3200.

The 3rd Annual Merriment in Georgetown: Dec. 5
Georgetown, Wisconsin Avenue and M Streets, NW Usher in the holiday season and get a jump start on your holiday shopping with special sales and events, seasonal festivities, children's activities, and culinary treats. Santa will arrive in a horse-drawn carriage and there will be traditional holiday performances throughout the day.  Enjoy traditional holiday beverages, free photos with Santa, and many more winter activities throughout Georgetown. (202) 298-9222.

White House Christmas Tree Lighting: Dec. 9, Dec. 10, 2010-Jan. 2, 2011
The Ellipse near the White House The American tradition of lighting the National Christmas Tree continues. The tree will be lit by the “First Family” in early December. The tree is re-lit from dusk until 11pm each following night through Jan. 1. The seasonal displays will also include a yule log, large-scale model train, Santa’s workshop and a Christmas manager. Nightly performances of holiday music will also be performed. (202) 619-7400.

A Nation’s Capital Christmas Walking Tour: Dec. 11
Downtown, DC Washington Walks offers a special Christmas walking tour that passes through the Decatur House Museum Shop, the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery of Arts and Crafts, the Daughters of the American Revolution Museum and much more. It concludes at the National Christmas tree where everyone can see over 50 individually-decorated trees dedicated to each U.S. state and territory. (800) 979-3370

Russian Winter Festival: Dec. 11
Hillwood Museum & Gardens This annual tradition invites families to meet Grandfather Frost and the Snow Maiden and enjoy festive music and entertainment. Seasonal gifts line the shelves of the museum shop and the café offers delectable Russian-inspired treats. (202) 686-5807.

Roger & Hammerstein’s “South Pacific”: Dec. 14, 2010-Jan. 16, 2011
The Kennedy Center Lincoln Center Theater brings their reinvention of the classic American musical South Pacific for an enchanting holiday engagement in the Opera House. (202) 467-4600.

Mount Vernon by Candlelight: Dec. 18-19 
Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens Candlelight tours, caroling, and hot cider and cookies are all part of this seasonal tour of George Washington’s estate. Mrs. Washington invites visitors into their home to see what a traditional Christmas at Mount Vernon looked like.  The tour includes the first and second floors of the mansion and features characters from the Washingtons’ world. (703) 780-2000.

“A Candlelight Christmas”: Dec. 18-22
The annual choral performance by The Washington Chorus will feature Christmas classics, sing-a-longs, candlelight processional and special guests. (202) 467-4600.
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Gingerbread House Workshop: Dec. 21-22, 29-30
Tudor Place Designed for children 5+, these workshops turn kids into history detectives! Children tour the historic Georgetown mansion to explore the architecture and how the holidays were celebrated in Washington.  After the tour, children design and build their own edible house to take home. (202) 965-0400.
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Military Bowl Presented by Northrop Grumman: Dec. 29
RFK Stadium Once known as the EagleBank Bowl, this rebranded event is one of college football’s newest. The 2010 match is set to feature teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and Conference USA, with Army as a possible backup. Proceeds support the USO.

New Year’s Eve at the Kennedy Center: Dec. 31
Usher in the New Year with a concert featuring selections from American musicals including “Porgy and Bess” and “South Pacific” performed by the National Symphony Orchestra. A party in the grand foyer follows. (202) 467-4600.
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Downtown Countdown: Dec. 31
Grand Hyatt Located at the Grand Hyatt Washington, this year’s celebration will feature Third Eye Blind, with DC101’s Elliot in the Morning hosting. The all-inclusive party ticket will include a five-hour premium open bar, an elaborate food spread, favors and access to four party areas of entertainment. Website:

Odyssey's Washington DC New Year's Eve Lunch Cruise: Dec. 31
Gangplank Marina, 6th and Water Streets, SW Guests will be treated to a plated lunch menu, live entertainment, party favors and a champagne toast against the backdrop of magnificent views. (202) 488-6030.

Washington Winter Antiques Show: Jan. 6-8
The Katzen Arts Center at American University The Washington Antiques Show, one of the country's most established antiques events, features over 40 premier dealers from the United States and Europe offering a wide range of period furnishings and decorative arts, vintage jewelry, porcelains, ceramics, silver and architectural garden accents. This year's theme is "Georgetown: Over 200 Years of Style.” (202) 885-1300.

NBC4’s Health and Fitness Expo: Jan 16-17
Walter E. Washington Convention Center A city-wide open house focused on health and preventative medicine features hundreds of exhibits, free dance and aerobic classes, a walking track, blood tests and advice from top chefs to help you explore different ways to exercise and cook you way to good health.  Guests are invited to participate in a variety of interactive sports and activities for the whole family. (202) 249-3000.

DC Restaurant Week: January 2011, Dates TBA
Citywide Dozens of the city’s top restaurants offer three-course, prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus.

Date Nights DC: February 2011
Citywide A month-long agenda of special menus, unique hotel packages, freebies and two-for-one specials aimed at inspiring Obama-style “date nights”  and romance in the District. Details TBA.

“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”: Feb. 25-April 10, 2011
Arena Stage This state of the art theatre complex kicks off an Edward Albee festival with arguably his toothiest family drama. The alcohol-fueled vitriol of George and Martha sets the tone for a three-month retrospective that will also include performances of Albee’s “At Home at the Zoo” and readings of 30 plays by America’s best known living playwright. (202) 554-9066.

LOOKING AHEAD: NCAA Mens Division 1 Basketball Tournament:  March 17 and 19, 2011
Verizon Center Georgetown University is the host school for the second and third rounds of NCAA March Madness. Seats inside the Verizon Center will be hard to come by – applications for tickets are no longer being accepted - but downtown DC boasts scores of sports bars so keeping up with the action won’t take much effort. (202) 628-3200.

LOOKING AHEAD: 2011 National Cherry Blossom Festival: March 26-April 10, 2011
Tidal Basin, Downtown DC The 99th annual festival of the gift of cherry trees from Japan to the United States is as pink and as springtime-filled as ever. The parade will take place April 9, 2010, and group orders for bandstand seats are being accepted now. Details about the kick-off Pink Tie Party, Cherry Picks restaurant specials and Japanese-themed street fair will follow. (877) 44-BLOOM; (877) 442-5666.