NOVA This Week (09/10): 9/11: 25 Years Later

One Saturday night this week, the same free arts festival will be running simultaneously in Anacostia, Georgetown, Chevy Chase, and Woodridge — Art All Night doesn't pick a neighborhood so much as annex the whole map of quadrants for a few hours, with a block party at MLK Library thrown in for good measure.

Don't Miss This Week

On Thursday, Fairfax marks a quarter-century with 9/11: 25 Years Later, a lecture at the aviation museum built around the machines and stories of that day.

Arlington holds its own remembrance Friday with the 9/11 Ceremony 25th Anniversary, a solemn civic gathering worth carving out time for.

Thursday, September 10

Arts and music: DC's library system opens Chamber of Wonders: Concopia, a new cultural celebration, the same night Chayanne brings a career's worth of Latin pop to a local arena for Chayanne: Bailemos Otra Vez.

Family outings: Loudoun goes all in on whimsy with High Tea with the Highlands, a Bridgerton-styled tea party that comes with actual Highland cows, while younger kids get their own outing at Storytime at the Airport.

Books and community: Arlington's library pairs a pointed discussion of Octavia Butler's Kindred at Banned Books Club with a welcoming, Spanish-language Bienvenido a la Biblioteca Central tour for new patrons.

Friday, September 11

Art All Night warms up: The citywide festival gets an early start with Art All Night Anacostia — "Good Trouble. Louder!", a matching Good Trouble, Louder! Brunch, and a separate opening at Art All Night @ Woodridge Library.

Talks worth your afternoon: DC Public Library hosts political scientist Francis Fukuyama for An Afternoon with Francis Fukuyama, and marks a broadcasting milestone with Celebrating 50 Years of WHUR's The Quiet Storm.

For something stranger, a former intelligence officer leads the Embassy Row Spy Tour with an ex-CIA Officer, walking the mansions where actual espionage happened.

Saturday, September 12

Art All Night takes over the city: The main event, Art All Night: District of Wonder, anchors a night that also lights up Art All Night: Chevy Chase and Art All Night: Georgetown, plus a parallel bash at MLK Library's 6th Annual Block Party, which brings live music and a silent disco to the plaza.

Outdoors and film: Cyclists take the streets for the DC Bike Ride, while Bellevue Saturday Cinema: Hispanic Heritage Month screens a film to open the month at the library.

Sunday, September 13

Food and markets: Taste of Peru DC brings a full spread of Peruvian food and culture, and the RFK Farmers & Flea Market keeps its weekly mix of produce and finds going.

Music: Loudoun hosts Live Music: seysew, while the Smithsonian offers something more classical with its Masterworks of Five Centuries Series.

Kids and crafts: DC Library runs a Sneaker Scavenger Hunt, and Del Ray hosts a hands-on Mirror & Clay Mosaic Art workshop.

Monday, September 14

Arts and music: Arlington invites newcomers to Get to Know Community Theater!, the Smithsonian traces American entertainment history in Smithsonian Chorus: Legends of Song, and the Arlington Songwriters Group meets for its regular swap.

Family and games: Kids can dig into Doll Days: Hawaiian History & Culture, while adults have their pick of the Cozy Gamer Meetup or a seasonal DIY Adults: Decoupage a Pumpkin craft night.

Tuesday, September 15

For book lovers: Loudoun's Adult Book Club: Around the World runs its passport-and-prizes format, and author Priya Parker visits to talk about gathering well.

Arts: Arlington hosts an Art Supply Swap for anyone looking to trade materials, and Loudoun's Artist-in-Residence Brett Wilson opens his studio to visitors.

Outdoors, free Latin Dance Lessons at Glencarlyn keep the park's dance series going. On the civic side, Loudoun's Board of Supervisors Business Meeting is open to residents who want to follow county governance directly.

Wednesday, September 16

Books and learning: Arlington's Columbia Pike branch discusses Andrew Sean Greer's novel at Reading on the Pike: "Less", and Alexandria offers a practical Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) class for anyone still getting oriented.

Family and gardens: Alexandria's kids can join the Creatives's Club: Celebrating Latinx Creatives, and Arlington pairs a casual Board Game Evening at Aurora Hills with Garden Talks: Urban Agriculture for anyone curious about growing food in the city.

Thursday, September 17

Books and talks: Union Market hosts a Politics and Prose book signing with benny blanco, and Alexandria streams a virtual conversation with TEDx speaker Yasmine Cheyenne in The Comeback Conversation. For something more offbeat, Alexandria Oddball Cinema screens the eclectic, lesser-seen stuff.

Family and civic: Kids can play Loteria at Aurora Hills for Hispanic Heritage Month, Loudoun's Board of Zoning Appeals Public Hearing takes up land-use decisions that affect residents directly, and Arlington's Federal Workers Support Group continues meeting for those navigating workforce changes.

Friday, September 18

Ethiopian New Year gets its own celebration at the Evening at the Embassy of Ethiopia, held on the embassy's own grounds.

Congressional Black Caucus Week brings CBC Leaders of the South: The Black & Brown Affair, a networking event for the week's visitors, while Loudoun runs a free virtual panel, What Job Seekers Should Know in the Age of AI.

Saturday, September 19

Cultural celebrations: Union Market marks El Salvador's Independence Day, and Shirlington throws its Sam Beckett's Annual Celtic Festival. Union Market also hosts Mañana Forever: A Karol G Dance Party for anyone who wants to dance out the weekend.

Family: Arlington's Glencarlyn branch runs a Hispanic Heritage: Tin Art Craft session, Aurora Hills brings in a family musician for Mr. Lilo at Aurora Hills, and Alexandria hosts Public Safety Story Time! with local first responders.

Sunday, September 20

Anacostia hosts the DC Family Bike Fest 2026, a family-friendly ride and festival for all ages.

Latin social scene: Take your pick between a Sunday Disco Sunset rooftop salsa and bachata social or The Latin Coffee Party for something lower-key.

Quieter types can head to The Next Chapter: A Silent Reading Party at The Satire, where the only requirement is a book.

All Week

• As part of Art All Night, the Gem Fatales: Bringing Back Studio 54 pop-up runs its own disco-themed night.
• Family Storytime with Paws to Read lets kids practice reading aloud to therapy dogs.
• Improv for All Class is a free, hands-on workshop with a local theater group.
• Practice your French at the In-Person French Conversation Group, built around songs and stories.
• Line Dancing 101 teaches the steps to a set of Motown classics.
• Job hunters can drop in on the Job Seekers Clinic for direct help.