Autumn in Washington DC is gorgeous. As the weather cools and we all clutch our Pumpkin Spice Lattes, the nation’s capital offers fun activities and wonderful sights. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite fall activities and we hope you’ll enjoy your time in DC whether you’re visiting or local.
Take a Ghost Tour
Washington DC has a long, sometimes bloody history. Autumn is spooky season, and a fun ghost tour is the perfect way to get into the Halloween spirit. We recommend the Ghosts of Georgetown walking tour. This tour is running through all of October and some of November. Some believe this picturesque neighborhood is home to spirits of the past. Check it out and come to your own conclusion.
Dates: Nearly every day in October (excluding Halloween, and the 3rd and 4th) and the first week of November
Times: This is a two hour tour starting at 8pm
Location: The tour starts at Old Stone House, 3051 M St NW and ends at The Exorcist Steps (36th and Prospect St NW)
Oktoberfest
Wunder Garten is hosting Oktoberfest activities every weekend from September 17th to October 10th. Indulge in German culture with food, games, and beer for the over 21 crowd. Guests can compete in the Bavarian Olympics to win fun prizes. Fridays are hosted by Café Berlin and other participating restaurants with wonderful, authentic German food. On Sundays, bring your dog along from noon to 3pm. Then, enjoy a drag show to finish out the weekend. You are not going to want to miss this.
Dates: October 1st through 3rd and 7th through 10th
Times: 3pm to Midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 7pm on Sundays
Location: Wunder Garten, 1101 First Street NW
All Things Go Music Festival
This music festival takes place on October 16th at the Merriweather Post Pavilion. Headlined by Haim, St. Vincent, and Charli XCX, this festival is going to be a lot of fun! There are two stages and all ages are welcome to attend. For more information and to buy tickets, check out their website.
Date: October 16th
Time: Times will be posted on their website closer to the event
Location: Merriweather Post Pavilion, 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia, MD
Live Theatre
Theatre is back in DC! We are so excited to see live performances return to the nation’s capital. Grab some friends, family, or go alone to witness stellar performances and innovative theatrical experiences. Our recommendation? Hadestown! This smash hit musical won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The show is a retelling of two interwoven Greek myths, Orpheus and Eurydice and Hades and Persephone. Anybody age 8 and older will enjoy this beautiful reimagining of classic tales. If musical theatre isn’t your speed, there are plenty of Jazz clubs in DC. We recommend Blues Alley at 1073 Wisconsin Ave NW. Come for blues, jazz, and food from 6pm to 12:30am.
Dates: Wednesdays through Sundays, October 13th through the 31st
Time: The show is approximately two and a half hours long and begins at 7:30pm with 1:30pm matinees on Thursdays and Saturdays
Location: The Kennedy Center, 2700 F St., NW, Washington, D.C.
Stroll through the National Portrait Gallery
The National Portrait Gallery is world famous for good reason. It is probably most notable for the America’s Presidents exhibit. Every president in American history is featured in this gallery. These are not the official portraits, which are on display in the White House. Instead, these are portraits our presidents sat for with more experimental artists, indicative of their time. It is fascinating to see the way artistic styles change. Are the presidents not your thing? No worries! That’s just one wing of this museum. Did we mention it’s free?
Dates: Wednesdays through Sundays
Time: 11:30am to 7pm
Location: National Portrait Gallery, 8th and G Streets NW
Rent a Bike or Go on a Bike Tour
Unlimited Biking offers hybrid bikes, tandems, road bikes, and ebikes. You can also try out our rollerblades and electric scooters! This is a perfect experience for solo riders, couples, and the whole family. The best way to see Washington DC is by bike. Book our guided bike and Segway tours for a more in-depth view of DC and its history. We recommend the Monuments at Night Bike Tour. It’s a sunset/night tour. That takes starts at 6:30 pm and lasts for 3 hours. You’ll get to see the monuments of DC lit up on this informative look at America’s history. Give us a call at 202-842-2453 for 10% off your rental or email us at [email protected]. We are located at 998 Maine Ave.
Date: 7 days a week
Time: 8am to 7pm
Location: 998 Maine Ave
