The DC Lineup for this weekend: fundraisers, fall festivals and four-legged friends

Plenty of events over the next few days are associated with community fixtures in the District: The Washington Blade and the Davis Center dance school both commemorate their 50th anniversaries, and DC United kicks off the first round of Major League Soccer’s 2019 playoffs. There are also some new (or fairly new) events, including the very first Down in the Reeds music festival, the grand opening of the STABLE arts space, the second annual Brookland makers’ fest and the return of a popular themed bike ride. A black-tie gala for dogs, a house tour, a museum open house and fall festivals are other events on our list.

The weather should be sunny or partly cloudy on Friday and Saturday with morning rain on Sunday, according to the forecast. Temperatures should range from 41 to 66 degrees throughout the weekend, Oct. 18 to 20.

1. History: In honor of LGBTQ+ History Month and the 50th anniversary of the Washington Blade, the DC Public Library is hosting “Blade Research 101 — LGBTQ Resources in Special Collections.” This event welcomes the public to view archival collections and learn how to find and use LGBTQ+ materials in the library. The research workshop is from noon to 1 p.m. on Saturday at Washingtoniana, which houses local items from the DCPL’s Special Collections and is located at 4340 Connecticut Ave. NW. It is free to attend. Those interested can get a head start by looking through digital versions of the Washington Blade on Dig DC. … The publication is hosting its own celebration, too. The Blade Birthday Gala takes place on Friday from 6 to 10 p.m. at InterContinental Washington DC at The Wharf, 801 Wharf St. SW. Tickets and proceeds from an online auction benefit the Blade Foundation, so are partially tax-deductible; donations are also welcome.

2. Dance: Another 50th-anniversary celebration honors the Davis Center, which has offered dance and related arts instruction to DC residents of all ages since 1969. To commemorate this occasion, the DC Oral History Collaborative is screening a short documentary created by recent grant recipient Kamilah Thurmon. The film features voices from the District who highlight the impact the Davis Center and its beloved founder, Beatrice Davis-Williams, have had on Ward 4. The event takes place on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Petworth Neighborhood Library, 4200 Kansas Ave. NW. It is presented by Gen2Gen Media, the Davis Center, Humanities DC and the DC Public Library. Upcoming anniversary events will include a scholarship brunch on Nov. 2 at the University of the District of Columbia.

3. Music: The inaugural edition of a new music festival in the District, Down in the Reeds, takes place on Saturday in the amphitheater at the Parks at Walter Reed, 1010 Butternut St. NW. The event focuses on “the power of music to heal across culture and community,” according to a description on the event website. Washington-area musicians Dove Lady and Yasmin Williams are among the performers. Artists and groups such as the Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation, the Sanctuaries and Uasuf Gueye will host workshops. DC artisans, breweries, food trucks, family games and activities are also a part of the program, which runs from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. A $10 donation is suggested.

4. Causes: Raise money for the Humane Rescue Alliance and bond with your pet at the 32nd annual Bark Ball, a black-tie gala to which dogs are invited. The event includes a reception, a three-course vegan dinner and live auctions that include prizes such as tickets to see the Washington Nationals play in the World Series (plus an online silent auction featuring over 200 items). Dogs must be on a leash and have their most recent vaccinations. The celebration takes place Saturday from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Washington Hilton, 1919 Connecticut Ave. NW. Tickets cost $150 for ages 35 and younger, $300 for others and $3,500 for a table. A portion of each ticket is tax-deductible.

5. Seasonal Festivities: Taste of the Harvest is a fall festival at Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC) that includes a community dinner, cooking demos, garlic planting, s’mores and other free activities. The fest will also feature performances by the Howard Gospel Choir, The Washington Ballet, vocalist Tamika Love Jones, Dupont Brass and others. The 11th Street Bridge Park presents the program from 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturday at 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. … A morning bike race offers an energizing way to start the day before heading over to THEARC. The DC Department of Parks and Recreation’s third annual Cookie Classic begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday at the Rosedale Community Center, 1701 Gales St. NE. The 7- to 14-mile ride along the Anacostia River concludes with free warm cookies at the finish line.

6. Family Fun: The Smithsonian’s National Zoo hosts its annual Halloween celebration Boo at the Zoo this weekend, which opens up the zoo for kids to trick-or-treat at 40 treat stations. The festivities also include a dance party, karaoke, education stations and commemorative trick-or-treat bags for attendees. Visitors have after-hours access to animal houses and exhibits, and they can ride on the Speedwell Conservation Carousel for an extra charge. A quiet space in the Think Tank classroom is open especially for those with sensory processing disabilities to take a break from the excitement. Boo at the Zoo takes place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Although Saturday is sold out, tickets are still available for Friday and Sunday. The cost is $20 per day for Friends of the National Zoo members and $30 for non-members; those under age 2 do not need a ticket. The event is geared toward children ages 4 to 12, as well as their families. The 163-acre zoo is located at 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW.

7. Sports: Saturday’s Back to Black Watch Party at The Wharf celebrates the first round of the MLS 2019 playoffs as DC United takes on the Toronto Football Club. The fun starts with a pregame gathering with drink specials and special guests from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at The Brighton, 949 Wharf St. SW; then, a march from 5:45 to 6 p.m. will take attendees to Pearl Street at 760 Maine Ave. SW to watch the match from 6 to 8 p.m. Entry is free and open to all ages.

8. Art: A brand-new, 10,000-square-foot art space debuts in Eckington on Friday. STABLE’s Grand Opening Soiree includes a dance party from 8 to 11:30 p.m., with a chance to meet the 32 artists associated with STABLE. Tickets cost $30 and include one complimentary drink and a chance to win raffle prizes. A DC Slices food truck is one of the food options, along with cuisine by Big Bear Cafe and District Doughnut. A special VIP event takes place from 6 to 8 p.m., with tickets costing upward of $300 that include perks such as a listing on STABLE’s promotional materials. STABLE is located at 327 S St. NE, on the corner of Randolph Place and S Street NE near the Metropolitan Branch Trail. … Across town, long-established art institution The Kreeger Museum is hosting its annual open house on Saturday. The museum is built on 5.5 acres with scenic views of the District. It officially opened to the public in 1994, building on David and Carmen Kreeger’s personal collection of modern art that originated in 1959. The open house welcomes the public for a free celebration with performances by the Shannon Gunn Quartet, outdoor art activities for kids, a drum circle, and Rocklands BBQ and Captain Cookie food trucks. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in its sculpture garden and other outdoor spaces at the museum, located at 2401 Foxhall Road NW.

9. Architecture: The nonprofit organization Palisades Village is part of the “aging in place” movement, which provides a network of volunteers to help older adults live at home. This Saturday’s Palisades Village House Tour is a 1.8-mile trek that benefits Palisades Village and showcases homes in Berkley and the Palisades. The tour runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Advance tickets are available until 4 p.m. on Friday and cost $30. They can be purchased online or in person from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Palisades Village office, 5200 Cathedral Ave. NW. Entry the day of the event is $35. Tickets and guidebooks can be picked up after 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at the Lab School, 4759 Reservoir Road NW. Attendees are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes.

10. Art: Featuring over 40 local creatives, the Brookland Exchange DC Makers Market offers the community an opportunity to purchase directly from artists and makers. The second annual event takes place on Saturday; the first marketplace drew around 1,000 people. Arts, crafts, music, community and food are on the schedule from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Brookland Arts Walk, 716 Monroe St. NE. The exhibition Tiny Show! by Hen House DC is installed alongside the market this year. The American Poetry Museum, Handmade Habitat, Pearl Fine Teas and Typecase Industries are among the vendors.

This post has been updated to omit the Washington Area Bicyclist Association’s second annual Grand Harvest Ride, which was originally scheduled for Oct. 19 but has been postponed to Saturday, Oct. 26.