NOVA This Week (10/01): Nü Androids x Union Market Block Party Feat. Marc Rebillet

The W&OD Trail runs quiet and paved for 45 miles from Shirlington out past Purcellville, but this week two separate library systems are setting up shop right on the asphalt — proof that around here, even a bike path counts as fair game for civic programming.

Don't Miss This Week

Union Market throws open its plaza for the Nü Androids x Union Market Block Party on Saturday, October 3, headlined by the unpredictable, crowd-hypnotizing Marc Rebillet — a free-flowing, loop-pedal spectacle in one of DC's most reliably lively districts.

That same Saturday, Spoke 'n Word: W&OD Trail Takeover turns the trail itself into a pop-up library, a rare multi-county collaboration that brings books, activities, and staff straight to the path where Arlington, Falls Church, and Loudoun riders already cross paths daily.

Thursday, October 1

Seasonal hunts: Kids can chase clues at the BOOtanical Halloween Scavenger Hunt or the American Innovations Scavenger Hunt, both Fairfax favorites with a prize at the finish.

Bilingual storytime: Little ones get two chances at language immersion, with Bilingual Preschool Storytime in Fairfax and Bilingual Story Time with Dr. Silvi in Alexandria.

• More: The Annandale Farmers Market keeps its weekly produce and community stalls running, and DC Library hosts Swann Queen, a community and cultural gathering.

Friday, October 2

Embassy access: The Son Cubano Subterráneo Concert at the Embassy of Cuba is a rare chance to hear live music inside an actual embassy — the kind of evening that doesn't come around often.

Page and screen: Fairfax library pairs a classic with caffeine at Coffee & a Classic: Rear Window, while readers can launch into a new tradition at the Genres Book Club (Romantasy Edition).

For families: Swap outgrown costumes at the Family Costume Exchange, or catch StoryWalk®: Squawk of Spanish, a bilingual outdoor story trail.

• More: Hill Center pours pints at its King Bullfrog Hoppy Hour.

Saturday, October 3

Eat around: Get free jollof and suya at the Naija Jollof & Suya Day Party, or shuck your way through Vola's Fall Oysterfest.

Sound and stage: The Flame Calls the Moth blends music, poetry, and qawwali for a genuinely distinctive night out, while Battle of the Real HU brings campus culture to the Events DC stage.

For families: Meet a live hive at The Honeybee: Live Colony Demonstration, or get crafty at Capitol View Library's Spooky Houses art contest.

Sunday, October 4

Filipino American History Month: Umpukan brings local makers, food, and music together, and Liwanag celebrates Filipino literature at the library.

Eat and drink: Shaw's Dacha Beer Garden throws Schwanzfest, a themed Oktoberfest for the LGBTQ+ community, while Hill Center goes finer with Master Chef: Mastering Handmade Chocolate Truffles with pastry chef Rochelle Cooper.

Hill Center's American Roots Concert Series features Chloe Kimes this round.

• More: Paws to Read: Storytime with Therapy Dogs pairs kids with gentle reading companions.

Monday, October 5

Civic talks: Arlington asks Why is Housing so Expensive?, and DC Library takes on digital autonomy with Breaking up with Big Tech.

For book lovers: Alexandria's Diversity Book Club hosts author Vinod Busjeet in person.

On screen: DC Library's Activist Night: Watch N Learn pairs a documentary with discussion, and Loudoun's B-Movie Club screens the cult classic Ghoulies.

Tuesday, October 6

Visual arts: Loudoun Library hosts A Photographic Expedition to Antarctica alongside a live demo from Artist-in-Residence Brett Wilson.

For book lovers: Alexandria's Banned Books Trivia Night turns a timely topic into a social evening.

Kids and family: Halloween-a-palooza brings treats and crafts, and National Park Road Trip sends kids exploring US landmarks from the library.

• More: Makerspace: Design a Mug puts library tech to creative use.

Wednesday, October 7

Hobbyist meetups: Grown-up builders gather for Adult LEGO® Club, and stitchers convene at Arlington Quilters.

Under the stars, the Sweden on the Roof Film Series keeps its outdoor cinema going.

Community and practical: Alexandria hosts Amplifying Teen Voices with The CHAT, and Arlington's Master Gardeners Plant Clinic offers free expert advice for struggling gardens.

• More: Alexandria runs STEM Explorers: Game Console for hands-on kids.

Thursday, October 8

Game night: Alexandria's Dungeons and Dragons: Adult Group and Arlington's Ready, Set, Game!: Nintendo Switch 2 cover both ends of the gaming spectrum.

Crafters and readers: Cherrydale hosts Knitting and Yarn Crafters, and the Duncan Literary Society Book Discussion meets at a local independent bookstore.

• More: Shirlington's Cuentos para niños / Stories for Children offers bilingual storytime, and Alexandria's Line Dancing 201 keeps the intermediate steps moving.

Friday, October 9

Dance and movement: The Latinx Movement Festival DC and the FIERCE FUSION FEST both put movement and workshops center stage.

Nightlife: The Fifth Night DC sets up a candlelit speakeasy listening room at SIXTY DC, while Una Noche en Peru at Inca Social brings a Peruvian night out.

For a quieter option, Silent Read in the Garden offers a low-key outdoor reading hour.

• More: Alexandria's Low Vision Voting Resource Group covers accessible voting information.

Saturday, October 10

African diaspora culture: Lace up for the Grand African Run 2026, a fitness event with a charitable bent, then keep the energy going at c. Carnival Saturdays @ Strand DC for African and Caribbean sound.

Arlington's Digital Discovery Fair is a large-scale, all-ages dive into digital literacy and emerging tech.

Kids and family: Middle schoolers can dig into Dungeons & Dragons: The Wild Beyond the Witchlight, and Central Library offers Sensory Storytime for sensory-sensitive kids.

• More: One Year in Bloom marks a local floral studio's anniversary with a pop-up.

Sunday, October 11

Close the week out at Central Library's Board Game Afternoon, or browse handmade goods at the Pop-Up Gallery Monthly Creative Market.

All Week

• Loudoun's Bilingual Storytime / Hora de cuentos bilingüe keeps language learning playful for the youngest readers.
• Fairfax's Black Cat Scavenger Hunt adds another seasonal hunt for kids.
• Union Market's DC Mural Tour walks visitors through the neighborhood's street art.
• Loudoun's Family Storytime: Sensory Sensitive offers inclusive programming for neurodivergent kids.
• Arlington's Federal Workers Support Group provides community and connection.
• DC Library's Five-Minute Horror Filmmaking Workshop is a hands-on creative outlet for aspiring filmmakers.
• Loudoun's High Tea with the Highlands serves up a Bridgerton-inspired tea party.
• Loudoun's Impending Crisis: The Events Leading to the Civil War digs into regional history.
• Alexandria's In Pleasant Company: Tea Cup Candles mixes historical collecting with candle crafting.
• Alexandria's Line Dancing 101 keeps beginners moving all week.