There is ALWAYS something so magical about the holiday season. Washington, DC makes it pretty great with their annual Downtown Holiday Market. When my best friend Hannah and I arrived for its second day (Saturday November 19), we were whisked away into Washington, DC’s version of a European-like holiday village such as those I see in travel magazines.
The Downtown Holiday Market is located on F Street NW between 7th and 9th Streets just outside the National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM). It is just a few blocks away from the Gallery Place Metro Stop, located on the Red, Green, and Yellow lines. From 12pm-8pm everyday with the exception of Thanksgiving Day and December 5 from November 18-December 23, 2022, the Downtown Holiday Market is an outdoor market which supports small businesses across the Washington, DC area. The aisles and booths include food (including German delights and churros!), shopping, and live music. According to the Downtown Holiday Market’s website, “this year’s retail lineup will feature more than 70 exhibitors including Black-owned and minority-owned businesses.” It is ALSO the holiday market’s 18th year! At the same time, the Downtown Holiday Market offered a plethora of festive decorations, whether it be Nutcrackers, reindeer, candy canes, or gold stars that are PERFECT for photo opportunities. Read more about it here: http://downtownholidaymarket.com/
Since we went on its first Saturday of the year, the Downtown Holiday Market was pretty busy when Hannah and I got there. We mainly just walked around as I’m not a big fan of crowds, yet I enjoyed the atmosphere and holly jolly cheer. I did get a chance to stop into The DC Pop-Up – a collective of women-owned and minority-owned Washington, DC area makers – and picked up a few things for myself and one of my friends for Christmas. I ended up talking to one of the shop collective’s makers and she like the rest of their crew there was super sweet. Supporting women-owned and minority-owned makers are two of my FAVORITE THINGS! While we didn’t go this time around, visiting the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum which are two connecting museums with a cafe and atrium in between is a GREAT way to spend part of your day since it’s just right there. Instead, Hannah and I went to my FAVORITE burger joint on me insisting – Shake Shack!
I most definitely want to come back to the Downtown Holiday Market – it offered such Washington, DC Holiday charm and provided such a great way to spend the holiday season. Whether it be with family, friends, or a significant other, coming to the Downtown Holiday Market is a FREE way to spread some holiday cheer this year!
XOXO – Katie <3