The DC Lineup for this weekend: Costumes and creativity
Oct. 26 to 28
Whether it’s a chance to learn about bats at the U.S. Botanic Garden, celebrate the Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos in Petworth or watch Frankenstein at the Library of Congress, a full slate of pre-Halloween events will occupy the District this weekend, Oct. 26 to 28. For those looking to take a break from the festivities, there are also activities unrelated to the holiday, such as the world’s largest drawing fest and a free outdoor opera.
The weather forecast predicts a high chance of rain on Friday and Saturday, a partly cloudy day on Sunday, and temperatures generally in the 50s throughout the weekend.
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Nature: The U.S. Botanic Garden will help visitors overcome any fear of bats by explaining the importance of these creatures during the free, family-friendly Bat Bonanza on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In keeping with the festive Halloween weekend, there will be bat-related activities throughout the conservatory, located at 100 Maryland Ave. SW. Registration is not required. Simply come as you are — or in costume!
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Dance: Joy of Motion’s Fear Fest will celebrate horror with an evening full of spooky events that aren’t limited to dance. “Ghost Town” will kick off the night with games, treats, crafts and dancing (including the moves to “Thriller” and “Monster Mash”) from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. “Dark Alley” — from 5:30 to 8 p.m. — will feature film screenings of Dracula and Night of the Living Dead. Alcohol and Halloween items will be available for purchase. For this first, all-ages portion of the night’s festivities, tickets cost $10. Then, from 8 to 9:30 p.m., attendees 13 and older can head into Atlas’ Sprenger Theatre for the main event “Ominous” — a “dansical of terror” choreographed by Derek Brown. Afterward, audience members can let go of their fears during an on-stage dance party. Tickets for the entire night cost $35.
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Music: Washington Concert Opera and Washington Parks and People will present the second annual Opera Outside on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the upper field of Meridian Hill/Malcolm X Park. Catch sneak peeks from the upcoming season of the Washington Concert Opera, plus other theatrical classics performed by soprano Maria Valdes, pianist David Hanlon and tenor Joshua Blue, who is a Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist with Washington National Opera. The free event is open to all, with chances to win complimentary tickets to Washington Concert Opera’s 2018-19 season.
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Film: The bicentennial of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein falls in 2018, and the Library of Congress is presenting a series of Frankenstein-themed activities in honor of the occasion. This weekend, catch a Frankenstein Story Time geared toward infants and toddlers from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. on Friday at the Young Readers Center on the ground floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 1st St. SE. Adult supervision is required. On Friday at 7 p.m., enjoy a film screening of 1958’s Frankenstein 1970 — starring Boris Karloff as a descendant of Baron Frankenstein, in need of money 27 years after his ancestor created the iconic monster — at the Pickford Theater on the third floor of the James Madison Memorial Building, 101 Independence Ave. SE. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Seating is first-come, first-served for both free events. (On Halloween, the Library of Congress will present a reading of the novel from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Main Reading Room, with the event streamed live on its Youtube channel.)
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Global Arts Event: The Big Draw Festival is the world’s largest drawing festival — and it’s happening this Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the National Gallery of Art’s East Building at 6th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. The free events include a Sketching Lab, classes with teaching artists, live models, music, films, and meditation to get visitors in the zone to express themselves on paper. The National Gallery of Art events are part of an internationally celebrated fest that brings together over 25 countries and 400,000 participants for activites in different parts of the world.
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Ward 4 Neighborhoods: The Petworth Arts Collaborative will host the second annual Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos Celebration in Petworth and Park View on Saturday. Two altar-making workshops will memorialize those who have died, with the events running simultaneously from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Petworth farmers market, 4148 9th St. NW, and at Wall of Books, 3323 Georgia Ave. NW. An evening portion from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. will let participants relax with blankets, a picnic and the animated film Coco shown outside at Powell Elementary, 1350 Upshur St. NW. Snacks will be provided, although attendees are welcome to bring other food and drink; those wanting to spread out on a blanket will have to bring one of their own.
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Pets: Spooky Pooch Howl-o-ween Celebration at Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens will welcome man’s best friend to join in the Halloween fun — costumes and all. Activities from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday include Yappy Hour (featuring a special Spooky Pooch cocktail and dog treats); opportunities to adopt from City Dogs Rescue; and a costume competition with awards such as “Most Glamorous,” “Best Owner-and-Dog-Combo Costume,” “Cutest,” “Funniest,” “Best Homemade” and “Scampi’s Choice” (best overall). Tickets cost $5 to $13, with free admission available for ages 5 and younger. Located at 4155 Linnean Ave. NW, Hillwood welcomes canines year-round, with members invited to walk their dogs through the gardens every Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Hillwood also has a pet cemetery that memorializes the pet dogs of the late Marjorie Merriweather Post, the longtime owner of the Hillwood estate and the museum’s founder. The “Scampi’s Choice” award is named after Post’s last dog, Scampi.
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Local Arts Event: Newseum Frights will repurpose the museum for a Halloween extravaganza on Friday from 8:30 to 11 p.m. Festivities will include live music from The 7 Deadlies, palm and tarot readings, makeup from Glamsquad, and caricature sketches from Capital Artworks. Tickets cost $50 for Newseum members and $60 for the public, but free admission is available by paying $75 to register as a new museum member. The party at the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, is only for those age 21 and over. Connect on social media with #NewseumFrights.
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Wildlife: Following last weekend’s kid-friendly Boo at the Zoo, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo will host an adults-only Halloween event, Night of the Living Zoo, on Friday from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Along with after-hours access to animal houses and exhibitions, partygoers will enjoy live entertainment, a costume contest and more. Tickets cost $40 for general admission or $90 for VIP admission, which includes complimentary food tastings and a drink ticket. A variety of fare will also be available for purchase from local food trucks.
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Food & Drink: Saturday’s 20th annual Nightmare on M Street bar crawl will take participants to locations all around Dupont Circle, including The Big Hunt, Blackfinn Ameripub, Decades, The Gryphon and Public Bar, to name a few. Lindy Promotions is again hosting the event, which offers $3 beers, $4 rail drinks and $5 shots, plus costume contests. The event is only for those 21 and older. Individual ticket prices are $20 — or $25 to bypass the long registration line. There are also $60 passes available for groups of four people.
[…] to this weekend’s lineup, the Día de los Muertos/Day of the Dead celebration, which started last weekend in Petworth, concludes on Friday evening with a student art show and grand procession to honor […]