The U.S. Botanic Garden at 100 Maryland Ave. SW is a museum different—its artifacts living plants from all over the world, which continue to grow, flower, and display fruit.
Christmas is always a special season at the Botanic Garden with its traditional display of DC landmarks made from plant materials in the Garden Court. This year, there will be a new addition: a botanical version of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
This year’s Season’s Greenings exhibit will showcase “Roadside Attractions.” The model trains, a Botanic Garden annual tradition, will chug around, below, through, and above plant-based re-creations of classic attractions like Texas’s Cadillac Ranch, Colorado’s hot dog–shaped Coney Island Hot Dog Stand, South Dakota’s Corn Palace, New Jersey’s Lucy the Elephant, and many more.
Visitors to the Botanic Garden can also enjoy live seasonal music. The December holiday concert series schedule is as follows. Shows will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays (all performances from 6-8 p.m. except Dec. 5, which will start at 6:30 p.m.).
Dec. 5: The Capital Hearings (a cappella)
Dec. 7: Tony Craddock Jr. & Cold Front (jazz)
Dec. 12: Project Natale (jazz)
Dec. 14: Lox & Vodka (klezmer and Jewish).
Dec. 19: Samovar (Russian folk)
Dec. 21: Dial 251 for Jazz (jazz)
Dec. 26: 40 Thieves (Irish folk rock)
Dec. 28: Capital Accord Chorus (choral)