Another holiday season is upon us, and organizations and venues around the D.C. region are blessing us with all sorts of fun happenings. Whether you’re into light displays or checking out holiday markets, DCist has compiled this non-exhaustive list of events happening over the next month that will get you in the holiday spirit. And if you’re looking to hit a holiday pop-up bar or catch a holiday concert or show, we’ve got you covered!

HOLIDAY DISPLAYS 

MENORAH LIGHTING: The annual menorah lighting ceremony, just like Hanukkah, is coming early this year. The president, vice president, and other notable people will be in attendance. Hopefully no one’s hair catches on fire this time! (The Ellipse; Dec. 7; FREE)

ZOOLIGHTS: Zoolights returns but this year there’s a price — literally. For the first time in 14 years, visitors will have to pay to see the light displays and animals after hours. (National Zoo; Thursday-Saturday until the end of the year; $6)

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS:Maryland’s Watkins Regional Park is having its own illuminated drive through! For the first time ever, the festival will also feature hayrides, which cost an additional $5-10 and must be booked in advance. (Watkins Regional Park; Until Jan. 1; $10 per vehicle)

HAUTE FOR THE HOLIDAYS: Want to see lights and trees but don’t want to venture out of the city? This year, CityCenter has commissioned an art installation — five 9-foot trees from artists Maggie O’Neill, Annie Broderick, Kate Campagna, Edwin Merino, and No Kings Collective. (CityCenterDC; until Jan. 7; FREE)

BULL RUN FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS: Enjoy holiday lights from the comfort of your car. Bull Run is back with their Festival of Lights, 2.5 miles of festive light displays accessible only by motor vehicle. (Bull Run Regional Park; Until Jan. 7; $30 per vehicle)

MORE: Norwegian Tree Lighting Ceremony (Union Station; Dec. 7; FREE), Enchant (Nationals Park; Available until Dec. 31; $32 for adults and $24 for juniors), Garden of Lights (Brookside Gardens; available through Dec. 31; $10), Season’s Greetings (U.S. Botanical Garden; Until Jan. 1; FREE), Georgetown Glow (Georgetown; Until Jan. 7; FREE), Winter Walk of Lights (Meadowlark Botanical Garden, Until Jan. 7; $18+), Light Yards (Yards Park; Available until Jan. 7; FREE)

ACTIVITIES

THIS COULD GET UGLY SWEATER PARTY: Wundergarten has all sorts of fun holiday events this season, but this one stood out in particular. Come in your ugliest sweater and be among other ugly sweater enthusiasts. (Wundergarten; Dec. 8; FREE)

LIGHT UP THE NIGHT: Sixth & I is hosting a Hanukkah party on the fifth night! The event will include festive drinks, a latke bar, donuts, and lots of dreidel. (Sixth & I; December 11; $15)

LOC HOLIDAY CELEBRATION: Ring in the holidays with the Library of Congress. The library will be hosting a holiday themed happy hour, with musical performances, festive food, and a tree lighting. (Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building; Dec. 14; FREE)

KWANZAA CELEBRATION: Kwanzaa is from Dec. 26-Jan. 1 but some local communities are starting the celebration early. Creative Suitland will be hosting their 4th annual Kwanzaa celebration, complete with performances by Ni Dembaya African Drum and Dance Ensemble, as well as an artisan market. (Creative Suitland Arts Center; Dec. 16; market is free to the public but general admission to performance is $12)

FROSTED: Franklin Park will yet again be decorated for the holidays as part of “Frosted at Franklin Park.” The decorations will be up every day until the middle of the month, but there are all sorts of events lined up each weekend. (Franklin Park; Until Dec. 17; FREE)

SPECTACULAR FACTORY: In honor of the holiday season, Artechouse is bringing back its Spectacular Factory pop-up. Visitors can immerse themselves in a gift factory, encountering floating Christmas bells, nutcrackers, candy cane carousels, and more. (Artechouse; Available until Jan. 3; prices starting at $21 for locals)

WARD 7 PARTY: After a multi-year hiatus (thanks, COVID), the Ward 7 Neighbors and Friends Holiday Party returns! No need to be a Ward 7 resident to attend — all are welcome to come. (Capitol Square Bar & Grill; Dec. 10; $35)

MORE: Holiday Trivia (Atlas Brew Works Ivy City; Dec. 7; FREE), Profs and Pints: Nightmare Before Christmas (Penn Social; Dec. 11; $14.31), Sing in the Holidays (National Gallery of Art; Dec. 9 and Dec. 16; FREE), It’s A Wonderful Life screening (Suns Cinema; Dec. 22; $12), Kwanzaa Celebration with Mama Ayo (Anacostia Community Museum; Dec. 26; FREE), Kwanzaa & Watch Night: Visions of Freedom (National Museum of African American History and Culture; Dec. 30; FREE)

PERFORMANCES

STEP AFRIKA!: The holiday step show returns to Arena Stage this December. The world’s first holiday show that highlights the African American tradition of stepping, Step Afrika’s performance is a treat for both kids and adults. (Arena Stage; Dec. 8-17; $66+)

CHOCOLATE CITY NUTCRACKER: Black Leaves Dance Company presents their own twist on “The Nutcracker.” The performance, which follows a young gay man at an HBCU holiday party, is a celebration of Pan-Africanism, the LGBTQ+ community, and family. (Atlas Performing Arts Center; Dec. 9; $25)

NAVIDAD FLAMENCA: Want to experience the holidays the Spanish way? Atlas’s Navidad Flamenca will show you how it’s done: with Spanish holiday music and song, flamenco dancing, and more. (Atlas Performing Arts Center; December 9; $35)

CAROLS: Is it really Christmas if there isn’t at least one performance of A Christmas Carol? Ford’s Theatre will be putting on a musical rendition of Charles Dickens’ classic. (Ford’s Theatre; Until Dec. 31; $37+). Keegan Theatre is running an Irish spin on the classic with An Irish Carol (Keegan Theatre; Playing until Dec. 31; $65). Alexandria’s Little Theatre also gets in on the action (Alexandria Little Theatre; Unil Dec. 16; $20). And at Olney Theatre, Paul Morella returns with his solo-rendition of the tale (Olney Theatre; Until Dec. 31; $51+)

MORE: Holiday Sketch Show (DC Improv; Dec. 12; $20), A Diva Christmas Drag Show (The Hamilton Live; Dec. 15; $25.51+), In the Spirit of Kwanzaa: Every Girl Has a Story (Dance Place; Dec. 16-17; $30), Capital City Symphony Annual Holiday Concert and Sing Along (Atlas Performing Arts Center; Dec. 17; $35), Modern Nutcracker (CulturalDC’s Source Theatre; Dec. 23; $35+), Miracle on 34th Street (Toby’s Dinner Theatre; Playing until Jan. 7; various prices),

HOLIDAY MARKETS

WINTER WARMER: Want to support Arlington makers? MoCA Arlington will be having a “Made in Arlington” market as part of their Winter Warmer celebration. (Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington; Dec. 10; FREE)

PROCRASTINATOR’S HOLIDAY MARKET: Do you save your holiday shopping until a few days before? There’s a market for that: head to Kraken Kourts in Northeast D.C. for last-minute gifts. (Kraken Kourts & Skates; Dec. 16; FREE)

MLK MARKET:  Specifically looking for locally-made and or library-themed presents? DC Public Library has partnered with the Heurich House Museum to offer a small holiday shop right at the MLK Jr. Library. It’s not the only market at the library — Metro is also having its first ever pop up shop this year. (Martin Luther King Jr. Library; Until Dec. 17; FREE)

OUTDOOR DOWNTOWN: If you’ve been near the Portrait Gallery recently you’ve probably noticed the block full of vendors in tents. The annual Downtown Holiday Market has returned and is open pretty much up until Christmas. (F Street NW between 7th and 9th; Until Dec. 23; FREE)

SOUTHSIDE HOLIDAY MARKET: Looking for another holiday market that’s open almost all month long? Southside Holiday Market in Congress Heights has a wide variety of gifts you can get for your loved ones, and is open daily until right before Christmas. (Sycamore & Oak; Until Dec. 23; FREE)

SHOP TIL YA DROP: BZB International is back with its annual “Shop Til Ya Drop” holiday gift and art show. “The largest African American department store on the East Coast,” this year’s event will showcase nearly 100 Black-owned businesses. (Shiloh Baptist Church; Dec. 9, 16, 22, and 23; FREE)

MORE: GLOW Shopping Night (Georgetown; Dec. 6; FREE) Dacha Holiday Market (Dacha Shaw; Dec. 6.; FREE), Takoma Park Gift Market (201 Ethan Allen Avenue; Dec. 8; FREE) Columbia Heights Market (Columbia Heights Civic Plaza; Dec. 8; FREE) Art Enables Holiday Market (Art Enables; Dec. 9; FREE), Mount Pleasant Holiday Market (Mount Pleasant; Dec. 10; FREE), Re: Her* Holiday Market (Cork Wine Bar and Market; Dec. 11; FREE), Winter Holiday Market (Tenleytown; Dec. 13; FREE), Yalda and Winter Solstice Market (Brookland Arts Walk; Dec. 16; FREE), NoMa Holiday Market (Eckington Hall; Dec. 16; FREE), Crafty Draftsters Holiday Market (DC Brau; Dec. 16; FREE)

MORE FOR THE FAMILY

TINY LIGHTS: Bring your children to Theater J to learn about the story of Hanukkah from some of the theater company’s best storytellers. After the performance there will be light refreshments and Hanukkah festivities(EDJCC; Dec. 3,9, and 10; various prices).

KWANZAA DIY: In advance of Kwanzaa, Joe’s Movement Emporium is hosting a day of craft workshops and performances. Geared towards the whole family, attendees will get the chance to learn all sorts of crafting, as well as participate in a fun dance performance. (Joe’s Movement Emporium; Dec. 10; $15 per child)

SEARCH FOR SANTA’S CRITTERS: Embark on a scavenger hunt for Santa’s animal friends at Potomac Overlook Regional Park. All children must have an adult with them. (Potomac Overlook Regional Park; various dates; $5)

POLAR PALOOZA: Get your kids in the holiday and dancing spirit with Atlas Performing Arts Center’s Polar Palooza. The event will primarily consist of a hip-hop dance party, but will also include other family-friendly activities, snacks, and hot chocolate. (Atlas Performing Arts Center; Dec. 16; FREE)

LUMINOCITY: For the next month and a half, the Montgomery County Fairgrounds will be transformed into a winter wonderland as part of the LuminoCity Festival. This year’s “Bay State Blissfest” event will have lights, local food vendors, hot chocolate, and more. (Montgomery County Fairgrounds; Until Jan. 15; $32)

ENCANTO: Take your family to an immersive exhibit modeled after the casita from Encanto! There are only a few tickets left for December, so best to get your visit in before they’re sold out. (CAMP Washington DC; Through mid-April 2024; $30).

MORE:Jews of Color Hanukkah Party (EDJCC; Dec. 7; FREE), Santa’s Workshop (The Boro Tysons; Dec. 9; FREE); A Family Christmas (Kennedy Center; Dec. 16-24; $20+), The Nutcracker (Puppet Co; Until Dec. 31; $15), Ice Skating (Cameron Run; Daily until Jan. 1; $12.50), Noons Yard Eve (The Yards; Dec. 31; FREE), Holly Trolley Fest (National Capital Trolley Museum; various dates; $10), ICE! (Gaylord National; Until Dec. 31; $25.99+), GoGo Santa (Sycamore & Oak; Dec. 9; FREE)