NOVA This Week (09/17): 2026 H Street Festival

Don't Miss This Week

The Elizabeth Alexander: Signals Across Vast Distances conversation lands at the MLK Library on Thursday, September 17 — a rare chance to hear one of the country's leading poets and essayists in conversation, free and open to the public.

H Street NE throws its annual block party on Saturday, September 19, with the 2026 H Street Festival — one of the city's signature neighborhood street festivals, packed with music, food, and vendors along the corridor.

Thursday, September 17

For families: The Venardos Circus brings an Alice in Wonderland-themed show to Loudoun, and Shirlington hosts a bilingual, music-filled morning with Cuentos Special Edition: Mr. Lilo, part of Welcoming Week.

Distinctly local: Loudoun leans into Bridgerton fandom with High Tea with the Highlands, complete with actual highland cows; DC marks 30 years of sports radio with Meet The Sports Junkies; and Alexandria's Oddball Cinema screens something strange and overlooked for those who like their movie nights a little off-center.

• More: Loudoun's Citizenship Preparation series offers practical, multi-session help for people getting ready for the naturalization process.

Friday, September 18

For families: DC's Braille Club gives blind and low-vision students a welcoming space of their own, and the library pairs films for Family Movie Double Feature, tied to Hispanic Heritage Month.

Books and public space: Tenley's library fundraiser, the Friends of Tenley Library Book Sale, runs alongside PARK(ing) Day 2026, the annual experiment in turning parking spots into public space, with a book-bike joining the fun.

Practical: Loudoun voters can get ahead of the line at Early Voting at the Office of Elections, and Fairfax gardeners can restock for fall at the Second Chance Seed Library.

Saturday, September 19

Neighborhood pride: Chevy Chase Day 2026 celebrates one DC neighborhood, while the Black Georgetown Community Study Day digs into another's history, focused on documenting and preserving Black Georgetown.

Outside: Learn the local canopy on a Quincy Park Guided Tree Walk, or bring headphones for Pages on the Path, an audiobook walking club marking Hispanic Heritage Month.

Screens: The DC Video Game Music Jam turns a library into an Anime-and-Vocaloid jam session, and the central library follows a screening of Stolen: Trust, Money, Movement with a discussion panel.

Sunday, September 20

On two wheels: See antique bicycles in action at Brambleton's Bike Into History, or bring the kids to the DC Family Bike Fest 2026.

Mark the equinox with a guided outing at the National Arboretum: Autumn Equinox Forest Bathing.

Arts and music: Loudoun's library hosts a Micro Art Gallery Reception: A Walk Around Senegal and the Novel Expressions Art Contest, while Ashburn trio Lulu's Fate plays Appalachian and gospel-inflected live music nearby.

Monday, September 21

Hands-on: Learn Japanese resist-dyeing in Creative Soul: Shibori Fabric Dyeing, or use a die-cut machine to sew a practical kitchen piece in Shop Class: Intermediate Sewing — Soup Bowl Cozy.

For families: Kids can launch marshmallows in a STEM challenge at Build a Marshmallow Catapult, and Family Lotería brings a festive game night for Hispanic Heritage Month.

For a grown-up evening: Books on Tap: "Once There Were Wolves" pairs a library book club with a pub setting, or head to Del Ray for a ticketed Five Course Wine Pairing Dinner.

Tuesday, September 22

Make something: Carve your own Custom Stamp Carving, try street-art technique at the Graffiti Art Experience, or get kids into a hands-on Homeschool Enrichment: Science session.

Alexandria brewery Aslin teams up with Amparo for a one-night collaboration, Eat the City.

Community: Memory Cafe: Classic Cars From the '50s and '60s pairs a social gathering with automotive nostalgia, and the Friends of the Cascades Library Book Sale is collecting donations for its next sale.

Wednesday, September 23

Film and books: Alexandria's library marks the country's 250th with its 250th Film Festival, and thousands of titles await at the Beatley Friends Book Sale.

Global culture: The Embassy of Sweden presents choreographer Hiroki Ichinose at Dance Place, and Colors of Latin America: Hispanic Folk Art offers a hands-on look at Latin American symbols and traditions.

Practical and crafty: Renters and condo residents can get real sustainability advice at My Apartment is Not Eco-Friendly But I Am, or hand-sew a plushie at September Sewing.

Thursday, September 24

Bilingual and family: Cuentos para niños / Stories for Children brings a bilingual storytime to Shirlington, and Latin GRAMMY winner Lucky Diaz visits Alexandria for Where the Paletero Man Goes with Lucky Diaz.

A night out: Brooklyn comic Charlie Flynn headlines a queer comedy night, Crackin' Up Presents: Charlie Flynn; Alexandria offers beginner-friendly Line Dancing 101 set to Oldies and Motown; and Make It Thursday: Make Your Own Disco Keychain lets you craft two colorful keychains.

The Memory Café at Central Library offers a welcoming, support-oriented gathering for people experiencing early-stage memory loss and their caregivers.

Friday, September 25

A Ward 8 market celebrates its first year with a Friday fish fry at the MBAM One-Year Anniversary Celebration.

Film and culture: The ABFF Pop Up Tour and its companion ABFF Pop-Up at Union Market bring the African diaspora film community to town, running through the weekend, and Union Market's Apapacho Taqueria hosts Mariachi Heartbreak (and Healing) for live music.

Make and hang out: Arlington's makerspace offers a Self-Guided Glowforge Laser Cutter Certification, and teens can unwind at Brick and Chill: Teen LEGO Hangout.

Saturday, September 26

History: Descenes and Discord: Punk History in Arlington and the DMV traces the region's early punk scene, and Old Town's African American History offers an in-person walking tour of Alexandria.

Games and family: No experience needed for Dungeons & Dragons at the Library, and Lotería/Bingo! marks Hispanic Heritage Month with a family-friendly game night.

Still going: The ABFF Pop-Up at Union Market and the Beatley Friends Book Sale both continue their weekend runs.

Sunday, September 27

Catch the last day of the ABFF Pop-Up at Union Market before it wraps.

Arlington naturalists lead a hands-on autumn craft, Fall Leaves Sun-prints and Nature Talk.

All Week

• Shirlington's Sam Beckett's Annual Celtic Festival brings Irish music, dance, food, and a makers market.
• Loudoun's D&D Club for Teens welcomes new and experienced players alike.
• See what's on view and learn how to pitch your own show at DC's Exhibit Tour & Infosession.
• Arlington's Federal Workers Support Group offers peer support for federal workers and others affected by layoffs.
• Shoot a movie for five bucks at the Five-Minute Horror Filmmaking Workshop.
• Georgetown's low-key Game Night and Mocktails pairs board games with nonalcoholic drinks.
• The Great Decisions Foreign Policy Discussion Group takes up Africa's growing geopolitical role and China's presence on the continent.
• Fairfax adults can pick up sketching seasonal foliage in Intro to Drawing: Fall Leaves.
• Kids can play the classic game at Arlington's Kids' Club: Play Loteria at Aurora Hills.
• Get nostalgic for the '90s at DC's Lanyard Crafts night.