Discover an abundance of autumn events in the District, including Snallygaster, Hispanic Heritage Month festivities, Theatre Week and all-star soccer at Audi Field.
Whether you’re in town for a concert, game or festival, DC boasts plenty of special discounts and packages for a festive fall, from luxurious experiences to budget-friendly options.
Regardless of the season, you're sure to have an unforgettable experience in the nation's capital. After you’ve read through this list, make sure to check out our things to do for the week and weekend, DC is Open content as well as our accessibility guides to monuments and museums on the National Mall.
Take Amtrak's NextGen Acela to Washington, DC
Step into the future of summer travel. The newest premium car isn’t a car at all; it’s a train. Enjoy spacious leather seating, free 5G-enabled WiFi and one of the smoothest rides to Washington, DC on NextGen Acela. With more ways to travel, you can choose what fits your trip best. This season, make the journey part of the destination.
Powered by Amtrak
Celebrate Oktoberfest throughout the District
Beginning in mid-September and extending into October, DC beer enthusiasts break out their lederhosen and dirndls to observe Oktoberfest with German beer, bites and live music. Locations across the city will participate, including a few annually recurring favorites: Bluejacket serves weissbiers, schwarzbiers and helles lagers from the keg, Wunder Garten hosts its Pridetoberfest LGBTQ+ party and The Wharf goes all out with Polka on the Pier, a Stein Hosting Competition and the thrilling Dachshund Dash.
Washington Spirit
Last Chance for Soccer Season in Washington, DC
Head to Audi Field to catch four-time MLS Cup winners D.C. United or 2021 NWSL Champion (and 2025 Finalist) Washington Spirit, which fields some of the best women’s soccer players in the country. Whether you're a longtime fan or just looking for a high-energy night out, experiencing the electric atmosphere of professional soccer is easy in DC.
Spirit Tickets
D.C. United Tickets
Tea Around Town
Turn DC into your own mobile tea room! Step aboard Tea Around Town and enjoy a one-of-a-kind afternoon tea adventure. Delight in fine teas, sweet and savory bites and live entertainment while taking in the capital’s most treasured landmarks, from the U.S. Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial.
Tickets
790 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
Live Nation
Weezer – Oct. 2
One of the most successful acts in the history of alternative rock visits Capital One Arena for one night only. From “Buddy Holly” to “Beverly Hills”, Weezer have remained a fixture in rock for more than three decades. Expect fan favorites and recent songs in an eclectic set.
7 p.m. | Tickets
Capital One Arena, 601 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Arena Stage
Nikola: A New Musical – Oct. 2 – Nov. 29
A visionary production comes to Arena Stage filled with electricity and eccentricity. Charting the course of inventor Nikola Tesla, the musical sees him go from unknown engineer to world famous rival of Thomas Edison. Tesla’s push to the brink makes for riveting theater and stunning new songs.
Tickets
Arena Stage, 1101 6th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
DC Coffee Festival – Oct. 3-4
Savor the creations of dozens of the District’s top coffee roasters at the second annual DC Coffee Festival. In past years, there have been two days of festivities, with coffee roasters, tea brewers and live music filling the warehouse at Dock 5. All coffee samples are included with your ticket and additional snacks are available for purchase if you need a little something extra to ward off the jitters.
Dock 5 at Union Market, 1309 5th Street NE, Washington, DC 20002
Capital One Arena
Olivia Rodrigo – Oct. 3-4
Global sensation, pop superstar, three-time GRAMMY Award winner, chart-topping artist. All these descriptors apply to OIivia Rodrigo, but you can’t fully appreciate her brilliance until you see her in concert. The Unraveled Tour comes to DC’s Capital One Arena for two nights as Rodrigo supports her new release, pretty sad for a girl so in love. Tickets can still be found on secondary markets.
Capital One Arena, 601 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
The Anthem
Indigo Girls – Oct. 4
The GRAMMY-winning folk-rock duo comes to The Anthem for a night filled with classic songs. Indigo Girls have sold more than 15 million records worldwide across a 35-year career that has seen them release 16 studio albums to endless critical acclaim. All the success and touring has not slowed them down one bit.
7 p.m. | Tickets
The Anthem, 901 Wharf Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
The Wharf
Oktoberfest at The Wharf
Don a dirndi or lederhosen and make your way to The Wharf for its free annual Oktoberfest celebration. The Wiener 500 Dachschund Dash kicks off the festivities, followed by a stein-hoisting championship and Polka on the Pier, which includes a free polka dance class, live music and a best-dressed contest.
2-7 p.m. | Free Admission
The Wharf, 760 Maine Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024
9:30 Club
Sylvan Esso – Oct. 6
Bursting onto the scene with their 2014 self-titled debut, Sylvan Esso has gone on to become one of the most acclaimed acts in electro-pop. The duo of singer Amelia Meath and producer Nick Sanborn formed in the college town of Durham, North Carolina and now travels the globe performing some of the most danceable pop tunes in existence. Catch them at 9:30 Club and soak up the vibes.
7 p.m. | Tickets
9:30 Club, 815 V Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Shakespeare Theatre Company
Frida…A Self Portrait – Oct. 8 – Nov. 8
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
9:30 Club
Bright Eyes – Oct. 9
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
Mount Vernon Fall Wine Festival & Sunset Tour
Mount Vernon Fall Wine Festival and Sunset Tour – Oct. 9-11
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
U.S. Soccer
U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Spain – Oct. 10
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
The Keegan Theatre
Hundred Days – Oct. 10 – Nov. 15
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
Theatre Week
Theatre Week – Through Oct. 11
Celebrate the theater 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, theater for young audiences and much more. In addition to discounted tickets, Theatre Week also includes special events (most of which are free) designed to entertain, educate and inspire, including the free Kickoff Fest. Plan your stay: Book a hotel today.
Live Nation
Teddy Swims – Oct. 13
The chart-topping and GRAMMY-nominated songs of Teddy Swims showcase an artist who can deftly maneuver between genres, feelings and deliveries. Swims captivates audiences with electric live performances, and he only continues to add hits to his catalogue. Expect a raw and riveting performance from the singer at Capital One Arena.
7 p.m. | Tickets
Capital One Arena, 601 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Because They're Funny Comedy Festival
Join NICECROWD®, the producers of the American Black Film Festival, in partnership with Events DC, for the Because They're Funny Comedy Festival. Expect a fun-filled weekend showcasing BIPOC comedians throughout the Wharf, including the Anthem, one of the most vibrant destinations in the nation's capital. Curated for anyone who likes to laugh, the lineup includes headline shows, new comic showcases, comedy classes, panels, podcasts, screenings and live music.
Queer Black Broadway Walking Tour
Celebrate LGBTQ History Month with a guided tour through DC’s U Street Corridor (once known as “Black Broadway”) led by Off the Mall Tours and the Rainbow History Project. Begin exploring the intersections of Black and queer history at Howard Theatre and wrap up your tour at Thurst Lounge, the District’s only Black queer-owned bar. Prohibition-era clubs and pivotal moments from the Civil Rights Movement await.
620 T Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Neighborhood Restaurant Group
Snallygaster – Oct. 10
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
Army Ten-Miler
Army Ten-Miler – Oct. 11
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
Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden
Carlotta Corpron: Light Is a Plastic Medium – Oct. 16 – March 14, 2027
Step into the light. This exhibit at the Hirshhorn surveys work by the American abstract photographer and educator Carlotta Corpron whose investigations into the poetics of light and form and innovative use of technology supported the establishment of photography as fine art. Explore six bodies of work from Corpron’s career in Texas from the late 1930s to the early 1950s.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
Hirshhorn Museum, Independence Avenue & 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20560
Folger Shakespeare Library
To Hear Her Speak: Black Women and Shakespeare – Oct. 16 – May 2, 2027
For centuries, Black women have claimed Shakespeare, reshaping his words to assert their humanity, creativity and power. To Hear Her Speak brings these voices into focus for the first time. Curated by Dr. Patricia Akhimie, Director of the Folger Institute, this landmark exhibition of nearly 100 objects highlights the ways in which Black women have engaged Shakespeare in performance and in writing and art. “Summer’s lease hath all too short a date,” but when fall rolls around, don’t miss this powerful exhibit.
Hours | Free Admission
Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
Live Nation
Kathy Griffin – Oct. 17
Warner Theatre should prepare itself for Kathy Griffin, one of the most electric and controversial stand-up comedians around. Never one to shy away from the spotlight, Griffin has a fresh round of jokes for DC patrons as she embarks on a new tour.
7 p.m. | Tickets
Warner Theatre, 513 13th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Signature Theatre
All the World’s A Stage – Oct. 20 – Dec. 20
The story of a closeted math teacher and his mentorship of a student as they explore the classic play Angels in America is a humanistic tale sure to strike your soul at Signature Theatre. The two outsiders turn their small town on its head as a powerful score soundtracks this tribute to the power of teaching and expressing yourself.
Tickets
Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206
Live Nation
Jerry Seinfeld – Oct. 24
For five decades, Jerry Seinfeld has left audiences cackling in his wake. First emerging as a stand-up star, his eponymous sitcom (created alongside Larry David) became one of the most popular shows of all-time. Seinfeld can still bring it on stage, so get your tickets quick to his show at The Anthem.
8 p.m. | Tickets
The Anthem, 901 Wharf Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
The Phillips Collection
Avery, Gottlieb & Rothko: By the Sea – Oct. 24 – Jan. 24, 2027
For three months this fall and winter, you can savor a lovely moment of summer. This exhibition will tell the story of the lifelong friendship between three towering figures in American art: Milton Avery (1885–1965), Adolph Gottlieb (1903–1974) and Mark Rothko (1903–1970). Approximately 90 works of art will highlight the inspiration they derived from summers in Gloucester, Massachusetts, on Cape Ann, and from each other. Many have never been on public view.
Hours & Admission
The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Live Nation
Beck – Oct. 25
From his early sample-filled, hip-hop inspired tracks to acoustic medleys to floor-shaking dance beats to funk to punk and everything in between, Beck has done it all across a stunningly eclectic career. The musical savant releases his first album in seven years on Sept. 18, so you’ll be catching him at the perfect time when he brings his tour to The Anthem.
7:30 p.m. | Tickets
The Anthem, 901 Wharf Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
National Air and Space Museum
At Home in Space – Opens Oct. 30
Discover the challenges and benefits of a permanent human presence in low Earth orbit. The knowledge gained from the Space Shuttle and Space Station programs informs where we go next and what we do there. If you’ve ever wondered how it might be possible that humans live and work in space, this immersive, highly interactive exhibit is for you. Space out and explore it during the Museum’s 50th anniversary year.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission | Reserve Timed Passes
National Air and Space Museum, 650 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC 20560
Photo by Robin Groulx
Oyster Wars
Co-hosted by The Salt Line and Other Half Brewing, Oyster Wars gathers more than 30 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.
The Salt Line, 79 Potomac Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003
National Portrait Gallery
Honor Hispanic Heritage Month in the District – Through Oct. 15
Washington, DC's vibrant culture is deeply rooted in its Hispanic and Latin American community. During Hispanic Heritage Month, it's even easier to celebrate.
- Catch performances at FiestaDC's festival and parade
- Secure tickets to a heritage night game with DC United, the Nats, the Washington Spirit or the Capitals
Adams Morgan BID
Adams Morgan Apple Festival
The annual Apple Festival brings neighbors and visitors together to celebrate the season with heirloom apple varieties from the Adams Morgan Farmers’ Market and a spirited apple pie-baking contest judged by local food personalities. Guests can sample apples, cheer on the bakers and purchase slices of freshly made pies. Proceeds support the Sitar Arts Center, a local nonprofit that provides arts education to young people.
Free Admission
The Line DC, 1770 Euclid Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
Shuck It! Festival
Celebrate the Chesapeake along the scenic Georgetown waterfront at Fish & Fire Food Group’s annual oyster and beer celebration. Hosted at Tony & Joe’s Seafood Place, visitors can enjoy bottomless local oysters, unlimited craft beer and live music, with a percentage of proceeds supporting local population restoration through the Oyster Recovery Partnership.
3000 K Street NW, Washington, DC, 20007
Turkish Festival
Turkish Festival
The community-organized Turkish Festival fills Pennsylvania Avenue with special art and photo exhibits, folk dancers and concerts ranging from Turkish rock to folk. There will also be Turkish coffee and tea demos and a bazaar touting food and artisanal goods.
More Info | Free Admission
Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 3rd Street and 6th Street
Fall Harvest Festival
Experience what harvest season looked like in the 18th century with activities and demonstrations at the Farm at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Navigate the corn maze, sample fresh breads or farm products and witness centuries-old techniques for wheat treading, cooking, candle-making, spinning, textile-making and horseshoeing.
George Washington's Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA 2212
Celebrate Spooky Season in DC
The nation's capital has a frightful amount of options for spook-tacular festivities. Themed parties, specialty cocktails, family arts and crafts and ghost tours are just a few of the ways to have spirited Halloween and Día de los Muertos in the District.
Trick-or-Treating at Mount Vernon – Oct. 31
George Washington’s former estate welcomes the entire family to enjoy Halloween fun. Festivities include candy-collecting in special Mount Vernon treat bags, a costume parade, Halloween-themed Punch & Judy shows, an 18th-century baking demonstration, a straw bale selfie station, musical entertainment and much more.
2-5 p.m. | Tickets
George Washington's Mount Vernon, 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA 22121
Architecture Cruise with DC Design Tours – Through Oct. 31
An expert on architecture will guide you through this memorable experience from DC Design Tours. Cast off from Georgetown along with the professional crew of Capitol River Cruises and head south on the Potomac as live commentary adds to your views of architectural gems like the Francis Scott Key Bridge, the Arlington Memorial Bridge, the Watergate Hotel, Arlington National Cemetery and the Kennedy Center. Lesser known landmarks like the Lyndon Baines Johnson Grove and the Navy-Merchant Marine Memorial will also be showcased.
Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art
From the Louvre: Masterpieces of Islamic Art – through Jan. 18, 2027
In its only U.S. stop, this exhibition comes to DC with 26 works from the Musée du Louvre in Paris. Some of the pieces, which showcase Islamic art from Spain to India, date back to the 7th century. The collection explores the evolution of artistic styles and reveals how art shaped cultural exchange, trade and diplomacy across centuries.
Free Admission
Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, 1050 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20013
Places to Stay
Hotel Nell
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 today!
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