Things to Do in DC This Weekend: Markets, Concerts, Films

Happy weekend, everyone!

The city’s holiday markets are opening this weekend, and I’m looking forward to indulging in hot chocolate and shopping for ugly holiday sweaters. If you’re ready to join in on the seasonal fun, then check out one of the nearby pop-ups. Otherwise, there’s live music, and a cider festival to enjoy.

Best Things to Do This Week

1. Holiday market in town. Make your way to downtown DC for a winter market. Of the 18th Annual Holiday Market starting this weekend, it will take two blocks of F Street, NW, from 7th to 9th avenues. Shop local from over 70 exhibitors, and sample warm food and drinks. This year’s additions include a stage for live entertainment (city, free, city).
2. Go-Go Savings Week. Close out promotion week for the city’s official country music festival with two concerts featuring local bands. Watch a band preview including an interview with activist and historian Ron Moten (Right, free, virtual)and party with long-running groups and EU music bands in concert (city, free, city).
3. Alexandria Cider Festival. Taste a selection of ciders from 10 Virginia cideries while listening to live outdoor music and learning a little local history. Income from festival will help support the History of Alexandria Museums (Sunday, $20+, Alexandria).
4. Rock Creek Beach Party. Upper Beach Drive is officially open for recreation and closed to vehicles year-round. To mark the historic change, the Rock Creek Conservancy is launching a “Beach Party.” Everyone is welcome to take in the beautiful views of the park, participate in bird walks, participate in readings with librarians, and snack on s’mores and hot chocolate. (Sun, free, Rock Creek Park).
5. Film Show. The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian’s annual Film Show began showing 36 films representing 30 nations, in eight different countries, this week. Viewers can watch films and documentaries on demand throughout the festival online (through Nov. 25, free, virtual). Fans can also join the show in person Imagine the Indian: The Challenge Against Native American Mascoting, followed by a discussion with activists and advocates (Sat, free, National Museum of the American Indian).

Want more to do?

Budgeting. Hear live music at Metrobar during their Fall Concert Series (Available, free, east DC). Shop home decor and plants at a local pop-up (Sat, free, Dupont Circle).

Art and culture. Patti Smith is bringing a reunion to Sixth & I. Attendees can learn about her new book, A Book of Daysand heard him sing a few songs (Date, book and tickets $36+, virtual, Northwest DC). Watch nine short films in a pop-up cinema; drinks and food will be served (Sun, donations welcome, Northwest DC). Be part of the cookbook discussion and Ghetto Gastro cooking topics. Plus, guests will receive a free book (Sun, free, MLK Library). Join the community in a poetry reading (Day, free, Takoma Park).

Grab and drink. Play a round of beer pong at Atlas Brew Works (Sat, free to attend, beer purchase required to play, Ivy City). Watch an exploration and network with neighbors at Cocktails & Cinema (Here, free, Foggy Bottom). Relax in a traditional wine apéro class (Ai, $20, Northwest DC). Participate in a fusion experience with Chef Ringel of DC Harvest; there are food combinations (Day Trip, $75, Northeast DC). Celebrate friendship at Crispus Attucks Park. There will be live jazz, food, and drink time (Sat, donations welcome, Bloomingdale’s). Discover fall wines with a sommelier’s guide; Wine tasting boxes will be available for pickup (Ari, $75, virtual).

Holiday pop-ups. Bring the whole family to holiday tree lighting ceremonies. Santa will turn on the tree lights, followed by local entertainment and a complimentary s’mores and hot chocolate bar in Tysons Corner. Look for a large snow globe and market stalls (Free, free, Tysons). You can also experience holiday music and watch Old Saint Nick ride through town on the King Street car. (Sat, free Alexandria). Enjoy Christmas shopping and lots of frozen treats at the Lucketts Holiday Open House (Sunday, $25, Leesburg). Or, travel to Maryland for the ultimate adventure, where you can browse seven galleries filled with crafts, furniture, jewelry, clothing, toys , plates, etc. (starts Friday, adults $10, children $4, Frederick).

Cinemas and shows. Experience a dance performance from the comfort of your home (Day Trip, $10+, virtual). Wake up your kid inside and have some cotton candy and a load of fun at the County Fair Comedy Show (Eat, $10, Northwest DC). Writer and actress Natasha Leggero shares funny stories about motherhood from her new book, The World Loves My Children (Sun, book and tickets $50, Northwest DC). The last call for The Playboy of the Western World (Fri-Sun, $45, Northeast DC) and The Till Trilogy: The Ballad of Emmett Till (Thursday, Sunday, $29+, Northeast DC).

History and heritage. Learn about the drugs featured in the popular TV show Foreigners on a guided tour of the Apothecary Museum (Sun, $15, Alexandria). Or, use it in an educational speech about a black object. (Ai, $25, virtual).

Music and concerts. Enjoy the rhythm of Vikingur Ólafsson’s classical piano in concert (Salt, $115, Kennedy Center). Clap your hands and sing along with the Washington Performing Arts Men and Women of the Gospel Choir (Sun, $40, Silver Spring). Get tickets to see Omar Apollo in Anthem (Day, $36+, The Harbor). Go to a post-punk rock concert (Ai, $12, Northwest DC). Country artist Kameron Marlowe is in town for a show at The Hamilton Live (Ai, $20, Northwest DC). The Washington National Cathedral pays tribute to DC with their musical performance of ZERO! A Beautiful City (Sat, $15+, virtual, Northwest DC). Don’t miss the opening week of high energy music Dressed as Mole (Sunday, $22+, Bethesda).

Fun and games. Experience through the immersive Dinos Alive Exhibit (Sunday, $20+, Northeast DC).

Turn up. Explore the roots and evolution of jazz music for an event at Jazz4Justice. Proceeds from the evening help benefit Legal Services of Northern Virginia and Mason Jazz Studies (Ai, $20, Fairfax). Help save DC trees and plant your own at the Anacostia Park Skate Pavilion (Sat, free, Anacostia).

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Briana A. Thomas is a local writer, historian, and travel guide who specializes in researching DC history and culture. He is the author of the book Black History, Black Broadway in Washington, DCan article originally published in Washingtonian in 2016.