As two cultural holidays approach, the D.C. area comes alive with events and celebrations that reflect the rich cultural tapestry of its diverse communities.
Marked by beautiful displays of lights, delicious food, traditional music and lively dances, Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a time for gathering, reflection and joy.
Whether you’re looking to immerse yourself in lamp-lighting ceremonies, live performances or restaurant deals, the D.C. region offers a wide array of events to bring the spirit of Diwali to life. Here’s a roundup of celebrations around the city and beyond.
Check back every Thursday for a roundup of Things to do in the D.C. area.
The Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs is celebrating Diwali on Wednesday, Oct. 30 with an evening of vibrant cultural performances, delicious cuisine and the traditional lamp-lighting ceremony led by a priest. This event is free and open to the public.
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art is hosting a Diwali Festival on Friday, Nov. 1 with an evening event that includes crafts, games, local food vendors and live performances. The event is free, but registration is recommended.
Atlas Brew Works in Ivy City is showcasing some of the D.C. area’s best bands fronted by South Asian artists at the third annual Diwali Rock Concert on Friday, Oct. 25. The event, which costs $12 per person, features Laal Taal, NAYAN, the Prabir Trio and Sravani.
Get cooking at Capitol Hill’s historic Hill Center with this workshop on how to cook easy vegetarian Indian cooking in preparation for a Diwali dinner party. Varu Chilakamarri, the host of the class, is a second-generation Indian American who has contributed to the Hill Rag, The Huffington Post and Bon Appétit. In this class, learn how to make dishes like a puff pastry chaat, okra curry, paneer makhani and the sweet Indian pudding, known as kesari. The event on Nov. 1 costs $79 to participate.
River Hill High School in Clarksville, Maryland, is also hosting a Diwali celebration on Saturday, Nov. 2 with dancing, live music, a buffet dinner and a Miss Diwali Pageant. Tickets cost approximately $25 per adult, $10 for children between the ages of 3 and 10 and entry is free for those under the age of 3.
Restaurants running Diwali deals
For Diwali-celebratory restaurant deals happening in the D.C. area, head to the following businesses. Most of these dinner specials run from Friday, Nov. 1 through Sunday, Nov. 3, but be sure to call ahead to double-check which days they will be available as they may be limited.
The neighborhood restaurant, Daru, is celebrating the holiday with two specials. The first is goat/mutton paku, a rich, slow-cooked curry featuring tender goat meat infused with bold South Indian spices, served with sel roti, a traditional Nepali ring-shaped, deep-fried bread. The second is achar potato salad with sel roti, which features boiled potatoes tossed in a dressing made with mustard seeds, fenugreek, turmeric, Thai green chili and Sichuan peppercorn.
In an interview with WTOP, Daru cofounder Dante Datta described Diwali as a “cultural event,” saying, “It brings everybody together in a real way.” With this, he said his “Indian-ish” restaurant and its specials are able to accommodate a wide variety of dietary preferences.
For Knightsbridge Restaurant Group’s upscale dining restaurants — Rasika, The Bombay Club and Bindaas — they will each offer tempting specials in honor of Diwali, such as Rasika Penn Quarter’s four-course, prix fixe menu, which includes laal maas, which are lamb chops with caramelized onion and Kashmiri chili, as well as chicken pista korma with cashew nut, pistachio and green cardamom. Rasika West End features a five-course, prix fixe menu with specials like the kadipatta sea bass. Bindaas in Foggy Bottom has a variety of specials to anticipate, including paneer musallam with cottage cheese, desiccated coconut, pistachio and green cardamom. The Bombay Club is preparing two four-course, prix fixe menus for the occasion, one of which is vegetarian.
Día de los Muertos events in DC
Another cultural holiday occurring soon is Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. The holiday is widely celebrated in Mexico and is often paired with music and food as well as altars, or ofrendas, where they place foods, sweets and pictures of loved ones who have passed.
For those seeking events that will honor this holiday, here are a few opportunities to consider.
On the National Mall, the Día de los Muertos “Unidos” benefit festival on Sunday, Nov. 2 is bound to bring a flurry of cross-cultural excitement to the District. This event features a massive altar, which will provide a sacred space to the public to leave messages, light candles and lay pictures or belongings to their loved ones who have passed. With over 8,000 expected to attend the event, there are other activities planned as well, including live musical performances, live visual art, a mechanical bull, face painting, workshops and movie screenings.
The Smithsonian American Art Museum is celebrating Día de los Muertos with a celebration on Saturday, Oct. 26 with traditional performances, live music and hands-on craft activities. The festivities will occur on the third floor in the Luce Foundation Center. The event is free.
On Friday, Nov. 1, Bryant Street Market in Northeast D.C. is hosting the second annual Block Party in partnership with Taqueria Habanero and Alegria. This fiesta will celebrate Mexican culture with cuisine, face painting, traditional altar displays and lively tunes. General admission is free.
To commemorate one’s ancestors, head to the National Museum of the American Indian for two days’ worth of events. On Saturday, Oct. 26 and Sunday, Oct. 27, the museum plans both virtual and in-person events, including dance performances and crafts. There will also be a special conversation with museum folklorist Cynthia Vidaurri on the Xoloitzcuintli, commonly referred to as the Mexican hairless dog, and its impact on popular culture. Those attending in-person events are encouraged to leave photos and mementos of their loved ones on the museum’s ofrenda.
The La Cosecha food hall in Northeast D.C. is hosting a free Día de los Muertos event, planned alongside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino. This event on Friday, Nov. 1 celebrates the holiday with lively music and dance performances, cooking demonstrations, flower arrangement workshops and an ofrenda exhibit to honor those who have passed. There is also a “Muertos Parade” planned with participants wearing masks, costumes and face paint.
The Wharf on Saturday, Nov. 2 is hosting a Día de los Muertos event that is sure to liven up the neighborhood. Along with a beer garden, the family-friendly event includes live music, cultural performances, face painting, sugar skull decorating and a community lantern procession. The event is planned in partnership with the Mexican Cultural Institute.
On Saturday, Nov. 2, the public can also go to the National Portrait Gallery for a free, in-person event that promises live music, dance performances, workshops and a variety of activities for all ages.
Here’s what else is happening in the D.C. area:
DC
Boos & Brews
The National Building Museum is celebrating the spooky season with an evening, adults-only event that allows guests to sip on craft brews from local breweries, get mystical insights with tarot readings and dance to a live DJ. Be sure to also wear your Halloween best as there will be a costume contest. The event on Thursday, Oct. 24 costs $10 for students and $20 for general admission.
D.C. Palestinian Film and Arts Festival
For three days — on Oct. 24, 26 and 27 — the 11th annual D.C. Palestinian Film and Arts Festival is showcasing award-winning films, workshops and a book launch. Venues and ticket prices vary.
Fantom Comics’ Halloween Party
The annual Halloween party at Fantom Comics is back on Friday, Oct. 25 with a costume contest, temporary tattoos, a live DJ set, karaoke and free boba. Tickets are $15.
Zinefest
Zine-makers, artists and writers are coming together on Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library to sell their self-published works. The event — a sign that D.C.’s zine culture continues to thrive — is free and open to the public.
Home Rule Music Festival
This family-friendly, outdoor music festival at Alethia Tanner Park is expected to host food and drink vendors, mural painting, a record fair and live musical jazz and go-go performances. Set for Saturday, Oct. 26, general admission is free, but a limited number of VIP tickets are also available.
17th Street High Heel Race
Throw your flats away, and be prepared to dash in style. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs are presenting the 37th annual High Heel Race on Tuesday, Oct. 29. During this event, costumed spectators cheer on drag queens, drag kings and community members as they race down 17th Street NW. Admission is free.
Maryland
“Nosferatu” with Radiohead: A Silents Synced Film
Silents Synced is a series that involves pairing classic silent movies with rock music. On Friday, Oct. 25, the film “Nosferatu” is being synced to Radiohead’s “KID A” and “Amnesiac” at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, Maryland. Tickets cost $15.
Fall Block Party
The Station at Riverdale Park and the Town of Riverdale Park are hosting this autumnal, all-day event with live music, local artists, family-friendly activities and food and beverage vendors. For dog owners, be sure to prep your pet because there will also be a Halloween costume contest for canines. The event on Saturday, Oct. 26 is at The Station at Riverdale Park in Riverdale, Maryland.
Harbor Halloween
Head to National Harbor, Maryland, for a full day’s worth of spooktacular events on Sunday, Oct. 27. The schedule includes an outdoor screening of “Hocus Pocus,” a pumpkin carving contest, a pet costume pawrade and trick-or-treating at participating businesses.
Virginia
HELLAWINE
East Coast wine lovers are joining Lightwell Survey Wines for their annual HELLAWINE event in Waynesboro, Virginia. The event on Saturday, Oct. 26 includes public pours of the winery’s newest wines, local food vendors, exclusive tasting room merch, a Q&A with the Lightwell winemaking team and dancing all night long. The event costs $35 per person.
Halloween at the Boo-ro!
The Boro in Tysons, Virginia, is hosting a pet-friendly Halloween bash with an interactive magic show, crafts, giveaways, tarot card and palm readings as well as a kid-friendly dance party. Admission is free. The event is on Saturday, Oct. 26.
Halstead Square Food, Wine & Art Festival
In Falls Church, Virginia, the Halstead Square Food, Wine & Art Festival is a must-attend event for local food, wine and art enthusiasts. Along with interactive workshops, live performances and a kid-friendly zone, the event is also expected to support the Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation. The event on Saturday, Oct. 26 costs $15 for those indulging in wine tastings and free for those not participating in the wine-tasting portion of the event.
Halloween Candy and Cider Pairing
Which ciders pair best with your candy haul this year? Find out at the Loudoun Cider House in Leesburg, Virginia, on Sunday, Oct. 27. Tickets cost $20.
Del Ray Halloween Parade
This free, annual tradition in Alexandria, Virginia’s Del Ray neighborhood allows families and pets strollers to march and show off their Halloween costumes. The parade ends with live music and an award presentation at the Mount Vernon Rec Center field.
Have an event you’d like featured in WTOP’s Things to do in the D.C. area weekly guide? Let us know!
WTOP’s Valerie Bonk contributed to this report.
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