The BID unveils new features and activations for the 20th anniversary of the DowntownDC Holiday Market and announces weekly main stage performances, a giant mistletoe art installation, and an indoor skating rink coming downtown for the holidays.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, October 23, the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) hosted “Mingle & Jingle: DowntownDC Holiday Market Press Preview,” a festive VIP event at Riggs Washington DC. This gathering welcomed media, city leaders, and downtown stakeholders to celebrate the return of the DowntownDC Holiday Market, which will feature over 100 vendors, an updated design and expanded footprint, and new attractions.
This year, the DowntownDC BID is partnering with one of the nation’s leading market operators, The Makers Show, to expand and diversify this year’s event, and to bring an elevated and updated look and feel to the DowntownDC Holiday Market. The Makers Show is a mixed-use market platform founded by women committed to diversity and supporting the growth of small businesses.
“We’ve really leaned in this year to say how can we amplify something that people already love about downtown. This holiday market has been a beloved tradition now celebrating 20 years,” said Gerren Price, President and CEO of the DowntownDC BID. “We want to amplify [the holiday market] to make it even more special, highlighting all the great things that happen throughout our downtown core in our different cultural institutions that our businesses support, and really talk about [the market] as a total ecosystem of holiday fun that everybody in the city, the region, and the world can be a part of.”
New features coming to the DowntownDC Holiday Market include:
- Dedicated food vendors with festive treats, including raclette (hot cheese over bread), colorful s’mores, empanadas, churros, waffles, etc;
- The Winter Chalet by Dirty Habit at Hotel Monaco, a central market bar offering holiday-inspired drinks and cocktails, with a comfortable and cozy seating area;
- Sounds of the City: Holiday Style, live entertainment on the main stage, presented by the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment;
- Reindeer Games children’s activity area;
- Chilling with My Snowmies photo opportunity installation;
- A Made in DC booth by the Department of Small and Local Business Development; and more!
During the DowntownDC Holiday Market, the DowntownDC BID will host a number of additional festive activations in the area, welcoming all to #BeDowntownfortheHolidays. Activations include:
- Frosted at Franklin Illumination | November 22 – December 20, 2024
- National Mistletoe Activation at Anthem Row (formally TechWorld Plaza) | Special Launch in November 2024
- Winter Pop-Up Activations at Anthem Row | Nov. 30, Dec. 7, Dec. 14, and Dec. 21, 2024
- Holiday Hype by the DC Department of Parks and Recreation | December 2024
- DowntownDC Holiday Skate Spectacular in partnership with the National Building Museum | December 16, 2024 – January 4, 2025
“[We’re] working with all types of organizations and nonprofits to bring more family-focused events to downtown,” said DC Mayor Muriel Bowser in her remarks. “It is true we have great night life; it is true we have wonderful restaurants, but we’re also a city that wants to attract and welcome families.”
Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto, Deputy Mayor Nina Albert, and Rosemary Suggs-Evans, Director of the Department of Small and Local Business Development also provided remarks. Additional speakers included Deputy Mayor Lindsey Appiah; Latoya Foster, Director of the Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment; Aileen Fuchs, President and Executive Director of the National Building Museum; Rachel Hartman, Executive Director of the DowntownDC Foundation; and My Ly, multidisciplinary design artist.
Elyscia Jefferson, a rising contemporary urban vocalist/songwriter and contestant on season 25 of NBC’s “The Voice,” kicked off the event with a performance of classic holiday songs. More photos from the event can be viewed HERE.
DowntownDC Holiday Market Details
- Registration: Via Eventbrite. Click HERE!
- Hours: Open daily from November 22 – December 23, 12:00 noon – 8:00 p.m. Closed on Thanksgiving Day.
- Location: Penn Quarter-Chinatown, F Street NW (Between 7th and 9th Streets NW).
- Nearest Metro Station: Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro Station (Red/Yellow/Green lines) via the 7th and F St Exit.
For more information about the DowntownDC Holiday Market, check out:
- Press preview livestream on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiJGSUeGiJ4.
- Press release: DowntownDC Holiday Market Returns with 100+ Vendors, Updated Look, and New Features.
- Holiday market website: www.downtowndcholidaymarket.com.