Our end-of-the-week picks for Sept. 19-21, 2025
We've gathered up some fun things to do in DC this weekend. You can also read what else is going on during the week and throughout the month.
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Friday
The U.S. Constitution on Display in Its Entirety
For the first time in years, National Archives visitors can view every piece of the U.S. Constitution all at once (barring a visit from Nicholas Cage's Ben Gates.) You can view all four original pages, the rarely seen fifth page signed by George Washington, the Bill of Rights and the 17 subsequent amendments. The display marks Constitution Day on Sept. 17 and is part of nationwide America 250th celebrations leading up to 2026. The event adds to the many experiences that make DC the ultimate destination for celebrating the semiquincentennial.
Free-timed tickets
National Archives Museum, 701 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20408
Spain and the Birth of American Democracy: A History Symposium
In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, learn the role Spain played as an ally to the U.S. during the American Revolution. The two-day symposium (presented by the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute, the Fundación Ramón Areces and the Spanish Embassy) will include presentations by historical experts and booth displays from various organizations will share upcoming plans for 2026. Photo ID is required for entry.
More Info | Register
DAR Constitution Hall, 1776 D Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
Photo by Matthew Murphy
The Sound of Music
The Kennedy Center stages a production of one of the great musicals with three-time Tony Award® winner Jack O’Brien as director. The Sound of Music transports the audience to the hills of Austria for unforgettable songs and a tale of resilience, love and resistance.
Tickets
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566
BBQ & Barrels
Nationals Park hosts this popular event for the third consecutive year. Held in the Centerfield Plaza of the stadium, BBQ & Barrels features exactly what its title promises: the finest in local barbecue and whiskey. Dewey Beach natives Love Seed Mama Jump will provide music as you sample delicious food and spirits.
Tickets
Nationals Park, 1500 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
Alabama Shakes
It’s been eight years since audiences were treated to the sounds of Alabama Shakes, which features vocalist/guitarist Brittany Howard, guitarist Heath Fogg and bassist Zac Cockrell. The Anthem hosts the Grammy-winning and chart-topping group’s triumphant return to DC, where they’re likely to play smash hits as well as new music.
8 p.m. | Tickets
The Anthem, 901 Wharf Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
Saturday
H Street Festival
Another one of DC’s most popular neighborhoods pulls out all the stops for this annual festival that draws thousands of attendees every year. The H Street Festival will feature live music, dance performances, family-friendly activities, contests and plenty of food vendors across its many staging areas, with dozens of businesses participating.
Truth and Service Classic: Howard vs. Hampton
An exciting new chapter in the historic HBCU rivalry dating back to 1908, the “Battle for the Real HU” returns for its fifth year as Howard University hosts Hampton University at Audi Field. More than a football game, this cultural celebration is a source of pride and community, bringing together alumni, students and fans from both institutions. Last year’s game drew over 16,000 spectators.
4 p.m. kickoff | Tickets
Audi Field, 100 Potomac Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024
Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream
American Dream Experience from the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream
At the American Dream Experience, guests can explore interactive exhibits that connect big ideas to everyday life: education, health, entrepreneurship and financial empowerment. The Experience opens with a free-to-attend opening weekend celebration and full exploration of the immersive exhibition.
Free, ticket required
1503 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
Experience Art Ave
Don’t miss this free outdoor art gallery from Golden Triangle BID, featuring 13 stunning, large-scale sculptures and window artworks by acclaimed artists, just steps from the White House. Discover interactive elements during the day or visit in the evening to see the artworks colorfully illuminated.
More Info | Free Admission
800 Connecticut Avenue – 1050 Connecticut Avenue NW, including Farragut Square
Theatre Week
Theatre Week
Celebrate the theatre season in the Washington, DC region with a weeks-long promotion from TheatreWashington which includes $25, $45 and $65 tickets to highly anticipated productions at venues all over the DC area. There are musicals, dramas, comedies, theatre for young audiences and much more. In addition to discounted tickets, Theatre Week also includes special events (most of which are free) designed to entertain, educate and inspire, including the free Kickoff Fest. Plan your stay: Book a hotel today.
Walkingtown DC
Events DC showcases the incredible walkability of the nation’s capital during this free, week-long public tour program. In total, dozens of guided walking tours will be held throughout the District, including neighborhood showcases, themed excursions, historical journeys and many more. Historians, licensed tour guides, community leaders and business owners, among others, host these adventures that will take you to both well-known and hidden gems across DC.
Keegan Theatre
Everything is Wonderful
The Keegan Theatre stages acclaimed playwright Chelsea Marcantel's stirring and thought-provoking of grief, faith and family. After a tragic accident, a young woman returns home to her Amish roots to confront the life and relationships that she left behind. Wounds will be reopened and secrets will emerge as our protagonist's boundaries between forgiveness and forgetfulness are blurred.
Tickets
Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
The Great Privation
Timelines jump and collide in this innovative production at Woolly Mammoth Theatre. The Great Privation shows a mother and daughter guarding the grave of their husband and father to prevent resurrectionists from tampering with it, circa 1832. On the same grounds in the present, another mother and daughter are summer camp counselors. The two stories intersect in fascinating ways.
Tickets
Woolly Mammoth Theatre, 641 D Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Sunday
The Kennedy Center © Jati Lindsay
National Dance Day
Cut a rug at this year's National Dance Day at the Kennedy Center. Free classes, performances and parties provide a wealth of ways to celebrate creativity and community.
10 a.m. | Free Admission
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566
Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955-1985
The National Gallery of Art hosts a monumental tribute to the work of Black artists from around the world. Photography and the Black Arts Movement spans four decades and features roughly 150 pieces by more than 100 artists, including luminaries such as Gordon Parks, Carrie Mae Weems, Frank Stewart, Billy Abernathy, David C. Driskell, Lorna Simpson and many more.
4th Street and Constitution Avenue NW Washington, DC 20565
Photo by Anne Colliard
Cirque Du Soleil: LUIZA
Poetically guided by light (‘luz’ in Spanish) and rain (‘lluvia’), LUZIA details the adventures of a parachuted traveler with the culture, nature and mythology of a dreamlike land inhabited by a menagerie of characters. Refreshing and unexpected, LUZIA dazzles with the incorporation of water into the acrobatic presentation – a first for a Cirque du Soleil touring production.
Tickets
8025 Galleria Drive, Tysons, VA 22102
Arena Stage
Damn Yankees
The minds behind this new adaptation of an American classic include Lortel Award winner Will Power, Pulitzer Prize winner Doug Wright and Tony Award winners Lynn Ahrens and Sergio Trujillo. From its pure love of baseball to its femme fatale and fateful pact with the Devil, Damn Yankees promises to be a crowd-pleaser at Arena Stage.
Tickets
Arena Stage, 1101 6th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
Ford's Theatre
The American Five – Sept. 19 – Oct. 12
Ford’s Theatre treats audiences to a stage production that depicts five civil rights icons – including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – in the process of planning the March on Washington and crafting King’s legendary “I Have A Dream” speech. In the face of intimidation, life threats, surveillance and immense public pressure, the group forms a coalition and creates a defining moment in American history.
Tickets
Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Places to Stay
Need some inspiration for a place to stay in between events? Washington, DC is filled with a multitude of hotels to fit your needs. Whether you are looking for that specialty boutique hotel or booking at your favorite hotel brand, Washington, DC's booking engine has it all. Find your stay today!
Do you know where you’ll be dining pre- or post-event? From pop-up restaurants to award-winning hot spots to laid-back food halls, our DC food guide is perfect for helping you plan a more memorable experience.
