Downtown Streets Close for Holiday Market
Expect closed blocks on F Street and tow enforcement through Dec. 29, when the market-related restrictions end.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Seasonal Events
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Drivers around Downtown Washington will face closed streets and no-parking zones through the holiday season, with tow-away enforcement for violators. The restrictions come from the DowntownDC Holiday Market, which runs from Nov. 13 to Dec. 23 and whose changes stay in place until Dec. 29.
Why it matters
If you commute, shop or deliver downtown this season, F Street between 7th and 9th Streets NW is closed to vehicles and 8th Street between E and F is open only to local traffic. The Metropolitan Police Department's notice warns that restrictions may change with conditions and that delays are possible near the market.
The Metropolitan Police Department's notice lists a holiday market operating window of Nov. 13 to Dec. 23 and traffic restrictions that end Dec. 29. The notice does not provide a baseline for expected delays or the number of vehicles affected.
The players
Metropolitan Police Department
The District's police department issued the traffic restrictions and will enforce the no-parking signs with tickets and towing.
Kimpton Hotel Monaco
The downtown hotel has a designated traffic entry point at 8th and E Streets NW during the market period.
The details
The Metropolitan Police Department marked F Street from 7th to 9th Streets NW as emergency no parking and closed to vehicle traffic, with those streets marked on Nov. 1. Eighth Street from E to F Streets NW is closed to all but local traffic, and Kimpton Hotel Monaco traffic may enter at 8th and E Streets NW during this period. Vehicles parked in violation of the emergency signs will be ticketed and towed.
Timeline
Nov. 1: Emergency no-parking signs marked and street closures announced.
Friday, Nov. 13: DowntownDC Holiday Market begins.
Wednesday, Dec. 23: DowntownDC Holiday Market ends.
Tuesday, Dec. 29: Traffic restrictions expected to end.
The District View
Downtown's holiday market closures follow the seasonal street-restriction pattern used for the DowntownDC Holiday Market in prior years. This year's restrictions run about six days past the market's Dec. 23 close, through Dec. 29.
Drivers heading downtown should plan for closed blocks on F Street and limited access on 8th Street through Dec. 29, and avoid parking on any marked emergency no-parking segment to prevent a ticket or tow. Allow extra travel time and consider alternative routes when driving near the market.
The takeaway
Check the posted signs before parking near F and 8th Streets NW through Dec. 29, since the closures can change with conditions. Allow extra time on downtown trips, because the notice warns of possible delays near the market.
Further reading
For more on the season's events, see Seasonal Events in Washington.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WJLA.
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