From Dumbarton Oaks to Hillwood to the National Arboretum, D.C. has no shortage of landmark gardens. The hardest to see, however, are the most famous: the gardens on the south grounds of the White House. This is one of two weekends per year that the public can wander through the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden; the formal Rose Garden, famed as a backdrop for news conferences; and the Kitchen Garden, planted by Michelle Obama in 2009. The grounds also include trees planted by presidents and politicians. Free timed-entry tickets, which are required for every visitor, are given out at the White House Visitor Center at 1450 Pennsylvania Ave. NW beginning at 8:30 a.m., though a line often forms well before then. Pro tip: Get in line, get a ticket for later in the day, and head up 15th Street to the Old Ebbitt Grill, which begins serving brunch at 9. Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free; tickets required.
Snallygaster beer festival
If you enjoy craft beer, you should be at Snallygaster. Period. The region’s best beer festival brings more than 400 offerings, poured four ounces at a time, to a closed-off section of Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Certified beer geeks can choose among multiple selections from Cantillon, Perennial, the Alchemist, Monkish, Alvarado Street, Human Robot, Bottle Logic and other rarely-seen-in-D. C. breweries — they’ve already plotted the locations of the breweries on the festival map, and, yes, a number of these will run out on the early side — but sometimes it’s more fun to just wander multiple blocks of beer tents and stop when you encounter something you’ve never heard of. You’ll probably like it. If you don’t, well, there are a few hundred other things to try. Beyond liquid exploration, the day features music from the Pietasters, Trouble Funk, DJ Analyze and other entertainers; a podcast stage; around two dozen food trucks offering a la carte eats; a kid zone with a bouncy castle, pumpkin decorating and other activities; and a market featuring local makers. 2 to 6 p.m. $65.
Parks, porches, patios and stages on the 18th Street strip play host to about 100 musical acts during the Adams Morgan Porchfest, which shuts down 18th between Columbia and Kalorama roads to create room for a street party. There are two main stages: in the plaza at the intersection of 18th and Adams Mill Road, and another in the middle of the 2400 block of 18th, featuring go-go from the Experience Band and Show, hip-hop from the Flex Mathews Band, and pop by Ari Voxx, among other performers. But part of the fun is wandering to Kalorama Park or along neighborhood streets, pulled to the next “stage” by the sound of bluegrass or punk. Bands start on the hour from 2 to 5 p.m., and a full lineup is available on the Porchfest website. Attendees can pick up a wristband at either stage good for discounts at local businesses, including $10 to-go cocktails at Death Punch, $5 beers at Tight Five or Town Tavern, and 10 percent off record purchases at Smash. 2 to 6 p.m. Free.
Kingman Island Friends and Family Day
Kingman and Heritage islands are an amazing natural resource for D.C. residents, even if they sometimes feel overlooked or underused. See what you’re missing during Kingman Island Friends and Family Day, which offers hours of activities for adults and families alike. Try your hand at fishing, paddling a canoe to pick up trash, or guided yoga and meditation. Learn to recognize invasive species, take a guided tour of the island while playing “tree bingo” or see how mussels filter the Anacostia River. From puppet shows to steel band music to flower crown lessons, there really is something for everyone. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free.
Fans of the Georgetown Business Improvement District’s popular springtime French market will find similar offerings at this autumnal version, if with a bit more pumpkin spice. Expect fall-inspired menus at restaurants like Dig, Thanksgiving-themed wine tastings at Bacchus Wine Cellar and pumpkin painting at Georgetown Neighborhood Library. More than 35 businesses are participating, with discounts and giveaways, in the two-day market. Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free.
Bethesda Row Arts Festival
The 25th annual Bethesda Row Arts Festival brings 165 artists from across the country to the streets of Bethesda for a juried, weekend-long show featuring paintings, jewelry, ceramics, glassware, furniture, handbags and accessories, and other home decor. Though the event has been running for a quarter-century, organizers note that 40 percent of this year’s participants have never previously exhibited at the festival. Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free.
The annual Fall Festival at the Upper Northwest development is a pumpkin-centric affair: In addition to a pumpkin patch full of potential jack-o’-lanterns, there’s pumpkin painting, pumpkin bowling and even a pumpkin spice tasting, if that’s your thing. Other happenings include a market with 50 local vendors, outdoor yoga classes, a costume contest and bone bar for dogs, live music, and glitter tattoos and face painting for kids. Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free.
‘On the Square’ at the D.C. History Center
The D.C. History Center is full of resources exploring the history of D.C., and it occupies a prime spot downtown. Problem is, it’s often overshadowed by its downstairs neighbor: the Apple Store occupying the first floor of the historic Carnegie Library. But the History Center shines during its annual open house, when the public can stop in to take advantage of pop-up talks on genealogy and family research; go on guided walking tours of the neighborhood, including one focused on alleys; and explore the museum’s exhibits. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free; registration suggested.
Hispanic Heritage Month celebration at La Cosecha
La Cosecha’s Hispanic Heritage Month programming wraps up this weekend, but not before one last concert with DeSanguashington, a local band that combines traditional Colombian folk instrumentation with an up-tempo pop vibe, and the winner of the local Wammie Award for best Latin artist in 2021. 8 p.m. Free.
Clarendon’s self-proclaimed “first-ever dance-music-inspired festival” was originally scheduled for Sept. 23, but Tropical Storm Ophelia killed the vibe. Organizers have rescheduled, though, and eight DJs will spin electronic dance music on an “epic outdoor main stage” on North Irving Street between Wilson Boulevard and 12th Street. Look for a beer garden, grills, lawn games, vendors, lounges and, of course, multiple bars. At 10 p.m., though, everyone moves inside the Ballroom (formerly known as the Clarendon Ballroom) for the official after-party. 2 to 10 p.m. outside, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. inside. $35-$50.
The Big Build at the National Building Museum
Construction fans of all ages can immerse themselves in hands-on activities at the National Building Museum’s free, family-friendly celebration. Let the kids layer bricks or hammer nails in the Great Hall before climbing into a crane at the outdoor Truck Petting Zoo. Adults can learn about rewiring lights, or chat with plumbers and roofers about their home remodeling projects. Tired of trying to pour concrete? There are story times and virtual reality exhibitions, too. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free.
Hey! Ho! Let’s Go! at DC9
Hey! Ho! Let’s Go! is the family dance party for families who wouldn’t be caught dead listening to the Wiggles. Brandon Wetherbee and Kelsey Snell founded the event, in their own words, to “introduce your kid to good music and hang out at a bar you frequented before you had a kid.” The idea of playing tunes kids can jump around to while parents socialize has been popular — most recent events have sold out. The Halloween edition features candy and Halloween treats, such as plastic spiders and temporary tattoos, at DC9, and costumes are obviously encouraged. 4 to 6 p.m. $10.
Bowie Baysox Fall Festival at Prince George’s Stadium
The big Halloween event for the little baseball fan in your life turns the infield at Prince George’s Stadium into a pumpkin patch. Kids can venture onto the field to pick their own pumpkin — the Baysox say the pumpkins will be “of the carving size in the 10-20 [pound] range” — before getting their faces painted, riding on a carousel or jumping in the bounce house. Costumes are strongly encouraged. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. $15 in advance, which includes a pumpkin; free for ages 2 and younger, which does not include a pumpkin. $20 at the gate.
‘Look Both Ways’ at the Kennedy Center
Kids 10 and older are the target audience for “Look Both Ways,” a world-premiere adaptation of D.C. author Jason Reynolds’s award-winning book, co-produced by the Kennedy Center and the Theater Alliance. The school dismissal bell rings at the beginning of the production, setting up 10 distinct tales as the students head home — one story per block, each told from a different character’s perspective. The opening show includes a post-performance Q&A, where theatergoers can hear behind-the-scenes stories from the cast and crew. Through Oct. 29. $20.