Wanderlist: 70+ Awesome Things to Do in DC in September

Is it just us or did this summer just fly by?! The trees are already changing colors but that doesn't mean the good times are coming to an end.

​Say good-bye to DC's sweltering heat and humidity and hello to cooler temperatures in which to take advantage of the abundance  fall festivals and outdoor events taking place all over the District. 

Here are some of this month's highlights: Capital Bop's NEXTfest, Adams Morgan Day, H Street Festival, NSO in Your Neighborhood, Opera in the Outfield, DC Fiesta, and so much more.

So grab your favorite pumpkin spice bev of choice and start exploring!

Legend:

• ​🆓 ​: This is a free event
• ​💲:  Donation or paid ticket required
• ​👤:  This is an in-person event
• 💻: This is an on-line/streaming event

Immerse yourself in Mexican art. Experience the works of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, the powerhouse duo who inspired one another to become the two of most influential figures in Mexican art, like never before. Mexican Geniuses: A Frida and Diego Immersive Experience takes a deep dive into the world of the Mexican artists with over 300 projections and the latest video-mapping technology. In addition to the immersive art experience, Mexican Geniuses also offers guests the opportunity to experience Kahlo’s and Rivera’s art in virtual reality with the use of headsets. 💲Now thru Oct 9

Art call and response.  Though created 35 years apart, the Jacob Lawrence and the Children of Hiroshima exhibition at Phillips  reexamines the impact of the 1945 bombing of Hiroshima through a conversation between Jacob Lawrence’s Hiroshima series of silkscreen prints and selected drawings by the children of Hiroshima’s Honkawa Elementary School.💲Now thru Nov 27

202 creates. The Mayor's Office kicks off 202Creates Month, a month-long celebration of DC's creative community that highlights the District’s dynamic creative economy and community, including DC’s culinary, cosmetology, fashion industries, musicians, performing artists, filmmakers, tech entrepreneurs, visual artists, and production support companies. Festivities kick off at the Wharf with a pop-up lounge featuring music, artistic activations, and more to recognize those who make DC the most vibrant city in the world. Reservations required. 🆓 Sept 1

Underground art exhibit. Check out the Black X  exhibit at Dupont Underground, featuring digital artwork and ​a genre-bending short film with nightmarish visuals and electrifying choreography. From a black man’s perspective, the film explores depression, spirituality, and self-discovery through an experimental lens. 💲Sept 2 - 4

National Book Festival.  Attention book lovers! The Library of Congress National Book Festival brings together best-selling authors and thousands of book fans for author talks, panel discussions, book signings and other activities. In-person and a selection of programs will be livestreamed online and videos of all programs will be available shortly after the Festival. 🆓 Sept 3

Island safari tour. Join the National Park Service for a 45 minute walk on Theodore Roosevelt Island to learn about the conservation legacy of the 26th president, and the 1st United States Colored Troops who trained on the island during the Civil War and the Mason family who owned the island for more than one hundred years. 🆓 Sept 3

Fort Dupont summer concert. Celebrate the National Park Service's 50th anniversary of the Fort Dupont Summer Event Series with incredible music from national, regional and local artists including Experience Unlimited featuring Sugar Bear, Blacc Print Experience Band, DJ Rico and more! 🆓Sept 3

DC jazz fest. ​The signature event of DC JazzFest takes place at The Wharf over Labor Day Weekend with live music performances by incredible artists—from homegrown talent to NEA Jazz Masters. 💲Sept 3 - 4

Forest bathing. Enjoy “bathing in the essence of the forest” with the WELLderness series at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. The practice is scientifically proven therapeutic modality to aid in one’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Registration required. 🆓Sept 3 + 17

Labor Day concert. Celebrate Labor Day weekend with NSO's concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol! This year’s event feature special guests Jimmie Herrod (Pink Martini, America’s Got Talent) to perform favorites by Gladys Knight, Joni Mitchell, and more! 🆓 Sept 4

Wall art. See new larger-than-life murals come to life during the DC Walls festival as muralists from around the world add to add color to walls in the NoMa neighborhood, adding to the 80+ produced by the festival over the past seven years. 🆓 Sept 7 - 10

Jazz in the park. Did you miss out on Jazz in the Garden this summer? Not to worry, head over to Canal Park for live jazz performances from local groups every Wednesday this month. Performers include Tobago Bay Calypso, DMV Percussion Academy Jazz Trio and hip-hop violinist Heru Peacock. 🆓 ​Sept 7, 14, 21 + 28

Hip-hop bingo. It's game night like you've never seen it before! Eat, drink and prove your 90s hip-hop music cred as you play Hip Hop Bingo 90's Edition at Hook Hall for shot specials. 90's prizes and a 90's spritz for each attendee. 💲Sept 7

Zoo brew. Lions and tigers and brews, oh my! Brew at the Zoo, DC's long-running beer festival, is back at the Smithsonian's National Zoo where you can see the animals and enjoy unlimited free beer tastings from 45-plus breweries, live music, food truck fare and much more. 21+ only. 💲Sept 8

NGA late night. National Gallery of Art is open late as the East Building comes alive for Homecoming , part of the National Gallery Nights series. The night includes  pop-up talks on special exhibitions The Double: Identity and Difference in Art since 1900  and The Woman in White: Joanna Hiffernan and James McNeill Whistler, an interactive performance blending classical music, toy piano, and electronics from Chromic Duo, and gesture drawing with live models and other hands-on activities. Registration required. 🆓 Sept 8

Get shorty.  19th annual DC Shorts International film festival kicks off at the new Alamo Drafthouse Cinema DC with  77 films screening in 9 showcases, plus 4 FREE filmmaker workshops for filmmakers of all levels, and 2 not-to-be-missed parties including the Saturday night “Fourth Wall Breakout Celebration,” and the Filmmaker Awards Reception at Bar Deco. 💲Sept 8 - 11

Movie night with Lincoln. Bring a picnic, a blanket and a friend for the screening of Onward on the lawn of Lincoln’s summer residence. Register for your space 🆓Sept 9

Walk in Joy. Black-ish star and award-winning actress Jennifer Lewis discusses her new book, Walking in My Joy, that explores her identity as a performer, but also her journey into activism and mental health, and shares lessons she has learned along the way. Michel Martin, weekend host of NPR’s All Things Considered, will moderate the conversation. Books will be available for sale and signing. Registration required. 🆓Sept 9

Arte Agave, Eat, drink, and enjoy at the Arte Agave Grand Fiesta where you can make and taste their own agave inspired cocktails, dine on delectable Latin cuisines from culinary leaders and win prizes like a bottle of your favorite tequila or mezcal. 💲Sept 9

Late skate. Lace-up your skates for a day of music, recreation and kinship in DC's most storied skating venue. 🆓 Sept 10

Till trilogy. ​Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum and Mosaic Theater Company present a special look into Mosaic’s upcoming world premiere theatrical production of The Till Trilogy which shines a new light on the murder of fourteen year-old Emmett Till in 1955 and the ongoing fight for racial justice that it inspired. Filled with music and poetry, the event includes playwright Ifa Bayeza reading scenes from the play and an insightful conversation between playwright Bayeza and the museum’s Director, Melanie Adams. 🆓​Sept 10

Women + wine. This one is for the ladies. Celebrate the accomplishments of the many women in the wine world at Niche in Union Market. Five bottles will be pulled for tastings and to tell the stories of women doing amazing things around the world. 💲Sept 10

American woman. Part of the National Portrait Gallery exhibition "The Outwin 2022: American Portraiture Today," DC artist Holly Bass premieres her day-long performance "American Woman," which is based on her 2021 video. The performance addresses the unacknowledged labor of Black women while celebrating and recognizing their overlooked contributions to the country’s history. Through movement, Bass will interpret the messages of leading activists, including Shirley Chisholm, Angela Davis and Fannie Lou Hamer, as well as the music of Nina Simone and Aretha Franklin, among others. 🆓 Sept 10

Fabulous fabrics. Celebrate Korean fashion and culture at the George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum during its 41st-annual Celebration of Textiles. See artist demonstrations of weaving, embroidery, quilting and more. Make your own “bojagi” patchwork and try a little K-pop dancing with friends or family. Tours of the exhibition Korean Fashion: From Royal Court to Runway will be offered throughout the day. 
This event is a partnership with the Korean Cultural Center. 🆓​Sept 10

Adams Morgan Day. At 44+ years, Adams Morgan Day is the longest running neighborhood festival featuring hmusic, art and activities for all ages. 🆓 ​Sept 11

Full circle. Join artists and scholars to celebrate the life and artistic legacy of DC artist Sam Gilliam, the titan of abstraction at Hirshhorn. The program is presented with Sam Gilliam: Full Circle, on view at the Hirshhorn through September 11. 🆓 Sept 11

Going to Africa. Woolly Mammoth's regional premiere of “Ain’t No Mo’ dares to ask the incendiary question, ‘What if the U.S. government offered Black Americans one-way plane tickets to Africa?’ The answer is the high-octane comedy about being Black in today’s America from the mischievous mind of playwright Jordan E. Cooper. See it at Woolly before it makes its way to Broadway this fall where it will be produced by Lee Daniels!  💲Sept 11 - Oct 9

The six wives of Henry the Eighth. “Divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived.” This six-word rhyme is often all anyone knows or remembers about the six wives of Henry the Eighth. It’s also the starting point for the acclaimed hit musical Six, which opened at National Theatre in July. But as the musical makes clear, these six women deserve to be remembered for more than just how their lives ended. Learn more about them with the help of Professor Amy Leonard, a scholar of women in Europe in the early modern period, when Henry VIII reigned. 💲Sept 12

Online shorts. If you missed the in-person screenings at the DC Shorts International Film Festival, catch them online in the comfort of your own home. Watch all 77 films that screened live, plus 17 additional films that are screening exclusively online – a total of 94 films. 💲💻Sept 12 -18

Rebel potter. Join artist Roberto Lugo in discussion about his studio practice and the themes of poverty, inequality, and racial injustice he explores in his pottery which reimagines traditional European and Asian ceramics adorned  with portraiture and surface design that incorporate his North Philadelphia roots and hip-hop culture from Frederick Douglass to Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur. His work is now on display at SAAM’s Renwick Gallery in the exhibition This Present Moment: Crafting a Better World. 🆓 Sept 14

Movie nights in NoMa. Bring your blanket for CiNoMatic, NoMa's fall movie season. This year's theme is “CiNoMAGIC!” Each film will center around the magical, mystical and extraordinary. Movies begin at sunset, and the fun begins an hour before showtime. Titles include Shrek, Night at the Museum and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Get there early to grab a spot, enjoy a bite to eat from a local food truck, and more. Registration is recommended. 🆓 Sept 14 - Oct 12

Dupont art walk. Dupont Circle's monthly art walk features a gallery walk, live music, local businesses for a celebration of the arts community. 🆓 Sept 15

Farm to table. Common Good City Farm hosts an evening featuring farm-fresh cocktails and a four-course farm-to-table seated dinner prepared by Chef Armani Johnson. All funds raised support the farm’s youth and adult education programming and pay-what-you-can farm market. 💲Sept 15

Feel the squeeze. In the tradition of Dolley Madison, who was famous for her "squeezes" that combined political glad-handing and social parties, visit Dumbarton House for a Madison Squeeze at dusk, featuring Light refreshments, live music, a cash bar, and self-guided museum tours are available. Suggested $5 donation. 💲Sept 15

Street of dreams. In this virtual talk, co-authors of the 2022 book Sixteenth Street NW: Washington, DC's Avenue of Ambitions explore the social and architectural history of the street and immediate neighborhoods, and recount the colorful stories of those who have lived, worked and worshipped along this historic street. Registration required. 🆓 💻​Sept 15

These are the people in your neighborhood. Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum hosts a community event as portraits shared with the Museum as part of “Portraits by the People” are projected on the side of the Museum. In addition to interactives and giveaways, Soul & Ink will be on-site with limited edition interactive screen printing. Registration recommended. 🆓 Sept 15

National dance day. Release the wiggle! Kennedy Center celebrates National Dance Day with dance and movement performances, interactive dance routines and lessons, live music, and more from local D.C. artists and dance organizations! 🆓 ​Sept 15 - 17

German movie night. Enjoy movie night at the Goethe-Institut with a screening of All About Me, a dramatized origin story based on the biography of beloved German comedian and presenter Hans-Peter "Hape" Wilhem Kerkeling. German with English subtitles. Feel free to bring friends, snacks and BYOB. Registration required. 🆓 Sept 16

Opera underground. Dupont Underground stages Orpheus, a one-of-a-kind performance that weaves together opera, poetry, and dance, with the ancient masked musical and dramatic tradition from Japan. 💲Sept 16 - 18

Neighborhood music jam. National Symphony Orchestra’s In Your Neighborhood program celebrates the power of music to unite, empower, and connect people to the cultural legacy and traditions of DC communities. This year NSO performs East of the River: Anacostia, Barry Farm, Congress Heights, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling and Bellevue. 🆓 Sept 16 - 25

John Brady memorial dedication. Mathew Brady, one of the earliest photographers in American history is best known for his scenes of the Civil War,  and portraits of Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams, and Abraham Lincoln, and Frederick Douglass, among others. To mark the 200th anniversary of his birthday, a new Memorial to Brady in the very shadow of his own gravesite, at Historic Congressional Cemetery. Registration recommended. 🆓 ​Sept 17

H Street festival. Started 21+ years ago, the H Street Festival is the largest neighborhood festival in DC spanning 11 blocks with food trucks, vendors, live music, performances, and more! It's always a blast!  🆓Sept 17

Color cycle. You've heard of Dinner en blanc? The 2nd annual Cycle en Blanc turns that idea on its head with a social 8 - 10 mile bike ride where everyone wears white. Sept 17

Guatemala at the Wharf. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at The Wharf as part of the Fiesta DC Festival and learn about Guatemalan culture and taste authentic Guatemalan foods. 🆓 Sept 17 - 18

Native American concert. ​Celebrate the end of summer with a concert by the Andean and Latin fusion band RAYMI (meaning “feast” or “celebration” in Quechua) which combines traditional Peruvian instruments, such as zampoñas, mosceños, quenas, and tarkas, with contemporary instruments. 🆓 Sept 17

LOC in conversation with Frances McDormand.  Audio documentarians and pioneering radio and podcast producers the Kitchen Sisters are joined by Academy Award-winning actor Frances McDormand at the Library of Congress for a special evening of stories and a behind-the-scenes look into the Kitchen Sisters’ archive and their work. The conversation will be followed by an audience Q&A. Registration is required. 🆓Sept 17

H Street block party. H Street Festival is one of the most anticipated and highly attended single day festivals stretching  is 11 blocks long with 14 staging areas featuring music of different genres, dance, youth based performances, interactive children’s program, fashion, heritage arts, poetry and more! 🆓 Sept 17

Georgetown's historic African American communities.  Uncover the rich history of Georgetown’s African-American communities, starting in Herring Hill, which was an 18th century community to both enslaved and freed blacks. See the churches and schools established by African-American Georgetowners during the 19th century and enjoy a stop at the Dumbarton House to hear about the slaves kept by the Nourse family. Registration required. 🆓 Sept 17

Gargoyle tower climb. National Cathedral's tower climb to see its famous gargoyles in a bucket list worthy event--now's your chance to experience it. This climb focuses on the Cathedral’s two western towers and includes a close-up look at many gargoyles and grotesques while visiting the open-air walkway wrapping around these two towers (about 125 feet above the ground). The climb ends on the very top of the northwest tower, which provides the best views of the Cathedral itself, and 360-degree views of the surrounding area (over 200 feet above the ground). Fair warning: this is NOT for anyone with a fear of heights! 💲Sept 17

DC by foot. Cultural Tourism DC's annual WalkingTown DC program features 70 guided walking tours in neighborhoods throughout the District that connects connects you to well-known and unfamiliar places through a series of "bite-size" lunchtime tours, after-work "happy hour" tours, and longer weekend tours. Registration required for individual tours. 🆓 Sept 17 - 25

Music on the Hill. Hill Center hosts the global sounds of Malawian duo Madalitso Band. According to Rootsworld, "The world should take notice of Malawi, and records like this one will help. Yet it’s clear the Madalitso Band aren’t waiting around for the world to care.” The duo have performed in festivals and clubs around the world, including Peter Gabriel’s WOMAD in the UK and Roskilde in Denmark. Beer, wine, and other concessions will be available for purchase. 💲Sept 20

Miles Davis style. In a talk highlighted by clips and music recordings, John Edward Hasse, longtime curator of American music at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, talks about jazz great Miles Davis’s struggles against racism, convention, and his own demons.💲💻Sept 20

Jose Andres Food Adventure. This scavenger hunt / podcast / food crawl experience will connect you with landmarks in DC through the eyes of Chef and Humanitarian José Andrés, Participants will experience a self-guided tour of landmarks in Washington, D.C., with audio narration by José Andrés. You'll get a kit that includes the necessary supplies (and swag) to guide you through multiple city locations. You’ll be mailed a box with supplies to help guide you to four different D.C. locations that are important in José Andrés’ life journey as a chef. Plus Andrés has created a special at-home kitchen challenge. 💲Now through Sept 20

Jazzy nights at Hillwood. Enjoy an evening concert showcasing the smooth sounds of bossa nova in the spectacular setting of Hillwood’s gardens. 💲Sept 21

Empanada cooking class. Learn to make the empanada in a fun and hands-on class, where you will be guided step-by-step by an Argentinian chef in how to prepare your own flaky meat pastry from scratch with authentic Argentine-style fillings. 💲Sept 21

Thrilling night. Rehearse the step-by-step dance moves to Michael Jackson's iconic "Thriller" culminating in a full performance on Halloween night.  🆓 Sept 21 - Oct 31

Holy Land Tour. Experience one of DC's best hidden gems with a tour of the Franciscan Monastery church, including full-size replicas of the Mount Calvary and Holy Sepulchre shrines in Jerusalem, plus reproductions of the Nazareth Annunciation and Bethlehem Nativity grottos and Roman catacombs. After the tour, take time to experience the beauty and tranquility of the Monastery gardens. 🆓  Sept 22

Taste of Baltimore. Bring your appetite for a tour of Baltimore's rich and diverse food history in locations that include the historic Lexington Market and the stables where the city’s distinctive “Arabbers” vendors prepare their horse-drawn produce wagons. 💲Sept 23

Pups + pinot. Join fellow dog-lover and Sommelier Michael Scaffidi in Hill Center’s East Garden for a combo wine tasting and pup meet and greet. You'll taste four different pinot noirs from four different regions around the world and learn about the history of wine and fun facts as you sip. Dogs not required to attend. 💲Sept 23​

Harvest party. Celebrate the first weekend of autumn at the Harvest Party with the Friends of the U.S. Botanic Garden! Spend the evening strolling around the Conservatory and Outdoor Gardens. While you explore, enjoy featured drinks, garden-fresh culinary delights, and live music. 💲Sept 23

Oktoberfest Beer Tasting & Dance. Celebrate Oktoberfest at German-American Heritage Museum of the USA.  Enjoy a taste of Germany with a special tasting of German beer, including limited seasonal specialties, and German food while listening to traditional German music by a live band. 💲Sept 23

Art all night. Who needs sleep? As the name implies, DC Art All Night is a city-wide celebration of the performing celebrate the performing and visual arts. The festival will take place in twenty (20) neighborhoods with different activations on each night, bringing visual and performing arts, including painting, photography, sculpture, crafts, fashion, music, literary arts, dance, theater, film, and poetry, to indoor and outdoor public and private spaces, including local businesses and restaurants. 🆓 Sept 23 + 24

Einstein's wife. Einstein's name and theories are well-known, Less well known is his first wife, Mileva Marić. Her substantial contributions to his scientific success, which received no professional credit, and relationship with the scientific genius are explored in the play Einstein’s Wife at Atlas Theatre. 💲🎟 Sept 23 - Oct 16

Native American opera. National Museum of the American Indian presents  the North American premiere of Ñomongeta (Conversation) in which Paraguayan tenor José Mongelós stars as a contemporary Guarani man who converses with Christopher Columbus about the effects of colonization on the Guarani people and the environment. Ñomongeta, which combines contemporary and Indigenous music traditions with the lyricism of opera, is the first Guarani-language opera. 🆓 ​Sept 24

Keegan Theatre regional premiere. In politics, the less you know, the higher you’ll go! At once a razor-sharp satire and an inspirational tribute to democracy, The Outsider , making its regional premiere at Keegan Theatre, is a timely and hilarious send-up of modern American politics where the worst candidate to ever run for office, might just win.💲🎟​ Now thru Sept 24

We got next. Held in partnership between CapitalBop and Long Live GoGo, the 2nd annual NEXTfest is a jazz, funk and go go festival featuring artists playing in Malcolm X Park.  🆓 ​Sept 24 + 25

Fiesta DC. Two-day festival celebrating Latino culture with a wide range of entertainment and great food from a wide variety of Latino cultures, including a parade of nation's, children's festival, beauty pageant and more! 🆓 Sept 24 + 25

Opera + baseball. Washington National Opera continues its partnership with the Washington Nationals for the 7th season of Opera in the Outfield with a free broadcast of Carmen. 🆓 Sept 25

Southeast porchfest. Festival of mini-concerts held on front porches in the Penn Branch and Hillcrest DC communities. The Southeast Porchfest spotlights these DC neighborhoods and celebrates the region’s top emerging talent! 🆓 Sept 25

Park after dark. Bring your flashlight and meet a National Park Service ranger at the WWII Memorial and learn about the symbols inside the memorial. 🆓 Sept 25

Spies like us. Take a spy-themed walking tour of Georgetown with a former intelligence officer and hear contemporary and historical spy stories of conspiracy, politics, cover-ups and assassinations. 💲Sept 25

Sunset pilates. Unwind with sunset pilates on the rooftop of House of Sweden followed by light fare and Sangria.Open to  all levels with modified exercises available. This is a popular event that will sell out FAST!  💲Sept 27

Renwick Handi-hour. Handi-hour, DC’s original crafting happy hour, is back for the fall season. Create a felted bird using glue, foam balls, paper, fiber, and some creativity. Enjoy cider from ANXO, light snacks, and after-hours access to the Renwick Gallery. Tickets available beginning Monday, September 12💲​Sept 28

Angela Davis and the FBI. Mixing narration, speeches, video, and rap music, Angela Davis, An American Story tells the story of Angela Davis, American Black activist, professor and author, who faced a turbulent life during the civil rights movement of the 1960s and ’70s and of ther arrest by the FBI in 1970. The play is hosted at the Embassy of France. 💲Sept 28

Night in Sri Lanka. Jet away for a night in Sri Lanka without ever leaving DC. Enjoy an authentic dinner buffet of Sri Lankan delicacies at the Embassy of Sri Lanka  prepared by the embassy chef, along with the opportunity to learn about Sri Lanka, its people, geography, history, and culture, and meet diplomatic personnel. 💲Sept 30

Oktoberfest at the Wharf. Put on your dirndl or lederhosen and head to The Wharf for a weekend of Oktoberfest celebrations, featuring the Wiener 500 Dachshund Dash, Polka Lessons on the Pier, and a stein hoisting contest.  🆓 Sept 30 - Oct 2

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Unleash your inner explorer with insider tips, guides and occasional offers.