MONDAY, OCT. 24
TRANSCRIBE-A-THON: For United Nations Day, Sandy Spring Museum is featuring essays and works by local historical figure Allan Farquhar, a writer and advocate for global peace. Head to the museum to explore the history of the town through transcribing original documents with the assistance of the museum’s transcription coordinator. (Sandy Spring Museum; 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; FREE)
HORSES ON THE MOVE: The Washington International Horse Show returns to the D.C. region after a two-year sojourn to North Carolina, where it was held outdoors due to the COVID-10 pandemic. But the annual equestrian event isn’t coming back to D.C. proper, where it was traditionally held at Capital One Arena. Instead, it’s taking over the Prince George’s Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro. Catch events that starting Monday and running through Sunday, Oct. 30. (Prince George’s Equestrian Center and Show Place Arena; Oct. 24-30; FREE)
MORE: DC Mondays: The Navy Yard (GWU Museum; virtual; 12 p.m.; FREE), Brad Linde’s Team Players (Rhizome DC; 7 p.m.; $10), SALT: A World History by Mark Kurlansky (Bold Fork Books; 6 p.m.; $5), What We Learned While Alone: Global Voices Speak to the Pandemic (National Academy of Sciences; 7 p.m.; FREE)
TUESDAY, OCT. 25
HIGH HEEL RACE: The famed annual 17th Street High Heel Race shuts down the historic road between S and P Streets for the 35th year. Register to join the race yourself at 7 p.m. or arrive at 8 p.m. to enjoy the spectacle parade of participants dressed to the nines. The race itself beings at 9 p.m. But various local establishments, including bars with food and drink specials, are celebrating before and after: Lyle Hotel hosts a Sole pop-up spa with foot massages, a DJ, and illustration artists with ticket proceeds benefitting a local LGBTQ organization (Lyle; 3-6 p.m., $25); they also will have a midnight brunch post-race for queens to refuel (Lyle; 10 p.m., FREE admission). Or you can take the historic route and join A Tour of Her Own walking tour highlighting LGBTQ history in D.C. before heading to the races (Starts in Lafayette Park; 5:30 p.m.; $35).
LIVE PODCAST: The team behind the FiveThirtyEight podcast returns with a live show at Sixth & I just ahead of the midterm elections. Nate Silver, Galen Druke, and other special guests will discuss how the political environment has upended expectations and how the 2022 midterms could be historic. (Sixth & I; 7 p.m., $40 in-person, $15 virtual)
MORE: Look at Me Like You Love Me author Jess T. Dugan (Busboys and Poets 450K ; 6 p.m.; FREE), Jay Jaxon: An Unsung Couturier (Hillwood Estate; 5:30 p.m.; $22 in-person, $10 virtual), Halloween Cookie Decorating Class (Lost Boy Cider; 6:30 p.m.; $60), The Atlas Paradox author Olivie Blake (East City Bookshop; 7 p.m.; FREE), Jazz Concert: David Helbock’s Random/Control (Austrian Cultural Forum, 7 p.m., FREE), A Reading & Conversation with the Editors of Diaspora Cafe: D.C. (Marymount University Ballston Center, 7 p.m., FREE), Science Comedy (President Lincoln’s Cottage; 7:30 p.m.; $10), Madi Diaz: Crying In Public Tour (DC9; 8 p.m.; $20), Call Jane Screening and Discussion with We Testify + Metro Area Health (The Outrage; 6:30 p.m.; $20), OZMA – Cine-concert Buster Keaton’s “Three Ages” (La Maison Française, 7:30 p.m., $30), Riesling: The Sommelier’s Favorite Grape (Planet Wine Shop; 7 p.m.; $30)
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 26
GARDEN TOUR: Head to the Hillwood Estate for an added bonus to your regular admission. Make the $15 suggested donation and snag a ticket to the limited Gardener’s Focus Tour from the visitor center. Join a greenhouse grower to learn how Hillwood continues the 55-year tradition of propagating mums for fresh cut flowers in their arrangements. (Hillwood Estate; 2:30 p.m.; $15 suggested donation)
SPOOKY COMEDY: Support the team behind the preservation and restoration of the Congressional Cemetery with an outdoor spooky comedy show at Kramers. The cemetery is among the oldest institutions in D.C. and hosts creative programs like ghost tours, beekeeping, and dog-walking. Get in the Halloween mood by dressing up in costume and enjoying a killer lineup. (Kramers; 7 p.m.; $20)
HALLOWEEN BIKE RIDE: Join Trek Bicycle Arlington Clarendon for a bike ride around Arlington to see some of the best Halloween lights and decorations. The group will ride five miles together at night to check out local scary house setups before ending at the Trek Bike shop for refreshments. (Trek Bicycles Arlington; 6 p.m.; FREE)
MORE: National Landing Fall Market (Courtyard behind 1700 Crystal Drive; 2 p.m.; FREE admission), Profs & Pints DC: Early American Witch Hunts (Penn Social; 6 p.m.; $12.72), Ayuda Chef Series (Moon Rabbit; 6 p.m. or 8 p.m.; $150), Death Cafe (Rhizome DC; 6 p.m.; FREE), Wine Dinner with Magdalena Pratzner of Falkenstein—A Womxn in Wine Event (The Duck and the Peach; 6:30 p.m.; $150), Wednesday night comedy with Bombay Vindaloo’s Satish Pillalamarri Tribute Show and Characters Everywhere! (DC Arts Center; 7:30 p.m.; $10 for one show, $15 for two shows), Rocky Horror Picture Show live screening (metrobar; 7 p.m.; FREE), Floral Workshop (City Winery; 6:30 p.m.; $65), DC Fray Paint + Sip Art Expo (Asian Fusion Gallery; 6 p.m.; expo admission FREE, $40 paint and sip), Horror Movie Trivia Night (Mess Hall; 7 p.m.; $15), Pumpkin painting party (The Roost; 6 p.m.; $50)
THURSDAY, OCT. 27
TELESCOPE LECTURE: Learn about the Giant Magellan Telescope project from the chief scientist Rebecca Bernstein in this Carnegie Science Earth & Planets Laboratory Neighborhood lecture series. Discover how the telescope is being designed to collect photographs that will helps scientists unravel the mysteries of dark matter, dark energy, black holes, and the origin of our universe. (Greenewalt Auditorium; 6:30 p.m.; donations encouraged)
RAGE BASH: Kick off Halloweekend for a cause at Hook Hall. Join the Rage for Roe Halloween Bash with proceeds supporting the DC Abortion Fund. Hosted by local drag queen Tara Hoot, the night includes a costume contest, beats by DJ Chan Don, portrait photography, and signature bites and drinks. (Hook Hall; 7 p.m.; $20)
CELTIC FOLK ROCK: Looking for a different concert? Spend the night with Canadian Celtic folk rockers Enter the Haggis. The Toronto-based band combines bagpipes and fiddles with rock rhythm for an eclectic sound. Enjoy wine and bites while rocking out to their signature songs“One Last Drink,” “Down With The Ship,” and “Lancaster Gate.” (City Winery; 8 p.m.; $20)
SILLY OR SCARY?: Head to Anacostia Arts Center for the first of four staged readings of Brute Farce, a play by D.C. native playwright Craig Houk. The newly formed Valley Place Arts Collaborative is behind the staged readings of the show, which gets zany when four off-kilter actors and their stage manager take a theater critic hostage. (Anacostia Arts Center; Oct. 27-29, 7 p.m.; $10)
TEA WORKSHOP: Learn the truth behind tea in Indigenous medicines and ancestral teachings with head witch in charge of Calabash Tea & Tonic, Sunyatta Amen. Amen is an expert in the culture behind cuisines and the healing power of tea. In-person tickets to taste the teas are sold out, but tune in virtually to learn the blends and hear her wisdom. (Virtual; 6 p.m.; donations encouraged)
SPONSORED BATS AND TEQUILA: Without long-nosed bats, we could be living in a world without tequila — talk about spooky! Celebrate Bat Week on Thu., Oct. 27, with bat-friendly tequila tastings, conversations with bat experts, bat-related museum specimens, bat robots, and themed crafts and activities. (National Museum of Natural History; 6-8:30 p.m.; $20; Ages 21+)
MORE: Bone Appétit: An Evening of Macabre Gastronomy (Mess Hall; 6 p.m.; $125), Halloween-themed Live Taping of The Game Show of Love (The Crown & Crow; 7:30 p.m.; $15), Halloween Night Hunt with Sweets Experience (O Museum in the Mansion; 4 p.m.; $50), DC Premiere of “Are We Safer Today?” (GWU Elliott School of International Affairs; 5:30 p.m.; FREE), Visiting Artists Series: Marcus Civin (American University Katzen Arts Center; 6 p.m.; FREE), Spook-tacular (Color Burst Park in Downtown Columbia; 6 p.m.; FREE), Julian Rachlin plays Tchaikovsky, Noseda conducts Respighi & Casella (Kennedy Center Concert Hall; 7 p.m.; $15), PLANE by Jane Franklin Dance (Athenaeum; 7:30 p.m.; $20.90), American Diplomacy exhibit opening night (Embassy of Spain; 6:30 p.m.; FREE), PumpkinPalooza (Alethia Tanner Park; 4 p.m.; FREE), Fairmont’s 11th Annual Howl-O-Ween (Fairmont DC Hotel; 6 p.m.; FREE), Spookasana: Halloween Themed Yoga w/ DJ Thunder Bunny (emPOWER Kids; 7 p.m.; $30), Uruguay Wine Happy Hour (Grand Cata Shaw; 6 p.m.; $25), Morris Murder Mystery Party (Morris American Bar; 7 p.m.; $65)
