Things to do in Washington DC this week, September 28–October 4, 2026, include the free Make a Scene! Theatre Week concert, Union Market District Street Fest, Oktoberfest at The Wharf and DC Coffee Festival. Charli xcx, Phoebe Bridgers, Weezer and Indigo Girls also have shows on the calendar.
The free waterfront plans are spread across the week: theatre on Tuesday, salsa on Thursday and Oktoberfest on Saturday. Union Market has both a street festival and a separately ticketed coffee event over the weekend, so check the details for the part you want to attend.
Alex’s top picks
The five plans at the top of the list
Start with these if you only have room for one or two outings this week.
01
Make a Scene! The Theatre Week Concert
A free waterfront concert with performers from the local theatre scene.
02
Union Market District Street Fest
Daytime shopping followed by a free block party featuring Marc Rebillet.
03
Oktoberfest at The Wharf
Dachshund racing and an Oktoberfest afternoon on District Pier.
04
DC Coffee Festival
Coffee samples at Dock 5 across two days of ticketed sessions.
05
Weezer: The Gathering
A Friday night arena show with a 7 p.m. start.
This week at a glance
Monday and Tuesday: arena shows and free theatre on the water
Charli xcx at Capital One Arena
Monday, September 28 · 7:30 p.m.; doors at 6:30 p.m.
Start the week with an arena show: Charli xcx plays Capital One Arena on Monday. Use the venue’s ticket link for the current seating options and total, and leave time for entry rather than arriving at the advertised show time.
Phoebe Bridgers at Capital One Arena
Tuesday, September 29 · 7:30 p.m.; doors at 6 p.m.
Phoebe Bridgers follows at the arena on Tuesday. The venue lists a phone-free experience using Yondr pouches, so read the event policy before going and give yourself time for the arrival process.
Make a Scene! The Theatre Week Concert
Tuesday, September 29 · activities from 6 p.m.; concert at 7 p.m.
Theatre Week brings performers to the waterfront for a free concert. Arrive from 6 p.m. for the lead-in activities; the concert begins at 7 p.m. It is a chance to sample the local theatre scene without committing to a full production.
Wednesday: lunch at Capital Harvest
Capital Harvest on the Plaza
Wednesday, September 30 · 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Make a lunch break of the midweek market outside the Ronald Reagan Building. Browse food and artisan vendors on Woodrow Wilson Plaza, a short walk from Federal Triangle Metro. The four-hour window makes this a daytime stop, not an evening market.
Thursday: salsa by the water
Dancing on the Waterfront
Thursday, October 1 · instruction starts at 6 p.m.
Start with a salsa lesson and stay for open dancing with a DJ beside the water. The series welcomes all ages and does not require prior dance experience. Check the organizer’s weather updates if the forecast is unsettled.
Friday: Weezer at Capital One Arena
Weezer: The Gathering
Friday, October 2 · 7 p.m.; doors at 6 p.m.
Weezer brings The Gathering to Capital One Arena for a Friday night show. Check the venue’s current ticket link for seating and the final price, and plan dinner around the 7 p.m. start rather than the door time.
Saturday: Union Market, dachshund races and coffee
Union Market District Street Fest
Saturday, October 3 · daytime market from 10 a.m.; block party at 3:30 p.m.
Browse the daytime street market, then return for the Nü Androids block party featuring Marc Rebillet. The dedicated concert listing gives the block party a 3:30–9:30 p.m. window. Follow its registration link before making that portion of the day your plan; food and shopping cost extra.
Oktoberfest at The Wharf
Saturday, October 3 · from 2 p.m.
The Wiener 500 Dachshund Dash is the reason to get to The Wharf early for Oktoberfest. Spectators can watch for free; entering a dog is a separate registration. Check the organizer’s schedule for the day’s activities and allow time to get to District Pier.
DC Coffee Festival
Saturday and Sunday, October 3–4 · choose a ticketed session
Taste your way through coffee roasters at Dock 5. The festival uses session tickets, so check the date and arrival window before booking rather than treating it as an all-day drop-in. Coffee samples come with admission, with food available separately.
Sunday: another coffee session or Indigo Girls
DC Coffee Festival continues Sunday with its own session tickets. For an evening plan, head to The Anthem.
Indigo Girls at The Anthem
Sunday, October 4 · 7 p.m.; doors at 5:30 p.m.
Indigo Girls closes out the week at The Anthem, with Linda Perry also on the bill. This is a seated show. Use the official ticket link to review available seats and the total before building a waterfront dinner around it.
Free picks this week
- Make a Scene! The Theatre Week Concert: Tuesday, September 29 · activities from 6 p.m.; concert at 7 p.m.. Free.
- Capital Harvest on the Plaza: Wednesday, September 30 · 10 a.m.–2 p.m.. Free to browse; food and shopping extra.
- Dancing on the Waterfront: Thursday, October 1 · instruction starts at 6 p.m.. Free; drinks extra.
- Union Market District Street Fest: Saturday, October 3 · daytime market from 10 a.m.; block party at 3:30 p.m.. Free street festival; separate free registration for the block party.
- Oktoberfest at The Wharf: Saturday, October 3 · from 2 p.m.. Free to attend; food, drinks and dog race entry extra.
Planning tips before you go
- Union Market Street Fest and DC Coffee Festival are separate events. A free street-festival visit does not include a coffee-festival session.
- Register for the Marc Rebillet block party through the organizer’s link. Its dedicated listing gives a 3:30–9:30 p.m. window.
- For arena shows, check the ticket link and entry rules. Phoebe Bridgers’ event is listed as a phone-free experience.
- At The Wharf, check the specific event location: the theatre concert is near Transit Pier, salsa is at M Street Landing and Oktoberfest is on District Pier.
For more plans, see our Northern Virginia weekly guide and our Northern Virginia guide for kids.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do in Washington DC this week?
For September 28–October 4, 2026, the highlights include the free Theatre Week concert on Tuesday, Union Market District Street Fest and Oktoberfest at The Wharf on Saturday, and DC Coffee Festival on Saturday and Sunday.
What can I do for free in DC this week?
The Theatre Week concert, Dancing on the Waterfront and admission to Oktoberfest at The Wharf are free. Capital Harvest is free to browse. Union Market’s street festival is free, with separate registration for the block party.
When is the free Theatre Week concert?
Make a Scene! takes place Tuesday, September 29, at The Wharf’s Floating Stage near Transit Pier. Activities begin at 6 p.m., and the concert starts at 7 p.m.
Do I need tickets for DC Coffee Festival?
Yes. DC Coffee Festival runs October 3–4 at Dock 5 and requires a ticket for a specific session. Coffee samples are included; snacks cost extra. Check the current total and entry window before booking.
Is the Wiener 500 free to watch?
Yes. Spectators can attend Oktoberfest at The Wharf for free on Saturday, October 3, from 2 p.m. Dog race entry has a separate registration, and food and drinks cost extra.
Last updated September 28, 2026 at 5:07 pm EDT. Check each organizer’s page for schedule changes and current ticket availability.
Featured image: AI-generated editorial illustration created for DC Spot.
Updated for September 28–October 4, 2026. Last checked September 28, 2026 at 5:07 pm EDT. Event details can change; official links are included above.
