Fall Festivals Fill This Weekend’s Calendar
Fall is in the air, and it is time to start your holiday shopping. There are of plenty of shopping opportunities this weekend like the American Field Pop-Up Market at Union Market, the Bethesda Row Arts Festival and the Kensington Fall Festival. There are plenty of other fall activities on tap as well.
On Metro, all six lines will see maintenance-caused delays this weekend. Red Line trains will single track between Grosvenor and Twinbrook stations with trains running every 16 minutes between Shady Grove and Glenmont and every 8-10 minutes between Grosvenor and Silver Spring. On the Orange Line, the Dunn Loring and Vienna stations are closed with buses replacing trains between Vienna and West Falls Church. Trains will operate evey 20 minutes between West Falls Church and New Carrollton. Silver Line trains will operate every 20 mintues between Wiehle-Reston East and Ballston ONLY. Blue Line trains will single track between Addison Road and Largo Town Center and Pentagon City and Arlington with trains running every 20 minutes. Yellow Line trains will single track between Pentagon City and L’Enfant Plaza with trains operating every 20 minutes. And Green Line Trains will single track between Navy Yard and Anacostia with trains running every 20 minutes.
Imax theaters will show all eight Harry Potter films including Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone this week as a lead up to the release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. (Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures)
Harry Potter Marathon
Attention Potterheads, grab your wizard and muggle friends and settle into your seats for a long weekend. As part of the countdown to the release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them on Nov. 18, there will be an Imax Harry Potter Marathon, with screenings of all eight Harry Potter movies, including The Sorcerer’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets, the first two films in the series, for the first time on the extra big screens. The Imax screenings also include a sneak peek at the new film.
Through Oct. 19 at various times at Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center Airbus Imax, 14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway, Chantilly; AMC Loews Rio Cinemas 18, 9811 Washingtonian Blvd., Gaithersburg; AMC Tysons Corner 16, 7850 Tysons Corner Center, McLean; AMC Hoffman Center 22, 206 Swamp Fox Road, Alexandria; AMC Magic Johnson Capital Center 12, 800 Shopper’s Way, Glenarden; AMC Loews Georgetown 14, 3111 K St. NW; and Regal Majestic Cinema 20, 900 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring. Tickets are $13.50-$15, or a $50 pass for all eight. Day passes to see three or more films in a single day and four-show tickets are also available.
Truckeroo
The last Truckeroo of the year is happening today from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. at The Half Street Fairgrounds. (Photo: Truckeroo)
This is it, food truck fans: The final Truckeroo of the season, an all-day event featuring live music, more than 25 food trucks and plenty to drink. You’re sure to find something you’re craving from the participants including Arepa Zone, BBQ Buss, Carolina Q, Crepe Love, D.C. Empanadas, D.C. Slices, Due South, Feelin’ Crabby, Goodies Frozen Custard and Treats, People’s Boa, Peruvian Brothers, Pittsburgh Rick’s, Red Hook Lobster Pound, Surfside, Swizzler, The Big Cheese, Urban Poutine and many more.
Oct. 14 from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. at The Fairgrounds, 1299 Half St. SE. Admission is FREE, with food and beverages priced individually at the trucks.
Reel Affirmations Film Festival
Reel Affirmations will close with Dave Franco (right) staring in King Cobra at 5 p.m. Sunday. (Photo: IFC Films)
The three-day Reel Affirmations LGBT film festival features more than 40 films from six continents. Films to be screened throughout the weekend included Strike a Pose, AWOL with short film More Than God, LOEV and more. The closing film is King Cobra starring James Franco, Garrett Clayton, Alicia Silverstone, Molly Ringwald and Christian Slater. There will be a VIP/Filmmaker reception on the rooftop of Lost Society, 2001 14th St. NW from 7-10 p.m. Saturday with complimentary cocktails, food and music by DJ Mim. The closing night party is at Miss Pixie’s, 1626 14th St. NW from 7-9 p.m. on Sunday with cocktails, desserts and more.
Oct. 14-16 at various times at the Gala Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St. NW. Tickets for film screenings are $12 and parties are $25.
Chinese Menu Comedy Invitational
The Chinese Menu Comedy Invitational is an improv tournament with troupes from up and down the East Coast.
(Photo: Chinese Menu Comedy)
You’ll laugh, you’ll cringe and you’ll surely see something unique at this first Chinese Menu Comedy Invitational, an invitation-only, long-form improv tournament. Improv troupes from up and down the East Coast, including a group from D.C., will match wits at five shows throughout the weekend, all leading to a late-night Saturday showdown, featuring special guests Ben Rameaka and Terry Withers from New York’s Upright Citizens Brigade.
Oct. 14 at 7:30 and 10 p.m. and Oct. 15 at 7, 9 and 11 p.m. at the D.C. Arts Center, 2438 18th St. NW. Tickets are $12.
Aki Matsuri Autumn Festival: Bonsai and Beyond
The Aki Matsuri Autumn Festival at the National Arboretum on Saturday will feature more than 150 of the tiny plants. (Photo: U.S. National Arboretum)
The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, home to more than 150 of the tiny trees from Japan and China, celebrates its 40th birthday this weekend with the Aki Matsuri Autumn Festival: Bonsai & Beyond. The festival includes tours that give visitors a chance to see the famous Goshin bonsai and a 400-year-old pine that survived the Hiroshima bombing. Watch bonsai master Tohru Suzuki create a bonsai on stage. Join kusamono master Young Choe for a look at the small herbaceous plants in pots that are often displayed with bonsai and learn how to make one yourself. Lean about the key components and philosophy and tour a Japanese garden. There will also be Taiko drumming, traditional Japanese songs, a kimono fashion show and children’s activities throughout the day. Vendors will be selling Japanese food and drink and plants will be for sale.
Oct. 15 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at the U.S. National Arboretum, 3501 New York Ave. NE. Admission is FREE!
American Field Pop-Up Market
The American Field pop-up comes to Union Market this weekend featuring companies that sell American-made goods like Ball and Buck. (Photo: American Field)
The American Field Pop-Up Market is setting up shop up and down the East Coast, and this weekend it lands in NoMa. The open-air shopping destination, which features more than 80 companies, celebrates independent brands that are made in the U.S.A. At the market, you’ll find food, menswear, hats and more from such companies as Ball and Buck, Bulleit, New Balance, Narragansett, General Knot, Lewis and Pine, Polartec and many more.
Oct. 15 and 16 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Dock 5 at Union Market, 1309 Fifth St. NE. Admission is FREE!
Northern Virginia Fall BrewFest
The second Northern Virginia Fall BrewFest brings more than 40 brewers to Centerville this weekend. (Photo: Untappd)
The Northern Virginia Fall BrewFest is one of the region’s biggest seasonal beer festivals, with 40 breweries and three cideries from across the Mid-Atlantic gathering for two days. Five of the breweries are making their first appearance at the festival: Tall Tales and Denizens out of Maryland and Sehkraft, MacDowell Brew Kitchen and Center of the Universe from Virginia. The event also includes music, food from Big Cheese Truck, International Grill and Zabb Thai among others, a TV tent (to check on the afternoon football games), a cornhole tournament and arts and crafts booths.
Oct. 15 and 16 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at in Bull Run Regional Park, 7700 Bull Run Drive, Centerville. Tickets, which include a sampling glass and six samples, are $30 in advance and $35 at the gate.
Bethesda Row Arts Festival
The Bethesda Row Arts Festival fills Bethesda Row with nearly 200 juried artisans this weekend. (Photo: ehpien/Flickr))
You can find something unique to hang in that bare spot on your wall, or perhaps find an early holiday gift or three, at the 19th annual Bethesda Row Arts Festival, featuring 190 artists from around the country. Shoppers will discover plenty of variety, too, with creative and innovative works in ceramics, glass, jewelry, metalwork, prints, photography and much more. There will also be live music on the stage at Woodmont Avenue and Elm Street featuring Julie Mack, Wytold and Colonel Josh on Saturday and Dave Chappell, John Kocur and Justin Tawick on Sunday.
Oct. 15 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Oct. 16 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. in Bethesda Row along Elm Street and Woodmont and Bethesda Avenues. Admission is FREE!
Hispanic Heritage Month Family Day
The National Portrait Gallery’s Hispanic Heritage Month Family Day on Saturday celebrates Hispanics contributions to art, music and dance. (Photo: National Portrait Gallery)
Create art, listen to music and dance in celebration of Hispanic heritage in America during the Hispanic Heritage Month Family Day at the National Portrait Gallery.
Oct. 15 from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. in the National Portrait Gallery’s Kogod Courtyard, Eighth and F Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Kensington Fall Festival
The Kensington Fall Festival features more than 60 arts and crafts vendors, music, food and kids’ activities.
(Photo: Linda Blackbourn Jewelry)
The Kensington Fall Festival features more than 60 arts and crafts vendors, vintage vendors, kids entertainment, a moon bounce, face painting, balloons and food trucks. Music will be provided by the Rhodes Tavern Troubadours, Super Lucky Elephant, Tipperary Titans, Jelly Roll Mortals and Sister Uke & Friends.
Oct. 16 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. along East Howard and Armory Avenues, Kensington, Md. Admission is FREE!
World of Montgomery Festival
The World of Montgomery Festival in Rockville celebrates the cultural heritage of China, El Salvador, Ethiopia and India.
(Photo: World of Montgomery)
The eighth annual World of Montgomery Festival celebrates the cultural heritages of China, El Salvador, Ethiopia and India – the four countries of Montgomery County’s Sister Cities Partnership that have the largest local immigrant populations — with music, food, dance, exhibits and arts and crafts activities. There will be chef demonstrations, a global spice market and hands-on cooking for kids to learn to make injera, tortillas, rice balls and roti. You can also learn to make Chinese lanterns, write hello in Chinese, Music performers include CCACC Gu Zheng Club, Washington Chu Shan Opera Society, Elikeh, Lilo Gonzalez, The Great Ethiopian Cultural Band, The Salvadoran Band, Reog Ponorogo D.C. and Yellow River Art Ensemble. There will also be a community service project onsite and a “parade of cultures” at 1:30 p.m. with African drummer, Bolivian dancer and performers in native dress.
Oct. 16 from noon-4 p.m. at Montgomery College, 900 Hungerford Dr., Rockville. Admission is FREE!
Editor-in-Chief Mark Heckathorn is a journalist, movie buff and foodie. He oversees DC on Heels editorial operations as well as strategic planning and staff development. Reach him with story ideas or suggestions at dcoheditor (at) gmail (dot) com.
