DC’s Art All Night, an annual celebration of visual and performing arts, is back on September 27 and 28.
This free outdoor celebration runs late at night, starting at 7 p.m. both nights and ending at 3 a.m. During that time, attendees will find artistic activations such as performing arts, painting, photography, sculpture, and more distributed throughout all eight of DC’s wards.
Art All Night began in 2011. Over the years, it grew to include over 20 neighborhoods in 2023. Last year’s event drew more than 180,000 attendees.
“Art All Night brings our community together in a celebration of creativity and culture that defines the artistic and innovative energy of DC,” said DC Mayor Muriel Bowser. “From live performances to pop-up galleries and delicious food, there’s something for everyone. It showcases the talent and ingenuity that make our city special, while bringing new foot traffic to small and local businesses in the District of Columbia.”
The event is a collaboration between the DC Department of Small and Local Business Development, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Department, DC Public Library, the DC Main Streets programs, and the Business Improvement Districts.
You can plan your night by checking out lists of activations, organized by neighborhood. There’s also an online map showing each of the activations.
Dine All Night
Going hand-in-hand with Art All Night is Dine All Night, a newer initiative that began last year. Running through September 29, the dining event includes special menu items and experiences at restaurants throughout the city.
Some participating restaurants include DCity Smokehouse, Dauphine’s in downtown, and Irregardless on H Street.
Bowser kicked off Dine All Night last week, at a pop-up Asian food market in downtown DC.
“This pop-up and Dine All Night are really celebrations of our community, of our people, and of the creativity that makes DC a world-class city,” Bowser said. “Whether it’s these events, or Art All Night, or Theatre Week, or Fiesta DC — I know that there are a lot of people working behind the scenes to create great experiences. I’m grateful for those efforts, and I encourage all of us to go and support our creative community.”
Feature image courtesy DC Department of Small and Local Business Development
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