Washington, DC has something worth leaving the house for every day this week. From Monday, August 10, through Sunday, August 16, the list now includes two newly opened museums, the National Building Museum’s summer playground, a weekday market, free concerts and a packed festival weekend.
This is DC Spot’s rolling guide to things to do in Washington DC this week. The URL stays the same while the dates, events and practical details are refreshed every Monday. For ideas outside the city, see things to do in Northern Virginia this week.
Alex Hussein’s top picks of the week
Four standout plans in and around Washington, DC. Select a pick to jump directly to the full event details.
Panda Fest DC
Saturday–Sunday, August 15–16Saturday 10 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.–8 p.m.Pennsylvania Avenue NW at 6th Street NWTicketed; organizer-listed base prices exclude taxes and feesJump to Panda Fest details PICK 02DC Hot Air Balloon Festival
Friday–Saturday, August 14–155–10 p.m.Rosecroft Raceway, Fort Washington, MarylandBalloon activity depends on weatherJump to balloon details PICK 03Jazz in the Garden
Friday, August 146–8:30 p.m.National Gallery of Art Sculpture GardenFree; pass requiredJump to Jazz details PICK 04Rock The Dock
Friday, August 147 p.m.Transit Pier at The WharfFreeJump to Rock The Dock detailsThings to do in Washington, DC this week at a glance
Monday, August 10: Go beneath the Lincoln Memorial
The new Lincoln Memorial Undercroft museum opened beneath the monument in late June. The 15,000-square-foot space explains how the memorial was built, how its meaning has changed and what has been hidden below the chamber visitors already know.
Admission is free, but timed tickets are required and each reservation carries a $1 service fee. The National Park Service releases advance dates up to 30 days ahead and offers a limited same-day option at the Korean War Veterans Memorial kiosk. Ticket inventory can disappear quickly, so this is the first reservation to make.
Lincoln Memorial Undercroft
When: Timed visits available throughout the week
Where: Beneath the Lincoln Memorial
Cost: Free; advance reservations carry a $1 service fee per reservation, while limited same-day tickets have no fee
Reserve through the National Park Service
Read DC Spot’s full ticket guide
Tuesday, August 11: Explore the new National Geographic museum
The National Geographic Museum of Exploration is one of DC’s biggest new openings of the summer. The new 100,000-square-foot public space at 1600 M Street NW combines immersive galleries, technology, photography and stories from National Geographic explorers.
Adult general admission starts at $29.99, and the museum uses dynamic pricing, so the total depends on the selected date, time and any add-ons. The museum also offers a $3 Museums for All rate for eligible SNAP and WIC participants. Tuesday is a useful weekday choice if you want to see the new museum before the weekend crowd arrives.
National Geographic Museum of Exploration
When: Current summer hours are daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with last entry at 7 p.m.; choose a timed entry on the ticket page
Where: 1600 M Street NW
Cost: Adult general admission starts at $29.99 before optional add-ons; the museum uses dynamic pricing, so check the live total for your date and time
Check tickets and current hours
U.S. Navy Band at the Navy Memorial
The full U.S. Navy Band performs a free Concert on the Avenue at 7 p.m. Tuesday. This one is on the outdoor plaza at the United States Navy Memorial—not at the Capitol—so use the Archives–Navy Memorial Metro stop and arrive before the program begins.
Concert on the Avenue
When: Tuesday, August 11, 7–8:15 p.m.
Where: United States Navy Memorial, 701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Cost: Free
See the official concert listing
Wednesday, August 12: Shop Capital Harvest on the Plaza
Capital Harvest on the Plaza returns to Woodrow Wilson Plaza from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday. The weekday market brings farm produce, prepared food, baked goods and local makers to the Ronald Reagan Building.
It is free to enter and easy to reach from Federal Triangle or Metro Center. Go around lunch if you want the widest mix of vendors, then pair the market with a nearby museum or a walk along Pennsylvania Avenue.
Capital Harvest on the Plaza
When: Wednesday, August 12, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Where: Woodrow Wilson Plaza, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Cost: Free to enter
See the official market schedule and vendors
Thursday, August 13: Try THE PLAYGROUND and a free family event
THE PLAYGROUND at the National Building Museum
The National Building Museum’s Great Hall has been turned into THE PLAYGROUND, a large summer installation with nine areas built for climbing, building, moving and slowing down. It is designed for different ages, so it works as more than a children’s play space.
The museum is open Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and THE PLAYGROUND runs through August 30. Timed admission is limited, so select a slot before heading downtown.
THE PLAYGROUND
When: Thursday–Monday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; open through August 30
Where: National Building Museum, 401 F Street NW
Cost: Timed museum admission required
Check tickets and available time slots
Back 2 School at Capitol View Library
Capitol View Library hosts a free Bookbag Giveaway and Community Wellness Day at 3 p.m. Thursday. The city describes it as a family event with students, parents, local organizations and businesses preparing for the new school year. Supplies are limited, so arrive close to the start time.
Bookbag Giveaway and Community Wellness Day
When: Thursday, August 13 at 3 p.m.
Where: Capitol View Library, 5001 Central Avenue SE
Cost: Free
Check the official DC Back-to-School calendar
Friday, August 14: Jazz in the Garden and Rock The Dock
Jazz in the Garden closes its season with Brass Queens
The National Gallery of Art’s Jazz in the Garden series reaches its 2026 finale Friday with Brass Queens. Music runs from 6 to 8:30 p.m. in the Sculpture Garden.
The advance lottery is closed, but the gallery says a limited number of day-of passes will be available at the Constitution Avenue and Madison Drive entrances beginning at 5 p.m. Entry is not guaranteed, so have a backup plan nearby.
Jazz in the Garden: Brass Queens
When: Friday, August 14, 6–8:30 p.m.
Where: National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden
Cost: Free; pass required
Review the official entry instructions
Rock The Dock at The Wharf
The Experience Band & Show performs at Transit Pier at 7 p.m. Friday as part of The Wharf’s free Rock The Dock series. The waterfront setting makes this an easy choice if you want live music without a ticket lottery.
Rock The Dock
When: Friday, August 14 at 7 p.m.
Where: Transit Pier, 970 Wharf Street SW
Cost: Free
See The Wharf’s concert details
Saturday, August 15: Panda Fest takes over Pennsylvania Avenue
Panda Fest makes its Washington, DC debut with more than 90 food vendors, more than 200 menu items, 40-plus merchandise vendors, cultural performances and panda-themed installations. Saturday hours run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. along Pennsylvania Avenue NW near 6th Street.
The organizer lists base prices of $14 for general admission and $35 for VIP before taxes and fees. Those are not final checkout totals: the amount charged varies by ticket tier and entry window, so review the live total before purchasing. Entry windows, inclusions and availability also vary. Street closures and crowds will make Metro the simpler option for many visitors.
Panda Fest DC
When: Saturday, August 15, 10 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sunday, August 16, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
Where: Pennsylvania Avenue NW at 6th Street NW
Cost: Ticketed. Organizer-listed base prices are $14 for general admission and $35 for VIP before taxes and fees; the current checkout total varies by ticket and entry window.
Check the live ticket total and entry terms
Free Youth Sports Day at RFK
DC’s Back to School campaign hosts a free Youth Sports Day at the Fields at RFK beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday. The city describes it as a day of sports, activities and family programming.
Use the official DC Back to School calendar for the latest registration and schedule information.
Sunday, August 16: A second day of Panda Fest and a library festival
Panda Fest continues Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. If Saturday tickets or plans do not work, Sunday follows the same festival format with an earlier finish; ticket inventory and checkout totals can differ by entry window.
Little Builders at THE PLAYGROUND
The National Building Museum lists a Little Builders program inside THE PLAYGROUND from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Check the museum’s event page for the latest age guidance and ticket requirements before choosing this time slot.
Woodridge Library Back to School Festival
Woodridge Neighborhood Library hosts a Back to School Festival beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday. The city lists it as a community event tied to its broader back-to-school campaign. Confirm the current program and any registration instructions before visiting.
Also worth the short drive from DC this weekend
These three events are in Maryland rather than Washington, DC, but they are close enough to work as regional weekend options. Check drive times and the forecast before committing.
DC Hot Air Balloon Festival at Rosecroft Raceway
The two-night festival is scheduled for Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. at Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington. Organizers advertise balloon displays, food and live entertainment. Balloon inflation, tethering and other activity depend on wind and weather, so check same-day updates before making the trip.
DC Hot Air Balloon Festival
When: Friday–Saturday, August 14–15, 5–10 p.m.
Where: Rosecroft Raceway, 6336 Rosecroft Drive, Fort Washington, Maryland
Cost: Ticketed; prices vary by package
Check Rosecroft’s event information
Montgomery County Agricultural Fair
The 77th Montgomery County Agricultural Fair opens Friday in Gaithersburg and runs through August 22. Opening-day hours are 3 p.m. to midnight; the official schedule notes that most animal and exhibit buildings do not open until Sunday, so Friday is better for carnival rides than a full agricultural-fair visit.
Montgomery County Agricultural Fair
When: Friday, August 14, through Saturday, August 22
Where: Montgomery County Agricultural Center, 501 Perry Parkway, Gaithersburg, Maryland
Cost: Admission and ride prices vary by day
Check the official daily schedule and tickets
Howard County Fair finale
Saturday is the final day of the Howard County Fair in West Friendship. The published schedule includes livestock and 4-H contests, demonstrations, a baby contest, a tractor pull and midway rides, with the midway opening at noon.
Howard County Fair
When: Through Saturday, August 15
Where: Howard County Fairgrounds, 2210 Fairgrounds Road, West Friendship, Maryland
Cost: Check current admission and ride pricing
See the official fair page
Free things to do in Washington, DC this week
U.S. Navy Band
Tuesday’s Concert on the Avenue at the Navy Memorial is free.
Lincoln Memorial Undercroft
Admission is free. Advance reservations carry a $1 service fee per reservation; limited same-day tickets have no fee.
Capital Harvest
Wednesday’s market on Woodrow Wilson Plaza is free to enter.
Capitol View Library
Thursday’s bookbag giveaway and wellness day is free for families.
Jazz in the Garden
Admission is free, but you need a pass. Limited day-of passes begin at 5 p.m.
Rock The Dock
Friday’s concert at The Wharf is free and open to the public.
RFK Youth Sports Day
Saturday’s youth sports event is free; check the city calendar for current participation details.
DC Spot planning tips for this week
Frequently asked questions about things to do in Washington, DC this week
What are the best things to do in Washington, DC this week?
Top picks for August 10–16 include the new Lincoln Memorial Undercroft, the new National Geographic Museum of Exploration, THE PLAYGROUND at the National Building Museum, Panda Fest, Jazz in the Garden, Rock The Dock and the U.S. Navy Band at the Navy Memorial.
What is happening in Washington, DC this weekend?
Panda Fest runs Saturday and Sunday on Pennsylvania Avenue. Saturday also includes a free Youth Sports Day at RFK, while Sunday includes a Back to School Festival at Woodridge Library. Nearby Maryland options include the DC Hot Air Balloon Festival, Montgomery County Agricultural Fair and Howard County Fair.
What free events are happening in DC this week?
Free options include the U.S. Navy Band at the Navy Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial Undercroft with a $1 service fee per advance reservation or limited fee-free same-day tickets, Capital Harvest on the Plaza, the Capitol View Library event, Jazz in the Garden with a required pass, Rock The Dock and Youth Sports Day at RFK.
Do you need tickets for the Lincoln Memorial Undercroft?
Yes. The museum is free, but the National Park Service requires a timed ticket and charges a $1 service fee per reservation. Limited same-day tickets may be available.
How much is the new National Geographic Museum in DC?
Adult general admission to the National Geographic Museum of Exploration starts at $29.99. The museum uses dynamic pricing, some experiences cost extra, and eligible SNAP and WIC participants can access a discounted Museums for All rate, so confirm the total for your date and time before checkout.
When is THE PLAYGROUND open at the National Building Museum?
THE PLAYGROUND runs through August 30, 2026. The museum’s current visitor hours are Thursday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and timed admission is required.
When is Panda Fest DC 2026?
Panda Fest runs Saturday, August 15, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, August 16, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Pennsylvania Avenue NW.
Can you still get into Jazz in the Garden this week?
The advance lottery is closed, but the National Gallery of Art says a limited number of day-of passes will be available at two Sculpture Garden entrances beginning at 5 p.m. Friday.
What outdoor concerts are free in DC this week?
The U.S. Navy Band performs at the United States Navy Memorial Tuesday, Jazz in the Garden hosts Brass Queens Friday and Rock The Dock presents The Experience Band & Show at The Wharf Friday.
How often is this Washington DC guide updated?
DC Spot refreshes this stable URL every Monday with a new date range, current events and verified organizer links.
AI-generated editorial image representing events in Washington, DC during August 10–16, 2026.
Published August 10, 2026. Dates, times, prices and locations were checked against current organizer and government pages. Outdoor events, ticket inventory and schedules can change, so confirm details before leaving home.
