As the summer sun begins to set, there’s still time to squeeze in a few more memorable moments before fall arrives. Washington, D.C., and its surrounding areas are buzzing with late-summer festivals that offer the perfect way to celebrate the season’s final days. From lively cultural celebrations to outdoor music festivals, these events are a great way to enjoy the last warm days of summer. Here’s a look at a few festivals you won’t want to miss as we bid farewell to summer and prepare to embrace the beauty of autumn.
August 23 from 6pm-9pm: Mid-Autumn Festival Community Day
Join the Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (MOAPIA) for a movie night to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival! MOAPIA will show for a movie night to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival! MOAPIA “Raya and the Last Dragon,” a captivating family-friendly film, and unleash your creativity with fun lantern-making activities for all ages. Don’t miss out on this joyful celebration filled with excitement, creativity, and community spirit!
August 24 from 9am-8pm: The 2024 National Book Festival at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center
The event is free and open to the public. A selection of programs will be livestreamed online and videos of all programs will be available shortly after the Festival. Check here for family-friendly options. Plan your day with the filterable Festival schedule. You can also view and download the Festival program PDF and Festival map.
August 24 from 10am to 4pm: Turning the Page Back to School Festival
The space will be filled with thousands of high-quality used books of all genres, for all ages. 4,000+ used children’s books, CDs, and more, along with community vendors and partners, DJ, arts, crafts, activities, and author’s readings. All items are $7 or less and proceeds support local non-profit, Turning the Page. Turning the Page is a nonprofit that engages public school families for student success; collecting and selling donated used books is one way they raise capital for their programs and has been working with DC families since 1998, providing family engagement and literacy development programming. Learn more about Turning the Page and Carpe Librum’s book sales here.
August 24 at 6:30pm: Opera in the Outfield
Join Washington National Opera at Nationals Park for a FREE broadcast of Puccini’s Turandot! Here’s your chance to see the acclaimed production that sold out in May. The doors open at 4:30 p.m. and production starts at 6:30 p.m.
August 25 from 10am-6pm: WOW! Indonesia Festival
Vibrant mixture of Indonesian-American cultural performances such as music, dance, and act performances. There will be arts and crafts (batik workshop, mask painting, etc.), sports and games, cooking demonstration and food sampling as well as corporate exhibitions. The festival will take place between 3rd and 7th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue.
August 28-September 1: DC JazzFest
Enjoy stellar performances by rising stars and world-renowned artists at venues across Washington, DC. Don’t miss the headlining performances Labor Day Weekend at DC JazzFest at the Anthem and DC JazzFest at The Wharf. DC JazzFest at the Wharf Seated and VIP tickets include access to indoor performances at Arena Stage and Union Stage. DCJazzPrix tickets are sold separately.
September 6 from 5:30pm-8:30pm: Back to the Yards
Get ready to groove at Back to the Yards, our electrifying retro neon dance party at Yards Park! Celebrate the best of the 80s and 90s with an epic playlist featuring chart-toppers, one-hit wonders, and fan favorites. Be sure to rock your brightest neon gear as you dance the night away. This family-friendly event offers a variety of exciting activities for kids and adults alike. Enjoy thrilling breakdance performances, get creative with groovy crafts, and have fun with face painters and glitter tattoos. Capture your retro moments at our photo booth, and don’t miss out on the glow giveaways. With free admission and entertainment for all ages, this celebration is one you won’t want to miss. Join us for a night of unforgettable fun and nostalgia!
September 7 from 10am-5pm: DC State Fair
The DC State Fair is a free showcase of the District’s creative talents and a daylong celebration of all things homegrown. Inspired by time-honored state fair traditions—growing and gardening, contests, and deep-fried foods—the DC State Fair honors the things that make the District of Columbia unique. This means the DC State Fair holds competitions to find the tastiest mumbo sauce, best honey, and the top photographers with a creative eye. Among many activities, the 15th Annual DC State Fair will include 50+ exhibitors including local makers, community organizations, food vendors, government agencies, and universities, live performances, children’s activities, arts, demonstrations, and blue-ribbon presentations for 30+ contests.
September 7 from 11:30am-4pm: Sightlines: Chinatown and Beyond Opening Festival
Celebrate the opening of Sightlines: Chinatown and Beyond, an exhibition organized by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center that showcases the impacts of Asian American culture and creativity on Washington, DC. Enjoy an afternoon of martial arts presentations, visual arts demonstrations and hands-on craft activities, a discussion with local Asian American chefs, and music and dance performances, including DJ sets. Representatives from local Asian American community organizations will talk with visitors about their work and histories in the area. This event is co-presented by SAAM and the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center.
September 14 from 11:30am-4:00pm: Holiday Stamps Family Festival
The winter holidays have come to the Museum early this year! Come and meet Guest Artist Katie Kirk in person while we celebrate the new 2024 Christmas stamps issued by the Postal Service. There will be crafts, games, and all sorts of winter holiday family fun.
September 15-October 15: Hispanic Heritage Month at American Indian Museum
A variety of activities throughout the month, ranging from concerts to corn craze and more fun for the whole family.
September 21 from 10am-3pm: Homecoming at President Lincoln’s Cottage
Enjoy the grounds as the Lincolns did with a full day of family fun at Homecoming! During the Civil War, the Lincoln family called the Cottage home. Tad Lincoln spent three summers of his childhood exploring the grounds of the Soldiers’ Home as well as the rooms of the Cottage. Here he played with friends, soldiers, animals, as well as his own family. You can expect arts & crafts, storytelling, pony rides & a petting zoo, enjoy a picnic from food trucks, music and more.
September 21 from 12pm-7pm: H Street Festival
H Street Festival is one of the most anticipated and highly attended single day festivals in Washington D.C. The festival is 12 blocks long and has 15 staging areas that are diversely themed and programmed to target the different segments of audiences. The staging areas feature music of different genres, dance, youth based performances, interactive children’s program, fashion, heritage arts, poetry and many more.
September 27-28: Art All Night
With activations in all 8 wards, there is more to explore than ever before. Join your favorite artists and local businesses and discover new ones as we come together to celebrate the District of Columbia. Scroll down to explore each neighborhood’s activation!
September 28-29: Fiesta DC
This two-day extravaganza transforms Washington, DC into a global fiesta celebrating latino cultures. Savor authentic and diverse Latin American cuisine, lose yourself in the infectious rhythms of live music and dance performances, and explore a marketplace brimming with handcrafted artisan creations. Fiesta DC is a celebration for all ages, offering engaging activities and fostering a spirit of community and cultural exchange.
October 7 from 11am-4pm: Chuseok Family Festival
Celebrate Chuseok, Korean Thanksgiving Day, with NMAA! Learn about both past and current traditions of one of the biggest holidays in South Korea. Take pictures in traditional Korean clothing known as hanbok and view a charye table display, which is a traditional feast prepared for a family’s ancestors. Enjoy special performances, food talks, programming from local community groups, and more! This event is co-presented by the Korean Cultural Center of Washington, DC, and Onjium.
Fall Festivals Post Coming Soon!
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