Holiday season is in full swing in the capital!
The most wonderful time of the year has arrived to DC transforming the city into a beautiful winter wonderland! With a more than bumpy 2020, you owe it to yourself to close off the year with a bang. Don’t let the holidays pass you by without indulging in some good old fashioned holiday cheer!
Most of these activities are taking place outdoors or virtually, but please do make sure to wear your masks and adhere to all CDC guidelines to ensure you have a wonderful and safe end of the year!
1. Indulge yourself with a hot mixology experience at home
Enter a world of tipsy temptation at the Speakeasy On Demand and indulge yourself while Madame Lulu and her terrific troupe lead you through a night full of tantalizing cocktails and fabulous performances by some of the top cirque, burlesque and theatrical performers in the world!
2. Go on a scavenger hunt across the city to find your favorite holiday display
The DC Lights scavenger hunt is taking place until December 31. Wander around the 12 participating DC neighborhoods to snap pictures of their main streets, find secret murals and hidden clues in some of the local shops. Once you’ve completed the hunt don’t forget to vote for your favorite display and submit your results for a chance to win some awesome prizes from your local vendors!
3-15. Check out DC’s most dazzling spots
Although this year, holiday celebrations in DC may be looking a bit different than usual, there’s still plenty of dazzling holiday lights display to catch in and around the city! So put on a warm hat, grab your mask and head on out to bask in the cheerful spirit of the season.
15-16.Go on a mystery picnic through Georgetown and Foggy Bottom
These self-guided picnics are perfect for a day full of adventure and amazing food. Start off by getting your basket and make your way through Georgetown or Foggy Bottom (you can select the area of your choice after purchase) as you solve clues and riddles to pick up your picnic food bit by bit. Each clue will get you closer to the final stunning secret destination where you’ll get to enjoy all the picnic bites and gourmet goodies you picked up along the way. The tours usually take 3-4 hours and are the perfect covid-friendly experience to get lost in!
- Mystery Picnic Date: Self-Guided Foodie Adventure
- Mystery Picnic with Friends: Self-Guided Foodie Adventure
17-18.Pop into a holly jolly holiday pop-up!
The Miracle pop-up and its tiki sister Sippin’ Santa are back in the District for another year of totally festive cocktails. Get into the holiday mood by heading over to one of these lavishly decorated bars and enjoy some awesome holiday spirits!
19. Learn a new recipe or two
The popular Pear Plum Café in Mt. Pleasant may have closed its doors, but an equally appetizing option has opened in its stead. Bold Fork Books, DC’s only bookstore entirely dedicated to the culinary arts, has taken up the torch of providing locals with some of the best-baked goods in town, albeit in the shape of recipes.
20.Give target practice your best shot
Kick-Axe Throwing in Ivy City is a total lumberjack heaven offering its visitors the opportunity to eat, drink and, while at it, hurl some axes around in a lodge-like setting. If you’ve never been axe throwing, you need not fret. All hatchet hurling sessions at Kick Axe start with a 10-15 minute lesson with one of their “axeperts” who will teach you the basics and stay with you to help and keep score during your time in the range.
21-22. Hang out with some furry friends
Cat lovers already have two purrific hangouts in DC to meet up with the cutest floofters in town, so it’s only fair dog lovers got their own go-to place too. If you’re a pooch lover who’s barking mad for dogs, you best pop the champagne because DC finally has its very own Dog Bar! Located near Potomac Yard, Brewski’s Barkhaus, has been designed as part dog park, part restaurant & bar.
- Cat lovers check out Old Town Alexandria’s lovely new Cat Café!!
23-37. Check out DC’s coolest outdoor dining setups
Winter has arrived to the District and with outdoor dining being the best option for a safe, socially distant night out, DC’s restaurants have gone all out when winterizing their outdoor spaces for the pandemic! From igloos to Viking huts and ski lodges, here are some of the best and most interesting options for dining out safely in DC this winter!
38-48. Treat yourself to a delicious cup of hot cocoa
Based on the weather this past couple of weeks, it’s pretty obvious we’re officially in hot chocolate season. This tasty, chocolatey cup of absolute goodness is key to keeping warm during the cold DC winters and even boosting one’s intelligence! So because we cannot go through winter without this wonderful elixir, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite DC spots to grab a cup of hot chocolate.
[Featured image: Instagram / @housethacker]