Check out these exciting events in the District this season.
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.
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.
In September, Events DC showcases the incredible walkability of the nation’s capital during this free, week-long public tour program. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Walkingtown DC, so it'll be bigger than ever, with a slogan of "Explore DC: Eight Days, Eight Wards, One City." 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. The anniversary celebration will be capped off by a closing reception on Sept. 22.
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.
Get ready for ‘90s- and 2000s-era nostalgia – and maybe some moshing – with the revival of the HFStival (pronounced H-F-estival). Thanks to the Washington Nationals and I.M.P, the legendary independent concert producer behind the Merriweather Post Pavilion, Lincoln Theatre and The Anthem, the rockin' DC-area festival returns for one day only to Nationals Park. The lineup includes The Postal Service, Death Cab for Cutie, Incubus, Bush, Garbage, Jimmy Eat World, Girl Talk, Violent Femmes, Tonic, Filter and Lit.
Theatre Week
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. 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. 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.
Craft2Wear | Smithsonian
The National Building Museum 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. The wearable art extravaganza kicks off with a preview benefit.
All Things Go
The All Things Go Music Festival returns for its 10th year with headliners like Laufey, Bleachers, Janelle Monáe, Hozier and Reneé Rapp. The festival will be hosted at Merriweather Post Pavilion and will feature two stages, an epic lineup of delicious local eats and art installations.
Join NICE CROWD®, 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 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.
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.
The second annual Home Rule Music Festival celebrates the rich musical and cultural scene of DC. The fun continues in late October in partnership with NoMa BID when the festival puts on a show at Alethia Tanner Park. Expect a variety of locally based performers across a full day of concerts.
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.
