Free and Cheap Fall Festivities in DC

Billy Goat Trail at Great Falls

It literally smells like fall outside. I can't name the smell, but it's just FALL! Here are my  7 highest priority cheap and free things in DC to do now that the heat has lifted and fall is here!!
{click "read the whole post" for the full list}


District Flea
Dates: Now through October 19
Cost: Free
Where: 945 Florida Ave (.4 mile walk from U Street Metro)
What: Brooklyn Flea and DC teamed up to bring us the best in vintage, antique, jewelry, furniture, art, etc. DC is getting too cool yall.
Must: Get my colorful DC neighborhood map from Cherry Blossom Creative

Meridian Park Drum Circle
Dates: Now through the weather stops it
Cost: Free
Where: Meridian Hill Park (.6 mile from Columbia Heights Metro)
What: A bunch of people bring drums, dance, and go for it. It's BYOD (Bring Your Own Drum), and the requirements for "drum" are pretty loose. I saw a guy banging on a pot last time.
Must: Bring a picnic and enjoy!

Jumbo's Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze
Dates: Now - November 1
Cost: LivingSocial has a deal for 4 tickets for $20 here
Where: Middletown, MD. I know it's far but the livingsocial deal makes it worth it! Reliving childhood!!
What: Pumpkins, corn mazes, hay rides, essentially my midwest childhood
Must: Get the BIGGEST pumpkin (or be like me when I was little and get the ugliest pumpkin because you know no one else will pick it and you feel bad)

Columbia Heights Day
Date: October 5
Cost: Free
Where: 11th & Kenyon NW
What: tons of food trucks, non-profits, vendors, bands, free yoga at 10 a.m.
Must: All the food trucks. All of them.

Taste of DC 2012

Taste of DC
Dates: October 12-13
Cost: $10/admission + food tickets
Where: Pennsylvania Ave NW @ 9th-14th Streets (off the Metro Center stop)
What: Almost 100 of DC's best restaurants gather for us to sample all of their amazing food, plus live music, plus beer.
Must: This is where I discovered chocolate covered bacon and all kinds of new restaurants. Amazingness everywhere. Beer trucks. Everything. This. Is. Everything.


Hiking at Great Falls Park
Dates: All year but you gotta take advantage of the fall foliage (I know, I know)
Cost: FREE
Where: Right off the GW Parkway in VA. It's so beautiful. 20 mins from DC
What: Hiking, nature, FALL FOLIAGE
Must: billy goat trail

DC Drag Queen Race
Date: October 29
Cost: FREE (so get there early to get a spot!)
Where: Dupont Circle (17th streetish)
What: DC's finest drag queen racing in high heels
Must: See the mayor being all greasy and awkward around the ladiez. You just have to go. Plus this is a DC tradition. You just have to.