The weekend is almost upon us, and Washingtonians are getting ready to make plans for how to spend their limited free time in one of the country’s best cities.
We’ve rounded up some of the best things to do this weekend in (and around) D.C.!
Celebrate 50 years of bonsai at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum at the U.S. National Arboretum this Saturday, November 7! The free anniversary celebration will feature docent-led museum tours, newly acquired bonsai trees making their public debut, family-friendly activities, and food trucks. Visitors can drop by anytime between 10 am and 4 pm to explore one of D.C.’s most unique living collections.
🎸 Adams Morgan PorchFest is bringing a day of free live music to DC on November 7!
The neighborhood-wide celebration will feature 100+ bands performing across 25+ stages, with everything from bluegrass to classic rock. 🎶
Here’s what to know:
📅 Saturday, November 7
⏰ Event times are listed inconsistently, so check the official schedule for updates
📍 Throughout Adams Morgan
🎟️ Free admission, all ages welcome
You can also explore local businesses, grab a bite between performances, and browse a pre-holiday market featuring vintage finds, crafts, and local makers.
Make a day of discovering new music and exploring one of DC’s most vibrant neighborhoods!
Smithsonian Starstruck: An Immersive Experience is a fully interactive, 3D virtual reality experience that begins at the Smithsonian’s Whipple Observatory before launching visitors into space aboard the world’s most powerful telescopes.
Created in collaboration with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, the experience takes visitors on a breathtaking journey through the cosmos, from dazzling galaxies to the edge of a black hole.
The same minds behind the hit ‘Drunk Shakespeare’ show are hosting a ‘Drunk Dracula’ performance that is sure to both get you in the spirit of the season and make you bust a gut laughing.
The experience include craft cocktails being delivered straight to your seat while you watch the performers try to keep their act together after downing more than a few shots of their own before the show begins.
The DC Print Fair is taking place at Eastern Market’s North Hall on both Saturday and Sunday, showcasing the work of local artists and studios.
Browse original fine-art prints from more than 40 exhibitors and take home some qualiy work.
There’s a reason it’s a classic date idea — you can’t beat movies with a snack and a drink!
Now, when you go to a movie at a participating Theater, you can get a discount on your drink and popcorn!
Learn more about discount tickets and vouchers for drinks & snacks here!
The long-secret undercroft beneath the Lincoln Memorial has been transformed into a massive immersive museum—and it’s open now!
The new immersive museum will feature historic exhibits, multimedia presentations, architectural views into the memorial’s foundations, and stories about how the Lincoln Memorial became one of the nation’s most important sites for protests, speeches, and civil rights history.
Open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm, Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens is a D.C. gem. Visitors are invited to explore an extravagant mansion, grab a bite to eat at Merriweather Café, and soak up the lush beauty of the outdoor gardens.
Tickets for adults are $15, with various discounts available for seniors, students, and children. Plan your visit here!
There’s no better place to pay respects on Memorial Day than here in D.C., where the city hosts some of the best events of the year, from the National Parade, National Concert, and events at the nation’s biggest cemetery for military veterans.
One of the most anticipated museum openings of the year, the National Geographic Museum in downtown DC at the Nat Geo HQ, is not something you want to skip!
The museum features loads of fantastic exhibits, including:
- A Photography Gallery showcasing iconic NatGeo imagery
- A Magazine Gallery dedicated to the publication’s storytelling history
- The Archives, featuring rare materials from the Society’s nearly 140-year history
- “Rolex Explorers Landing,” an exhibit following real-world exploration missions from oceans to outer space
- Outdoor nighttime projection experiences in the museum courtyard
Take a trip to attend the Urbanna Oyster Festival
Whether you consider yourself an oyster fan or just looking to have some good old-fashioned fun, the official oyster festival of the state of Virginia is a can’t miss event that you’ll want to save in your calendar.
Considered one of the oldest and biggest oyster festivals in the nation, first established in 1957, it was designated as the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Official Oyster Festival in 1988, a title it still holds to this day.
Attend the Asia After Dark — Diwali Festival at the National Museum of Asian Art
Celebrate Diwali at the National Museum of Asian Art during its Asia After Dark: Diwali Festival this Saturday, November 7!
The evening celebration will bring the museum to life with South Asian music, dance performances, cultural activities, and opportunities to explore the traditions behind the Festival of Lights.
It’s a great chance to experience the vibrant culture of South Asia while enjoying one of D.C.’s most beautiful museums.
