Tim Bracken, wtop.com
Weekend Wakeup Call – Friday, Dec. 9 to Monday, Dec. 12
Thankfully, there won’t be any closed Metro stations this weekend. There will be a lot of single tracking causing delayed service, so check the summary below if you plan to use Metro. There will be some overnight paving on Interstate 66, and the Army-Navy football game could cause some Saturday afternoon delays on the Beltway. In the holiday fun department: Shopping events in the District, a parade in Leesburg, a boat parade in Annapolis, and more. Sweet!
12 Days of Merriment in Georgetown
From Dec. 9 through Dec. 20, enjoy 12 days of holiday shopping specials and events, $2 flat rate parking and more. On Saturday between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., there will be a special kick-off party featuring live music, a fruitcake eating contest, gourmet cocoa tastings, and live band holiday karaoke. More info here.
Downtown Holiday Market
Centered at 8th and F Streets NW, the Downtown Holiday Market began its seventh year last week. Through Dec. 23, you’ll find a little “shopping village” set up between 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. Lots of local boutique businesses will be featured — and on the weekends you can enjoy some live music. Check the schedule here.
Metro track work
No stations will be closed this weekend, but you’ll find work taking place on the Red, Blue, Orange and Green Lines. Here’s the summary from Metro:
Red Line
Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through closing Sunday, Red Line trains will share one track in two areas: between Van Ness and Friendship Heights to allow for rail and fastener renewal, and between Takoma and Forest Glen to allow for fiber optic cable installation and platform rehabilitation. Throughout the weekend, Red Line trains will operate between Shady Grove and Glenmont every 24 minutes. Between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, additional trains will operate between Van Ness and Takoma only, providing service every 12 minutes through the Downtown core.
Blue/Orange Lines
Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through closing Sunday, Blue Line trains will share one track between Foggy Bottom and Arlington Cemetery and Orange Line trains will share one track between Foggy Bottom and Clarendon to allow for rail, joint and fastener renewal. Orange and Blue line trains will depart endpoint terminals every 20 minutes, resulting in trains every 10 minutes at stations served by both lines.
Green/Yellow Lines
Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through closing Sunday, Green Line trains will share one track between U Street and Georgia Ave-Petworth to allow for rail maintenance. Green Line trains will operate at normal weekend service levels with minor delays through the work zone. Yellow Line trains will operate between Huntington and Mt. Vernon Sq. only; customers traveling to/from stations north of Mt .Vernon Sq. should use Green Line trains to complete their trip.
I-66 overnight construction
On Friday night between 8 p.m. and 9 a.m., construction will block 3 left lanes on eastbound I-66 at Route 123/Chain Bridge Road. Between Chain Bridge Road and Route 50, two left lanes may be blocked between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m.
D Street off-ramp closure
From 7 a.m. Saturday until 7 p.m. Sunday, DDOT will close the eastbound D Street SW off-ramp from 12th Street SW to reconstruct a damaged catch basin. Traffic will be detoured through the 12th Street SW tunnel to Constitution Avenue NW then right on Constitution Avenue to 7th Street NW then right on 7th Street to D Street SW. Traffic from the northbound 14th Street Bridge (I-395) and westbound traffic on the Southwest Freeway will still be able to access the 12th Street Tunnel and westbound D Street SW. The closure will be in place next weekend as well.
Arlington Wreath Laying Ceremony
The wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery is scheduled for Saturday at 12 p.m. Check here for info about the cemetery.
Leesburg Holiday Parade
The Leesburg Christmas and Holiday Parade is scheduled for Saturday at 10 a.m. The parade will feature local bands, seasonal floats, and Santa Claus. There also will be three Jingle Jam concerts. More details here.
Army-Navy football game
FedEx Field hosts the 112th Army-Navy football game on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Watch for delays on I-495 near Md. 202 and Central Avenue.
Harambee Holiday Showcase and Bazaar
On Friday at the Oakcrest Community Center in Prince George’s County, the Harambee Holiday Showcase and Bazaar will feature cultural dancing, singing, poetry and shopping. More info here.
Holiday Boat Parade of Lights
On Saturday between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., the Eastport Yacht Club presents the Holiday Boat Parade of Lights at the Annapolis Harbor. Spectators will enjoy the many boats decked out in thousands of lights and decorations.
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