12 things to do around D.C. this weekend

The air is getting crisper but there’s still plenty more outdoor fun to wring out of the year, including afternoon dance parties, picnics with wine, and roads closed to traffic so bikers and pedestrians can wander free. If you’re looking for something cozier, there’s also events for bookworms, poetry lovers, and theater geeks. 

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3
Dance For All @ Dupont Underground
Ballet? Underground? That’s right. This immersive world of dance was dreamt up by The Washington Ballet’s new artistic director Edwaard Liang. Set to the Emmy award-winning melodies of composer Blake Neely, this singular experience will unfold in the abandoned tunnels under Dupont Circle all weekend long. (Dupont Underground; 7:30 p.m. on October 3,4,5, and 3:00 p.m. on October 5; $25-$50)

Pridetoberfest at Wunder Garten
In D.C. there’s always a reason to celebrate Pride, including as part of Wunder Garten’s month-long Oktoberfest programming. On Mean Girls Day (“On October 3rd, he asked me what day it was”), catch award-winning drag performer Every Pleasure and L. Rogers, a contestant on this year’s The Voice, and hit the dance floor courtesy of DJ Glen North. (Wunder Garten; 6:00 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.; FREE)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4
Theatre Week
Kick off thespian season with discounted shows, including a Tony Award winner about a Harlem salon, a Prince-George’s-County-based play about a self-proclaimed “Multi-Ethnic Reject Group,” and a political satire starring Matthew Broderick. (Multiple venues; Various times; $20, $40, or $60)

Mount Vernon Fall Wine Festival & Sunset Tour
Watch the sun slip below the Potomac as you sip Virginia varietals and listen to live music on the East Lawn of George Washington’s historic home. Take a special after-hours tour of the mansion and enjoy food from the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant at this weekend-long event. (3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Mount Vernon, Virginia; 6 p.m. - 8:45 p.m.; $50-$60)

Design on the Water: Washington DC Architecture Cruise
Set sail from the Georgetown waterfront every Friday in October to learn about D.C. history via architecture – and from a completely different perspective than you could get on land. Cruise past Teddy Roosevelt Island, under the Arlington Memorial Bridge, and past the National Mall while learning about The Watergate and Arlington National Cemetery, as well as more underappreciated D.C. gems. (3050 K Street NW; 5:00 p.m.; $30-$40)

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5
Art on the Avenue
Peruse hundreds of artist booths – from potters, to woodworkers, to jewelers – and sample food specialties like crab cakes and cider donuts. Kids won’t be left out of the fun with pumpkin painting and scarecrow stuffing. (Mt. Vernon Avenue in Alexandria’s Del Ray neighborhood; 10am-6pm; FREE) 

Open Streets 7th Street NW
There’s nothing quite like walking straight down the middle of a major thoroughfare to remind you how much cars ruin cities. An entire mile of 7th Street Northwest will be closed to vehicles, making way for yoga, jazz, biking, flamenco, and Chinese 9-Man volleyball – a sport developed by Chinese immigrant laborers in the 1930s. (7th Street NW from Rhode Island Avenue to E Street NW; FREE; 9 a.m.-3 p.m.)

Friends at Petworth Library Used Book Sale
Ready to cycle out your summer reads for something new? With kids books for just .50 cents, paperbacks for $1, hardcovers for $2, and all proceeds going towards the library, it’s hard to beat the price or the cause at this event. And if you want to get more involved, they’re looking for volunteers. (Petworth Library, FREE, 11:30-3:30)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6
DC Coffee Festival
Let the rich aromas guide you to each specially curated exhibitor, representing some of D.C.’s top coffee roasters. Curious about what makes your brew special? Chat with master roasters right at their booths. And it’s not just about the coffee—vibe out to live bands and local entertainment as you enjoy your java. (Dock 5 @ Union Market;10 a.m..; $29)

Amapiano Sundays: Season Finale with DJ Moma + Lex & Answer
Catch the very last Amapiano of the season, a celebration of the jazzy South African dance music and Afrohouse, before it gets too cold for this day-long outdoor dance party. Don’t procrastinate – tickets are going fast! (Hook Hall; 2 p.m.- 9 p.m.; $20-$40)

Literary Hill Bookfest
This celebration of Capitol Hill’s books and authors will hold panels throughout the day, including “Fresh Takes From Children's Authors,” and “Sleuths, Spies and Suspects: Putting the Who in Whodunit.” You can park the kids in the Children’s Corner all day, where they can color and read. Afterwards, head to historic Tunnicliff’s Tavern for a poetry reading – look out for the sign up sheet if you’re feeling bold! (North Hall, Eastern Market; 11 a.m.-3:00 p.m.; FREE)

TASTE di ISLANDS, Caribbean Food & Music Block Party
Fill up on Caribbean classics like jerk chicken, plantains, and peas and rice before you hit the dance floor where DJs will be spinning infectious dancehall, soca, and reggae tracks at this massive Caribbean food and music block party. (The Bullpen; 2:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.; $10-$100)