Lucky you. You just found NOVAtoday’s Plan Ahead, a list of some of the biggest events to plan for that are taking place throughout Northern Virginia each month.
Take out your calendar, grab your day planner, or text all your friends — these are the top events we recommend heading to this month. Psst: Don’t forget to bookmark this page and come back; we update our guide monthly.
(Don’t see anything you like? Check out our full events calendar.)
Seasonal festivities
Winter Lantern Festival | Thursday, Jan. 1-Sunday, Jan. 18 | 5-10 p.m. | Lerner Town Square, Tysons | $19+ | Take a glowing stroll through this picture-perfect illuminated walk designed for capturing Instagram-worthy moments.
Ice & Lights: The Winter Village | Thursday, Jan. 1-Saturday, Jan. 31 | 12-4 p.m. | Cameron Run Regional Park, Alexandria | $15 | Head outside to skate around the ice rink, admire the sparkling light display, or warm up with a hot drink.
Winter Block Party | Saturday, Jan. 3 | 1-4 p.m. | McLean Community Center, McLean | Free | Kick off the new year with entertainment, games, food, and other festivities.
Mulled Wine Festival | Saturday, Jan. 17-Sunday, Jan. 18 | 12-5 p.m. | Eden Try Winery, Fredericksburg | Free entry | Sample a variety of drinks from this winery — we suggest a mulled wine flight if you’d like to explore several flavors.
Honor Martin Luther King Jr.
MLK Tribute | Sunday, Jan. 18 | 5-6:30 p.m. | Wakefield High School, Arlington | Free | Join community members for inspiring performances and meaningful reflections on the life and lasting impact of Martin Luther King Jr.
2026 MLK Day of Service | Monday, Jan. 19 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Northern Virginia Community College, Annandale | Free | Honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. by volunteering with fellow community members.
Cause
Wreaths Across America | Saturday, Jan. 10 | 8 a.m. | Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington | Free | Help remove holiday wreaths while honoring those who served —Time is subject to change.
Dominion Hills Park Invasive Plant Removal | Friday, Jan. 16 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Dominion Hills Park, Arlington | Free | Help clean up Four Mile Run by removing invasive plants and protecting native species.
Mosaic Polar Plunge | Saturday, Jan. 24 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Mosaic District, Fairfax | Fundraise $100 | Take the plunge while supporting Special Olympics Virginia.
Concerts
Old Town Hall Performance Series: Washington Balalaika Orchestra | Friday, Jan. 23 | 8-9:30 p.m. | Stacy C. Sherwood Center, Fairfax | Free | See the Washington Balalaika Society — the largest Russian folk ensemble in the US.
DEVOTION: An Earth Wind And Fire Experience | Friday, Jan. 23 | 7:30 p.m. | The Birchmere, Alexandria | $53 | Relive the timeless hits of this legendary band, performed by a cover band — they’ll keep you singing “September” all year long.
Symphony in Space | Saturday, Jan. 31 | 3 p.m. | Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall & Arts Center, Alexandria | Free | This family-friendly concert features music that takes listeners on a journey through space and time.
Food festivals
Alexandria Winter Restaurant Week | Friday, Jan. 23-Sunday, Feb. 1 | Times vary | Various locations, Alexandria | Price of purchase | Try specialty dishes and menu items at restaurants throughout Alexandria.
Falls Church Restaurant Week | Friday, Jan. 23-Sunday, Feb. 1 | 9 a.m. | Various locations, Falls Church | Price of purchase | You’ll find no shortage of great restaurants — many featuring specialty menus worth trying.
Fairfax City Food Tour | 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | Various locations, Fairfax | $75+ | Stroll through the historic city while sampling dishes from local restaurants. Pro tip: Tours are generally not vegan or vegetarian-friendly; contact organizers about food allergies.
Caps season is in full swing. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Sports
Washington Capitals vs. Chicago Blackhawks | Saturday, Jan. 3 | 7 p.m. | Capital One Arena, Washington, DC | $90+ | Watch the Caps take on the Blackhawks during Youth Hockey Night.
Washington Wizards vs. New Orleans Pelicans | Friday, Jan. 9 | 7 p.m. | Capital One Arena, Washington, DC | $19+ | Catch this Washington Wizards game, along with many others, throughout January.
Washington Capitals vs. Carolina Hurricanes | Saturday, Jan. 31 | 5 p.m. | Capital One Arena, Washington, DC | $119+ | Celebrate Margaritaville night as the Caps face the Hurricanes at home.
Have an event of your own you want to share with us? Follow these easy steps to add your events to our calendar:
- Go to our Events page.
- Click “Add Event” in the top right-hand corner.
- Make sure to include a link and fill out important information like the date, time, location, and price of your event.
- Click “Submit,” and you’ve just added an event to our website calendar.