If you have Thanksgiving leftovers in the fridge, it’s time to throw them out to make way for holiday treats. We’re celebrating National Cookie Day on Thursday with a bracket to determine – once and for all – the best holiday cookie. We explain it all on Instagram and TikTok.
Weekend weather: Storm Team4 is tracking snow chances for Friday. It won’t add up to much – just enough to get excited about. Here’s the full forecast.
11 can’t-miss holiday markets in the DC area
Christmas Markt: The Heurich House Museum’s castle-like building is a fairy tale setting for this German-style Christmas market. Thurs. to Sun., Dupont Circle, $14 (adult)/$2 (kids 2-15)
Native Art Market: Indigenous artists from across this half of the globe will sell handcrafted works from jewelry to pottery and beyond at this National Mall museum (just a 5-minute walk from the U.S. Botanic Garden and its holiday display)! Sat. and Sun., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., National Museum of the American Indian
Norwegian Festival: Find Norwegian foods and coffee, linens, books and sweaters at this unique indoor market. It’s free, but reservations are recommended to shop inside. Outside, enjoy a Norwegian cafe, games and other cultural activities. Fri. to Sun., Norway House in Fairfax
Holiday Gift & Craft Show, plus Children’s Holiday Shop: Do your children need to pick out gifts? With the help of trained volunteers, kids can pick out gifts priced under $6 for all their families and friends on Saturday (make sure to bring cash). Adults can also shop while little ones stay busy at the kids’ corner. Sat., 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Sun., 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Community Center in Falls Church
Friends of the National Arboretum’s Winter Festival: Get your Christmas tree or winter greenery at the Arboretum’s Grove parking lot, then head to the visitor center for a family-friendly festival with a holiday train ride and a Gift Vendor Village. Sat., Northeast D.C.
The Lodge: This ski-inspired winter festival features a covered holiday market and live entertainment underneath a tent. Bring kids for train rides, face painting and crafts or your dog for special treats. Sat., 1-7 p.m., Metropolitan Park in Arlington, free entry
Bethesda’s Winter Wonderland: Live ice sculpting and music, Santa Claus and crafts level up this URBNmarket featuring more than 50 artisans (they’re also hosting a Clarendon pop-up this weekend). Sat., noon to 4 p.m., Norfolk and Cordell Avenues
Holiday Her-Story Market: The shop at Hotel Zena aims to highlight the area’s “most visionary female artisans, makers, and entrepreneurs.” Sat., 1-5 p.m., Northwest D.C.
HCC Holiday Market: How about holiday shopping in a historic cemetery? Drop in for unique gifts, handcrafted goods, sweet treats – and a great story for your giftee. Leashed dogs are welcome, too! Sun., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Congressional Cemetery in Southeast D.C.
Del Ray Artisans 30th Annual Fine Art & Fine Craft Holiday Market: It’s Del Ray Artisans’ 30th year doing this market featuring fine art and crafts from local artists, and you’ll find different sellers each weekend. First three weekends in December, 2704 Mount Vernon Ave. in Alexandria
More weekend highlights
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Free & family-friendly Holiday Boat Parade Saturday, The Wharf in D.C. and Old Town Alexandria
Captains have decked the hulls of dozens of boats to show whimsical and over-the-top holiday scenes for the annual parade setting sail on the Potomac and Washington Channel.
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You’ll find numerous good viewing locations from The Wharf in D.C. and the waterfront in Alexandria, Virginia, and both locations will have plenty of extra festivities and views of the fireworks finale at 8 p.m.
The Wharf kicks things off at 5 p.m. with D.C.’s own Too Much Talent Band on the Transit Pier. The Transit Pier will host the main party with My Hero Zero, a bar and views of the boat parade emcee’d by our own Tommy McFly (full disclosure: He’s hired to host the event). Or, explore the entire waterfront to find holiday karaoke, s’mores roasting, ornament decorating, photo opportunities and more (here’s a map).
Want to watch from Alexandria? The boat parade kicks off about 5:30 p.m. at the Old Town Waterfront, where you’ll also find dockside festivities from 2-8 p.m. – including Santa arriving by fireboat at the Alexandria City Marina at 3:30 p.m.
Find good watch locations and find tips on beating crowds and other locations on this map.
Landlubbers, head out early to partake in more activities for Alexandria’s Biggest Holiday Weekend, including the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade.
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Family-friendly Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show Dec. 5 to 21, Arena Stage, $49+ 🔗 Details
“The world’s first holiday show highlighting the African American tradition of stepping” is returning to Arena Stage to sweep up audiences with a blast of holiday music and nonstop cheer.
Check this page to find available discounts for families, those under 35, educators and others.
Other holiday shows worth checking out in D.C. include “A Christmas Carol” at Ford’s Theatre and Washington Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” at Warner Theatre.
Free pick Room Service – Holiday Edition Fri. to Sun., plus Dec. 12-14, 1345 4th Street NE, free 🔗 Details
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A former motel near Union Market has been transformed into a festive design showcase. D.C. designers and creatives put their mark on several rooms you can explore before hitting up the Hot Lotty pop-up bar with mulled wine and firepits.
Family-friendly Santa Fly-In and holiday celebration Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., College Park Aviation Museum, $10 for residents or $13 for nonresidents 🔗 Details
Santa is scheduled to arrive at 11 a.m. and depart at 3 p.m., weather permitting. So, check the forecast and the event’s page before you go!
Family-friendly Lea Salonga concert Sat., 8 p.m., The Music Center at Strathmore, $28 to $108 🔗 Details
The Tony Award-winner is also known as the singing voice for Disney’s Mulan and Princess Jasmine from “Aladdin.” She’ll perform Disney songs, pop songs, Broadway hits and more.
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Free & family-friendly Holiday Walk of Lights at Neabsco Regional Park Select dates through Dec. 4-28, Woodbridge, free 🔗 Details
One of our favorite free holiday lights displays is back, and Neabsco Regional Park’s is extra special because it sits on a boardwalk. It will be open Thursday to Sunday, 5-9 p.m. this week. Make sure to check the page for exact dates and information on parking and shuttles.
Concerts this weekend
They Are Gutting a Body of Water, 7 p.m. Thursday, Black Cat, $24.40
Stunning, skull-rattling Philly band gets an easy shoegaze label for its My Bloody Valentine reverent, ear-bleeding guitar feedback. But its visceral, emotional sound recalls slowcore, electronics, and the dark and lonely post rock of Slint as well. On fourth LP “Lotto,” the band sounds as raw and experimental as ever. Details.
Model/Actriz, 8 p.m. Friday, Black Cat, $29.90
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After years of perfecting their craft, the queercore dance-punks became a sudden indie juggernaut with debut LP “Dogsbody” in 2023. This year’s “Pirouette” finds the band turning down the noise and turning up the beat for a roomier sound – dark, dance floor bangers perfect for provocative frontman Cole Haden’s vocals. Opening up, prolific singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist Asher White’s deconstructed pop gets more adventurous. Whether sparse or raucous, folk or indie pop, her unique ear speaks when she introduces styles and instruments that seem like they should clash but harmonize instead for unexpected thrills. Oh man, Friday’s gonna be such a twisted fun night. Details.
J Roddy Walston, 10 p.m. Saturday, Pearl Street Warehouse, $38
For a few years, just a few more years back, J Roddy fronted the most exciting live band on the road — The Business. Hard rock ‘n’ roll with boogie led by a gravelly, piano-bashing wildman — and glam gradually introduced to the diet (and more central to his next band, Palm Palm). The Christmas to the Bone Tour has become Walston’s holiday tradition, his offering for rockin’ ‘round the Christmas tree. Details.
Steve Gunn, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, DC9, $31.93 (advance)/$38.11 (day of)
Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter is a guitar virtuoso first. A folk revivalist at his core, Gunn’s style varies from country to indie to world music. A beautiful, nimble player with a gift for improvisation who knows when to fill out a song and when to let it breathe. Details.
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White Hills and Pink Mountaintops, 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Pie Shop, $21.44 (advance)/$27.11 (day of)
For about two decades White Hills has delivered dense, heavy psychedelic rock to rattle a stoner sober. In more recent years, the New York band has played around in quieter, gauzy territory, as well. Not quite so psychedelic is Stephen McBean’s project Pink Mountaintops. The frontman of the heavy stoner rock band Black Mountain pursues folk, indie rock, alt-country and pop interests here. Opening up, MFers JMB & Co. play instrumental improv featuring Geologist of experimental band Animal Collective on hurdy gurdy. He has an album due out early next year. Details.
More to do in D.C.
Ongoing winter favorites
“A Christmas Carol”: Through Dec. 31, Ford’s Theatre, $42+
“The Nutcracker” by The Washington Ballet: Through Dec. 29, Warner Theatre, $63.50+
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Sculpture Garden Ice Rink returns: Daily through winter, National Gallery of Art, $12-$15 admission and $7 skate rental
Light Yards: Through Jan. 2, The Yards Park, free
Season’s Greenings: Dino-Mite!: Through Jan . 4., U.S. Botanic Garden, free
Downtown Holiday Market: Through Dec. 23, F Street NW (between 7th and 9th streets), free
Winter Wonderfest: Through Dec. 30, Nationals Park, $29.50
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ZooLights: Through Jan. 3, National Zoo, $9
Frosted at Franklin Park: Through Jan. 7, downtown D.C., free
Theater – “ho ho ho ha ha ha ha” with Julia Masli: Through Dec. 21, Woolly Mammoth, $49
Weekend happenings
Comedy – Adam Conover: Thurs., 7 p.m., The Lincoln Theatre, $45.30
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Christmas Markt: Thurs. to Sun., Heurich House Museum, $14 (adult)/$2 (kids 2-15)
Room Service – Holiday Edition: Dec. 5-7 and 12-14, 1345 4th Street NE, free
FONA’s Winter Festival: Sat., National Arboretum, Visitor Center, free
Holiday Her-Story Market: Sat., 1-5 p.m., Hotel Zena, free
Georgetown Jingle: Sat., 1-4 p.m., throughout Georgetown, free
“Elf” with live accompaniment by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: Fri., 7:30 p.m., Music Center at Strathmore, $29+
Santa Fly-In and holiday celebration: Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., College Park Aviation Museum, $10 for residents or $13 for nonresidents (Santa arrives at 11 a.m. and departs at 3 p.m., weather permitting)
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Bethesda’s Winter Wonderland: Sat., noon to 4 p.m., Norfolk and Cordell Avenues, free entry
Winter’s Eve: Sat., 3-6 p.m., Glen Echo Park, free
Light Up the Lakefront: Sat., 4-7 p.m., rio in Gaithersburg, free entry
National Harbor Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Show: Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 21, free entry
Concert – Lea Salonga: Sat., 8 p.m., The Music Center at Strathmore, $28 to $108
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Concert – Rare Essence: Sun., BlackRock Center for the Arts, $45
Concert – Monaleo: Sun., The Fillmore Silver Spring, $67+
Luminocity’s Wonder Journey holiday lights festival: Through Jan. 1, Montgomery County Fairgrounds, $33.47 (child)/$40.23 (adult)
More to do in Virginia
Ice & Lights – The Winter Village at Cameron Run: Through Feb. 28, Alexandria, $9-$24
Rosslyn Cheer tree lighting, yappy hour and holiday market: Thurs. to Sun., free
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Concert – Johnnyswim: Fri. and Sat., The Barns at Wolf Trap, $60+
McLean Holiday Art & Crafts Festival: Fri. Sat and Sun., McLean Community Center, $5 entry (free for kids 12 and under)
PCRS WinterFest: Sat., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park, free
Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk Parade: Sat., 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Old Town Alexandria, free
Fairfax Holiday Market: Dec. 5-7 and Dec. 12-14, Old Town Square in Fairfax, free entry
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Bull Run Festival of Lights: Daily through Jan. 4, Centreville, $32.45
Winter Lantern Festival: Through Jan. 18, Lerner Town Square at Tysons II, $18.99-$25.99
Meadowlark’s Winter Walk of Lights: Through Jan. 4, Vienna, $20.85
9th Annual Old Town TUBACHRISTMAS: Sun., 3 p.m., Market Square, free
Want to know what’s up for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter about events, experiences and adventures for you and for your family around the DMV.
Dozens of Iowa National Guard soldiers leaving Iowa today will spend the next six months serving in Washington, D.C..
Last August, President Trump issued an executive order declaring there was an epidemic of crime in the nation’s capitol and he immediately mobilized National Guard troops from the District of Columbia. The Pentagon then started asking state guard units to deploy to D.C. and made a request of Governor Kim Reynolds last year. “They asked earlier and I said no because we had one of the largest deployments that we’ve had for a long, long time and I just felt we were stretched pretty thin,” Reynolds said.
In May of last year, nearly 2000 Iowa National Guard soldiers were deployed to the Middle East. The final group of those soldiers returned to Iowa last month. Reynolds said the Pentagon “circled back” recently and asked her to send a group of Iowa Guard soldiers to D.C. and she’s deployed 120 Iowa Guard soldiers to D.C. “to ensure the safety and security” of people who are in the nation’s capitol, “especially with everything that’s going on with the 250th birthday of our country,” Reynolds said, “and so we were able to participate and do our share.”
Reynolds told reporters the federal government will pay the entire cost of the deployment. Reynolds will speak this morning at a private send off ceremony for the Iowa Guard soldiers before they leave for D.C. There were over 5000 National Guard troops in Washington this past Sunday, including 185 from Nebraska and over 100 from Minnesota.
DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau) — One hundred and twenty members of the Iowa National Guard are leaving Friday for Washington, D.C., where they will assist with security measures and America 250 celebrations at the request of the Trump administration.
Reynolds initially said no
Gov. Kim Reynolds said she had previously declined the Trump administration’s request, citing the strain of one of the state’s largest recent deployments.
“They asked earlier, and I said no because we had one of the largest deployments that we’ve had for a long, long time and I just felt that we were stretched pretty thin,” Reynolds said.
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Nearly 2,000 Iowa National Guard members had spent a year or more deployed to the Middle East. Those soldiers have since returned home.
Guard members now available following Middle East return
With those troops back, Reynolds said Iowa was in a position to fulfill the president’s request.
“We have them all back. They circled back, especially with everything that’s going on with the 250th uh birthday uh of our country. And so we were able to participate and do our share,” Reynolds said.
Different states have sent National Guard members to Washington, D.C., since last August.
Reynolds said the federal government will pay the costs of Iowa’s deployment to Washington, D.C.
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Copyright 2026 Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau. All rights reserved.
WASHINGTON – Metro riders are seeing changes Thursday morning as WMATA adjusts its shuttle bus system following concerns about long lines and confusion tied to the Red Line summer shutdown.
Express shuttles to North Bethesda will now only pick up on Wisconsin Avenue near the Trader Joe’s. Local shuttles serving Bethesda, Medical Center and Grosvenor have been moved to the Friendship Heights Metro station, while some regular Metrobus routes are picking up on Western Avenue.
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Red Line Shuttle Service Updates
• Local shuttle boarding will be relocated to Bus Bay K – the current C83/D96 bus stop on Wisconsin Ave. • C83 and D96 buses will be relocated to the bus shelter on Western Ave near Wisconsin Ave. • Express shuttle boarding will remain in the 5300 block of Wisconsin Ave NW.
What we know:
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FOX 5’s Melanie Alnwick says Red Line riders say the shutdown has added time to their commute, though many are trying to stay positive. The shuttles connect North Bethesda and Friendship Heights through September 6, when Purple Line construction is expected to wrap up.
Metro Red Line summer shutdown leads to long shuttle lines
Metro Red Line Summer Shutdown: Changes to shuttle bus service after concerns
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The workaround relies on dedicated shuttle bus lanes along northbound and southbound Wisconsin Avenue/355 and up to Rockville Pike. But truck drivers, delivery drivers and passenger vehicles have been stopping or parking in those lanes, forcing shuttles to go around and slowing traffic.
Metro and Montgomery County police have increased enforcement to keep the lanes clear. Metro Transit Police say they asked more than 60 drivers to move out of the bus lanes in the first days of the shutdown.
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Metro is also adding about 100 parking spaces at Friendship Heights in the former Lord & Taylor garage. Some Montgomery County riders are opting for the MARC train downtown instead.
Metro’s Red Line shutdown is now in full effect: Here’s what you need to know
Metro Red Line Summer Shutdown: Changes to shuttle bus service after concerns
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The Source: Information in this article comes from WMATA and previous FOX 5 reporting.
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