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Things to Do in DC in January

Updated: October 28, 2023

This is a list of the top things to do in January in DC (updated for 2024).

We list some of our favorite winter activities and some events unique to this time of year, including family and budget-friendly events


TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN JANUARY

This section covers our top ten list for January. 

For more ideas on popular things to do in DC, check out our other posts:

Some of the items listed in this post are included for free with the purchase of a tourist discount pass

If you're already planning to buy a discount pass, you can purchase one here: Day Pass Washington, DC Sightseeing | Flex Pass Washington, DC Sightseeing.


Disclosure: While our recommendations are always unbiased, we may receive a small share of sales through some of the links below at no cost to you. See the full text.

Where possible we link to websites that often offer discounted ticket prices (like StubHub). While we are unable to confirm their prices are the best, they are all verified ticket resellers .


1. Go to a Sporting Event

D.C. is a major sports town, with sporting events taking place throughout the year.

Basketball

Hockey

Football

Check out this list for even more tickets to January sporting events in DC.


2. See a Concert

The DC area sees some amazing musicians visiting and living in the city.

Some of the concerts featured in January may be be hosted at theatres such as Birchmere Music Hall, Anthem, Capital One Arena, and the Wharf.

Pop/Rock/Country Concerts

Classical/Opera Concerts

*You can visit even if you're not attending a show, and might enjoy our self-guided tour of the Kennedy Center. The rooftop terrace view is one of our favorites!

Music Festivals/Other

  • Say Anything | January 27th |Warner Theatre | film screening with John Cusack
  • Super Magfest | January 18th-21st | National Harbor Music and Gaming Festival running 24 hours a day

Find even more January concerts in the DC area here.

If you're looking for more evening activities, check out our full post.


3. See a Theatrical Production

The DC area has a large number of venues that draw all sorts of talented and fascinating people.

In January, you are sure to find some interesting events to attend.

Musicals

Plays/Other

Family-Friendly

  • Shen Yun | January 26th, 27th, 28th (DC)

Find other theatre performances in January here.


4. Take a Free Walking Tour

We offer a limited but still pretty fun-packed schedule of tours during the winter months.

During the month of January, we have tours covering the National Mall, Georgetown, Capitol Hill, Arlington Cemetery, and other notable sites in DC.

You may also want to consider our Ghosts of Georgetown tour which covers some of the more haunted history of the area.

Find out more about our DC Tour schedule on our Tour Calendar page.

For our comprehensive list of activities and attractions, visit our free things to do in DC post.


5. Ice Skating Rinks

January is the perfect month to bundle up, lace up your skates, and head to one of the D.C. area’s popular winter ice skating rinks.

Most rinks are open every day in January, so take advantage of a crisp winter day with a skating adventure!

Admission ranges from $8 to $20 and skate rentals generally start at $4.

Find out more about Ice Skating Rinks in DC on our blog post.

If you're looking for more family-friendly things to do, take a look at our full post.


6. Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend 

Monday, January 15th, 2024, is a day when we honor the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

The day has become a national day of community service in the United States, with opportunities to volunteer and give back available throughout the D.C. area. 

A few suggestions for honoring MLK during MLK weekend:

The Martin Luther King Jr Memorial

This memorial is free and open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, along the edge of the Tidal Basin.

This memorial is included in our All-in-One Tour and Tidal Basin Tours.

Washington National Cathedral 

This is the church where King, who had a doctorate in theology, preached his last Sunday sermon before his assassination in 1968.

Use our guide for a self-guided tour and more information about the National Cathedral.

MLK Holiday DC Parade and Festival 

This free annual peace walk & parade begins at noon on January 15th.

Before the parade, there is usually a peace walk that is coordinated by the Coalition for Peace to promote peace and positivity among D.C.’s youth.


7. Go to Monster Jam

Fans of monster trucks will be happy to hear that the popular motorsports event Monster Jam will be coming to the Capital One Arena on January 19th, 20th, and 21st.

This show features several popular monster trucks such as Grave Digger, Dragon, And Just Get-er-Done performing a variety of stunts and competing in contests to see which driver pulls of the most impressive feats.

Audiences even get to decide who wins some of the competitions!

Click here for tickets.


8. Enjoy a Comedy Night

Who doesn't love to laugh? Several great comedians will be in the Washington, DC area this January, so this is an excellent time to enjoy some stand-up comedy.

Comedy Shows

Comedy Theatres

Find even more comedy shows in January in the DC area here.


9. Attend the Washington Auto Show

If you enjoy everything about cars, you'll enjoy the Washington Auto Show.

There will be two levels of luxury and exotic vehicles, concept and classic cars, and much more.

Events take place January 19th-28th at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Visit the Washington Auto Show website for more information.


10. Save Money with a Tourist Discount Pass

Tourist attraction discount passes bundle together popular area attractions and tours into one discounted price - they can also save you up to 50%.

They also can save you time with skip-the-ticket-line access to select activities.

Attractions you can see with these passes include:

  • CitySights Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour
  • International Spy Museum
  • The Capital Ferris Wheel
  • George Washington’s Home

We detail how these passes work and help you decide which, if any, is best for you.

If you already understand how much these discount passes save, you can purchase one here: Day Pass Washington, DC Sightseeing | Flex Pass Washington, DC Sightseeing.


Washington DC Restaurant Week

DC is slowly becoming known as a "foodie" town and this January you have a chance to try some of the best restaurants in the city at affordable prices.

You'll find fixed-price menus for brunch, lunch, and dinner at over 200 restaurants.

Find out which restaurants will be participating and be sure to make reservations as seats fill up fast!

The dates haven't been released as of September 2023, but you can expect it to take place sometimes around mid-January 2024.

Visit the Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week page for more information.

Tip: If you sign up with the Restaurant Association you can earn rewards.


THINGS TO DO AT NIGHT IN JANUARY

There are a number of things to do in DC at night. 

Some of the most popular evening activities include:

  • Visiting the Memorials at Night
  • Attend a Professional Sporting Event
  • See a Free Concert at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage

For additional details and more ideas on how to spend your evening, make sure to check out our master things to do at night in DC post.


Take a Night Tour

Our 5:30 pm Memorials and Moonlight tour lets you explore the National Mall after the sun sets.

With the memorials lit at night, there is an extra level of beauty, and at some of the veteran's memorials, an added sense of reverence.

Or, take our uber-popular Lincoln Assassination Walking Tour.

We also offer family-friendly Ghosts of Georgetown and an adults-only White House at Night Scandals tour.

Reserve a spot now!


See Georgetown Glow Light Experience

Georgetown GLOW takes place December 1st - January 7th.

This free curated outdoor light art exhibit takes place throughout the Georgetown neighborhood.

There are also GLOW events like yoga or a silent disco and some late-night shopping options.

We offer a Georgetown Glow and Street Art Tour. Each creation has a theme or a story behind its creation, so this is the perfect time to take a GLOW-related walking tour through Georgetown.


Visit the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center

You’re invited for a free performance.

The schedule runs the gamut from jazz and soul to opera and plays productions.

There is also yoga, film screenings, art markets & more at The Reach.

Check the schedule ahead of time and plan your visit around something that appeals to your taste.


FREE THINGS TO DO IN JANUARY

With a little planning, there are a lot of free activities available to do in DC.

Some of the events we’ve mentioned in this post, like our walking tours, are free of charge!  

There are plenty of free activities and attractions in DC:

  • Go to the Free Museums
  • Take a Public Building Tour
  • Admire the Cathedrals and Franciscan Monastery 

Below are a few more ideas for free activities in January but for our comprehensive list, visiting our free things to do in DC post.


Visit Ford’s Theatre

Visitors to D.C. are often surprised to learn that the site of Lincoln’s Assassination is not just a historical site to visit but also a working theatre, which presents shows throughout the year.

Ford’s Theatre offers a number of discounts for tickets, including discounted preview performances, group discounts, under 35, active military, D.C. teachers, and more.

They also partner with TodayTix to offer discounted tickets through the TodayTix app.

Take our Lincoln Assassination Walking Tour to learn more about this historic building and what led to the tragic events that night.

For more nighttime activities, visit our things to do at night in DC post.


Visit a Museum

While DC doesn't get too cold in December, it's nice to spend a chilly day inside exploring one of our many free Smithsonian museums.

Explore on your own or go on a guided tour. Some of our favorites are the American History, Natural History, and Air & Space Museum.

It's also the slow season, so you can enter museums that usually require tickets without reservations, like the Holocaust Museum and the African American History & Culture Museum.  


Attend a Performance at the Kennedy Center

As mentioned above, there's a lot to do at the Kennedy Center.

The Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center has free concerts every night at 6 pm. There is a list of shows on their website

Arrive a little early so you can take our self guided tour of the Kennedy Center and watch the sunset from the rooftop terrace!


FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES IN JANUARY

DC offers a lot of family-friendly activities and attractions any day of the year.

Here are a few more family-friendly ideas for January.

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There are plenty of attractions and activities kids will find fun:

  • Kid-Focused Sections of the Smithsonian Museums
  • Exploring Mount Vernon
  • The Smithsonian's National Zoo
  • Family-Friendly Ghost Tours

For more details about the above list and even more activity ideas, read about Visiting Washington DC with Kids.


Visit the National Zoo

While the zoo is mostly outdoors, there are some indoor exhibits to warm up as you explore.

Most importantly, you'll have the animals to yourself. Avoid the crowds that flock to see the Pandas in the summer and learn more about those animals who thrive in winter.

Baby animals born last year are finally old enough to come out to public view, leaves have fallen off the trees so you can see animals with an unobstructed view, and you may even see tropical animals adapting to the snow!

For more activity ideas, read about Visiting Washington DC with Kids.


Go to the Top of the Washington Monument

The Washington Monument is one of the most iconic monuments in Washington, DC.

This 555' (170 m) obelisk honors George Washington, the commanding general for the Colonies during the American Revolution and our very first president.

It is usually open to the public and free to go into and boasts the best view of Washington, DC. We have a post that explains how to get tickets and how to plan your visit.


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About The Author

Canden Arciniega

Follow On Instagram | I'm a historian & tour guide in Washington DC with 4 published books about the city. I have written for HuffPost Travel and have been featured in the Washington Post, WTOP, and numerous other DC papers. I've also been interviewed by the BBC, NPR, Travel Channel and Discovery Family Channel. I am the producer of the podcast, Tour Guide Tell All. I am an authority on D.C. history, and have led tours in the city since 2011. I currently resides in DC, but have also lived in London and South Korea, and have traveled to over 28 countries and every US State but Hawaii. I homeschool my 2 children by exploring the plethora of museums in DC. Read More...
Updated: October 28th, 2023
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