Winter Activities in DC

As the weather gets colder, ice skating season is starting up! Make sure to check out the ice rinks opening up near you. The Ice Rink at the Sculpture Garden is open now, so if you’re in DC this winter, this is the perfect weekend activity. Take a spin on the ice surrounded by the grand architecture of national museums and monuments and enjoy splendid views of large-scale sculptures from artists in the National Sculpture Garden Gallery. Read more about the Sculpture Garden and the ice rink details and hours here.

The Wharf Ice Rink is DC’s only over-water ice skating rink. From November through February, come to Transit Pier right outside The Anthem and lace up your skates to glide over the ice and enjoy amazing views of the water and monuments. You can bring your own skates or rent them at the rink. This is the perfect location for ice skating as there are hot beverages and seasonal specialties at the nearby restaurants and shops on the Wharf too. The rink is open from Wednesday to Friday each week at different times. Check out the schedule here to see what times the rink is open and also see any special occasions where the rink may be closed along with pricing and directions here.

Enjoy the classic holiday show, ‘A Christmas Carol’ at Ford’s Theatre (at 511 10th St. NW, Washington, DC 20004) this year. The show is playing until December 31st. Featuring famous actor Craig Wallace as Ebenezer Scrooge in the iconic show inundated with music and magic. The program is two hours long with an intermission. Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they lead the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption. View the trailer and get your tickets here.

Visit Dupont Circle’s sixth annual holiday pop-up shopping day on Saturday, December 3rd, 2022 from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The shopping day will have more than 120 vendors on Connecticut Ave and P Street, as well as the Dupont Underground, St. Thomas Church, and The Ven Hotel. Additionally, the Heurich House will hold its annual Christmas market from December 2nd December 4th and charges an admission fee for its juried event. Pop-up vendors sell unique crafted items like jewelry, pottery, paintings, prints, wood work, wellness products, and desserts and tasty treats across the neighborhood in front of retail shops and restaurants. These retail shops and restaurants will also be open for you to visit and do your holiday shopping there as well. Read more about the event here.

One of the most beautiful times to visit the monuments is during the winter, especially when there is snow on the ground and holiday lights shining throughout the city. Bundle up and join us on one of our guided monument tours throughout the nation’s capital. The National Mall features various must-see monuments and memorials like the Lincoln Memorial and the World War II Memorial. A great spot is the US Capitol where visitors can see the pathway lined with trees that beautifully contrasts with the white of the monuments, the Capitol’s architecture, and the winter snow. If you’re looking for a fun and educational way to explore the city’s iconic and historical sites, check out one of our narrated golf cart tours.

These tours are a fun and stress-free way to visit all of the popular sites in DC without needing to create a plan or research on your own. Capitol Express Tours is a local business that will take you to see the iconic monuments and memorials within the city on ​​our narrated tour down Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House to the Capitol and through the heart of the National Mall where you can see various monumental landmarks, memorials, and other sites that show the interesting details of the nation’s capital among the beautiful winter scenery. Book your tour now!