The annual marketplace features about 60 vendors each day on the sidewalk in front of the National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum. (Photo courtesy of Diverse Markets Management)

The DC Lineup for this weekend: holiday markets, Montessori and a giant maze

By Jennifer Anne Mitchell On Nov 21, 2019 Last updated Nov 25, 2019

The holiday season is in full swing this pre-Thanksgiving weekend with ice skating and Christmas light displays getting underway — plus multiple markets for getting started on seasonal shopping. Other options for the next few days, Nov. 22 to 24, include a jog to clean up the C&O Canal, as well as opportunities to learn about educational offerings in DC and the history of impeachment in the United States.

There will be showers Friday and Saturday followed by a mostly sunny Sunday, according to the latest weather report. Temperatures will range from 32 to 54 degrees.

1. Culture: The 2019 Beijing Day Cultural Festival celebrates 35 years of Beijing and DC as “sister cities.” The fest includes Chinese musicians, crafts, traditional games and face painting from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. It is free and open to all ages. Sponsors include the Office of the DC Secretary and the Beijing Municipal Government.

The DC Punk Rock Flea Market on Saturday will feature nearly 50 vendors. (Photo by Ryan Zellman)

2. Food Drive: The DC Punk Rock Flea Market is a vendor marketplace that will be collecting food donations for We Are Family DC, an organization that supports inner-city senior citizens. The nearly 50 vendors range from the DC Public Library’s DC Punk Archive and Icky Earrings to Grave Mistake Records and Zeke’s Coffee. Admission is free, but visitors are encouraged to bring donations (whole grain cereals, peanut butter and canned goods are suggested). Saturday’s event takes place from noon to 5 p.m. at St. Stephen & the Incarnation Episcopal Church, 1525 Newton St. NW.

3. Education: Representatives from public, independent and charter schools serving pre-K through 12th grade will answer questions about their institutions at the Ward 7 School Fair, organized by the Ward 7 Education Council. Visitors can learn about feeder patterns, extracurricular offerings, before- and after-school care programs, and teaching models. The gathering is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday at Kimball Elementary School, 3375 Minnesota Ave. SE.

4. Recreation: The Wharf Ice Rink officially opens to the public on Tuesday with daily hours through February. Residents of Southwest DC can get a special preview of the rink this Sunday at Southwest Skate Night. From noon to 9 p.m., anyone with proof of residency in Southwest DC can borrow skates and hit the rink for free. Sessions last for about 50 minutes and begin each hour on a first-come, first-served basis. Adults must accompany anyone under 16.

5. Recreation: Join Outdoor Voices this Saturday for a jog of less than 2 miles through the C&O Canal National Historical Park. Organizers invite the runners to “plog” — that is, to collect trash while jogging, a practice popularized in Sweden and imported to the United States in recent years. Saturday’s ploggers will be given gloves and trash bags, and after the jog all participants will be invited to the Outdoor Voices shop in Georgetown for a catered lunch by Chaia Tacos. This event is held in partnership with the National Parks Conservation Association. Attendees will gather at 10:30 a.m. at Outdoor Voices, 3025 M St. NW. The free event should last until about 12:30 p.m. Dogs and kids are welcome.

6. Education: The panel discussion “Montessori and the Black Community” will highlight Montessori programs in the Washington area. Experts in the field along with parents and community advocates will engage with the public about this creative approach to learning. The free event from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday takes place in Room 117 of Miner Hall on the Howard University campus at 2400 6th St. NW. Light refreshments and on-site child care will be provided. The event organizer, Wildflower Schools DC, aims to bring Montessori “micro-schools” to neighborhoods throughout the District.

The 15th annual Downtown Holiday Market opens Friday and continues through Dec. 23. (Photo by Jennifer Anne Mitchell)

7. Holiday Market: The 15th annual Downtown Holiday Market opens early this year, a week before Black Friday. Starting Nov. 22 and continuing through Dec. 23, the outdoor marketplace operates daily from noon to 8 p.m. around 8th and F streets NW. Over 150 regional artisans, crafters and boutique businesses are featured along with music and seasonal treats. The selection of products varies, with 60 exhibitors there each day on a rotating basis. The DowntownDC Business Improvement District and Diverse Markets Management produce the event.

8. History: Take a break from watching the ongoing impeachment hearings by learning about the history of impeachment on a Sunday tour from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the National Portrait Gallery, 8th and F streets NW. The nonpartisan, nonpolitical community organization Washington, DC History & Culture is hosting this visit because “current events have brought the word ‘impeachment’ into the news,” according to the event description. In addition to noting the impeachment process of three former U.S. presidents (and their portraits in the gallery), the tour will shine light on past impeachments of federal judges and on calls for impeachment investigations of other presidents. Tickets cost $10.

9. Holiday Market: The Junior League of Washington (JLW) hosts its Holiday Shops this weekend at Union Market, 1309 5th St. NE. The group says this is the last year for the 61-year-old event, explaining that it doesn’t fit into JLW’s evolving fundraising model. The grand opening is from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday, and then the marketplace continues from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. General shopping tickets for Saturday and Sunday cost $5; tickets for Friday’s event (which includes a silent auction) cost $75. Tickets for Saturday’s “Fur Family Photo” opportunity for pets to pose with Santa cost $25. Proceeds support JLW’s work to improve the local community through volunteerism and awarding grants to DC-area nonprofits.

10. Seasonal Event: Enchant Christmas turns Nationals Park into “The Great Search,” a Christmas light maze that the organizer is calling “the world’s largest maze.” Visitors are challenged to help find Santa’s reindeer in the 90,000-square-foot maze. Additionally, there is a market featuring over 40 local artisans including the White House Historical Association, the Capital Candy Jar, Cherry Blossom Creative and artist Marcella Kriebel (known for her food-related illustrations, including the forthcoming book Small Batch: People and Recipes From Around DC). An ice skating trail and dining options are also part of the event. Ticket prices range from $14.99 to $33.99, with discounts available for military and emergency personnel, students and families. Debuting this weekend, “The Great Search” is open from 4:30 to 11:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday; after Thanksgiving, it will operate daily the same hours from Nov. 29 through Dec. 29 (except for Dec. 2 and 9). Nationals Park is located at 1500 South Capitol St. SE.