Ten Things to Do in DC, East of the Anacostia River

People at a party

Let’s explore Ward 7 & 8!

Like 75% of DC residents, ChecklistDC is based west of the Anacostia River. After reading an article in the Washington Post about how food delivery companies have neglected the Eastern part of DC, the idea for this events roundup came about. 

ChecklistDC regularly includes events in Wards 7 and 8 on our main page and monthly newsletter. By sheer numbers, there are more events near downtown DC. However, east of the river, in Anacostia and Congress Heights, you can find the same wide range of great events! 

Keep reading to discover museum pop-ups, FREE live music, and even happy hour at a tech incubator 

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Pop-Up Museum: Your D.C. Stories 1968 – 2018, 12-4pm at Anacostia Neighborhood Library (1800 Good Hope Rd SE). A Pop-Up Museum is a one-day show created by you. Share your stories, save your family treasures and learn about D.C. happenings in 1968. Bring your yearbooks, church bulletins, posters, ticket stubs, family photos or other ephemera that highlights themes of art, activism, music, service and everyday life in D.C. FREE

Saturday, April 14, 2018

Trash Free Potomac Network, 9am-12pm at Congress Heights Community Training and Development Corporation (3215 Martin Luther Kings Jr Ave). This community clean up project runs through several neighbors and is organized by CHCTDC- Congress Heights Community Training and Development Corporation. FREE

Painta’ Day, at Congress Heights Arts & Culture Center (3200 MLK Avenue SE). Enjoy original music produced and performed by local artists, bands and DJs. Of course, original artwork, prints and Painta’s Apparel will be available for purchase. FREE

NSO In Your Neighborhood: Anacostia, 2-3pm at Anacostia Community Museum (1901 Fort Pl., SE). A taiko drumming performance kicks off the day, followed by Japanese music, and a US premiere of Okinawa’s NS Ryukyu Ballet Company. Enjoy face painting, make cherry blossom crafts, and go on a spring-themed scavenger hunt. FREE

Sunday, April 15, 2018

Anacostia River Festival, at Anacostia Park (Anacostia Drive & Good Hope Road SE). For a taste of local D.C., celebrate the Anacostia River and take a canoe out to explore the River, ride in our bike parade, play lawn games with your family and experience Southeast D.C.’s local arts scene at this special event. FREE

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Cleavisions: The Creative Entrepreneurs Networking Happy Hour, 6:30-8:30pm at the HIVE 2.0 (1231 Good Hope Rd SE). Join us for for a networking happy hour here at The Hive 2.0, Ward 8’s only co-working space and business incubation center. This event is for the dreamer, the artist, and the business owner in development. Come by for drinks, and good vibes! FREE

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Congress Heights 30th Anniversary, 12-2pm (2700 Martin Luther King Ave SE). The Ballou Knights of Ballou Senior High School present to you an eventful celebration.This will be open to the community and will contain entertainement such as bubble soccer , human chess and a game console station (PS4,Wii U,Xbox 1). Also we will display food dishes from local vendors that will be serving samples. All activities are FREE!

Panel & Film: “The New Thing Art & Architecture Center” with Topper Carew, 1:30-3:30pm at Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum (1901 Fort Place SE). Take part in a historic gathering of alumni of The New Thing Art & Architecture Center—a cutting-edge community-based arts and urban planning organization that operated in Adams Morgan from 1966-1973—for a film screening and panel discussion. FREE

Saturday, April 28, 2018

ACM 50th Anniversary Program: Block Watch Opening Reception, 12-2pm at Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum (1901 Fort Place SE). The public is invited to embed their own words and images related to their personal experiences of the community into the work’s three dimensional, collaged layers of drawings to create a tapestry of voices in vignettes throughout the bold, broad structural lines of the piece. FREE

Jazz Appreciation Month: Shaolin Jazz Live!, 2-4pm at Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum (1901 Fort Place SE). Shaolin Jazz founders, DJ 2-Tone Jones and Gerald Watson bring their unique blend of jazz, hip-hop, and rap fusion to the Anacostia Community Museum. FREE

Saturday, June 9, 2018

Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival, 12-8pm at Kingman & Heritage Islands Park (575 Oklahoma Ave NE). Join us on the Anacostia River in DC for the Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival with an incredible cast of local bluegrass, folk, and Americana artists for eight hours of music spread across multiple stages on beautiful Kingman Island. In addition to the incredible local tunes, the Festival will feature fun for all ages, including various outdoor activities, a kids’ zone, delicious food, beer, cocktails, and more. $25+

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