By Caroline Dehn, Assistant EIC
We are officially counting down the days until exams are completed and holiday break begins. Though it’s hard to think about anything but finals at the moment, regardless of what holidays you celebrate it can be fun to get into the spirit of the season! If you are looking for a study break or a way to get off-campus to feel some holiday cheer, here is a list of events all around D.C. to do just that.
Enchant D.C.
Enchant D.C. is a one-stop shop for all of your Christmas inspired activities. The experience is located at Nationals Park in Navy Yard and includes a maze of Christmas lights, a Holiday Village, ice skating, and the chance to hang out with Santa Clause. The baseball field is transformed into a beautiful space filled with lots of holiday spirit. Before heading over, make sure to purchase a ticket on the Enchant website. Go ice skating, finish last minute holiday shopping, and eat some yummy treats! The Enchant D.C. experience runs through January 1st, 2023. Check out the information linked here for the varying hours!
Downtown Holiday Market
Located in Penn Quarter right outside of the Portrait Gallery, the Downtown Holiday Market is a great way to find unique gifts for friends and family. The market features about 70 D.C. artists, entrepreneurs, and chefs to provide all kinds of wonderful options. This year, the market has gotten even bigger, now covering F Street from 7th to 9th Streets. In addition, the Market has live performances from musicians all around the DMV to listen to as you peruse the stands. Head over to Penn Quarter between 12:00 pm and 8:00 pm any day of the week to check it out!
Lighting of the National Menorah
The National Menorah will be lit on December 18th at 3:15 pm to the Ellipse just next to the White House. Come down to see the world’s largest Menorah and celebrate with thousands of others as the holiday begins. Attendance is free, but you must reserve a ticket here.
After a trip to the white house, head on down to the Wharf at 5:00 pm, to see their celebration of the first night of Hanukkah. Each night thereafter until the end of the holiday on December 26th, a new candle will be lit as part of the Hanukkah tradition. The beautiful sight of the menorah with the background of the Potomac is not one to be missed!
Georgetown GLOW D.C.
GLOW D.C. is back in Georgetown once again through January 22nd, 2023 from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm every day. The project features five displays of art that light up Georgetown! The artwork is spread out between 29th and 32nd St NW. Grab a friend and take a walking tour of the beautiful Georgetown row houses while stopping to admire unique art. The GLOW project also features walking tours, GLOW-themed yoga and Pilates classes, and a silent disco. Click here for more information.
CityCenter
After heading to the Downtown Holiday Market, walk a few blocks down to CityCenter D.C. to see their seasonal decorations along the shops and restaurants. If you’re looking for the perfect backdrop for a holiday Instagram photo, this place is perfect!
