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10 Reasons to Attend DC JazzFest This Labor Day Weekend
One of DC’s most exciting annual events, DC JazzFest, will take place Aug. 27-31. This marvelous festival celebrates the sounds and stories that make the American art form swing and groove across an abundance of performances. We’ve listed 10 reasons to enjoy the DC JazzFest below. Book your hotel stay with one of DC JazzFest's hotel partners and discover more summer deals at hotels, restaurants and attractions.
Fall 2025: Must-See Shows in Washington, DC
The Sound of Music – Sept. 9 – Oct. 5The Kennedy Center stages a production of one of the great musicals with three-time Tony Award® winner Jack O’Brien as director. The Sound of Music transports the audience to the hills of Austria for unforgettable songs and a tale of resilience, love and resistance.TicketsThe John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566 Damn Yankees – Sept. 9 – Nov. 9The minds behind this new adaptation of an American classic include Lortel Award winner Will Power, Pulitzer Prize winner Doug Wright and Tony Award winners Lynn Ahrens and Sergio Trujillo. From its pure love of baseball to its femme fatale and fateful pact with the Devil, Damn Yankees promises to be a crowd-pleaser at Arena Stage.TicketsArena Stage, 1101 6th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024 Merry Wives – Sept. 10 – Oct. 5Shakespeare Theatre Company hosts the regional premiere of a hilarious take on one of The Bard’s most famous farces. The infamous Falstaff is dropped into modern Harlem low on money and decides to pursue the purses of two West African wives. Schemes are launched to thwart the prospective thief and plenty of hilarity ensues.TicketsHarman Hall, 610 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004 The Great Privation – Sept. 11 – Oct. 12Timelines jump and collide in this innovative production at Woolly Mammoth Theatre. The Great Privation shows a mother and daughter guarding the grave of their husband and father to prevent resurrectionists from tampering with it, circa 1832. On the same grounds in the present, another mother and daughter are summer camp counselors. The two stories intersect in fascinating ways.TicketsWoolly Mammoth Theatre, 641 D Street NW, Washington, DC 20004 Everything is Wonderful – Sept. 13 – Oct. 5The Keegan Theatre stages acclaimed playwright Chelsea Marcantel's stirring and thought-provoking of grief, faith and family. After a tragic accident, a young woman returns home to her Amish roots to confront the life and relationships that she left behind. Wounds will be reopened and secrets will emerge as our protagonist's boundaries between forgiveness and forgetfulness are blurred.TicketsKeegan Theatre, 1742 Church Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 The American Five – Sept. 19 – Oct. 12Ford’s Theatre treats audiences to a stage production that depicts five civil rights icons – including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – in the process of planning the March on Washington and crafting King’s legendary “I Have A Dream” speech. In the face of intimidation, life threats, surveillance and immense public pressure, the group forms a coalition and creates a defining moment in American history.TicketsFord’s Theatre, 511 10th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004 Strategic Love Play – Sept. 23 – Oct. 9Signature Theatre Company delivers a biting new satire from Succession writer Miriam Battye that skewers the world of online dating. When a man and a woman meet for a date after matching, a first date never to be forgotten quickly ensues.TicketsSignature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206 Julius X – Sept. 23 – Oct. 26Renaissance man Al Letson reimagines one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies through the story of civil rights leader Malcolm X. Letson – an award-winning writer, journalist and podcast host – teams with director Nicole Brewer for a production that reflects the timelessness of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar and examines the fascinating life of a revolutionary.TicketsFolger Theatre, 201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003 The Heart Sellers – Sept. 24 – Oct. 26Studio Theatre dives deep into the immigrant experience with this new play from writer Lloyd Suh and director Danilo Gambini. It’s Thanksgiving Day in 1973 when Filipino immigrant Luna meets the South Korean Jane in a near-empty grocery store. The two decide to celebrate the holiday together, eventually discussing their homesickness, their pursuit of the American dream, Soul Train and much more in this intimate production.TicketsStudio Theatre, 1501 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 The Stuttgart Ballet: Onegin – Oct. 8-12For the first time in decades, The Stuttgart Ballet returns to the Kennedy Center with a bold and beautiful production of Onegin. Based on an Alexander Pushkin narrative poem from 1825, the ballet deals in an unrequited love between the reserved Tatiana and the globe-trotting Onegin. Expect soaring duets, sky-high emotions and plenty of technical mastery in this timeless classic.TicketsThe John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566 Fremont Ave. – Oct. 8 – Nov. 23A daring production at Arena Stage pits three generations of Black men against each other in a game of Spades. At the center is the family’s matriarch, who’s equal parts beloved and feared. Raw and emotional, what begins as a night at the card table turns into a powerful reckoning with masculinity, identity and family secrets.TicketsArena Stage, 1101 6th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024 The Wild Duck – Oct. 18 – Nov. 16Henrik Ibsen’s timeless drama comes to Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Klein Theatre for a special fall engagement guided by Artistic Director Simon Godwin. A wealthy businessman’s son aims to destroy his friend’s life while a young girl tries to protect an innocent creature from the ugly truth of the world.TicketsKlein Theatre, 450 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004 Aida – Oct. 24 – Nov. 2Giuseppe Verdi’s legendary opera is staged with hieroglyphic and calligraphy-inspired sets in a new production at the Kennedy Center. Featuring Verdi’s epic music along with dynamic dance sequences, an unforgettable Triumphal Scene and a love triangle at its very center, Aida is not to be missed this fall.TicketsThe John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566 Fiddler on the Roof – Nov. 4 – Jan. 25, 2026The welcoming environs of Signature Theatre are the perfect setting for a beautiful staging of this iconic musical. Fiddler on the Roof concerns Jewish milkman Tevye and his community in Czarist Russia as they deal with rising anti-Semitism and a world quickly changing around them. Legendary songs include “Sunrise, Sunset” “If I Were a Rich Man” and “Matchmaker”.TicketsSignature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206 ho ho ho ha ha ha – Nov. 12 – Dec. 21Julia Masli’s award-winning show that changes literally every night returns to Woolly Mammoth Theatre with a special festive edition. The audience’s problems are invited to the stage and wow, does Masli have some surprising and hilarious solutions. Prepare to see a production unlike any you’ve ever seen.TicketsWoolly Mammoth Theatre, 641 D Street NW, Washington, DC 20004 The Life and Music of George Michael – Nov. 15Few pop stars in history have scaled the global heights of George Michael, from his emergence as part of WHAM! to a decades-long solo career packed with unforgettable songs and moments. Attendees of this epic, one-night-only show at The National Theatre are sure to be dancing in the aisles as they experience Michael’s music like never before, from “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go” to “Careless Whisper” to “Freedom” to “Faith” and many, many more.7:30 p.m. | TicketsThe National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004 Hadestown – Opens Nov. 18Winner of eight Tony Awards in 2019 (including Best Musical), Hadestown is a vibrant musical experience that blends two mythic tales into a hair-raising voyage into the underworld. Expect an energetic ensemble of dancers and singers as your imagination is swept up in the tales of Orpheus and Eurydice and King Hades and his wife, Persephone.TicketsThe National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004 Some Like It Hot – Opens Nov. 25Take a trip back to Prohibition-era Chicago and join two musicians in a fantastic musical adventure. After the duo witnesses a mob hit, they must run for their lives in a colorful production that combines comedy, action, song and dance. The show won more theater awards than any in its season and was named Best Musical by the Drama Desk, The Drama League and the Outer Critics Circle.TicketsThe National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
Your Washington, DC Summer Bucket List
We’ve gathered up some of the most exciting reasons to visit the nation’s capital this summer, culminating in a lively Labor Day send-off. If you’re interested in catching a baseball game, savoring a great meal at an award-winning restaurant or exploring colorful street murals throughout the city, it’s all possible. Right now is the perfect time to plan your next visit to DC with these memory-making, only-in-DC trip ideas.
10 Reasons to Attend DC JazzFest This Labor Day Weekend
One of DC’s most exciting annual events, DC JazzFest, will take place Aug. 27-31. This marvelous festival celebrates the sounds and stories that make the American art form swing and groove across an abundance of performances. We’ve listed 10 reasons to enjoy the DC JazzFest below. Book your hotel stay with one of DC JazzFest's hotel partners and discover more summer deals at hotels, restaurants and attractions.
Fall 2025: Must-See Shows in Washington, DC
The Sound of Music – Sept. 9 – Oct. 5The Kennedy Center stages a production of one of the great musicals with three-time Tony Award® winner Jack O’Brien as director. The Sound of Music transports the audience to the hills of Austria for unforgettable songs and a tale of resilience, love and resistance.TicketsThe John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566 Damn Yankees – Sept. 9 – Nov. 9The minds behind this new adaptation of an American classic include Lortel Award winner Will Power, Pulitzer Prize winner Doug Wright and Tony Award winners Lynn Ahrens and Sergio Trujillo. From its pure love of baseball to its femme fatale and fateful pact with the Devil, Damn Yankees promises to be a crowd-pleaser at Arena Stage.TicketsArena Stage, 1101 6th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024 Merry Wives – Sept. 10 – Oct. 5Shakespeare Theatre Company hosts the regional premiere of a hilarious take on one of The Bard’s most famous farces. The infamous Falstaff is dropped into modern Harlem low on money and decides to pursue the purses of two West African wives. Schemes are launched to thwart the prospective thief and plenty of hilarity ensues.TicketsHarman Hall, 610 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004 The Great Privation – Sept. 11 – Oct. 12Timelines jump and collide in this innovative production at Woolly Mammoth Theatre. The Great Privation shows a mother and daughter guarding the grave of their husband and father to prevent resurrectionists from tampering with it, circa 1832. On the same grounds in the present, another mother and daughter are summer camp counselors. The two stories intersect in fascinating ways.TicketsWoolly Mammoth Theatre, 641 D Street NW, Washington, DC 20004 Everything is Wonderful – Sept. 13 – Oct. 5The Keegan Theatre stages acclaimed playwright Chelsea Marcantel's stirring and thought-provoking of grief, faith and family. After a tragic accident, a young woman returns home to her Amish roots to confront the life and relationships that she left behind. Wounds will be reopened and secrets will emerge as our protagonist's boundaries between forgiveness and forgetfulness are blurred.TicketsKeegan Theatre, 1742 Church Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 The American Five – Sept. 19 – Oct. 12Ford’s Theatre treats audiences to a stage production that depicts five civil rights icons – including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – in the process of planning the March on Washington and crafting King’s legendary “I Have A Dream” speech. In the face of intimidation, life threats, surveillance and immense public pressure, the group forms a coalition and creates a defining moment in American history.TicketsFord’s Theatre, 511 10th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004 Strategic Love Play – Sept. 23 – Oct. 9Signature Theatre Company delivers a biting new satire from Succession writer Miriam Battye that skewers the world of online dating. When a man and a woman meet for a date after matching, a first date never to be forgotten quickly ensues.TicketsSignature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206 Julius X – Sept. 23 – Oct. 26Renaissance man Al Letson reimagines one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies through the story of civil rights leader Malcolm X. Letson – an award-winning writer, journalist and podcast host – teams with director Nicole Brewer for a production that reflects the timelessness of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar and examines the fascinating life of a revolutionary.TicketsFolger Theatre, 201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003 The Heart Sellers – Sept. 24 – Oct. 26Studio Theatre dives deep into the immigrant experience with this new play from writer Lloyd Suh and director Danilo Gambini. It’s Thanksgiving Day in 1973 when Filipino immigrant Luna meets the South Korean Jane in a near-empty grocery store. The two decide to celebrate the holiday together, eventually discussing their homesickness, their pursuit of the American dream, Soul Train and much more in this intimate production.TicketsStudio Theatre, 1501 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 The Stuttgart Ballet: Onegin – Oct. 8-12For the first time in decades, The Stuttgart Ballet returns to the Kennedy Center with a bold and beautiful production of Onegin. Based on an Alexander Pushkin narrative poem from 1825, the ballet deals in an unrequited love between the reserved Tatiana and the globe-trotting Onegin. Expect soaring duets, sky-high emotions and plenty of technical mastery in this timeless classic.TicketsThe John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566 Fremont Ave. – Oct. 8 – Nov. 23A daring production at Arena Stage pits three generations of Black men against each other in a game of Spades. At the center is the family’s matriarch, who’s equal parts beloved and feared. Raw and emotional, what begins as a night at the card table turns into a powerful reckoning with masculinity, identity and family secrets.TicketsArena Stage, 1101 6th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024 The Wild Duck – Oct. 18 – Nov. 16Henrik Ibsen’s timeless drama comes to Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Klein Theatre for a special fall engagement guided by Artistic Director Simon Godwin. A wealthy businessman’s son aims to destroy his friend’s life while a young girl tries to protect an innocent creature from the ugly truth of the world.TicketsKlein Theatre, 450 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004 Aida – Oct. 24 – Nov. 2Giuseppe Verdi’s legendary opera is staged with hieroglyphic and calligraphy-inspired sets in a new production at the Kennedy Center. Featuring Verdi’s epic music along with dynamic dance sequences, an unforgettable Triumphal Scene and a love triangle at its very center, Aida is not to be missed this fall.TicketsThe John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566 Fiddler on the Roof – Nov. 4 – Jan. 25, 2026The welcoming environs of Signature Theatre are the perfect setting for a beautiful staging of this iconic musical. Fiddler on the Roof concerns Jewish milkman Tevye and his community in Czarist Russia as they deal with rising anti-Semitism and a world quickly changing around them. Legendary songs include “Sunrise, Sunset” “If I Were a Rich Man” and “Matchmaker”.TicketsSignature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206 ho ho ho ha ha ha – Nov. 12 – Dec. 21Julia Masli’s award-winning show that changes literally every night returns to Woolly Mammoth Theatre with a special festive edition. The audience’s problems are invited to the stage and wow, does Masli have some surprising and hilarious solutions. Prepare to see a production unlike any you’ve ever seen.TicketsWoolly Mammoth Theatre, 641 D Street NW, Washington, DC 20004 The Life and Music of George Michael – Nov. 15Few pop stars in history have scaled the global heights of George Michael, from his emergence as part of WHAM! to a decades-long solo career packed with unforgettable songs and moments. Attendees of this epic, one-night-only show at The National Theatre are sure to be dancing in the aisles as they experience Michael’s music like never before, from “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go” to “Careless Whisper” to “Freedom” to “Faith” and many, many more.7:30 p.m. | TicketsThe National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004 Hadestown – Opens Nov. 18Winner of eight Tony Awards in 2019 (including Best Musical), Hadestown is a vibrant musical experience that blends two mythic tales into a hair-raising voyage into the underworld. Expect an energetic ensemble of dancers and singers as your imagination is swept up in the tales of Orpheus and Eurydice and King Hades and his wife, Persephone.TicketsThe National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004 Some Like It Hot – Opens Nov. 25Take a trip back to Prohibition-era Chicago and join two musicians in a fantastic musical adventure. After the duo witnesses a mob hit, they must run for their lives in a colorful production that combines comedy, action, song and dance. The show won more theater awards than any in its season and was named Best Musical by the Drama Desk, The Drama League and the Outer Critics Circle.TicketsThe National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
Your Washington, DC Summer Bucket List
We’ve gathered up some of the most exciting reasons to visit the nation’s capital this summer, culminating in a lively Labor Day send-off. If you’re interested in catching a baseball game, savoring a great meal at an award-winning restaurant or exploring colorful street murals throughout the city, it’s all possible. Right now is the perfect time to plan your next visit to DC with these memory-making, only-in-DC trip ideas.
