The festive season is upon us—the last turkey sandwiches have been gobbled up, trees are strapped on top of passing cars, lights are glittering from windows, the days are too short, and the weather turns blustery. For me, nothing warms up the bleak midwinter like an extraordinary concert of music we don’t get to hear at any other time of the year (even if it’s the Wednesday December 3 NSO Ugly Sweater Holiday Concert at the Anthem!)
I picked some of my favorites, starting with a couple of warmups:
The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Rink is open through March 1.
Zoolights at the Smithsonian National Zoo is sure to put you in a holiday mood. It continues until January 3. nationalzoo.si.edu
The second annual Frost Fair at the Folger, through January 4. Inspired by historic frost fairs when the Thames would freeze over and spontaneous carnivals would pop up. No need to wait for the Potomac to ice over...there’s plenty of fun for the whole family, including the Folger Consort’s Resplendent Joy featuring Christmas traditions from Spain and Portugal (December 5-14), a holiday sing-along on December 19 and, on December 20, Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, complete with afternoon tea and a Regency dance in the Reading Room (costumes encouraged). Folger.edu
Arena Stage offers Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show, for soulful seasonal cheer, December 5-23. Arenastage.org
Celebrate in colonial style with Mt. Vernon’s guided candlelight tours through December 23, including fireworks at Christmas Illuminations December 20 and 21. Mountvernon.org
And don’t miss the annual holiday tradition as the Washington Ballet performs the “DC-ized” version of the Nutcracker (set in 1882 Georgetown) at the Warner Theatre through December 28. Washingtonballet.org
Hanukkah begins at sundown on December 14. The Annual National Menorah Lighting will be on December 25th at the Ellipse, with nightly menorah lightings at Union Market.
Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26 to January 1, with special events at the Anacostia Community Museum, the Atlas Performing Arts Center, Dance Place, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Kwanzaadc.org
Well, that takes care of lights and skating, and dancing. Now for a medley of Handel Messiahs in more or less chronological order:
December 5-7, Washington National Cathedral and Baroque Orchestra, led by Dana Marsh. Cathedral.org/concerts
December 7 and 14, in Ellicott City and Baltimore, Bach in Baltimore, a Baroque Christmas and Carols, with excerpts from Messiah, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio Cantata 6, Vivaldi’s Gloria and a carol sing-along. Bachinbaltimore.org
December 14, the 22nd annual Messiah sing-along at Fairlington United Methodist Church. Fairlingtonumc.org
December 14, the National Presbyterian Church Festival Choir and Orchestra. Nationalpres.org
December 14, the New Dominion Chorale, Thomas Beveridge artistic director at St. Luke Catholic Church, McLean. Newdominion.org
December 18-21, Ton Koopman conducts the National Symphony Orchestra and the UMD Concert Choir at the Kennedy Center. Nationalsymphony.org
December 20 and 21, Anthony Blake Clark conducts the National Philharmonic with the Baltimore Choral Arts Society at Strathmore. Nationalphilharmonic.org
December 20 and 21, The Thirteen perform Messiah at National City Christian Church and Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church. Thethirteenchoir.org
December 23 is the Kennedy Center Sing-Along. Tickets are available starting on 12/8 at 10 am. Kennedy-Center.org
And now for a full menu of holiday cheer, again in somewhat chronological order:
December 5, the UMD Choir continues its 24th annual Festival of Lessons and Carols. Theclarice.umd.edu
December 5, Hylton Performing Arts Center presents Black Nativity by Langston Hugues. December 6, the Manassas Symphony Orchestra offers “Holiday in New Orleans. Hylton.calendar.gmu.edu
December 7, rejoice and be merry with Choralis—A Classic Brass Christmas—a joyous program of Christmas music for choir, organ and brass. National Presbyterian Church. Choralis.org.
December 7, 9th Annual Old Town Tuba Christmas at Market Square, Old Town, Alexandria. And December 14 at George Washington Masonic Temple, Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic Association also presents It’s Magic! wmpamusic.org
December 12 (Hylton) and 13 (George Mason University Center for the Arts) present the American Festival Pops Orchestra in their Holiday Pops concert. CFA.GMU.EDU
December 12-20, Winter Revels presents Andalusian Treasures, magical Jewish, Arabic, and Spanish music, dance and drama at Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center in Silver Spring. Revelsdc.org
December 13, the Bach Consort tells the Christmas Story through Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, parts 1,2,3,5 and 6 at National Presbyterian Church. Bachconsort.org
December 13-22 The Washington Chorus’ 16th annual performance of A Candlelight Christmas featuring beloved carols old and new plus a world premiere. 12/13, 2 shows at Strathmore; 12/14-22, Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Thewashingtonchorus.org
December 15-24 the Choral Arts Society of Washington—O Night Divine, celebrating light and Philippine culture. Also, A Family Christmas 12/20 and 24 at the Kennedy Center. Choralarts.org
December 15, Capital Wind Symphony presents Holiday Fanfares and Flourishes at the Church of the Epiphany. Capitalwindsymphony.org
December 19 and 21, the Washington Master Chorale, a 50-voice a cappella chorus sings “Thine Own Sweet Light” at St. Ann’s Catholic Church and the Church of the Epiphany. Washingtonmasterchorale.org
December 19 and 20, Voces 8 –Winter Tales: a program of carols, contemporary choral works and festive favorites at Washington National Cathedral. Cathedral.org/concerts
If you’d like to go “over the hills and not so far away’ celebrate a Wintergreen Wonderland with the Virginia Consort, Sunday December 14 at Rockfish Presbyterian Church in Nellysford, Virginia. Wintergreenmusic.org
And to wrap it all up, how about a jazzy New Year’s Eve with the Cookers. Two shows on December 31 at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. Kennedy-Center.org.
Whew! And to think this is just a sampling of the myriad holiday entertainments available to us in just one month. Let’s all take the time to indulge ourselves, support the arts, rejoice, and be merry.
Happy holidays!
PBS PASSPORT
Stream tens of thousands of hours of your PBS and local favorites with WETA+ and PBS Passport whenever and wherever you want. Catch up on a single episode or binge-watch full seasons before they air on TV.