From interactive art fairs to comedy takeovers and hands-on volunteer opportunities, the DMV offers a packed weekend of interesting and engaging events.
Whether looking to network, enjoy entertainment, tap into literature, or do community service, there’s something happening in D.C. for everyone.
Further, to learn about more fun events around town, don’t forget to check out the Washington Informer Calendar.
Thursday, Nov. 20
Arlington Business Networking Event – All Industries Welcome
10:30 a.m. – Noon | Free
Arlington Central Library, 1015 N Quincy Street, Arlington, VA 22201
Hosted by business event coordinator and realtor Philippa Main, this free networking event invites professionals from every industry across the DMV to mix, mingle and grow their contacts in a relaxed morning session.
Whether a solopreneur, startup founder or seasoned executive, come ready with business cards and a 60-second elevator pitch in a space that emphasizes connection over formality.
From open networking to quick “introduce yourself” rounds, it’s an opportunity to build business relationships that can last beyond this week.
DC Comedy Festival: Comedy Club Takeover | Busboys Brookland
8 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. | $20
Busboys and Poets- Brookland, 625 Monroe Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20017; 4251 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206
The DC Comedy Festival brings its signature “Comedy Club Takeover” to Busboys and Poets in Brookland, transforming the venue into a lively showcase of stand-up talent from across the region.
Audiences can expect a mix of rising comedians and seasoned performers, each bringing their own style, energy, and perspective to the stage.
Friday, Nov. 21
6 p.m. – 10 p.m. | Free
The Square, 1850 K Street Northwest, Washington, D.C. 20006
Umbrella Art Fair is a three-day celebration of art and entrepreneurship where more than 100 artists from Washington, D.C. and around the world converge under one roof.
Presented by Usan Usan, the fair is a declaration of creative independence — emphasizing economic opportunity by offering a commission-free marketplace, so 100% of sales go directly to the artists.
Beyond just shopping, Umbrella Art Fair brings together a curated mix of gallery installations, live performances, and conversations, all set in a space designed to challenge the mundane.
Whether an art collector or simply curious, this fair invites visitors to engage with daring work, connect with makers, and celebrate the avant-garde pulse of the DMV’s creative scene.
50 Years of Project Censored: State of the Free Press Panel
7 p.m. | Free
Politics and Prose at The Wharf , 610 Water Street SW, Washington, D.C. 20024
Join Politics and Prose at The Wharf for a landmark panel commemorating the 50th anniversary of Project Censored, the nonprofit media watchdog devoted to exposing underreported stories and defending press freedom.
The discussion will feature: journalist Ryan Grim; Lauren Harper, the Daniel Ellsberg chair on government secrecy with Freedom of the Press Foundation; former intelligence officer John Kiriakou; and Project Censored’s outreach and engagement officer Mischa Geracoulis.
Moderated by Mickey Huff, the event will spotlight key investigations from the latest State of the Free Press yearbook—including reporting on ICE surveillance, social media censorship, and police violence.
Directed by Huff, Project Censored remains committed to fostering media literacy and empowering the public with news that wasn’t shown on mainstream outlets.
Through its 2026 volume, the organization amplifies voices marginalized by mainstream media, arguing that a truly free press is essential to democracy.
This event offers an opportunity to hear firsthand from leading voices in independent journalism and to reflect on the importance of accountability in today’s media landscape.
Saturday, Nov. 22
Transformations Dance Festival 2025
7 p.m. – 10 p.m.| $25
Pozez Jewish Community Center of Northern Virginia, 8900 Little River Turnpike Fairfax, VA 22031
Hosted by DanceArtTheater, Transformations Dance Festival showcases the range and diversity of contemporary dance, featuring 15 choreographers from inside and around the DMV.
The performance takes place at Chaiken Auditorium and highlights companies like Ballet Embody, Next Reflex Dance Collective, UpRooted Dance, and more.
Expect an evening of a celebration of transformation, expression, and the collective spirit of dance.
The annual festival offers a rare opportunity to witness bold new works that explore identity, movement, and artistic collaboration through a variety of voices.
Collecting Memories: Treasures from the Library of Congress
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free
The Library of Congress, 101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, D.C. 20540
Step inside the newly opened David M. Rubenstein Treasures Gallery to explore more than 100 rare and deeply personal artifacts in the “Collecting Memories” exhibition.
On view in the Thomas Jefferson Building, the exhibition spans centuries and cultures, highlighting everything from Abraham Lincoln’s handwritten Gettysburg Address to audio recordings, letters, maps, photographs, and more.
The exhibit is designed to invite visitors to reflect on memory in its many forms—collective, cultural, and individual.
Through themed sections such as: “Commemoration,” “Recording and Retelling,” and “Personal Narratives,” guests can listen to oral histories from veterans and civil rights activists, view designs for iconic monuments, and see historically significant items.
Sunday, Nov. 23
Between the Lines with Jason Reynolds and Dr. LaCharles Ward
4 p.m. – 6 p.m. | Free
Planet Word, 925 13th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
Join the Planet Word Museum for an inspiring evening with New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds in conversation with Dr. LaCharles Ward, supervisory museum curator of photography and film and director of the Earl W. and Amanda Stafford Center for African American Media Arts. Together, they will explore the power of Black storytelling, poetry, and personal resilience in Reynolds’s work—from his novels for young readers to his poetry that tackles identity, justice, and belonging.
This event invites attendees to engage with themes of youth, creativity, and cultural voice through conversation, live readings, and an audience question-and-answer portion.
Impact in Action – Everything But The Turkey
12:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. | Free
Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
Volunteers are invited to gather at the Edlavitch DC Jewish Communtiy Center (EDCJCC) for the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington’s annual ‘Everything But The Turkey’ program.
Participants will chop, mix, grate, and prepare thousands of Thanksgiving side dishes— everything except the turkey— to support people experiencing hunger and homelessness throughout the region. The event is open to the entire community, with a suggested donation of $22 per person to help cover food costs.
This gathering is part of the federation’s larger ‘Impact in Action’ series, aimed at giving people a hands-on experience of how community support translates into tangible, meaningful work.
While preparing meals, attendees will also learn more about the federation’s role in partnering with its longtime collaborator, Edlavitch DCJCC, and how these collective efforts help strengthen the fabric of the local Jewish and broader D.C. community.