Before the leaves start changing colors and you begin to feel a chill in the air, get outside and enjoy the crisp fall air at different festivals around the District.
Kick off the new season with food samples, a full beer belly and new music in your ears. Here are some of the best fall festivals coming up around the city:
Snallygaster – Sept. 23
Beer festivals like Snallygaster are some of the most celebrated fall events because they give you the opportunity to sip a crisp beer that matches the change in weather. With more than 350 craft beers and ciders, this festival certainly doesn’t lack drink options. Aside from the drinks, the festival will also host food trucks, music and activities like outdoor games and face painting. Admission is $10 and the cost of tickets goes to D.C.’s Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture. Drinks and food can also be purchased on site individually or in a package for $35 that includes the admission cost, 30 food and drink tickets and a beer mug with the event logo. This event will close if the space hits maximum capacity, so come early.
The Yards Park, 355 Water St. SE. 1 to 6 p.m. Admission $10.
Taste of Georgetown – Sept. 24
After a short walk or bus ride, eat your heart out at the 24th annual Taste of Georgetown festival on K Street. At the festival, you can taste signature dishes from more than 30 of the neighborhood’s best restaurants and even have a few drinks along the way. Chicken parmesan sliders from Pinstripes, sushi rolls from I-Thai Restaurant and Sushi Bar and cupcakes from Sprinkles are just a few of the many options available. Dishes come in either full size or sample size, depending on the restaurant, and are bought with tasting tickets that can be purchased online or on site. For $22, you can get four tasting tickets at the festival or five if you pre-purchase online. Other events include upscale eating competitions with four categories, like mini doughnuts from District Doughnut and macarons from Olivia’s Macaron.
K Street NW between Wisconsin Avenue and Thomas Jefferson Street. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets $22 to $44.
All Things Go Fall Classic – Oct. 6 to 8
If you’re not traveling for fall break the first weekend in October, check out the All Things Go Fall Classic at Union Market. The weekend-long outdoor festival features a wide selection of emerging artists. Friday will host rising electronic artists and groups like The Knocks and Galantis. Saturday will showcase hip-hop and rap, with artists like Young Thug and Vince Staples. The final day is centered around pop and alternative artists like Foster the People and Bleachers. The festival will also host several food vendors like &pizza, Buredo, Sweetgreen and more, in addition to the eateries inside Union Market, which will also be open throughout the weekend.
Union Market, 1309 5th St. NE. Tickets $69 for one day, $169 for all three days (prices set to increase as event draws closer).
Boo at the Zoo – Oct. 20 to 22
Halloween is one of the eeriest times of the year, but if you’re not a fan of being frightened then head over to the Smithsonian National Zoo for Boo at the Zoo. The event will have more than 40 treat stations for all ages, with giveaways ranging from candy and souvenirs to beers for you to pile into your commemorative trick-or-treat bag, which is provided with the purchase of a ticket. Various animal exhibits – like Great Cats Circle, Small Mammal House and Elephant Community Center – will be open during the event. Additionally, there will be activities throughout the park, including live music and pumpkin carving. Young or old, all are encouraged to grab their costume and head to the zoo for a roaring Halloween festival.
Smithsonian National Zoo. 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets $20 for members, $30 for non-members.
DMV Food Truck Association’s Curbside Cookoff – Oct. 27
Get a taste of the best food trucks in D.C. as they go head-to-head in a competition to be crowned the best. Admission to the festival is free, but the cookoff offers a special sampling ticket for $39 that provides you with four food tastings and one drink. Alternatively, you can purchase directly from the many trucks the day of the event. This year’s participating food trucks haven’t been announced yet, but last year’s winners were Korean Barbecue Taco Box and Chef on Wheels. Other activities at the cookoff include cornhole, a bouncy house and live music.
425 M St. SW. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Free.
