Washington, D.C. is a city that is flooded with businessmen and women in suits. A city that oozes culture from its Ethiopian restaurants to its rows of Embassies. And when you stand on those Lincoln Memorial steps, staring out at the vision of the Washington Monument illuminating off of the reflecting pool, you cannot help but feel proud to be in the nation’s capital. Not only is D.C. a place of power, government and culture, it is also a city full of life. The District is filled with events every month that attract people from all over. Many of these events are free or fairly cheap. If you are looking for a way to explore the city or need something else to do on your weekends besides watching Netflix in bed, here is a list of fun events happening around the D.C. area:
1. Yoga in the Untied States Botanic Gardens
There is no better way to destress and find your zen then among the beautiful flowers and plants at the United States Botanic Gardens. These yoga classes are on Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and are usually held outside on the grass.If it’s raining then the classes are held inside the gardens. The yoga classes are sponsored by With Love DC—an organization which aims at spreading love and joy around the city. The classes are happening every Saturday until Oct. 24, so grab your mat and favorite yoga pants and make your way to the gardens!
The Eastern Market is full of delicious tasting foods and artisan goods. If you’re looking to try some new foods or are in need of some beautiful jewelry and clothing, then stop by the Eastern Market on Tuesdays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. or Sunday’s 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you go on Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., there is a fresh farmer’s market filled with yummy fruits and vegetables!
The World We Want Wall was created by Amber Rae in Brooklyn, New York. She was inspired to create a space where people could share their struggles and aspirations with others after talking to strangers on the street about their biggest fears, hopes and dreams. The World We Want Wall has a “Humans of New York” feel, and it is a way for people to come together and lean on one another for support. The D.C. Wall is located on 825 11th Street, NE and will be up Friday, Sept. 18!
Taste of D.C. is a food festival with foods from over 50 restaurants along with multiple different beers and wines to taste. Tickets are $20, which is a little pricey especially for us college students; however, the food from each restaurant is under $3 to taste and there is live entertainment! The festival is Saturday and Sunday Oct. 10 and 11 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 7th St NW & Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Stay tuned for more information from Taste of DC and Her Campus AU!
5. 20th Annual Egyptian Festival
Do you love Egyptian culture? Has it been your dream to see the mighty Egyptian pyramids? Or maybe you have a love for baklava and chicken kabobs. If you do, come to the Egyptian festival on Sept. 19 and 20 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church. In addition to food and celebrating Egyptian culture, there will also be jewelry, crafts and art for sale!
If you like FREE food, the DC Veg Fest is the place for you. The festival celebrates the environmental and health benefits of eating plant-based food. The festival was founded by the Vegetarian Society of D.C. over 18 years ago and there is free food from more than 130 vendors. In addition, there will be live music, cooking demonstrations and guest speakers including author Dr. Aysha Akhtar, NFL player David Carter and many more. The festival is Saturday, Oct. 3 and is located a block away from the Navy Yard Metro Station. It’s from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., but I would recommend showing up as early as possible because the first 1,000 people get a free tote bag with samples and coupons!