Arts & Entertainment
Christmas and Kwanzaa events
LGBT-affirming D.C.-area churches, centers welcome worshipers

Washington National Cathedral is the largest LGBT-affirming house of worship in the D.C. area.(Washington Blade file photo)
Editor’s note: Many churches in the D.C. area are LGBT affirming. This list is not meant to be all-inclusive.
Christmas Eve
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Rock Creek Park (Rock Creek Church Rd. and Webster St., N.W.) holds a Christmas Eve service today at 4:45 p.m. For details, visit stpaulsrockcreek.org.
Dumbarton United Methodist Church (3133 Dumbarton St., N.W.) has a Christmas Eve worship service at 6 p.m. There will be a children’s Christmas pageant, special Christmas music, blessing of children, carols and candlelight. For more information, visit dumbartonumc.org.
National City Christian Church (5 Thomas Circle, N.W.) holds a candlelight community worship service with prelude music at 7 p.m. For more information, visit nationalcitycc.org.
Seekers Church (276 Carroll St., N.W.) celebrates Christmas Eve with a dinner from 6-7 p.m. followed by a service of lessons and carols from 7:30-8:30 p.m. For more details, visit seekerschurch.org.
The Christ Church on Capitol Hill (620 G St., S.E.) has events and services throughout the day and night. At 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., the church hosts its “come as you are” family service which features an informal pick-up pageant, carols, children’s message and communion. A formal family service follows at 6:30 p.m. with a Christmas pageant, homily, carols, communion and music from the St. Petersburg Men’s Ensemble. At 10 p.m. there will be a choral prelude with the St. Petersburg Men’s Ensemble. They will be joined by the Christ Church choir. The Festival Eucharist follows at 10:30 p.m. with a candlelit sanctuary, sermon, communion, carols and music from the St. Petersburg Men’s Ensemble. The final event is the festive reception at 11:30 p.m. Attendees are asked to bring food and drink to share. For more information, visit washingtonparish.org.
Foundry United Methodist Church (1500 16th St., N.W.) holds a children’s Christmas Eve service today from 6-7 p.m. followed by a Candlelight Christmas Eve Service from 8-9 p.m. For more information, visit foundryumc.org.
Metropolitan Community Church of Washington (474 Ridge St., N.W.) has a Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m. For more details, visit mccdc.com.
Saint John’s Episcopal Church (1525 H St., N.W.) has Christmas Eve services from 3:30-11 p.m. At 3:30 p.m. there will be carols and anthems followed by a pageant and the Choral Holy Eucharist at 4 p.m. At 7 p.m. there will be carols and anthems with the Festival Eucharist starting at 7:30 p.m. The last service of the night kicks off with carols and anthems at 10:30 p.m. and then Festival Eucharist at 11 p.m. For more details, visit stjohns-dc.org.
Washington National Cathedral (3101 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.) holds a children’s Christmas service today at 11 a.m. Lessons and carols is this evening at 6 p.m. Christmas Eve Holy Eucharist is tonight at 10 p.m. Check online before going — some services may be full in advance. Details at cathedral.org.
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (300 A St., S.E.) has a pageant with Eucharist today at 4 p.m., a carol sing at 9:30 p.m. and a festival Eucharist at 10 p.m. Details at stmarks.net.
Christmas Day
Washington National Cathedral (3101 Wisconsin Ave., N.W.) holds its Christmas Day Holy Eucharist at 11:15 a.m. featuring scripture, season choral performance, instrumental music and hymns. Passes are not required. At 1:30 p.m. there will be a Christmas Day organ recital by George Fergus. There is a $10 recommended donation. For more information, visit cathedral.org.
St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church (1830 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) has a Christmas Day service with the Holy Eucharist today at 10 a.m. For more details, visit stmargaretsdc.org.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Rock Creek Park (Rock Creek Church Rd. and Webster St., N.W.) holds a Christmas service today at 10:30 a.m. For details, visit stpaulsrockcreek.org.
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church (300 A St., S.E.) has a Christmas Day Mass today at 10 a.m. Details at stmarks.net.
Kwanzaa
UNIA-ACL hosts “Kwanzaa Nia 2018 Feast and Celebration” on Sunday, Dec. 30 from 5-10 p.m. at the Thurgood Marshall Center Trust (1816 12th St., N.W.). Look for the event on Facebook for details.
Roots of Scouting, Inc. hosts a Kwanzaa celebration on Wednesday, Dec. 26 at St. Cecilia Catholic Church (3301 Windsor Ave., Baltimore) in Baltimore. Look for the event on Facebook for details.
BRUHS: Book Reading Uplifts His Spirit presents “UMOJA,” a Kwanzaa celebration for LGBT communities of color, family and friends. It’s a potluck event with music, vendors, festivities and more on Wednesday, Dc. 26 at 6:45 p.m. at the D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W., no. 105). Details at thedccenter.org.
The D.C. Kwanzaa planning committee has various events planned and also offers a calendar and resource guide. Look for the group on Facebook for details.
The Capital Pride Alliance presented the 2026 Capital Pride Honors at “The Audacity Brunch: In Full Fuchsia” at the Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C. on Sunday, June 7.
(Washington Blade photos by Landon Shackelford)












Out & About
Congressional Cemetery hosts Gays & Graves
Daylong Pride celebration blends history, remembrance, art and community
Historic Congressional Cemetery will host the second annual “Gays & Graves: A Big Gay Festival” on Sunday, June 14 at 11 a.m.
The event will feature pioneering activist Randy Wicker, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, and new public art installations and programs celebrating LGBTQ+ history. Gays & Graves is an official partner event of Capital Pride 2026.
This event is a daylong Pride celebration blending history, remembrance, art and community. Visitors can shop from LGBTQ+ and allied artists and makers, experience performances and interactive installations, and engage with programs exploring LGBTQ+ history and lived experience.
For more details, visit the cemetery’s website.
Baltimore Pride is underway, taking place from June 8-14.
The Pride Parade will be on Saturday, June 13 at 12 p.m. at Charles Street & North Avenue, followed by the Pride Block Party at 1 p.m. at Druid Hill Park. And then the Pride Festival will be held on Sunday, June 14 at 12 p.m. at Druid Hill Park.
There will be an array of additional events including: a fashion show, a “Suits and Sneakers” reception and a 5k race, among many other events.
For more details, visit Baltimore Pride’s website.
