Weekend Buzz: Dec. 11, 2025
So much to do as the frosty winter holidays approach! The Santamobile is zipping through Falls Church neighborhoods, Cherry Hill Farmhouse has delightful mid-19th century holiday tea parties, holiday markets and art fairs abound, outdoor ice skating at the Sculpture Garden has begun, and a Meridian H.S. student's presenting an historical/medical lecture at Mary Riley Styles. Plus, we've got the latest in local music, comedy, theater, dance, film, and visual arts. Enjoy!
*Bet you can't find this crazy piece of art: A Still Life of Lilies, Roses, Iris, Pansies, Columbine, Love-in-a-Mist, Larkspur and Other Flowers in a Glass Vase on a Table Top, Flanked by a Rose and a Carnation !
Enjoy a Holiday Tea at Cherry Hill Farmhouse!
Tickets going fast! ~ Cherry Hill Farmhouse, 312 Park Avenue. Two teas: Saturday, Dec. 13, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 14, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Registration Required.
Listen to a presentation by Mrs. Eirene Blaisdell, a costumed interpreter portraying a Civil War resident of the Farmhouse. Then enjoy a lovely tea with sandwiches, scones, and sweets.
Enjoy a special holiday tea hosted by the Friends of Cherry Hill Foundation! This experience will include a tea and talk at the historic Farmhouse, which will be decorated in mid-19th century period décor. The talk will be presented by the 1858 mistress of the Farmhouse, Eirene Blaisdell. The tea consists of tea sandwiches, assorted sweets, warm scones, and a bottomless cup of tea. Registration is required. Senior discount does not apply.
Tickets: $48 per person.
Please direct questions to Holly Irwin @ HIrwin@fallschurchva.gov but enroll through the Recreation and Parks Department.
Here Comes the Santamobile!
Santamobile from the Falls Church Volunteer Fire Department
Final Weekend! ~ Through Saturday, Dec. 14
- Nightly routes for the Santamobile are posted on the Fire Department’s website (see below), Facebook, and Instagram.
- Questions? Please don't call the fire station! Email the Santamobile coordinator. Santa is unable to respond to requests for private drive-bys.
For our recent story about the F.C. VFD see below:
Christopher Jones
Attend a Local Medical/Historical Lecture!
Student Lecture: The Civil War's Medical Legacy
Mary Riley Styles Public Library, 120 N. Virginia Ave., Main Level Conference Rm., Sunday, Dec. 14, 1:00-3:00 p.m. Registration (required for this event) will close on December 14, 2:00 p.m.
Learn about the role Civil War medicine played in shaping the history of infectious disease treatment at this talk by Meridian High School senior Anna Gray.
As part of her International Baccalaureate Extended Essay research, Gray explored the question of how the Civil War advanced knowledge about infectious diseases.
She will share her exploration of medical practices before the war, consider how wartime conditions influenced treatments and hygiene, and assess the long-term impacts on medical history at this talk for students, history enthusiasts, and the general public. Learn how history continues to inform healthcare today!
About the Presenter
Anna Gray is an IB candidate at Meridian High School and founder of the Future Doctors of America Club at MHS. Her academic interests are in STEM, literature, history, and medicine. For her International Baccalaureate Extended Essay, Anna researched Civil War medicine and its role in advancing treatments for infectious diseases, exploring how wartime challenges shaped modern medical practices.
To register go here.
LOCAL HOLIDAY MARKETS
9th Annual Fairfax Holiday Market
December 12-14; Next Markets: Friday, Dec. 12, 5-8:00 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 13, 12-6:00 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 14, 12-5:00 p.m.
Discover unique, handcrafted gifts and support local artisans during the first two weekends of December in Downtown Fairfax! Each weekend features a rotating lineup of talented craft vendors — so there’s always something new to explore.
As you shop, enjoy festive live entertainment and holiday cheer throughout the market!
For more go here.
Enjoy an Art-filled Weekend!
Winter Artful Weekend
Fort C.F. Smith Park, Hendry House, 2411 N. 24th St., Arlington. Friday, Dec. 12, 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 13, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 14, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Opening Reception: Friday, December 12, from 6-8:00 p.m. Free and open to the public.
Don’t miss Winter Artful Weekend at Fort C.F. Smith Park in its 23rd year! This art event will showcase 40 artists from the Arlington Artists Alliance and is perfect for holiday shopping. This event is free and open to the public. Find original works for every budget and occasion. [Event sponsorship generously provided by Sotheby's.] Can't attend? Support the Alliance and donate today!
For more info go here.
Water Park Neighborhood Holiday Market
National Landing Water Park, 1601 Crystal Drive. Dec. 12-13, 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Free.
Come join us at the Water Park Neighborhood Holiday Market for a fun-filled day of shopping, food, and festive cheer!
Welcome to the Water Park Neighborhood Holiday Market! Join us at the National Landing Water Park for a festive day of shopping, food, and fun. Discover unique gifts from local vendors, indulge in delicious treats, and enjoy the holiday spirit with your neighbors. Don't miss out on this opportunity to support small businesses and find the perfect presents for your loved ones. See you there!
For more info go here.
Glen Echo Holiday Art Show & Sale
Glen Echo, Partnership Galleries, Through Jan. 4. For hours, see below. (Hours may vary.)
With so many unique gifts, the Holiday Art Show & Sale is a great place to shop for everyone on your holiday list! The show features the Park's resident artists and instructors, as well as other invited guests with works in:
Glass | Ceramics | Photography | Painting | Jewelry | Holiday Ornaments | and more!
The Park's major resident visual arts organizations are represented, including the Art Glass Center, Glen Echo Glassworks, Glen Echo Pottery, SilverWorks, Photoworks, the Sculpture Studio, the Stone Tower Studio, and the Yellow Barn Studio.
Hours: Holiday Hours and Gallery Closures listed on the Holiday Art Show & Sale Page.
Popcorn Gallery & Stone Tower Gallery: Thursdays & Fridays, 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays, 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Park View Gallery: Monday - Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Location: Partnership Galleries.
Admission: FREE
For more info go here.
LOCAL MUSIC
Falls Church Community Band: A Winter’s Resonance: The Sounds of the Season
Meridian High School, 121 Mustang Alley, Saturday, Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m.
Featuring a Special Community Invitation: Come Play With Us!
Celebrate the holidays with the Falls Church City Community Band as we bring together the elegance of classical masterworks and the joy of seasonal favorites — and this year, local musicians are invited to join us onstage for part of the performance!
Enjoy a rich program including Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with soloist Mary Voutsas, along with festive selections that capture the warmth and sparkle of the season.
If you play an instrument, we’d love to have you join the band for a special portion of the concert. All ages and skill levels are welcome — just bring your instrument, your holiday spirit, and enjoy making music with us!
For more info go here.
Creative Cauldron’s Holiday Cabaret Series
Creative Cauldron, 127 E. Broad St., Dec. 8-18. All performances at 7:30 p.m.
Creative Cauldron tops off our holiday celebration every year with this special Holiday Cabaret Series. Enjoy some of Creative Cauldron’s favorite performers, as well as some talented newcomers. They’ll perform in our intimate cabaret setting with special table seating options that include wine, beer or your favorite beverage. Don your holiday finery and be prepared to sing along to your favorite songs. This series is sure to put you in the holiday mood. Get in the festive spirit or shake off some holiday blues with these seasonal cabarets that blend creativity and classics!
TIER 1: $30.
TIER 2: $25.
VIP TABLES WITH WINE: FOR 2: $90, FOR 4: $180.
LIVE STREAM: $15.
Sponsored By Falls Church News-Press
For show and ticket info go here.
Kill Lincoln
w/ American Television & Thirteen Towers
Capital One Hall, The Vault, 7750 Capital One Tower Road, Tysons, Dec. 12. Doors open: 7:00 p.m.
Presented by Breakin' Even Presents.
Kill Lincoln is a ska punk band from Washington D.C., known for their singalongs, stage dives, and high energy shows. In 2024 the band released their 4th studio album “No Normal” on their own independent label Bad Time Records, following up 2020’s “Can’t Complain” and 2021’s “Wavebreaker” split with Less Than Jake. The band has toured extensively across the U.S., UK, Japan, and Canada on both headlining ventures as well as supporting acts like Less Than Jake, The Suicide Machines, The Slackers, and Big D & The Kids Table.
American Television is a D.C. area Melodic punk rock band merging a classic skate-punk sound with infectious melody to deliver anthems of resistance and resilience. Their live show matches the sound – aggressive, poppy, and entertaining. American Television releases new music September 19. An EP titled You Are Not Alone, via Smartpunk Records.
Thirteen Towers, formed in 2007 in Fairfax, Va., the 7-piece band blends Punk, Ska, and Rock sound to put on an incredible live show. The current lineup is fronted by the incredible voices of Dave Costello and Lindsay McCarthy in perfect harmony. The band evolved from punk roots to ska punk and have created lasting presence in the DMV over the last 18 years. As a testament to their efforts, Thirteen Towers have found themselves performing amongst the best ska bands on the planet at Virginia's own International Supernova SkaFest multiple times and just released a new single, Collision in Time, in August, 2025.
For ticket info go here.
Virginia Bronze Handbell Ensemble: Your Favorite Things
Capital One Hall, The Vault, 7750 Capital One Tower Road, Tysons, Saturday, Dec. 13. Doors open: 6:30 p.m.
This holiday season, the bells will be ringing with your favorite festive songs! We asked our friends and followers to share the holiday tunes that mean the most to them – and we listened. The result is a delightful handbell concert featuring repertoire chosen by our very own community.
Virginia Bronze (VAB) began in 2006 with a few experienced ringers, primarily from area faith communities, who were seeking opportunities to ring challenging and diverse music in a secular environment. VAB has gained local and national recognition over the last 19 years as a premier community handbell ensemble. It has performed with the Washington Chorus, the Cathedral Choral Society, Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC, the Children’s Chorus of Washington, Strathmore Children’s Chorus and the Alexandria Symphony.
The organization’s primary outreach activities are concert performances, workshops, and festivals, and it actively seeks opportunities to educate the public about handbells. Most recently, VAB has focused on community outreach in the Northern Virginia area by partnering with ArtsFairfax, community centers and Title 1 schools in Fairfax County to expand access to handbells and hand chimes.
For ticket info go here.
Songs of the Season: A Holiday Celebration
Capital One Hall, The Vault, 7750 Capital One Tower Road, Tysons, Sunday, Dec. 14. Doors open: 3:00 p.m.
Presented by Virginia Chamber Orchestra.
Celebrate the season with an enchanting program featuring excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker and Swan Lake, along with beloved holiday classics including O Holy Night and Silent Night.
Led by Margaret Woods, we invite the audience to join in a joyful holiday sing-along — a treasured tradition for all ages.
For ticket info go here.
American Festival Pops Orchestra: Holiday Pops: Songs of the Season
George Mason University Center for the Arts, 4373 Mason Pond Drive, Saturday, Dec. 13, 4:00 p.m. Appropriate for all ages.
Part of Great Performances at Mason.
Peter Wilson, conductor.
The American Festival Pops Orchestra (AFPO) continues its annual tradition of spreading musical goodwill and cheer in this audience favorite!
Holiday Pops: Songs of the Season returns under the baton of Artistic Director and Conductor Peter Wilson, former senior enlisted music advisor to The White House and 30-year Marine Veteran violinist. The AFPO comprises more than 60 professional musicians, including faculty members from George Mason University’s Dewberry School of Music as well as instrumentalists from U.S. Armed Forces music ensembles and local orchestras. Enjoy a festive evening of seasonal favorites designed for the entire family.
Tickets: $71, $60, $45; half-price for youth through Grade 12. Prices include fees. Learn More.
Run Time: approximately two hours, plus intermission.
This performance also takes place on Friday, Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. at our sister venue, the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas, Va.
Program subject to change.
The program for this performance will be available the week of the event. View digital program.
A pre-performance discussion with AFPO Composer/Arranger in Residence Bryan Kidd, moderated by AFPO Orchestra Manager Emily Craine, begins one hour prior to the performance.
For more info go here.
BÉLA FLECK & THE FLECKTONES
JINGLE ALL THE WAY
Featuring Victor Wooten & Roy “Future Man” Wooten, with special guests Jeff Coffin & Alash
The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Md., Sunday, Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $28 – $98.
This winter, Béla Fleck & The Flecktones return with Jingle All the Way, a tour featuring jazz-infused takes on seasonal classics and fan favorites from their GRAMMY-winning album of the same name. Performing this music together for the first time in over 15 years, the band’s original lineup — banjoist Béla Fleck, bassist Victor Wooten, and percussionist/drumitarist Roy "Future Man" Wooten — comes together for an unforgettable evening of musical celebration. Harmonica and keyboardist Howard Levy is unable to perform on this date.
They’re joined by former bandmate and saxophonist Jeff Coffin and Tuvan throat-singing ensemble Alash, both featured on the album. Drawing from a wide range of styles — from classical and jazz to bluegrass, African rhythms, electric blues, and Eastern European folk — their genre-defying sound remains as bold and distinctive as ever.
The VIP Experience ~ $110.
- Invitation to exclusive pre-show experience with Béla Fleck and The Flecktones in the Concert Hall, including: Access to soundcheck performance; Q&A Session.
- Exclusive VIP merch gift.
- Commemorative VIP laminate.
- Merchandise shopping opportunity before doors open to the public.
- Priority entry into the venue.
- Limited availability
This package must be purchased separately from your ticket; it does not include admission. You can buy the package along with your concert ticket (add-on option will come up after you select your seat). Already have your tickets and want to add the VIP package? Click here to purchase separately while supplies last. All merchandise will be distributed at the performance.
VIP packages are run by an outside company. By purchasing a VIP package, you agree that Strathmore can share your contact information with the organizer. For questions or assistance with this VIP package, click here.
For ticket info go here.
Old Town Hall Performance Series ~ James Fernando Trio
Stacy T. Sherwood Center, 3740 Blenheim Blvd., Fairfax, Friday, Dec. 12, 8:00 - 9:30 p.m. Free.
Hailed as a 'prodigiously gifted composer and virtuoso pianist,' James Fernando leads his dynamic Philly-based jazz trio with a refreshing take on the piano trio format. With deep musical chemistry & engaging interplay, they craft a joyful & exhilarating journey for listeners. Sponsored by the Fairfax City Commission on the Arts.
For more info go here.
Holiday Concert ~ Alexandria Baroque
Carlyle House Historic Park, 121 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Dec. 13, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. Concert will be held in the Bank of Alexandria next to Carlyle House.
Enjoy Alexandria Baroque for sounds of the season, Baroque-style!
Michael De Sapio (Baroque violin) and John Armato (theorbo) perform Biber's "Annunciation" Sonata and early Christmas carols alongside Biber's amusing Sonata representativa (representing numerous birds and animals) and mellifluous sonatas and variations by Walther, Corelli, and Bonporti."
While enjoying the concert, sip on a holiday mocktail included in the ticket price.
Tickets: $12 per person, $10 for Friends of Carlyle House members.
This program is non-refundable unless cancelled by the museum. Having trouble registering? Please call 703-549-2997 or email carlyle@nvrpa.org
To register go here.
Helicon: Winter Solstice
Dumbarton Concerts, 3133 Dumbarton Street NW, Saturday, Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $48 live in-person; $14 livestream.
Thrilling winter showcase of old-time and American roots music!
Ken Kolodner | Robin Bullock | Chris NormanKen & Brad Kolodner Quartet | Charm City Junction | Elke Bakerwith Three Time National Irish Step Dance Champion Jonathon Srour.
The rhythms and tunes of the Irish musical canon have sojourned all over the world, but most especially to the mountains and hills of the American South and Midwest. These cultural standard bearers continue to carry such traditions into the modern day, and we are thrilled to welcome back the Baltimore-based supergroup Helicon and its cadre of guests for a warm salute to this cherished heritage. Band leader Ken Kolodner brings his incredible team to the Dumbarton stage for their annual program of bluegrass and folk music for the winter season. From rollicking dances to heartwarming ballads, join us to celebrate the coming of a new year.
About the Artists
Ranked among the “100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists” by DigitalDreamDoor.com, Robin Bullock has been hailed as “one of the best folk instrumentalists in the business” by Sing Out! magazine, “breathtaking” by Guitar Player magazine and a “Celtic guitar god” by Baltimore City Paper.
Chris Norman’s influential work as a flute maker, performer, composer, recording artist, and visionary community builder has earned him worldwide recognition. His flute playing has appeared on more than 40 recordings and can be heard featured on numerous Hollywood soundtracks. For nearly 30 years, Chris has run the preeminent music festival focused on the flute, held in Nova Scotia: Boxwood. Chris performs on the small pipes, and penny whistle in addition to the wooden flute.
The dynamic father-son team Ken & Brad Kolodner weave together a captivating soundscape on hammered dulcimer and clawhammer banjo blurring the lines of Old-Time, Bluegrass and American Roots music. Regarded as one of the most influential hammered dulcimer players in North America, Baltimore’s Ken Kolodner has run the prestigious Sandbridge Hammered Dulcimer Retreats for nearly 20 years, attracting players from around the world. In 2022, Ken Kolodner released a recording of Kolodner’s arrangements for two hammered dulcimers with Mary Lynn Michal: Out from the Shadows.
The senior Kolodner joined forces in 2009 with his son Brad Kolodner, a renowned clawhammer banjo player, community builder, and award-winning folk and bluegrass radio host. Brad Kolodner can be heard every day of the week as host on Folk Alley and Bluegrass Country Radio (WAMU 88.5 HD2 in DC). Brad released his debut solo album Chimney Swifts in the fall of 2021. It is now available on limited-edition vinyl. Brad has become a major force in the Roots music scene as a community builder. The Kolodners run The Baltimore Old Time Jam and The Baltimore Old Time Music Festival. Both Kolodner’s play old-time fiddle as well.
Rachel Eddy grew up in a musical family steeped in the traditions of Appalachian music and dance. Now based in Washington, D.C., they are known throughout the world as both a dynamic and emotionally powerful performer, and an engaging, thoughtful teacher. Rachel’s soulful singing and multi-instrumental finesse — including fiddle, banjo, guitar, and mandolin — may be heard on numerous solo and collaborative recordings as well as at dances and jam sessions, where Rachel is dedicated to fostering community and sharing a love of music with others. Rachel performs in The Ken & Brad Kolodner Quartet.
Elke Baker is a U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion, “and it's easy to hear why,” according to SingOut! Magazine. “Baker's fiddle nearly throws off sparks,” reported The Washington Post. She has performed all over North America, Japan, Ireland, West Africa, and Scotland. In addition to serving as Music Director of the Potomac Valley Scottish Fiddle Club since 1993, Elke has been a faculty member at the Washington Conservatory of Music and Artist-in-Residence at Montgomery College.
Alex Lacquement has crafted a unique style that is dazzling, lyrical, and transcends musical genres. Whether on stage playing jazz, old-time, or bluegrass, his tone is unmistakable, his joy for performing obvious and infectious. In addition to being an energetic, assertive, and groovy ensemble player and imaginative soloist, he's a skilled arranger, composer and producer.
Patrick McAvinue is an American fiddler and private music educator. He's the winner of IBMA's 2017 Fiddle Player of the Year. McAvinue is a native of Hereford, Maryland. He began playing fiddle at age 7 and was trained as a classical violinist. At age 10, Peabody graduate Amy Hopkins taught him fiddle tunes from all over the world. McAvinue formed the band Charm City Junction with Brad Kolodner, Sean McComiskey, and Alex Lacquement in 2014. After touring for many years with Audie Blaylock & Redline and Dailey & Vincent which included dozens of performances on the Grand Ole Opry, Patrick is currently a member of the US Navy Band Country Current.
Sean McComiskey is among the most innovative young performers on the button accordion, with a unique harmonic style that has earned him a spot in the pantheon of Irish accordionists far beyond his native Baltimore. As the son of legendary button accordion player and National Heritage Fellow Billy McComiskey, Sean has been surrounded by Irish Traditional music his entire life and has developed a deep appreciation for the rich tradition of which he's a part.
Jonathon Srour is a four-time tour member of Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance, traveling and performing from Galway to Jerusalem. Ranked #5 in the world in 2005 for Irish dance, Jonathon also performed with group Hammerstep, which appeared on America’s Got Talent. He was a cast member in Riverdance, and also performed in Magic of the Dance and Feet of Flames. Jonathon has qualified two times to compete in the All-Ireland Championship of Irish traditional music, having won the Mid-Atlantic Fleadh Cheoil on the Irish flute. During his competitive Irish dancing career, he tied the record in North America by winning the Senior Belt three times.
For ticket info go here.
LOCAL COMEDY
The Muslims are Coming! A Night of Standup Comedy
Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE, Friday, Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m.
The Muslims are Coming! is a standup show that features Muslim-American comedians (and their non-Muz friends) who battle our national division one fart joke at a time.
Join Negin Farsad, Ophira Eisenberg, Gibran Saleem, Corey Ryan Forrester and Yasmin Elhady for a night of comedy that will definitely heal America, no big deal.
The Comics:
Negin Farsad is a regular panelist on NPR’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, host of the podcast Fake the Nation, and TEDFellow with a TEDTalk seen by millions. She can be seen on Hillary Clinton’s Gutsy on Apple TV and as a tour-de-force mind reader in Adult Swim’s Birdgirl.
You might know Ophira Eisenberg as host of NPR‘s Ask Me Another, or as a regular contributor to The Moth story slams and radio program. She is a celebrated touring comedian who has appeared on Comedy Central and NBC. She just taped her latest special, produced by Lewis Black, which will be available everywhere soon!
Gibran Saleem is a comedian who's been featured on Comedy Central, the Tamron Hall Show on ABC, and has opened for Hasan Minhaj.
Yasmin Elhady has appeared on stages across the U.S. and Europe, including The Kennedy Center, NBC, NPR, and Netflix is a Joke. When she’s not on stage, she’s taking on systemic inequality as a lawyer.
Corey Ryan Forrester has been featured on ABC, HBO, BBC, CBC, Esquire, Forbes Magazine, and is a contributor for The Huffington Post and The Atlanta Journal Constitution. He's part of the highly popular wellRED Comedy national tour.
Rola Z is the creator of Funny Arabs Show, sold-out sensation at The Kennedy Center, Union Stage, and Montreal. She was awarded artist-in-residence at the Kennedy Center, has opened for Sammy Obeid and Zarna Garg and performed at Howard Theater, Gotham Comedy Club, and Miracle Theater, DC Improv, DC Comedy Loft, Joe’s Pub and is a regular at NY Arab American Comedy Festival.
Runtime: One hour, 30 minutes.
Ages: Ages 13 and Older.
Content Advisory: Regular use of swearing. Mild references to self harm, sexual content, sexual assault, drug use, violence, suicide, grief, and infertility. Comedy and commentary through a social justice and political lens.
For ticket info go here.
LOCAL THEATER
THE OTHER SIDE STORY:
A Hilarious One-Man Musical
Opens Tomorrow! ~ GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th Street, NW, Dec. 12 – 14.
Created & performed by Ángel Vázquez (Puerto Rico).
A hilarious one-man musical tracing Puerto Rican history in the U.S. since 1862. One apartment changes his life — and yours!
Un divertido unipersonal musical sobre la historia de los puertorriqueños en EE.UU. desde 1862. Un apartamento le cambia la vida... ¡y a ti también!
For ticket info go here.
Water for Elephants
National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 13, 2:00 p.m.; Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 14, 2:00 p.m.; and, Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m. Through Dec. 14.
“Many wonders await audiences in this gorgeously imaginative Broadway musical.” ~ The New York Times
The critically acclaimed bestselling novel comes to “thrilling, dazzling” life (Time Out New York) in a unique, spectacle-filled new musical! Hailed as a Critic’s Pick, The New York Times calls it “stunning, emotional, heart-filled and gorgeously imaginative.”
After losing what matters most, a young man jumps off a moving train unsure of where the road will take him and finds a new home with the remarkable crew of a traveling circus, and a life — and love — beyond his wildest dreams. Seen through the eyes of his older self, his adventure becomes a poignant reminder that if you choose the ride, life can begin again at any age.
Tony Award-nominated director Jessica Stone’s “huge, heart-filling” production (The New York Times) features a book by three-time Tony nominee Rick Elice adapted from Sara Gruen’s novel, and a soaring score by the acclaimed PigPen Theatre Co.
So, step right up to the “spellbinding entertainment” (Variety) at WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, “the best new musical on Broadway” (Theatermania).
For ticket info go here.
An Irish Carol 2025
Keegan's Own Holiday Tradition
Opens Today! ~ The Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8:00 p.m. (except Dec. 25); Saturdays and Sundays, 3:00 p.m. Select Sundays, 7:00 p.m. Select Mondays and Tuesdays, 8:00 p.m. Through Dec. 28.
Playwright: Matthew J. Keenan. Director: Mark A. Rhea.
An original work by Keegan favorite Matthew J. Keenan, AN IRISH CAROL is an homage to Dickens’ classic – told as only the Irish can. This comic and touching play, set in a modern Dublin pub, follows one evening in the life of David, a wealthy pub owner who has lost touch with his own humanity in the interest of self-protection and material success. But on this Christmas Eve – challenged by a voice from the past, provoked by those in the present, and faced with the reality of a lonely future – David’s life may change forever.
For ticket info go here.
A CASE FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
Extended! ~ Mosaic Theatre, 1333 H St. NE. Through Dec. 14.
A moving story of fatherhood, friendship, and finding hope where you least expect it.
By SAMUEL D. HUNTER. DIRECTED BY DANILO GAMBINI.
MacArthur “Genius” grant recipient Samuel D. Hunter’s intimate, powerful play is a thoughtful meditation on human resilience. Inside a small office in southern Idaho, two men struggle to understand the confounding terms of a mortgage loan while connecting over the joy and pain of fatherhood. The pair form an unlikely friendship, using humor to find hope in the face of heartbreak.
Hailed as a New York Times Critic’s Pick, this moving new play is a testament to the power of finding one’s own community in the face of loneliness.
“…at times tense and tenuous, at others mutually affirmative…“A Case for the Existence of God” is …touchingly resonant.” ~ The Washington Post
For more info go here.
A Christmas Carol
Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe Street, Alexandria. Dec. 5 - 20. Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. & 5:00 p.m.
Based on the novel written by Charles Dickens and adapted by Rachael Hubbard with additions by Michael Page. Producers: Alexis Delaney and Patricia Nicklin. Executive Producer: Russell M. Wyland. Director: Michael Page.
A Christmas Carol tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a bitter, cold-hearted old miser who despises Christmas and all things joyful. On Christmas Eve, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, who warns him to change his ways or face a grim fate in the afterlife. In this production, the story of Scrooge’s journey – immortalized by Charles Dickens in 1843 – will both remain true to the LTA holiday tradition and be inspired by the director’s dark and playful vision of Victorian England. The concept of this production brings the characters of the Charles Dickens's story to life through the imagination of the Grandchild as they are read the story by their Grandparent.
Estimated running time: 1 hour and 15 minutes without intermission.
Tickets: $25 Reserved Seating.
While our version of A Christmas Carol is designed to be a child friendly production, it is as Charles Dickens himself titled it, a ghost story which includes many aspects that might be frightening to young children. Parents should use their own discretion about whether this show is appropriate for their young children over the age of 3. We ask patrons considering bringing young children to please review our policy on attendance HERE.
For ticket info go here.
A Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story of Christmas
Olney Theatre Centre, Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd., Olney, Md. Through Dec. 28.
The Tradition Lives On!
Michael Russotto returns to star for a second holiday season in this solo show that is a masterclass in theatrical storytelling. As he portrays nearly 50 different characters from the Charles Dickens classic, you’ll find yourself swept up in a story that is funnier, more timely, and far more familiar to our modern-day circumstances than you could ever imagine. Even more impressive, Paul Morella’s beloved adaptation stays true to Dickens’ original language – making this perhaps the most authentic Christmas Carol out there. There’s a reason our audience has made this part of their holiday tradition for the past 16 years.
Conceived, Adapted, and Originally Staged by Paul Morella. From the novella by Charles Dickens.
Audio-Described Performance – Wednesday, December 17 at 7:30 p.m. (Please email wbrown@olneytheatre.org if you plan to utilize this service.)
ASL Interpreted Performance – Thursday, December 18 at 7:30 p.m. (Please email wbrown@olneytheatre.org if you plan to utilize this service.)
Age Guidance: If this were a film, it would be rated G. Because of the format and Victorian language, however, we recommend it for ages 11 and up.
For ticket info go here.
Birthday Candles
1st STAGE, 1524 Spring Hill Road, Tysons. Runs Dec. 4-21.
Written by Noah Haidle. Directed by Alex Levy.
Ernestine Ashworth spends her 17th birthday agonizing over her insignificance in the universe. Soon enough, it’s her 18th birthday. Even sooner, her 41st. Her 70th. Her 101st. This poignant and funny play takes its audience through the highlights, heartbreaks and extraordinary moments that make up one woman’s ordinary life.
“For my money, Birthday Candles is precisely why people go to the theater.” ~ Chicago Tribune
Presented with generous support from Wilma Probst Levy, in honor of Louis Levy.
Birthday Candles runs about 90 minutes with no intermission.
For ticket info and showtimes go here.
Guys and Dolls
Shakespeare Theatre Company, Harman Hall, 610 F Street NW. Through Jan. 4.
Based on a Story and Characters of Damon Runyon. Music and Lyrics by Frank Loesser. Book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. Choreographed by Joshua Bergasse. Directed by Francesca Zambello.
The oldest established permanent floating crap game in New York just got busted and Nathan Detroit needs cold hard cash to get it up and running again. Enter high-roller Sky Masterson, who Nathan wagers can’t get a date with the straight- laced Sarah Brown, a Save-A-Soul missionary trying to rescue them all from sin.
Directed by Washington National Opera Artistic Director Francesca Zambello and choreographed by Joshua Bergasse (Smash, Bull Durham), dance the night away to “Luck Be a Lady,” “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat,” “A Bushel and a Peck,” and more classic tunes in the must-see show of the holiday season.
Runtime: Approximately two hours and 30 minutes with one 15 minute intermission.
THIS WEEK ONLY, no fees for any performance of Guys and Dolls with code THANKS. *Enter code prior to selecting your seats. Code THANKS subject to availability. Cannot be combined with other offers or applied to previously purchased tickets. Valid on all seats and performances on sale now, and 3- and 4-Play Packages. Limit 4. Offer expires Sunday, NOV. 30 at 11:59 p.m. Note: The Box Office will be closed NOV. 27–28. Order online to guarantee your seats.
For ticket info and showtimes go here.
Sylvia
Nova Nightsky Theatre, Falls Church Presbyterian Church, Memorial Hall, 225 E. Broad St. Through Feb. 6.
When Greg brings home a stray dog named Sylvia, his marriage takes an unexpected turn. A witty, heartwarming comedy about love, loyalty, and the messy joy of rediscovering connection — in marriage and in life.
For ticket info go here.
A Christmas Carol
Just Opened! ~ Ford’s Theatre, 511 Tenth Street, NW. Through Dec. 31.
Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption. Originally conceived by Michael Baron, this music-infused production captures the magic and joy of Dickens’s Yuletide classic, with familiar characters, ghosts and a children’s ensemble in the spirit of the holidays. Acclaimed actor Craig Wallace returns to play Ebenezer Scrooge in Ford’s annual tradition heralded as a “rich visual and vocal treat” (TheaterMania) and “infectiously jolly” (The Washington Post).
Duration: two hours including one intermission. Recommended for ages 5 and older.
Accessible:
Audio-Described Performances: Dec. 4, at 7:00 p.m. and Dec. 13 at 2:00 p.m.
ASL-Interpreted Performance: Dec.4, at 7:00 p.m. and Dec. 13, at 2:00 p.m.
Sensory Friendly: November 23, 2025 at 2 p.m.
For ticket info go here.
Fiddler on the Roof
Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Through Jan. 26.
The iconic musical gorgeously staged in-the-round in Signature’s intimate setting and directed by Joe Calarco (Jesus Christ Superstar, Gypsy).
Tevye, a poor Jewish milkman, his family and their tight-knit community honor tradition but must contend with a changing world and a rise in antisemitism at their home in Czarist Russia.
The glorious score with songs “Sunrise, Sunset,” “If I Were a Rich Man,” and “Matchmaker,” unite with exquisite dance in this classic of the musical theater canon filled with humor, heart – and life.
“One of the most glowing creations in the history of musical theater” ~ The New York Times
- Running time: approximately 2 hours, 50 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.
- Show will use flashing lighting effects, loud noises and theatrical haze.
- Show explores social and political issues including religious intolerance/threats, and has one scene depicting antisemitic violence.
- Recommended for ages 13+. Signature does not admit anyone under 6.
For more info go here.
ho ho ho ha ha ha ha
Woolly Mammoth Theatre, 641 D ST. NW. Through Dec. 21.
Last time she was at Woolly, she sold out the house, earned Helen Hayes Award nominations, and left D.C. audiences roaring (and maybe questioning what just happened). Now, award-winning Estonian clown Julia Masli returns to Woolly with a holiday remix of her international hit ho ho ho ha ha ha ha.
In ho ho ho ha ha ha ha, Julia once again sets out to solve problems in her own off beat style — only this time, they’re holiday problems. From family meltdowns to gift-related despair, she’ll tackle it all with no script, no plan, no guarantees.
It’s bold. It’s warm. It’s wildly unpredictable. And it might just be the most uplifting chaos you’ll experience all season.
“★★★★★” ~ Brian Logan, The Guardian
“★★★★★ A strange and beautiful masterpiece” ~ Tim Harding, The Telegraph“
★★★★★” ~ Georgia Evans, Time Out
“…hilarious and deeply affecting…” ~ DC Theater Arts“… funny and, at times, downright hilarious as well as warm and hopeful.” ~ MD Theatre Guide
ASL INTERPRETED PERFORMANCES: Friday, Dec. 12, 8:00 p.m.
OPEN CAPTIONED PERFORMANCES: Sunday, Nov. 23, 5:00 p.m.
Audio Described PERFORMANCES: Saturday, Dec. 6, 5:00 p.m.
MASK REQUIRED PERFORMANCE: Tuesday, Nov. 25, 8:00 p.m.
Childcare Matinee: Sunday, Dec. 7, 5:00 p.m.
For more info go here.
Hello, Dolly!
Olney Theater, Roberts Main Stage, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, Md. Through Jan. 4.
"Some people paint, some sew ... I meddle!"
Dolly Gallagher Levi is a woman on the make. And what’s she making? Whatever you need. A husband? A wife? Dance lessons? Pierced ears? There’s never been a more indefatigable figure in American musical theatre, and perhaps that’s why the role has served as a vehicle for some of our greatest stars, from Carol Channing and Pearl Bailey, to Barbra Streisand and Bette Midler.
Now, the DMV’s reigning musical superstar, Nova Y. Payton (World Goes 'Round), takes on the title role of a musical that churns out laughs, songs, and over-the-top antics as fast as humanly possible… and then goes a little faster. Audiences of all ages are guaranteed a great time at this classic musical about love, second chances, and the magic of an adventure to the big city!
Tickets: $42 - $133 (service fees inclusive).
Age Guidance: If this were a film, it would be rated PG.
For ticket info go here.
LOCAL DANCE
Step Afrika!'s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show
Arena Stage, Fichandler Stage, 1101 Sixth Street SW, Thursday, Dec. 11, 7:00 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 12, 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 13, 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 14, 12:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Photos with Santa: Saturday, Dec. 13, 3:30-7:00 p.m. Through Dec. 23.
D.C.’s Favorite Holiday Tradition!
Get ready to celebrate — Step Afrika!'s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show is back for its fourth spectacular year at Arena Stage! Bring the entire family to join DJ Nutcracker and his Arctic friends for an electrifying journey packed with high-energy stepping, festive music, and non-stop holiday cheer with the award-winning Step Afrika! performers. This fan-favorite tradition promises laughter, joy, and unforgettable moments. Last year’s production sold out, so snag your tickets early.
Running Time: Approx. 90 minutes without an intermission. Note: All attendees, regardless of age, must have their own ticket.
For ticket info go here.
The Washington Ballet's Nutcracker
Warner Theatre, 513 13th St. NW. Doors Open: 6:00 p.m. Show: 7:00 p.m. Through Dec. 28.
A D.C.-Holiday Tradition for Over 60 Years!
Experience the magic of the holidays with The Washington Ballet's The Nutcracker, a cherished D.C. tradition featuring over 380 talented dancers! From our dedicated students to our professional company, witness a spectacular performance set in historic Georgetown. Enjoy the familiar story with unique local touches, including George Washington as the Nutcracker and a springtime cherry blossom scene. This visual feast offers holiday joy for all ages. Don't miss this special production that showcases the vibrant talent of the entire Washington Ballet team. Treat yourself and your family this holiday season.
For ticket info go here.
LOCAL FILM
Barbara McCullough’s Reflections on Ritual
National Gallery of Art, East Bldg. Auditorium, 4th & Constitution, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2:00-4:00 p.m. In person.
Part of Film Legacies of the Black Arts Movement.
Join us for a post-screening discussion with filmmaker Barbara McCullough, film historian Jacqueline Stewart, and co-curator of Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955–1985 Philip Brookman, in person.
“Water Ritual is a beginning point in my quest to create cathartic experiences for myself and my community...” ~ Barbara McCullough.
Barbara McCullough’s Water Ritual #1: An Urban Rite of Purification explores the possibilities of transformation through the cleansing of environment and self. Influenced by a friend’s mental health crisis and created in collaboration with performer Yolanda Vidato, it was filmed in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles which was razed to construct Interstate 105 but was then left abandoned. A young woman within this desolate landscape performs various private rituals of renewal. (1979, 16mm, 4 minutes). Followed by Shopping Bag Spirits and Freeway Fetishes: Reflections on Ritual Space, an investigation into the use of ritual by artists practicing across a variety of media. Here “ritual” is defined as the creation and utilization of objects, words, or tones used in a repetitive or habitual way to generate a spiritually cathartic experience. Featuring artists David Hammons, Betye Saar, Houston and Kinshasha Conwill, N'Senga Nengudi, K. Curtis Lyle, Ojenke, Kamaau Da'oud, Kenneth Severin, and Freedom in Expression. (1980, 35mm, 60 minutes).
Programmed in conjunction with the exhibition Photography and the Black Arts Movement: 1955-1985, open from September 21, 2025 to January 11, 2026.
To register go here.
LOCAL VISUAL ARTS
Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass
National Museum of the American Indian, George Gustav Heye Center, National Mall, Fourth & Independence Ave. SW. Open Daily: 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (except Dec. 25). Through May 29.
Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass explores glass art as a medium for Indigenous stories, designs, and contemporary issues. The exhibition traces 45 years of Native glass art and showcases approximately 120 artworks by 29 Indigenous artists. Also featured are works by Dale Chihuly, who established the first glass program at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, and collaborations between Native glass workers, Yolŋu (Aboriginal Australian) artists, and Māori artists.
Clearly Indigenous: Native Visions Reimagined in Glass was originated by the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, Santa Fe, New Mexico, where it was curated by Dr. Letitia Chambers and Cathy Short (Potawatomi). The traveling exhibit was curated by Dr. Chambers and is toured by International Arts & Artists.
For more info go here.
Women Artists from Antwerp to Amsterdam, 1600-1750
National Museum of Women in the Arts, Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Last entry time is 4:30 p.m. Through Jan. 11.
Women Artists from Antwerp to Amsterdam, 1600-1750 showcases a broad range of work by more than forty Dutch and Flemish women artists, including Gesina ter Borch, Maria Faydherbe, Anna Maria de Koker, Judith Leyster, Magdalena van de Passe, Clara Peeters, Rachel Ruysch, Maria Tassaert, Jeanne Vergouwen, Michaelina Wautier, and more.
Presenting an array of paintings, lace, prints, paper cuttings, embroidery, and sculpture, this exhibition draws on recent scholarship to demonstrate that a full view of women’s contributions to the artistic economy is essential to understanding Dutch and Flemish visual culture of the period.
Women were involved in virtually every aspect of artistic production in the Low Countries during the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. During this period, colonial exploitation and the international slave trade enriched Europe’s upper and middle classes, fueling demand for art and other luxuries. From celebrated painters who excelled in a male-dominated field to unsung women who toiled making some of the most expensive lace of the day, to wealthy patrons who shaped collecting practices, women created the very fabric of the visual culture of the era. Within a thematic presentation that considers the intertwined influences of status, family, and social expectations on a woman’s training and career choices, this exhibition demonstrates the many ways in which women of all classes contributed to the booming artistic economy of the day.
Whether their work was circulated within aristocratic social circles, sold on the open market, or commissioned by patrons, women shaped and molded the world around them from Antwerp to Amsterdam.
For more info go here.
Subtle Energy
Fred Schnider Gallery of Art, 888 N Quincy St., #102, Arlington.
For more info go here.
The Stars We Do Not See: Australian Indigenous Art
National Gallery of Art, East Building Concourse, 4th & Constitution Ave. NW. Through March 1, 2026. Admission free. Passes not required.
Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime exhibition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art — the largest ever shown in North America.
Australian Indigenous art is a visual thread connecting more than 250 nations across 65,000 years. Explore its breadth and brilliance through nearly 200 works from the late 1800s to today.
You’ll find ochre paintings made on bark, maps of the Central and Western deserts (so-called “dot paintings”), groundbreaking works in neon, video, and photography, and more. And you’ll meet iconic artists who maintain and reinvigorate Ancestral traditions — revealing the rich, living history of creativity behind the world’s longest continuous culture.
Drawn exclusively from the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, The Stars We Do Not See features many masterpieces that have never left Australia — until now. We’re honored to debut this landmark North American tour.
Introductory Tour:
Join us for an introduction to the exhibition The Stars We Do Not See: Australian Indigenous Art, featuring works of modern and contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. Explore a range of works, from ochre bark paintings and experimental weavings to immersive sound and video art, that reveal a rich history of creativity.
Meet at the East Building Information Desk.
This tour will be given on December 6, and December 12, 2025, and January 10, January 23, February 7, and February 13, 2026.
For more info go here.
The Mirage of Ancient Egypt: Exploring Ancient Egypt’s Legacy in Popular Culture
Mason Exhibitions, Fenwick Gallery, 4400 University Dr., Fairfax. Runs: Dec. 5 - Feb. 13, 2026.
Ancient Egypt fascinates us, yet most knowledge of this remarkable society is based on a fiction built upon Orientalism: a lens through which Western colonial powers judge Eastern cultures. These ideas harm modern Egyptians, whose history is no longer their own but a creation of the modern misunderstandings of the West.
This exhibit discusses this false view through three connecting themes. Consuming Ancient Egypt demonstrates how modern media and consumer culture intentionally exploits Ancient Egypt to create marketable products. Unwrapping Spirituality reveals how the West reimagines Ancient Egyptian spirituality to explore their own ideas of life, death, and the unknown. Undressing Orientalist Fantasies examines the over-sexualization of Ancient Egyptians in a variety of media. With this foundation, The Mirage of Ancient Egypt provides an opportunity to reflect on how society has shaped today’s interpretation of Ancient Egypt.
For more info go here.
Joey Enríquez: as i look towards what could have been mine
Museum of Contemporary Art, Arlington, 3350 Wilson Blvd, Arlington. Through Jan. 25.
as i look towards what could have been mine is Joey Enríquez’s elegiac ode to the desert of the American Southwest, a place synonymous with the artist’s personal ethnography, familial ancestry, and, for the artist, a place where their soul is at rest. Taking viewers to the edge of ruins, both metaphorical and literal, Enríquez alludes to the deserts’ innate expansiveness through poetic prose, printmaking, sculpture, and found object installations.
Enríquez’s abstracted desert revels in paradox. Here, the desert is presented as both unforgiving and romantic: a place of last resorts, desolation, and death; but also a place lush with awe-inspiring grace and tranquility. Contrasting the remains of a ruined adobe structure with a broken stained glass window that looks out onto the vastness of an open pit mine, Enríquez places sun-bleached fragments of prose declarations atop hand-printed landscape vistas. These writings — all original and often confessional — allude to love, fear, and memories of the desert from the artist’s childhood. In its construction and tone, as i look towards what could have been mine aspires to the scale and reverence of a cathedral: monumental and imposing, yet intimate.
The desert reminds us of our mortality and of our place within the vastness of the universe. In as i look towards what could have been mine, the desert is at once a place of despair and a site of communion: with ourselves, with nature, and with love.
Joey Enríquez (born Simi Valley, CA, 1997), is an artist, designer, educator, and geographer in the Washington, D.C. area who uses image-making, sculpture, and community engagement as a practice of remembrance and critical fabulation. They focus on politics of land, body, and occupation in their work, and their practice is informed by archival research and reclamation of their own Nde (Apache) indigeneity. Enríquez earned their B.A. in Design from California Lutheran University (2018) and their M.F.A. in Fine Arts at George Washington University (2020). They’ve been awarded fellowships and residencies at Hamiltonian Artists in Washington, D.C. (2020–22), The Studios at MASS MoCA (2021), and MoCA Arlington (2022–present). Their artwork has been shown at The Kreeger Museum, Hamiltonian Artists, and Culture House in Washington, D.C.; the Museum of Contemporary Art in Arlington, VA; and Edge on the Square in San Francisco, CA. Enríquez’s practice has extended beyond their artwork into project support and graphic design for the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design at GW as well as for the artist collective Related Tactics (Michele Carlson and Weston Teruya). Recently, after entering the field of geography, Enríquez was part of a team of geographers working with The Nature Conservancy (Maryland/DC chapter) towards completing a report to be presented to legislators and stakeholders titled “SEAFARE (Supporting Equitable Access to Funding for Adaptation Resources)” at the 2024 National Adaptation Forum in Saint Paul, MN. Enríquez has taught at the Corcoran at GW, American University, and George Mason University as an adjunct for the past four years. In their spare time, they’re an avid runner and motorcyclist.
For more info go here.
Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe
National Museum of the American Indian, Fourth & Independence Ave. SW. Open daily, 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (except Dec. 25.) Through Jan. 1.
Water’s Edge is the first major retrospective of the acclaimed Ho-Chunk artist. Lowe’s elegant, minimalist sculptures made of willow branches, feathers, and other organic materials evoke the rivers, streams, and waterfalls of the Wisconsin woodlands where he was raised and the canoes used to traverse them. His sculptures and sensitively rendered pastel and charcoal drawings reflect on cultural traditions, memory, and human relationships to place. Water’s Edge features 50 of Lowe’s sculptures, drawings, and paintings that explore the evolution of and themes within the artist’s work throughout his career. The exhibition brings to light rarely seen monumental works, significant pieces from public and private collections, including 28 from the National Museum of the American Indian’s collection. A companion catalogue offers a range of new perspectives, chronicling the artist’s life and development of his work with scholarly essays and reflections by artists whose work has been impacted by Lowe.
For more info go here.
Kinship
Falls Church Arts, 700-B West Broad St. Through Jan. 4.
Check out Falls Church Arts's new all-media show, "Kinship," featuring "works that reference the bonds between or among communities, families, cultures, or other groups."
Meet the Artists Reception: 7:00-9:00 pm, Saturday, Nov. 22.
Juror: Glen Kessler
Location: Falls Church Arts Gallery and online.
Grandma Moses: A Good Day’s Work
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and F Streets NW. Free admission. Open Daily: 11:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Free admission. Through July 12.
Grandma Moses: A Good Day’s Work sheds new light on a beloved body of work by Anna Mary Robertson “Grandma” Moses (1860 – 1961). Grandma Moses used creativity, hope, and togetherness as tools for shaping a life that she metaphorically likened to “a good day’s work.” The artist’s fame made her a polarizing figure — beloved by the popular press and American public but belittled by the art world and critical press. This exhibition introduces the artist to new generations and examines her legacy in the context of America today.
Grandma Moses: A Good Day’s Work repositions Anna Mary Robertson “Grandma” Moses (1860–1961) as a multidimensional force in American art, whose beloved painted recollections of rural life earned her a distinctive place in the cultural imagination of the postwar era. Drawing its name from Moses’ reflection on her own life as a “good day’s work,” the exhibition reveals how Moses’ art fused creativity, labor, and memories from a century-long life.
Moses began painting in earnest in her late 70s and was 80 when gallerist Otto Kallir introduced her to the American public with her first solo exhibition in 1940. In her artworks, Moses melded direct observation of nature and personal memories, resulting in idiosyncratic, yet engaging, stories of America. “Grandma Moses” as the press would indelibly dub her, quickly became a media sensation, achieving a controversial celebrity status that surpassed the female artists of her day and remains compelling today.
The exhibition is the culmination of a special collection initiative at the museum that began in 2016 and is anchored by 33 artworks from SAAM’s collection, including many of Moses’ most celebrated paintings. It is organized by Leslie Umberger, senior curator of folk and self-taught art, and Randall R. Griffey, former head curator, with support from Maria R. Eipert, curatorial assistant.
A richly illustrated catalogue, published in association with Princeton University Press, is available for purchase ($60) in the museum's store and online.
For more info go here.
Colorburst
Stacy C. Sherwood Center, 3740 Blenheim Blvd., Fairfax, Through Dec. 19.
Colorburst showcases artistic creations across all genres, unified by their emphasis on bold and vibrant colors as the primary thematic element. Carefully curated by The Rogue Art Project, this exhibition features powerful interpretation of color realized through a diverse array of materials, spanning the spectrum from realism to abstraction. EnChroma eyewear available. Open during business hours.
For more info go here.
Material Acts of Resistance: Michèle Colburn
Founders Gallery at Mason Square, Van Metre Hall Lobby, Mason Square Campus, 3351 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington. Open daily, 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Through Feb. 6.
Material Acts of Resistance: Michèle Colburn brings together a selection of mixed-media works that transform the materials of conflict into meditations on endurance, vulnerability, and dissent. Through the use of gunpowder, wire, thread, and burnt paper, Colburn reconfigures symbols of violence into gestures of reflection and renewal. Her practice explores how the act of making can itself become a form of resistance, translating the volatile into the contemplative, and the destructive into the poetic.
Courtesy Arlington Arts.
For more info go here.
Out of Many: Reframing an American Art Collection
The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St., NW. Through: Feb. 15.
Special Exhibition
Coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the United States, Out of Many: Reframing an American Art Collection is a celebration and examination of the beauty and complexity of this nation’s history. Presenting artists well-known and understudied from the permanent collection, Out of Many builds a dynamic story about how, from the early 20th century to the present, various artists have imagined and depicted the people, cultures, landscapes, and histories of the United States. To tell a more diverse constellation of stories, the exhibition includes artworks from the historic collections of African American art at Howard University Gallery of Art and The David C. Driskell Center at the University of Maryland, among other institutions.
For more info go here.
“Bernard (Bernie) Boston Retrospective: A Photojournalist, Social Justice Advocate, and Family Man”
McLean Project for the Arts, 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLean. Open: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Through Feb. 24.
McLean Project for the Arts (MPA) will open its next Atrium Gallery exhibition, Bernard (Bernie) Boston Retrospective: A Photojournalist, Social Justice Advocate, and Family Man, on Thursday, November 6, 2025, with an Opening Exhibition Reception from 4-6:00 pm.
An award-winning photo journalist, Bernie Boston made history by becoming the first African American member of the White House press corps, covering every president from Truman through Clinton. Boston was a long-time McLean resident, and former Chairman of the McLean Community Center Governing Board (1977-1979). The Atrium Gallery exhibit will feature framed photographs from his fascinating, decades-long career.
Phoebe Mills Farris, Ph.D. (Powhatan-Pamunkey) — a retired Purdue University professor emerita, photographer, and freelance art critic — curated the exhibition.
‘We’re very excited about the exhibit. It’s something new for us, as we usually only work with living artists, and Bernie was more of a journalistic photographer than a strictly artistic one. We are delighted to have the opportunity to collaborate and build community with Historic Pleasant Grove Church,” said Nancy Sausser, MPA Artistic Director.
The exhibit is a collaboration between MPA and the Friends of Historic Pleasant Grove Church in McLean and will be held concurrently in MPA’s Atrium Gallery and at the Historic Pleasant Grove Church. An opening reception for the Pleasant Grove Church exhibition will be held Saturday, November 8, 2025, from 3-5:00 p.m., and will include light refreshments. Visit www.historicpleasantgrove.org to RSVP.
The MPA Atrium Gallery is available for viewing during McLean Community Center operating hours. The Historic Pleasant Grove exhibition is available for viewing December 7 and 21, from 2-4:00 p.m.; January 11 and 25, from 2-4:00 p.m.; and February 8 and 22, from 2-4:00 p.m.
Bernard (Bernie) Boston Retrospective: A Photojournalist, Social Justice Advocate, and Family Man runs through February 24, 2026. The McLean Project for the Arts Emerson Gallery Visit www.mpaart.org for exhibition information. To learn more about Bernie Boston, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Boston.
For more info go here.
Imagining Together:
Share Your Memories and Dreams
Final Weekend! ~ Mosaic Arts, The PARC Gallery at Tysons, 8508 Leesburg Pike, Tysons. Through Dec. 13.
MosaicARTs Gallery is proud to partner with Celebrate Fairfax to present Imagining Together: Share Your Memories and Dreams — a community art show that brings together artists of all ages from across the DMV. This special exhibition features work by young artists (ages 7–17) as well as emerging and established adult artists (18+). Through painting, drawing, mixed-media, and more, participants share personal memories and dreams, creating a heartfelt and inspiring collection of stories told through art.
Imagining Together celebrates creativity, connection, and imagination across generations. It’s a space where different voices come together to explore what unites us — and what makes each of us unique. Join us as we celebrate the power of art to bring people together.
For more info go here.
Wild Spaces by Lisa Green
Rare Bird Coffee Roasters, 230 W. Broad St. Free and open to the public. Through Jan. 11.
Local landscape artist Lisa Green will present her new solo exhibition, Wild Spaces, at Rare Bird Coffee Roasters in Falls Church from October 13 through Jan. 11.
Wild Spaces invites visitors to step away from the daily rush and reconnect with the rhythms of the natural world. Through her paintings, Green explores meadows, mountains, and coastlines where shifting light, rich textures, and open space create a sense of presence and wonder.
“Noticing wild spaces, whether they’re vast landscapes or a patch of meadow by the roadside, is essential to my everyday life,” says Green. “When we pay attention to the beauty around us, we build a sense of connection and responsibility. I hope these paintings encourage people to see and value the natural world so that it can be protected and enjoyed by others for years to come.”
The collection includes a range of colorful oil paintings and black and white ink wash paintings, from intimate 8x10 pieces to larger works up to 36x36 inches. All pieces are available for purchase through Green’s website, with QR codes onsite linking directly to the online shop.
Lisa Green is a Herndon–based artist whose work reflects her deep connection to the landscape. Her paintings are collected nationwide and recognized for their luminous color and sense of place.
The exhibition is free and open to the public during Rare Bird’s regular business hours.
For more info go to: www.lisagreenfineart.com.
Rik Freeman: Wade in the Waters
The Phillips Collection, Phillips@THEARC Exhibition, 1801 Mississippi Ave., SE. Free and in-person. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 12-5:00 p.m., and second and third Wednesdays open until 8:30 p.m. Through Feb. 19.
Pioneering D.C. artist Rik Freeman has been creating paintings and murals that focus on the African diaspora for over three decades. Wade in the Waters features artworks that engage themes of history, community, resilience, joy, and faith. The power and rhythm of water flows through the paintings — from the beaches of Bahia to the Anacostia River — sharing stories of both survival and triumph. Through a kaleidoscope of narratives, the exhibition draws from several of Freeman’s series, exploring waterways and their connection to the diaspora over generations.
About Rik Freeman
A native of Athens, Georgia, Rik Freeman began his professional career as an artist in Washington, D.C. in 1989, painting numerous murals throughout the metropolitan area. Some of his most notable commissions are “Ode to Barry Farms” (2016), Barry Farms Recreation Center; “KNOWLEDGE” (2011), Dorothy I. Height Library, “Learn From Your Past” (2011), H.D. Woodson High School, “Shaw Rhythms” (2003), Washington Convention Center; “ARL@200” (2002), Arlington County Courthouse; and “A Libertade de Maria Felipe” (2012), library in Itaparica, Brazil.
Freeman has widely exhibited his works on canvas, including at the Honfleur Gallery, Hill Center, and the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum. From 2008-11, Freeman’s critically acclaimed series “The Chittlin’ Circuit Review,” based on the early history of Blues music, toured seven venues in seven states. Currently he's working on his series “Black Beaches During Segregation,” which began in 2022 with the support of the Honfleur Artist-in Residence fellowship and award. He is also continuing his series “BAHIA!,” about the African contribution to Brazil’s history and culture and based in part on his two residencies at Instituto Sacatar in Itaparica (2011 and 2015).
For more info go here.
Material Witness
Rubell Museum DC, 65 i Street SW. Through Fall, 2026.
Material Witness presents 30 of today’s most compelling and innovative artists employing non-traditional materials and processes. Squid ink, Coca-Cola, ostrich eggs, anointing oil, lipstick, discarded metal, and animal hides are several of the preformed, natural, and unnatural mediums incorporated into three-dimensional works that expand upon the storied legacy of assemblage — a critical approach to artmaking that was first formalized in the 1961 exhibition The Art of Assemblage at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
With echoes of land art, Arte Povera, abject art, and readymades these artists employ industrial waste, organic detritus, and mass-produced commodities to explore formal, environmental, political, and social concerns. Found objects in various entropic states provide the backbone for many of these works, illuminating cycles of consumption, decay, and renewal.
Material Witness spans 23 galleries across the museum’s three floors and presents individual artist rooms as well as group presentations connecting artists who share similar materials and motives. For many of these artists, Material Witness represents their first exhibition in our nation’s capital or at the Rubell Museum.
For more info go here.
Basil Kincaid: Spirit in the Gift
Rubell Museum DC, 65 I Street SW. Through Fall, 2026.
Basil Kincaid: Spirit in the Gift marks the first solo museum exhibition in Washington D.C. for Kincaid (b. 1986, St. Louis, Missouri). Four large-scale quilted artworks created during the artist’s residency at the Rubell Museum in Miami in 2023 will be presented in the D.C. museum’s largest gallery. Kincaid’s work pays homage to the long history of quilt-making while exploring the relationships between identity, ancestry, and place. Some themes are deeply personal and autobiographical, others are more universal, but all evoke the joy inherent in the artist’s love for and nurturing of community. The entailed and labor-intensive process of creating these monumental works is balanced by an improvisational, spontaneous, and fluid quality that runs throughout them. The result is as indebted to freehand drawing and jazz music as it is to patchwork quilt making and embroidery.
For more info go here.
A Land and 河/River
Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art, 12001 Market St., #103, Reston. Through Dec. 20.
Kimberly M. Becoat & Hong Hong
A Land and 河/River explores the powerful and intricate relationship between place, our histories, and imaginings of self. Artist Kimberly M. Becoat uses acrylic paint, sumi ink, and watercolor as well as tar paper, candy wrappers, and other detritus to investigate the idea of urban displacement. Her series, Seneca Village – Everywhere explores the idea of Seneca Village; a 19th Century free-black community of landowners in New York City that was removed for the construction of Central Park. Learn more about Seneca Village here.
Hong Hong’s work 河/River is her first thematic, research-based project that considers her personal relationship with water. The paper-based installation imagines and presents water as a long-form poem, documenting the river as meteorological occurrences, the artists’ birth, her family’s immigration process, and texts she and her mother both love. Hong Hong (whose last name means flood) makes no distinction between our symbolic understanding of water, its nurturing properties, or its ability to destroy or divide.
For more info go here.
Fairfax Art League's New Fall Show
LOCAL MUSEUMS
Building Stories
National Building Museum, 401 F Street NW. Open: Thurs.-Monday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Entry: $10/Adult; $7/ Youth & Seniors; Free access to the Great Hall and Museum Shop.
Building Stories brings kids and adults alike on an immersive exploration of the world of architecture, engineering, construction, and design found in the pages of children’s books. Geared toward an intergenerational audience, with special attention paid to children in grades K-3 and their parents and caregivers.
Curated by the nation’s leading expert on children’s literature, Leonard Marcus, Building Stories is the first national exhibition to call attention to the built environment’s role as an important, and often overlooked, character in children’s literature. By activating these stories and their built worlds, and the early foundations for how we begin to understand our surroundings, Building Stories allows visitors to investigate the role the built environment plays in our own lives and communities — and how we can be agents of change for its more sustainable, equitable future.
The exhibition encourages visitors to interact with familiar classics and new favorites through hands-on activities, media installations, sketching, reading, and building stories of their own. Award-winning author/illustrators David Macaulay and Oliver Jeffers have collaborated on this exhibition to create original environments that will offer insight into their creative processes and engage visitors to better understand the worlds created in books and encourage their role in making a better world.
The exhibition’s primary educational program is the Building Readers Club. A collaboration with the DC Public Library and DC Public Library Foundation, the free club serves as a guide for families interested in further exploring the world of architecture, engineering, construction, and design found in the pages of children’s books.
For more info go here.
Light Up at the National Zoo!
Zoo Lights
Smithsonian's National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Ave., NW, Nov. 21 - Jan. 3, 5:00 - 9:30 p.m., Mondays - Saturdays.; 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Sundays. Last entry 30 minutes before end of event.
Celebrate the holidays at ZooLights! Enjoy twinkling lights and a festive atmosphere as this beloved winter classic returns to the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Journey through magical displays of glowing animal lanterns, watch live musical performances, sip hot cocoa and other festive treats, and explore the Zoo under the dazzling glow of one million environmentally-friendly LED lights.
ZooLights is a family-friendly, conservation-minded holiday tradition — each visit helps support the Zoo’s mission to save species and protect habitats worldwide.
General Admission: $9 per guest (ages 2 and up).
Member Night (Dec. 9–11): Free for members (limit 6 tickets per membership).
Adults-Only Date Night (Dec. 17): $19 per person.
Parking: $30 per vehicle.
For ticket info go here.
WINTER SPORTS
Ice Skating at the Sculpture Garden Ice Rink
National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Rink, 7th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Through March 1 (weather permitting).
Ice Rink Hours: Sunday–Thursday, 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.; Friday–Saturday, 11:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.
Pavilion Cafe Hours: Monday–Thursday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.; Friday–Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.
Fees: Purchase skating passes in person. We only offer advanced, online purchasing for season passes and skating lessons. Fees cover two back-to-back, 45-minute skating sessions that each begin on the hour. Ice maintenance happens the last 15 minutes of each hour. The last full session begins two hours before closing.
- $15: Ages 13+.
- $12: Ages 12 and under, 60+, military service members with ID, students with school ID.
- $250: Season pass.
- $7: Skate rental. Free lockers available first-come, first-served.
For more info go here.
Compiled by Christopher Jones
Member discussion