Check out these exciting events in the District this season.
The fun only picks up as summer turns to fall in the District. The city’s calendar stays packed with day and weekend-long events. This lineup showcases food, music, culture and history, and many are free to attend. Explore some of the highlights and plan a spectacular season in Washington, DC.
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.
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 Adams Morgan.
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 of the activities planned: competitions for best photographer, best mumbo sauce, the most creative use of space in a micro-garden, slime for kids and much, much more.
Begins at 10 a.m. | Free Admission
Franklin Park, 1332 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
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 14 staging areas, with dozens of businesses participating.
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.
Celebrate the theatre season in the Washington, DC region with a weeks-long promotion from TheatreWashington which includes $20, $40 and $60 tickets to highly anticipated productions at venues all over the DMV 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 on Sept. 23. Plan your stay: Book a hotel today.
An all-night arts festival? Sign us up. Yes, DC has that with Art All Night, which will spread out over multiple neighborhoods on Sept. 29 and 30. 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.
The National Mall welcomes the world to celebrate diversity and unity as this three-day festival debuts in America. Experience global music, dance, art and food from 180-plus countries at the historic, Olympic-scale celebration.
All Things Go Music Festival
The All Things Go Music Festival returns Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 and features performances from a diverse array of artists, including the likes of Maggie Rogers, Carly Rae Jepsen, Mt. Joy, Lana Del Rey and many more. The festival will be hosted at Merriweather Post Pavilion and will feature two stages, an epic lineup of delicious local eats and art installations.
The National Building Museum hosts this curated show from Smithsonian. Limited edition clothing, jewelry and accessories will be on display, as dozens of designers from all over the country will be represented. The wearable art extravaganza kicks off with a preview benefit.
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 and chill out on the east lawn, which overlooks the Potomac River. Virginia wines will be available for sampling. Fruit and cheese boxes to accompany your wine are available for purchase in advance.
Join NICE CROWD®, the producers of the American Black Film Festival, in partnership with Events DC, for the inaugural Because They're Funny Comedy Festival. Expect a fun-filled weekend showcasing BIPOC comedians at The Wharf, 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. Tickets are available now.
The Capital City Africa Week Festival will celebrate the diversity and richness of Africa through a series of cultural, economic and sporting events in DC. The Festival will focus on fostering economic investment in critical sectors such as health, infrastructure, energy, agribusiness and digital. The week will be anchored by the inaugural Capital City Africa Cup between the Ghanaian Men’s Premier League Team winner, Medeama SC, and DC United at Audi Field, set for Oct. 14 at 5 p.m. Tickets are available to the game now and make sure to visit the event website for details on the week's celebrations, which include an art exhibition, business forums, faith-based events and much more. Ghana is serving as the inaugural visiting country in 2023, but future years will highlight different African nations.
Join 100Reporters, an investigative news organization, for a virtual edition of the Double Exposure Investigative Film Festival (DX), the first and only festival dedicated to investigative storytelling on film in the U.S. This event celebrates the finest new films inspired by the investigative instinct and advocates for the rights of reporters and filmmakers to pursue investigations that are in the public interest. In addition to screenings, DX offers a professional symposium and programming for journalists and visual storytellers.
The sixth annual DMV Black Restaurant Week asks local foodies to show their support for Black-owned restaurants in the District, Maryland and Virginia. Participating locations will offer discounts on menu items, as well as specialty dishes, throughout the week. Check the promotion’s website for updates on participants and specials and make sure to follow along on Instagram.
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