Looking for things to do in Washington, DC this weekend? September 26–27 is a great weekend to explore the city, with festivals, Smithsonian museums, live entertainment, waterfront activities, and plenty of opportunities to see DC’s famous monuments.
Fall is starting to settle into Washington, making it a nice time to spend the day outside, explore the National Mall, and enjoy the city after dark.
Here are some ideas for making the most of your weekend in Washington, DC.
Experience Fiesta DC
One of the biggest events happening in the city this weekend is Fiesta DC, a celebration of Latino culture featuring live music, dancing, food, vendors, and performances.
The festival brings plenty of energy to downtown Washington and is a fun stop whether you’re visiting DC for the weekend or live nearby.
Sunday also features the popular Fiesta DC Parade of Nations, with colorful costumes, dancers, music, and cultural groups making their way through downtown.
If you’re planning to attend, give yourself extra time getting around the National Mall and downtown because streets can get busy during the festival.
Visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is one of the most popular Smithsonian museums in Washington and is especially worth considering this weekend as the museum celebrates its 10th anniversary.
Inside, you’ll find exhibitions covering African American history, culture, music, sports, art, and the continuing impact African Americans have had on the United States.
The museum is located directly on the National Mall, so it’s easy to combine with the Washington Monument, White House, and other Smithsonian museums.
Visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture
Check Out Smithsonian Craft2Wear
If you enjoy art, fashion, jewelry, and handmade pieces, Smithsonian Craft2Wear is another interesting event to add to your weekend.
The show brings together artists and designers from around the country, featuring handcrafted clothing, jewelry, accessories, and wearable art.
Because it’s located around the National Mall, you can easily stop in while visiting the Smithsonian museums.
Learn more about Smithsonian Craft2Wear
See More of Washington with Hello DC Tours
If you’re only in Washington for a few days, one of the biggest challenges is figuring out how to see the major monuments without spending the entire day walking from one end of the National Mall to the other.
That’s where Hello DC Tours can make your weekend a little easier.
Hello DC Tours offers small-group, approximately two-hour guided monument tours by electric cart, giving visitors a more personal way to explore Washington than a traditional large sightseeing bus. The company offers both vintage and standard electric-cart tours and describes its tours as small-group experiences focused on seeing DC comfortably and in style.
Along the way, guests can see many of Washington’s best-known sights, including the U.S. Capitol, Washington Monument, Tidal Basin, Jefferson Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, White House area, and other landmarks around the National Mall.
There are two different cart styles, so you can choose the experience that works best for your group.
Vintage-Style Electric Cart Tour
Want something a little different from a typical sightseeing vehicle?
The Vintage Cart Tour uses a unique vintage-style electric cart that adds a little personality to your DC experience. It’s a fun option for couples, families, friends, and smaller groups who want sightseeing to feel like part of the experience instead of simply transportation between monuments.
The open design also gives you great views of the city while traveling between stops, and the smaller-group atmosphere makes it easier to interact with your guide and ask questions along the way.
It’s especially fun for anyone who wants something memorable—and you’ll probably end up taking a few pictures of the cart itself during the tour.
Explore the Vintage-Style Electric Cart Tour:
Vintage Cart Tour – Hello DC Tours
Spacious Electric Cart Tour
If you’re traveling with family or friends and would prefer a little more room, Hello DC Tours also offers a larger, spacious electric cart.
You still get the small-group experience, but with more room to sit comfortably while traveling between Washington’s major landmarks.
This is a good option for families, groups, or anyone who simply prefers the additional space while sightseeing.
The open-air style keeps you connected to the city—you can see the buildings, monuments, and neighborhoods around you instead of viewing everything through the windows of a large bus.
Explore the Spacious Electric Cart Tour:
Electric Cart Tour – Hello DC Tours
Daytime, Sunset or After Dark?
That’s another nice thing about taking a cart tour: you can fit it around the rest of your weekend.
If you want to see the monuments clearly and take plenty of daytime photos, choose an earlier tour.
If you want a little of both, take a sunset or early-evening tour as Washington transitions from daylight to night.
And if you’ve already spent the day exploring museums and festivals, an after-dark monument tour is a great way to finish your evening.
The Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, and other landmarks have a completely different atmosphere when they’re illuminated at night.
Hello DC Tours operates from:
500 5th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
You don’t need to choose between sightseeing and the weekend’s special events either. Spend your morning at a Smithsonian museum, visit Fiesta DC in the afternoon, grab something to eat, and finish your day on an electric cart seeing the monuments.
See the New Louvre Exhibition at the Smithsonian
Saturday, September 26 also marks the opening weekend of From the Louvre: Masterpieces of Islamic Art at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art.
The exhibition brings works from the Musée du Louvre in Paris to Washington, giving visitors an opportunity to see important examples of Islamic art right here in DC.
Admission to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art is free.
Since the museum is located near the Smithsonian Castle, it’s an easy addition to a day exploring the National Mall.
Visit the National Museum of Asian Art
Spend the Afternoon at The Wharf
After a morning of museums and monuments, head over to The Wharf for a different side of Washington.
Walk along the waterfront, stop for lunch or dinner, grab a drink, listen to live music, or simply find somewhere outside to relax.
The Wharf has plenty of restaurants and waterfront spaces, and it’s especially enjoyable toward the end of the afternoon as the sun starts going down.
It’s also a nice place to have dinner before heading out for an evening monument tour.
Explore Georgetown
If you’ve already spent plenty of time around the National Mall, take a few hours and explore Georgetown.
Walk along M Street, check out the shops, find a local coffee shop, explore the historic residential streets, or walk down toward Georgetown Waterfront Park.
Georgetown is particularly nice when you don’t have a strict itinerary. Just park or take a rideshare, start walking, and see where you end up.
Catch a Concert or Show
Washington doesn’t shut down when the museums close.
Check what’s happening at Capital One Arena, The Anthem, 9:30 Club, Kennedy Center, and Arena Stage if you want to add a concert, theater performance, comedy show, or other live entertainment to your weekend.
If something catches your attention, it’s worth checking ticket availability before heading there.
Walk the National Mall
Some of the best experiences in Washington are completely free.
If the weather is nice, spend a few hours walking the National Mall.
You can start near the U.S. Capitol and make your way toward the Washington Monument before continuing toward the World War II Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and Korean War Veterans Memorial.
Just don’t underestimate the distances.
Everything looks relatively close together on a map, but walking between all of Washington’s major monuments can easily add several miles to your day.
If you’ve already been walking through museums all morning, this is where an electric cart tour can save your feet while still allowing you to see a lot of the city.
Don’t Miss Washington After Dark
One of our favorite times to experience Washington is after sunset.
The crowds often begin thinning out, the temperature can be more comfortable, and the monuments take on a completely different appearance once the lights come on.
Stand at the Lincoln Memorial looking toward the illuminated Washington Monument and Reflecting Pool, or see the Jefferson and Martin Luther King Jr. memorials glowing around the Tidal Basin.
It’s a side of Washington that many daytime visitors miss.
You can explore independently, or make things easier and see several landmarks during one of Hello DC Tours’ evening electric-cart tours.
Vintage-Style Electric Cart Tour
Make a Weekend of It
The best way to enjoy Washington this weekend is not to try to squeeze absolutely everything into one day.
Start Saturday morning at one of the Smithsonian museums, check out Fiesta DC in the afternoon, grab dinner, and spend your evening seeing the monuments illuminated at night.
On Sunday, slow things down. Have brunch, walk around Georgetown or The Wharf, catch the Fiesta DC parade, or visit another Smithsonian museum before heading home.
September 26–27, 2026 is a great weekend to be in Washington, DC.
Whether this is your first visit or you’ve been to the city many times, combine some of Washington’s famous landmarks with the festivals, exhibitions, neighborhoods, and experiences happening around town.
And if you want to see more of the major monuments without spending the entire weekend walking between them, choose the ride that fits your group and explore DC with Hello DC Tours.
Vintage-Style Electric Cart:
hellodctours.com/vintage-cart-tour/
Spacious Electric Cart:
hellodctours.com/electric-cart-tour/