The DC Lineup for this weekend: ghost tours, an all-star organist and a “Gala to Go”

History is predominant throughout The DC Lineup for Oct. 16 to 18, along with a few nods to Halloween.

Temperatures are expected to range from 41 to 65 degrees, according to the forecast. The weekend will begin with rain throughout the day on Friday, followed by sun on Saturday and some clouds on Sunday.

1. Nature: The annual Rock Creek Gala takes place this Saturday to raise funds for the Rock Creek Conservancy, a nonprofit that works to restore the park “as a natural oasis.” According to the event description, “this need is more urgent as park visitation has increased over the last few months.” The Picnic in the Park will be held at the 4,200-seat Carter Barron Amphitheater, 4850 Colorado Ave. NW. The organizers outline a detailed safety plan, which includes face masks and other measures, like assigning staggered entry times between 1 and 6 p.m. to control crowd size. The program features a gourmet picnic, cocktails, activities for the whole family, and live music by two local acts: DC-based singer-songwriter Ari Jacobson, who describes his style as “folk-pop with a twist of metal,” and Crush Funk Brass, a “homegrown” brass band made up of students from the University of the District of Columbia and Howard University. For those opting to stay home, there is a virtual auction as well as an option for participants to make it a “Gala to Go” with contactless, curbside pickup of picnic orders.

2. Community: N Street Village is hosting SHERO, a virtual family walk to raise money for people in the District who are experiencing homelessness. Organizers will hold a celebratory Zoom conference with stories from the group’s clients and supporters — as well as a SHERO Squad stretch — on Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Participants are also invited to reflect on creative prompts like “What does home mean to you?” and draw or color pictures to give to women living in an N Street Village shelter. Already, nearly 500 donors have raised more than $60,000 (exceeding the goal of $50,000), which will fund more than 50,000 meals for people N Street Village serves.

3. Politics: The DC Public Library is highlighting We’re Better Than This: My Fight for the Future of Our Democracy, the recently published memoir of civil rights activist and Baltimore Congressman Elijah Cummings, who died on Oct. 17, 2019. The book details Cummings’ final days as a Democratic leader as well as his formative years that prepared him for contemporary politics. During a special webinar, his widow Maya Rockeymoore Cummings will speak with CNN correspondent Suzanne Malveaux about memories of her late husband and how to continue his efforts. The talk takes place at noon on Saturday, the one-year anniversary of his death.

4. History: “The Ghosts of Washington, DC” is a scavenger hunt that highlights local landmarks and ghost stories to raise money for City Center NOVA, an affordable, inclusive community in Northern Virginia for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The event, expected to last 90 minutes to two hours, is hosted by the adventure company Let’s Roam, which specializes in scavenger hunts. It begins at 1567 Pennsylvania Ave. NW at varying times on Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. Tickets cost $50 per household. Roam From Home allows guests to join the hunt virtually; this option costs $19.99 per household.

5. Education: TEDxFoggy Bottom is presenting its next lineup of speakers virtually during “If Not Now,” a program that tackles questions related to current events and, the description notes, “the importance of acting in the Now.” Speakers include individuals working in the District like Samantha Snell, a collections steward at the Smithsonian Institution, and Dr. Yolandra Hancock, a health equity advocate who teaches at George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health and School of Medicine. Two 90-minute sessions take place Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m. There’s also a collection of videos of past TEDxFoggy Bottom talks. Tickets for the in-person conference typically cost $20; this year the price is $2, which includes access to the livestream as well as to the videos until Feb. 28.

6. Arts: Woodley Park Main Street and the Woodley Park Community Association are hosting the Marilyn Monroe Mural Restoration Dedication and Celebration to commemorate the revived artwork at 2602 Connecticut Ave. NW. The free program is on Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m., with limited attendance for the press portion of the program to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Those not physically attending the ceremony can still register to receive a gift certificate for a free drink at participating neighborhood restaurants. Limited-edition Marliyn Monroe face masks will be sold on site; proceeds go toward Woodley Park Main Street’s efforts to support the area’s small businesses. 

7. Music: Local organist Justus (Jay) Parrotta is featured in a virtual solo recital on Friday. Parrotta holds the highest level of certification offered by the American Guild of Organists. He will perform a variety of songs on St. Ann Catholic Church’s 1999 Létourneau organ, including some arrangements that he composed himself. The free concert will be broadcast from the Tenleytown church on Facebook Live from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Donations are encouraged to support the church’s music programs.

8. History: During the Congressional Cemetery’s “Soul Strolls: Twighlight Tours,” costumed docents will tell stories of those buried there. The hourlong tours take place from 6 to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, beginning every 15 minutes; the series will be repeated on Oct. 23 and 24 at the same times. Tickets cost $35 for adults and $15 for ages 12 and younger. Attendees are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes and to be prepared to walk on uneven terrain throughout the cemetery, located at 1801 E St. SE.

9. History: The DC-based organization American Battlefield Trust preserves war history by maintaining battlefields. This Saturday, the group is hosting “Virtually Storm the Redoubts at Yorktown!,” a special online event that documents a key attack in Virginia during the American Revolution. The lesson will share details such as how soldiers cooked at camp and highlight the Trust’s free educational resources. The event takes place on Facebook from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

10. History: Haunted cherry blossom trees come up in Friday’s discussion Japanese Ghost Stories, produced by the DC-based organization Profs & Pints. Sara Cleto and Brittany Warman, co-founders of the Carterhaugh School of Folklore and the Fantastic, will analyze ghost stories from Japan’s folklore, including a tale that relates to the District’s iconic cherry blossom trees. The life of famed storyteller Koizumi Yakumo will also be discussed. The event is from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets cost $12, and will include access to a recorded version of the talk afterward.