70+ Awesome Things to Do In DC in January

Happy New Year!

​A new year is the perfect time to set new intentions and grab the opportunity to try new things

Ring in 2024 (literally!) with a Japanese bell ceremony, indulge at the winter edition of Restaurant Week, raise a zero-proof glass and toast the year ahead at Mindful Drinking Fest. celebrate  Martin Luther King's birthday with special tributes, and wrap-up the holiday season with an international twist at the Fiesta de los Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day).

Plus, folks looking to embrace the best of winter can head to any number of ice skating rinks and warm up with hot chocolate and seasonal cocktails. And fingers crossed for snow so that the Washington DC Snowball Fight Association can continue its “Battle of Snomicron” tradition on the Mall 🤞⛄

Check out our roundup of the most awesome and unexpected things to do in the District this month.

Legend:

• ​🆓 ​:        This is a free event​
• 💰:         Donation or paid ticket required​​
• 💻:         This is an on-line/streaming event​​
• ​🎄:          This is a Christmas/holiday event

🔚 ​Ending Soon

"The Body and Infinite Excess" Exhibit. Artist Stephen Benedicto explores themes of the body and excess in a multi-media exhibit that spans painting, sculpture, photography, and installation. 🆓 Culture House, DC // Now - Jan 6

DC Holiday Lights. Neighborhoods in DC are decking the halls for the holidays with decorations, shopping and dining specials, festive events and more to make the season merry and bright. Explore each one and get in the holiday spirit! 🆓🎄 DC Neighborhoods // Now - Jan 7

Light Yards. Eighth annual light installation, Swinging Bells, features five, 13-foot tall bells that play a jingle as you swing. 🆓 The Yards // End Jan 7

Georgetown GLOW. The outdoor light installation is back with five new works that will be placed in different locations around the neighborhood. Stroll, shop and dine while keeping your eyes open for a playful twist on Darth Vader, to inflatable creatures that remain an evolutionary mystery, 🆓🎄Georgetown, DC // Dec 1 - Jan 7

Holidays at Hillwood | Making Spirits Bright. It's the most festive time of year to visit the Hillwood estate where you'll find resplendent Christmas trees and decor throughout the home and gardens. 💰🎄 Hillwood Estate // Now - Jan 14

⏩ Ongoing

Julia Peirone – I Am Not Blonde" Exhibit. Renowned Swedish photographer Julia Peirone presents an exhibit thatexplores young girls’ search for identity in a world influenced by social media, capturing the frustration many of them feel with today’s beauty standards and expectations. 🆓 House of Sweden, DC // Now - Feb 4

“The Sky’s the Limit” Exhibit. After being closed for more than two years, NMWA re-opens in a BIG way. In celebration of women’s pioneering work in large-scale sculptures, works by 12 artists will be suspended from the ceiling, arc across walls and project outward from corners.  💰 National Museum of Women in the Arts, DC // Now - Feb 25, 2024 ​

ELDRITCH INVESTIGATIONS: A Psychogeographies Project. Steve Yockey, Emmy-nominated screenwriter (HBO Max’s The Flight Attendant) and playwright (Reykjavik, Very Still and Hard To See) come together to tell a multi-chapter story about local, unexplained phenomena that takes you on a journey into the unknown across DC. 💰Rorschach Theatre , DC // now - July 2024

Dopamine Land. Don't miss out on this “ultimate sensory overload”, immersive experience. Visitors walk through a series of rooms with names like The Decompression Room, Infinity Bliss, Lucid Dreams and Pillow Fight. The interactive museum is filled with illuminations, optical illusions, and sound effects, all designed to trigger the hormone dopamine. 💰 5333 Wisconsin Avenue, NW // Ongoing

March On: Rustin. Tune in for an audio walking tour with The Trust for the National Mall and Netflix about Rustin, Netflix’s show about Bayard Rustin and his role as an architect of the March on Washington in 1963. Listen to the audio for free and walk in the footsteps of the famous march and learns of its legacy while making stops at the Lockkeeper’s House, the Lincoln Memorial and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. 🆓National Mall // Ongoing

🆕 New This Month

Week 1: JAN 1 - 7

Japanese Bell Dedication Ceremony. Hear the resonant tolls of a sacred Japanese temple bell cast in 1798 ring out for the first time at the U.S. National Arboretum. 🆓 ​National Arboretum // Jan 1

Annual DC Downtown New Year's Day E-Bike Ride. Hop on your ebike for a 20-mile  ride in and round DC. You'll see a number of monuments along the way, including (the Capitol, the municipal Fish Market, the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, the Nationals ballpark stadium, the Titanic memorial, and the new Frederick Douglas bridge). 🆓Downtown DC // Jan 1

“What Is Your Manifesto?” Crafting. Make buttons with manifestos inspired by Black feminists. Hands-on activity is in partnership with the National Women's History Museum. 🆓  MLK Jr Library // Jan 3

Live Music at Hi-Lawn. Get your groove on with live music and one of the best rooftop views in the city. Thursdays. 🆓 Hi-Lawn, Union Market, DC //Jan 4

New Year, New You. Have an artful start to 2024 at the art museum's late-night event, featuring vision board-making, an AI makeover, cocktails and jazz, funk, and hip-hop from DC band Nag Champa Art Ensemble. 💰Phillips Collection // Jan 4

How To Be A Korean Woman. Regional premiere of a one-woman show that tells the personal story of a Jewish, Korean-American adoptee's search for her birth family in Seoul, South Korea. 💰Theater J // Jan 4 - 14

Prohibition Tour & Wine Cellar. Embark on a tour of President Wilson's private wine cellar for his vast collection of Champagne and Bordeaux from the 1920s at his home while prohibition was in effect. 💰Woodrow Wilson House // Jan 4, 11, 18 + 25

Part Carbon. + Fight Cloud. DC-based band Part Carbon takes the stage in support of their debut EP which includes ridiculous voicemails that resulted from posting ads while looking for members to join the band. Set will include unreleased songs. The bill includes math rock group (no idea what that means but we're intrigued!) Fight Cloud returns to DC9 with three albums under their belt and a new one on the way, 💰 DC9 // Jan 5

David Bowie Birthday Celebration & Dance Party. Put on your red shoes and dance the blues at this David Bowie dance party. 💰 Pearl Street Warehouse // Jan 5

​Still Something Singing Outdoor Sculpture Tour. Bundle up and explore the outdoor sculpture garden with participating artists of the Washington Sculptors Group. 💰Kreeger Museum // Jan 6

Yogalates. First of its kind in DC, get a unique workout that combines the mindfulness of yoga with the emphasis of core strength from Pilates to provide an efficient practice that focuses on body awareness. 💰Eaton Hotel // Jan 6

Newly Selected Artists: George Lorio, E.d. Adegoke, and Dan Ortiz Leizman. Fabricated sculptures resembling stumps and logs represent the significance of trees in an exploration of ecological destruction and renewal. 🆓 Hillyear Art Gallery // Jan 6 - 28

Light Yards Closing. The bells are ringing--don't miss your final chance to see the interactive light installation, Swinging bells, five 13-foot bells that play a jingle as you swing,  🆓🎄The Yards, DC // Jan 7

Free Community Day. Visit the collections at the National Museum of Women in the arts for free.  Don't miss its inaugural exhibit of women’s pioneering work in large-scale sculptures with works by 12 artists will be suspended from the ceiling, arc across walls and project outward from corners. 🆓National Museum of Women in the Arts // Jan 7

"Joan Baez: I Am A Noise" Screening. Before Taylor Swift's and Beyonce's concert films hit theatres, legendary folk singer Joan Baez was featured in an intimate biopic meets concert film that debuted at the DC documentary film festival. If you missed it, catch it now. 🆓 Kennedy Center // Jan 7

Fiesta de los Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day). Celebrate the end of the holiday season with the timeless tale of the Magi, performances by local musicians and dance troupes, a street parade, plus free gifts for the kiddos. 💰 GALA Hispanic Theatre // Jan 7

Week 2: JAN 8 - 14

Coquito Wars. It’s time for the 3rd annual Coquito Wars at Serenata! The traditional Christmas drink, which means “little coconut,” will be a competition between local mixologists using their own recipe and  judged by attendees and a panel of three judges. The winner takes home a trophy and $500.  🆓🎄La Cosecha // Jan 8

Historically Speaking: King: A Life. NMAAHC hosts a discussion of Jonathan Eig’s newest book, King: A Life, the first major biography in decades of the civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. The author will be joined in conversation by Michel Martin, host of NPR’s Morning Edition. Registration required.  🆓 ​National Museum of African American History & Culture // Jan 8

DCPL Movie Night. Enjoy watching the Academy Award-winning movie "Everything Everywhere All at Once" in the library's auditorium. 🆓 MLK Jr Library // Jan 9

Love, Love, Love.  London, 1967. Beatlemania is in full effect, the “Me” generation is in its prime and Kenneth and Sandra have the world at their fingertips. It’s the summer of love, and that’s all they need. But what will happen when the sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll fade away and these boomers have babies of their own? Spanning more than four decades, this satire lays bare the consequences of growing older without growing up. 💰 Studio Theatre // Starts Jan 10

DC Reads. Join DCPL's citywide book club focused on Tania James's Loot, a historical novel set in the eighteenth century: a hero’s quest, a love story, the story of a young artist coming of age. 🆓💻 Jan 10

Performed Places. Framed by architecture, performers Mariam Ghani and Erin Ellen Kelly trace the history of SAAM  through dance. Performances move throughout the building.  🆓 Smithsonian American Art Museum // Jan 11

Candlelight Concerts: Neo-Soul Favorites. Chill out to music of Prince, Childish Gambino and more under the gentle glow of candlelight. 💰St. Francis Hall // Jan 11

Ugo Rondinone/Louis Eilshemius. Art, history and international culture collide as the Library of Congress, The Phillips Collection, and the Embassy of Switzerland collaborate for a conversation and display about American artist Louis Eilshemius and how his work inspired Swiss-born artist Ugo Rondinone. Registration required. 🆓 Library of Congress // Jan 12

Seth Meyers. The award-winner writer,  SNL alum and late night host brings new comedy to DC. 💰Kennedy Center // Jan 12

No Surprises: Celebrating the Music of Radiohead. From “Creep” to “Karma Police”, No Surprises recreates Radioheads hits and deep cuts.  DC-based Ammonite balances the bill with 90s rock in the vein of Sleater-Kinney, Veruca Salt, and The Breeders.  💰 ​Songbyrd // Jan 12

Broadway Rave. Calling all musical theatre nerds, theatre lovers, and music fans. Come dance and sing along to all of your favorite broadway hits while dressed up as your favorite character. It's the ultimate dance party celebrating the best in showtunes and musical theatre. 💰 The Atlantis // Jan 12

Thee Collective Media Presents Cuffing Season. Groove to R&B tunes performed by Sugariot, Teonna, Jalen the Virgo, Amber Marie and Mareva J. 💰 Eckington Hall // Jan 13

Funny Arabs. After debuting at Kennedy Center, this stand-up comedy show featuring Arab-American comedians from across the US is a LOL hit. 💰Union Stage // Jan 13

And That’s Why We Drink: On the Rocks Tour. Grab your wine (and milkshakes for a live episode of the award-winning comedy podcast where the paranormal and true crime meet.  The world’s a scary place… and that’s why we drink! 💰 Lincoln Theatre // Jan 13​

Kill Lincoln. The DC ska-punk band will have you head-banding and screaming along to its fast and fun energy. 💰 Black Cat // Jan 13

The Chuck Brown Band Live. Groove to the music of DC, GoGo, with the legendary Chuck Brown Band who toured with the Father of GoGo around the world and continue to keep the music alive for new fans. 💰 Carlyle Room // Jan 14

Yoga + Crystal Bowl Sound Bath.  Join in an all-level yoga flow session along with a sound bath to promote balance and relaxation under the towering columns in the Great Hall.  💰 ​National Building Museum // Jan 14

Week 3: JAN 15 - 21

MLK Peace Parade. Organized by the D.C. MLK Holiday Committee, the walk commemorates his life and legacy through an annual march and community services in Southeast DC. 🆓 ​Shepherd Parkway // Jan 15

The People’s Holiday: The Many Dreams of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Student artists from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts perform original work that reimagines the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Registration required. 🆓 African American History and Culture Museum // Jan 15

Not Just Another Day Off: A Poetic Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Started in 2006, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's birthday is celebrated with contemporary poets and actors reading historic speeches from King, Frederick Douglass, Fannie Lou Hamer, and others. 🆓 Folger Shakespeare Library // Jan 15

Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week. Don’t miss this chance to dine at some of the city’s most buzzed-about restaurants for less. Multiple DC locations // Jan 15 - 21

Horror Film Workshop. This 8-session workshop  guides participants through the process of creating a 5-minute horror short on a shoestring budget.  🆓💻 // Jan 16

NMWA Nights. Mark your calendars for NMWA's first late-night art event! Have a drink and listen to a female-focused set list by DJ Alex Love and take part in an interactive scavenger hunt that takes you through the museum’s new spaces, updated galleries, and the special exhibition The Sky’s the Limit. Reservations required. 💰National Museum of Women in the Arts // Jan 17

Super Magfest. Short for “Music And Gaming Festival,” MAGFest is a multi-day celebration of video game music, gaming, and the community. It features 24-hour access to consoles, arcades, tabletop, LAN, live bands, chiptunes, vendors, and guest speakers.  💰 Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center, National Harbor, Maryland // Jan 18 - 21

Phillips Architectural Tour.  Explore the architectural history of The Phillips Collection and learn how the art museum evolved and the space changed to meet the needs of the Phillips family and their collection. 💰 Phillips Collection // Jan 19

The Bey vs. Tay Dance Party. Beyoncé is tearing it up on her Renaissance Tour, and Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour seems to have no end in sight.  Dance it out as their tunes go head to head. 💰 9:30 Club // Jan 19

Flowerbomb (EP Release). The 2023 "Best Rock Group" Wammie winners, known for their unique style of music that falls in line with the indie rock genre while incorporating different subgenres elements such as emo, post-punk, and shoegaze, are in full bloom with the release of their new project "Gloom Scroll." 💰 Pie Shop // Jan 19

Washington Auto Show. Vroom, vroom. The region's largest indoor event features hundreds of cars on display, plus interactive activations such as outdoor ride n’ drives and indoor test tracks from Hyundai and Nissan, as well as brand-new features like the DC eDrives Experience. 💰Downtown Convention Center, DC // Jan 19 - 28

"Mind Play."  This mind-bender is a  play about minds that also plays with minds. The interactive show features show creator Vinny DePonto sharing his perceptions of the mind while performing mind-reading tricks on audience members. The interactive show thus weaves DePonto’s memories and feelings with those of the audience, like magical group therapy. 💰 Arena Stage // Jan 19 - March 3

A Commedia Romeo & Juliet. Utilizing masks and physical characterizations, a Faction of Fools puts the comedy back into Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet featuring five actors performing one of the Bard's greatest works in one-hour. 💰Capitol Hill Arts Workshop // Jan 19 - Feb 3

Hidden Alleyways of Washington, DC. Discover the fascinating history and stories around DC's alleyways. Politics & Prose (Conn Ave) // Jan 20

What's Happening DMV? Indoor Market. Shop indie makers and sellers of new and vintage goods! Free swag bags and giveaways from 11- 3. 🆓 Songbyrd // Jan 20

Take on Me: The Ultimate '80s Party. Bust a move with all of your favorite 80s artists, like A-ha, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Prince, Duran Duran, and more.  💰The Atlantis // Jan 20

Sonic Symphony World Tour. Gamers and music lovers alike will enjoy an  immersive live experience that takes you on a journey through the music of Sonic the Hedgehog. 💰 ​Warner Theatre // Jan 20

Music and Satire. ​The musical world and comedic writings of French Renaissance satirist François Rabelais are brought to life in a program that pairs music by such composers as Josquin des Pres, a composer of High Renaissance music, with an on-stage comedian. 💰 Folger Theatre // Jan 19 - 21

Shawn Scanlin Band. Amind growing notoriety among the Celtic and Acoustic music scenes, the fiddle champion tours for the first time under her own name following the release of her debut solo album.  💰  Hill Center // Jan 21

Secret Concert. Attend a secret show where the artist and location are a surprise until showtime! 💰 Dupont Circle // Jan 21

Week 4: JAN 22 - 28

The Vikings of Legend. Join Profs and Pints as they explore stories and surprising facts about the medieval world and the Vikings who lived during that time. 🆓 Penn Social // Jan 22

Meet Me @ The Altar. The pop rock trio headline in support of the  just released deluxe edition of Past // Present // Future, featuring the new song “Give It Up” and a cover of the Freaky Friday soundtrack cut “Take Me Away."  💰 ​9:30 Club // Jan 24

Sushi Making Class. Learn to make three different kinds of sushi rolls like a pro in a hands-on class. Fun and delicious! 💰 Eckington Hall // Jan 24

Jim Gaffigan: Barely Alive Tour. The seven-time Grammy-nominated comedian brings his comedic observations on life to the District. 💰 DAR Constitution Hall // Jan 25 - 28

The Reading Room Festival. Four-day festival features new work and conversations inspired by, in response to, or in conversation with the plays of William Shakespeare. Includes open rehearsals, screenings, readings of world-premiere plays, as well as receptions with live music. 💰 Folger Shakespeare Library // Jan 25 - 28

Mindful Drinking Fest. Cheers to a weekend of mindful sipping (aka non-alcoholic) and good vibes with  a grand tasting hall, seminars, bars, brand activations, and an entirely non-alcoholic rave. 💰 Union Market // Jan 26 - 28

tick, tick... BOOM!  Directed by Emmy® and Tony Award® winner Neil Patrick Harris, this explosive semi-autobiographical musical follows Jonathan Larson, who revolutionized theater as the creator of Rent, as he struggles to break into New York City’s theater scene.💰 Kennedy Center // Jan 26 - Feb 4

Lunar New Year Celebration. Prepare to welcome the Year of the Dragon with lion dancing and drumming performances. 🆓 Millennium Stage, Kennedy Center // Jan 27

Improv for All. Always wanted to give improv a try? Now's your chance at this introductory workshop with Washington Improv Theater. 🆓 MLK Jr Library // Jan 27

"Say Anything" Movie Screening. Travel back to the late 80's for a screening of the iconic movie "Say Anything" followed by a Q & A with star John Cusack. Warner Theatre // Jan 27

The Future of Orchids. Enjoy the beauty of about 350 orchids and sculptures inspired by 3D scans of orchids in the Kogod Courtyard's indoor garden thanks to the joint efforts of the US Botanic Garden and Smithsonian Gardens. 🆓 American Art Museum + National Portrait Gallery // Jan 27 - April 28

The Bigger Picture. Expand your knowledge of women’s contributions to the history of Western art through the lens of the museum’s collection with lectures and conversations in the galleries.  Registration required. 🆓 National Museum of Women in the Arts // Jan 28

​Week 5: JAN 29 - 31

Leg-GOGO. Feel the burn as you give your legs an intense workout. 💰 506 K Street NW // Jan 29

Wacky DC Scavenger Hunt. Interpret clues, navigate to curated locations across DC and accept wacky challenges to earn points and "win" the hunt. 💰Compass Coffee // Jan 29

From the Deep: In the Wake of Drexciya. Inspired by Detroit-based, 1990s techo group Drexciya who imaged an underwater world utopia of African women who jumped overboard during the crossing on the Middle Passage, renowned photographer Ayana V. Jackson creates a multi-media and multi-sensory experience that brings this world to life.   🆓 ​Museum of African Art // Ends Jan 29

Musical Thinking: New Video Art and Sonic Strategies. Exhibit explores the strong connection between videos and popular music, highlighting moments that speak to cultural references, memories  and incidents that provoke insight.  🆓 Smithsonian American Art Museum // Ends Jan 29

Homemade Pasta Class. Learn to make pasta  -- filled and unfilled -- from scratch and a selection of homemade sauces. 💰Union Kitchen // Jan 30

Winter Chalet Table Dinner Experience. Take part in a Swiss-style feast inspired by apres ski vibes at a winter chalet. No passport needed for this unique dining experience.  💰 InterContinental Washington DC - The Wharf Hotel // Jan 30

The Washington Roast. DMV’s best comedians faceoff in character as politicians in an interactive roast battle described by Washington Post as “a bipartisan skewering." ... and your vote matters!  💰DC Improv // Jan 31

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