Good day, DC!
The first week of fall is here. Sing along with Ethel Cain and Hayley Williams at the outdoor All Things Go Music Festival, celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at Fiesta DC, or snag discount tickets during Theatre Week.
Best Things to Do This Week and Weekend
September 21–27
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- All Things Go Music Festival. Fall music in the DC area kicks off at Merriweather Post Pavilion with a star-studded lineup of music sets by Ethel Cain, Brandi Carlile, Mitski, and more popular artists at All Things Go Music Festival (Fri-Sun, $149+, Columbia).
- NMAAHC 10th Anniversary. The National Museum of African American History and Culture has The Reunion to mark their 10th anniversary (Thurs-Sun, free, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture).
- Fiesta DC. Fiesta DC started during the ’70s in Mount Pleasant to express the richness of Latino culture. Now the annual tradition fills the streets of downtown DC with ancestral fashions, Latin music, folk dance, and a lively parade on Constitution Avenue. This year’s jamboree is in honor of Brazil (Sat-Sun, free, Downtown).
- American Black Film Festival. American Black Film Festival marks their 30th anniversary with a pop-up at Union Market’s Angelika. Over three days, viewers can see stories on Black culture and heritage come to life on the big screen. Plus, creatives looking to learn new skills can take a screenwriting master class and listen to panel discussions on economics and binge-worthy true crime stories (Fri-Sun, $15+ single tickets, Union Market).
- Theatre Week. Theatre Week invites locals to catch several area performances at a discounted rate. Get tickets to heart-moving dramas such as Ford Theatre’s Come From Away, chuckle at retro quips and jokes at Signature Theatre’s Merrily We Roll Along musical, and much more (Thurs through October 11, $25+, various participating theaters).
Want More Things to Do?
Arts and culture:
- Shop jewelry, purses, scarves, clothing, and other wearable art at the Smithsonian Craft2Wear Show (Fri-Sun, $20+, Smithsonian Institution Arts and Industries Building).
- Festival-goers can buy autumn produce and snacks from Freshfarm market vendors and shop for handmade items and vintage products from URBNmarket at Mosaic Fall Festival (Fri-Sat, free, Fairfax).
- Browse jury-selected creations including sculptures, paintings, jewelry, pottery, textiles, and more at the Alexandria Old Town Art Festival (Sat-Sun, free, Alexandria).
- Watch an art parade and shop vendors at the Wheaton Arts Parade and Festival (Sun, free, Wheaton)
Community and heritage:
- It’s the last week to explore local culture and history on a guided tour during Walking Town (through Sat, free, various locations).
- Acknowledge Latinas in aviation with flight demos, bilingual story time, art, and a live concert featuring Latin Nine Orchestra (Sat, free, College Park).
- Kick off fall in your best lederhosen or dirndl at Lovettsville Oktoberfest (Sat, free, Lovettsville).
- Discover the history and heritage of salsa through music, photos, and memorabilia at at the Smithsonian’s “¡Puro Ritmo!” exhibit (opens Sun, free, Smithsonian National Museum of American History).
Theater and shows:
- The true story Come From Away at Ford’s Theatre just got extended another week due to popular demand (through October 25, $20+, Penn Quarter).
- Helen Hayes winner Psalmayene 24 directs Shakespeare comedy Measure for Measure at Folger Theatre (Tues through November 1, $20+, Capitol Hill).
- Wish You Were Here invites audiences into an Iranian story of friendship and change (Wed through November 1, $42+, Logan Circle).
- Dance Place’s choreographed duet Lay Him Quietly explores the connections of queerness and race (Wed-Thurs, free, Edgewood).
- Theatre of Magic brings a mystical show of illusions and cocktails to Fairmont Washington DC hotel (opens Sat, $79+, Georgetown).
Music and concerts:
- K-pop group Aespa brings hyperpop tunes to Capital One Arena (Tues, $49.50+, Capital One Arena).
- Watch live music performances across multiple stages at the Takoma Park Folk Festival (Sun, free, Takoma Park).
Bites and beverages:
- Toast to the first day of fall with Chef Marcus Samuelsson at Sly Rooftop Bar (Tues, $46, NoMa).
- Taste five wines from France to Virginia with Slater Run winemaker Katell Griaud (Sat, $65, Upperville).
- Ring in Korean Thanksgiving with marinated beef, crafty cocktails, and rice cakes at Ingle Korean Steakhouse (Thurs-Sat, free entry, Tysons, Cardozo).
Get involved:
- Laugh out loud with DC native and comedy star Dave Chappelle at DAR Constitution Hall to help support the Duke Ellington School of the Arts (Fri, $206+, Downtown).
Things to do with kids:
- Get slimed with your family, craft slimy creations, and adventure through a slime-inspired playhouse at Sloomoo Institute (daily through December 31, $35+, Tysons).
- Meet farm animals and ride amusement attractions at the State Fair of Virginia (Fri through October 4, $12+ for ages 5 to 12, $14.50+ for adults, free for ages 4 and younger, Doswell).
- Children can meet astronaut Karen Nyberg and co-author Ann McCallum Staats and sit in on a live reading of their new picture book (Sat, $19 for adults and ages over 1, free for children under 1, Downtown).
Plan ahead:
- Charli XCX arrives in DC to promote her latest album Music, Fashion, Film (September 28, $102+, Capital One Arena)
If you enjoyed these events, please don’t forget to share this post with a friend on social media, and sign up for our newsletter for more things to do.
Briana A. Thomas is a local journalist, historian, and tour guide who specializes in the research of D.C. history and culture. She is the author of the Black history book, Black Broadway in Washington, D.C., a story that was first published in Washingtonian in 2016.
