FRIDAY, OCT. 13
BOOT ’N SCOOT: You’ll find cowboy hats, a mechanical bull and lots of live music at the first annual Boot ‘N Scoot country music festival, taking place at Union Market’s Hi-Lawn this weekend. The setlist includes the Grammy-nominated Frank Solivan Band, local country singer Wil Gravatt, and Wammie award winner Melissa Quinn Fox. (Hi-Lawn; Friday through Sunday; $10+)
NOIR CITY: Already seen everything that’s in theaters? Travel back in time and catch up on your film history this month at Noir City, the D.C. area’s film noir festival. Kicking off this Friday, Noir City brings genre classics like Force of Evil (1948) and Raw Deal (1948) to the big screen. (AFI Silver Spring Theatre and Cultural Center; through Oct. 26; $15)
SHAKESPEARE EVERYWHERE: If it kind of feels like there’s a Shakespeare production everywhere in D.C. this fall, that’s because there is. The Shakespeare Everywhere Festival brings Shakespeare-inspired productions like Romeo and Juliet at the Washington National Opera and Fat Ham, an updated take on Hamlet by Studio Theatre, to local venues. This weekend, catch Macbeth in Stride at Shakespeare Theatre Company. (Various locations; through Dec. 31; $32+)
CINEMA HEARTS: Cinema Hearts, the project of Caroline Weinroth, D.C.’s favorite pageant queen turned indie pop crooner, is out with a new EP. Head to The Runaway this Friday for an album release and costume party celebrating the five-song I Want You. Dress code is kooky retro prom. (The Runaway; 8:30 p.m.; $15+)
BRILLIANCE OF TAP: Want to see some really fast feet? Head to Anacostia Arts Center for tap dance show The Brilliance and Resilience of Tap Dance starring Bakari Wilder of Broadway’s Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk fame. The production from The Essential Theatre includes multimedia elements and celebrates the relationship between a tap dancer and the musicians that make the music for the dance using music in the gospel, blues, and jazz genres. The show runs through Oct. 22. (Anacostia Arts Center, Thursdays 2 p.m. at 7 p.m.; Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 4 p.m.; $34 in advance or pay what you can at the door)
MORE: Andy Yoder’s Overboard (Tysons Corner Center; through December; FREE), Snallygaster Sneak Peek (The Roost; 12 p.m.; FREE), Jazz Matters concert series featuring the Samuel Prather Trio (Oxon Run Park; 3 p.m.-5 p.m.; FREE) Friendship Friday (Nighthawk Brewery & Pizzeria; 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.; FREE), Kings Kaleidoscope (9:30 Club; 6 p.m.; $30), Swiftie Soirée (The Village at Shirlington; 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m.; $31+), Arcade of Inequity (Dwight Mess; Friday and Saturday 6 p.m.-11 p.m.; $10), Taylor Swift Bingo (Bryant Street Market; 6:30 p.m.; FREE), Coco in Concert (Hylton Performing Arts Center; 7 p.m.; $34+), The Pirates of Penzance (The Alden Theatre; 7 p.m.; $20), Site See Artist Residency (Waterfront Park; Friday and Saturday; 7 p.m.; FREE), Happy Hour With Your Favorite Romance Authors (Sudhouse DC; 6 p.m.-9 p.m.; $12), Austin Snell (The Hamilton Live; 8 p.m.; $15+), J.A.M. The 13th (BalletNova Center for Dance; Friday 8 p.m.; Saturday 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sunday 5 p.m.; $25), Symphonic Spooks (The George Washington Masonic National Memorial; 8 p.m.; $30)
SATURDAY, OCT. 14
THE BIG BUILD: Channel your inner Bob the Builder this Saturday at the Big Build, the National Building Museum’s annual hands-on festival where kids and adults learn side-by-side from professional builders. Dozens of expert-led booths will introduce visitors to plumbing, home remodeling, construction, woodworking and more. (National Building Museum; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; FREE)
KINGMAN ISLAND DAY: Want an island getaway this weekend? Head to Kingman Island Friends & Family Day, which celebrates the Anacostia River’s Kingman and Heritage Islands on Saturday and Sunday. The family-friendly event offers paddling, nature walks, fishing, scavenger hunts and more. (Kingman and Heritage Islands; 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; FREE)
ON THE SQUARE: Get a history lesson this Saturday at On the Square, DC History Center’s annual celebration that brings community-building workshops and activities to Mount Vernon Square. Explore Carnegie Library, listen in on pop-up talks, and participate in a poetry workshop. (DC History Center; 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; FREE)
CITY RIDGE FALL FEST: Stock up on pumpkins this weekend at City Ridge Fall Fest, which takes over the Wisconsin Avenue NW complex this Saturday and Sunday. You’ll find pumpkin patches, food trucks, local vendors, a dog costume contest and more. (City Ridge; Saturday and Sunday; 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; FREE)
DC WINE FEST: The classiest pregame in the city this weekend is the DC Wine Fest. Taking over Union Market’s Dock 5, the festival brings attendees specialty wine samples, live entertainment, and the opportunity to learn from sommeliers. (Dock 5 at Union Market; 12 p.m.-10 p.m.; $35+)
SNALLYGASTER BEER FESTIVAL: If beer’s more your speed, you won’t want to miss Snallygaster, the eclectic beer celebration that takes over downtown D.C. every year. No fewer than 350 brews on draft from over 175 purveyors will be available to ticket-holders, along with food trucks and live music. (Pennsylvania Avenue NW; 12 p.m.-6 p.m.; $65)
ROSSLYN FALL FEST: Arlington, we didn’t forget about you. Celebrate all things autumn this weekend at the Rosslyn Fall Fest, which brings cider tastings, live music, face painting, an inflatable corn maze and a pie eating contest to Gateway Park this Saturday. (Gateway Park; 1 p.m.-6 p.m.; FREE)
MORE: Etched by Light (National Gallery of Art; through Feb. 4; FREE), NOVA Treasure Hunt 2023 (NoVa; Saturday and Sunday; $40), Mapping Segregation: A Walking Tour of DC (Hill Center at Old Naval Hospital; 10:30 a.m.; $15), DC Teacher Voice Festival (Eastern Market Metro Plaza; 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; FREE), Fall Festival (The Farm at Halley Rise; 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; FREE), Afrofuturism STEAM Day (National Museum of African American History and Culture; 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; FREE), Used Book Sale (Georgetown Library; 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; FREE), The Mother and the Whore (National Gallery of Art; 1 p.m.-4:35 p.m.; FREE), Surely, she (he/we) is a little animal? (Morton Fine Art LLC; 4 p.m.-6 p.m.; FREE), Surf’s Up: Stories for a Beach Shack (Clare and Don’s; 6:30; $15), The Capital Hearings (Live! at 10th & G; 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.; $25), Funny Arabs Comedy Show (Busboys and Poets 14th Street NW; 7:30 p.m.-10 p.m.; $30), Gershwin, Price & Beethoven (Music Center at Strathmore; 7:30 p.m.; $19+), Gilded Lily Burlesque: Return to Glamour (Dance Place; 8 p.m.-10 p.m.; $30), Jazz4Justice: Celebrating The Legacy of Anthony Maiello (George Mason University; 8 p.m.; $24), Thank Me Later Comedy Showcase (Lost Origins Gallery; 8 p.m.; $10+)
SUNDAY, OCT. 15
WHEATON ART PARADE: Art is taking over the streets of Wheaton this Sunday at the Wheaton Art Parade, and everyone is considered an artist. Bring your own performance or visual art, and you’re welcome to walk in the parade. Or, just enjoy the floats, live music and performances from the sidelines. (Wheaton; 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; FREE)
QUEERING SOUND: Rock out and raise money at this weekend’s No Place Like Home: A Queering Sound Fundraiser for Rhizome. Local acts including Ari Voxx, Depression Cherry and Safety Bear will be taking the stage in a fundraising effort that supports the Takoma arts center. (Rhizome DC; 12 p.m.-8 p.m.; $10+)
STREET MUSIC AND SERENADES: What can chamber music sound like in the 21st century? That question will be answered on Sunday at Street Music and Serenades, a presentation by Horizon Series. The performance will highlight the evolution of wind chamber music, and include compositions by Mozart and Dvorak. (Congregation Beth El; 6 p.m.; $30)
MORE: A Seat at the Table: Art + Activism by Clara Bowe (Asian Fusion Gallery; 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; $10+), Soufside Sip ‘n’ Shop (Sandlot Anacostia; 2 p.m.-6 p.m.; FREE) Harlem Renaissance on U Street Walking Tour (The Howard Theatre; 2 p.m.-4 p.m.; $25), Helen Garner (Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital; 4:30 p.m.; $10), Capital City Symphony: Our Journey Begins (Atlas Performing Arts Center; 5 p.m.; $35), Maude Latour (9:30 Club; 7 p.m.; $25)
This article has been updated to remove AdMo PorchFest, which has been rescheduled for Nov. 4.
