FRIDAY, JANUARY 1

NATIONAL BELL FESTIVAL: 2020 is officially ending, and in response, bells across the District will be ringing in celebration. The Washington National Cathedral will kick off the celebrations with a 10-bell recital of holiday songs starting at 12:30 p.m. Then at 2 p.m., bells will ring at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Baker Park, and at community centers across the city. Find out where you can listen to the ringing of the New Year at NationalBellFestival.org. (Various locations, 12:30 p.m.-3 p.m., FREE)

IT’S A KWANZAA CELEBRATION: Mark the last day of Kwanzaa by watching Substantial Art & Music and Creative Suitland Arts Center’s virtual Kwanzaa holiday programming. The event was filmed live on the first day of Kwanzaa on December 26, but the whole program will still be available for streaming on Friday. The event features artists, performers, and educators from across the D.C. area. (FREE)

THE SPIRIT OF KWANZAA: Due to the coronavirus, the Dance Institute of Washington is not putting on a new Kwanzaa performance this season, but they are still making sure audiences can celebrate at home. Instead, the Institute is streaming their 2019 performance for free online, and tonight is the last night to check it out. Watch the event while it’s still available, celebrate the last day of Kwanzaa, and look forward to potential in-person celebrations next year. (FREE)

VIRTUAL 5K: The run must go on! Mayor Muriel Bowser is still hosting her annual New Year’s Day 5K … but like many events, the race will not be in person. Instead of gathering together in real life, the event is encouraging participants to run or walk a 5K in their own neighborhood. If you’re looking for inspiration, you can event find suggested 5K routes on the event’s website. (Various locations, FREE)

SATURDAY, JANUARY 2

CRYSTALLINE: On Saturday, stop by ARTECHOUSE DC to experience Crystalline, an in-person and immersive art installation. Taking hue cues from the 2020 PANTONE Color of the Year (Classic Blue), the exhibition is described as “an exploration through an illusory, blue-hued castle.” Visitors purchase tickets in 30-minute intervals to journey through various rooms (masked and at limited capacity) featuring sculptures, light displays, and wall art — all in Classic Blue. (ARTECHOUSE DC, open 10 a.m.-10 p.m., $17-$45)

VIRTUAL MALL TOUR: Avoid potential crowds on the National Mall by experiencing some of the District’s monuments and memorials from the comfort of your home. At 1 p.m. on Saturday, Street Art Museum Tours is holding a virtual tour of the National Mall starting at the Ulysses S Grant memorial in front of the U.S. Capitol and ending with the memorial of  Albert Einstein at the National Academy of Sciences. (1 p.m.-2 p.m., $15)

HABITAT RESTORATION: Help protect some of the District’s green spaces by restoring a portion of Melvin Hazen West, one of the “mini oases” in Rock Creek Park. The rehabilitation event will be led by the National Park Service and the Rock Creek Conservancy. Participants are encouraged to wear long-sleeves, pants, and sturdy boots/sneakers — and, of course, a mask. (Melvin Hazen West, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., FREE)

SUNDAY, JANUARY 3

WINTER WALK OF LIGHTS: It takes NoVa parks three months to set up their annual Winter Walk of Lights in Vienna — and there is still time to experience the walkable light display before they transition into the next season. Purchase your tickets ahead of time, make sure that you bring a camera to take photos, and enjoy the over half-mile long, socially distant adventure. (Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, open 5 p.m.-10:30 p.m., $11.50-$20)

HEAL & MANIFEST WORKSHOP: Local vocalist, writer, and healer Cecily can usually be found performing throughout the District’s in-person jazz scene, but on Sunday you can engage with her work online. Cecily is starting off the year by hosting an online workshop to help her community start 2021 feeling as healed and refreshed as possible. Expect guided meditations, sound healing, and journaling exercises in this three-hour event. (1:30 – 4:30 p.m., $30)