DowntownDC Holiday Market extends season to 40 days
The Penn Quarter festival runs from Nov. 13 to Dec. 23, featuring over 115 independent vendors and expanded food options.
By Lorenzo Patterson ·
Washington's holiday retail calendar typically peaks in December, but the 2026 DowntownDC Holiday Market is now operating on a longer schedule. The event has extended its run to 40 days, marking its longest season to date.
The market occupies F Street NW between 7th and 9th Streets, closing the roadway to vehicles and transforming the area into an open-air shopping district. It opens on Wednesday, Nov. 13, and closes on Dec. 23. The event is free to the public but will pause for operations on Thanksgiving Day.
Organizers are hosting more than 115 independent small businesses, craft makers, and regional artisans in upgraded vendor kiosks. Produced in partnership with The Makers Show, the lineup includes handcrafted jewelry, original art prints, bespoke ceramics, winter apparel, candles, and home decor. The vendor mix balances emerging craft businesses with local companies that return to Penn Quarter annually.
Entertainment programming includes live musical performances by local bands, scheduled from Thursday through Sunday each week. A dedicated kids' activity zone operates alongside festive lighting installations and holiday photo backdrops placed throughout the streetscape.
The food program has expanded to include several new vendors on F Street. Nando's Peri-Peri, Lucky Danger, Old Blue BBQ, S'MORES N'MORE, Daikaya, and The Taste of Germany have joined the roster. Fresh, hot cinnamon churros are available daily. Adjacent venues, including the Kimpton Hotel Monaco DC and Dirty Habit, are converting their courtyard into an outdoor Winter Chalet with fire pits, blankets, and seasonal cocktails.
Street parking in Penn Quarter remains limited, and F Street is closed to vehicular traffic between 7th and 9th Streets during operating hours. Visitors can access the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station via the Red, Green, and Yellow lines using the 7th and G Street exit. Multiple Metrobus routes stop along 7th, 9th, and H streets, and a Capital Bikeshare corral is located at 625 9th Street NW. Commercial parking garages are available within a two-block radius for drivers.
The market will operate across six weekends this year. The extended schedule allows for a broader selection of vendor rotations and live music sets compared to previous years.
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