Your Labor Day Weekend: Jazz Fest, DC State Fair, Monday brunch
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Send off summer with a decadent Monday brunch — like this donut smash burger, served with a glass of Champagne, at Lobby Bar. Photo: Courtesy Lobby Bar
It's Labor Day weekend — and D.C. is sending summer off with jazz, circus acts, global food and fair fun.
Why it matters: The unofficial finale of summer comes with an unusually stacked calendar. Here's where to spend it.
🎷Hear the city swing at DC JazzFest. The five-day festival spreads jazz across the Wharf, with big names including Dee Dee Bridgewater and Kurt Elling alongside D.C. talents like Nasar Abadey and Janelle Gill — plus an international embassy series.
- Shows take over the Anthem, Union Stage, Pearl Street Warehouse, Arena Stage and more. (Wed.-Sun.; tickets $29+)
🎶 Dance all weekend at Afro+ Fest. Wizkid, Davido, Tems and Alkaline lead the huge Afro-Caribbean music festival at Northwest Stadium, which returns after a sold-out debut. (Fri.-Sun.; tickets $149+)
🎪 Run away to the circus — Smithsonian-style. The Folklife Festival returns from a national pop-up to the Mall this weekend. Head to the Arts & Industries Building for more than six free performances a day, plus hands-on activities and behind-the-scenes looks at American circus performers. (Sat.-Mon.; 10am-6pm; free)
- Other festival events include "Food of the Armenian Table" on Saturday at American History.
🍷 Toast Black food and drink. The Black Food + Wine Festival brings chefs, winemakers, brewers and other makers together for a Saturday celebration with tastings, demos and live music on the Great Lawn. (Sat.; $29+)
🥧 Taste — and judge — the District at the DC State Fair. The city's hyperlocal state fair celebrates D.C.-grown and D.C.-made everything, with contests, local food and live music. Come for the pie, stay for the mumbo sauce. (Sun.; free)
🥙 The Middle Eastern Food Festival serves up a weekend of regional dishes alongside music, dancing and family-friendly festivities in McLean. (Sat-Sun; free)
More weekend fun
🎶 Go-go phenom Junkyard Band plays the Hamilton Live on Thursday, 8pm. Tickets $35+
🎨 Glen Echo Park hosts the 55th annual Labor Day Art Show, displaying and selling over 1,000 works by more than 500 artists. Saturday through Monday, free.
🥃 Mount Vernon is hosting whiskey tastings on Saturday to sample spirits produced using George Washington's 18th-century distilling methods. Tickets $60+
🧘 Take in yoga and a sound bath at the Washington Monument on Sunday for free. Details
🥙 Toot Toot bakery bringing Lebanese manoushe, cookies, and more to Bar Betsie's patio for a pop-up on Sunday beginning at 3pm. Details
Exhibits closing Labor Day
🏰 Visitors have a final opportunity to explore the Smithsonian Castle and the Arts & Industries Building before they close to the public on Monday.
🐄 The butter cow is mooo-ving on — sadly, the Renwick Gallery's "State Fairs: Growing American Craft" is over Monday.
🖼️ The Hirshhorn's exhibition "Basquiat × Banksy" also closes Monday.
Bonus: Make Monday brunch
A few spots making the most of the three-day weekend with Monday brunch.
🇵🇭 Purple Patch: Go Filipino with ube pancakes piled or garlic fried rice with eggs at the beloved Mt. Pleasant restaurant.
⚜️ Catahoula: Pretend you're spending the long weekend in New Orleans with Hurricanes, crawfish omelets and breakfast po'boys on Navy Yard's waterfront.
🥂 Lobby Bar: The Capitol Hill bar pairs Veuve Clicquot with your choice of a donut smash burger or fried chicken-and-waffle sandwich for $39. Or go bigger with lobster Benedict.
🍳 Boundary Stone: Bloomingdale's neighborhood pub breaks out its full brunch menu from noon-3pm. It's walk-in only and no-frills.
🔥 dLeña: Mount Vernon Triangle's Mexican spot extends its bottomless brunch with unlimited food and cocktails for $69, or food only for $45.