Eve and Christmas Day

But this is just one in a sea of wonderful events designed to celebrate the season. Longtime Washingtonians consider A Christmas Carol at Ford's Theatre a long-standing tradition. No matter how many times you've seen it, you'll cheer aloud when Scrooge abandons his miserly ways, causing Tiny Tim to declare: "God bless us, every one."

No holiday celebration is complete without a performance of The Nutcracker. The Washington Ballet's version is set in Victorian-era Georgetown, giving the tale a uniquely American twist. This production runs December 7-23 at the Warner Theatre. For a truly modern take on the classic, catch the Momentum Dance Theatre's Jazz Hip-Hop Nutcracker on the weekends of December 9 and 16.

left: Choir performances at the Kennedy Center set the tone for the holidays.

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