Things to Do This Weekend in Washington, DC

Friday

DowntownDC Holiday Market
This year's edition of the DowntownDC Holiday Market will occupy the street and sidewalk on F Street between 7th and 9th Streets, NW. Now in its 21st year, its bright lights bring Penn Quarter and Chinatown to life, providing a holiday spark to the neighborhood. The spacious, open-air village is free and open to the public, kicking off the season just ahead of Thanksgiving (closed on Thanksgiving Day) and closing just before Christmas.
Free admission
F Street between 7th and 9th Streets NW, Washington, DC
 

National Air and Space Museum

Modern Military Aviation
The advent of nuclear weapons and rapid advances in aviation technologies, such as missiles and automation, shaped by hot and cold wars, have in turn shaped the nature of conflict and diplomacy. These monumental developments in aerospace technologies are on display in the new Modern Military Aviation gallery. The exhibition is anchored by the museum’s unparalleled collection of military aviation artifacts including the North American F-86 Sabre, the Bell UH-1H “Huey” and the General Atomics MQ-1L Predator.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. |  Free Admission |  Reserve Timed Passes
National Air and Space Museum, 650 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC 20560
 

Renwick Gallery

Handwork: Contemporary Craft at the Renwick Gallery
This installation of objects from Smithsonian American Art Museum’s collection showcases the practice of making things by hand. Its presentation is part of a program at the Renwick Gallery to investigate the meaning and relevance of craft in American culture. In a year that DC has dedicated to exploring what the humans of this country make, and, therefore, what makes this country human, take time to treasure this most connected and connecting medium.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. |  Free Admission
Renwick Gallery, Pennsylvania Avenue at 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 
 

DowntownDC BID

Frosted at Franklin Park
In the heart of Downtown DC, Frosted at Franklin Park offers a picturesque holiday experience free to the public throughout the season. Explore a breathtaking display of thousands of festive lights – including a sparkling icicle walkway, giant snowflakes, a family of bears and a shining star – perfect for your holiday photo op.
Free Admission
Franklin Park, 1332 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
 

Black Cat

Protomartyr
They're Detroit natives and it’s evident from the moment you turn on any of their albums (start with the first and rawest, No Passion All Technique). Protomartyr singer Joe Casey’s lyrics deal with the seedier elements of life, but still resonate as beautiful and complex. Gods of Detroit’s rock past like MC5 and The Stooges can be heard in Protomartyr’s proto-punk stomp, tied together by the singer’s baritone howl (and, in the live setting, ominous stage presence). Their latest release is a concept album about the United States as a haunted hotel. Enough said.
8 p.m. |  Tickets
Black Cat, 1811 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
 

Saturday

National Portrait Gallery

Photographic Memory: Fifty Years of Collecting at the National Portrait Gallery
In 2026, the National Portrait Gallery will observe the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of its photographs collection, which now accounts for nearly half of the museum’s total holdings. Encompassing more than one hundred works, from the Daguerreian era to our own digital age, this exhibition explores the evolution of photographic portraiture through treasures from the Portrait Gallery’s wide-ranging collection. Capturing time in its unique way, photography has allowed the museum’s collection to include likenesses of those who have shaped the nation’s history but never posed for painted or sculpted portraits.
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission
National Portrait Gallery, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004
 

Dupont Circle Pop-up

DC Holiday Market at Dupont Circle
Opening just before Thanksgiving through mid-December, the 1500 block of 19th Street NW hosts 30-plus small businesses with artisanal goods, boutique brands, worldwide handcrafts and unique gift items, plus festive decor, local performers and beloved holiday treats.
11 a.m.  – 8 p.m. |  Free Admission
1500 Block of 19th Street NW, Washington, DC
 

Folger Shakespeare Library

To Hear Her Speak: Black Women and Shakespeare
For centuries, Black women have claimed Shakespeare, reshaping his words to assert their humanity, creativity and power.  To Hear Her Speak brings these voices into focus for the first time. Curated by Dr. Patricia Akhimie, Director of the Folger Institute, this landmark exhibition of nearly 100 objects highlights the ways in which Black women have engaged Shakespeare in performance and in writing and art. “Summer’s lease hath all too short a date,” but when fall rolls around, don’t miss this powerful exhibit.
Hours |  Free Admission
Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
 

ARTECHOUSE

SUBMERGE 
ARTECHOUSE DC resumes programming with SUBMERGE, which presents innovative digital art that utilizes technology for a wholly immersive experience. The exhibition is anchored by Beyond the Render, a 45-minute large-scale show created in collaboration with Render Network that brings together 13 artist teams — including Emmy winners Emily Yang and Maciej Kuciara — to transform the venue. A floor-to-ceiling projection canvas showcases a 280-degree, 18K-resolution digital world, a total reimagination of the possibilities of spatial storytelling.
Tickets (10% off most bookings)
ARTECHOUSE, 1238 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024
 

Hanukkah Spectacular
Acclaimed playwright Max Posner collaborates with Tony Award-winning director David Cromer for a comedy about another type of artistic collaboration. In Hanukkah Spectacular, four artists are trapped in one conference room across three days in an urgent attempt to make a commercially viable production about the titular Jewish holiday. Tensions rise, nerves break down and the lines between reality and fiction begin to blur. Happy holidays!
Tickets
Woolly Mammoth Theatre, 641 D Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
 

CityCenterDC

Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration at CityCenterDC
CityCenterDC lights its jaw-dropping 75-foot Christmas tree during a cheerful (and free) event hosted by NBC4's Eun Yang. The event has been moved up on the calendar this year to line up with the opening weekend of the popular DowntownDC Holiday Market. The lighting ceremony features a countdown, a performance by the American Pops Orchestra, balloon artists, face painters and plenty of other holiday-themed activities. You can enjoy the tree throughout the holiday season, as well as gorgeous lights along Palmer Alley.
5-7 p.m. |  Free Admission
The Park at CityCenter, 1098 New York Ave NW, Washington, DC 20005
 

Sunday

Visit the new Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden
Art lovers, rejoice. The Hirshhorn's sculpture garden returns with double the amount of works on display, a widened entryway from the National Mall and an underground passageway from the museum, a new feature that adds a whole new element to the experience. No longer will visitors have to cross Jefferson Drive to take in the 60 monumental sculptures showcased in the garden. The west lawn will now serve as a rotating exhibition space, with three works by Yoshitomo Nara serving as the inaugural display.
More Information
 

National Gallery of Art

Remember Me: Picturing African Americans in Early Photography
Featuring approximately 70 works from the National Gallery’s collection (many on view for the first time), this remarkable exhibition reveals how Black Americans embraced photography to define themselves, celebrate their communities and challenge stereotypes during the 19th and early 20th centuries (before, during and after the Civil War).
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. |  Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, West Building, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20565
 

The Phillips Collection

Avery, Gottlieb & Rothko: By the Sea
For three months this fall and winter, you can savor a lovely moment of summer. This exhibition will tell the story of the lifelong friendship between three towering figures in American art: Milton Avery (1885–1965), Adolph Gottlieb (1903–1974) and Mark Rothko (1903–1970). Approximately 90 works of art will highlight the inspiration they derived from summers in Gloucester, Massachusetts, on Cape Ann, and from each other. Many have never been on public view.
Hours & Admission
The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
 

Arena Stage

Are You Now or Have You Ever Been?
A new docudrama that comes straight from off-Broadway immerses audiences in the fear and paranoia caused by McCarthyism. Tony Award-winning director Anna D. Shapiro drops you into the tension of the hearings held by the House Committee on Un-American Activities in the 1940s. Only original transcripts inform the play’s dialogue, which features the words of Arthur Miller, Lillian Helman, Paul Robeson and many other artists.
Tickets
Arena Stage, 1101 6th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
 

The Atlantis

Gilla Band
One of the most acclaimed LPs of 2026 comes from Gilla Band, who dropped Pugnello to rave reviews this September. The Atlantis will barely be able to hold the bombastic sound of the Dublin-based group, whose distinct riff on noise rock, electronic pop and blistering punk makes for an unforgettable live show.
6:30 p.m. |  Tickets
The Atlantis, 2047 9th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
 

Places to Stay

Need some inspiration for a place to stay in between events? Washington, DC is filled with a multitude of hotels to fit your needs. Whether you are looking for that specialty boutique hotel or booking at your favorite hotel brand, Washington, DC's booking engine has it all.

Find Your Stay

Do you know where you’ll be dining pre- or post-event? From pop-up restaurants to award-winning hot spots to laid-back food halls, our DC food guide is perfect for helping you plan a more memorable experience.