This Christmas weekend is shaping up to be one for the record books in the D.C. area. AAA predicts that record numbers of people will travel for the holidays, including about 41% of the District’s population. Those of us still in Washington could see record-breaking warmth that will turn dreams of a white Christmas into a reality of a wet Christmas, with a chance of rain predicted through the weekend.
As expected, a lot of go-to weekend spots in the area are closed for the holidays, setting the stage for a quiet weekend on the Hill. But if the rain lets up, this could be a perfect year to leave the fireplace behind and explore what the Capitol Hill area has to offer to those who stick around for the holidays. Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of this Christmas weekend in the area:
Events
Check out our guide on how to eat and drink your way through the holidays in the Capitol Hill area for the best Christmas food and drink specials in the area.
Canal Park Ice Rink
Canal Park (200 M St. SE)
Navy Yard’s ice rink at Canal Park will be open throughout the weekend. Hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday, 12-9 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday.
Akeelah and the Bee
Arena Stage (1101 6th St. SW)
This is the last weekend to catch the play based on the film about an 11-year-old from Chicago who goes from growing up in the projects to the national spelling bee. There are two performances on Saturday and Sunday.
The Gospel of LovingKindness
Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St. NE)
This play tells the story of a 17-year-old from Chicago who goes from singing for the president at the White House to being held up for his sneakers back home.
Government Services
- Friday trash collection will be pushed back to Saturday
- Circulator buses will not operate on Friday
- Parking restrictions will not be enforced on Friday
Metro
- Trains will run on their normal weekday schedules
- On Friday (Christmas) Metro trains and buses will run on Sunday schedules
- There is no scheduled track work over the weekend, so all lines will run on normal weekend schedules
Photo via Architect of the Capitol
Whether you’re looking for a cooked goose or Chinese food for Christmas or champagne for New Years, the Capitol Hill area is full of restaurants opening their doors for the holidays with special menus and deals.
Here’s our list of the best holiday specials across the area:
Christmas
Bistro Cacao
320 Massachusetts Ave. NE
Bistro Cacao will have a three course holiday dinner from 4-10 p.m. Christmas Eve for just under $45 per person.
Cafe Berlin
322 Massachusetts Ave. NE
The Capitol Hill German restaurant will serve a three-course dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas with traditional German holiday favorites for $39 per person.
Mr. Henry’s
601 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
The Capitol Hill restaurant will serve a three-course Christmas Eve dinner with reservations available from 6:30-10 p.m. Reservations can be made online.
Osteria Morini
301 Water St. SE
If you aren’t planning on going out for Christmas dinner but still want to impress relatives with dessert, Osteria Morini is selling desserts for Christmas. Orders must be placed online before Monday, Dec. 21.
Star & Shamrock
1341 H St. NE
D.C.’s only Jewish-Irish pub will hold its fifth annual Xmas Mitzvah starting at 11 a.m. Christmas Day. The pub promises “Chinese-ish” food, movies and drinks.
New Year’s
Barrel
613 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
Barrel on Capitol Hill will serve an all-you-can-eat New Year’s Eve dinner from 9 p.m.-3 a.m. with an open bar. Tickets are available online for $106. The restaurant will also have a bottomless brunch on New Year’s Day starting at 10:30 a.m. Tickets are available online for $64.
Bistro Cacao
320 Massachusetts Ave. NE
The French eatery will also have a five-course New Year’s Eve dinner from 5-11 p.m.
Bluejacket Brewery
300 Tingey St. SE
Navy Yard Brewery Bluejacket will hold their annual New Year’s Eve bash with an open bar, snacks, live music and a champagne toast from 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Tickets are available online for $115.
Due South
301 Water St. SE
Due South will open its kitchen from 4 p.m.-12:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve offering both its regular winter menu and a special prix-fixe menu. On New Year’s Day, the restaurant will serve brunch from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. while showing SEC college football games.
Maketto
1351 H St. NE
Hip H Street restaurant and fashion boutique will have an open bar and food at its New Years Eve party from 7 p.m.-3 a.m. Tickets are available online for $90.
Mr. Henry’s
601 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
Mr. Henry’s will also serve a three-course New Year’s Eve dinner with two seatings from 6-7 p.m. and 8:30-10 p.m. Reservations can be made online.
Ocopa
1324 H St. NE
Peruvian restaurant Ocopa will have a New Year’s Eve meal for $45 per person with optional Pisco pairings for an additional $25.
Sonoma
223 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
Sonoma restaurant and wine bar will have several New Year’s Eve dinners. A four course dinner before 6:30 p.m. will cost $90 while a five-course dinner after 6:30 p.m. will cost $110. Wine pairings for either dinner will cost $65.
201 Bar
201 Massachusetts Ave. NE
The 201 Bar will host its annual 70s themed “Studio 201” New Year’s Eve Party from 8 p.m. to close with throwback cocktails and dancing.
Photo via Flickr/ toniblay
With the Christmas trees going up and the holiday markets packed with gifts, the holiday season is in full swing in the Capitol Hill area. However, the winter temperatures haven’t caught up with us yet. The Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang expects this weekend to be sunny and relatively warm, with highs in the 50s on Saturday and the 60s on Sunday.
The warm weather can’t put a stop to the holiday festivities this weekend, though. Whether you’re stocking up on Hannukah presents before Sunday, tracking down a tree for Christmas or just enjoying some outdoor fun, there are plenty of options to turn this weekend into an early holiday. Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of this weekend in the Capitol Hill area:
Events
For info on where to buy a tree or gifts this weekend, check out our Holiday guide.
The Wharf (690 Water St. SW)
Saturday 5-8 p.m.
Join us at The Wharf for a magical night of merriment on the Potomac River. Now in its 24th year, the annual Parade of Lights kicks off at the docks of Old Town Alexandria and concludes at the District’s Southwest waterfront.
Gallery O on H (1354 H St. NE)
Saturday 6-11 p.m.
Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure that accompanies Saint Nicholas during the Christmas season, warning and punishing bad children. He will be coming to Gallery O on H on Saturday, December 5 for a night benefiting Santa’s Cause, a local nonprofit that serves the foster children of Family Matters of Greater Washington.
Southeast Library (403 7th St. SE)
Saturday 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Learn what happens to your digital assets after death, and how you can create and protect the priceless memories on your computer, phone, social media accounts, and email.
Canal Park (202 M St. SE)
Saturday-Sunday 12-6 p.m.
Named the “Christmas future of holiday markets” by Washington Post Express in 2014, PARCEL Market will light up Canal Park’s three blocks with holiday cheer among the 10,000 square-foot ice rink, cozy fire pits, interactive art installations, and a festive showcase of DC’s emerging talent in retail, food, art, and musical entertainment.
Deck the North Hall Holiday Celebration
Eastern Market (225 7th St. SE)
Sunday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Eastern Market is Hosting the ‘Deck the North Hall – Holiday Celebration’ every Sunday starting from November 29 to December 20. This Sunday enjoy cookie decorating, ornament making, gift wrapping and holiday music.
Looking for a new home in the Capitol Hill area or just want to see what your neighbors’ houses look like inside? We’ve highlighted a few open houses this weekend to get you started. But be sure to check out our real estate section for a full listing.
Road Closures
Parts of Pennsylvania Avenue SW and Independence Avenue SE near the National Mall will be closed from about 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday for the Jingle All The Way 5K
Metrorail
- Red Line trains will run every 18 minutes
- Orange, Silver and Blue line trains will run every 20 minutes
- Yellow and Green line trains will operate at regular weekend intervals
In case you couldn’t tell from the trees, lights, markets and decorations, there are some holidays coming up. Hanukkah starts on Sunday and the Christmas season began sometime in the past few weeks, depending on who you ask. It’s clear that the holiday season is in full swing in the Capitol Hill area. Here’s everything you need to know to prepare for and celebrate the holidays in the area:
Where to Buy a Tree
Capitol Hill Cub Scout Pack 230 will be selling Christmas trees, wreaths and tabletop trees this weekend at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation at 212 East Capitol St. NE. The sale will be open from 5-8:30 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Pre-orders can also be placed online. Proceeds from the sale will help buy uniforms and pay for camping trips for scouts who otherwise can’t afford them.
The Brent Elementary School Parent Teacher Association will also be selling trees and Christmas and Hanukkah decorations from the Brent playground at 301 North Carolina Ave. SE. Sales will be open from 4-7 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tree delivery within Capitol Hill is also available for $15.
As in years past, trees are also being sold at Eastern Market this weekend.
Where to Shop
PARCEL Market at Canal Park
Canal Park (202 M St. SE)
Saturday and Sunday 12-6 p.m.
Named the “Christmas future of holiday markets” by Washington Post Express in 2014, PARCEL Market will light up Canal Park’s three blocks with holiday cheer among the 10,000 square-foot ice rink, cozy fire pits, interactive art installations, and a festive showcase of DC’s emerging talent in retail, food, art, and musical entertainment.
363rd Street Store
452 2nd St. NW
Sunday 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
The Street Store concept originated in Cape Town, South Africa almost two years ago and has since been replicated hundreds of times in cities around the world! This one day event is a free pop-up clothing store designed specifically for those with low or no income. It simultaneously functions as a drop-off location for donations, in an effort to bring both sides of the community together.
Events
24th Annual Parade of Lights
The Wharf (690 Water St. SW)
Dec. 5, 5-8 p.m.
Join us at The Wharf for a magical night of merriment on the Potomac River. Now in its 24th year, the annual Parade of Lights kicks off at the docks of Old Town Alexandria and concludes at the District’s Southwest waterfront.
DC Krampuslauf
Gallery O on H (1354 H St. NE)
Dec. 5, 6-11 p.m.
Krampus is a horned, anthropomorphic figure that accompanies Saint Nicholas during the Christmas season, warning and punishing bad children. He will be coming to Gallery O on H on Saturday, December 5 for a night benefiting Santa’s Cause, a local nonprofit that serves the foster children of Family Matters of Greater Washington.
Deck the North Hall Holiday Celebration
Eastern Market (225 7th St. SE)
Dec. 6, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Eastern Market is Hosting the ‘Deck the North Hall – Holiday Celebration’ every Sunday starting from November 29 to December 20. This Sunday enjoy cookie decorating, ornament making, gift wrapping and holiday music.
The Holidays in Concert
Holy Comforter – St. Cyprian Church (1357 East Capitol St. SE)
Dec. 7, 7-8:30 p.m.
The 257th Army Band, “The Band of the Nation’s Capital” presents The Holidays in Concert, a seasonal mix of classical and popular holiday favorites. Featured groups from the 257th Army Band include the Concert Band, Brigadier Brass, the Capital Woodwind Quintet, and the Capital Messengers. The concert is free and open to the general public; no tickets will be issued. Donations of non-perishable food items to Holy Comforter’s pantry are most welcome.
Hanukkah Happy Hour on the Hill
Capitol Lounge (229 Pennsylvania Ave. SE) and Stanton & Greene (319 Pennsylvania Ave. SE)
Dec. 7, 6-9 p.m.
The biggest party of the Hanukkah season, now in two locations, promises fun and drink specials on the second night of Hanukkah. Attendees are asked to RSVP on Facebook and bring warm winter clothing to donate.
Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show
Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St. NE)
First performance: Dec. 10, 8 p.m.
Final performance: Dec. 22, 7:30 p.m.
A new take on the holiday season! DC’s internationally-known percussive dance company invites you to celebrate the holidays with clapping, stomping and all around fun for all ages featuring their furry friends from the Animal Kingdom, and a special dance party with DJ Frosty the Snowman!
Photo via Flickr/69706122@N00
Mixed-Use Building With Apartments, Movie Theater Approved for NoMa — The District Board of Zoning Adjustment approved a planned development at the intersection of N and 1st streets NE that will include office and retail space, 210 apartments and a seven screen movie theater. [Urban Turf]
Help Decorate the Canal Park Christmas Tree Saturday — Canal Park in Navgy Yard will light it’s Christmas tree on Saturday night, but first it needs help decorating. Residents are asked to bring an ornament and a donation for a canned food drive to the park on Saturday. [JDLand]
Visiting Italian Winemaker to Hold Tasting at Eastern Market’s Radici Market — Italian winemaker Sandro Tasoniero will host wine tastings at Radici Market in Eastern Market this weekend. [Hill Rag]
Capitol Hill Activist Will Hill: 1932-2015 — Will Hill, a Capitol Hill neighborhood activist who represented Hill East on ANC 6B for 21 years and led orange hat neighborhood patrols, died on Nov. 24. [Hill Rag]
Brent Elementary to Raise Money with Weekend Christmas Tree, Hanukkah Gift Sale — The Brent Elementary Scholl PTA will hold a Christmas tree and holiday sale tomorrow through Sunday at the Brent Elementary playground to raise money for programs at the school. [Capitol Hill Corner]
Capitol Hill Residents Hold Bake Sale to Pay for Prosecution Data — Capitol Hill residents are holding a bake sale to find out what percentage of crimes and arrests in the area actually result in prosecutions. [Hill Now]
Capitol Hill Agenda is a listing of interesting events for the week ahead in the Capitol Hill area. If you’d like to see your event featured, fill out our event submission form.
For more events, be sure to check out our event calendar.
Wednesday
Magic & Miracles Benefit
Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St. NE)
Time: 6-9 p.m.
Join WAMU’s Kojo Nnamdi and community leadfers at the 8th annual Magic & Miracles benefit for Ready, Willing and Working, a group that provides job training and opportunities to formerly homeless and incarcerated individuals. Tickets can be purchased online.
U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting
U.S. Capitol West Front
Time: 5 p.m.
The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree will be lit by the Speaker of the House during a ceremony on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol.
Thursday
Author Talk: Collecting Shakespeare
Riverby Books (417 East Capitol St. SE)
Time: 6 p.m.
The newly-reopened Riverby Books on Capitol Hill will host Stephen H. Grant, author of “Collecting Shakespeare: The Story of Henry and Emily Folger.”
Saturday
24th Annual Parade of Lights
The Wharf (690 Water St. SW)
Time: 5-8 p.m.
Join us at The Wharf for a magical night of merriment on the Potomac River. Now in its 24th year, the annual Parade of Lights kicks off at the docks of Old Town Alexandria and concludes at the District’s Southwest waterfront.
Digital Estate Planning
Southeast Library (403 7th St. SE)
Time: 12:30-1:30 p.m.
Learn what happens to your digital assets after death, and how you can create and protect the priceless memories on your computer, phone, social media accounts, and email.
Saturday-Sunday
PARCEL Market at Canal Park
Canal Park (202 M St. SE)
Time: 12-6 p.m.
Named the “Christmas future of holiday markets” by Washington Post Express in 2014, PARCEL Market will light up Canal Park’s three blocks with holiday cheer among the 10,000 square-foot ice rink, cozy fire pits, interactive art installations, and a festive showcase of DC’s emerging talent in retail, food, art, and musical entertainment.
Sunday
Deck the North Hall Holiday Celebration
Eastern Market (225 7th St. SE)
Time: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Eastern Market is Hosting the ‘Deck the North Hall – Holiday Celebration’ every Sunday starting from November 29 to December 20. This Sunday enjoy cookie decorating, ornament making, gift wrapping and holiday music.
Monday
The Holidays in Concert
Holy Comforter – St. Cyprian Church (1357 East Capitol St. SE)
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.
The 257th Army Band, “The Band of the Nation’s Capital” presents The Holidays in Concert, a seasonal mix of classical and popular holiday favorites. Featured groups from the 257th Army Band include the Concert Band, Brigadier Brass, the Capital Woodwind Quintet, and the Capital Messengers. The concert is free and open to the general public; no tickets will be issued. For more information, visit http://hcschurch.org/ or call 202-685-8646. Donations of non-perishable food items to Holy Comforter’s pantry are most welcome.
Photo via Facebook/ The Wharf DC
Hill Now is closed today in observance of Christmas.
All D.C. government offices are closed. No fees are required at parking meters, all Department of Parks and Recreation facilities are closed and trash service is suspended. Note that any blockage of the H Street streetcar, like parking over the white line, will be enforced from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
We wish you a warm day at home with your friends and families. To anyone working today in public safety, national security, retail, restaurants and anywhere we missed: thank you.
Photo via Flickr/69706122@N00
By Meredith Somers
So you didn’t get those coveted tickets to the Washington National Cathedral Christmas Eve service. Wondering what to do with your guests once the presents are opened and you still have the weekend together? Whether you feel like belting out carols or telling ghost stories, here are some ways to spend this week on the Hill:
Ghost Hunt: “A Christmas Carol” might seem like the only appropriate ghost story for the holiday season, but the organizers behind Scary DC say otherwise.
Spaces are still open for the group’s evening walking tour of Capitol Hill on Saturday, Dec. 27.
“Scary DC is a combination of an educational experience and a fun ghosting experience,” said Gabe Schoenberg, president of Scary DC. “The idea is we have a historian who’s done research into the ghostings and hauntings of Capitol Hill.”
The tourists are guided at night around some of the Hill’s most well-known spots, including the U.S. Supreme Court building and the Congressional office buildings.
“It’s 90 minutes outside, but people forget about the cold,” Schoenberg said.
Midnight Mass: St. Peter’s on Capitol Hill has a 7 p.m. Vigil Mass on Christmas Eve.
“It’s very quiet,” said Lynn Freeman, rectory manager. “It’s for those who would prefer something not that noisy.”
The Catholic church will start its version of Midnight Mass with carol singing at 10 p.m. The 313 2nd St. NE church gets a lot of visitors, Freeman said. “People who come in to town for family, fiances or for their best friends from college.”
The church is decorated for the holiday, with red poinsettias against the creamy marble of the church interior.
“The church is quite lovely,” Freeman said. “It looks like Christmas.”
Church on Christmas Day: St. Mark’s Episcopal Church at 301 A St. SE will host a combined Christmas Day service with Christ Church on Capitol Hill.
“Our Christmas Eve services tend to be a bit more rambunctious,” said Rev. Rebecca Justice Schunior, associate rector at St. Mark’s. “So, the Christmas Day service is a quieter, more contemplative celebration.”
Community Service: Moishe House Capitol Hill is hosting a Day of Service on Christmas Day. Beginning at 1:30 p.m. at the Washington, D.C. Jewish Community Center, volunteers are encouraged to come down and help make gifts for children staying at the Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health. The community center is located at 1529 16th St. NW, Washington.
Merry Caroling: At 11 a.m. Dec. 28, the first Sunday after Christmas, Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church will host a Christmas Stories and Songs event at 201 4th St. SE.
“It’s old-fashioned caroling. It definitely has a more informal tone,” Pastor Andrew Walton said. “It’s a chance for people to name their favorite Christmas carol. People can also share their favorite Christmas story.”
Elliott Warley Jr. never expected to go into the Christmas tree business. But once a year, he takes a month off work to sell trees outside Eastern Market.
After all, it’s a family tradition that stretches back more than three decades.
His father, Elliott Warley Sr., started the stand in 1983 after he bought a farm in West Virginia.
Warley Sr.’s accountant told him he could pay lower taxes on the land if he started a business. When he noticed some firs on the property, he decided to try his hand at selling Christmas trees.
Since its inception, the younger Warley — now a D.C. firefighter — has toiled at the stand. He was a teenager when his father started the business. He concedes that at the time, he would have rather hung out with his friends.
“It kept me out of trouble, though,” said Warley, now in his 40s. “Pops knew that.”
Three years ago, when it came time to take over the business for his father — who worked in the president’s Office of Administration — Warley jumped at the chance.
Warley and his crew can be found outside Eastern Market’s North Hall every year from Black Friday to Christmas Eve. It isn’t always bright and cheerful. Business was slow this year. Last year was his best year selling trees, and this year may be his worst, he said.
One pitfall of selling trees throughout the holidays is Warley has gotten little time to enjoy the festivities himself. Still, he looks forward to every time he can make a sale.
“I like giving somebody a nice tree, something they can really enjoy,” he said.
Warley expects to sell trees outside Eastern Market for as many years as he can. When he’s done, he knows who’s next in line: his 24-year-old son.
“He doesn’t know that yet,” Warley said. “And he probably doesn’t want to. But I didn’t want to do this at first either.”
At least 10 Marines will stand guard at the gates of the Marine Barracks on Thursday, as Capitol Hill residents open their Christmas stockings and enjoy a day off work.
In an interview on the 6-acre compound, Hill Now spoke with three Marines who will be on duty Christmas Day.
Cpl. Joe Grilo, 24, will miss a low-key day of presents with his wife, who’s expecting their first child in February.
“After being on post more than three years, I’ve missed so many holidays,” Grillo said.
The Florida native will supervise Lance Cpl. Alec Andrzejek and Lance Cpl. Jake Andrzejek, 20-year-old twin brothers in their first year at the 8th and I street SE barracks.
Standing on post for 8 to 12 hours any day of the year is just part of the job, Jake Andrzejek said.
“Everybody who serves, they miss an important day, whether it’s a holiday or a birthday,” he said.
He and his twin, who share a room in the Marine Barracks Annex, will be absent from a day of church and family meals in their native Minnesota.
The long shifts can be monotonous, the infantry Marines admitted. Conversations with neighbors help break up the day.
“People come up and talk with us,” Grilo said. “It’s a good way to pass some time.”
Sympathetic neighbors have offered the Marines food and drinks as they stand guard, and the new Barracks Row business District Doughnut brought a whole box of treats.
“I’ve had people offer me a beer from The Ugly Mug, though obviously I can’t take that,” Grilo said.
The Marines are allowed to take store-bought sweets, but homemade Christmas cookies might not be in their future on Thursday.
“If it’s homemade, we can’t necessarily accept it,” Jake Andrzejek said.
(Updated at 12:45 p.m.) Your Christmas tree purchase can help boys go to Cub Scout camp.
Cub Scout Pack 230, a troop for Capitol Hill boys in first through fifth grade, will sell fraser and balsam fir trees and seasonal wreathes this weekend at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation (212 E. Capitol St. NE).
Proceeds from the sale will go into a fund to help families of the 65-member troop pay for uniforms and camp next summer, assistant den leader Del Voss said.
“We really don’t want any child to not be able to participate because their family can’t afford to,” he said. “If you have kids and you want to get them involved in activities, it’s always a couple hundred bucks. This helps.”
The sale being held for the first time this year will run today (Friday) from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The trees trucked in from North Carolina stand 5 to 9 feet tall and are “very uniform,” Voss said.
Photo courtesy of Cub Scout Pack 230
Boats covered in Christmas lights and ornaments will float up the Potomac River this weekend.
The Parade of Lighted Boats will take place Saturday, with fake snowfall and a full agenda of free activities, including gingerbread cookie decorating, photos with Santa and a bonfire with s’mores.
The boats will set sail in Old Town Alexandria and hit the Southwest waterfront about 6 p.m. The best viewing can be had at the Southwest Waterfront Seawall Promenade at 600 Water St. SW, organizers said.
The free annual event is hosted by Hoffman-Madison Waterfront and Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association.
“It is a 22-year tradition for families in the District to kick off the holiday season with events and entertainment that blend the magic of lighted boats on the Potomac and merriment on land,” Monty Hoffman, managing partner at Hoffman-Madison, said in a statement.
The event is co-produced by the Washington Waterfront Association and Old Dominion Boat Club. For full information, see the event website.
Photos courtesy of Alexandria DC Holiday Boat Parade of Lights and via Facebook/Alexandria DC Holiday Boat Parade of Lights
The National Christmas Tree won’t be lit until Tuesday, but a tree a little further east will boost the holiday spirit sooner.
The 27-foot evergreen tree near the Eastern Market Metro station will be lit Saturday evening, according to the Capitol Hill Business Improvement District.
The BID will host a night of carols, doughnuts, coffee and hot chocolate starting at 5:30 p.m. at 8th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue SE. Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton and City Councilman Tommy Wells are expected to attend, the BID’s website says.
The carols will be led by the Maryland based “professional carolers” group Joyous Voices and the Washington Youth Choir.
The tree is named “Big George,” in honor of the BID’s founding president, George Didden III.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
The National Christmas Tree arrived in the District today and was set up on the West Front of the Capitol building. Video from NBC Washington shows a crane lifting the tree off a flatbed truck.
The 88-foot-tall white spruce was trucked more than 2,800 miles from Minnesota’s Chippewa National Forest, zigzagging across the eastern half of the country to make more than 20 stops at schools, hospitals and city halls, the tree’s official website says.
A good National Christmas Tree is hard to find, Capitol Grounds Superintendent Ted Bechtol told NBC.
“It was the best of all the candidates in terms of the overall form. I’m looking for something with a nice conical shape,” he said. “It’s got to really look terrific from all sides. You can’t stuff it back in the corner next to the sofa.”
The tree will be lit for the first time at a ceremony Tuesday, Dec. 2. Then, it will be illuminated from dusk until 11 p.m. daily through Jan. 1.
