Five Fall Festivities in Washington D.C.

This blog post was updated on August 20, 2018.

The contrast of colors in Washington D.C. throughout the fall season is striking to say the least. Across blindingly white marble museums and monuments, the sharp hues on the trees begin to realize its time to make a change.

This time of the year brings about more than a craving for apples in the nation’s capitol. The city gets busy. If you’re lucky enough to find cheap flights to Washington D.C. this fall, be sure to enjoy these fall festivities.

Food Fight—The Taste of D.C. takes place this year from October 8th to the 10th. Along the historic Pennsylvania Avenue, those attending can experience the largest food, wine and beer festival in the area. D.C.’s hottest chefs and restaurants bring their tastiest dishes for the event. Washington D.C.’s Taste of D.C. event follows with the Taste of Georgetown on October 15th.

Temporary Exhibits—This fall, art fans can brag to their friends about all of the temporary exhibits they saw while in DC. The city is hosting several impressive temporary exhibits over the course of the next few months. The National Gallery of Art will be running a Warhol Headlines exhibit from September 25th through January. The National Portrait Gallery is also pulling out the big guns with its Seeing Gertrude Stein: Five Stories exhibit beginning October 14th. The big cheese in town, the Smithsonian constantly offers rotating exhibits throughout its many different galleries and museums.

Fall Foliage—While Washington D.C. is known for its budding cherry blossoms in spring, the city could easily attract the same attention for its fall colors. With over 230,000 acres of parkland in the city, there are a number of spots to see the colors on the trees change. Particularly worthwhile are the colors on the National Mall, Rock Creek Park and the National Arboretum.

Holidays—DC celebrates and commemorates several holidays in the fall. Veteran’s Day on November 1st holds a special place in the city’s heart. Across the world famous monuments and memorials in DC, travelers can pay poignant tribute to those who have served. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery and the National World War II Memorial all hold their own ceremonies for the day. Washington D.C. also celebrates Halloween throughout the fall season. Boo at the Zoo at the Washington National Zoo occurs from October 21st to the 23rd. The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center also holds an Air and Scare event on October 29th, showcasing the spooky side to airspace. Those in the market for a ghost tour can attend the National Building Museum’s Ghost Tour on the 30th, looking at the site’s haunted past.

Memorial Dedication—After Hurricane Irene put a damper on the dedication intended for August, the Martin Luther King Memorial has been rescheduled for dedication on October 16th. While you might not have seen the dedication of any of DC’s iconic memorials, you can still book a flight to see the civil rights leader appropriately represented permanently in the city.

 

Flickr: stereogab