Our end-of-the-week picks for Oct. 9-11, 2026
We've gathered up some fun things to do in DC this weekend. You can also read what else is going on during the week and throughout the month.
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Friday
Be the People
An inextinguishable optimism about where we’ve come from and where we can go pervades the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream (MCAAD). Beginning October 3, MCAAD shines a light on the resource that gives America its tenacity: its people. Be the People is a national effort to make problem-solving the defining trait of American identity by focusing on the nation-altering civic engagement of “ordinary” people across our 250 years. The exhibit also features ways for visitors to get involved with their communities and make their own mark.
Free Admission | Timed Entry Passes
Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream, 1503 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
ARTECHOUSE
SUBMERGE
ARTECHOUSE DC resumes programming with SUBMERGE, which presents innovative digital art that utilizes technology for a wholly immersive experience. The exhibition is anchored by Beyond the Render, a 45-minute large-scale show created in collaboration with Render Network that brings together 13 artist teams — including Emmy winners Emily Yang and Maciej Kuciara — to transform the venue. A floor-to-ceiling projection canvas showcases a 280-degree, 18K-resolution digital world, a total reimagination of the possibilities of spatial storytelling.
Tickets (10% off most bookings)
ARTECHOUSE, 1238 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024
Mount Vernon Fall Wine Festival & Sunset Tour
Mount Vernon Fall Wine Festival and Sunset Tour
George Washington’s Mount Vernon is at its scenic best when fall rolls around, so it’s fitting that the historic estate hosts this special celebration of wine followed by a sunset tour of the property. Bring along a blanket, chill out on the east lawn and sample Virginia wines with views of the Potomac River. Fruit and cheese boxes to accompany your wine are available for purchase in advance.
Tickets
George Washington's Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA 2212
9:30 Club
Bright Eyes
The brainchild of wunderkind Conor Oberst, Bright Eyes essentially birthed a folk music scene in Omaha, Nebraska. Oberst’s beautiful compositions and musical versatility make for the perfect pairing with producer and multi-instrumentalist Mike Mogis, leading to three decades of awesome music. 9:30 Club hosts the full band for one night only.
6:30 p.m. | Tickets
9:30 Club, 815 V Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Saturday
Neighborhood Restaurant Group
Snallygaster
Beast out with craft brews and ciders on Pennsylvania Avenue thanks to Snallygaster. Named after a mythical creature, the festival roars with a hefty lineup of 450 brews selected by Greg Engert, one of the city’s leading beer connoisseurs, including countless new breweries and rare beers. Festivalgoers can also expect two stages with live music, a makers' market by Shop Made in DC, a kids' zone and a selection of ciders, wines and cocktails. Attendees must be 21 or older.
12-6 p.m. | Tickets
Pennsylvania Avenue between 3rd and 7th Streets NW, Washington, DC
Theatre Week
Theatre Week
Celebrate the theatre season in the Washington, DC region with a weeks-long promotion from TheatreWashington which includes $25, $45 and $65 tickets to highly anticipated productions at venues all over the DC area. There are musicals, dramas, comedies, theatre for young audiences and much more.
Historic Congressional Cemetery
Dead Man's Run 2026
Lace up for a frightfully fun evening at Historic Congressional Cemetery's annual Dead Man's Run 5K. The fall fundraiser kicks off among the cemetery's historic headstones before winding onto the Anacostia Trail, with music, costumes and spooky surprises along the way. Run for a personal best, stroll with friends or assemble a team to compete for prizes, including awards for top finishers and the best individual and group costumes.
5 p.m. | Register
1801 E Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
Fairfax City Tourism
50th Annual Fairfax City Fall Festival
Celebrate fall in historic Old Town Fairfax City at the 50th Annual Fairfax City Fall Festival, where art, food and culture combine to create one of Northern Virginia’s most popular fall traditions. More than 400 arts and crafts, food and other vendors fill the streets lined with historic buildings and charm. Enjoy live entertainment on multiple stages, children’s activities and renowned beer gardens featuring the town's local breweries.. The hometown atmosphere and bustling streets make this free festival a favorite day trip from DC.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
Downtown Fairfax, 10415 North Street, Fairfax, VA 22030
U.S. Soccer
U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Spain
Ahead of the World Cup in 2027, watch the powerhouse that is the U.S. Women’s National Team go up against Spain, currently the no. 1 ranked team in the world. Audi Field will be packed for this spectacle that could be a preview of next year’s World Cup Final.
2:30 p.m. | Tickets
Audi Field, 100 Potomac Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024
Arena Stage
The Fruits of Our Labor
Legendary DC dance company Step Afrika! honors America’s 250th anniversary with a new show set to premiere at Arena Stage. The Fruits of Our Labor uses percussion, stepping, moving visual imagery and a bold red, white and blue color palette to explore the American experience.
Tickets
Arena Stage, 1101 6th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Frida…A Self Portrait
The Brazilian writer and performer Vanessa Severo plays Frida Kahlo on the eve of her death as her pain and passion are laid bare. Expect incredible physicality in Severo's one-woman performance, bringing the famous Mexican painter to vivid life in a play that illuminates a fascinating journey.
Tickets
Klein Theatre, 450 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Ford's Theatre
Come From Away
The Tony Award-winning masterpiece returns to Ford’s Theatre a decade after its debut at the historic venue. Come From Away concerns a small Canadian town that welcomed 6,579 airline passengers with open arms after their plane was stranded there on Sept. 11, 2001. The story of friendship and the bonds of community will warm your heart this fall.
Tickets
Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Sunday
Army Ten-Miler
Army Ten-Miler
Now in its 40th year, the Army’s annual Army Ten-Mile Race and Expo attracts over 35,000 runners and 900 teams from around the world to celebrate the spirit of sport. Military, civilians, wheel chair athletes and wounded warrior athletes are able to participate and all are encouraged to cheer them on.
Register
850 Army Navy Drive, Arlington, VA and 955 15th Street South, Arlington, VA
Historic Congressional Cemetery
American Indian Tour
Discover the stories of American Indian leaders, diplomats and delegates laid to rest at historic Congressional Cemetery. Executive Director Mark Hudson leads this guided tour through the cemetery, sharing how these individuals came to Washington to negotiate treaties, advocate for their communities and represent sovereign nations during the 19th century.
1 pm. | Tickets
1801 E Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
Photo by Robin Groulx
Oyster Wars
Hosted by popular Navy Yard spot The Salt Line, Oyster Wars gathers local chefs, breweries and oyster farms up and down the Eastern Seaboard to pack an afternoon with eating, drinking and live music. The 21-and-over event is ticketed with admission that provides access to food from every chef and oyster farm.
2-6 p.m. | Tickets
The Salt Line, 79 Potomac Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003
Photo by Manuel Harlan, Shakespeare Theatre Company
The Score
Brian Cox, the iconic actor of stage and screen, visits Harman Hall in this production’s only American engagement. Acclaimed director Trevor Nunn is at the helm for this tale of Johann Sebastian Bach (Cox) and his visit to the court of the devious Frederick II, where he’s presented with a stirring challenge to his morality.
Tickets
Harman Hall, 610 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Measure for Measure
Psalmayene 24, Helen Hayes Award winner, directs this rare staging of a Shakespeare comedy. The story of societal upheaval, which concerns a corrupt official and a young nun, will make the audience wonder whose voices are elevated and whose are silenced.
Tickets
Folger Theatre, 201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
The Keegan Theatre
Hundred Days
Keegan Theatre brings an incredible true story to the stage in a thrill-filled new production. What would you do if you only had 100 days to live? With folk-punk music as the soundtrack, Hundred Days goes for broke and welcomes you to embrace the unknown and take risks along the way.
Tickets
Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Fever Originals
Smithsonian Starstruck: An Immersive Experience
This first-of-its-kind virtual reality adventure doesn't just show you the universe but places you inside of it. Created in collaboration between Fever Originals and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, the experience takes visitors on a breathtaking journey through the cosmos, from dazzling galaxies to the edge of a black hole.
Tickets
Fever Hub Washington DC, 926 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Places to Stay
Need some inspiration for a place to stay in between events? Washington, DC is filled with a multitude of hotels to fit your needs. Whether you are looking for that specialty boutique hotel or booking at your favorite hotel brand, Washington, DC's booking engine has it all.
Find Your Stay
Do you know where you’ll be dining pre- or post-event? From pop-up restaurants to award-winning hot spots to laid-back food halls, our DC food guide is perfect for helping you plan a more memorable experience.
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