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Tag: holiday events

  • Things to do in the DC area: Winter Skate Spectacular, Holiday Record Swap … and more! – WTOP News

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    From Dec. 27 through Feb. 9, the National Building Museum is hosting an indoor synthetic ice-skating experience to keep the holiday spirit going into the new year.

    The National Building Museum’s Winter Skate Spectacular is a unique indoor skating experience hosted in the museum’s Great Hall.(Photo courtesy National Building Museum)

    Keep the holiday spirit going into the new year with the National Building Museum’s Winter Skate Spectacular. Running from Dec. 27 through Feb. 9, the museum’s Great Hall is hosting an indoor synthetic ice-skating experience.

    This second year of the Winter Skate Spectacular includes early hours for younger skaters, themed nights, plus festive snacks and drinks. There are also lively after-hours events planned for adults.

    Aileen Fuchs, president and executive director of the National Building Museum, said this event also coincides with the installation of a public artwork suspended above the Great Hall, called “The Wave.” The massive work measures 55 by 180 feet, led by Catholic University of America professor Tonya Ohnstad in collaboration with students and industry partners.

    “It’s going to be a really spectacular, beautiful element, we think, for our visitors who are often excited to experience architecture and design in new, fun, cool ways,” said Fuchs.

    Tickets for the skating experience cost $20 for adults and $17 for youth, seniors and students.

    Check back every Thursday for a roundup of Things to do in the DC area.

    Looking for New Year’s Eve events? Check out WTOP’s party guide here.

    Here’s what else is happening in the D.C. area:

    DC

    Holiday Record Swap and Vinyl Market
    Add some new tunes to your music collection. In Northeast D.C., metrobar is hosting a record swap and market. The event is free to attend.

    MLK Bargain Basement Books & Shop
    The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library is selling used books and library merch with proceeds going directly to the MLK Library Friends. The event is this Saturday. Can’t attend? The Tenley-Friendship Neighborhood Library is also hosting a book sale with donated titles on Friday.

    Kwanzaa and “Kujichagulia” at Anacostia Community Museum
    The Playback Theatre is hosting an interactive Kwanzaa experience at the Anacostia Community Museum where audience members are invited to share real-life moments that are turned into dynamic theatrical performances. The event on Saturday is free to attend.

    “Family Day: Winter Wishes”
    In the Great Hall of the Library of Congress’ Thomas Jefferson Building, expect a family-friendly seasonal celebration where guests can use winter-themed imagery from the Library’s collection to create holiday cards or bookmarks. The event is free, but tickets are required.

    D.C. Gals Vision Board Night
    Get ready to manifest your dreams by heading to SALAZAR in Northwest D.C. on Tuesday for a vision board night. Tickets cost approximately $13 per person.

    New Year’s Eve Swing Ball
    Still need New Year’s plans? Head to Black Cat to see musical performances from Peaches O’Dell and Her Big Band Orchestra, plus Tony Anthony & His Malvivants. Tickets cost roughly $42. For more New Year’s Eve parties to consider, check out WTOP’s guide.

    Maryland

    Special Saturday Night Open Mic Night
    The Hyattsville, Maryland, location of Busboys and Poets is hosting an open mic on Friday with professional spoken word performers, open mic rookies and musicians. Tickets cost approximately $7 in advance and $8 at the door.

    A Dickens Literary Tea
    For those who’d love to discuss “A Christmas Carol” or anything else regarding Charles Dickens, the Elkridge Furnace Inn and Garden House in Elkridge, Maryland, has an afternoon tea planned with delectable treats inspired by the English novelist’s literary works. Tickets for the event on Monday cost approximately $70.

    Adobo’s NYE
    Kiss 2025 goodbye at The Fillmore in Silver Spring, Maryland. This New Year’s event is hosted by the Adobo DMV multicultural experience with DJ sets by Pedro Night. The event costs approximately $35 per person.

    Virginia

    Mamma Mania!
    For lovers of ABBA, the State Theatre in Falls Church, Virginia, has the tribute band, Mamma Mania!, performing Saturday. Tickets cost $22 ahead of time or $25 on the day of the show.

    Holiday Hoedown
    Jammin Java at Vienna, Virginia, has the blues and roots band, The Nighthawks, performing this Saturday as part of their Holiday Hoedown event. Tickets for the event cost $27 per person.

    Holiday For The Hounds
    On Saturday, Shipgarten has a paws-itively pup-friendly holiday celebration planned. Expect a dog park, homemade treats from doggie vendors, games and contests, as well as a special dog menu. Human companions can also enjoy over 40 breweries to sample from, plus pics with Santa.

    Have an event you’d like featured in WTOP’s Things to do in the D.C. area weekly guide? Let us know!

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Michelle Goldchain

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  • Campbell toy store helps Brownie troop with giving tree

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    Elves in training

    Members of Brownie Troop 60125 volunteered at the Family Giving Tree warehouse in Sunnyvale on Dec. 7, sorting, wrapping and organizing gifts and getting them ready for bagging for the nonprofit’s Holiday Wish Drive. The troop also hosted a Virtual Giving Tree along with Junior Troop 60174, adopting 25 wish cards, and used cookie sale proceeds to shop for gifts at Pennyland Toys in Campbell, which offered the troops a discount. Donations to the Virtual Giving Trees can be made until 9 p.m. on Jan. 15, 2026, at https://wishdrive.org/girlscouttroop60125

    Founded in Milpitas and now located in Santa Clara, Family Giving Tree has already collected more than 24,000 gifts this season and is working toward helping 50,000 children and families across the Bay Area, according to Evelyn Huynh, director of community resource development.

    Peninsula Symphony concert

    Grammy-nominated pianist Joyce Yang will perform with the Peninsula Symphony Jan. 17, 2026, in a program balancing the First Concerto of Beethoven with three orchestral visions of the story of “Romeo and Juliet.” Works by Strauss, Prokofiev and Diamond complete this program, to be performed at Campbell’s Heritage Theatre, located at 1 W Campbell Ave.

    The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35-$50 at https://peninsulasymphony.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket. Children and students are admitted for free.

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    Anne Gelhaus

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  • Things to do in the DC area: Santa Clauster-f@%! Holiday Spectacular … and more! – WTOP News

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    Over 55 local musicians are coming together in Vienna, Virginia, for Jammin Java’s annual holiday tradition to host the Santa Clauster-f@%! Holiday Spectacular.

    Over 55 local musicians are coming together in Vienna, Virginia, for Jammin Java’s annual holiday tradition to host the Santa Clauster-f@%! Holiday Spectacular.

    Despite the name, the sing-along concerts are great for all ages and all beliefs in what Todd Wright, the creator of the event, describes as “controlled holiday chaos.”

    Wright said the event on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday involves musicians who are assigned holiday songs, but who don’t rehearse until on the night of in front of the audience. He said it results in a “glorious train wreck” that has been so popular that the shows often sell out.

    This is the event’s 23rd year, and already the Monday event is sold out. The other two highly anticipated evenings on Sunday and Tuesday have limited tickets remaining. Tickets are available on Jammin Java’s website for $27 per person.

    Check back every Thursday for a roundup of Things to do in the DC area.

    Here’s what else is happening in the D.C. area:

    DC

    A live music event with punk, metal and more
    Rhizome D.C. has a variety of live musical performances planned for Friday, ranging in genres from grunge-punk to “weirdo hypnosis tape noise” and beyond. All proceeds benefit the Miss Major Alexander L. Lee TGIJP Black Trans Cultural Center. Tickets cost approximately $22.

    Cleveland Park Santa Bar Crawl
    Head to Cleveland Park for a neighborhood-wide bar crawl with exclusive specials and lots of holiday cheer. This event is on Saturday with costumes and ugly sweaters encouraged. Tickets cost approximately $28.

    Rock’n’Shop
    The Black Cat is hosting a holiday market with local crafters, record dealers, shops, junk sellers and great music from live DJs. This event is free. For more holiday markets to consider, check out WTOP’s guide.

    Santa Visits Frosted
    D.C.’s Franklin Park has a holiday celebration planned for Saturday where families can take photos with Santa Claus and other holiday characters. Attendees of this free event can also expect holiday carolers, a life-size ice sculpture carving demonstration, as well as hot chocolate and apple cider.

    Maryland

    Make Your Own Ornaments
    Shop Made in Maryland’s College Park location is helping attendees of this hands-on workshop bring a personal touch to their Christmas trees this year. Expect materials provided in this workshop, which costs approximately $13. The event is on Thursday.

    Kerplunk! Free Family Art Drop-In
    Every Saturday, Creative Alliance in Baltimore, Maryland, hosts a free art drop-in, called “Kerplunk!” where families can create seasonal crafts and art projects based on current exhibitions. This weekend, the event is themed around “salt dough cookie ornaments.”

    Santa Social
    The Urban Winery in Silver Spring, Maryland, has a holiday event planned for Sunday with a whole lot in store: wine specials, cookie decorating, games, hot drinks, a photo booth and a moon bounce for children. The event is free to attend.

    Virginia

    Christmas Illuminations at Mount Vernon
    On Saturday and Sunday, head to Mount Vernon for a display of festive lights and fireworks over the Potomac River. At the family-friendly event, guests will also be able to talk to soldiers at an 18th-century winter encampment and meet Aladdin the Camel. Tickets cost $58 for adults and those ages 12 and up and $36 for children under the age of 12.

    Another Night of All Doom Metal
    Arts Herndon has a lineup of four doom metal bands set to perform on Sunday in Herndon, Virginia. The event has a $10 general admission with a $5 requested donation for nonperishable food.

    A Christmas Brass Spectacular
    For a top-notch brass musical performance, don’t miss The Capitol Bones All-Brass Big Band with Lena Seikaly at The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia. The event is on Monday with tickets priced at roughly $40.

    A Kid’s Cookie Decorating Class
    Celebrate the holidays with a family-friendly cookie decorating class, hosted by Cake-wich Craft on Tuesday. The event in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, includes four cookies for decorating, all the sprinkles and other supplies attendees may need, a cup of hot cocoa and an additional mini sugar cookie for snacking on. The class costs roughly $28 per person.

    Have an event you’d like featured in WTOP’s Things to do in the D.C. area weekly guide? Let us know!

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Michelle Goldchain

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  • Matt Rogers brings “the dumbest, gayest Christmas spectacle you can imagine” to Orlando

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    Credit: Courtesy

    Internet personality, one half of the “Las Culturistas” podcast and the prince of pop culture himself Matt Rogers heads to the City Beautiful to deliver a heaping helping of holiday laughs.

    In what Rogers called the “dumbest, gayest Christmas spectacle you can imagine,” his annual holiday tour Christmas in December blends comedic sketches, satire and plenty of campy live music.

    We’ll likely hear tunes from his own 2022 musical special, Have You Heard of Christmas?, get first listens of new songs and witness some Mariah Carey high-note levels of Christmas cheer.

    The project started in 2017, Rogers told Billboard, in a 70-seat cabaret theater in New York City. It’s since grown to fill several thousand-capped rooms of fans, including its very last stop right here in Orlando. Get ready to ho ho ho.

    6:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, Plaza Live, 425 N. Bumby Ave., plazaliveorlando.org, $63-$86.

    Orlando’s daily dose of what matters. Subscribe to The Daily Weekly.

    Cosplay, anime panels, voice actor meet-and-greets, vendors, gaming and themed dances

    Free entry with a donation of food

    This article appears in Dec. 17-23, 2025.



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    Chloe Greenberg
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  • Things to do in the DC area: Capital Art & Craft Festival, ‘an Irish Carol’ … and more! – WTOP News

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    The Capital Art and Craft Festival is back this weekend with more than 300 juried artists at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Virginia.

    The Capital Art & Craft Festival features over 300 artists. (Courtesy Capital Art & Craft Festivals)

    One of Northern Virginia’s largest winter markets returns this weekend. The Capital Art and Craft Festival features more than 300 juried artists at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Virginia.

    From Friday through Sunday, expect everything from glass and metal works to jewelry and clothing to pottery and printmaking.

    “We also have specialty food vendors who have wonderful items, all kinds of pastries, cheeses, dips, sauces that make wonderful presents as well,” said Judy Spargo, the director of the Capital Art and Craft Festival.

    This is the sixth year that the event has been hosted at the Dulles Expo Center. Due to the venue’s impending closure at the end of the month to make way for a new Ikea store, the Capital Art and Craft Festival event will debut at a new venue in 2026, which Spargo said will be announced “soon.”

    Tickets cost $11 per person and can be purchased online.

    Check back every Thursday for a roundup of Things to do in the DC area.

    Here’s what else is happening in the D.C. area:

    DC

    Sake & Wine: Holiday Soirée
    In collaboration with D.C. Sake cō and The Wine Concierge, the two organizations are planning an evening of wine and sake tastings at the rooftop of Skyline 609 in Northeast D.C. The approximately $92 ticket includes tastings of four wines and four sakes in a festive setting. The event is Thursday.

    “An Irish Carol”
    The Keegan Theatre in Dupont Circle is presenting an homage to the Charles Dickens’ classic, this time set in a modern Dublin pub, following “a wealthy pub owner who has lost touch with his own humanity.” “An Irish Carol” is running through Dec. 28 with tickets that cost $65 for adults, $54 for students and those under 25 and $54 for seniors ages 62 and above.

    D.C. Rawhides
    Get your line dancing boots ready. D.C. Rawhides is hosting a country Western dancing event Saturday inside the North Hall of Eastern Market. For more than a decade, the organization has been focused on creating space for the LGBTQ+ community to dance, but everyone is welcome to the event. A $10 donation is requested at the door.

    “The Holiday Show” by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C.
    On Dec. 13, 14 and 20, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. is hosting a holiday extravaganza with soulful arrangements of holiday carols at the Lincoln Theatre. Tickets for the 90-minute show start at approximately $32.

    Main Hall Holiday Market
    From Wednesday, Dec. 17 through Saturday, Dec. 20, the Main Hall of Union Station is hosting over 40 vendors, artists and makers, perfect for holiday shopping. Foods like baklava from The Persian Table and other treats from RavenHook Bakehouse are also planned for the market. The third annual Main Hall Holiday Market is free and open to the public. For more holiday markets to consider, check out WTOP’s guide.

    Drink up at the Elf on the Shelf Pop-up Bar
    The Morris American Bar in Mt. Vernon Triangle is decorated from floor to ceiling with holiday decor to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the book, “The Elf on the Shelf.” This pop-up, made in partnership with Versus and The Lumistella Company, features themed drinks like the minty “Nice-tini” and the creamy, coconutty “Snow Surprises.”

    Maryland

    Holiday tree lighting and fireworks
    At National Harbor in Maryland, head to the heart of the Waterfront District for festive fireworks and a holiday tree light show Saturday.

    Kwanzaa Celebration
    Celebrate Kwanzaa at the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum in Annapolis, Maryland, on Saturday. The event includes art and moderated discussions, music, food and a Black-owned vendors market. The event is free and open to the public.

    Bowl with Santa
    Have some fun with Santa Claus this Saturday and Sunday in Maryland at various AMF and Bowlero locations. Families who attend this event get to enjoy festive photos, bowling, arcade games and special giveaways. Find a list of participating locations here.

    Virginia

    Holiday Blues-A-Palooza
    Jammin Java in Vienna, Virginia, is hosting a holiday music performance with a focus on the blues on Sunday. The event features Deanna Bogart, Jenny Langer, the Eric Scott Band and Jonathan Sloane. Tickets cost $46.

    Sid Satellite & the Ripple at Galaxy Hut
    Galaxy Hut in Arlington, Virginia, is hosting two bands Sunday. Headlining is the psychedelic rock trio, Sid Satellite & the Ripple. Also featured are the “carousel punks” Boy Meets Pearl, a band that offers modern takes on sea shanties, circus waltzes and Victorian music hall sing-a-longs. Tickets are $10 at the door.

    Chanukah Festival
    This Monday, The Lyceum in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, is hosting a Chanukah Festival with a lighting of a giant, 6-foot-tall menorah, plus festive music as well as food and drinks like potato latkes and hot cocoa to get in the holiday spirit. The event is free and open to the public.

    Have an event you’d like featured in WTOP’s Things to do in the D.C. area weekly guide? Let us know!

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Michelle Goldchain

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  • Four Orlando holiday shows to keep you warm during the coming weeks

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    Hawkmoon’s American Sirens Credit: Seth Kubersky

    Orlando experienced a taste of wet winter weather last weekend, but the cold truth is that ill winds have been blasting Central Florida’s performing arts community all year long. Fortunately, local companies continue to combat the current climate, and are keeping the home fires burning with live entertainment this holiday season. Here are four artistic offerings that will keep you warm during the coming weeks.

    Dazzling Nights at Leu Gardens

    With the late-November launch of this year’s Dazzling Nights event, Cole NeSmith’s Creative City Project has once again transformed Harry P. Leu Gardens into an enchanting wonderland of immersive illuminations. What began in 2020 as a pandemic-era experiment in socially distanced seasonal celebrations has blossomed into a genuine home-grown holiday tradition, as the eclectic electrified environment has evolved and improved with each edition. And with a mile-long walking path, this year’s installation is the largest yet. 

    Nearly every element across the 50-acre exhibit has updated or reinvented, from the psychedelic lollipop lane that leads off the experience to the centerpiece Rose Garden’s five-story star, which happily once again hosts concerts of throwback holiday tunes from Hawkmoon’s American Sirens singing trio on select evenings. Some aesthetically memorable new installations include scores of elegant chandeliers hanging from tree boughs and a colorful 80-foot-long cathedral archway echoing Notre Dame’s iconic rose window. For the kids, there’s a hopscotch-style pathway of interactive stepping stones, inflatable elves styled after 8-bit video games, and a scavenger hunt for the event’s adorable new Yeti mascot. 

    While this year’s version of Dazzling Nights definitely lives up to its name, I felt it could use a few more interactive performers along the path, a bigger “wow” moment for the finale display, and better traffic management in the perpetually packed parking lot. (Use the Sparkling Express shuttle from AdventHealth’s garage instead.) But I’ll forgive any flaws because of the fabulous field of faux bonfires, where I could cozy up and sip spiked cocoa for hours. (dazzlingorlando.com)

    Mrs. Claus, Santa Claus, and a redheaded elf in front of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Arts
    Frontyard Holiday Festival at Seneff Arts Plaza Credit: Seth Kubersky

    Frontyard Holiday Festival at Dr. Phillips Center

    Another one of my few warm and fuzzy holiday memories from the early pandemic was watching Michael James Scott perform in front of the Dr. Phillips Center, with the audience seated in pods spread across Seneff Arts Plaza. Those pods are long gone, replaced by a sea of folding chairs, but the Frontyard is flourishing once again with daily holiday entertainment now through Jan. 4.

    The 2025 Frontyard Holiday Festival’s extensive entertainment lineup includes family-friendly movies on the big screen, live musical performances and appearances by Santa Claus himself, along with nightly “snow” falls and a tree-lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. To fuel your festivities, you’ll find booths and tents around the plaza’s perimeter (including an enormous glass-roofed Alpine Chalet filled with long communal tables) serving spirits, savory dishes and sweets — including s’mores kits that you can roast yourself over a roaring fire pit.

    By far the best news about the Frontyard Holiday Festival is that all performances and events are free for all to attend, thanks to AdventHealth and other sponsors (including Orlando Weekly). Better yet, all of the artists scheduled to appear on stage — including local favorites like Central Florida Community Arts, the Orlando Gay Chorus, Chase Shellee and Tymisha Harris — are getting paid, which should help make their holidays a bit more merry. (drphillipscenter.org)

    Just down the block from Frontyard, one of Orlando’s theater companies has recently received a much-needed Christmas miracle. 

    I was unable to attend this year’s edition of Nosferatu before the Renaissance Theatre Co.’s Loch Haven venue was shuttered by the city’s fire department over safety violations, just as their popular immersive Halloween experience was starting its annual run. Although the show continued at alternate locations, financial losses have reportedly exceeded $500,000 so far, putting the troupe’s future in jeopardy.

    Fortunately, while work to reopen their home is ongoing, the Ren has secured a short-term lease on the former Fringe ArtSpace stages on Church Street, which is hosting their always-hilarious holiday bacchanal for Gripp & Phister employees, now through Dec. 22. Following that, the musical adaptation of Tina Fey’s Mean Girls will run there from Jan. 16 through March 15. I hope this marks a turnaround in fortunes for the Ren and that they aren’t plagued by the same infrastructure issues that forced Fringe to exit the space earlier this year. (rentheatre.com)

    A Deloris Scrud Christmas at Savoy

    Veteran local playwright-performer Michael Wanzie is back on stage for the first time in more than three years in A Deloris Scrud Christmas, which revives his campy Carolina Moon waitress character for a gossipy monologue brimming with spilt tea and anti-authoritarian Sanka. 

    Savoy’s intimate Starlite Room has been transformed into an Airstream artifact of pre-Disney Orlando, where Wanzie — thinly disguised with a retro diner uniform, blonde up-do and self-admittedly indeterminate Southern accent — holds court from a collapsible porch chair surrounded by tables of crappy crafts. Under the prompting of Orlando Sentinel interviewer Scott Maxwell (who “appears” via prerecorded phone calls), Deloris name-drops her way through an expletive-laden excoriation of today’s transphobic society, as she attempts to flog her new self-help book about overcoming bigotry with biscuits and gravy. 

    A ribald rant without any real narrative or dramatic arc, Wanzie’s script is a catty collection of inside jokes and semi-autobiographical anecdotes — including references to his own noticeable weight loss and acerbic asides skewering local notables — along with impassioned emotional pleas for racial equality and rainbow solidarity. Although the dress rehearsal I attended still needed polishing, director Kenny Howard smartly segments the largely static show with well-timed blackouts punctuating some of the more outrageous provocative punchlines. Performances continue on Dec. 13-14 (though this weekend’s run is sold out) and Dec. 20, so if an X-rated Xmas righteously ripping on the right wing sounds like an ideal Yuletide treat, this Scrud’s for you. (eventbrite.com)

    Orlando’s daily dose of what matters. Subscribe to The Daily Weekly.

    Central Florida’s performing arts community keeps the home fires burning with live entertainment

    Everything debuting this week for your winter binge-watch

    This article appears in Dec. 10-16, 2025.



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    Seth Kubersky
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  • These 11 Bay Area pop-up bars serve up festive cheer this holiday season

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    The winter holidays are nearly here, which means it’s a great time to gather with friends and family for some festive celebratory drinks. But where to go? If cozy kitsch, the glow of Christmas lights and an abundance of tinsel are your vibe, head for one of these 11 pop-up holiday cocktail bars around the Bay Area.

    Sippin’ Santa and Miracle — two pop-up bar organizers — work with existing bars to offer their seasonal cocktail menus. The Sippin’ Santa concept is generally more tropical and tiki-drink focused, while the Miracle bars also offer professionally developed cocktails “and the nostalgic energy of the best office party you’ve ever been to.”

    Originally launched in 2014 in New York City, the Miracle pop-up has grown since then, and now brings its seasonal pop-ups worldwide, according to its website. Meanwhile, the first Sippin’ Santa started in 2015 in New York City and has since expanded to over 60 locations across North America, especially following the creation of a 2018 partnership with tiki connoisseur, writer and bar owner Jeff “Beachbum” Berry. Generally, the menus are the same across the different locations for each concept, and each has a number of collectible cocktail mugs as well.

    There are five of each concept open now or very soon around the Bay Area.

    Santarex mugs are a popular item at Miracle’s pop-up holiday experience in participating restaurants and bars. (Photo by John McCall, South Florida Sun Sentinel) 

    SIPPIN’ SANTA LOCATIONS

    Beer Baron, Pleasanton

    Open 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 15-Jan. 4, at 336 St. Mary St., Pleasanton; beerbaronbar.com

    Faith & Spirits, San Carlos

    Open at 4:30 p.m. daily through Dec. 31, at 765 Laurel St., San Carlos; faithandspiritssancarlos.com

    Kona’s Street Market, San Francisco

    Open 5 p.m.-midnight Tuesdays-Saturdays, Nov. 28-Dec. 31 (closed Christmas Day), at 32 Third St., San Francisco; konastreetmarket.com

    55 South, San Jose

    Opens at 4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays and 6 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 20-Jan. 3, 55 S. 1 First St., San Jose; the55south.com

    Flamingo Lazeaway Club, Santa Rosa 

    Open 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. and 2:30-10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 31, at 2777 Fourth St., Santa Rosa; lazeawayclub.com

    Additional California locations are in Hollywood, Paso Robles, Sacramento, San Diego and Santa Barbara.

    The Snowball Old-Fashioned cocktail made with rye whiskey, gingerbread, aromatic and wormwood bitters and orange essence will be served during the Miracle pop-up bar experience at participating restaurants and bars this holiday season. (Photo courtesy of Miracle)
    The Snowball Old-Fashioned cocktail made with rye whiskey, gingerbread, aromatic and wormwood bitters and orange essence will be served during the Miracle pop-up bar experience at participating restaurants and bars this holiday season. (Courtesy of Miracle) 

    MIRACLE LOCATIONS

    You’ll also find Miracle pop-up bars at the following bar locations. These cocktail bars are less tiki-themed, more.

    Pop’s Public House, Gilroy

    Open 4-9 p.m. Mondays, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays, 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturdays and 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 31, at 1300 First St., Gilroy; popspublichouse.com

    The Fat Pigeon, Livermore

    Opens 2 p.m. weekdays and noon weekends through Dec. 31, at 2223 First St., Livermore; fatpigeonbar.com

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    Kate Bradshaw

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  • Things to do in the DC area: Winter Wonderfest at Nationals Park, film festival … and more! – WTOP News

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    Those looking for a holiday paradise should keep an eye on this winter carnival that is on its way to D.C. The inaugural Winter Wonderfest at Nationals Park opens Friday and runs on select dates through Dec. 30.

    Tubing at Winter Wonderfest at Nationals Park.(Courtesy of Magic Ice)

    Those looking for a holiday paradise should keep an eye on this winter carnival that is on its way to D.C. The inaugural Winter Wonderfest at Nationals Park opens Friday and runs on select dates through Dec. 30.

    The experience hosts a variety of activities, including a 100-foot tubing slide, a winter train ride, LED seesaws, a nine-hold putt-putt course and a snowball throwing challenge.

    The outdoors event is held on the field and is tailored for all ages, though the Après Chalet by Fireball with a “hidden speakeasy” is restricted to guests ages 21 and older.

    Jonathan Stahl, vice president of Nationals Park events, said some of the food and drink items to look forward to include roasted nuts, funnel cakes, hot cocoa in specialty mugs that can be spiked if desired, savory hand pies and “classic ballpark fare.” The speakeasy is also restricted to up to 50 guests with “some of the best mixologists in Washington.”

    General admission tickets are roughly $30 per person. Food, beverages and retail items are available for additional purchase.

    Here’s what else is happening in the D.C. area:

    DC

    ‘Season’s Greenings: Dino-Mite!’

    The U.S. Botanic Garden is hosting its annual “Season’s Greenings” exhibit; but this time, it will host more than just holiday decor and D.C. landmarks made from plants. It will also showcase displays of dinosaurs made from plant parts as well. Note that the outdoor train display only runs during certain hours. There is no admission fee and no tickets are required. The exhibit runs through Jan. 4, 2026.

    Folger Frost Fair

    Starting Friday, the Folger Shakespeare Library is hosting a monthlong winter festival with holiday music and free activities. The Folger Frost Fair, which runs through Jan. 4, 2026, includes Christmas carols, tributes to Emily Dickinson’s 195th and Jane Austen’s 250th birthdays, plus an Austen afternoon tea. Families can also get excited for craft stations, storytimes and wintry treats at Quill & Crumb cafe.

    Native American Heritage Day

    Join the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian on Friday to celebrate Native American Heritage Day. The museum is hosting award-winning hoop dancer Joseph Secody, who will demonstrate the power and art of the Hoop Dance. There are three free chances to see the performance throughout the day.

    Punk Rock Karaoke

    If you’re a fan of belting out tunes from bands, such as 100 Gecs, Bad Moves, Ekko Astral and other punk rock bands, don’t miss Black Cat’s punk rock karaoke event on Friday. Tickets cost $15 in advance and $20 at the door.

    A History of Punk Fanzines in Washington

    D.C. punk historian John R. Davis will illustrate the history of D.C. punk fanzines and their ongoing relevance at a virtual talk on Monday, hosted by The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum. Registration is required.

    Trans Writing Workshop

    Rhizome D.C. is hosting a Trans Writing Workshop on Sunday that covers topics, such as “how to help maintain focus and writing inspiration during such stressful cultural times.” The free workshop is tailored for trans, nonbinary and Two-Spirit writers of all experience levels.

    Maryland

    Disco Biblioteca

    Facilitated by Takoma Radio’s own Night Nurse, People’s Book in Takoma Park, Maryland, is hosting an event where folks can listen to curated playlists inspired by the store’s book selection. The event is this Friday.

    Takoma Collective Fall Market

    This Saturday, shop at the Takoma Collective Fall Market to buy the works of local artists, creators and makers. The event is on Laurel Avenue in the heart of downtown Takoma Park, Maryland. For more holiday markets to consider, WTOP has you covered with over 30 mapped across the D.C. area.

    A Swingin’ Little Christmas! Starring Jane Lynch

    Once again, actress Jane Lynch is hosting a jazzy musical show, called “A Swingin’ Little Christmas,” at the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland. The event is on Saturday with “late ’50s, early ’60s style” music reminiscent of Frank Sinatra and Andy Williams. Hear Lynch’s full interview with WTOP to learn more about the event.

    AFI European Union Film Showcase

    For its 38th year, the AFI European Union Film Showcase features a mix of international film festival award winners as well as new talents to offer a variety of film screenings worth attending. The event spans from Dec. 3 through 21 at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, Maryland.

    Virginia

    Jimi Hendrix Birthday Celebration

    Celebrate the music and legacy of Jimi Hendrix through blues, rock and soul live performances at Jammin Java this Friday. The Vienna, Virginia, venue is hosting the Jonathan Sloane and the Bobby Thompson Band with tickets that cost $27 per person.

    Mount Vernon by Candlelight

    Learn about the holiday traditions of 18th-century Virginia at Mount Vernon during a candlelit guided tour that explores the first and second floors of George Washington’s mansion, Mount Vernon. General admission for this Friday’s and Saturday’s event costs approximately $41 per person for adults and those above the age of 12 or $33 for those under the age of 12.

    Have an event you’d like featured in WTOP’s Things to do in the D.C. area weekly guide? Let us know!

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Michelle Goldchain

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  • Things to do in the DC area: ZooLights, Umbrella Art Fair … and more! – WTOP News

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    The District’s National Zoo is glowing again thanks to the return of ZooLights. The event runs on winter evenings from Nov. 21 through Jan. 3, 2026.

    A lit-up panda display dazzles visitors under a brightly colored banner of flowers at ZooLights at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. (Courtesy Roshan Patel, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute)

    The National Zoo is glowing again thanks to the return of ZooLights. The 17th annual event runs in D.C. on winter evenings from Nov. 21 through Jan. 3, with 1 million twinkling, environmentally-friendly LED lights, over 100 glowing animal lanterns and a festive atmosphere.

    Those who attend can enjoy a heated lounge with a bar for hot cocoa or adult beverages, while families can take part in a train ride that makes its way around Lion-Tiger Hill. Carousel rides are also available.

    “It is one of the most magical ways to see the zoo,” said Nikki Mounts, director of business operations at the National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. “This is a beloved D.C. holiday tradition where you can come to the zoo and it’ll be lit up and magical and just a time to have Instagrammable moments or make core memories with your family.”

    A new feature at this year’s ZooLights is “Date Night,” which is an adults-only evening on Dec. 17. Prices for this night increase to $19 per person; the ticket cost includes one alcoholic beverage.

    Otherwise, general admission costs $9 per person with parking available at $30 per vehicle. No animals will be on exhibit during ZooLights.

    Mounts said she anticipates more than 100,000 visitors will attend ZooLights this year.

    Check back every Thursday for a roundup of Things to do in the DC area.

    Here’s what else is happening in the D.C. area:

    DC

    Umbrella Art Fair
    More than 100 artists are coming together at a free art fair, from Friday through Sunday. The Umbrella Art Fair includes workshops, a walking tour and a “game panel” focused on indie game developers. The event is free to attend.

    Employees Only speakeasy pop-up at Bourbon Steak
    Bourbon Steak is hosting a two-night collaboration with New York City’s speakeasy, Employees Only, on Friday and Saturday. The speakeasy is listed as one of The World’s 50 Best Bars and has been for 10 consecutive years. At this event, guest bartender Frank “Maldonado” Kurt is bringing five famed Employees Only craft cocktails to D.C. alongside Bourbon Steak lead bartender Engi Alebachew. The event does not require tickets or reservations and is available on a first-come-first-served basis.

    D.C. Punk Rock Flea Market
    On Saturday, shop at the D.C. Punk Rock Flea Market at St. Stephens in Northwest D.C. The market is free to attend, but it is requested to bring goods for a canned food drive that will benefit We Are Family D.C.

    Flower Potluck
    Northwest D.C. cafe Doubles is hosting one last Flower Potluck events this year on Saturday. The potluck invites the public to bring foraged or store-bought flowers and a vessel with the goal of creating a flower arrangement. Food and beverages are also available for purchase.

    Falling for Myself Market
    With size-inclusive vendors available, Femme Fatale D.C.’s Falling for Myself Market is a celebration of fashion, art and “empowering activities” that promote self-love. The free event is on Sunday.

    Light Yards
    Coming up soon is the annual winter extravaganza known as Light Yards. The family-friendly art installation, which runs from Nov. 25 through Jan. 1, features an interactive holiday light installation. The event is free and open to the public.

    Maryland

    Afrobeat Dance Essentials
    Immerse yourself in African dances at Mount Rainier’s Joe’s Movement Emporium. This Friday, the all-ages event allows the public to learn popular West African dance steps and Igbo cultural dance. The ticket price is “pay-what-you-wish,” starting at $5.

    “A Christmas Carol”
    Get your tickets while you can for Olney Theatre Company’s production of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” This version takes a twist on the classic by having actor Michael Russotto host a one-man show as he portrays nearly 50 characters on his own during the performance. The production runs from Nov. 28 through Dec. 28.

    Holiday Art Show & Sale
    Glen Echo Park’s annual Holiday Art Show & Sale is back and running through Jan. 4, 2026. Expect a variety of art mediums, including photography, jewelry, painting as well as holiday ornaments. For more holiday markets, check out WTOP’s holiday market guide.

    Virginia

    Hardwired: The Tribute to Metallica
    The Metallica tribute band, Hardwired, is performing on Thursday at the State Theatre in Falls Church. Tickets cost $21.50 in advance or $24.50 on the day of the show. Dinner reservations are available for an additional $12.

    Alexandria Cider Festival
    The historic Lloyd House in Old Town Alexandria is hosting the Alexandria Cider Festival, which includes cider tastings, live music, tavern games and a food truck. Tickets cost $55 per person or $25 for designated drivers. The event is on Saturday.

    Winter Lantern Festival
    At Lerner Town Square in Tysons, celebrate the holiday season with hundreds of lanterns lit up with LEDs along an illuminated, winter-inspired night walk. Tickets to this Winter Lantern Festival include access to a high-energy acrobatic show. Ticket prices vary.

    Have an event you’d like featured in WTOP’s Things to do in the D.C. area weekly guide? Let us know!

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Michelle Goldchain

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  • Recipes: Make these frightfully delicious soups for your Halloween gathering

    Recipes: Make these frightfully delicious soups for your Halloween gathering

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    Boo! It’s an informal Halloween get-together. Who said that kids get to have all the fun? OK, they can come, too.

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    Cathy Thomas

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  • Six Flags Discovery Kingdom to have drone show on July 4

    Six Flags Discovery Kingdom to have drone show on July 4

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    In honor of July 4, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom will celebrate with patriotic festivities that includes an all-new nightly drone show.

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    Vallejo Times-Herald

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