The Washington, DC area and its surrounding communities in Maryland and Virginia host lots of annual festivals and special events. All dates, prices, and activities mentioned are subject to change, so please check the official website or call to confirm information.

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Day of the Dead
October 31-November 1, 2015.

Day of the Dead / Los Días de los Muertos is a Mexican custom honoring and remembering those who have died. Find a few celebrations around the Washington DC area. Note that some will be held the weekend before.

Fall Theater in Washington DC
With dozens of performances around the region, here is the schedule of the top shows for the season.

Capital Maritime Music Festival
2015 Date to Be Announced. Naval Heritage Center, Washington DC. The event includes a noontime concert, workshops and cameo performances featuring the music, folklore and history of sea warriors, merchant sailors, recreational sailors, maritime communities, canals and inland waterways.

Kids Euro Festival
2015 Dates to Be Announced. The event staged through the cooperation of the 27 Washington-based European Union embassies and more than a dozen major local cultural institutions will include more than 200 free performances around the city. Geared to children ages two through twelve.

Washington Redskins
Enjoy the football season and cheer for DC's team.

Washington Wizards Basketball
See NBA games live at the Verizon Center or enjoy the national broadcasts throughout the season.

Alexandria Film Festival
2015 Dates to Be Announced. The festival includes a variety of films screened in and around the City of Alexandria, Virginia.

FotoWeek DC
November 7-15, 2015. The annual celebration of photography in Washington, DC, will feature programs including a photo contest and juried exhibition, gallery openings, lectures, educational workshops, portfolio reviews, book signings and more.

Manassas Veterans Day Parade
November 7, 2015, 11 a.m. Manassas, Virginia. The community parade includes military and high school bands, pipe and drum corps teams, military units from the various Armed Services, military vehicles, and members from local veteran organizations.

Chesapeake Bay Bridge 10K
November 8, 2015. Annapolis and Stevensville, MD. The inaugural race across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge includes a weekend of activities to raise money for charities.

Veterans Day
November 11, 2015. This year, a huge concert will be held on the National Mall featuring some of the country's biggest stars. Honor American veterans at this event and/or attend a wreath-laying ceremony at one of the monuments in Washington, DC. See the schedule of this year's events.

Reopening of the Renwick Gallery
November 13, 2015. Washington DC. A morning ribbon-cutting ceremony will precede a free open house offering the opportunity for the public to explore the galleries, meet curators Bell and Atkinson, and take tours led by museum docents. The Gallery will remain open after hours for "all you can craft," craft beer, live music and special guest artists on site. This event will be ticketed and available for ages 21 and up. On Saturday, Nov. 14, the Renwick will offer a free family festival with craft activities, artist demonstrations, musical performances and special museum tours. 

Holiday Craft Shows
Throughout the month of November, you will find lots of arts and crafts shows ideal for shopping for unique holiday gifts. Find here a variety of craft shows in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia.

Museum Shop Around at Strathmore
2015 Dates to Be Announced, Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Shop at 16 museum shops under one roof at the Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, Maryland (301) 581-5100.

ICE! – Christmas at the Gaylord National Resort
2015 Dates to Be Announced. The award-winning holiday attraction is a winter wonderland created entirely of 5,000 BLOCKS of ice weighing 1.5 MILLION POUNDS! hand-sculpted by 40 international artisans and kept at a chilling nine degrees Fahrenheit. This is an interactive holiday attraction you won't want to miss.

Gettysburg Remembrance Day Parade and Illumination
2015 Dates to Be Announced. Gettysburg, PA. Abraham Lincoln’s famous “Gettysburg Address” and the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery are commemorated with a special ceremony, a parade and an illumination of the cemetery. 

DC Cocktail Week
2015 Dates to Be Announced. More than 50 Washington DC area restaurants and bars offer specially priced cocktail and food pairings to entice guests to try something new. This is a great opportunity to check out the local happy hour scene.

DC Craft Beer Festival
2015 Date to Be Announced. Washington Convention Center, Washington DC. The American craft beer tasting event focuses on winter harvest editiions from approximately 75 breweries with a special focus on breweries from Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

Turkey Trots in the Washington DC Area
Various Dates. A variety of organizations in DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia sponsor walks and runs to raise money for charity.

Christmas at Mount Vernon
2015 Dates to Be Announced. Learn about the Christmas traditions of George Washington and his family, meet historic characters and tour the Mount Vernon Estate by candlelight.

Presidential Turkey Pardon
Each year, the President pardons a turkey and spares its life in celebration of Thanksgiving. See photos!

Thanksgiving Parades
Attend the annual Thanksgiving parades in Reston, Virginia and Silver Spring Maryland.

Thanksgiving Weekend in the Washington, DC Area
Thanksgiving weekend kicks off the holiday season and many wonderful activities and events begin in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia. Here are some ideas of fun things to do during the Thanksgiving weekend.

Black Friday in Washington DC
November 27, 2015. The day after Thanksgiving is the busiest shopping day of the year. Many stores open early and offer big sales for the holidays. See the schedule of store openings in the DC area.

City of Alexandria Holiday Tree Lighting
November 27, 2015, 7-9 p.m. Musical entertainment with a visit from Santa Claus in Market Square, 301 King St. (703) 838-4844

Small Business Saturday in the Washington DC Area
November 28, 2015. The Saturday after Thanksgiving has been designated as a day to shop for the holiday season at locally owned businesses to support the economy.  See a guide to Washington DC area neighborhoods that have a number of small businesses.

Nutcracker Performances
Enjoy the Christmas holiday classic ballet at a theater in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia. Schedules vary, but many theatres begin their performances in late November.

Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremonies in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia
Find dates and times for Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremonies in the Washington, DC area.

Christmas Light Displays
Celebrate the holiday season with a drive or a stroll through one of the Washington, DC area's spectacle of lights at a local park in DC, Maryland or Virginia.

National Harbor Christmas Tree Lighting
2015 Date to Be Announced, 5-7 p.m. Waterfront Plaza, National Harbor, Maryland. The waterfront community will kick off the holiday season by lighting up the sky with fireworks and a 65ft Christmas tree decorated with 20,000 lights. Sip some hot chocolate and enjoy story-telling, an ornament-making workshop and holiday music.

More Washington, DC Area Event Calendars

Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June
Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec