Editor's Note: This post was originally published in November 2016 and has been updated with the most recent information.
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13 free things to do in D.C. on Black Friday
These free activities range from hiking to comedy shows to art galleries
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Rock Creek Park
Autumn is here, and that means it's time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the vibrant yellow and red colors on the trees. If interested in taking a hike and enjoying the great outdoors, there's no better place to do so in Washington, D.C. than in Rock Creek Park. Here are more suggestions on the best hiking trails in the area.
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Kogod Courtyard
In the National Portrait Gallery, there is an indoor courtyard with a fountain, trees, and a glass, undulating ceiling. This space is one of the best for reading as well as relaxing after a long day of sight seeing.
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U.S. National Arboretum
At Washington, D.C.'s "living museum," the public can discover the original columns from the East Portico of the U.S. Capitol. Expect beautiful flowers and other types of foliage as well as a museum dedicated to the study of bonsai and related art forms. If this isn't the green space of your dreams, here are 19 other suggestions.
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Blind Whino
This multi-colored Victorian church dates back to the early 1900s, but all of the artworks inside are contemporary and cool. For a look inside and a list of the exhibitions, check out the Blind Whino website here.
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Hillyer Art Space
This small gallery is located behind the Phillips Collection, the first modern art museum in the U.S. There are only three rooms inside the Hillyer Art Space, but it still offers a wide variety of contemporary artworks as well as exposure to under-represented artists who have never had a major solo exhibition within the last three years.
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National Gallery of Art - Sculpture Garden
All year round, the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden offers the public a free, artistic oasis filled with works from famous artists like Joan Miró, Roy Lichtenstein, and Alexander Calder. What makes the space even better is its addition of a cafe, ice skating rink, and jazz concert venue.
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Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
On November 24 at 6 p.m., the Millennium Stage will host a free showing of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra. No tickets are required to check out this performance. According to the event page, the orchestra will play selections from Strauss and Devienne.
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U.S. Botanic Garden
On the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, this "living plant museum" is open all year-round. Dating back more than 200 years ago, this is the oldest continually operating botanic garden in the nation. Expect a range of flowers, from roses to orchids and beyond.
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Smithsonian National Zoological Park
Here, at the oldest zoo in the nation, the public can see everything from cheetahs to elephants to apes.
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Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
You don't need to be religious to love beautiful architecture, and when it comes to the Basilica, it's stunning enough to impress people from all walks of life. This structure is the tallest habitable building in Washington, D.C., and the eighth largest church building in the world.
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Habana Village Comedy
While others are shopping on Black Friday, why not simply laugh it up at a comedy night? The show starts at 8:30 p.m. with a social dance that starts at 10:30 p.m.
The Big Hunt Comedy
No reservations are required for this fun-filled comedy night near Dupont Circle, but they're recommended to get a seat. This comedy show starts at 11:30 p.m. with no cover or drink minimum. Only those aged 21 and over may enter.
National Postal Museum
Through November 29, the National Postal Museum is hosting an exhibition called, "My Fellow Soldiers: Letters from World War I." With this selection of letters, this exhibition allows visitors to see what relationships and emotions were experienced by soldiers in World War I.
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Rock Creek Park
Autumn is here, and that means it's time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the vibrant yellow and red colors on the trees. If interested in taking a hike and enjoying the great outdoors, there's no better place to do so in Washington, D.C. than in Rock Creek Park. Here are more suggestions on the best hiking trails in the area.
Kogod Courtyard
In the National Portrait Gallery, there is an indoor courtyard with a fountain, trees, and a glass, undulating ceiling. This space is one of the best for reading as well as relaxing after a long day of sight seeing.
U.S. National Arboretum
At Washington, D.C.'s "living museum," the public can discover the original columns from the East Portico of the U.S. Capitol. Expect beautiful flowers and other types of foliage as well as a museum dedicated to the study of bonsai and related art forms. If this isn't the green space of your dreams, here are 19 other suggestions.
Blind Whino
This multi-colored Victorian church dates back to the early 1900s, but all of the artworks inside are contemporary and cool. For a look inside and a list of the exhibitions, check out the Blind Whino website here.
Hillyer Art Space
This small gallery is located behind the Phillips Collection, the first modern art museum in the U.S. There are only three rooms inside the Hillyer Art Space, but it still offers a wide variety of contemporary artworks as well as exposure to under-represented artists who have never had a major solo exhibition within the last three years.
National Gallery of Art - Sculpture Garden
All year round, the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden offers the public a free, artistic oasis filled with works from famous artists like Joan Miró, Roy Lichtenstein, and Alexander Calder. What makes the space even better is its addition of a cafe, ice skating rink, and jazz concert venue.
Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
On November 24 at 6 p.m., the Millennium Stage will host a free showing of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra. No tickets are required to check out this performance. According to the event page, the orchestra will play selections from Strauss and Devienne.
U.S. Botanic Garden
On the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, this "living plant museum" is open all year-round. Dating back more than 200 years ago, this is the oldest continually operating botanic garden in the nation. Expect a range of flowers, from roses to orchids and beyond.
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
Here, at the oldest zoo in the nation, the public can see everything from cheetahs to elephants to apes.
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
You don't need to be religious to love beautiful architecture, and when it comes to the Basilica, it's stunning enough to impress people from all walks of life. This structure is the tallest habitable building in Washington, D.C., and the eighth largest church building in the world.
Habana Village Comedy
While others are shopping on Black Friday, why not simply laugh it up at a comedy night? The show starts at 8:30 p.m. with a social dance that starts at 10:30 p.m.
The Big Hunt Comedy
No reservations are required for this fun-filled comedy night near Dupont Circle, but they're recommended to get a seat. This comedy show starts at 11:30 p.m. with no cover or drink minimum. Only those aged 21 and over may enter.
National Postal Museum
Through November 29, the National Postal Museum is hosting an exhibition called, "My Fellow Soldiers: Letters from World War I." With this selection of letters, this exhibition allows visitors to see what relationships and emotions were experienced by soldiers in World War I.