The hectic holiday season may be coming to a close, but 2026 is starting strong with plenty of arts and cultural events, community service days and celebrations honoring MLK Jr. So, crack open that new planner and start filling it in.
D.C. Road Runners New Year’s Resolutions 5K
Lace up and start the new year on the right foot with a 5K on Jan. 1 at noon. The race begins in the Washington-Liberty High School parking deck and heads west to the Custis Trail before looping back to the school. Registration is $10; free for D.C. Road Runners members. 1301 N. Stafford St., Arlington (Ballston)
PJs, Pizza and Pours at Timber Pizza
Stay cozy in your PJs and head over to this McLean pizzeria for a festive holiday pajama lunch between 1:30 and 3 p.m. on New Year’s Day. Adults can enjoy pours of their favorite brews while the kids eat free pizza. 8100 Old Dominion Drive, McLean
Winter Block Party
The McLean Community Center is kicking off the new year with the return of its fifth annual Winter Block Party on Jan. 3, 1-4 p.m. Sip hot chocolate, see ice-carving demos and warm up with s’mores by the firepits. If Santa didn’t fulfill all your wishes, shop the children’s business fair for fun finds. 1234 Ingleside Drive, McLean
Last Train Home at The Birchmere
The alt-country band will take the stage Jan. 3, 7:30 p.m., led by former Washington Post music critic Eric Brace. $35. 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria
1946 Arlington: The First Crack in the Byrd MachineÂ
Catch this Arlington Historical Society lecture to learn how Arlington’s political and educational structures were reshaped in the wake of World War II. In 1946, after four years of a world war, the citizens of Arlington worked to change the county’s governance structure and school system. The effort led to a new nonpartisan election format that would control local politics for decades. Learn more on Jan. 8, 7-8:30 p.m. Marymount University’s Reinsch Library Auditorium, 2807 N. Glebe Road, Arlington (Ballston)
80s Rewind—A Totally Rad Comedy Murder Mystery at Arlington Drafthouse
Solve the crime at this “killer” high school reunion at the Arlington Drafthouse. The hilarious and totally tubular whodunnit reunites the fictional Class of 1985, which includes characters from movies and TV shows of the time. Catch it Jan. 8, 7 p.m. Tickets are $32 or $43. 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington
Disney’s High School Musical Jr. at Encore Stage & Studio
The students of East High break through cliques and find their individuality in this high-energy musical Jan. 9-18. Tickets are $13-$16. Students can enjoy a pre-show experience Jan. 10 or 16 for $9 in advance or $10 at the door. Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre, 125 S. Old Glebe Road, ArlingtonÂ
Passport Music Festival at Creative Cauldron
Folk, Latin, jazz, soul, blues and global musicians take the stage as part of Creative Cauldron’s 14th annual global music festival Jan. 9-Feb. 1. The lineup, curated by Wammie Music Award-winning jazz power couple Ken Avis and Lynn Veronneau, includes guitarists Dave Chappell and Anthony Pirog, folk-pop duo The Kennedys, and soul artist Cecily. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets start at $30. 127 E. Broad St., Falls Church
Women Artists of the DMV
Falls Church Arts heralds the new year with diverse works by 60 female artists based in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Curated by D.C.-based artist and critic Florencio Lennox “Lenny” Campello, this group show kicks off with a “meet the artists” reception on Jan. 10 from 7-9 p.m. and will be on display through Feb. 22. Discover works in a wide range of media, including oils, acrylics, photography, collage, watercolor, gouache, prints, mixed media and terra cotta. This is the 19th installment of an exhibition series that began in 2025 and thus far has included more than 600 works by 400+ artists in a succession of DMV art venues. Admission is free. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 700-B W. Broad St., Falls Church
MLK Day of Service
Volunteer Arlington, a public/private partnership of the Leadership Center of Arlington and Arlington County, will host this annual community service event convening Jan. 19, 8:30 a.m.-noon, at Washington-Liberty High School (although some projects will take place off-site). Register now for family-friendly service activities such as packaging food for food banks and assembling welcome baskets for people moving into affordable housing communities. Participants ages 13 and older must create an account to register. 1301 N. Stafford St., Arlington (Ballston)
Annual Martin Luther King Day March for Social Justice, Unity and Racial Healing
Gather at the Tinner Hill Monument on Jan. 19, noon-3:30 p.m., to march for social justice. The commemorative walk begins at the Falls Church monument honoring the location of the nation’s first rural branch of the NAACP, and progresses a short two or three blocks (strollers and pets welcome). After the march, hear from guest speakers and musical performers. 510 S. Washington St., Falls Church
Nashville-Style Songwriters-in-the-Round at the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington
Hosted by Arlington singer-songwriter Sara Fridrich, one half of the String Mamas, this Jan. 23, 7-9 p.m., event features original music and storytelling. Four local songwriters will take turns playing their tunes and talking all things music and life. Free. 3550 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Virginia Square)
Mosaic Polar Plunge
Support Special Olympics Virginia’s 20,000-plus athletes by taking a chilly dip in an above-ground pool on Jan. 24 in the Mosaic District. The cost to participate is a $100 minimum donation. Check-in is from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and plunging starts after that. 2910 District Ave., Fairfax (Mosaic)Â
Fiddler on the Roof at Signature Theatre
A poor Jewish milkman strives to honor tradition while confronted with a changing world and the rise of anti-Semitism in Czarist Russia. Iconic songs such as Sunrise Sunset and If I Were a Rich Man resonate in this classic story of family, community and resilience. Tickets begin at $40. See website for show times through Jan. 25. 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington)
14th Annual McLean Chocolate Festival
Chocolate most certainly makes winter temps more tolerable. On Jan. 25, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., visit the McLean Community Center and tempt your sweet tooth with live entertainment, lessons on chocolate’s history and a children’s game room. Admission is $3. 234 Ingleside Ave., McLean
Kinky Boots at Capital One Hall
Tap your toes to this Tony Award-winning musical based on the true story of two people with seemingly nothing in common—a drag queen and the heir to a failing shoe factory who join forces to save the business from bankruptcy. Performances are Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. See website for show times. Tickets start at $83. 7750 Capital One Tower Road, Tysons
Bernard (Bernie) Boston Retrospective: A Photojournalist, Social Justice Advocate and Family Man
The McLean Project for the Arts presents the photography of award-winning photojournalist Bernie Boston, the first African American member of the White House press corps. A longtime McLean resident, Boston covered every president from Truman through Clinton in the course of his storied career. The exhibit will be on display in the Winter Atrium Gallery through Feb. 22. 1234 Ingleside Ave., McLeanÂ