About Washington, DC

Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting

2009-12-07T06:42:43Z

If you didn't get tickets to the Pageant of Peace (on December 3), you can still attend the lighting of the christmas tree at the U. S. Capitol Building. The 2009 Capitol Christmas Tree is an 85 foot blue spruce, that was harvested from the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests located in northeastern Arizona. The children of Arizona made the 5,000 ornaments used to decorate the tree. The lighting ceremony will be held on December 8, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. No tickets are required. Celebrate the season and enjoy holiday music by a section of The United States Marine Band (The President's Own), and carols sung by the Congressional Chorus.

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Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting originally appeared on About.com Washington, DC on Monday, December 7th, 2009 at 06:42:43.

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Capitol Hill Holiday Bar Tour � Washington, DC

2009-12-06T17:54:28Z

Capitol Hill's most festive seasonal event: Miracle on 3rd & 4th Street, Ugly Holiday Sweater Holiday Bar Tour, benefiting Toys for Tots is Saturday, December 12, 2009, 1-9 p.m. Start off the event anytime between 1-6 p.m. at Hawk 'n' Dove (Pennsylvania Ave., SE between 3rd & 4th Street) then bar-hop between Bullfeathers, Tune Inn, Thai Roma, 18th Amendment, and Ugly Mug. Participants can push aside that cup of egg nog and instead sip on $2 Coors Lights, $3 Blue Moon, with festive food specials until 9 p.m. The first 200 guests will also receive a free Santa hat, and everyone can join the best Ugly Christmas Sweater contest. Tickets are on sale at lindypromo.com. Cost is only $5 to participate in an Ugly Holiday Sweater, or with new toy donation benefiting Toys for Tots, $10 without.

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Capitol Hill Holiday Bar Tour � Washington, DC originally appeared on About.com Washington, DC on Sunday, December 6th, 2009 at 17:54:28.

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Christmas in Annapolis, Maryland

2009-12-06T10:35:31Z

The Christmas season is a great time to visit Annapolis, the state capital of Maryland, and enjoy a variety of seasonal activities. Stroll along the historical seaport, shop for unique gifts, check out some of Annapolis' museums and 18th century historic homes, get in the spirit of the season while watching the Annapolis Christmas light boat parade or listen to a concert of holiday music. Don't miss the Eastport Yacht Club parade on December 12, 2009, 6-8 p.m. See the schedule of Christmas events in Annapolis.

_{Photo: The Maryland Inn
� Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Conference & Visitors Bureau}

Christmas in Annapolis, Maryland originally appeared on About.com Washington, DC on Sunday, December 6th, 2009 at 10:35:31.

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Pearl Harbor Day Wreathlaying in Washington, DC

2009-12-06T09:05:44Z

On Monday, December 7, 2009, Pearl Harbor survivors and witnesses will take part in a wreathlaying ceremony at the Navy Memorial in Washington, DC. The event is free and open to the public.

12 p.m. - Book Signing with Robert Knudsen, author of A Living Treasure: Seasonal Photographs of Arlington National Cemetery
1 p.m. - Commemorative wreath-laying ceremony with Pearl Harbor survivors and the Commandant of Naval District Washington, followed by light reception inside the Naval Heritage Center.

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© Navy Memorial

Pearl Harbor Day Wreathlaying in Washington, DC originally appeared on About.com Washington, DC on Sunday, December 6th, 2009 at 09:05:44.

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Washington DC Events - Weekend Picks

2009-12-04T14:10:24Z

See a guide to the top events going on this weekend in Washington, DC and the surrounding communities:

Alexandria Scottish Christmas Walk and Holiday Boat Parade - December 4-5, 2009. Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Celebrate the holidays with a Scottish parade and festive parade of lights along the waterfront.
National Christmas Tree - Through Jan. 1, 2010. The Pathway of Peace is illuminated each evening from dusk until 11 p.m. Seasonal displays include a Yule log, Santa's workshop and a large-scale model train. Musical performances are performed weeknights from 6-8:30 p.m. and weekends from 4-8:30 p.m. See photos from this year's lighting ceremony.
Christmas Light Displays Throughout December. 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 or along the water in Washington, DC, Maryland or Virginia.
Washington Jewish Film Festival - December 3-13, 2009. The event includes 62 features, documentaries and shorts from 20 countries, in eight venues around the Washington DC area.
Holiday Shows - Washington DC celebrates the season with a wonderful lineup of holiday shows and live entertainment. See the schedule of performances around the region.
Free Holiday Sing-A-Long at Wolf Trap National Park - December 6, 2009, 4 -5:30 p.m. The United States Marine Band will lead the audience in traditional holiday songs and encourage audience participation. The performance will be conducted and directed by Major Jason K. Fettig of the U.S. Marine Band who will direct a choir of more than 400 members representing vocal groups from across the Washington, DC area. The event is free and does not require tickets. Gates to the Filene Center open at 3 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early. Donations of new, unwrapped toys will be gratefully accepted at the entrance for Toys for Tots, however are not required for admittance.
Christmas Town at Busch Gardens - Through December 27, 2009. The Williamsburg, Virginia amusement park is transformed into a Christmas wonderland, combining an immersive holiday experience with one-of-a-kind shopping and dining opportunities, all-new holiday shows and a spectacular light-dancing Christmas tree.
Holiday Concerts - Enjoy a variety of musical performances including Christmas classics, sing-alongs, Hanukkah songs and much more.
ICE! - Christmas at the Gaylord National Resort - Through January 10, 2010. 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. New in our region this year, this is an interactive holiday attraction you won't want to miss.
Middleburg Christmas Hunt - December 5, 2009. The highlight is a parade featuring approximately 100 horses, riders in red coats and dozens of hounds. Other activities include hayrides, choir performances, the Garden Club's Christmas Flower & Greens Show and the Craft Show.
Bethesda's Winter Wonderland - December 4-5, 2009. See a variety of entertainment and performances, a live ice sculpting presentation and a visit from Santa Claus.
Manassas Christmas Tree Lighting and Parade - December 4-5, 2009. Old Town Manassas, Virginia celebrates the holidays with a community tree lighting ceremony, parade, open house and more.
Holiday Family Festival - National Museum of American History, Washington, DC. December 5, 2009, 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Sextet performs three abbreviated swingin' holiday classics in a free, family-friendly mini-concert. From 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. visitors can decorate cookies (available for purchase) outside the museum's Constitution Caf�.
District Calling: Freedom - December 5, 2009 at 7:30 and 10 pm. District of Columbia Arts Center, 2438 18 Street NW, Washington DC. A local multidisciplinary arts project hosts its first collaborative performance showcase of artists from across various performance mediums including music, storytelling, dance, and video, highlighting a diversity of perspectives around the theme Freedom. Tickets: $10, call (202) 462-7833

More Upcoming Events

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Best Christmas Events for Kids in the DC Area

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Washington DC Events - Weekend Picks originally appeared on About.com Washington, DC on Friday, December 4th, 2009 at 14:10:24.

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Tai Shan, Washington DC's Panda to Return to China

2009-12-04T13:21:06Z

Sadly, Tai Shan, the Panda Cub at the National Zoo will be sent to the People's Republic of China in early 2010, as stipulated in the agreement between the Zoo and the Chinese government. The exact date of his departure has not been determined due to the lengthy process of finalizing permits and preparing Tai Shan for the trip.

Under the agreement, giant panda cubs born at the National Zoo belong to China and are to be sent to the Wolong's Beifengxia Base in Ya'an, Sichuan sometime after the cub turns two. In April 2007, shortly before his second birthday, China granted the National Zoo a two-year extension for Tai Shan to remain in Washington, D.C.; that extension expired in July but the Zoo was provided a second extension to January 2010. Tai Shan will be missed by locals and visitors from around the world. Read more About the Pandas at the National Zoo.

Photo � Smithsonian National Zoo

Photo Galleries

Photos of Tai Shan as a Cub

Photos of the Adult Pandas

Tai Shan, Washington DC's Panda to Return to China originally appeared on About.com Washington, DC on Friday, December 4th, 2009 at 13:21:06.

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Christmas Town at Busch Gardens

2009-12-04T05:36:22Z

Looking for something new to do with the whole family this holiday season? Christmas Town: A Busch Gardens Celebration is a new event transforming the Williamsburg, Virginia amusement park into a Christmas wonderland, combining an immersive holiday experience with one-of-a-kind shopping and dining opportunities, all-new holiday shows and a spectacular light-dancing Christmas tree. Sounds like a great way to combine holiday shopping with some family fun.

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Christmas Town at Busch Gardens originally appeared on About.com Washington, DC on Friday, December 4th, 2009 at 05:36:22.

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Lighting of the 2009 National Christmas Tree

2009-12-03T05:15:23Z

The 2009 National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony is December 3, 2009 at 5 p.m. This year's lineup up entertainment will offer a diverse program of traditional holiday music including:

Sheryl Crow, a multi-platinum, nine-time Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter, three-time American Music Award winner and a People's Choice Award winner
Common, a Grammy Award winning artist who has worked with producers Kanye West, Will.i.am, Pharell and others
Ray LaMontagne, a singer-song writer whose most recent album, "Gossip in the Grain" debuted at number three on the Billboard Charts.
Jordin Sparks, American Idol
Joshua Redman, Jazz artist and saxophonist
Brad Mehldau, Jazz pianist
Celtic Woman, International Irish music phenomenon

Tickets are required for the lighting ceremony. They have already been distributed through a lottery system. You may visit the National Christmas Tree through January 1 and enjoy nightly musical performances. Read more about the National Christmas Tree.

_{Photo � Terry Adams/National Park Service}

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Lighting of the 2009 National Christmas Tree originally appeared on About.com Washington, DC on Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 at 05:15:23.

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New Year's Eve in Washington, DC

2009-12-02T06:51:21Z

It's not too early to start planning for New Year's Eve. In the Washington, DC area, you will can celebrate in style at a formal gala or attend a casual family friendly First Night event, attend a lively concert or hangout with friends at a local sports bar. To help you make your plans, see this Guide to New Year's Entertainment in Washington, DC , Maryland and Virginia.

Fireworks at First Night Alexandria
Photo � Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association

New Year's Eve in Washington, DC originally appeared on About.com Washington, DC on Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 at 06:51:21.

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VRE's Santa Train

2009-12-01T15:31:39Z

On Saturday, December 12, 2009, Virginia Railway Expresss (VRE) reminds people of the importance of rail safety with its holiday event - Operation Lifesaver Santa Train! Kids (and parents too) ride a train and meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. The Fredericksburg, Manassas, Burke Centre, and Woodbridge stations will also serve as drop off sites for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Campaign. Bring a toy to the Santa Trains so that someone less fortunate in the Virginia area can share in the joys of the holidays.

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VRE's Santa Train originally appeared on About.com Washington, DC on Tuesday, December 1st, 2009 at 15:31:39.

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