Fall is packed with exhibits, events and performances in the District. Read up!

From performing arts to exciting exhibits and events, there’s so much to see and do!

Museum Exhibits

‘40 Chances’ – Sept. 18-Jan. 3, 2016
Featuring 40 photos by Howard G. Buffett, this powerful Newseum exhibit illustrates the causes and effects of hunger on five continents. The collection, photographed by the son of billionaire Warren Buffet, is a call to action to find a solution to this global challenge.
Tickets
Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001

Source: Howard G. Buffett

‘Gauguin to Picasso: Masterworks from Switzerland’ – Oct. 10-Jan. 10, 2016
A thrilling exhibition from The Phillips Collection, Gauguin to Picasso takes museumgoers through the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collections of prominent art enthusiasts Rudolf Staechelin and Karl Im Obersteg, both from Basel. Explore the 20th-century shift in collecting beyond regional artists with modern-art marvels on display from 22 world-renowned artists
Tickets
The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

Source: Paul Gauguin 

‘Irving Penn: Beyond Beauty’ – Oct. 23-March 20, 2016
Discover the first retrospective of photographer Irving Penn’s work in almost 20 years, featuring nearly 160 images that chart his fascination with the transitory nature of style. Covering all stages of Penn’s career, the works include street scenes from the 1930s, photos from the American South from the ‘40s, celebrity portraits, fashion photographs, still lifes and a candid Super 8 mm film shot by his wife capturing the artist at work.
Free
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and F NW, Washington, DC 20004

‘Marvelous Objects: Surrealist Sculpture from Paris to New York’ – Oct. 29-Feb. 15, 2016
Experience the first major exhibit of Surrealist sculpture only at the Hirshhorn Museum. The exhibit features 100-plus works by more than 20 artists between the 1920s and ‘50s, including luminaries like Duchamp, Man Ray and Salvador Dalí.
Free
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

‘Wonder’ Renwick Gallery Reopening Exhibit – Nov. 13-July 10, 2016
Following a two-year, $30 million reimaging, the Renwick Gallery, the Smithsonian’s museum of craft and decorative art, reopens with Wonder. The exhibit is composed of nine site-specific works located throughout the gallery, each large-scale installation from a different artist and using unexpected materials to create an immersive, awe-inspiring experience.
Free
Renwick Gallery, 1661 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20006

Theater

Women’s Voices Theater Festival – Sept.-Oct. 28
Highlighting only plays written or adapted by women, the Women’s Voices Theater Festival makes history as the largest organized presentation of world-premieres from female playwrights. Running between Labor Day and Halloween, the festival features plays from more than 50 DC metro area theaters to support the work of women playwrights.
Tickets
Citywide

‘Destiny of Desire’ – Sept. 11-Oct. 18
Helen Hayes Award-winning playwright Karen Zacarías infuses a Latin American telenovela with music, high drama and burning passion in this fast-paced modern comedy. Watch the action unfold in this Women’s Voices Theater Festival-supported play as two baby girls, one from wealth and the other from poverty, are swapped at birth.
Tickets
Arena Stage, 1101 6th Street, SW, Washington, District of Columbia 20024

‘The Guard’ – Sept. 25-Oct. 18
When a guard at a modern art museum decides to touch a famous Rembrandt painting, a remarkable journey across the ages ensues in this world-premiere comedy and Women’s Voices Theater Festival production. Spanning centuries of human experience, The Guard movingly explores the power of creative expression and the sacrifices we make in the pursuit of love and beauty.
Tickets
Ford's Theatre, 511 10th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004

‘Beautiful – The Carole King Musical’ – Oct. 6-25
Follow the inspiring true story of Carole King’s rise to stardom, from being a hit songwriting team with her husband to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history. Revel in this touring Broadway musical featuring stunning performances and see why it took home two Tony Awards in 2014.
Tickets
The Kennedy Center, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566

‘Salomé’ – Oct. 6-Nov. 8
Shakespeare Theatre Company acclaimed director Yaël Farber (Mies Julie) premieres her adaption of the New Testament tale that exemplifies the power of seduction. Rife with drama and intrigue, the Women’s Voices Theater Festival selection tells the story of the Princess of Judaea, who danced for Herod Antipas and asked for the head of John the Baptist on a silver platter.
Tickets
Shakespeare Theatre Company, 610 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004

‘A Christmas Carol’ – Nov. 19-Dec. 31
Get into the holiday spirit early with this timeless Christmas tale adapted from Dickens by Michael Baron. Filled with music, a miser and fun for the whole family, the production promises to capture Scrooge’s journey of transformation and redemption.
Tickets
Ford's Theatre, 511 10th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004

Events

Art All Night: Nuit Blanche – Sept. 26
Five of DC’s most vibrant neighborhoods, Dupont Circle, Shaw, North Capitol, H Street NE and Congress Heights, will partake in Art All Night (7 p.m.-3 a.m.), the all-night art event organized by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Now in its fifth year, Art All Night activates vacant spaces throughout the city with art exhibits, music and more. It was inspired by the early morning art fetes from Paris.
Free
Citywide

Landmark Music Festival – Sept. 26-27
With 40-plus bands on five stages, this only-in-DC event brings Drake, The Strokes and alt-J together to West Potomac Park for a two-day concert for the ages. Aside from the performances, you can also delight in a gourmet food village curated by Jose Andres, free admission for kids 10 and under accompanied by a ticket-holding parent and incredible views in the shadow of the monuments.
Tickets
West Potomac Park, West Basin Drive SW, Washington, DC 20024

Source facebook.com/LandmarkFestDC

Craft2Wear Show – Oct. 1-3
Step inside the Great Hall of the National Building Museum between Oct. 1-3, and enter a world of wearable artworks. This popular event put on by the Smithsonian Women’s Committee offers clothing, jewelry and accessories created by artisans from all around the country.
Tickets
National Building Museum, 401 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001

Source: flickr/usdagov

Taste of DC 2015 – Oct. 10-11
Featuring local restaurants and breweries to artisanal doughnut shops, this two-day culinary festival will surely satisfy all of your inner-foodie cravings. Held on the heart of Pennsylvania Avenue, the event is an enormous block party (four fun-filled blocks to be exact) with a soundtrack of lively music and entertainment acts. A ticket gets you access to a free drink, more than 40 restaurants, any of 50 beers and 50 wines to taste and a free dish from ShopHouse up to a month after the event.
Tickets
Taste of DC, 675 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004

The Smithsonian Food History Weekend – Oct. 22-24
Be here for this exciting inaugural culinary event from the Smithsonian, featuring a weekend’s worth of food-related entertainment, including appearances by Alton Brown, Daniel Boulud, local cocktail buff Derek Brown and Julia Child Award recipient chef Jacques Pépin. Events include the Food History Gala (Oct. 22, $250), roundtable (Oct. 23, free) the Smithsonian Food History Festival (Oct. 24, free) and an after-hours brewing history event (Oct. 24, $40).
Free with Select Paid Events
National Museum of American History, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001

FotoWeek DC – Nov. 6-15
This annual festival presents dynamic photography-based exhibitions, workshops and events, and brings together local and international collaborators to show world-class photography in DC. Be on hand for the opening night celebration (Nov. 6, $40-$60) at the former Spanish ambassador’s residence for photo exhibitions, small bites, open bars, photo booths, music and more. Otherwise, open your shutter for the FotoWeek DC competition covering three categories: photojournalism, fine art and photographer’s choice.
Citywide

Downtown Holiday Market – Nov. 27-Dec. 23
Bringing a festive shopping “village” to the heart of downtown DC, the Downtown Holiday Market (12-8 p.m.) features more than 150 regional artisans, crafters and boutiques of ethically produced goods. Get your gift shopping done, then enjoy sweet treats and musical entertainment at this enchanting bazaar.
Free
8th & F Streets NW, Washington, DC 20001

Visiting the Smithsonian Museums

Pack your summer trip to DC with knowledge when you visit its famous Smithsonian museums.

 Collectively named the Smithsonian Institution, the world-renowned museum and research complex consists of 15 separate museums and the National Zoo. From the origins of man at the Natural History Museum to the future of space travel at the Air and Space Museum, the museums of the Smithsonian cover an array of fascinating areas of study.

The Smithsonian Institution is sometimes referred to as America’s treasure chest because of the diverse artifacts it houses. Whether you’re interested in American history or Asian art, giant pandas or stamp collecting, there’s a Smithsonian museum for you. By attendance, the most popular Smithsonian museums are the Air and Space Museum, Natural History Museum, American History Museumand the National Zoo. First-time visitors tend to seek these out, but we recommend reading a bit about each museum and visiting those which interest you. With 15, it’s virtually impossible see them all in one visit, but planning to see three or four during a week-long vacation would be a realistic goal. – See more at: http://washington.org/DC-guide-to/visiting-smithsonian-museums

Looking for an exciting and unique way to tour the city?

Hit the road and make a splash on the DUCK!

If you’re visiting Washington DC for the first time or if you’ve been here a hundred times before—you’ve never seen the city as you will on board the DC Ducks Tour!

Climb Aboard
Your adventure begins the moment you board our fully restored authentic World War II amphibious vehicle. This isn’t just any old DC tour… it’s an experience. Sit back and relax as our tour captains turn back the pages of history.

Enjoy your journey on land
This DC tour begins at Union Station and winds its way down Pennsylvania Avenue. As we journey past our country’s most famous monuments and museums, our knowledgeable Captain will entertain and enlighten you with interesting facts and historical accounts of people and events that helped shape our nation. You’ll also be treated to original sound bites from the World War II era, including music, newscasts and speeches by some of the leaders of our past, like FDR and more.

Continue your journey by river
Then, settle in your seat for a true thrill because the DUCK will leave the streets and head straight for the Potomac.

Sit back and relax or throw your hands in the air with excitement as we take the plunge—without missing a beat the DUCK becomes a boat and splashes down into the water. We’ll cruise along the river highlighting more of what DC is famous for and end up at Gravely Point, underneath the flight path of the landing planes at the National Airport.

Perfect timing
The DC Ducks Tour is a unique 90-minute land and water Washington DC sightseeing experience that encompasses DC’s most popular sites and history…a must-see and do for people of all ages.