Dancing, drinking, music and art … what more could you want out of a weekend?
The forecast is serving fantastic fall weather for raising an Oktoberfest stein in a beer garden or exploring local music and art at H Street Festival and the Crossroads Festival in Leesburg.
Here's what to do this weekend in the D.C. area.
Oktoberfest
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- 🐶 Oktoberfest Weekend at The Wharf: The Wiener 500 Dachshund Dash — hosted by none other than Tommy — on Sat. might be the cutest Oktoberfest tradition, period.
- Middleburg Oktoberfest: Local beer, wine and cider will be flowing at two beer gardens on Sat. while you enjoy live music, games, contests and an artist fair in Loudoun County. Here’s the schedule.
- Beer gardens: Wunder Garten, Dacha’s Shaw and Navy Yard locations, Alexandria Bier Garten and Silver Branch Brewing have live music and contests on tap.
- Hotel Hive Oktoberfest Rooftop Party: All-you-can-drink beer, a big rooftop and a live Oompah band make this a good choice for a group on Sat. Tickets cost $40.
Mark your calendars for more festivals this month and next.
Crossroads Music Festival
The Scene
The most fun things to do and places to be in D.C., Maryland and Virginia
📅 Fri. and Sat.
📍 Downtown Leesburg
💲 $20
🔗 Details
D.C.-based band SHAED, whose hit “Trampoline” put them on the map, headlines Friday night of this festival showcasing local songwriters and artists.
On Saturday, more than 30 artists will perform at venues in downtown Leesburg.
National Dance Day
📅 Sat., 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 p.m.
📍 Kennedy Center THE REACH
💲 Free
🔗 Details
The Kennedy Center is moving to the music for another party toasting 50 years of hip-hop.
A breakdance battle with major b-boy crews from up and down the East Coast, free dance classes, a paint jam featuring 10 artists creating right in front of your eyes and hands-on activities for kids at the Moonshot Studio are happening all day.
At 7 p.m., the lights go down for a dance party with beats provided by DJ Marc Nfinit, DJ Face and the legendary DJ Spinderella (yes, THAT DJ Spinderella you know from Salt-N-Pepa).
H Street Festival
📅 Sat., noon to 7 p.m.
📍 H Street from 3rd Street to Florida Avenue NE
💲 Free entry
🔗 Details
Dance at multiple stages of music spanning many genres, shop local vendors and explore 1.5 miles of H Street in one of D.C.’s biggest festivals.
There’s so much to discover, including Atlas Performing Arts Center serving cocktails under their marquee near the Jazz Stage.
Prepare for crowds and heat! Bonus: It’s pet-friendly.
“Beyond the Light” at ARTECHOUSE
📅 9/15-11/5
📍 ARTECHOUSE (Southwest D.C.)
💲 $25-$32
🔗 Details
"Beyond the Light” is an immersive, interactive exhibit that lets you stand inside a nebula.
Scientists from NASA and physicists from Johns Hopkins University used information from the Webb and the Hubble space telescopes to make invisible light visible to our eyes.
The end result even wowed one of the NASA scientists who helped launch the Webb into space.
Music Snob's concert picks
James McMurtry, 7:30 p.m. Thu., The Birchmere, $39.50
Leesburg-raised Americana/alt-country singer-songwriter has been carrying on the protest song tradition since the late 1980s. Details.
Patti Smith, 8 p.m. Sat., The Anthem, $55-$75
The resident poet of the original punk rock scene comes to town with a full band, including musicians she’s been working with since the ‘70s. Details.
David Longstreth, 8 p.m. Sat., Miracle Theatre, $25
The singer-songwriter-producer is on the road solo to introduce songs from the next Dirty Projectors album. Details.
More things to do in DC this weekend
NoMa in Color Nights Out: Thu., 5-7 p.m., Third Street Art Garden; 3rd Street and N Street NW; L Street and 1st Street NE; 1st Street and Peirce Street NE (map)
The Official Great Lakes Brewing Company 35th Anniversary Party: Thu., Churchkey (Northwest D.C.), free entry
PARK(ing) Day: Fri, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., various locations, free
DC Comedy Festival: Through Sat., Dupont Underground, $25
Homecoming at President Lincoln’s Cottage: Sat., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Northwest D.C., free
Lotus Festival of Food and Culture: Through Sun., Chinatown Park, free
More things to do in Maryland
💃 20th Washington Ukrainian Festival: Fri. to Sun., St. Andrews Cathedral in Silver Spring, $20 entry
FYI: Proceeds to benefit humanitarian aid in Ukraine
The Great Frederick Fair: 9/15-9/23, Frederick, Maryland, admission is $8
DMV Overnight Cookout: Sat., Waldorf, $25-$50
Wheaton Ice Arena Open House: Sun., 9-11 a.m., Wheaton Ice Arena, free entry or $4 to skate
More things to do in Virginia
🎪 Cirque Du Soleil: ECHO: Through 10/22, Tysons II, $44-$64
Family Flashlight Farm & Corn Maze Nights: 9/15-9/16; 9/22-9/23; 9/29-9/30, Bluemont, Virginia, $15-$17
PerchFest: Fri. to Sun., The Perch @ Capital One Center in Tysons, free
NOVA Family Fair: Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Vienna, free (registration requested)
Celebrate Virginia: Sat., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tysons Corner Center The Plaza, free entry, $40 for wine tasting
Beer in the Garden at The Farm at Halley Rise: Sat., noon to 3 p.m., Reston, $10 for ages 21+
Old Town Cocktail Week: Through Sun., Alexandria
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