Bay State Blissfest at Montgomery County Agricultural Center
The immersive LuminoCity Festival debuted in New York City in 2019, and made its D.C.-area debut at Roer’s Zoofari in Vienna two years later. This season, the light show is coming to the Montgomery County fairgrounds, promising more than two dozen experiences, including a tunnel of doughnuts and a bamboo forest filled with life-size animals. Through Jan. 15. $24-$49; free for children 3 and younger.
Tree lighting and Santa parade at Mosaic
Santa rides by on a firetruck at the Fairfax retail and entertainment space’s first celebration of the holiday season, soon followed by a tree lighting. After the parade, meet ol’ Saint Nick in the Target lobby and snap a photo for the holiday card. There are also live performances by composer and cellist Benjamin Gates, the Metropolitan School of the Arts and salsa music from Izis de La Enfermera. 6 to 9 p.m. Free.
24th annual Gingerbread House Contest and Show at Darnall’s Chance
Darnall’s Chance, a historic home in Upper Marlboro, is closed for restoration this fall but is making an exception for its Gingerbread House Contest and Show. The annual display features whimsical structures made from completely edible materials — you won’t even find lollipop sticks — dreamed up by adults, children and families working together. Last year’s entries included a wedding scene, a retro camper and even a miniature Darnell’s Chance. Cast your vote in a viewer’s choice competition, but remember: No sampling. Nov. 24-26, Dec. 1-3 and Dec. 8-10 from noon to 5 p.m. $2 adults (cash only); free for children 4 and younger.
Black Friday at ChurchKey
Black Friday is a big deal for lovers of big, burly stouts. ChurchKey is opening early at noon — think of it as a beer lover’s doorbuster — and putting 10 stouts on draft, including rarities like the Prairie and Perennial collab Bombraxas, an imperial stout with coffee, chocolate, ancho chile and cinnamon, and a bourbon barrel-aged version of Great Lakes’ Blackout Stout. Bartenders are also pouring 15 more stouts from bottles, such as hard-to-find selections from Anchorage, the Veil and De Struise. If you want to categorize a trip to the bar as “holiday shopping,” there’s a 10 percent discount on to-go bottles. And don’t worry: Both drafts and select bottles are available in 4-ounce samples, so you don’t go overboard. Noon. Free; beers priced individually.
White Ford Bronco at 9:30 Club
Gather up high school friends who are back home for Thanksgiving for an evening of singing Third Eye Blind’s “Semi-Charmed Life” at the top of your lungs during White Ford Bronco’s upcoming 9:30 Club gig. On the Friday after the holiday, D.C.’s most popular cover band will play all the ’90s hits, from Ace of Base to Weezer. This is a big year for the band, marking its 15th year of getting D.C. audiences dancing to the chart-toppers of 1998. 8 p.m. $25.
‘A Christmas Carol’ at Olney Theatre Center
This classic telling of Charles Dickens’s ghost story is maybe the most traditional of the bunch — it’s performed the way Dickens himself recited the story on his world tour, as a solo show. About 99 percent of the text is drawn from the original novella, and Paul Morella plays 51 separate characters. In a show now celebrating 14 seasons, here’s what’s new this year: design elements like dry ice, shadows and fog, plus richer lighting design. It’s a “pop-up book come to life,” Morella writes. Select days through Dec. 31 with performances at 3 and 7:45 p.m. $40-$55.
‘The 35th Annual Nutcracker’ at the Puppet Co.
A combination of marionettes, oversize costumed dancers and fairy tale friends are the secret to this production in Glen Echo Park, which has been delighting families for more than three decades. To make everyone feel welcome, there’s a sensory-friendly production on Dec. 3, and a “mask required” week from Dec. 14 to 17. Through Dec. 31. $15; free for children younger than 2.
Crafting for the Holidays at the Library of Congress
Join Library of Congress staff to learn about items related to the holidays in the Library’s collection, then join in a family crafting activity in the Great Hall to make items related to Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa. Friday and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Free; timed registration tickets required.
Old Town Alexandria’s Plaid Friday
It’s a big weekend for holiday shopping in Alexandria. On Friday, the Plaid Friday promotion brings deals at more than 50 boutiques and shops, including the kid-centric Hooray for Books!, yarn and fibers at Fibre Space, fashions at Shoe Hive and American in Paris, and artists throughout the Torpedo Factory, with some opening at 6 a.m. The bargains continue on Small Business Saturday. Hours vary. Free.
Black Friday holiday market at Right Proper Brewing
Right Proper Brewing hosts a selection of D.C. makers, including bags and wallets by Stitch and Rivet and watercolor prints by Marcella Kriebel, at its Shaw brewpub. The event includes brunch dishes and live music by soulful vocalist Laquavia Alston. Noon to 4 p.m. Free admission.
Barrel Aged Blending Class at Atlas Brew Works Ivy City
The taproom is offering an event for beer enthusiasts — learn how to barrel-age brews from the company’s quality assurance expert and find out how different flavors develop during the aging process. The blend created in class will be bottled and available for pickup once it’s ready. 3 to 6 p.m. $60.
“Donna Vs. Diana” Disco Party at DC9
Grab your platforms and bell-bottoms for a party celebrating the music of Donna Summer and Diana Ross. The Queens of Disco are mixed by DJ Phoenix on DC9’s second level. 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Free in advance; $5 day of.
