Take your pick of touring shows and fall favorites in the nation's capital, from DC Jazzfest and the DC State Fair to AdMo Day and Art All Night
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 as well as our accessibility guides to monuments and museums on the National Mall.
Washington Nationals Baseball
The Nats, who have four National League East titles, five postseason appearances and a World Series championship since coming to DC in 2005, are one of the city's main attractions throughout the spring and summer. Head to Nationals Park to experience MLB action with an exciting schedule, plenty of home runs and, of course, Racing Presidents.
More Info
1500 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
The Future of Jazz: America’s Next 250 Years – Sept. 2 – 6
One of DC’s ultimate summer traditions brings national and local musicians to a range of venues all over the city, including The Wharf. Some concerts are free; most are ticketed. A lineup stacked with talent and free performances are just some of the many reasons why you should check out this year's edition of DC JazzFest.
More info
DC Festival of Magic – Sept. 4 – 6
Back at the Capital Hilton for a fifth year, the DC Festival of Magic brings together the best magicians in the Mid-Atlantic region for three nights of Labor Day weekend entertainment that will make your head spin.
More info
Capital Hilton, 1001 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
DC State Fair – Sept. 6
Enjoy a free showcase of the District’s agricultural, culinary and creative talents with a daylong celebration of all things homegrown. Inspired by time-honored state fair traditions, growing and gardening, contests and delicious foods, the DC State Fair honors what makes the nation's capital one of a kind. Some past activities have included: competitions for best photographer, best mumbo sauce, the most creative use of space in a micro-garden, slime for kids and much, much more.
National Children's Museum
Curious George: Let’s Get Curious! – Through Sept. 6
Kids will go crazy for this new exhibit at the National Children’s Museum, which immerses them in the world of Curious George through a variety of interactive experiences. Activations include an apartment building where kids use pulleys to move George, a construction site, mini-golf and the rocket George took to space.
Hours & Admission
National Children’s Museum, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
State Fairs: Growing American Craft – Through Sept. 7, 2026
After five years of research and months of preparation, the Renwick Gallery debuts this extraordinary exhibit that is the first to survey American state fairs’ unconventional crafts from the 19th century to the present. Personal stories and regional traditions will be showcased across more than 240 artworks. Highlights include a life-size butter cow made on-site, size-96 boots from the State Fair of Texas and a pyramid of 700 glass jars of preserved fruits and vegetables.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
Renwick Gallery, 1661 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006
Justin Favela, Capilla de Maíz
Justin Favela: Capilla de Maíz – Through Sept. 7
Multidisciplinary artist Justin Favela reimagines the Renwick Gallery’s Rubenstein Grand Salon with Capilla de Maíz, which translates to “Maize Chapel”. The site-specific installation features gold-fringed walls and piñata corncobs, with its visual effect showcasing the importance of corn to North American culture. The introduction of this piece marks the reopening of the Gallery along with the new exhibit, State Fairs: Growing American Craft.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
Renwick Gallery, 1661 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006
Smithsonian Institution
Voices and Votes: Exploring Democracy Across America – Through Sept. 7
In the Arts and Industries Building (the Smithsonian’s second-oldest building and the country’s first national museum) right next to the Smithsonian castle, explore what American independence really means, and how that meaning has evolved over time from the American Revolution until now.
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Free Admission
Smithsonian Arts + Industries Building, 900 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC 20560
Smithsonian Arts & Industries Building Reopens – Through Sept. 7
The second oldest building of the Smithsonian Institution reopens to the public for a limited time in perfect alignment with America’s 250th anniversary. Visitors can explore two exhibitions: a special version of the traveling exhibition, Voices & Votes: Democracy in America, and another showcasing objects and stories from past Folklife Festivals. The building will also host For the Common Good: The Smithsonian on Our Shared Future 250, a series of conversations with Smithsonian staff, community partners and thought leaders, as well as the Folklife Marketplace, featuring handcrafted items from artisans.
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Free Admission
900 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC 20004
DC Bike Ride – Sept. 12
If you’re looking for fun activities in the District this fall, you’ve found a gem with DC Bike Ride. With a family-friendly course, the event is one of the biggest celebrations of cycling in DC and offers a unique experience to its participants, winding riders through city streets and by monuments and memorials. The 20-mile excursion welcomes riders over the age of three and includes a Finish Festival with food, music and fun activities.
Celebrate Oktoberfest in 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 for a weekend with Polka on the Pier, a Stein Hosting Competition and the thrilling Dachshund Dash.
Art All Night – Sept. 11 & 12
An all-night arts festival? Sign us up. Yes, DC has that with Art All Night, which spreads out across several neighborhoods. Art experiences don’t get much more lavish or expansive than this: Everything from painting to performing arts to music to sculpture will be showcased in both public and private spaces, indoors and outdoors. Be sure to check out the companion event Dine All Night, too.
Adams Morgan Day – Sept. 13
The longest-running neighborhood festival in the District has been around for more than 40 years. The lively 18th Street buzzes with music, food vendors, for-sale artwork and family-friendly activities. Celebrate one of DC’s liveliest, most diverse neighborhoods with this day-long extravaganza that is led by volunteers and showcases the businesses, artists and organizations that make up "AdMo."
National Portrait Gallery
Honor Hispanic Heritage Month in the District – Sept. 15 – 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 – Sept. 26 & 27
- Secure tickets to a heritage night game with DC United, the Nats, the Washington Spirit or the Capitals
- Attend a Hispanic Heritage Month event at a Smithsonian museum
Walkingtown DC – Sept. 19 – 26
On September, Events DC showcases the incredible walkability of the nation’s capital during this free, week-long public tour program. In total, dozens of guided walking tours will be held throughout the District, including neighborhood showcases, themed excursions, historical journeys and many more. Historians, licensed tour guides, community leaders and business owners, among others, host these adventures that will take you to both well-known and hidden gems across DC.
Theatre Week
Theatre Week – Dates TBD
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. 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.
H Street Festival – Sept. 19
Another one of DC’s most popular neighborhoods pulls out all the stops for this annual festival that draws thousands of attendees every year. The H Street Festival will feature live music, dance performances, family-friendly activities, contests and plenty of food vendors across its many staging areas, with dozens of businesses participating.
All Things Go
All Things Go Music Festival – Sept. 25 – 27
You'll want to plan ahead for this popular festival that has sold out the last few years. Hosted at Merriweather Post Pavilion, the event features two stages, an epic lineup of delicious local eats and art installations.
10475 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044
DC Public Library
District Vibes / American Pride: How DC Changed American Culture – Through Sept. 27
DC gave the world the football huddle, the modern blood bank and legends like Marvin Gaye. Discover the vibrant contributions of Washingtonians through images, artifacts, storytelling and free programs. The main exhibit location is Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, but satellite locations can be found across the city.
More Information | Free Admission
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Capital Harvest on the Plaza – Wednesdays through October
Located at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Capital Harvest on the Plaza is open from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Wednesdays from May through October. During your visit, you’ll find plenty of farm-fresh deliciousness and artisanal crafts, as well as recipes and tips for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Check out the full list of vendors to start planning your haul.
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Wednesdays | Free Admission
Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
Craft2Wear | Smithsonian
Smithsonian Craft2Wear – Oct. 2 – 4
The Arts and Industries Building hosts this curated show from the Smithsonian. Limited edition clothing, jewelry and accessories will be on display, as dozens of designers from all over the country will be represented.
More Info
Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building, 900 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC 20004
National Museum of Asian Art
Saodat Ismailova: Melted Into the Sun – Through Nov. 29
The first major solo museum presentation in the U.S. by film and installation artist Saodat Ismailova highlights her ongoing interest in Central Asia’s traditions, oral histories and landscapes. A unique blend of images, sounds and textures, Ismailova’s work creates a space between dream and reality.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of Asian Art, East Building, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20004
©Jasper Johns and ULAE, National Gallery of Art
American Icon: The US Flag in Art – Through Dec. 6
The exhibition spotlights more than 30 works from the late-1800s to today, each illustrating the changing uses and interpretations of the American flag. Paintings, prints and photographs from seminal artists such as Gordon Parks, Dorothea Lange, Jasper Johns and Faith Ringgold examine the ever-evolving symbolism of the Stars and Stripes.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20565
Adam Pendleton: Love, Queen – Through Jan. 3, 2027
Known for his rigorous work in creating jaw-dropping paintings, Adam Pendleton will showcase new and recent pieces as well as single-channel video in this landmark exhibition at the Hirshhorn Museum. Pendleton’s first solo showcase will highlight his contributions to contemporary American painting and utilize the architecture of the Hirshhorn and the vast history of DC’s National Mall.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, Independence Avenue & 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20560
Hillwood Museum
Interwoven: A Tradition of Textiles – Through Jan. 3, 2027
Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, the sumptuous estate of Marjorie Merriweather Post, presents myriad treasures literally in every corner – this year they’ve rounded up their rich holding of fabrics for their first ever textile-focused exhibition. The offering invites visitors to consider the enduring power of textiles, not only as decorative or domestic objects but also as expressions of identity, devotion, innovation and exquisite craftsmanship.
No tickets required; suggested $20 donation for adults
Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe – Through Jan. 18, 2027
The acclaimed Ho-Chunk artist receives his first major retrospective at the National Museum of the American Indian. Truman Lowe used willow branches, feathers and organic materials to create minimalist sculptures to evoke rivers, streams and waterfalls. The exhibit also features similarly distinctive drawings and paintings by Lowe.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of the American Indian, 4th Street & Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560
National Portrait Gallery
The Spirit of Invention: Patent Office and Patentees – Through June 6, 2027
Timed with the U.S. semiquincentennial, the National Portrait Gallery commemorates the founding of its historic home with The Spirit of Invention: Patent Office and Patentees. The exhibition sketches the early history of the Patent Office – the third oldest building in DC – through works in the museum’s collection.
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission
National Portrait Gallery, First Floor, East Galleries, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001
Homelands – Through Aug. 1, 2027
Discover how people and places relate to each other in a new exhibit at the National Gallery of Art’s East Building. Across 20 pieces, see the ways in which artists consider ancestral links, pressures that caused them to move from one place to the next and the larger histories to be found all across the United States.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 4th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20565
Smithsonian Institution
Reset: Abstraction Embodied in Design – Through June 2028
Running for two years beginning on June 12, this exhibit at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) takes a cerebral look at the way thoughtfully shaped furniture shapes our environments and our perspectives. Explore the ways that designers, much like visual artists, harness abstraction as both a technique and a source of inspiration.
Free Admission | Hours & Information (timed passes required)
National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
Smithsonian Institution
From These Lands: Sharing Our Natural and Cultural Heritage – Through 2029
As part of Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250 programming, the National Museum of Natural History displays more than 600 artifacts that represent all 50 U.S. states, DC and an additional five U.S. territories. Items range from significant scientific discoveries to cultural keepsakes to ancient fossils like an American mastodon tooth.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of Natural History, 10th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
Smithsonian Institution
Revelation: A Journey Into Abstraction – Through June 2028
NMAAHC dives even deeper into abstraction with this installation which explores the profound range and depth of abstract art created by African American artists from the mid‑20th century to the present. The exhibit reintroduces key works from the museum's collection and debuts new acquisitions, offering fresh contexts and perspectives.
Free Admission | Hours & Information (timed passes required)
National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
Ruffled Feathers: Creating Whistler’s Peacock Room – Ongoing
One of the most famous rooms in the nation’s capital receives a full in-depth investigation thanks to a new exhibit at the National Museum of Asian Art. The Peacock Room is the museum’s calling card, and this display will be located right next door. The creation of James McNeill Whistler was originally meant for the London home of British businessman Frederick Leyland. Its origin story and tangled history is detailed through paintings, works on paper, decorative art and additional ephemera.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of Asian Art, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560
Forces for Change: Mary McLeod Bethune and Black Women’s Activism – Ongoing
Explore the powerful societal impact of local hero, educator and reformer Mary McLeod Bethune at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The exhibit space focuses on Bethune’s incredible work with the National Council of Negro Women as well as the contributions of other women who have fought for social change. In total, the display includes 75 images, 35 artifacts, a multimedia film, an eight-foot-tall plaster sculpture of Bethune and an interactive engagement.
More info | Free Admission
National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20560
InSight: Photos and Stories from the Archives – Ongoing
Peer into Indigenous lives from across the Western hemisphere over time thanks to a new exhibit at the National Museum of the American Indian. Through this special selection picked from more than 500,000 images, the museum highlights moments of everyday joy, education and familial bonding. Each photo has its own story to tell.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of the American Indian, 4th Street & Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560
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!
