Family Events

Thursday/Dec. 10

Holiday Market Bootcamp. 12-1 p.m. at Gateway Park, 1300 Lee Highway. A professional trainer will lead participants through High Intensity Interval Training – a cardio workout designed to burn as many as 1,000 calories per class. Free. Visit www.rosslynva.org for more.

Children’s Winter Open House. 3:30-5:30 p.m. at Westover Branch Library, 1644 N. McKinley Road. Children are invited to an afternoon of drop-in crafts. Free. Call 703-228-5260 for more.

Friday/Dec. 11

“Miracle on 23rd St.” 6-9 p.m. at Linden Resources, 750 23rd St. S. This Arlington tradition features The Grand Tree Lighting Ceremony, Santa on an Arlington County Station 5 fire truck, music, entertainment, and more. Free. Visit www.linden.org/event/miracle-on-23rd-street for more.

Saturday/Dec. 12

National Wreaths Across America Day. 9 a.m. at Arlington National Cemetery. Northern Virginia scouts and their families join active and retired servicemen and members of the Mount Vernon and John Alexander Chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution to place wreaths upon the graves at the Arlington National Cemetery. Free. Visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org for more

Winter Wonderland. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Market Common Clarendon, 2800 Clarendon Blvd. Welcome Santa Claus as he arrives on an Arlington County Firetruck and join Santa for holiday pictures, enjoy ornament decorating, a hot chocolate bar, and listen to carolers. Free. Visit www.marketcommonclarendon.com.

Sunday/Dec. 13

Lessons and Carols. 10:30 a.m. at Walker Chapel United Methodist Church, 4102 N. Glebe Road. The Walker Chapel Choir and the Falls Church Concert Band ensemble will lead an Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols. Free. Call 703-538-5200 or visit www.walkerchapel.org.

Nutcracker Tea. 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Ritz-Carlton–Pentagon City, 1250 S. Hayes St. Guests are invited to enjoy “high tea” followed by a mini-performance of The Nutcracker by BalletNova. Meet the performers and visit the Nutcracker Treasures table. Tickets are $72 for adults, and $42 for children. Visit www.balletnova.org.

“Winter Wonders.” 4-5 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 3439 Payne St., Falls Church. NoVA Lights Chorale presents “Winter Wonders,” a program of winter fun, winter landscapes, and winter holidays, and includes jazz, swing, and global songs. Free. Visit www.novalightschorale.jigsy.com.

OAR Gift Wrapping Event. 6:30-8 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Church, 4000 Lorcom Lane. Offenders Aid Restoration (OAR) Gift Wrapping Event for children of incarcerated. Participants may bring a gift or wrapping paper to contribute. Visit www.taggassociates.com/oar1.html.

Candlelight Mass. 7 p.m. at Marymount University Main Campus, 2807 N. Glebe Road. Mass will be followed by hot chocolate and caroling. Free. Visit www.marymount.edu for more.

Thursday/Dec. 17

A-SPAN Client Holiday Party. 10 a.m. at St. Borromeo Catholic Church, 3304 Washington Blvd. Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network seeks volunteers for a Client Holiday Party to serve the holiday meal, distribute the gifts and otherwise assist at the function. Visit www.a-span.org for more.

Saturday/Dec. 19

Breakfast With Santa & Holiday Food Drive. 8-11 a.m. at The Village at Shirlington, 2700 S. Quincy St. Make a donation of non-perishable food items and enjoy Breakfast with Santa. Free. Call 703-820-0440 and ask for Mallorie or select option 2 for the sales department to make your reservation.

Live Music

Dec. 8-Jan. 24

Christmas With Nova Y. Payton and Friends. Various times at Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave. Star of “Dreamgirls” and “Hairspray” sing some of her favorite holiday tunes including “This Christmas,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” and “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.” Tickets are $35. Visit www.sigtheatre.org for more.

Friday-Saturday/Dec. 11-12

Holiday Chorale Concerts. 7:30 p.m. on Friday at the United Christian Parish, 11508 N Shore Drive, Reston; 3 p.m. on Saturday at Kenmore Middle School Theatre, 200 S. Carlin Springs Road. Encore Chorale, the nation’s largest choral singing program for adults age 55+, will present two Northern Virginia holiday concerts. The programs will feature holiday and seasonal pieces including Rise Up and Follow that Star, Ose Shalom, and A Musicological Journey Through the 12 Days of Christmas. Guest artist for both concerts will be violinist Heather Haughn of the West Shore Trio. Free. Visit www.encorecreativity.org for more.

Saturday/Dec. 12

National Chamber Ensemble: “Happy Holidays.” 7:30 p.m. at Rosslyn Spectrum Theatre, 1611 N Kent St. 13 year old pianist and Lang Lang Foundation Scholar, Avery Gagliano will perform with the ensemble and receive the first National Chamber Ensemble Young Artist Achievement Award. Tickets are $33 for adults, and $17 for students. Visit www.nationalchamberensemble.org for more.

Sunday/Dec. 13

Visit From Santa. 1-4 p.m. at Potomac Overlook Park, 2845 Marcey Road. Take photos with Santa. Reservations required. Tickets are $5 per visitor. Visit www.nvrpa.org for more.

“Holiday Cheer.” 4 p.m. at Unitarian Universalist Church, 4444 Arlington Blvd. The Metropolitan Chorus performs. Free, but donations accepted. Visit www.metchorus.org for more.

“Songs of Light and Peace: A Celebration of Hanukkah.” 4 p.m at Calvary United Methodist Church, 2315 S. Grant St. The choir Mizmor will celebrate the end of the festival of Hanukkah. Free. Email farnick@hotmail.com.

Wednesday/Dec. 16

Holiday Sing-Along. 11 a.m.-12 p.m. at Culpepper Garden Senior Center, 4435 N. Pershing Drive. Adults 55+ are invited to sing along to holiday favorites. Free. Visit parks.arlingtonva.us for more.

Friday/Dec. 18

Forum Christmas Concert. 7-10 p.m. at FORUM Arlington, 3304 Washington Blvd. The Suspicious Cheese Lords will perform sacred and secular Christmas songs. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Visit www.arlingtonforum.org.

Performing Arts

Dec. 10-20

Truman Capote: “Holiday Memories.” 7:30 p.m. or 2 p.m. at Theatre on the Run, 3700 S. Four Mile Run Drive. Based on short stories by Truman Capote this show features Capote as a boy abandoned by his family in Depression-era Alabama. Tickets are $10-35. Visit www.wscavantbard.org for more.

Friday-Saturday/Dec. 11-12

BalletNova: “Nutcracker Petite.” 5 p.m. on Friday, 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday at BalletNova’s Fredgren Studio Theatre, 3443 Carlin Springs Road, Falls Church. BalletNova will present a series of mini-performances of the classic tale appropriate for a pre-school audience. Tickets are $15 for children 12 and under, $20 for everyone else. Visit www.balletnova.org.

“Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge.” 7-9 p.m. at Wakefield High School, 1325 S. Dinwiddie St. This version of Dickens’ Mrs. Cratchit is angry, stressed-out woman who wants to escape poverty and suffering. Tickets are $10. Call 703-228-6700.

Second City: Holidazed & Confused. 7:30 p.m. on Friday; 4 p.m., 7 p.m., and 10 p.m. on Saturday at Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike. Sketch and improv comedy ensemble the Second City will perform a Holiday Revue. Tickets are $30. Visit www.arlingtondrafthouse.com for more.

Friday-Saturday/Dec 18-19

Second City: Holidazed & Confused. 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Friday; 4 p.m., 7 p.m., and 10 p.m. on Saturday at Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike. Sketch and improv comedy ensemble the Second City will perform a Holiday Revue. Tickets are $30. Visit www.arlingtondrafthouse.com for more.

Saturday-Sunday/Dec. 26-27

Second City: Holidazed & Confused. 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Saturday; 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday at Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike. Sketch and improv comedy ensemble the Second City will perform a Holiday Revue. Tickets are $30. Visit www.arlingtondrafthouse.com for more.

Sunday-Tuesday/Dec. 27-29

Virginia Ballet Company: “The Nutcracker.” 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Campus in the Ernst Community Cultural Center Theater, 8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale. Virginia Ballet Company and School with present its 66th season of “The Nutcracker.” Tickets are $30 for adults, $20 for children, plus $3 service fee. Visit www.vaballet.org for more.

Holiday Shopping

Dec. 5-13

Holiday House Arts and Crafts Show. Various times at Fort CF Smith Park, 2411 24th St., N. The Holiday House is a juried art & craft sale by local artisans. Free. Call 703-243-7329 for more.

Thursday-Friday/Dec. 10-11

Rosslyn Holiday Market. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Friday at Gateway Park, 1300 Lee Highway. Find live jazz, numerous food trucks, a “pop-up boot camp,” Santa Claus photo opportunities, a bonfire, and more. Free to attend. Visit www.rosslynva.org for more.

Saturday/Dec. 12

Holiday Bazaar & Crafts Fair. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Arlington Career Center, 816 S. Walter Reed Drive. Shop local artisans. Free. Visit www.columbia-pike.org for more.

“Shopping, Scones, and Saints.” 5-6 p.m. at Joyful Spirit Gifts, 3315 Lee Highway. Partake in refreshments, shop, and learn about women saints of Advent with Melanie Rigney, author of “Blessed Are You: Finding Inspiration from Our Sisters in Faith” and “Sisterhood of Saints: Daily Guidance and Inspiration.” Free. Visit www.joyfulspiritgifts.com for more.

Saturday-Sunday/Dec. 12-13

Hendry House Holiday Market. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Fort C.F. Smith Park, 2411 N. 24th St. Attend a crafts show throughout the manor house. Free. Visit www.arlingtonva.us for more.

Saturday/Dec. 19

Last Chance Holiday Bazaar. 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at Lyon Village Community House, 1920 N. Highland St. The “Last Chance Holiday Bazaar” will feature local artisans selling handmade gifts. Free. Email irenesdogs@comcast.net.

Arts & Crafts

Saturday/Dec. 12

Giftmania! 12:30-3 p.m. at Arlington Arts Center, 3550 Wilson Blvd. Children ages 4-10 will create a handmade gift for a loved one. Tickets are $50. Visit www.arlingtonartscenter.org for more.

Food & Drink

Saturday/Dec. 19

Candy Cane Crawl. 1-9 p.m. at 3100 Wilson Blvd. Attend a holiday-themed bar crawl. Tickets are $20 in advance, $30 at the door. Visit www.candycanecrawl.com for more.

Thursday/Dec. 31

New Year’s Eve at the Drafthouse. 7:30 p.m. at Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike. Watch New Year’s Eve celebration from around the world on the Drafthouse theater screens. Tickets are $15. Visit www.arlingtondrafthouse.com for more.

New Years’ Eve Bond Ball. 8 p.m.-2 a.m. at Westin Arlington Gateway, 801 N. Glebe Road. Find signature cocktails, champagne, and more. A VIP ticket buys a three-course meal. Tickets are $199-219 plus service fee. Visit www.newyearsevedmv.com for more.

New Years’ Eve Casino Night. 8 p.m.-3 a.m. at Hyatt Regency Hotel, 2799 Jefferson Davis HIghway. Find casino games, show girls, karaoke, burlesque, and more. Tickets are $60-$150. Visit www.eventbrite.com/o/social-architects-terry-frasier-1124509851

New Years’ Eve MADsquerade Ball. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. at Mad Rose Tavern, 3100 Clarendon Blvd. Celebrate the New Year with food, drinks, and a live showing of the Ball Drop in Times Square. Tickets start at $35. Visit www.madrosetavern.com.