Free things to do in Washington, DC

Events the organizers list as free, Mon Oct 26 – Sun Nov 1.

Mon Oct 26

Monday Espresso Martini Nights at Lady Madison
Wine & Spirits · Espresso Martinis · 4 PM – 11:30 PM · Logan Circle
Tito’s After Brunch Rooftop Day Party at Don Tito
Day Party · 6 PM – 12 AM · Courthouse
American Mahjongg — Open Play
Game Night · Mahjongg · 6 PM · Downtown DC
Washington Psychotronic Film Society: November
Film · 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM · Logan Circle
Open Mic With ATTINSHIN Band
Open Mic · 7 PM – 12 AM · H Street
Pub Trivia at Red Bear Brewing Co
Trivia · 7 PM · H Street

Tue Oct 27

American Mahjongg — Open Play
Game Night · Mahjongg · Sold out · 1 PM · Shaw
Anacostia River Explorers Public Tour @ Yards Marina (Spooky Edition!)
Tour · 5 PM · Navy Yard
A Conversation with Petra Hůlová and Alex Zucker
Talk · Books · 6 PM · The Writer's Center
American Mahjongg — Open Play & Free Lessons
Game Night · Mahjongg · 6 PM · Downtown DC
39th Annual 17th Street High Heel Race
Game · Running · 6 PM – 10 PM · Dupont Circle
October Murder Book Club: Back for Blood
Book Club · 7 PM · Old Town

Wed Oct 28

DOL Community Garlic Planting Day
Class · Garlic · 9 AM – 1 PM · Hillbrook
National Archives Art and Architecture Tour
Tour · Art And Architecture · 2 PM · Penn Quarter
Casa De Cielo : Dinner Party | Latin House & Afro House
Dance Party · Latin House · 5 PM – 1 AM · Courthouse
APM Writing Workshop! FreeCommunity 26' OCTOBER
Class · 5:30 PM · Edgewood
Author Book Talk: How to Build an Undeniable Career in the Age of AI
Talk · Career · 6 PM · AWS Skills Center Arlington
YCW DC | U.S.-China Relations | A Conversation with Xiangwei Wang
Talk · 6 PM – 9 PM · Dacha Beer Garden (Shaw)

Thu Oct 29

Johns Hopkins Symposium on The Future of Academic Innovation
Talk · Academic Innovation · 8:30 AM – 7 PM · Penn Quarter
Taste at SLY Rooftop | Dinner, Rooftop Social & Thursday Night Football
Watch Party · Football · 4 PM – 12 AM · H Street
Haunted by Design | A Halloween & Harvest Wreath Workshop
Craft Workshop · Wreath Making · 4 PM · Downtown DC
AU Campus Arboretum Tour
Tour · Arboretum · 4:30 PM · Katzen Arts Center at American University
OUT OF YEARNING Book Launch at the American Poetry Museum
Books & Readings · Poetry · 5:30 PM · Edgewood
DC Backgammon Club at Yerevan Cafe
Game Night · Backgammon · 5:30 PM · Adams Morgan

Fri Oct 30

Community Tree Planting: Mount Olivet Cemetery
Volunteering · Tree Planting · 8 AM – 12 PM · Mt. Olivet Cemetery
Sustainable Landscapes Walking Tour
Tour · 9 AM · Arlington National Cemetery Welcome Center
The Spice Is Right
Class · 12 PM · Benning
National Archives Art and Architecture Tour
Tour · Art And Architecture · 2 PM · Penn Quarter
Washington: A Meridian of Artistic Modernity in the Americas opening
Museum & Gallery · Modern Art · 5:30 PM · National Mall
Closing Reception & Curatorial Tour: "Against All Odds"
Museum & Gallery · 6 PM · The DC Arts Center (DCAC)

Sat Oct 31

Nature Every Month: Haunted Trail Hike
Hike & Walk · 10 AM – 1 PM · Fort Stanton Park
Art Walk
Museum & Gallery · Art · 11 AM · Downtown DC
Paddle DMV's 5th Annual Witches & Warlocks Paddle
Beach & Water · 11 AM · George Washington Memorial Parkway
Bites and Bikes DC - Fries Ride
Group Ride · Cycling · 11:30 AM – 4:30 PM · Logan Circle
Scrapbooking the Stars
Craft Workshop · Scrapbooking · 12 PM – 3 PM · Langdon
Pumpkin Painting: Creative Minds
Art Class · Pumpkin Painting · 12 PM – 3 PM · Fort Stanton Park

Sun Nov 1

Mission:BRAIN Women in Neuroscience Global Symposium 2026
Talk · Neuroscience · 8 AM – 1 PM · Downtown DC
ELECTROPICO: World Sounds
Dance Party · Electronic · 12 PM – 6 PM · Ivy City
Archivistas in Conversation: Holding and Mobilizing Latinx Stories
Talk · Latinx Stories · 2 PM · Columbia Heights
FREE BOXING/KickBoxing/Self Defense Training
Lesson · Boxing & MMA · Sold out · 3:30 PM · 2500 Georgia Ave NW, Near Banneker Park. Track and Field Location
B&N Georgetown History Book Club
Book Club · History · 4 PM · Georgetown
Día De Los Muertos Celebration - An Evening Picnic!
Festival · Latin · 5 PM – 8 PM · Ashton Heights
All things to do in Washington, DC