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This weekend is packed with ways to get out and enjoy our town. Explore D.C. for Art All Night and Adams Morgan Day, then unplug at carnivals or a new bar that involves checking your phone at the door.
- Weekend Weather: Warmer temps are making a comeback. Here’s the forecast.
Weekend highlights
Free & family-friendly
Art All Night
Fri. and Sat. until late
🔗 Details
Neighborhoods across the District are gearing up to celebrate local art and culture until 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
From Deanwood to Anacostia to Tenleytown to The Parks, explore somewhere new or see your neighborhood in a new light. Every area has something different; you can find links on the Art All Night website or download the app for details.
Many neighborhoods are focusing programming on Friday or Saturday, so check the schedule before making plans.
Here are a few highlights:
- Congress Heights’ festival celebrates homegrown culture with two stages of music, including one at The Go-Go Museum.
- Join dance, yoga and fitness classes at Lower Georgia Avenue.
- Find music, comedy, a silent disco and more at the MLK Library Block Party.
Pro tip: In reality, a lot of the programming wraps up solidly before 3 a.m., giving you plenty of time to catch Metro before it closes.
The Great Fredrick Fair
Sept. 12-20, Frederick Fairgrounds, $8 for 11+, free for 10 and under
🔗 Details
Go by day for carnival rides, fair food, Disney princess appearances and more.
In the evenings, check out a demolition derby, tractor pull or the concert schedule featuring Brantley Gilbert, T.I., and The Commodores/Village People this weekend.
Pro tip: Save by purchasing your tickets online. If you plan on spinning through a lot of rides, you can purchase a Jack Pass until Friday at 5 p.m. It costs $35, which covers admission and a one-day unlimited ride wristband.
But wait, there’s more… All is fair in the merry land of Maryland, with the Anne Arundel County Fair in Crownsville and the Charles County Fair in La Plata this weekend.
Free & family-friendly
Joint Base Andrews Air Show
Sat. and Sun., Joint Base Andrews in Landover (parking at Northwest Stadium)
🔗 Details
Walk underneath – and inside – military aircraft, then watch aerial demonstrations as the Joint Base Andrews air show returns.
It’s only open to Department of Defense employees on Friday, but everyone can check it out on Saturday and Sunday.
Visitors must park at Northwest Stadium, then take a shuttle bus to Joint Base Andrews. Shuttle buses to the base run from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The last bus back to Northwest Stadium leaves at 5 p.m. Expect a security screening before you enter the base.
Bring sunscreen and an empty water bottle. Here’s more info, including lists of permitted and prohibited items.
Free & family-friendly
49th Annual Falls Church Festival
Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., City Hall and Community Center Grounds (300 Park Avenue
🔗 Details
For its 49th year, the city is bringing together a Taste of Falls Church with live music, kids’ activities, crafters and a beer garden.
Go early to vote on which participating restaurant should win the People’s Choice Award! Here’s info on timing and tasting tickets.
Free & family-friendly
Adams Morgan Day
Sun., near 18th Street and Columbia Road
🔗 Details
Dubbed D.C.’s longest street festival, Adams Morgan Day will feature live music, kids’ activities, a dance plaza and community history tours.
Music Snob’s concert picks
Matthew Stabley shares the shows that shouldn’t fly under your radar
Clem Snide, 7 p.m. Thursday, Jammin Java, $23.49
Singer-songwriter Eef Barzelay’s cult alt-country band is lighter and poppier than most in the genre. It’s a refreshing, inviting listen. Details.
PUP and Jeff Rosenstock, 6 p.m. Friday, The Anthem, $52.75+
Pop-punk heroes PUP join forces with DIY ska/punk guru Rosenstock, whose recent solo work is among the best infectious punk of the past decade. Excellent opener Ekko Astral represents D.C. punk with its “mascara moshpit” mix of noise, garage rock and hooks. Details.
Lucero, 10 p.m. Saturday, 9:30 Club, $45.30
Southern rockers are among the best live rock and roll bands of the past 30 years. Alternately hilarious and heartstringing tunes soaked in cigarettes and whiskey. Details.
Dummy, 7 p.m. Sunday, Songbyrd, $18/$20
Psychedelic pop rock that combines jangly pop, electronics and distortion. The L.A. group draws from bands like My Bloody Valentine (guitar noise), Yo La Tengo and Stereolab (the old school European pop influence) and The Clean (that New Zealand jangle). Favorite local indie rockers Flowers for the Dead open. Details.
More to do in D.C.
NoMa In Color mural festival: Sept. 8-15, NoMa, free
Live! At the Library: Thurs., 5-8 p.m., Library of Congress, free
Pancakes & Booze Art Show: Thurs., Hook Hall, $16.74
Dr. Sanjay Gupta in conversation with Dr. Anthony Fauci: Thurs., Sixth & I, $15.05+
Capitol Hill Art Walk: Sat. and Sun., free
D.C. United vs. Orlando (United Night Out): Sat., Audi Field
Sawasdee DC Thai Festival: Sun., National Mall, free entry
Gogo & Cumbia concert: Sun., 4-8 p.m., Anthem Row (800 K Street NW), free
Concert – Royel Otis: Sun., The Anthem
More to do in Maryland
Moonlight Movies at the Mansion – “Encanto”: Fri., Kentlands Mansion in Gaithersburg, free
Long Branch Festival: Fri., 5-9 p.m., and Sat., 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Flower Ave Urban Park, free
Be Your Best Fest: Sat., 1-3 p.m., Casey Community Center in Gaithersburg, free
Bloom at Good Hope with Dante’ Pope: Sat., 5 p.m., Good Hope Neighborhood Recreation Center in Silver Spring, free
Comedy – Ms. Pat: Sat., 8 p.m., MGM National Harbor, $55.50+
Outlaw Music Festival: Sun., Merriweather Post Pavilion
More to do in Virginia
Concert – Maren Morris: Fri., 8 p.m., Wolf Trap’s Filene Center in Vienna, $63.50
Dulles Day Plane Pull and Festival: Sat., gates open 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for general attendees, Dulles International Airport (follow “event parking” signs), free
Eden Center’s Moon Festival Celebration: Sat., noon to 5 p.m., 6751-6799 Wilson Blvd, Falls Church, free
Wheatland Spring Farm’s 7th Annual Brewery Oktoberfest: Sat. and Sun., Waterford, free entry
23rd Annual Alexandria Fall Art Festival: Sat. and Sun., John Carlyle Square Park, free admission
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