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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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+

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

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

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

Jingle Block Rock: Sat., 4:30-6:30 p.m., Southwest Duck Pond, free

More to do in Maryland

Gingerbread House Contest & Show: Opens Fri., Darnall’s Chance House Museum, $2 (free for kids 4 and under)

Jingle Jubilee & Tree Lighting: Fri., 6:30-8:30 p.m., Gaithersburg Concert Pavilion, 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)

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

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

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

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

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