The ice skating rink in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden opened for the season on Monday, November 24. (Courtesy of National Gallery of Art)
We share weekend events happening around the city — usually on Thursdays, but we're coming to you early this week since Thanksgiving extends the weekend. Are you planning an event you’d like us to consider for this roundup? Send it to our team using this form. Find more events in our Civics Roundup, which focuses on ways to get more involved locally.
It’s Thanksgiving week! For anyone who isn’t hitting the road to see friends and family in other places, there are plenty of things to keep you busy in D.C. You could join one of our manylocalturkeytrots, take in a show, lace up a pair of ice skates, or even wander through a museum since the Smithsonians are open on Thanksgiving. And of course, even more holiday festivals and art fairs are joining the Downtown Holiday Market and ZooLights that kicked off last week.
Naomi Odessa Miller-Dawson’s grave in Green-Wood Cemetery is one of many recipe-bearing gravestones documented in Rosie Grant’s book To Die For. (Courtesy of Sam O’Brien)
TUESDAY, NOV. 25
Ice Rink at the Sculpture Garden 📍 National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden (Constitution Ave. NW & 7th St. NW) ⏰ 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. (continues through March 2026, weather permitting) 💸 $12-15, plus $7 to rent skates Glide into the holiday season with the return of the skating rink in the middle of the NGA sculpture garden. Where else can you take a spin around the ice surrounded by modern art masterpieces? A ticket gets you two back-to-back, 45-minute skating sessions — each session starts at the top of the hour, so be on time if you like your ice fresh from the Zamboni. And don’t forget to grab a hot cocoa from the pavilion cafe once you get off the ice!
To Die For: A Cookbook of Gravestone Recipes, Rosie Grant 📍 Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Library (3160 16th St. NW) ⏰ 6 - 7:30 p.m. 💸 FREE Sometimes when people take their recipes to the grave it means that nobody will ever be able to recreate their cookies or casserole. But a special few have gotten those recipes carved into their headstones so the foods can live on forever. In her cookbook To Die For, Rosie Grant documents the latter. She’ll be talking about her yearslong mission to find and recreate these recipes at the Mount Pleasant Library on Tuesday — maybe with enough time to add one of the recipes to your Thanksgiving menu. Books will be available for purchase.
Night Yoga in the Garden 📍 Temperance Alley Garden (1931 13th St. NW) ⏰ 6 - 7 p.m. 💸 FREE, donations accepted Though it’s starting to get chilly, Temperance Alley Garden is hosting one last outdoor yoga class for the year. All levels are welcome to stretch out under the stars among the fall foliage. You’ll want to dress warmly and bring your own yoga mat.
CAN I KICK IT? Movie Series: Gymkata 📍 Songbyrd Music House (540 Penn St. NE) ⏰ 7 - 11 p.m. 💸 FREE CAN I KICK IT? is a monthly event from Shaolin Jazz that presents classic action movies with a musical twist. November’s movie is Gymkata, a 1985 cult classic that combines elite gymnastics, martial arts, and international espionage into one ridiculous package. DJ 2-Tone Jones will score the film live with a mix of hip hop, funk, more.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 26
Movie screening: Touch of Evil 📍 Angelika Pop-up at Union Market (550 Penn St. NE) ⏰ 6:40 p.m. 💸 $15 For the final installment of their Noir-vember movie series, Angelika Film Center is showing this 1958 thriller starring Charlton Heston, Orson Welles, Joseph Calleia, and Janet Leigh. The pulpy crime movie about mischief and mayhem at the U.S.-Mexico border opens with a shot that has been called one of cinema’s greatest long takes.
Stay Golden: The Golden Girls 40th Anniversary Party 📍 metrobar (640 Rhode Island Ave. NE) ⏰ 7 - 11 p.m. 💸 FREE Plenty of bars will be open for festivities the night before Thanksgiving (some of them extra late!), but as far as we can tell only one of them will be Golden Girls-themed. Metrobar is celebrating four decades of Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia — call it thank-you-for-being-a-Friendsgiving?
Thanksgiving Eve Comedy 📍 Sost (1901 9th St. NW) ⏰ 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. 💸 $20 What better way to whet your holiday appetite than with a few hours of comedy? Local comedian Benny Nwokeabia and friends have put together a Wednesday night show that’s sure to have you laughing, no matter your weekend plans.
The U.S. Botanic Garden’s annual holiday show opens this weekend! This photo shows a previous year’s display. (U.S. Botanic Garden/Flickr)
THURSDAY, NOV. 27
Season's Greenings: Dino-Mite! 📍 U.S. Botanic Garden Outdoor Gardens (100 Maryland Ave. SW) ⏰ 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (continues through January) 💸 FREE The U.S. Botanic Garden’s annual holiday show opens up on Thanksgiving morning. For 2025, the garden is having a very Cretaceous Christmas. Model trains wind through displays of Tyrannosaurus, Triceratops, Velociraptor, and other ancient animals made out of plants. Inside the greenhouse you’ll find miniatures of local landmarks built from plant-based materials, surrounded by poinsettias and other festive foliage.
Orphansgiving Potluck at the Farmhouse 📍 Edgewood Community Farm (2304 2nd St. NE) ⏰ 12 - 5 p.m. 💸 FREE, but bring food or drinks to share If you’re looking for some new friends to share Thanksgiving dinner with, the Edgewood Community Farm is hosting its 10th annual Orphansgiving potluck. The farm will provide a turkey, and everyone else will bring the sides, drinks, and desserts.
Hoop dancing is part of Native American storytelling tradition. You can see Navajo hoop dancing performances at the National Museum of the American Indian for Native American Heritage Day. (Howard County Library System/Flickr)
FRIDAY, NOV. 28
Washington Wilderness Hike 📍 Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan Metro station (2700 Connecticut Ave. NW) ⏰ 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 💸 $35 (FREE for federal employees/contractors) After a day of feasting and giving thanks, what could be better than getting lost in the woods? OK, not actually lost — you’ll be in the hands of an experienced guide and not too far from busy city streets, but this surprisingly rugged route through the parks of northwest D.C. might make you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere. The two-and-a-half-hour hike starts in Woodley Park and ends in Georgetown.
Coffee and Gratitude 📍 Anacostia Community Museum (1901 Fort Pl. SE) ⏰ 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. 💸 FREE Keep the thankful spirit going with this art-centric event at the Anacostia Community Museum. Visitors will get a special look at the museum’s exhibition “A Bold and Beautiful Vision,” which explores Black arts education in 20th-century D.C., and take part in a gratitude-inspired art activity. The event is open to all ages, and will include a light breakfast.
Native American Hoop Dancing 📍 National Museum of the American Indian (4th St. & Independence Ave. SW) ⏰ 11:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. 💸 FREE The National Museum of the American Indian is bringing in award-winning Navajo hoop dancer Joseph Secody for a series of performances to celebrate Native American Heritage Day. You can see him perform in the Potomac Atrium at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m., and afterward stop by the museum cafe for posole, fry bread tacos, and other Native-inspired food.
Folger Frost Fair 📍 Folger Shakespeare Library (201 East Capitol St SE) ⏰ 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. (continues through January) 💸 FREE, donations accepted Inspired by the fairs that were once held on the frozen surface of the River Thames, the Folger Shakespeare Library is putting on a month-long winter festival. While the Potomac doesn’t freeze over reliably enough to set up on the river, the Capitol Hill library will be filled with arts and crafts, printing press demonstrations, tours, games, holiday gift shopping, and more.
Punk Rock Karaoke 📍 Black Cat (1811 14th St. NW) ⏰ 8 p.m. 💸 $15-20 (donations to Free DC) If you’re not ready for all things holiday quite yet, you can always get up on stage at the Black Cat and scream your heart out for a good cause. All the money raised from Punk Rock Karaoke will go to support Free DC and their work to win self-determination for District residents. The song catalog has everything from 100 Gecs to GWAR to Rilo Kiley — you can see the full list here.
Charged crystals and tarot readings are available at the Intuitive Ink Market on Saturday. (Dan Farrell/Unsplash)
SATURDAY, NOV. 29
Go-Go Fitness 📍 Anacostia Community Museum (1901 Fort Pl. SE) ⏰ 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 💸 FREE Get go-going first thing on a Saturday morning with a dance fitness workshop to the sounds of our city’s official music. This is an all-ages event.
Improv for All! Workshop 📍 MLK Jr. Library (901 G St. NW) ⏰ 1 - 2:30 p.m. 💸 FREE The Washington Improv Theater’s introductory workshop is a high-fun, low-stress class designed to show you the ropes for creating spontaneous performances. No experience needed — you don’t even need to be funny! Just bring yourself and an open mind.
The Intuitive Ink Market 📍 Madison Street Tattoo (1012 Madison St.; Alexandria, Virginia) ⏰ 1 - 5 p.m. 💸 FREE For something a little less merry and bright, check out the Intuitive Ink Market in Del Ray. The lineup includes tarot, tattoos, oddities, and artwork. You can stock up on divination supplies and gifts for your witchiest friends, including bone jewelry and crystals.
A Night of Headbanging with Quick Machine and Nosferatu Madre 📍 The Pocket (1508 North Capitol St. NW) ⏰ 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show 💸 FREE Two local rock bands are coming together for a night of headbanging fun. Quick Machine are a hard driving, heavy grooving rock band playing a mix of covers and originals — expect to hear mostly ‘90s and ‘00s songs with the occasional classic from the ‘70s. Nosferatu Madre is a new thrash metal band making their stage debut at this show.
This Party Is Killing You!: The Robyn Party 📍 Sinners and Saints (2309 18th St. NW) ⏰ 9 p.m. - 3 a.m. 💸 $10 You won’t be dancing on your own at this party. Created by a trio of DJs from Brooklyn, this is your chance to hear all of Robyn's hits, b-sides, lost tracks, and remixes. Selections from other pop icons like Carly Rae Jepsen, Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, and Lady Gaga are in the mix too, keeping the dopamine flowing.
The interior of d.c. space, an influential art and music space. The Atlantis is hosting a reunion party to celebrate the former venue on Sunday. (Library of Congress)
SUNDAY, NOV. 30
Gift Wrap Extravaganza 📍 Deanwood Library (1350 49th St. NE) ⏰ 2 - 4 p.m. 💸 FREE Whether you picked up some oddly-shaped holiday gifts or just want your boxes to look extra crisp this year, the Deanwood Library has your back. They’ll provide the materials, along with tips and tricks from a professional wrapper. You just have to bring the presents!
Family Holiday Make + Take: Colorful Collage Paper Ornaments 📍 Pyramid Atlantic Art Center (4318 Gallatin St.; Hyattsville, MD) ⏰ 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. 💸 $30 Complete the transition from Thanksgiving into Christmas season with a little ornament-focused crafting session. This workshop gives you a chance to create beautiful collage art using decorative papers, ribbons, markers, and other embellishments. All ages are welcome, and registration includes enough material to make three ornaments.
d.c. space reunion party 📍 The Atlantis (2047 9th St. NW) ⏰ 5 p.m. 💸 $32.50 From 1977 to 1991, the brick building at the corner of 7th and E streets NW was home to d.c. space, one of the city’s premiere venues for jazz, punk, poetry, art, theater, and more. Though the original space is home to a coffee shop these days, the Atlantis is hosting a reunion party with a host of local bands, film, visual art, and more. Proceeds from the show will benefit community radio stations WPFW and WOWD.
Michelle is a writer and editor based in Washington, D.C. She writes about science, nature, culture, and art. Her work has appeared in Atlas Obscura, National Geographic, and other publications.
With your help, we pursue stories that hold leaders to account, demystify opaque city and civic processes, and celebrate the idiosyncrasies that make us proud to call D.C. home. Put simply, our mission is to make it easier — and more fun — to live in the District. Our members help keep local news free and independent for all:
