Wanderlist: 80+ Awesome Things to Do in DC in September

Ahhh, September, that magical month when you can still sip rose on a sun drenched patio yet still sense the shift to the first leaves starting to change color. 

We've pulled together lots of fun local activities and events to help you discover new and different things to do in the District, like:

• Museum of Failure opens
• DC Theatre Week kicks off
• Nautical-themed movies screen at the Navy Memorial
• ​WalkingTown DC returns
• Opera in the outfield brings classical music to Nats Park

 It’s time to soak up the last days of summer and fall forward into autumnal fun!

Legend:

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

Ending Soon

DC Summer Restaurant Week. Take a bite out of DC's culinary scene with lunch, dinner, and brunch specials  at discounted prices. 💲 Ends September 3

Look Here. National Building Museum's Summer Block Party featuring an installation that reflects images of activism as part of these important moments in our history winds down. 💲Ends September 4

National Mall Art Installation. Installations from six artists on the National Mall explore public memory, the historical record, and how we use civic spaces—including monuments to contralto Marian Anderson and an Apsáalooke nation chief, and interactive pieces recalling desegregation, the AIDS crisis, and the Southeast Asian immigrant experience. 🆓 Aug 18 - Sept 18

New This Month

It's the most wonderful time of the year---fall festival season! 
So grab your #PSL and discover the can't-miss festivals and events of the season in and around DC!

WEEK 1: SEPT 1 - 3

Compagnie Käfig: Pixel. One of the most innovative troupes on the experimental dance scene, Compagnie Käfig performs a dazzling merge of hip hop with modern dance, circus, and digital arts in a breakneck production that blends the of the real and digital worlds. 💲September `1

Anacostia Jazz Hop. Listen to live jazz at multiple locations in the Anacostia neighbhorhood. Performances include: JoGo Project, The Experience Band & Show, Black Alley, DC Strings, Herb Scott and more! 🆓 September 1

Summer Bike Tour. Enjoy a scenic 20-mile loop bike ride from the riverfront into Bladensburg, Maryland where the British battled with American militia in a critical battle that resulted in the burning of the city. 💲September 1

Cinemetary: Dark Shadows. Beware of things that go bump in the night at this screening of Tim Burton's dark comedy based on the gothic television soap opera of the same name. 💲September 1

Remembering Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. On this day in history Thurgood Marshall was sworn in as the first black Supreme Court Justice. Join a ranger to hear more about his life and how his accomplishments changed the course of American history. 🆓 September 1

DC Festival of Magic. You'll be thrilled and amazed at the third annual DC Festival of Magic, where the top magicians from around the country come together for five amazing shows over Labor Day weekend. 💲September 1 - 3

Local Theatre Festival. Get a sneak peek at works-in-progress at DMV theatres and attend theatrical-based workshops. 🆓 September 2

Summer Sunset Series. The happy hour series signs off for the season with dancing, lawn games and live DJs playing soul/funk/disco/oldies hits. 🆓 ​September 2

Oh He Dead. DC's favorite band with the head scratching name headlines the 9:30 Club. Locals Dior Ashley Brown and Everyday Everybody, and rising R&B star Jai'Len Josey round out the line-up. 💲September 2

DC Sing Along. Bring an instrument or just bring your voice, and yell out a song from the songbook: The Beatles, Disney, Lizzo, Whitney (the D.C. Sing-Along Songbook has something for everyone), then sing it out loud with gusto! No actual talent required. 🆓 ​September 2

Roosevelt Island Tour.  Join a ranger or National Park Service volunteer to explore Theodore Roosevelt Island. You'll learn about the conservation legacy of the 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt, the 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. Saturdays. 🆓September 2 - ongoing

DC Bike Ride. Hop on a bike for a 20-mile ride along 20 miles of car-free streets filled with epic views that ends with an after-party, food and music. No bike? No problem, hop on a rental and join in. 💲September 3

DJ Skate. Lace up your skates at Anacostia Skating Pavilion with lively DJ's tunes. 🆓 September 3

WEEK 2: Sept 4 - 10

Flowerbomb. Prepare yourself for a night of nostalgic 90's indie rock, and shimmering pop from a trio of DC bands, including headliner Flowerbomb with Color Palette and Pretty Bitter. 💲September 5

Oral History 101. Preserve personal, family and community stories by learning how to record oral history interviews. 🆓 September 5

Evita. The story of Eva Peron’s rise to First Lady of Argentina gets the rock-opera treatment in the stage revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Tony-award winning musical. We don't care what anyone says, Madonna forever slays the song "You Must Love Me?" in the move adaptation.💲September 5 - October 8

Bold Fork Cookbook Club: A Splash of Soy. Prepare a dish from the selected cookbook, bring it to the bookstore to share and enjoy talking about the ingredients, the cooking process,  anything else related to the cookbook. September 6

Authentic Flamenco. You'll feel like you're in Spain at this passionate and traditional Spanish flamenco show created by the award-winning dancer and choreographer Amador Rojas, and performed by the amazing dancer Yolanda Osuna alongside other outstanding Spanish artists, held at a secret DC venue. 💲September 6 - 7

"Come Fly With Me" Author Talk. East City Bookshop welcomes Andie Burke to discuss her book, Fly With Me, in conversation with Susie Dumond. Burke's latest is a high-flying, steamy opposites-attract queer romance about finding “the one” when and where you least expect it. 🆓 🖥 👤 September 7​

Phillips After 5. In partnership with DC Public Library, the contemporary art museum takes you back to school with talks, activities, live music from Michael Bowie and the Blues Alley Youth Orchestra, and Lost Boy Cider tasting. While there, sign up for a library card and browse a curated selection of art books. 💲September 7

Live! at the Library. Visit the Library of Congress for happy hour drinks and food while immersing yourself in some of the most beautiful architecture in the country. Time entry tickets required. 🆓 September 7

Netherlands Carillon Concerts. Experience an unusual  concert event as the carillon's 53 bells play an array.of jazz, pop, and patriotic music every Thursday this month.  🆓 September 7 - 28

Movies on the Memorial. Watch Navy-themed movies that pay tribute to our rich maritime heritage. under the stars with the Lone Sailor at the Navy Memorial. Titles include "Hunt for Red October, "Top Gun" and "Midway." Thursdays. 🆓 September 7 - 28

Tour of Anacostia River. Learn about the human and natural history of the Anacostia River and the clean-up efforts to make it drinkable/swimable again on a fun and educational on-the-water boat tour. 🆓 September 7 + 16

Monumental Travesties. In this dark comedy, Chance, a Black performance artist living on the Hill, surreptitiously removes Lincoln’s head from the Emancipation Memorial; it ends up in the shrubbery in front of the home of his white liberal neighbor, Adam. When Adam knocks on Chance’s door, what the latter sees as a revolutionary act unleashes an absurdist chain of events. 💲September 7 - October 1

"Skin Deep" Exhibit Opening. Art of Noize hosts its latest exhibit featuring the work of Candace Tavares and Vanessa Villarreal, curated by Dr. Lauren Davidson of Museum Nectar. 🆓 September 8

Museum of Failure. Bic for her? Limeade Oreos? History's memorable mishaps are on display at this unique pop-up museum.  Other failures include fat-free Pringles (the side effects of that one were rough), Google Glass, and Coke II. 💲Opens September 8

District Improv Festival: 9th District Improv Festival. Nothing spontaneous about it, you'll be wowed by long-form improv comedy acts from the District and beyond, including headliner Hines and Wood, longtime improvisers from the Upright Citizens Brigade in LA and NYC. 💲September 8 - 10

Sounds of Guatemalan Marimba. Experience the sound of the marimba, Guatemala’s national instrument, with performances by Marimba Maya Awal, Marimba Mi Pequeña Internacional, and Marimba Linda Xelajú. 🆓 ​September 9

Rosslyn Jazz Fest 2023. Get your groove with an exciting musical lineup featuring, Galactic with Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph, Pedrito Martínez Group, Oh He Dead, and DuPont Brass. Enliven your afternoon with food trucks, yard games, community table experiences, and more. 🆓 September 9

Ashon T. Crawley’s HOMEGOING Public Program.  A live evening performance on the National Mall of Ashon T. Crawley’s HOMEGOING, an audiovisual memorial about the impact of the AIDS crisis that centers spirituality as a means of honoring fallen Black queer church musicians. 🆓 September 9

Adams Morgan Day. Spend a day in DC’s funkiest neighborhood as the streets are filled with live music, local performances, art, activities and food.  DC’s longest-running street festival  is fun for all ages.  🆓 September 10

Capital Jewish Museum’s Block Party. Downtown's newest museum continues its grand opening celebration with an epic day-long festival, featuring live music, food trucks, a beer and wine garden, workshops from cultural and community partners, and merchandise from local artisans. 🆓 September 10

Ramble with a Ranger. Take a walk in Rock Creek Park with a Ranger and learn about its history, natural features and phenomenon to wildlife. 🆓September 10 - October 22

WEEK 3: SEPT 11 - 17

Orchestre Tout Puissant Marcel Duchamps / Teething Veils. Rhizome's backyard will be alive with the sounds of the 12-piece outfit from Europe that mixes ffree jazz, post punk, high life, brass band, symphonic mixtures and kraut rock, plus a DC band that call themselves "chamber-folk by chamber folk." 💲September 11

Secret Concert. Rock out, head bang, chill out ... you won't know what music you're going to hear or where it'll be until showtime with this secret concert series. 💲September 13

Espejos: Clean. The lives of two women with vastly different life experiences intersect at a destination wedding in Cancún. A chance encounter during a torrential downpour leads each woman to confront her personal storm and to consider the possibility that, though isolated, she may not be as alone as she believes. An engaging and poignant bi-lingual theatrical experience, Espejos: Clean is performed in English and Spanish with subtitles in both languages. 💲September 13 - October 22

Atlas Brew Works Oktoberfest. Celebrate the brewery's popular seasonal release with an Oktoberfest-style party, featuring Oktoberfest-themed foods, polka music, and more. 💲September 14

Films On The Green DC. The series of French movies related to dance brings you "Dancing the Twist in Bamako." Set in the 1960s, just after Mali gains its independence, a young socialist meets and falls in love with a woman trying to escape an arranged marriage against a backdrop of Western pop music. The movie will be in original version and have subtitles in English. 🆓 September 14

NGA Block Party. National Gallery of Art kicks of their fall late-night series with a block party celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip hop. DJ Bizzy and DJ Little Bacon Bear provide the soundtrack, plus there will be beatboxing and street dancing, live street art and mural inside/outside, pop-up talks and live performances. Registration required. 🆓 September 14

Polka on the Pier. In true Oktoberfest style, learn the traditional German dance and show off your moves.  🆓 ​ September 15

Opening: “Beyond the Light” Exhibit. Artechouse's latest exhibit is truly out of this world!  Developed in collaboration with NASA, the latest from the digital art house features images from the Webb telescope, AI-aided visual production, and an original musical score created from galactic data, this out-of-the-world art exhibit was. 💲Opens September 15

FLAVA Food Truck Block Party. Come hungry and try a variety of mouth-watering dishes all made by Black-owned food truck owners, plus enjoy music and positive vibes. 🆓 September 15

Night at the Museum. Celebrate the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum's 56th anniversary of telling community stories! Experience ACM’s current show: To Live And Breathe: Women and Environmental Justice In Washington, D.C , enjoy live music, mocktails and small bites. 🆓September 15

Gun Destruction Opera. Using the captured audio, instruments, and sonic sculptures, a team of LGBTQ+ performers  transform weapons into experimental musical installations and works of art. 💲September 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, & 24 2023

H Street Festival. Ain’t no block party, like the annual H Street block party! Bring your energy and good vibes as you make your way through 11 blocks jampacked with live music and performances on multiple stages, interactive activities, and retail and food vendors. 🆓 September 16

Chinese and Italian Pasta Shapes and Sauces. Learn how to make oodles of noodles and pasta from China to Italy with sauces that show the cultural links between them. 💲September 16

Jazz at the Museum.  Enjoy live jazz performed by Federico Peña & The Emergence Trio (Piano, Bass, Drums) while being surrounded by one of the best contemporary art collections in DC at a private-residence-turned-museum. Now in its third year, this series supports and spotlights the wealth of musical talent in our metropolitan area. 💲September 16

Threads of Hope.  Anacostia Arts Center, The GoGo Museum, and Luis Del Valle join forces to celebrate local artists and culture. Features a group exhibition in honor of Hispanic heritage, curated by  award-winning local artist Luis Del Valle. 🆓 September 16

Walkingtown DC. Created by locals, discover hidden histories, stories and notable figures on a series of  guided tours in neighborhoods throughout the District. 🆓 September 16-24

Stein Hoisting Competition. Prost! Prove how much you love of beer in this strength competition taking place in restaurants all around the Wharf.  🆓 September 17

“Kinship” Exhibit Artist Talk. Join the National Portrait Gallery for an artist talk with Thomas Holton, a photographer featured in “Kinship.” for a discussion about the origins of this series and how it connects to his half-Chinese and half-American heritage. Registration required. 🆓September 17

Yoga + Sound Bath.  Your mission, if you choose to accept it: embrace your inner stealthy spy for relaxing yoga and harmonic sounds at the International Spy Museum. 💲September 17

Amal Walks Across America. The global symbol of human rights visits DC on her 6,000-mile walk across the United States. A 12-foot-tall puppet representing a Syrian refugee child, Little Amal has traveled through 13 countries since 2021 — and has seen some of the world’s most iconic landmarks. Little Amal’s journey through the District kicks off a free citywide public festival full of welcome events. September 17 - 19

WEEK 4: SEPT 18 - 24

Trampoline Class. Feel like a kid again as you bounce, leap and twist on a giant, above-ground trampoline. Open to all fitness levels; no prior experience required.💲 September 18

100 Leaves Gala: Sons of Douglass.  Dance with Black Leaves presents their provocative and timely ballet “Sons of Douglass,”  a modern ballet and spoken word performance that  explores themes related to identity in relation to the prophetic words of Frederick Douglass, other African-American philosophers, and prominent Black activists within LGBTQIA community.💲September 20

Haus of Bambi: Haus Coming. haus of bambi, a genderless and gendermore home for queer art and collaboration , throws an evening of performance premieres and celebration hosted by Bambi with Greg David and King Molasses. 💲September 20 

Jazz in the Garden: A Toast to the End of Summer. No, not that garden. Spend an evening in the spectacular gardens at Hillwood Estate enjoying the finest jazz musicians in the D.C. area, playing memorable classics. 💲September 20

Get Happy! Judy Garland Centennial Celebration. Take a multi-media journey through the life and music of Judy Garland in celebration of her 100th birthday, featuring big screen film clips, never-before-seen photos, rare audio recordings, and, of course, great music. 💲September 21

Peacock Room Shutters Open. Don't miss a beloved tradition as the National Museum of Asian Arts ​opens the shutters in the Peacock Room and see this unique masterwork of art and design in a whole new way as natural light reveals details of James McNeill Whistler's painted interior and accents the gleaming surfaces of Charles Lang Freer's collection of Asian ceramics. 🆓September 21

Vinomorphy: Autumn Equinox.  Head to the Gibson, the speakeasy-style bar on U Street, for a Haiku-inspired menu of cookies, tea and wines that morph into cocktails. 💲 September 21 

DC Theatre Week. This is the best time of year for theatre lovers to sample upcoming shows  -- many are free or at a discount -- from theatres around the region, everything from musicals, dramas, comedies and more. 🆓 💲 September 21 - October 8

Underground Crossings. Renowed musicians Kamaal Williams and Stephanie Yu deliver an acoustic and improvisatory set on piano and violin at Dupont Underground.  💲September 22

Something Moving: A Meditation on Maynard. To mark the 50th anniversary of Maynard Jackson, Atlanta's first Black mayor, this drama travels  back in time to the election that changed everything and marked the beginning of the New South. 💲September 22 - November 15

Dancing on the Waterfront. Get ready to lose yourself in the rhythm of the music, including salsa and bachata, with free dance classes  featuring a live DJ at Georgetown's stunning open-air park. Open to all ages and skill levels. 🆓 September 23

Dupont Circle + Embassy Row Walking Tour. Go back in time to the Gilded Age when Massachusetts Avenue was the city’s premier residential address on a walking tour with views of grand homes like he Walsh-McLean House (now the Indonesian embassy), Townsend House (now the Cosmos Club), and Woodrow Wilson House (now a museum). 💲September 23

ExPats Theatre: Scorched. After their mother’s death,  adult twins navigate clues to search for their father and brother in an unnamed Middle Eastern country, as they come to  grips with with their family's past. 18+ only. 💲September 23 – October 15

Extraordinary Cinema: Polite Society.  A merry mash-up of sisterly affection, parental disappointment, and bold action, this movies follows martial-arts-in-training Ria Khan who believes she must save her older sister from her impending marriage. With the help of her friends, Ria attempts to pull off the most ambitious of all wedding heists in the name of independence and sisterhood. The movie screens outdoors at the REACH. 🆓 September 24

Sunday Bird Walk. Get up with the birds to take an early morning bird walk at the Kenliworth Aquatic Gardens. 🆓 September 24

Beauty and Brunch. Treat yourself to a fabulous self-care Sunday with beauty demos, healthcare and wellness vendors, brunch and unlimited mimosas. 💲September 24

WEEK 5: SEPT 25 - 30

The Intimidating Book Club. Have you seen the movie version of Les Miserable but never tackled or didn't finish the book? This book club is for you! September 26

Zand. With new music on its way, it’s time to properly meet the ‘ugly pop’ superstar-in-waiting that's standing at the forefront of a new wave of fearless alternative artists.giving a voice  to those who feel like they don’t belong. 💲September 27

Easy Vegetarian Indian Cooking. Spice up your life and learn all about the diversity and depth of flavor of Indian spices as the basis for making a few tangy chutneys and raita (yogurt) dips. 💲September 27

The Atlantic Festival. The news magazine brings its content to life for two-days of interviews, book talks, screenings and networking opportunities with influential and impactful leaders, including Nancy Pelosi, Kerry Washington, Jake Tapper, and more. 💲🆓 🖥 👤 ​September 28 - 29

Out of the Box Ballet.  The Washington Ballet kicks off its season with a one-of-a-kind performance, featuring spellbinding choreography paired with original melodies by Emmy Award winner Blake Neely at Dupount Underground. 💲September 28 - 30

Art All Night. It's the biggest arts festival in DC, and you're invited! Do you have the stamina? Expect the unexpected while you explore art activations around-the-clock across all eight wards. You’ll find art of all kinds from hundreds of artists, including visual art, music, theater, crafts, fashion, and poetry. 🆓 September 29 - 30

Pirates and Rum. Argh, me hearties! Get on board for an interactive show and cocktail experience with Pirates of the South Seas stories with rum cocktails. 💲​September 28 - 30

National Cathedral Combination Tower Climb. See DC like never before from the highest geographical point in the nation’s capital on the National Cathedral's Tower Climb. The climb also includes highlights of two of its most popular events: the Bell Tower and Angels & Monsters climbs. Fair warning: This event will sell out FAST! Also, this event is NOT recommended if you're not a fan of heights. Seriously. 💲September 29

World Culture Festival. Making its U.S. debut, this cultural extravaganza welcomes everyone to make connections and share in the diversity of the global community through music, dance, art, food and inspiring talks. 🆓 September 29 - October 1

3rd Annual Lawntoberfest. Hit the roof for a seasonal rooftop party with live music, Oktoberfest beers, brats and halfsmokes, caramel apples, a pop-up bakeshop and pumpkin painting, of course. 🆓 September 29  - October 1

Tell-Tale Heart.  Reality and madness class in a reimagined telling of Edgar Allen Poe's chilling classic. 💲 September 29 - November 5

Opera in the Outfield. Washington National Opera celebrates its 30th season, broadcasting Puccini’s La bohème! at Nats Park.🆓 September 30

The History of Adams  Morgan Plaza. Explore the long history of the property at the corner of 18th & Columbia through discussion and a photography exhibit. 🆓September 30

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Curious? There's more!

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