The seventh annual Adams Morgan PorchFest takes place Saturday at 17 plazas, patios and porches throughout the Northwest neighborhood. Latin, jazz, folk, rock, soul and classical are all on the schedule. (Photo by Rick Reinhard courtesy of Adams Morgan Partnership Business Improvement District)

The DC Lineup for this weekend: Ballads, books and blessings

By Jennifer Anne Mitchell On Oct 4, 2019 Last updated Oct 14, 2019

The next few days in the District are full of ways to celebrate nature and the environment, whether it’s identifying trees, taking part in sustainable transportation activities or honoring animals. A recreational 10K run and 2-mile walk as well as an autumn marketplace are other seasonal events on our list for this weekend, Oct. 4 to 6. Programs featuring books, music, art, food and drinks are other options.

Sun is in the forecast for Friday, with clouds on Saturday and Sunday. Temperatures should range from 49 to 75 degrees.

The East of the River Book Festival will bring literary fans to THEARC on Saturday. (Photo by Jeff Hebron)

1. Literature: The sixth annual East of the River Book Festival “highlights the efforts of indie writers, small publishers and independent book shops,” according to the event description. The free, all-ages event with an emphasis on culturally diverse books includes panels, workshops, face painting, live poetry, arts and crafts. Attendees are invited to dress in a costume depicting their favorite author or literary character. It takes place on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Town Hall Education Arts Recreation Campus (THEARC) West Black Box Theater, 1801 Mississippi Ave. SE. Registration is open online.

2. Ward 1 Neighborhoods: Saturday’s Adams Morgan PorchFest brings 17 porches, patios and plazas to life by transforming them into performance spaces for local musicians. Sounds from various genres — Latin, jazz, folk, rock, soul and classical — are on the schedule, featuring bands like DC Envoys, Foggy Bottom Whompstompers, Near Northeast and ADMOJO. The seventh annual festival runs from 2 to 6 p.m., centered around 18th Street and Columbia Road NW. A detailed schedule and map are available on the event website. The performances are free to attend.

3. Music: DC native Akua Allrich will perform at the 11th annual Nina Simone/Miriam Makeba Tribute in the Lang Theatre at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. Allrich is a vocalist and Howard University graduate whose sound blends blues, soul, jazz and pan-African music. On Sunday at 7 p.m., she’ll sing classics by Simone and Makeba. Tickets cost $25 in advance, $30 at the door and $20 for students, seniors and military personnel.

4. Nature: Step on freshly fallen leaves during a Healthy Waters Walk to the Anacostia River. Learn about local history, invasive species and waterways — plus how to identify trees — during this 3-mile trek (1.5 miles to the river and 1.5 miles back) hosted by Washington Parks & People. Saturday’s walk will begin at Riverside Healthy Living Center, 601 Division Ave. NE, at 10 a.m. and conclude at 1 p.m. Attendees of all ages are welcome to participate. A van will be on site to transport anyone who does not wish to complete the entire trip.

The District’s first Open Streets event takes place Saturday on Georgia Avenue NW from Barry Place to Missouri Avenue. (Photo courtesy of District Department of Transportation)

5. Recreation: Mayor Muriel Bowser and the District Department of Transportation host the city’s inaugural Open Streets event on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. along nearly three miles of Georgia Avenue NW from Barry Place to Missouri Avenue. The street will be closed to vehicular traffic but open to people to walk or bike “along and in the roadway,” with a goal of promoting a healthy lifestyle and highlighting sustainable transportation options, according to an event website. The schedule on four stages features dance lessons, fitness programs, and performances by Afro-Colombian band La Marvela and go-go band TOB. Dozens of planned activities clustered at six sites include an adult rock-climbing wall, an obstacle course, a skateboard ramp, a virtual reality bike ride, a fire truck slide and more.

6. Food & Drink: The first-ever Unite the District Fest is a two-day event that showcases local culture with food and drink from over 20 restaurants and 10 breweries as well as live music from DC-area artists. Art installations and cooking competitions are also part of the program. The festival begins on Friday with a sold-out 21-and-over event from 7 to 8:30 p.m. On Saturday, there is an all-ages program from 2 to 4 p.m. Tickets for youth ages 3 to 17 cost $20 (including food and activities); general admission is $35 (including food, drinks and activities). Reserve your spot online. Presented by D.C. United, the fest takes place at Audi Field, 100 Potomac Ave. SW.

7. Spiritual: St. Francis of Assisi is known for his affection for animals and the environment. In this spirit, the Washington National Cathedral commemorates the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi with its annual Blessing of the Animals, in which pets are given a formal blessing. This year’s event takes place on Sunday from 2 to 2:30 p.m. at Walker Court in front of the Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. If you or your pet just can’t wait, there’s also a Blessing of Animals on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon in the gardens at the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America, 1400 Quincy St. NE.

8. Recreation: The 14th annual Boo! Run for Life 10K Run and 2-Mile Tidal Basin Walk on Sunday morning takes participants on a scenic route along the Potomac River. The fees are $42 for the race and $36 for the walk. Participants must register online by Saturday before noon and arrive at the site 45 minutes early to pick up their bib and packet. Alternately, bibs and packets may be collected at Pacers Running Store in Arlington at 3100 Clarendon Blvd. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. The run begins at 8 a.m. followed by the walk at 8:05 a.m. An awards ceremony takes place at 9:45 a.m. Proceeds benefit the Dean R. O’Neill fund for kidney cancer research at the National Institutes of Health.

The Washington Revels Heritage Voices performs Civil War-era ballads on Saturday at The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum. (Photo courtesy of Washington Revels)

9. History: The Washington Revels Heritage Voices, a group that preserves American music, offers a chance Saturday afternoon to hear and sing Civil War-era ballads written by professional and amateur songwriters on both sides of the devastating conflict. The musical performance and singalong starts at 2 p.m. at The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum, 701 21st St. NW. Registration is required online, and tickets cost $10 for museum members and $15 for the general public. Saturday’s musical event includes a tour of the ongoing exhibit Songs of the Civil War, which continues through Dec. 22 and features original sheet music from the Civil War era that provided “a soundtrack to a nation divided by war.”

10. Ward 2 Neighborhoods: The Georgetown Fall Market honors autumn with seasonal treats — including candy apples and pumpkin cheesecake — and special deals at over 30 merchants throughout the Book Hill neighborhood. The free, two-day marketplace is open on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. along Wisconsin Avenue NW between O Street to Reservoir Road. Saturday’s offerings include face painting from noon to 2 p.m. and live jazz from Laissez Faire from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.