FRIDAY, NOV. 17
HOLIDAY LIGHTS: The city is getting a festive makeover this weekend. D.C.’s annual Holiday Lights are making their dazzling debut this Friday. Find the sparkling displays all over the city, from Tenleytown to Eastern Market. Then, cast your vote for the best-decorated corridor. (Various locations; through Jan. 7; FREE)
ROTHKO: Mark Rothko, the painter known for his rectangles of color, died in 1970, but he left behind an immense body of work. He also left behind two children, Christopher and Kate Rothko, who will be in conversation this Friday about their father’s art alongside gallerist Arne Glimcher. The talk comes before the opening of “Mark Rothko: Paintings on Paper” at the National Gallery this Sunday. (National Gallery of Art; 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.; FREE)
HOLIDAY MARKET: Get a head start on your holiday shopping at the Downtown Holiday Market, which opens its stalls this Friday. The beloved annual outdoor market features local small businesses and artisans, as well as loads of cozy food options to snack on while you shop. (F Street NW between 7th and 9th Streets NW; through Dec. 23; FREE)
WINTER VILLAGE: Looking for a little winter spirit? Look no further than The Winter Village at Cameron Run. Featuring a dazzling display of light installations and an ice rink at the center of them, this annual Northern Virginia destination is a must-see. The Winter Village opens its doors this Friday. (Cameron Run Regional Park; through Jan. 1; 5 p.m.-10 p.m.; $8+)
TREE LIGHTING: Gear up for the most wonderful time of the year at Color Burst Park in Columbia, where the Merriweather District will be hosting its annual holiday tree lighting. This family-friendly event features Santa letter writing, a giant snow globe photo booth, a hot cocoa bar, a wine chalet, an ice rink, and more. (Color Burst Park; 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.; FREE)
MORE: “Confluence of Energies” (Washington Printmakers Gallery; through Nov. 26; FREE), “Intersection” Reception (Marymount University; 5 p.m.-7 p.m.; FREE), Shab-e-Shehr: A Night of Gathering (Rhizome DC; 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.; FREE), Liebeslieder (Grace Episcopal Church; 7 p.m.; $30), MAAM (The Pocket; 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.; $15+), Fall Dance Concert (American University; Friday 7:30 p.m.; Saturday 3 p.m.; $15), Standup Comedy Showcase Starring Patrice Deveaux (Crystal City Sports Pub; 8 p.m.-10 p.m.; $15), Be Our Guest: The Disney DJ Night (Howard Theatre; 9 p.m.; $20)
SATURDAY, NOV. 18
THAT’S SO VINTAGE: Give your closet the gift of vintage this weekend with a visit to pop-up market That’s So Vintage. Featuring 30 D.C.-area vintage vendors specializing in apparel, vinyl, and home decor, this second-hand wonderland takes over Union Market on Saturday. (Union Market; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; $5+)
CELEBRATE PETWORTH: Petworth is ready to party. This Saturday, the 800 block of Upshur Street NW will shut down traffic for the rescheduled date of Celebrate Petworth, a free neighborhood festival organized by and for the Petworth community. Find artisans, exhibitors, family-friendly activities, a dog show, and live music all day long. (Petworth; 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; FREE)
MARION BARRY STREET RENAMING: Be one of the first people to officially step foot on Marion Barry Avenue SE in Anacostia this weekend at the Street Renaming Celebration, featuring food, live music, and more. The event comes after the D.C. Council approved legislation to honor the former D.C. mayor and local icon by renaming Good Hope Road after him. (Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, between Good Hope Road and V Street; 12 p.m.-4 p.m.; FREE)
MORE: Enchanted Pages Community Day (Planet Word; 10 a.m.-7:45 p.m.; FREE), Vinson Hall Fall Art Show (Vinson Hall Retirement Community; Saturday and Sunday; 12 p.m.-4 p.m.; FREE), Hill Family Biking: DCPL Book Bike Ride (Eastern Market Metro Plaza; 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.; FREE), Sonia De Los Santos (George Mason University; 11 a.m.; $15), DC Punk Rock Flea Market (St. Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church; 12 p.m.-5 p.m.; FREE), The Heart Of Ryukyuan Dance (Georgetown University; 12 p.m.; 3 p.m.; 5 p.m.; $25), Apothecary & Community Space Opening Party (Femme Fatale DC; 2 p.m.-6 p.m.; FREE), District of Punk Walking Tour (Gallery Place; 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m.; $25), What a Wonderful World (Live! at 10th & G; 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; $35+), Capitol Movement’s DC Artist Exchange (Atlas Performing Arts Center; 7:30 p.m.; $28), Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Jon Langford: Song for Song (Sixth & I; 8 p.m.; $35), Don’t Tell Comedy (Eckington Hall; 8 p.m.; $25), Donna the Buffalo (The Hamilton; 8 p.m.; $20), Joe Russo’s Almost Dead (The Anthem; 8 p.m.; $49+), These Beating Hearts: Dances for our Ancestors (Dance Place; 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.; $30), Mipso (9:30 Club; 10 p.m.; $25)
SUNDAY, NOV. 19
NATIVE CINEMA SHOWCASE: If you liked Killers of the Flower Moon, you might find the perfect companion film at the Native Cinema Showcase, an online festival that puts the spotlight on Indigenous filmmakers telling their own stories. Presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, the free festival is available on demand through the end of next week. (Virtual; through Nov. 24; FREE)
POTTERY ON THE HILL: Celebrate ceramics at Pottery on the Hill, an annual event featuring practical pottery made by top ceramists from around the world. Whether you’re looking to start a new hobby or just get a little holiday shopping done, the weekend-long celebration has something for you. (Hill Center at Old Naval Hospital; Friday through Sunday; FREE+)
UMBRELLA ART FAIR: How does a “rebellion against the mundane” sound for your weekend plans? If your interest is piqued, check out the Umbrella Art Fair, an art festival taking over Union Market this weekend with a mural tour, a musical performance, a live paint battle, and more. (Union Market; Friday through Sunday; FREE)
A CHRISTMAS CAROL: Take a trip to the past, present, and future of Ebenezer Scrooge at the Ford’s Theatre presentation of A Christmas Carol. This musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’s classic tale opens Friday and takes the stage through December. (Ford’s Theatre; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; through Dec. 31; $66+)
MORE: PRJC Monthly Trad Jazz Jam (Alfio’s La Trattoria; 2:30 p.m.-5 p.m.; $15+), Katherine Miller’s At the Table book talk (People’s Book; 4 p.m.; FREE), Sunday gathering on grief & gratitude (Yoga Heights Takoma; 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m.; $25), Forget Why Poetry Series (Rhizome DC; 7 p.m.; $10+), Stand-Up for Ukraine (Union Stage; 8 p.m.; $20)
