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The first weekend after the fall equinox is coming in hot, but we’re in our autumn era to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and Oktoberfest.
If you’re not jetting off to All Things Go or Oceans Calling, we have lots of fall festivals and live music close to home.
- Weekend weather: With humidity and rain chances in the forecast, Sunday looks nicer for outdoor plans. Here’s the forecast.
Weekend highlights
Hispanic Heritage Month
This Hispanic Heritage Month comes at an uncertain time, and some annual events have been called off amid concern for immigrants. However, for those who feel ready to come together and share cultures, there are many things to do this weekend.
- In D.C., the “Corazón y vida” Lowriding Exhibition opens with a family-friendly festival on the National Mall and a film screening to mark the occasion. The Portrait Gallery’s Fotos y Recuerdos Festival is great if you have small kids. Or, head to the Fiesta DC Festival and Parade around the National Mall.
- The Manassas Latino Festival happens this Saturday. For a fun night of music, Los Tigres Del Norte, the legendary norteño band, will play at EagleBank Arena in Fairfax on Friday.
- In Maryland, hit up the AFI Latin American Film Festival, fly by the 5th Annual Latinas in Aviation Global Festival in College Park or get to know local Hispanic artists at BlackRock Center’s “Colores” exhibit.
Fusion Festival
Sat., 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Anacostia Arts Center, $20 to $75
🔗 Details
Jump into “a full-day experience of innovation, culture, and connection,” with wellness sessions, performances, workshops, trainings and networking opportunities.
Lakeysha “Key” Hallmon, author of “No One Is Self-Made” and founder of ATL Village Market, will be the keynote speaker. See more details on the day’s programs on the Anacostia Arts Center Instagram.
Fusion Festival is set to be one of the Anacostia Arts Center’s last events at this space before renovations begin later this fall.
Family-friendly
Arlington Visual Art Studio Tour
Sat. and Sun., Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington and other locations
🔗 Details
Meet dozens of artists in their studios on a self-guided tour that could bring you to every corner of Arlington. Check out the map to plan your route. Kids are welcome, but young ones should be watched closely.
Free & family-friendly
Rocktobierfest
Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Rockville Town Center
🔗 Details
Get your Oktoberfest on with beer, bands and brats in Rockville Town Center. Two stages of music will feature Bavarian polka bands and pop, rock and Latin covers.
Pick up brews from local breweries including 7 Locks, Lone Oak and Denizens, then shop from local artisans selling jewlery, art, gifts and more. Kids’ activities will be on tap, too.
- You’ll find other Oktoberfest celebrations around the DMV this weekend, including Alexandria (Sat.), Zinnia in Silver Spring (Sat.), Frederick, Maryland (Sat. and Sun.) and Wunder Garten in Northeast D.C. (through Oct. 12).
Family-friendly
Aslin Beer Co. 10th Anniversary Party
Sat., 3-9 p.m., 847 South Pickett Street in Alexandria, $12.51 to $81.88 (including fees)
🔗 Details
Celebrate a decade of Alexandria’s Aslin Beer Co. with a fun lineup of stand-up comedians and bands: Quarters Of Change, who sold out two nights at The Atlantis last year; SNACKTIME, who’ve opened locally for Portugal. The Man and Fitz and the Tantrums; and D.C.’s “punk lite” Pinkhouse.
Kids can take part in an Olympics fueled by bottomless lemonade.
General admission and VIP tickets let you sample some of the 60 Aslin beers available, including limited-edition varieties and four anniversary brews.
Free & family-friendly
Wheaton Arts Parade & Festival
Sun., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Marian Fryer Town Plaza
🔗 Details
Join Wheaton’s ninth annual funky arts parade with your family, friends, neighbors or just yourself. Whether you dress up or decorate bikes and strollers, organizers say “on this day, everyone can be an artist. Just push, pull, carry, wear or perform your art!” Sign up by 9 a.m. to join the parade, or watch along the route starting at 10 a.m.
The festival along Granview Avenue will feature three stages of entertainment, art vendors and kids zones with free face painting, balloon twisting and art making.
Concerts this weekend
The Baseball Project, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, The Hamilton, $37.37
A supergroup of indie rock OGs Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey, Mike Mills, Linda Pitmon and Steve Wynn from various groups including R.E.M., Dream Syndicate and Young Fresh Fellows – and they have a theme. Buck and McCaughery’s The Minus 5 opens the show. Details.
Woods and White Fence, 6 p.m. Friday, Union Stage, $25 and up
Another great double bill. Brooklyn’s Woods plays rustic folk rock often lumped in with the freak folk scene way, way back in the ‘00s. They’ve moved on considerably with a lo-fi sound brimming with melody. Sharing the bill is Tim Presley’s psychedelic garage rock group White Fence from the California garage rock scene that gave us Ty Segall (a Presley collaborator). Details.
More to do in D.C.
Smithsonian Craft2Wear Show: Fri. to Sun., Smithsonian Institution Arts and Industries Building, $20
Nats Postgame Summer Concert Series – Riley Green: Fri., 6:45 p.m., Nationals Park, show is free with game ticket
Dance For All at CityCenterDC: Fri., 5 p.m., and Sat., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., The Plaza at CityCenterDC, free
Concert – David Byrne: Sat. and Sun., The Anthem
Fusion Festival: Sat., 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Anacostia Arts Center, $20 to $75
Black and Forth Farmers Market: Sat., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 2201 Channing St NE, free entry
Fotos y Recuerdos Festival: Sat., 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Kogod Courtyard at National Portrait Gallery, free
Corazón y vida – Lowriding Exhibition Opening Weekend: Sat., National Mall and Smithsonian National Museum of American History, free
3rd Annual Boot ‘N Scoot at Hi-Lawn: Sat., 2-11 p.m., The Rooftop @ Union Market District, $18.86
Fiesta DC Parade: Sun., 1-5 p.m., 700 Constitution Ave NW, free
Washington Spirit vs Houston Dash (Hispanic Heritage Month game): Sun., 1 p.m., Audi Field
More to do in Maryland
Concert – Black Violin: Thurs., 7:30 p.m., The Music Center at Strathmore, $29 to $89
All Things Go music festival: Fri. to Sun., Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia
St. Theodore Greek Festival: Fri. to Sun., St. Theodore Greek Orthodox Church in Lanham, free entry
Buckets & Beats youth block party: Fri., 2-6 p.m., Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring, free
Prince George’s County Memorial Library System Festival of Cultures: Sat., 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., South Bowie Branch Library, free
Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation’s PFF Walk: Sat., National Harbor, free (raise $100 for a t-shirt)
Rocktobierfest: Sat., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Rockville Town Center, free
9th Annual Wheaton Arts Parade & Festival: Sun., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Marian Fryer Town Plaza, free
Celebrate Africa Festival: Sun., 1-6 p.m., Fairwood Park in Bowie, free
More to do in Virginia
Aslin Beer Co. 10th Anniversary Party: Sat., 3-9 p.m., 847 South Pickett Street in Alexandria, $12.51
LoCo Wine Festival (21+): Sat. and Sun., Old Farm Winery at Hartland in Aldie, $45
Occoquan’s annual Fall Arts & Crafts Show: Sat. and Sun., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., free
Arlington Visual Art Studio Tour: Sat. and Sun., Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington and other locations, free
Leesburg Air Show: Sat., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., parking at Heritage High School and Segra Field (directions), free entry
Manassas Latino Festival: Sat., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Harris Pavilion, free
2nd Annual Chalk-A-Block: Sun., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Old Town North, free
International Food & Culture Festival: Sun., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Prince William Street Commuter Lot in Manassas, free entry
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