Events/Things To Do

Get your green on at City Ridge’s two-day Earth Day Weekend Festival, featuring URBNmarket, DC’s premier artisan pop-up event. On April 22 and 23 from 11:00AM to 6:00PM, shop sustainably from more than 50 handpicked, local vendors selling one-of-a-kind items on City Ridge’s iconic Great Lawn. Plus, experience nature through earth-themed, family-friendly activities like terracotta pot decorating, a children’s book reading and a pet rock adoption center. Families and friends can also enjoy live music, food trucks, glitter tattoos, face painting, and bubble art. You can even take home seeds from City Ridge’s Seed Library to start a thriving garden of your own!

WHEN: Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23 from 11:00AM to 6:00PM

WHERE: City Ridge (14 Ridge Square NW Washington, DC 20016). Hourly parking is available on-site.

HOW: This event is FREE and open to the public. More details are available here.

ABOUT CITY RIDGE: City Ridge is a new community located along Wisconsin Avenue, with 690 apartment residences, CAVA’s new corporate headquarters, and Wegmans and Tatte Bakery & Cafe. For more information on City Ridge and its incoming retailers, click here.

Port City Brewery’s Pop-Up Spring Makers’ Market with over 30 Artists, Creators, and Makers
Saturday, May 20, 2023
12-5 p.m. – Rain or Shine

3950 Wheeler Ave., Alexandria, VA 22304
Port City Brewing Company in partnership with Made in ALX announced a Spring Pop-Up Market, featuring local artisans and makers showcasing their handcrafted products, perfect for providing a spring refresh for the home as we welcome the upcoming season and kick-off summer. The event will feature over 30 artists displaying their crafts in a diverse family-friendly local pop-up market that will take place in Port City’s parking lot.  Items available range from jewelry, home décor, woodcrafts, candles, wellness items, children’s play and much more, providing a variety of handmade goods to jumpstart your summer and officially shake off the winter blues. For a full slate of artisans scheduled to participate in the pop-up visit, MadeInALX.com. This year, the first 100 people will receive a free, limited-edition Spring Makers’ Market tote bag for their shopping. Additionally, the first 50 kids at the event will receive a free coloring book with art and activities created by Alexandria artists.

Calling all Mount Vernon Triangle bookworms! Cantata (801 3rd Street, NW) Quadrangle and The Wilkes Company’s newest 275-unit residential building in Mount Vernon Triangle is teaming up with Busboys and Poets for conversation and cocktails at The Next Chapter Book Club.

**Between Wednesday, July 26, and Thursday, July 27 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM, booklovers can stop by Cantata to pick up a free copy of acclaimed author Akwaeke Emezi’s You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty, which has been featured in multiple best seller and must-read book lists, including The Washington Post, New York Times, Essence, Harper’s Bazaar, Refinery29 and more.**

Following the book pickup, Cantata will host a gathering on Thursday, August 17 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at the stunning Cantata rooftop for an evening of drinks, dessert, moderated conversation, and Q&A with Busboys and Poets.

Guests who pick up a free book in July will be automatically entered to win a beach read beach bag, full of everything you’ll need for your next beach day, including a beach bag, towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, water bottle, and $100 Busboys and Poets gift certificate towards their next book purchase.

WHEN: Book lovers can pick up a free copy of You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty between Wednesday, July 26 through Thursday, July 27 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The Next Chapter Book Club will meet to discuss Akwaeke Emezi’s best-selling novel on Thursday, August 17 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM.

WHERE: Cantata (801 3rd Street Northwest Washington, DC 20001)

HOW: This event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required, but visitors are encouraged to RSVP here.

Tysons Corner Center invites you to a special CELEBRATE VIRGINIA day on Saturday, September 16th on The Plaza from 11am – 4pm, rain or shine. Bring the family and have some fun outdoors celebrating the talent of Virginia as you enjoy live music & entertainment, shop local artisans’ wares, indulge in Virginia Beer Tasting, VIP Wine Tasting, mural painting, giveaways, and more! Celebrate Virginia is offered in partnership with Visit Fairfax and Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC).

GENERAL ADMISSION: Shop the Made in Fairfax local Artisan Market, enjoy live music from three Virginia based musicians, sample beer from five state breweries, and take part in painting a community mural with Loudon-based artist Kevin Bednarz. Participants will also get a chance to Spin the Tysons Wheel for limited edition “Virginia is for Shopping Lovers” custom merchandise including t-shirts, picnic blankets, beanie hats and more! The event is open to the public and FREE to attend.

“We are excited to bring the community together at our inaugural Celebrate Virginia event, which highlights everything that makes our home state special,” says Jesse Benites, Director of Property Management. “We will be showcasing small Virginia-based businesses, artists, and talent and are thrilled with the support and collaboration from our public officials and community partners.”

“Virginia’s artisan, craft beer, and wine industries have become important drivers of Virginia’s tourism economy, making the Commonwealth an ideal destination for travelers who are seeking authentic, experiential attractions. This event will provide an excellent locally made experience of everything Virginia has to offer firsthand,” said Andrew Cothern, Director of Communications for VTC.

“Fairfax County is home to so many talented artisans, makers and musicians and Visit Fairfax is thrilled to be a part of celebrating them all, as well as the great Commonwealth of Virginia, at Tysons Corner Center’s exciting new event. We hope residents and visitors alike will come out to see what this amazing destination is all about and even take home a unique piece of Virginia.”  – Barry Biggar, President & CEO of Visit Fairfax.

Saturday, September 16th on The Plaza from 11am-4pm, rain or shine.

Please join the DC Public Library Foundation in the MLK Jr. Lirary Great Hall as DC’s Neighborhood Librarians battle it out for the title of best Banned Book Art Installation!

We will also honor inspiring community advocates with our second Power the Dream DCPLF awards:

-TRANSFORMER AWARD

-SPOTLIGHT AWARD

-IGNITING THE COMMUNITY AWARD

October 6, 2023 | 6:00 PM VIP

7:00 PM General Admission

MLK JR. Memorial Library

Barbie Truck Dreamhouse Living Tour

Saturday, October 28
11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Tysons Corner Center Plaza

Barbie is living the dream and cruising to Tysons Corner Center! Come check out the new Dreamhouse Living Tour with exclusive merch only available on the Barbie Truck Tour

Native Art Market

Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 2–3, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. 

National Mall

Make your holiday shopping special and support more than 30 award-winning Indigenous artists. Visit the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., and enjoy the museum’s annual Native Art Market.

This weekend event invites lovers of art and craftsmanship to meet Indigenous artists and learn about traditional arts and contemporary Native creativity. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to purchase handcrafted artworks, including beadwork, jewelry, paintings, photography, pottery, and sculpture.

Enjoy an electrifying performance by QVLN playing his own brand of dynamic world music on his blue violin. Throughout the day, DJ Sunny Z soundtracks your shopping spree.

Native Art Market

Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 2–3, 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. 

National Mall

Make your holiday shopping special and support more than 30 award-winning Indigenous artists. Visit the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., and enjoy the museum’s annual Native Art Market.

This weekend event invites lovers of art and craftsmanship to meet Indigenous artists and learn about traditional arts and contemporary Native creativity. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to purchase handcrafted artworks, including beadwork, jewelry, paintings, photography, pottery, and sculpture.

Enjoy an electrifying performance by QVLN playing his own brand of dynamic world music on his blue violin. Throughout the day, DJ Sunny Z soundtracks your shopping spree.