Georgetown Begins and Brightens Its Season’s Greetings

The oldest neighborhood in Washington, D.C., now sports the newest and largest ice skating rink in the region at Washington Harbour down by the Potomac River. Along with its festive store fronts and nicely lighted homes, the intersection at Wisconsin Avenue and M Street is also sporting an illuminated ornament and bows above the traffic.

The rink is the latest addition to Georgetown, which has traditionally decked itself stylishly for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice and New Year’s Eve. Whether business receptions, parties or persons meeting at a restaurant after shopping, Georgetown has been the place to meet for decades. This year, the venues have only apped up their seasonal cheer and flair.

The ice skating rink at Washington Harbour held its own inauguration of sorts Dec. 1 with strolling entertainers, ice skating performances, choral singers, a St. Lucia procession and lighting effects, along with special food and beverages served outdoors by Washington Harbour restaurants. At 11,800 square feet, the Washington Harbour ice rink is D.C.’s largest outdoor ice skating venue, larger than New York City’s Rockefeller Center rink. It is managed by the complex’s owner, MRP Realty. The rink will be open through February for recreational skating every day, including all holidays. For more information, visit TheWashingtonHarbour.com/skating.

The House of Sweden added to Saturday’s with female singers performing a St. Lucia procession from the embassy to the steps and dockside in front of the ice rink. Among the weekend’s Yuletide cheer was a wreath-making workshop at Tudor Place. Santa Claus came to Volta Park on the morning of Dec. 2, and St. John’s Church held its American Boychoir: Family Christmas Concert.

And there are, of course, many parties and family get-togethers to come.