Smithsonian Music

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Smithsonian Craft2Wear

Smithsonian Sponsored Events The Smithsonian Craft2Wear show and sale celebrates the work of excellent American artists in wearable craft and design with fine artisan-made clothing, leather goods, jewelry, and accessories. Proceeds will benefit the programs and museums of the Smithsonian. Sponsor: Special Smithsonian Event. Co-sponsor: Smithsonian Women's Committee. Venue: American Latino Museum. Event Location: 900 Jefferson Dr. SW, Washington, DC (former Arts and Industries Building). Cost: General Admission $20 (single day) Multi-Day Ticket $45.00. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianinstitution.ticketspice.com/2026-craft2wear-show. Categories: Shopping/Book Signing. Sunday, September 27, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. For more info visit smithsoniancraftshow.org.

Old Town's African American History

All Programs Founded in 1749, Alexandria, Virginia, was a major American port that was home to both the country’s largest slave-trading firm and a large free Black community. Local guide John Chapman leads a walking tour of the city’s OId Town neighborhood that takes in sites connected to this history, including a former office of slave traffickers, the site of a slave jail, and Shiloh Baptist Church, one of Alexandria’s original African American churches. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: Tour meets at 1315 Duke St, Alexandria, VA. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/old-towns-african-american-history-1CWC11?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Sunday, September 27, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.

Intermediate Oil Painting- In Person

All Programs Expand on your technical background and grow your practice as an oil painter. This class provides students with the opportunity to work on personal projects, set up a still-life arrangement, and explore figure painting from a live model. Unfurl your style with support and feedback from the instructor. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/intermediate-oil-painting-1E0AQW?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Sunday, September 27, 2026, 10:15 AM – 1:15 PM.

Beginning Drawing

All Programs This introductory course teaches the basic skills needed for drawing. Working with a variety of materials and techniques, including charcoal and pencils, students explore the rendering of geometric forms, volume, and perspective, with an emphasis on personal gesture marks. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/beginning-drawing-1E0APN?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/beginning-drawing-1E0APN?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Sunday, September 27, 2026, 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM.

Collecting National Memories: Celebrating 10 Years at NMAAHC Pathway Tour Vol. 1

One-Time Events In celebration of NMAAHC's 10th Anniversary the Office of Visitor and Guest Services is pleased to present our special guided program, Collecting National Memories: Celebrating 10 Years at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.   This pathway experience explores 5 stops throughout the exhibitions on levels C3, C2, and C1 of the History Galleries.   At each stop, a historical object, event, figure, or idea will be examined, and an open discussion question will be prompted   This program meets in A Century in the Making exhibition, located on the Concourse level. Sponsor: African American History and Culture Museum. Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: NMAAHC-Concourse. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Sunday, September 27, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM.

Welcome Home: 10th Anniversary Community Weekend at the Museum

One-Time Events Friday, September 25–Sunday, September 27, 2026 Join us to celebrate 10 years of the National Museum of African American History and Culture with a weekend full of music, dance, art, family activities, food, and community. Visitors of all ages are welcome to gather, create, move, and make memories together during special daytime programs for the Museum’s 10th Anniversary. Welcome Home: 10th Anniversary Community Weekend at the Museum is part of the larger celebration, The Reunion. Throughout the weekend, you can experience the joy, creativity, and connections that make the Museum a place for everyone to come together, reflect, and celebrate. THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND, Special 10th Anniversary Menu Experience, Sweet Home Café Celebrate the Museum’s milestone through food and flavor with a special 10th Anniversary menu experience at Sweet Home Café.   10th Anniversary Merchandise, Museum Store Commemorate the Museum’s first decade with special 10th Anniversary merchandise available in the Museum Store throughout… Sponsor: African American History and Culture Museum. Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: NMAAHC - Multiple Locations. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://tickets.si.edu/nmaahc/events/01a02edf-8a33-9484-ab91-9c3a7f22976e?tg=01a02edf-8a36-287a-906d-83528b935350. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families. Demonstrations. Shopping/Book Signing. Workshops. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible. Sunday, September 27, 2026, 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM.

Hispanic Heritage Month Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa

American Latino Museum Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History. This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition. During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.… Sponsor: American Latino Museum. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hispanic-heritage-guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1997060151673?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa. Sunday, September 27, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM. For more info visit latino.si.edu.

Paint, Scoop, and Preserve: Make Sweet Memories

One-Time Events For: Ages 7 and Up Create something sweet while discovering the links between food, memories, and family traditions. This guided painting activity invites visitors to make art inspired by their stories and special family memories, all while enjoying frozen treats. Creating memories is as easy as 1, 2 ,3! Choose a canvas curated by Charlecia Joy of Stapledon Arts celebrating family heirlooms, traditions, and storytelling. (Multiple designs will be available), Dive into a guided painted journey designed to help you create treasured family memories.  Enjoy a scoop (or two) of ice cream from Goodies Frozen Custard and Treats while you create a masterpiece. Perfect for all skill levels – 7 years old and up. No experience necessary.  All supplies will be provided. Sponsor: African American History and Culture Museum. Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: Second Floor Classrom. Cost: Free; Registration Encouraged. Get Tickets/Register: https://tickets.si.edu/nmaahc/events/01a01af6-c153-6944-e4f2-5d7b546b9a27. Categories: Kids & Families. Celebrations. Culinary Arts. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Wheelchair accessible. Sunday, September 27, 2026, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM.

Beyond the Studio Workshop: Moss Art with Daphne Lee of Potahto

One-Time Events SOLD OUT Create a hanging wall art piece with local artist and entrepreneur Daphne Lee of Potahto. Attendees will choose from several types of preserved moss and other materials to construct their own artwork. Perfect for those with or without a green thumb, this craft requires zero watering. Watch your artwork thrive long after the workshop. Please note that space is limited for this program and registration is required. Participants must register by 7 p.m. ET on September 13.  Photo courtesy of the artist. Sponsor: Smithsonian American Art Museum. Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: MacMillan Education Center. Cost: SOLD OUT. Get Tickets/Register: https://events.blackthorn.io/5f4ZMUx7/5a2bVR3sQOn. Categories: Workshops. Sunday, September 27, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Introduction to Pointed-Pen Calligraphy

All Programs This elegant script, commonly known as copperplate, is unmatched in its usefulness for social stationery. Beginning with basic tools and mechanics, students discover how to develop their skills and to recognize the small details that make this style of writing so appealing. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/introduction-to-pointed-pen-calligraphy?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/introduction-to-pointed-pen-calligraphy?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Sunday, September 27, 2026, 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM.

Hispanic Heritage Month Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa

American Latino Museum Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History. This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition. During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.… Sponsor: American Latino Museum. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hispanic-heritage-guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1997060151673?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa. Sunday, September 27, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM. For more info visit latino.si.edu.

Public Curator Tour: In Celebration of Our Hispanic Heritage

One-Time Events In commemoration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Taína Caragol, Senior Curator of Painting and Sculpture, will explore portraits that showcase the contributions of the Latino community to U.S. history and culture. Sponsor: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: G Street Lobby. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/curator-tour-in-celebration-of-our-hispanic-heritage-tickets-1995776030833?aff=ebdsoporgprofile. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Sunday, September 27, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

The Seoul Guardians

Films Joie Chen, an Emmy-winning anchor and correspondent formerly of CNN, Al Jazeera, and CBS News will join directors Kim Jong-woo, Kim Shin-wan, and Cho Chul-young for an onstage conversation after the screening.  Watch the Trailer On the night of December 3, 2024, then-president Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in Korea. He banned all political activities and public assemblies and sent troops to the National Assembly building to seize control. The Seoul Guardians plunges you into the political chaos of that night, with codirecting by three journalists who were there. Lawmakers rush to pass a bill ending martial law as ordinary citizens band together to hold off the soldiers sent to take the building. The winner of multiple film festival awards, this stirring documentary resonates with audiences around the world with its message that democracy is fragile and must be defended. Directors: Kim Jong-woo, Kim Shin-wan, and Cho Chul-young. Country: Korea. Released: 2026. Length: 70 min. Format: DCP. Language:… Sponsor: Asian Art Museum. Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-seoul-guardians-tickets-1994888016759?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Films. Lectures & Discussions. Accessibility: Captioning. Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices. Sunday, September 27, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

Paint, Scoop, and Preserve: Make Sweet Memories

One-Time Events For: Ages 7 and Up Create something sweet while discovering the links between food, memories, and family traditions. This guided painting activity invites visitors to make art inspired by their stories and special family memories, all while enjoying frozen treats. Creating memories is as easy as 1, 2 ,3! Choose a canvas curated by Charlecia Joy of Stapledon Arts celebrating family heirlooms, traditions, and storytelling. (Multiple designs will be available), Dive into a guided painted journey designed to help you create treasured family memories.  Enjoy a scoop (or two) of ice cream from Goodies Frozen Custard and Treats while you create a masterpiece. Perfect for all skill levels – 7 years old and up. No experience necessary.  All supplies will be provided. Sponsor: African American History and Culture Museum. Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: Second Floor Classrom. Cost: Free; Registration Encouraged. Get Tickets/Register: https://tickets.si.edu/nmaahc/events/01a01af6-c153-6944-e4f2-5d7b546b9a27. Categories: Kids & Families. Celebrations. Culinary Arts. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Wheelchair accessible. Sunday, September 27, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

Shuck, Taste, & Discover: The Legacy of Black Watermen

One-Time Events Join Gardner Douglas, founder of S.S. Shucking, for an interactive oyster shucking and tasting workshop exploring the historic maritime legacy of African American watermen. Participants will engage in a live shucking demonstration and a guided tasting to experience the unique flavor profiles of regional oysters. With hands-on guidance, Gardner will introduce safe shucking techniques and oyster anatomy, while museum staff share insights into how emancipated African Americans utilized the 19th-century Chesapeake oyster boom to build community autonomy and financial independence. Your ticket includes a fresh selection of oysters to shuck and enjoy, along with a professional oyster knife and protective gloves to take home! In this workshop you will:Learn how to safely shuck oysters like a pro. Master proper knife technique and hand placement. Discover the difference between wild and farmed oysters.  Learn about the legacy of African American watermen. For inquiries, please contact NMAAHCEngage@si.edu. Sponsor: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: Galeria at La Cosecha, 1280 4th St NE, Washington, DC 20002. Cost: This event has sold out. Categories: Demonstrations. Culinary Arts. Lectures & Discussions. Workshops. Sunday, September 27, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

Figure Drawing - In Person

All Programs In this intermediate-level class, students revisit fundamentals of human anatomy and experiment with techniques and approaches. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/figure-drawing?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Sunday, September 27, 2026, 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM.

Collecting National Memories: Celebrating 10 Years at NMAAHC Pathway Tour Vol. 1

One-Time Events In celebration of NMAAHC's 10th Anniversary the Office of Visitor and Guest Services is pleased to present our special guided program, Collecting National Memories: Celebrating 10 Years at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.   This pathway experience explores 5 stops throughout the exhibitions on levels C3, C2, and C1 of the History Galleries.   At each stop, a historical object, event, figure, or idea will be examined, and an open discussion question will be prompted   This program meets in A Century in the Making exhibition, located on the Concourse level. Sponsor: African American History and Culture Museum. Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: NMAAHC-Concourse. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Sunday, September 27, 2026, 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM.

Masterworks of Five Centuries Series

All Programs The 50th season of the Smithsonian Chamber Music Society features musical masterpieces from the first decade of the 17th century to the early 21st, played on some of the world’s most highly prized musical instruments in an 7-concert series. This concert features music of Georg Philipp Telemann with the Smithsonian Academy Orchestra. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: National Museum of American History Nicholas and Eugenia Taubman Hall of Music. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/scms-masterworks-1P0917?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Performances. Sunday, September 27, 2026, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM.

Garden Play: Food!

Smithsonian Gardens Join Smithsonian Gardens in the Food Garden (located in the former Victory Garden space) at the National Museum of American History on Monday, September 28 from 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM. This month’s program theme is food! Explore where our food comes from with a story time, hands-on activities, and garden exploration. And be sure to check out the nearby Growing Tomorrow garden exhibition about food for the future.   Location: Find us in the Food Garden on the east side of the National Museum of American History, near 12th Street, NW. About Garden Play Garden Play is designed for children ages two and up and their caregivers and families. Activities are designed with early learners in mind, but children of all ages are welcome. Parents and guardians must remain with their children. Please come prepared for an outdoor experience. Wildlife and insects, including bees and mosquitoes, are a part of our gardens. Participants are encouraged to bring water, sun protection, their own snacks, and are welcome to bring… Sponsor: Smithsonian Gardens. Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: The Food Garden at the National Museum of American History (Located in the former Victory Garden on the east side of the museum). Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Growing Tomorrow. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Monday, September 28, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM.

Portrait Gallery Kids

Ongoing Tours & Activities Children and families are invited to learn, play and create at the Portrait Gallery! Join educators every Monday as we explore a variety of topics and artistic materials. Participants will get a closer look at art with hands-on activities, music and story times. Portrait Gallery Kids is a fun way to engage with art and each other. Sponsor: Portrait Gallery. Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. No Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-portrait-gallery-kids-tickets-654254040447?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile. Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops. Monday, September 28, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

Artful Mind, Tranquil Mind

All Programs Artists throughout the world have developed practices to center themselves and prepare for making art. During this tranquil midday break, students explore techniques such as mark making with lines, swirls, and puddles and using paper to experiment with folding and tearing. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/artful-mind-tranquil-mind?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/artful-mind-tranquil-mind?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Monday, September 28, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.

Figures and Fashion in Watercolor and Ink

All Programs This class is for students wanting to master the standing figure and explore dynamic ways to dress it up. Experiment with rendering various fabrics such as satin, velvet, and sheers. Students are invited to try mixed-media options in addition to ink and watercolor. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/figures-and-fashion-in-watercolor-and-ink?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/figures-and-fashion-in-watercolor-and-ink?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Monday, September 28, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.

Introduction to Watercolor

All Programs Beginning students explore watercolor techniques and learn new approaches to painting through demonstration, discussion, and experimentation. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/introduction-to-watercolor-1E0APL?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/introduction-to-watercolor-1E0APL?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Monday, September 28, 2026, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM.

Color Theory and Practice

All Programs Explore the basics of color theory, including temperature, value, and harmony-creating color schemes. In hands-on projects, learn to use a color wheel with tinting and toning, color charts, and color harmony studies. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/color-theory-and-practice?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/color-theory-and-practice?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Monday, September 28, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.

Notre-Dame in Color

All Programs The Gothic sculptures on Notre-Dame’s portals were once vividly polychromed, with prophets in azurite, red ochre, and malachite, and angels and saints brightened with rosy flesh tones. The 2019 fire, though destructive, opened an unprecedented window for researchers to study these surviving pigments. Learn how historian Jennifer M. Feltman, a leading American specialist and member of the restoration team, is investigating this lost color scheme and helping guide an international project to reconstruct the portals’ original appearance. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit). Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/notre-dame-in-color?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/notre-dame-in-color?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Monday, September 28, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:15 PM.

Play Date at NMNH: Dive into the Deep Sea

One-Time Events Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators! This Tuesday will be all about taking a closer look at what life is like in the deep sea at the bottom of the ocean! Even though it is very dark (except for the bioluminescent animals), the deepest parts of the ocean are still full of life.  Together we will learn about some of the unique animals that have adapted to live in the deep sea, make artwork inspired by the deep sea, and have the chance to see specimens that once lived at the bottom of the ocean! The event is part of our drop-in program, Play Date at NMNH. Play Date at NMNH is a program designed for early learners (ages 0-5) and their caregivers and families. Activities are designed with early learners in mind, but all ages are welcome. Location: This program is held in the Explorer Theater in the Sant Ocean Hall. Ocean Hall is on the 1st floor. Please note that space is dependent on the location of that week's event. Some locations have less capacity than others. It is… Sponsor: Natural History Museum. Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, Explorer Theater in the Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Tuesday, September 29, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.

Drop In Talk: Flak-Bait: A Story of Survival from World War II

One-Time Events The Martin B-26B Marauder Flak-Bait survived over 200 missions during World War II, the most flown by any American aircraft. After many years of storage and partial display, the National Air and Space Museum is now preserving the artifact to reveal the amazing stories of the people that built, maintained, flew, and fought in Flak-Bait. These events are free, but you must have free timed entry tickets to the Museum on the day of the program. Sponsor: Air and Space Museum. Venue: Air and Space Museum. Event Location: Futures in Space Gallery 109. Cost: Free; PLUS tickets to museum required (tickets are free, but you must have them to enter the museum). Get Tickets/Register: https://tickets.si.edu/airandspace/events/6d1e05f3-10d1-78d0-60aa-bf3b24f4bdb8?tg=5fa3003d-17e5-edf1-0d69-4a9d37c0de63. Categories: Shopping/Book Signing. Gallery Talks & Tours. Lectures & Discussions. Tuesday, September 29, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM. For more info visit airandspace.si.edu.

Beginning Tapestry Weaving - In Person

All Programs Dip your toe into the world of weaving and create a miniature woven tapestry on a small frame loom after you learn techniques to manipulate the yarn to make stripes and shapes and mix colors. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/beginning-tapestry-weaving?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Tuesday, September 29, 2026, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM.

Playful Perspective in Watercolor

All Programs Learn the rules. Lose the ruler. Perspective drawing has never been this expressive and joyful. Designed for students of all levels. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/playful-perspective-in-watercolor?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/playful-perspective-in-watercolor?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Tuesday, September 29, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.

Research Conversations: The Post Office and the Rise of Photography with Natalie Pellolio

One-Time Events Since the early decades of photography, practitioners have relied on a growing international postal system to send photographs, materials, and information about technological developments to recipients near and far. The official announcement of the invention of photography in 1839 occurred just six years before the landmark Postal Act of 1845, in which the United States Congress reduced postage rates to allow the mail to be, for the first time, an affordable form of communication for most Americans. Central to the history of photography though rarely discussed within it, the mail facilitated the production of photographs and proved a key agent in the evolution of the photograph from a singular and costly object to a reproducible and disseminable image.    Natalie Pellolio is a Visiting Professor in the History of Art and Visual Culture department at California College of the Arts. She received her B.A. in Art History at Reed College in 2009 and her Ph.D. in Art & Art History at Stanford University in 2018. Sh… Sponsor: Postal Museum. Event Location: ZOOM. Cost: Free, but registration is required. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4GIZeq1vS8if75oqnc5SOg. Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Accessibility: Captioning. Tuesday, September 29, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM.

Paris: A Virtual Adventure

All Programs The storyline of Paris can be followed along the banks of its iconic River Seine. On both the Right Bank and the Left, evidence of the city's 2,000-year history, the figures who shaped it across the centuries, and the artistic and architectural movements that originated here can be seen. In a 2-part series, journey with freelance travel writer Barbara Noe Kennedy as you discover intriguing sites, historical aspects, and art in this virtual exploration using maps, photos, and videos. This session focuses on the Right Bank of Paris. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/paris-virtual?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/paris-virtual?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Tuesday, September 29, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM.

Enid A. Haupt Garden Tour

Smithsonian Gardens Take your morning break with us in the garden! Meet one of our knowledgeable volunteers by the tour sign outside the South entrance to the Smithsonian Castle in the Enid A. Haupt Garden. No reservation is required. Tours may be subject to cancellation in the event of inclement weather. See gardens.si.edu/plan-your-visit/events/ for the most up-to-date information. Sponsor: Smithsonian Gardens. Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: The tour begins inside the garden near the South entrance to the Smithsonian Castle. Cost: Free Tours may be subject to cancellation in the event of inclement weather. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM.

Apples of Uncommon Character

All Programs From the explosively crisp Pixie Crunch to the dark and moody Kingston Black, the lychee-scented King of the Pippins, and America’s oldest apple, the Roxbury Russet, the apple may be the most diverse food plant in the world. Rowan Jacobsen, author of Apples of Uncommon Character, explores some of the most exotic, colorful, delicious, mysterious, and downright strange apples you’ll ever meet. Profiling some of the best and brightest, the oddballs and old veterans, Jacobsen tells the tale of the apple in America and reveals a world every bit as magical as it was over a century ago. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/apples-of-uncommon-character?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/apples-of-uncommon-character?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM.

Bach's Mass in B Minor: A Cathedral of Spirituality and Sound

All Programs Bach’s Mass in B Minor evolved through the composer’s last years as his ultimate musical and religious testament. Set by a fervent Lutheran to the text of the Roman Catholic Mass, the work is universal in its spiritual appeal and its musical scope and is considered among the greatest creations of the human mind and spirit. Singer and Bach expert Thierry van Bastelaer explores the history, structure, and meaning of the Mass, illustrated by musical and video examples offered by some of today’s most historically informed and thrilling artists. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/bachs-mass-in-b-minor?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/bachs-mass-in-b-minor?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:15 PM.

James Wilson: The Lost Founding Father

All Programs Drawing on his new book, The Lost Founder: James Wilson and the Forgotten Fight, New York Times journalist Jesse Wegman, examines the legacy of a brilliant yet overlooked architect of American democracy. Wilson’s arguments for independence influenced Jefferson, and he drafted the Constitution’s first version, adding “We the people” to affirm popular sovereignty. Though later a Supreme Court justice, financial collapse obscured Wilson’s impact, which Wegman sees as central to the nation’s founding ideas. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/james-wilson?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/james-wilson?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Webcasts & Online. Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:00 PM.

Portrait Painting in Oil and Acrylic

All Programs Learn how to paint expressive portraits as you improve your observational skills, ability to see angles and shapes, and understanding of color and value. The class emphasizes how to define a subject’s unique features by determining shapes of light and shadow. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/portrait-painting?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/portrait-painting?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM.

ONLINE | Quilt Along: Border by Margaret Wood

One-Time Events Reflect on the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the ever-evolving nature of the country, communities, and future we share through a Native lens by participating in a free Quilt Along hosted by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. This five-month, mystery-style quilt along invites quilters and anyone interested in quilting to sew along. You don’t need to be an expert quilter to participate. Each month from June to October 2026, the museum will release a new block pattern, followed by a border pattern and finishing instructions, to create a commemorative wall hanging. Learn more and sign up for updates. The border is designed by Margaret Wood. Wood's border design addresses the theme of Always Becoming. The pattern will be revealed on the museum's Quilt Along page and social media channels at 10 AM ET. Join the conversation on Facebook (link to come) to share your tips and tricks or learn from experienced quilters as you complete your quilt. … Sponsor: American Indian Museum. Event Location: Online only. Cost: Participation and patterns are free; materials not included. Categories: Webcasts & Online. Thursday, October 1, 2026. For more info visit americanindian.si.edu.

Hispanic Heritage Month Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa

American Latino Museum Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History. This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition. During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.… Sponsor: American Latino Museum. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hispanic-heritage-guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1997060151673?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa. Thursday, October 1, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM. For more info visit latino.si.edu.

Jazzing the Classics: The Enduring Influence of American Jazz on Classical Music

All Programs European classical composers developed a brief but passionate fascination with American jazz in the early 20th century. In a four-session course, pianist and speaker Rachel Franklin uses live demonstrations and archival film to trace jazz’s roots and its electrifying impact on Paris before and after World War I, inspiring Ravel, Milhaud, and Stravinsky. She follows jazz’s role as a symbol of freedom for Shostakovich, Krenek, and Walton, concluding in the U.S. with Copland, Gershwin, and others who were inspired by jazz while struggling to come to terms with its identity as a complex, home-grown African American artform. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/jazzing-classics?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/jazzing-classics?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Thursday, October 1, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.

Hispanic Heritage Month Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa

American Latino Museum Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History. This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition. During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.… Sponsor: American Latino Museum. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hispanic-heritage-guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1997060151673?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa. Thursday, October 1, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM. For more info visit latino.si.edu.

ASL After Five

One-Time Events A Deaf Community Mixer Catch up with old friends and make new ones as you enjoy drinks and light fare in the museum's magnificent Great Hall. ASL Gallery talks begin at 6:15 p.m. Voice will be interpretation provided. Sponsor: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Great Hall, Third Floor. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Categories: After Five. Thursday, October 1, 2026, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM.

Special Edition – First Thursdays: Come Look with Us

One-Time Events Wind down after work with educators from the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum as they share their favorite portraits. Participants will enjoy close looking and engage in conversations about artworks on view that highlight women. Sponsor: Portrait Gallery. Smithsonian American Women's History Museum. Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: G Street Lobby. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/special-edition-first-thursdays-come-look-with-us-tickets-1995780672717?aff=ebdsoporgprofile. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Thursday, October 1, 2026, 5:30 PM – 6:15 PM.

Introduction to Music Theory

All Programs Learn the language and elements of musical notation and composition in this interactive online course led by music educator and conductor Ernest Johnson. He guides exercises and assignments geared to developing the foundation every musician needs: the aural and visual understanding of pitch, rhythm, harmony and form. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/introduction-to-music-theory?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/introduction-to-music-theory?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Thursday, October 1, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.

Great Valley Gathering

“Of the People” Festivals The Great Valley Gathering is a free, three-day public event celebrating the living traditions, music, dance, storytelling, craft, and foodways that shape California’s Central Valley. Produced by the Alliance for California Traditional Arts and rooted in the region’s rich agricultural history, the festival highlights a broad range of cherished expressions from diverse communities—Indigenous, immigrant, occupational, sacred, and more. Sponsor: Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Categories: Performances. Workshops. Culinary Arts. Demonstrations. Kids & Families. Cost: Free. Event Location: Fresno, California. Friday, October 2, 2026 – Sunday, October 4, 2026. Courthouse Park Fresno, CA. For more info visit gathering.actaonline.org.

Enid A. Haupt Garden Tour

Smithsonian Gardens Enjoy a fall Friday in the Enid A. Haupt Garden with one of our knowledgeable volunteers or staff for a free garden tour! Discover the history of this urban oasis and explore the new Garden Time Machine installation, part of the Growing Tomorrow exhibition. Tours are offered each Friday in October at 10:00 a.m. and run approximately 40 minutes. Sponsor: Smithsonian Gardens. Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: The tour begins inside the garden near the south entrance to the Smithsonian Castle. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Friday, October 2, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM.

Big Moments, Little Stories

One-Time Events Join us at the Anacostia Community Museum for a cozy story time that brings children, caregivers, and community together through books, creativity, and play. Stories will connect with ACM’s current exhibition and celebrate themes of community, family, neighborhood, history, and the fall and winter seasons. Families are invited to stay for indoor play, creative exploration, and time to connect with one another. This welcoming, accessible program supports different ways of participating, with sensory toys and tools available for children who benefit from tactile, movement, or sensory experiences. Come in, get cozy, meet your neighbors, and share stories that remind us that we all have a place in our community’s story. Recommended Audience: 18 months – 7 years Time and Schedule: 10:30 a.m. Duration: About 1 hour. Sponsor: Anacostia Community Museum. Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Sunburst Lounge. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/big-moments-little-stories-storytime-and-sensory-play-tickets-1999723326300?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Kids & Families. Friday, October 2, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM.

Hispanic Heritage Month Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa

American Latino Museum Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History. This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition. During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.… Sponsor: American Latino Museum. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hispanic-heritage-guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1997060151673?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa. Friday, October 2, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM. For more info visit latino.si.edu.

Cooking Up History: The Global Journey of Macaroni and Cheese with Karima Moyer-Nocchi

One-Time Events Mac and cheese may be a beloved American classic, but its history spans oceans. Join culinary historian Karima Moyer-Nocchi, author of The Epic History of Macaroni and Cheese: From Ancient Rome to Modern America, for a conversation and live cooking demonstration. Moyer-Nocchi will demonstrate just one of the dish’s forms, macaroni pie, the unofficial national dish of Barbados. Through this program, we will explore how cooks across the Caribbean adapted ingredients, techniques, and flavors to new cultural and material realities and into a richly seasoned, sliceable dish. Bajan macaroni pie presents historical evidence of the creative ways cooks have transformed ingredients over time and offers a unique perspective on a classic comfort food and the cultural exchanges that have shaped it over generations. Copies of The Epic History of Macaroni and Cheese: From Ancient Rome to Modern America will be available for purchase, and Moyer-Nocchi will sign copies following the demonstration. Karima Moyer-Nocchi is a… Sponsor: American History Museum. Venue: American History Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Wallace H. Coulter Performance Plaza; 1 West. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cooking-up-history-the-global-journey-of-macaroni-and-cheese-tickets-1997167726432. Categories: Culinary Arts. Demonstrations. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Wheelchair accessible. Friday, October 2, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

A Horse's World

All Programs For at least 4,000 years, humans have treated horses as objects. But people have rarely considered the horse as a subject—an animal with a heart and mind that requires understanding. Janet L. Jones, a neuroscientist and horse trainer, offers a surprising overview of equine perception, memory, attention, and emotion so that participants can begin to understand who horses really are. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/horses-world?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/horses-world?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Friday, October 2, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.

Lifelong Learners: A Place to Perch

One-Time Events Get creative with Lifelong Learners during a relaxing birdhouse painting workshop! Participants will transform a wooden birdhouse into a colorful, one-of-a-kind creation to display on a patio, in a garden, or on a windowsill or use as a charming bird feeder. Enjoy an afternoon of creativity, connection, and self-expression while creating something special to take home. This program is part of our Lifelong Learners series, designed for adults seeking connection, creativity, and lifelong discovery. Sponsor: Anacostia Community Museum. Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Program Room. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lifelong-learners-a-place-to-perch-tickets-2001001845385?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Demonstrations. Workshops. Friday, October 2, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.

Artful Movement | SEL Webinar for Students K–3

Kids and Family Get ready to observe, chat, and move with art! In these webinars, students (grades K–3) will look carefully at a work of art through facilitated exploration. Then, they will breathe, stretch, and flow through a guided mindful movement. This month’s theme is “Autumn Leaves: Let Go and Change.” These sessions are perfect for families, homeschool groups, virtual schools, and teachers who may want to review a recording with their students after the live session. Everyone who registers gets a link to the recording. Each session includes American Sign Language interpretation. Sessions take place on Fridays from 1 to 1:30 p.m. We present these webinars in partnership with Create Calm. Sakai Oho (1808–1841); Japanese Maple and Autumn Plants (detail); Japan, early 19th century; ink and color on paper; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Collection, Purchase—Charles Lang Freer Endowment, F1976.10a–h. Sponsor: Asian Art Museum. Event Location: Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wNK3zBe8TsKlNHPLofHULw. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wNK3zBe8TsKlNHPLofHULw. Categories: Kids & Families. Webcasts & Online. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Friday, October 2, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.

Hispanic Heritage Month Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa

American Latino Museum Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History. This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition. During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.… Sponsor: American Latino Museum. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hispanic-heritage-guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1997060151673?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa. Friday, October 2, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM. For more info visit latino.si.edu.

Mid-Autumn Festival (NEW DATE)

“Of the People” Festivals The Mid-Autumn Festival dates back thousands of years as a seasonal celebration in several Asian cultures, focused on families and communities gathering to celebrate abundance under the Harvest Moon. In the Chinatown neighborhood of Philadelphia, Asian Americans United hosts an annual street festival with programming that includes lion dances, Korean drumming, folktale-based games, arts activities, and much more.  Due to a bad weather forecast for September 26, the event has been rescheduled to Saturday, October 3. Sponsor: Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Categories: Performances. Culinary Arts. Kids & Families. Workshops. Cost: Free. Event Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Saturday, October 3, 2026. Chinatown Philadelphia, PA. For more info visit www.aaunited.org.

FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand

One-Time Events The FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand returns for another farm stand season in 2026. This farm stand is direct-to-consumer located East of the River in Ward 8. The FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand takes place on the outdoor plaza of the Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum (1901 Fort Place, SE Washington, DC 20020) every Saturday (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) from April 18 - November 21, 2026.* You can learn more about what is happening at the farm stand from our friends over at FRESHFARM Markets. The FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand is generously supported by The Hillside Foundation - Allan and Shelley Holt. *Weather permitting. Be sure to follow the Anacostia Community Museum for updated information. Sponsor: Anacostia Community Museum. Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Plaza. Cost: Free to Attend. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/freshfarm-acm-farm-stand-tickets-1985418954539?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Shopping/Book Signing. Saturday, October 3, 2026, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.

Collage Flag Books - In Person

All Programs This workshop introduces you to the flag book, a dynamic structure developed by book artist Hedi Kyle. Built from a simple accordion fold, the flag book transforms into an interactive object that emphasizes movement, rhythm, and sequence as the pages are opened and viewed from different angles. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/collage-flag-books?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Saturday, October 3, 2026, 10:15 AM – 4:15 PM.

Watercolor Journeys: Travel Sketching

All Programs Learn how to capture your travels with flowing lines and painterly colors. Discover how to simplify a scene and to compose and draw more organically and confidently. This technique is perfect for studies, travel journals, and finished fine art. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/watercolor-journeys-travel-sketching-1E0ANT?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/watercolor-journeys-travel-sketching-1E0ANT?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Saturday, October 3, 2026, 10:15 AM – 4:15 PM.

Hispanic Heritage Month Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa

American Latino Museum Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History. This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition. During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.… Sponsor: American Latino Museum. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hispanic-heritage-guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1997060151673?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa. Saturday, October 3, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM. For more info visit latino.si.edu.

CANCELLED - Art Walk

One-Time Events Join the National Portrait Gallery every Saturday morning for a themed sketching tour featuring up to three portraits from the museum’s collection. During each session, Portrait Gallery educators will encourage participants to look closely, sketch what they see, and make connections. This program is designed for visitors of all ages, and no prior drawing experience is necessary. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. After the tour, participants are invited to continue creating in the Education Center through a hands-on artmaking activity. All art materials are provided by the National Portrait Gallery. Sponsor: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: G Street Lobby. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/art-walk-tickets-1995913274332?aff=ebdsoporgprofile. Categories: Kids & Families. Gallery Talks & Tours. Saturday, October 3, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM.

Beginner Embroidered Patch Workshop - In Person

All Programs Use basic stitches to create an embroidered patch to embellish a favorite jacket or pair of jeans. Learn how to prepare fabric with a simple design, then ready a hoop and begin stitching. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/beginner-embroidered-patch-workshop?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Saturday, October 3, 2026, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM.

CANCELLED - Art Studio

Ongoing Tours & Activities Calling all artists! Join the Portrait Gallery for a free, drop-in art program, where creativity knows no bounds. Every weekend, visitors of all ages are invited to explore a different artistic medium while drawing inspiration from the Portrait Gallery’s collections and exhibitions. On select weekends, learn from a featured guest artist, who will lead specialized workshops and share their expertise. To stay informed about upcoming guest artist workshops, please check the Portrait Gallery’s Eventbrite page. Sponsor: Portrait Gallery. Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. No Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-art-studio-tickets-1112707681629?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile. Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops. Saturday, October 3, 2026, 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

Crochet Kingpin’s Wearable Art

One-Time Events Join DC-native artist Dwayne Lawson-Brown aka “Crochet Kingpin” as he leads us in a workshop on the art of crocheting wearable art. The workshop is suited for ages 8 and up. Participants will learn the basics of Crocheting and have an opportunity to practice chains, single crochet, and double crochet. Feel free to bring your crochet works in progress. Experienced crocheters will receive a pattern for lace blossoms to explore and work on. Sponsor: Anacostia Community Museum. Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Program Room. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/crochet-kingpins-wearable-tickets-2001005259597?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops. Saturday, October 3, 2026, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM.

Introduction to Beading

All Programs In this class, learn to create handcrafted jewelry. This experience is perfect for students new to jewelry making and those with experience who want to refresh their skills. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/introduction-to-beading?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/introduction-to-beading?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Saturday, October 3, 2026, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

DC | Look, Learn, Create: "Water's Edge" for Families

One-Time Events Join a museum educator for a family-friendly interactive tour of the Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe exhibition! Visitors will engage with three of his artworks and can participate in guided discussions, and experience items from the museum's Teaching Collection. After finding inspiration from Truman Lowe’s artworks, families can continue into the imagiNATIONS Activity Center and create their own water-inspired artwork to take home. Recommended for children ages 4-10 and their families. All ages welcome. *Visitors 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. First come, first served, capacity and supplies are limited. **This program can accommodate approximately 30 young visitors and their adult caregiver. Leading support provided by Bank of America. Major support provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. Generous support provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art and Ameriprise Financial. Additional support provided by John and Meryl Lavine, Greg and Cathy Tibbles, and Leslie A. Wheelock. Sponsor: American Indian Museum. Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 3: Exhibition Gallery, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, October 3, 2026, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM.

Hispanic Heritage Month Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa

American Latino Museum Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History. This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition. During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.… Sponsor: American Latino Museum. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hispanic-heritage-guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1997060151673?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa. Saturday, October 3, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM. For more info visit latino.si.edu.

Hispanic Heritage Month Educator Open House

American Latino Museum Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with an afternoon of exploration, learning, and connection at the National Museum of the American Latino. Educators are invited to discover the museum's K-12 educational resources, engage with hands-on activities, and connect with museum staff to learn about field trips, classroom opportunities, and educational programming. Participants will enjoy a guided tour of ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa, explore the GM Learning Lounge, sample classroom activities and field trip workshops, and learn about resources available for students from elementary through high school. The afternoon also includes opportunities to speak directly with the museum's Learning and Public Engagement team and participate in an interactive drumming circle. All registered educators will receive an Educator Tote Bag filled with resources, books, and other giveaways to support teaching and learning. Schedule: 2:00 p.m.: Interactive Tour of ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa       2:30… Sponsor: American Latino Museum. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free, Registration Recommended. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hispanic-heritage-month-educator-open-house-tickets-2001094301925?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Workshops. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa. Saturday, October 3, 2026, 2:00 PM – 5:30 PM.

21st Century Consort: An Unsecret Garden

One time events FREE Registration recommended. As the Hirshhorn anticipates celebrating its newly revitalized Sculpture Garden’s opening at the end of October, the 21st Century Consort will mark this significant moment with a musical exploration of gardens and the life that unfolds within them. An Unsecret Garden invites audiences into a sonic experience where nature, art, memory, and imagination intertwine. Among the nature-inspired music presented in this program will be Arnold Schoenberg’s The Book of the Hanging Gardens, and Helen Grimes’s Aviary Sketches, inspired by Joseph Cornell’s Untitled: Aviary with Yellow Birds, currently on view in Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection, 1860–1960. Join Consort director Christopher Kendall at 4 PM, before the performance, for a discussion of the themes and music presented. Registration is required for this preconcert talk.   SCHEDULE 4 PM | Preconcert Talk (registration required) 5 PM | Performance   PROGRAM Arnold Schoenberg: The Book of the Hanging Gardens (1908–1909)… Sponsor: Hirshhorn Museum. Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Ring Auditorium. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.etix.com/ticket/e/1061029/21st-century-consortan-unsecret-garden-washington-hirshhorn-museum-and-sculpture-garden. Categories: After Five. Performances. Related Exhibition: Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection, 1860–1960. Saturday, October 3, 2026, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM.

This Land Is... Sunday Supper and Conversation Series

Spotlight Programs 5–6:30 p.m. PT The Huntington’s “This Land Is ...” initiative invites visitors to reflect on the American story through the lens of land, drawing from library, art, and botanical collections to spotlight relationships between place, U.S. history, and American identities. A series of four “Sunday Suppers” focuses on particular Los Angeles neighborhoods, diaspora communities, and native ingredients. Sponsor: Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Categories: Culinary Arts. Lectures & Discussions. Cost: TBA. Event Location: San Marino, California. Sunday, October 4, 2026. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens San Marino, CA. For more info visit www.huntington.org.

Sacred Stones: Two Iconic New York Cemeteries

All Programs They’re peaceful, they’re reverent, they combine history and biography with nature and stillness: Discover the rich history and autumn beauty of two of New York City’s well-known cemeteries— Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn and Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx—on a two-day tour. Your guide is Allison Meier, a New York–based writer, author of the book Grave, and licensed tour guide whose work explores urban history, cemeteries, and the cultural meaning of burial. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: Detailed information for overnight tours is emailed approximately FOUR WEEKS. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/sacred-stones-new-york-cemeteries?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Sunday, October 4, 2026, 8:00 AM – Monday, October 5, 2026, 8:00 PM.

Examining Cézanne's Architecture of Color: From Landscape to Figure - In Person

All Programs This immersive Smithsonian Studio Arts intensive explores the revolutionary visual language of Paul Cézanne through direct observation in the beautiful Enid A. Haupt Garden combined with an in-studio figurative painting session with a live model. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/examining-c-eacute-zanne-from-landscape-to-figure?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Sunday, October 4, 2026, 10:15 AM – 3:15 PM.

Hispanic Heritage Month Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa

American Latino Museum Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History. This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition. During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.… Sponsor: American Latino Museum. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hispanic-heritage-guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1997060151673?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa. Sunday, October 4, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM. For more info visit latino.si.edu.

Hispanic Heritage Month Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa

American Latino Museum Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History. This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition. During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.… Sponsor: American Latino Museum. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hispanic-heritage-guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1997060151673?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa. Sunday, October 4, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM. For more info visit latino.si.edu.

21st Century Consort: An Unsecret Garden

One time events FREE Registration recommended. As the Hirshhorn anticipates celebrating its newly revitalized Sculpture Garden’s opening at the end of October, the 21st Century Consort will mark this significant moment with a musical exploration of gardens and the life that unfolds within them. An Unsecret Garden invites audiences into a sonic experience where nature, art, memory, and imagination intertwine. Among the nature-inspired music presented in this program will be Arnold Schoenberg’s The Book of the Hanging Gardens, and Helen Grimes’s Aviary Sketches, inspired by Joseph Cornell’s Untitled: Aviary with Yellow Birds, currently on view in Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection, 1860–1960. Join Consort director Christopher Kendall at 4 PM, after the performance, for a discussion of the themes and music presented.   SCHEDULE 2 PM | Performance 4 PM | Post-concert Talk   PROGRAM Arnold Schoenberg: The Book of the Hanging Gardens (1908–1909) Helen Grimes: Aviary Sketches (2014)   Intermission   Caroline Shaw: Plan… Sponsor: Hirshhorn Museum. Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Ring Auditorium. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.etix.com/ticket/e/1061029/21st-century-consortan-unsecret-garden-washington-hirshhorn-museum-and-sculpture-garden. Categories: After Five. Performances. Related Exhibition: Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection, 1860–1960. Sunday, October 4, 2026, 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM.

Destiny

Films Live accompaniment by Kamyar Arsani with Kajwan Ziaoddini and Maya Renfro. Watch the Trailer This “bizarre and captivating . . . eerie dream of longing and fear” (Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian) was hailed by film scholar Tom Gunning as “one of the most perfectly crafted films of the Weimar cinema.” Fritz Lang’s silent-era masterpiece uses the nesting stories structure of The Thousand and One Nights and includes a section inspired by its tales. In Destiny, Death comes to a small German town in the figure of a mysterious stranger who builds an enormous walled garden for keeping souls. After spiriting away a young woman’s fiancé Death offers her a deal: if she can save her lover’s life in three alternate realities—ancient Persia, Renaissance Venice, and ancient China, he will return him to the living. Kamyar Arsani, a scholar of the daf (the Iranian frame drum) is an Iranian multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. Through his solo work and numerous collaborations, Arsani creates music across an array… Sponsor: Asian Art Museum. Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://1001nights.eventive.org/films. Categories: Films. Performances. Related Exhibition: From the Louvre: Masterpieces of Islamic Art. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Captioning. Assisted listening devices. Sunday, October 4, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:45 PM.

Spanish Language Docent Tour

One-Time Events Join the National Portrait Gallery for free Spanish language tours. Experience iconic art and learn from expert guides about the faces and stories that shaped the nation. Perfect for fluent speakers and language learners alike. The Portrait Gallery strives to provide programs that are accessible to all visitors. If you have any questions about the accessibility of this program, or require sign language interpretation or any other accommodations, please contact us. Sponsor: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: F Street Lobby. Cost: Free. No registration required. Categories: After Five. Gallery Talks & Tours. Sunday, October 4, 2026, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM.

Portrait Gallery Kids

Ongoing Tours & Activities Children and families are invited to learn, play and create at the Portrait Gallery! Join educators every Monday as we explore a variety of topics and artistic materials. Participants will get a closer look at art with hands-on activities, music and story times. Portrait Gallery Kids is a fun way to engage with art and each other. Sponsor: Portrait Gallery. Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. No Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-portrait-gallery-kids-tickets-654254040447?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile. Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops. Monday, October 5, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

Antiques in the Garden: Materials, Meanings, and the Making of Place

All Programs Gardens are at their most compelling when they carry more than plants: when they echo history, material presence, and the quiet authority of objects shaped by hand and weather. Design historian and passionate gardener Elizabeth Lay Little explores how selecting the right antique object can enhance a space whether your garden leans cottage or formal. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/antiques-in-garden?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/antiques-in-garden?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Monday, October 5, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM.

Iconography: Keepers of Secrets

All Programs In this final lecture in his series on iconography, art historian Noah Charney focuses attention on works that reveal their secrets only to the initiated. He traces the hidden messages, social satire, and political subtext embedded in The Ambassadors by Hans Holbein the Younger, Mr. and Mrs. Andrews by Thomas Gainsborough, and Giovanni Bellini’s enigmatic Sacred Allegory. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit). Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/iconography-keepers-of-secrets?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/iconography-keepers-of-secrets?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Monday, October 5, 2026, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM.

Understanding Time: The Physics That Makes the Universe Tick

All Programs While scientists have come a long way toward deciphering the laws of the universe, many of them still regard time as one of the greatest unsolved mysteries. Physicist Jim Al-Khalili explores questions such as whether time has a beginning and an end; why it points toward the future and not the past; and whether time is even real—which he argues that it is. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/understanding-time?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/understanding-time?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Monday, October 5, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM.

New York City in the Gilded Age: A Cultural History

All Programs The late 19th century in New York City was an era of exquisite mansions, palatial public buildings, and beautiful parks—magnificent markers of the Gilded Age. Yet the city was a study in dichotomies whose contrasting facets were noted in the writings of Edith Wharton and Henry James and exposed in the photographs of Jacob Riis. George Scheper, a lecturer at Johns Hopkins University, surveys this cultural panorama. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit). Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/new-york-city-in-gilded-age?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/new-york-city-in-gilded-age?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Monday, October 5, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.

Japanese Culture Through the Eyes of Studio Ghibli: Miyazaki, Takahata, and Beyond

All Programs The anime creations of Studio Ghibli in Japan have traversed the globe since it was founded in 1985. Linda Ehrlich, who has taught Asian studies and Japanese film for several universities, focuses on the artistic and cultural influences of two of the studio’s key films: Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi, 2001), directed by Miyazaki Hayao, and The Tale of Princess Kaguya (Kaguya-hime, 2013), directed by Takahata Isao. She also analyzes other Studio Ghibli films. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/studio-ghibli?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/studio-ghibli?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Monday, October 5, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:15 PM.

Introduction to Figure Drawing - In Person

All Programs This five-session course is an introduction to live figure drawing. Working with charcoal and graphite on paper, students become familiar with classical formats for figure drawing sessions. Through practice, demonstrations, and group discussions, students learn and gain confidence drawing human models. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/introduction-to-figure-drawing-1E0ARS?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Tuesday, October 6, 2026, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM.

Paris: A Virtual Adventure

All Programs The storyline of Paris can be followed along the banks of its iconic River Seine. On both the Right Bank and the Left, evidence of the city's 2,000-year history, the figures who shaped it across the centuries, and the artistic and architectural movements that originated here can be seen. In a 2-part series, journey with freelance travel writer Barbara Noe Kennedy as you discover intriguing sites, historical aspects, and art in this virtual exploration using maps, photos, and videos. This session focuses on the Left Bank of Paris. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/paris-virtual-1CV096?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/paris-virtual-1CV096?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Tuesday, October 6, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM.

The Hidden History of Washington's Cemeteries

All Programs Washington, D.C.’s cemeteries offer a revealing lens into the city’s layered history, where landscape design, architecture, and memory intersect. Carolyn Muraskin of DC Design Tours explores four distinctive burial grounds: Oak Hill Cemetery, Mount Zion Cemetery and Female Union Band Society Cemetery, Glenwood Cemetery, and Rock Creek Cemetery. By examining their design and symbolism and the lives they commemorate, Muraskin presents these sites not as static resting places but as dynamic cultural landscapes that continue to shape how we understand the city’s past. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/washingtons-cemeteries?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/washingtons-cemeteries?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Tuesday, October 6, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM.

ReelAbilities Rediscover Presentation: The Flying Ace

Spotlight Programs 7–9 p.m. ET Since its beginnings as a New York City film festival in 2007, ReelAbilities has grown into an international organization using disability-focused cinema year-round to improve storytelling, access, and opportunity. Its new Rediscover initiative uses landmark film to connect history, community, culture, and access through four interrelated pillars of partnership, programming, presentation, and perspective.  Featuring an all-Black cast, The Flying Ace (1926) is a silent drama about a World War I aviator who returns to his job as a railroad detective just as the paymaster and company payroll disappear. Among its most memorable performers is Steve “Peg” Reynolds, a Black amputee actor and stuntman playing an amputee character, a rarity on screen both then and now. GRAMMY Award-winning musician Matthew Whitaker and composer and musician Robert Derke are creating a new, partially improvised live score that responds to the film in real time. Sponsor: Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Films. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://events.iu.edu/bfca/event/2401711-the-flying-ace-richard-e-norman-1926-centennial. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Captioning. Audio description. Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible. Event Location: Bloomington, Indiana. Wednesday, October 7, 2026. Black Film Center & Archive Indiana University Bloomington Bloomington, IN. For more info visit reelabilities.org.

Judgment Days: Famous Trials and Social Conflict in American History

All Programs Americans have long viewed major trials as public dramas that reveal enduring social tensions. Historian Michael Ross argues that the most memorable cases matter because the conflicts they expose never fully fade. His series revisits four landmark trials—involving witchcraft in New England, an accused Gilded Age double murderess, the evolution debate, and the controversial Chicago Seven—showing how each became a flashpoint for its era and why their echoes still shape American society. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/judgment-days?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/judgment-days?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Wednesday, October 7, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM.

The Exposure Triangle

All Programs Learn to capture the depth of field, motion effects, and exposure you want by quickly making camera adjustments in the field. Topics covered include ISO, apertures, shutter speeds, exposure modes, metering modes, exposure compensation, and histograms. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/exposure-triangle?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/exposure-triangle?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Wednesday, October 7, 2026, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM.

An Appalachian Journey: Skyline Drive to the Great Smokies

All Programs Trace the 600-mile route from Shenandoah’s northern tip along Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway to Asheville, North Carolina. Naturalist Keith Tomlinson highlights sweeping vistas, steep summits, ancient geology, and historic sites shaped by Native peoples and early settlers. He explores the region’s diverse habitats, wildlife, and rich ecological history, along with hiking and lodging opportunities across secluded hollows and rugged Appalachian landscapes. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/appalachian-journey?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/appalachian-journey?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Wednesday, October 7, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM.

Hispanic Heritage Month Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa

American Latino Museum Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History. This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition. During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.… Sponsor: American Latino Museum. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hispanic-heritage-guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1997060151673?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa. Thursday, October 8, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM. For more info visit latino.si.edu.

NMAAHC Kids at the National Air & Space Museum

One-Time Events NMAAHC Kids at NASM, PLEASE NOTE: This program takes place at the NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AIR AND SPACE (650 Jefferson Drive SW. Washington, DC 20560) and requires free timed-entry passes to enter the museum. NMAAHC Kids joins our friends at the National Air and Space Museum in DC for Flights of Fancy Story Time. Meet us there Enjoy a funny story about two tiny spiders who stowed away on a space shuttle in Space Spinners by Suse MacDonald, read by a NASM educator. Then, discover the space travel experience and learn about real spider experiments in space. Plus, learn from NMAAHC Kids educators how spiders inspired the creation of kente cloth, a special African fabric! Sponsor: African American History and Culture Museum. Venue: Air and Space Museum. Event Location: National Air and Space Museum in DC. Cost: Free. Timed-entry Passes Required. . Get Tickets/Register: https://tickets.si.edu/airandspace/events/6d1e05f3-10d1-78d0-60aa-bf3b24f4bdb8?tg=5fa3003d-17e5-edf1-0d69-4a9d37c0de63. Categories: Kids & Families. Thursday, October 8, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.

Hispanic Heritage Month Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa

American Latino Museum Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History. This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition. During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.… Sponsor: American Latino Museum. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hispanic-heritage-guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1997060151673?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa. Thursday, October 8, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM. For more info visit latino.si.edu.

Spanish Language Docent Tour

One-Time Events Join the National Portrait Gallery for free Spanish language tours. Experience iconic art and learn from expert guides about the faces and stories that shaped the nation. Perfect for fluent speakers and language learners alike. The Portrait Gallery strives to provide programs that are accessible to all visitors. If you have any questions about the accessibility of this program, or require sign language interpretation or any other accommodations, please contact us. Sponsor: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: F Street Lobby. Cost: Free. No registration required. Categories: After Five. Gallery Talks & Tours. Thursday, October 8, 2026, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM.

Techniques in Modernist Painting

All Programs Experiment with painting styles such as Cubism, Suprematism, and Abstract Expressionism to learn practical applications of the concepts and techniques of Modernism. Move beyond the basics to discover and develop your unique visual language. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit). Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/techniques-in-modernist-painting?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/techniques-in-modernist-painting?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Thursday, October 8, 2026, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM.

The Ashcan School of Painting

All Programs French Impressionists painted appealing, selectively edited scenes of modern urban life using pure color. The Ashcan School in New York pushed this further, portraying the city’s realities with unflinching honesty rather than beauty. Art historian Bonita Billman examines works by George Bellows, William Glackens, Robert Henri, George Luks, Everett Shinn, and John Sloan, showing how their gritty depictions revealed modern life’s truths and influenced later artists who embraced the city as their subject. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit). Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/ashcan-school-of-painting?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/ashcan-school-of-painting?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Thursday, October 8, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM.

The Film Music of Ennio Morricone: Underscoring Memories

All Programs Few composers have made a mark on film like Ennio Morricone. He composed and arranged scores for more than 400 film and television productions, earning a reputation as a master of underscoring, deftly building psychological and emotional impact with music. Film music scholar Franco Sciannameo examines a selection of Morricone's scores to illuminate the composer’s ability to bring viewers into the cinematic narrative. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/film-music-of-ennio-morricone?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/film-music-of-ennio-morricone?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Performances. Thursday, October 8, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:15 PM.

Bodyworks: The Jewelry of Art Smith Book Reading + Conversation + Signing

One-Time Events Join us in Brooklyn for a celebration of Bodyworks: The Jewelry of Art Smith, the definitive book on the life, work, and legacy of pioneering Black jewelry designer Art Smith (1917–1982). Smith grew up in Brooklyn before establishing his celebrated jewelry studio in Greenwich Village, where he created bold, modernist works designed in intimate relationship with the body. His creative practice brought together art, music, dance, and the vibrant cultural life of mid-century New York. Authors Joanne Hyppolite, curator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, and jewelry historian Toni Greenbaum will discuss Bodyworks, sharing stories and new research that illuminate Smith’s remarkable life, artistic vision, and enduring influence. Sebastian Grant, curator, art historian and professor at Parsons School of Design in New York City, will moderate the conversation. Come celebrate the return of Art Smith’s story to Brooklyn—and the release of this landmark Smithsonian Books… Sponsor: African American History and Culture Museum. Co-sponsor: The Museum of Contemporary Diasporan. Event Location: The Museum of Contemporary Diasporan Art 10 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11217. Cost: Free. Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Shopping/Book Signing. Thursday, October 8, 2026, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM. For more info visit mocada.org.

On Art and History: Revealing Abstraction – Artists in Conversation

One-Time Events Join us for a conversation with artists featured in Revelation: A Journey into Abstraction, an exhibition that explores the creativity and impact of abstract art by African American artists from the mid‑twentieth century to today. Artists Adger Cowans, Shinique Smith, and Hank Willis Thomas will join Tuliza Fleming, PhD, Supervisory Curator of American Art at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, to discuss how abstract art has served as a space for experimentation, personal expression, and cultural reflection. Revelation: A Journey into Abstraction will be open for viewing on Level 4 prior to the program and light refreshments will be available. Museum doors open at 6:15 PM. The exhibition’s companion publication will be available for purchase courtesy of Smithsonian Enterprises. Accessibility Information To support full participation, we welcome attendees to share any accessibility or accommodation needs. Assistive listening devices are available upon request for all public… Sponsor: African American History and Culture Museum. Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: Concourse, Oprah Winfrey Theater. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://tickets.si.edu/nmaahc/events/01a067d7-890a-cf25-0dd7-1ebe47e40b44?tg=01a067d7-890d-0080-fa69-2e3a24caaa30. Categories: After Five. Lectures & Discussions. Shopping/Book Signing. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible. Thursday, October 8, 2026, 7:15 PM – 8:15 PM.

LEENALCHI

Performances Seating is limited. Reserve your seat in advance to pick where you sit ($6 fee per seat). Join the standby line for remaining seats on the day of the concert, free of charge. Leenalchi is a seven-piece band from Seoul that draws on the folk storytelling tradition of pansori and will remind you of Talking Heads. After releasing their most recent album, Here Comes That Crow, and supporting Japanese Breakfast, the band will perform in the Meyer Auditorium as part of their first-ever North American tour. About Pansori The music of Leenalchi is taken from pansori, a traditional Korean style of musical storytelling often compared to opera. Rooted in shamanism and developed in the seventeenth century during the Joseon dynasty, pansori tells epic tales of love, virtue, sorrow, and dragon kings. As part of their training, pansori singers are required to spend time singing next to a waterfall, tasked to carefully observe and mimic the sonic nuances of water. The Korean language is full of onomatopoeias. The… Sponsor: Asian Art Museum. Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: $6 per seat. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leenalchi-tickets-1997897645640?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Performances. After Five. Related Exhibition: Do Ho Suh: Public Figures, Rediscovering Korea’s Past. Thursday, October 8, 2026, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM.

Festivals Acadiens et Créoles

“Of the People” Festivals Festivals Acadiens et Créoles has its roots in the cultural revival movements of the 1970s, uniting three gatherings founded to celebrate the music, foodways, and craft traditions of South Louisiana’s Cajun and Creole communities. More than fifty years later, the festival has grown into one of the largest free public events in Louisiana, expanding to include a symposium, a road race, and a wide range of cultural programming. It endures as a vibrant act of cultural “self-celebration,” honoring the distinct yet intertwined traditions of Cajun and Creole Louisiana while encouraging both preservation and innovation in music, craft, and foodways. Sponsor: Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Categories: Performances. Demonstrations. Culinary Arts. Cost: Free, or reserve space for your own pop-up tent for a fee. Get Tickets/Register: https://festivalsacadiens.com/village-de-tentes/. Event Location: Lafayette, Louisiana. Friday, October 9, 2026 – Sunday, October 11, 2026. Girard Park Lafayette, LA. For more info visit festivalsacadiens.com.

Enid A. Haupt Garden Tour

Smithsonian Gardens Enjoy a fall Friday in the Enid A. Haupt Garden with one of our knowledgeable volunteers or staff for a free garden tour! Discover the history of this urban oasis and explore the new Garden Time Machine installation, part of the Growing Tomorrow exhibition. Tours are offered each Friday in October at 10:00 a.m. and run approximately 40 minutes. Sponsor: Smithsonian Gardens. Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: The tour begins inside the garden near the south entrance to the Smithsonian Castle. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Friday, October 9, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM.

Big Moments, Little Stories

One-Time Events Join us at the Anacostia Community Museum for a cozy story time that brings children, caregivers, and community together through books, creativity, and play. Stories will connect with ACM’s current exhibition and celebrate themes of community, family, neighborhood, history, and the fall and winter seasons. Families are invited to stay for indoor play, creative exploration, and time to connect with one another. This welcoming, accessible program supports different ways of participating, with sensory toys and tools available for children who benefit from tactile, movement, or sensory experiences. Come in, get cozy, meet your neighbors, and share stories that remind us that we all have a place in our community’s story. Recommended Audience: 18 months – 7 years Time and Schedule: 10:30 a.m. Duration: About 1 hour. Sponsor: Anacostia Community Museum. Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Sunburst Lounge. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/big-moments-little-stories-storytime-and-sensory-play-tickets-1999723326300?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Kids & Families. Friday, October 9, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM.

Hispanic Heritage Month Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa

American Latino Museum Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History. This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition. During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.… Sponsor: American Latino Museum. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hispanic-heritage-guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1997060151673?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa. Friday, October 9, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM. For more info visit latino.si.edu.

Backyard Birding

All Programs Backyard birding offers a simple, rewarding way to connect with nature. With a window, balcony, or small outdoor space, says naturalist Matt Felperin, you can observe a surprising variety of birds in their routines. From the flash of color as a cardinal lands on a feeder to the familiar call of a chickadee in a nearby tree, these everyday encounters reveal the richness of the natural world outside your door. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/backyard-birding?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/backyard-birding?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Friday, October 9, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.

Hispanic Heritage Month Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa

American Latino Museum Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History. This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition. During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.… Sponsor: American Latino Museum. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hispanic-heritage-guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1997060151673?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa. Friday, October 9, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM. For more info visit latino.si.edu.

ONLINE | In Conversation: Emma Alcazar and Nikki Corbett, Moderated by Veruschka Zarate

One-Time Events Hear from the designers of the second two block patterns in the museum’s Quilt Along. Quilter and fiber artist Emma Alcazar (Chickasaw) and artist, cultural educator, sewing instructor Nikki Corbett (Yup'ik) will discuss the inspiration behind their block patterns. The conversation will be moderated by Veruschka Zarate, quilt artist, international educator, and founder of Pride & Joy Quilting. This event will take place online via Zoom. Register now! Emma’s block pattern design responded to the theme of 20th century to present day (1902–2026). Download Emma's pattern to learn more. Nikki’s block pattern design responded to the theme of Our Shared Future (2026 and beyond). Download Nikki's pattern to learn more. About our speakers:  Emma Alcazar (Chickasaw) is a Virginia-based quilter and fiber artist. Raised in Oklahoma, she holds a BA in Anthropology and MEd in Educational Leadership. After 18 years teaching English, she began focusing on creating art full time in 2022. She works with traditional… Sponsor: American Indian Museum. Event Location: Online only. Cost: Free; registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WKZdCTkXQPSkcyw51RJ_Ew#/registration. Categories: Webcasts & Online. Accessibility: Captioning. Friday, October 9, 2026, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

NY | The Americas Film Festival New York: "Uiksaringitara (Wrong Husband)"

One-Time Events In 2000 BCE Igloolik, Nunavut, star-crossed teenage lovers Kaujak and Sapa are promised to each other since birth, but their bond is shattered when Kaujak’s father dies and her mother marries a man from a distant camp. The promise of a better future turns into a desperate struggle as Kaujak is besieged by aggressive suitors backed by a powerful, evil shaman. Despite the pressure, Kaujak holds fast to her heart, resisting all attempts to claim her and clinging to the hope that Sapa will return to make good on their childhood pledge. Director: Zacharias Kunuk (Inuk), Canada, 2025, 100 min. Inuktitut with English subtitles  Content Advisory: contains scenes of physical violence. The Americas Film Festival New York (TAFFNY) is a film festival that showcases premieres, award winning films, and classic works about the cultures and peoples of the Americas. The festival is a project of the Division of Interdisciplinary Studies at the Center for Worker Education of City College of New York (The City University of… Sponsor: American Indian Museum. Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Lower Level: Auditorium. Cost: FREE. Categories: After Five. Films. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Captioning. Friday, October 9, 2026, 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM.

Homecoming at Morgan State University

“Of the People” Festivals For Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), homecoming represents more than sport rivalries; it is a celebration of history, tradition, and resilience. Each year, parades, concerts, competitions, football game days, and other activities bring scores of alumni and students together to reaffirm commitments and create new memories. Drawing from the theme “Morgan Pride: Making Memories. Leaving Legacies,” the 2026 Morgan State University homecoming creates a space for the Morgan community to continue that legacy of pride and joy. Sponsor: Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Celebrations. Cost: TBA. Event Location: Baltimore, Maryland. Saturday, October 10, 2026. Morgan State University Baltimore, MD. For more info visit homecoming.morgan.edu.

Dance Revolution at the Richmond Folk Festival

“By the People” Events 12–6 p.m. ET The Virginia Folklife Program of Virginia Humanities presents “Dance Revolution” at the 2026 Richmond Folk Festival. Community dance groups from across the Commonwealth will offer performances and workshops that explore how Virginians can step into the future, together. Moving together, with joy, might be just exactly the revolution we need now. Sponsor: Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Categories: Performances. Workshops. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Event Location: Richmond, Virginia. Saturday, October 10, 2026 – Sunday, October 11, 2026. Brown's Island Richmond, VA. For more info visit www.virginiafolklife.org.

Historic Arlington County - In Person

All Programs Originally part of the 100-square-mile area surveyed in 1791 and 1792 for the nation’s capital, Arlington County is a tapestry of history woven from colonial farmsteads, Civil War fortifications, African American villages, and the people who have defined the county for more than two centuries. Travel journalist Barbara Noe Kennedy leads a day-long exploration of sites that reveal how Arlington evolved from a rural Virginia community into a modern urban county transformed by war, migration, segregation, and redevelopment. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: Departs from the Holiday Inn Capitol at 550 C St SW (corner of 6th & C Sts). Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/historic-arlington-county?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Saturday, October 10, 2026, 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM.

FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand

One-Time Events The FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand returns for another farm stand season in 2026. This farm stand is direct-to-consumer located East of the River in Ward 8. The FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand takes place on the outdoor plaza of the Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum (1901 Fort Place, SE Washington, DC 20020) every Saturday (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) from April 18 - November 21, 2026.* You can learn more about what is happening at the farm stand from our friends over at FRESHFARM Markets. The FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand is generously supported by The Hillside Foundation - Allan and Shelley Holt. *Weather permitting. Be sure to follow the Anacostia Community Museum for updated information. Sponsor: Anacostia Community Museum. Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Plaza. Cost: Free to Attend. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/freshfarm-acm-farm-stand-tickets-1985418954539?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Shopping/Book Signing. Saturday, October 10, 2026, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.

Keeping Up the Sketchbook Habit

All Programs Jump-start your creative ideas by enriching your sketchbooking with new techniques. Learn how to map your day, get creative with colored pencil on mid-tone kraft paper, and combine printmaking with watercolor. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/keeping-up-sketchbook-habit?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/keeping-up-sketchbook-habit?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Saturday, October 10, 2026, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM.

Handmade Storybooks - In Person

All Programs Explore the many creative ways to work with paper and make personal storybooks by hand. Participants build and bind several books using standard bookmaking papers and thread as well as unusual materials such as manila folders and matchboxes. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/handmade-storybooks-1E0ARN?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Saturday, October 10, 2026, 10:30 AM – 5:15 PM.

Hispanic Heritage Month Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa

American Latino Museum Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History. This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition. During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.… Sponsor: American Latino Museum. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hispanic-heritage-guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1997060151673?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa. Saturday, October 10, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM. For more info visit latino.si.edu.

NY | Hands On: Native New York Traditions featuring Danielle Soames

One-Time Events Experience the tradition and creativity of cornhusk doll making with Danielle Soames (Mohawk), a returning Native educator at the National Museum of the American Indian and an accomplished actress, playwright, and director in New York City's theater community. Through this hands-on workshop, Danielle will share the cultural significance of cornhusk dolls to her community and guide participants in creating their own.   All are welcome! Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. *Visitors 15 years of age and under must be accompanied by an adult caregiver. Sponsor: American Indian Museum. Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families. Demonstrations. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, October 10, 2026, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

Always Think B4U Move: The Art of Strategy II

One-Time Events In honor of National Chess Day, join us for a free community chess experience that brings together competition, instruction, technology, and public engagement in a welcoming museum setting. The program is designed for youth, adults, families, first-time players, and experienced competitors. The four-hour program will feature a free four-round open tournament, beginner-friendly chess lessons, guided open play, interactive chess trivia, a ChessNut Move Challenge, tournament recognition, and chess-related digital prizes. Come ready to learn, connect, compete, and Always Think B4U Move. This program is facilitated by the Big Chair Chess Club. Sponsor: Anacostia Community Museum. Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Program Room. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/always-think-b4u-move-the-art-of-strategy-ii-tickets-1999403806608?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Kids & Families. Lectures & Discussions. Demonstrations. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, October 10, 2026, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM.

Art Walk

One-Time Events Join the National Portrait Gallery every Saturday morning for a themed sketching tour featuring up to three portraits from the museum’s collection. During each session, Portrait Gallery educators will encourage participants to look closely, sketch what they see, and make connections. This program is designed for visitors of all ages, and no prior drawing experience is necessary. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. After the tour, participants are invited to continue creating in the Education Center through a hands-on artmaking activity. All art materials are provided by the National Portrait Gallery. Sponsor: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: G Street Lobby. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/art-walk-tickets-1995913274332?aff=ebdsoporgprofile. Categories: Kids & Families. Gallery Talks & Tours. Saturday, October 10, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM.

Art Studio

Ongoing Tours & Activities Calling all artists! Join the Portrait Gallery for a free, drop-in art program, where creativity knows no bounds. Every weekend, visitors of all ages are invited to explore a different artistic medium while drawing inspiration from the Portrait Gallery’s collections and exhibitions. On select weekends, learn from a featured guest artist, who will lead specialized workshops and share their expertise. To stay informed about upcoming guest artist workshops, please check the Portrait Gallery’s Eventbrite page. Sponsor: Portrait Gallery. Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. No Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-art-studio-tickets-1112707681629?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile. Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops. Saturday, October 10, 2026, 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

NY | Meet the Artists: Native Comic Creators

One-Time Events Meet the museum's 2026 Comic Creators, see examples of their work, and learn about the state of Native comics and illustration! Comic artists Jalen DeCoteau (Turtle Mountain band of Chippewa), Jason Garcia/Okuu Pín (Santa Clara Pueblo Tewa) and Jackie Fawn (Washoe, Yurok, and Surigaonon) will be presenting their work accompanied by comic mentors Lee Francis IV (Pueblo of Laguna), Alina Pete (nehiyaw [Cree]), and John Swogger in an informal one-day pop-up.    The museum's Comic Creators Program supports emerging and mid-career artists to successfully prepare for and navigate the professional comics industry. Participants receive industry-related training and mentorship and training in community engagement and produce comics-based work for the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian over an eight-month period. About our participants: , Jalen DeCoteau is an illustrator, and comic creator from Belcourt, North Dakota, and is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians.… Sponsor: American Indian Museum. Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 2, Thunderbird Room. Cost: FREE. Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Related Exhibition: Jeffrey Veregge: Of Gods and Heroes. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, October 10, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

DC | Look, Learn, Create: "Water's Edge" for Families

One-Time Events Join a museum educator for a family-friendly interactive tour of the Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe exhibition! Visitors will engage with three of his artworks and can participate in guided discussions, and experience items from the museum's Teaching Collection. After finding inspiration from Truman Lowe’s artworks, families can continue into the imagiNATIONS Activity Center and create their own water-inspired artwork to take home. Recommended for children ages 4-10 and their families. All ages welcome. *Visitors 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. First come, first served, capacity and supplies are limited. **This program can accommodate approximately 30 young visitors and their adult caregiver. Leading support provided by Bank of America. Major support provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. Generous support provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art and Ameriprise Financial. Additional support provided by John and Meryl Lavine, Greg and Cathy Tibbles, and Leslie A. Wheelock. Sponsor: American Indian Museum. Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 3: Exhibition Gallery, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, October 10, 2026, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM.

Hispanic Heritage Month Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa

American Latino Museum Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History. This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition. During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.… Sponsor: American Latino Museum. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hispanic-heritage-guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1997060151673?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa. Saturday, October 10, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM. For more info visit latino.si.edu.

Screening of Milk

One-Time Events Join the National Portrait Gallery for Created Equal: An American Ideal on Screen, a film series exploring the legacy of the phrase “all men are created equal." In the 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, generations of Americans have been inspired by this powerful expression of the nation’s founding ideals. Through the stories of figures ranging from Abraham Lincoln to Harvey Milk, discover how Thomas Jefferson’s famous words have served as a rallying cry in the ongoing struggle for equality.   Milk (2008)  Based on the inspiring true story of Harvey Milk, this biographical drama follows a charismatic gay rights activist who becomes the first openly LGBTQ+ politician to be elected to public office in California. Starring Sean Penn, the film chronicles Milk's rise as a grassroots political figure in San Francisco’s Castro District, cut short by his tragic assassination in 1978. Sponsor: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: McEvoy Auditorium. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/created-equal-an-american-ideal-on-screen-tickets-1995767984767?aff=ebdsoporgprofile. Categories: Films. Saturday, October 10, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM.

Jancis Robinson and the Newest World Atlas of Wine

All Programs Jancis Robinson has been writing about wine since 1975. She is the coauthor, with Hugh Johnson, of the new 9th edition of The World Atlas of Wine. Since it was first published in 1971, the Atlas has been widely recognized as an authoritative wine reference. In a conversation with Dave McIntyre, formerly the Washington Post’s wine columnist, she shares her expertise and insights on what’s new in the world of wine. The event also includes a wine tasting and book signing. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/jancis-robinson?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Culinary Arts. Saturday, October 10, 2026, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM.

Theodore Roosevelt's North Dakota: Badlands, Bison, and the Making of a Conservationist

All Programs Over the course of the more than three decades he lived or visited there, the Badlands of western North Dakota transformed Roosevelt into the kind of vigorous outdoorsman that he’d idealized as a youth—and that shaped his public image as president. Perhaps more importantly, this corner of the West turned him into a passionate conservationist dedicated to the preservation of its rugged landscapes and native wildlife. Experience those landscapes on a 6-day study tour led by naturalist Melanie Choukas-Bradley that brings you into the heart of Roosevelt’s Badlands and the national park that bears his name. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: Detailed information for overnight tours is emailed approximately FOUR WEEKS. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/theodore-roosevelts-north-dakota?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Saturday, October 10, 2026, 6:00 PM – Thursday, October 15, 2026, 12:00 PM.

Hispanic Heritage Month Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa

American Latino Museum Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History. This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition. During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.… Sponsor: American Latino Museum. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hispanic-heritage-guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1997060151673?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa. Sunday, October 11, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM. For more info visit latino.si.edu.

Gelli Jam - In Person

All Programs Can’t get enough of gel printing or just want to indulge yourself and experiment with techniques and materials? This intensive two-day class provides an opportunity to use a plethora of tools and materials for creating patterns and texture. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/gelli-jam?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Sunday, October 11, 2026, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM.

Hispanic Heritage Month Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa

American Latino Museum Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History. This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition. During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.… Sponsor: American Latino Museum. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hispanic-heritage-guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1997060151673?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa. Sunday, October 11, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM. For more info visit latino.si.edu.

Curator Tour: "Out of Many: Portraits from 1600 to 1900"

One-Time Events Please join Robyn Asleson, Curator of Prints and Drawings, for a tour of two additions to the museum’s “Out of Many: Portraits from 1600 to 1900” exhibition: a freshly conserved diorama depicting the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and a new Revolutionary War–era gallery titled “Independence: 1770–1783.”. Sponsor: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: G Street Lobby. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/curator-tour-out-of-many-portraits-from-1600-to-1900-tickets-1995788674651?aff=ebdsoporgprofile. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Sunday, October 11, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

Latino Heritage Festival: Quinceañera Traditions & Coming of Age in America

American Latino Museum Join the National Museum of the American Latino for a festival that explores how families and communities across the United States mark the transition to adulthood. From ritual and meaning, style and self-expression, to community and memory, Coming of Age in America will be an afternoon of pop-up demonstrations, a fashion show, dance lessons, and many other activities, followed by Community Quince Celebration, an evening with music, dance, and a Quinceañera cake.  The program also features the Latino museum’s new book, My Sister’s Quinceañera, developed in partnership with Crown Random House. This event offers family fun, an evening celebration, and insight into the creativity, entrepreneurship, and community life that thrive along America’s main streets.  The museum will provide accessibility accommodations. Should you need assistance, such as ASL interpretation, please email NMALGroupReservations@si.edu with your name, the date of your program, and your request, and the museum will respond with further inf… Sponsor: American Latino Museum. Event Location: Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, MD. Cost: Free, Registration Recommended. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1998909180167?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: After Five. Celebrations. Performances. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Spanish-interpreted program. Wheelchair accessible. Sunday, October 11, 2026, 2:00 PM – 8:30 PM.

Autumn's Harvest: A Reflective Writing Workshop

All Programs Discover the power of reflective writing guided by teaching artist and museum educator, Mary Hall Surface. Inspired by works of art by Hudson River landscape painter Jasper Francis Cropsey and poetry by Mary Oliver, explore the lessons that the season of autumn offers when we slow down, look closely, and reflect. Designed for writers of all levels, the workshop invites participants to look outward at paintings and poetry and to look inward through writing. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/autumns-harvest?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/autumns-harvest?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM.

Drawing with the Portrait Gallery

One-Time Events Join us in the galleries for a series of drawing workshops with artist, Jill Galloway! Each month, Jill will guide participants through a step by step sketching lesson. Learn new sketching techniques while drawing inspiration from the Portrait Gallery's collection. These workshops will include all supplies. Open to artists of all levels, ages 18 and up. Registration is required. Sponsor: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: G Street Lobby. Cost: Free. Registration required. Categories: Workshops. Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

Analog Nights

One-Time Events Slow down, unwind, and take a break from doomscrolling with a screen-free night of creativity and community at the Portrait Gallery. Bring your favorite analog hobby and enjoy the peaceful ambiance of the Kogod Courtyard. Need inspiration? Think needlepoint, knitting, sketching, watercolor, junk journaling, mahjong, and more. Each Analog Night will feature a spotlight activity inspired by the Portrait Gallery’s collection. Come solo or with friends! For ages 18+. Sponsor: Portrait Gallery. Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Kogod Courtyard. Cost: Free. Registration Encouraged. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/analog-nights-tickets-1982549304338?aff=ebdsshcopyurl&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile&utm-share-source=organizer-profile. Categories: Workshops. After Five. Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM.

Behind the Science with Paleontologist and Curator of Dinosauria Matthew Carrano

One-Time Events Is the 21st Century the real Age of Dinosaurs? Today, more paleontologists are discovering more dinosaur fossils from more places in the world than ever before. Our understanding of these amazing creatures has leapt forward while their popularity has surged. Museums sit at the junction of these phenomena. The Smithsonian has been a center for dinosaur research for more than a century, and its collections include many iconic and scientifically important specimens. Today, Smithsonian researchers continue to discover new dinosaurs, but they are also uncovering more information about the ones we already know and love. New techniques and approaches allow them to investigate aspects of dinosaur biology, ecology, and evolution in ways that would have been inconceivable to early paleontologists. The result is an ever-improving understanding of dinosaurs as living, breathing, and thriving animals. This month, go behind the science with paleontologist Dr. Matthew Carrano, Curator of Dinosauria at the National Museum… Sponsor: Natural History Museum. Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: National Museum of Natural History (Ground Floor). Cost: Free; registration is required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/86562911/behind-the-scienceoctober-washington-national-museum-of-natural-history. Categories: After Five. Lectures & Discussions. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:15 PM. For more info visit www.etix.com.

Our Weird and Wild Universe

All Programs The universe is far stranger than science fiction ... and it’s all real. Kimberly Arcand of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory leads a journey through weird and wild places in the cosmos, from merely mind-bending to truly extreme. Along the way meet quasars powered by supermassive black holes, city-sized neutron stars, and pulsars that keep time more precisely than atomic clocks, plus a few truly wild worlds orbiting distant suns. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/our-weird-and-wild-universe?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/our-weird-and-wild-universe?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM.

The Civil War: Mapping the Sectional Crisis

All Programs Historians view the Kansas–Nebraska Act of 1854 as a turning point, igniting northern resistance to the expansion of slavery. Far less noted is the crucial role of political maps, which visualized that threat in meetings, newspapers, and pamphlets, helping forge the anti-slavery coalition that elected Lincoln. Historian Susan Schulten shows how these maps reshaped perceptions of the American West—and the nation itself. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/civil-war-mapping?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/civil-war-mapping?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM.

The Art of Surviving: Belle Isle and Beyond

All Programs During the Civil War, tens of thousands of Union and Confederate soldiers endured brutal conditions in prison camps such as Belle Island in Richmond. Yet many prisoners found creative ways to preserve their humanity: they sketched, carved, wrote, and crafted objects from whatever materials they could find. Kelly Hancock of the American Civil War Museum highlights works from its POW art collection. These deeply personal pieces reveal not only suffering but also endurance, resourcefulness, and the human need to create even in the darkest of circumstances. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/art-of-surviving-belle-isle?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/art-of-surviving-belle-isle?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM.

HasSak Ethno-Folk Ensemble

Performances Seating is limited. Reserve your seat in advance to pick where you sit ($6 fee per seat). Join the standby line for remaining seats on the day of the concert, free of charge. Formed in 2013 in Almaty by PhD and Honored Worker of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Zhamenkeyev, HasSak is one of Kazakhstan’s premier contemporary ethno-folklore groups. The ensemble features four highly skilled multi-instrumentalists—Yerzhan Zhamenkeyev, Darkhan Alimgazy, Askat Sagat, and Aray Kanatbek—who master over thirty traditional Kazakh instruments, including the dombyra, zhetygen, sybyzgy, and kyl-qobyz. Known for bridging ancient Nomadic musical heritage with dynamic, modern arrangements, HasSak won the Grand Prix at the international World Folk Vision competition in 2019. The group has released three studio albums, with a fourth currently in production, and has performed extensively across Kazakhstan and internationally in countries such as Germany, Austria, Türkiye, China, South Korea, Azerbaijan, and Russia. HasSak is currently… Sponsor: Asian Art Museum. Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hassak-ethno-folk-ensemble-tickets-1998266523965?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true. Categories: Performances. After Five. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices. Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM.

National Fossil Day at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

One-Time Events Save the date for some fossil fun on Wednesday, October 14th! Celebrate National Fossil Day with real fossils and free, family-friendly activities in the museum’s Hall of Fossils – Deep Time! Scientists and educators from the Smithsonian will be on hand to welcome families and anyone interested in exploring Earth’s deep past. No registration required. Visitors can: Touch and hold real fossils, Observe experts at work in the FossiLab  Get up-close to the Nation’s T. rex, And more!  Image Information (credit): Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops horridus (Department of Paleobiology, Smithsonian Institution). Sponsor: Natural History Museum. Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.

Artists' Travels to North Africa: From Delacroix to Paul Klee

All Programs In the 19th century, European artists looked to North Africa for exotic inspiration and new artistic experience. Eugène Delacroix spent six months in Morocco, filling sketchbooks that helped shape Orientalism. His example inspired Henri Matisse, Wassily Kandinsky, Gabriele Münter, Paul Klee, and August Macke. In a four-session series, art historian Joseph Paul Cassar examines how travel to North Africa reshaped their artistic ideas. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit). Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/artists-travels-north-africa?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/artists-travels-north-africa?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.

Collage and Mixed Media

All Programs Students are introduced to the materials, tools, and technologies used in collage and assemblage, finding inspiration in artists who worked in collage, including Joseph Cornell, Romare Bearden, and Gertrude Greene. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/collage-and-mixed-media?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/collage-and-mixed-media?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM.

The Burmese Harp (70th Anniversary)

Films In the last days of World War II, a Japanese platoon sustains morale through the Burma Campaign by singing traditional songs, accompanied by the delicate harp-playing of Private Mizushima (Shōji Yasui). After the unit surrenders to British forces, Mizushima must convince a holdout of cave-dwelling Japanese soldiers to lay down their arms. When his mission fails, he is counted among the dead. Mizushima survives, however, and becomes a monk who dedicates his life to providing proper burials for his fallen comrades. Meanwhile, his former platoon attempts to track him down by using music to express a shared sense of separation and longing for home. The Burmese Harp is adapted from Michio Takeyama’s classic novel and renowned for legendary composer Akira Ifukube’s haunting score. This epic humanist masterpiece contemplates suffering, redemption, and spiritual fortitude during the darkest periods of violence. Description adapted from Janus Films. Director: Kon Ichikawa. Country: Japan. Released: 1956. Length:… Sponsor: Asian Art Museum. Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://nmaamatinees.eventive.org/schedule/6a16066bbc7693df3cfd58c6. Categories: Films. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices. Captioning. Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

Crafting Witches

All Programs The story of the 1692 Salem witch trials is well known, but Salem actually marked the end of a long, widespread witch craze. Historian Kate E. Bush traces witch trials back to their origins in Europe during the 15th century. Bush explores how new beliefs about certain people, most often women, working in league with the Devil took hold during that time and led to witch hunts. She also examines the enduring stereotypes that defined the witch in popular imagination. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/crafting-witches?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/crafting-witches?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM.

Make It Miniature: Big Ideas in Small Formats

All Programs Working small can open things up in surprising ways. In this six-session mixed-media class, create a series of miniature artworks using a range of materials—both wet and dry—like paint, collage, and simple sculptural elements. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/make-it-miniature-big-ideas-in-small-formats?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/make-it-miniature-big-ideas-in-small-formats?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM.

Brasilia, the Utopian Capital of Brazil

All Programs Built from scratch in the 1950s, the Modernist city of Brasilia was designed to express new ideas about urban living and city planning while relocating the national capital from the coast to a more central site in the Brazilian highlands. Historian Justin M. Jacobs surveys Brasilia’s carefully designed downtown landscapes and creative solutions to urban housing, all meant to synchronize with one another and provide a progressive model for a better world. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/brasilia?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/brasilia?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:15 PM.

Hispanic Heritage Month Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa

American Latino Museum Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History. This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition. During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.… Sponsor: American Latino Museum. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hispanic-heritage-guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1997060151673?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa. Thursday, October 15, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM. For more info visit latino.si.edu.

Neandertal Adaptations to Ice Age Eurasia: Warmbloods in Cold Times

One-Time Events While primates are tropical in origin, Neanderthals survived in the brutally cold climates of Eurasia through multiple glacial phases. How did they endure these extreme environments? Dr. Trent Holliday, Professor of Anthropology at Tulane University, will present evidence for cultural and biological adaptations to cold in our ancient cousins. Moderator: Dr. Briana Pobiner, paleoanthropologist and educator at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. This program is part of the ongoing HOT (Human Origins Today) Topics series and will be presented as a Zoom video webinar. A link will be emailed to all registrants. Image caption: An illustration of Neanderthals in a cold environment, Image credit: Smithsonian Human Origins Program/Karen Carr. Sponsor: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Online; Internet connection required. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/62648600/neandertal-adaptations-to-ice-age-eurasiawarmbloods-in-cold-times-washington-national-museum-of-natural-history. Categories: Webcasts & Online. Accessibility: Captioning. Thursday, October 15, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM. For more info visit www.etix.com.

Hispanic Heritage Month Guided Tour: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa

American Latino Museum Step into the rhythm of salsa on a guided tour of the Smithsonian exhibition ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa Experience the rhythm, history, and energy of salsa music through a guided tour of "¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa," a bilingual multimedia exhibition presented by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino and on view in the Molina Family Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History. This vibrant exhibition traces salsa’s journey from its Afro-Cuban roots to its rise as a defining sound in American music. Featuring nearly 300 artifacts—including instruments, performance attire, album covers, and rare memorabilia—the exhibition highlights legendary artists like Celia Cruz and Tito Puente alongside the musicians, dancers, and communities who shaped this global tradition. During this 45-minute guided tour, visitors will explore the music, stories, and cultural movements that brought salsa from Caribbean rhythms to dance floors across the United States.… Sponsor: American Latino Museum. Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery Entrance, 1st Floor East. Cost: Free; Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hispanic-heritage-guided-tour-puro-ritmo-the-musical-journey-of-salsa-tickets-1997060151673?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: ¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa. Thursday, October 15, 2026, 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM. For more info visit latino.si.edu.

Much Here Is Beautiful Gallery Talk

One-Time Events John P. Jacob, the McEvoy Family Senior Curator for Photography, and Krystle Stricklin, assistant curator of photography, will take attendees on a tour through the exhibition Much Here Is Beautiful: Photography Surveys of the U.S. Bicentennial. Questions are allowed throughout the tour, and stools will be provided for those who need them.   Image credit: Ted Wathen, Former Company Houses, Jenkins, Letcher County, Kentucky, 1975, gelatin silver print, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Endowment for the Arts, 1983.63.1614, © 1975, Ted Wathen. Sponsor: Smithsonian American Art Museum. Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, Osher and Eisenstein Family Galleries. Cost: Free | Registration required Registration opens September 15. Get Tickets/Register: https://events.blackthorn.io/5f4ZMUx7/5a2bVR3slrR. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Much Here Is Beautiful: Photography Surveys of the U.S. Bicentennial. Thursday, October 15, 2026, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM.

An Evening With Smithsonian Secretary Emeritus Wayne Clough

One-Time Events G. Wayne Clough, geotechnical engineer and Smithsonian secretary emeritus, shares the latest research and personal stories about how nature has transformed the Georgia coast across millions of years and how human impact continues to shape its future.   Join us at the National Museum of Natural History for a conversation with Clough and Sant Director Kirk Johnson about the past and future of the birds, sea turtles, dolphins, whales, plants and trees that make the Georgia coast their home.   Copies of the Clough’s new book, The Ever-Changing Georgia Coast: A Natural History of Its Creation, Transformation, and Future, will be available for purchase and signing at the program.   Registration is encouraged. Space is filled on a first come first served basis.  Image caption: Aerial view, Little Tybee Island. Image credit: M. Loftman. Sponsor: Natural History Museum. Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: National Museum of Natural History (Ground Floor). Cost: Free; registration is required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/41810296/an-evening-with-smithsonian-secretary-emeritus-wayne-clough-washington-national-museum-of-natural-history. Categories: After Five. Lectures & Discussions. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Thursday, October 15, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:15 PM. For more info visit www.etix.com.

Visions of a Brighter Tomorrow: World’s Fairs of the 1930s

All Programs The World’s Fairs of the 1930s offered visions of a world in flux—attempting to chart a future at a moment when nothing felt stable. As the Great Depression reshaped daily life and global tensions mounted, fairs in Chicago, Paris, and New York became spectacular stages where nations expressed optimism, power, and unease through architecture, technology, and performance. In a 3-part series, art historian Jennie Hirsh examines this trio of landmark fairs, revealing how they transformed crisis into dazzling displays that captured both the aspirations and anxieties of their era. This session focuses on the World's Fair of Paris 1937. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/worlds-fairs-1930s-1D0177B?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/worlds-fairs-1930s-1D0177B?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Thursday, October 15, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:15 PM.

Boo at the Zoo

Special Zoo Events Get ready for a WILD Halloween night out! Boo at the Zoo, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s beloved family-friendly Halloween celebration, returns Oct. 16, 17 and 18 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (Zoo members get early access at 5 p.m.). Put on your favorite costume and explore the Zoo after hours, collecting treats at trick-or-treat stations throughout the park. Watch as animals enjoy jack-o'-lanterns and other spooky enrichment surprises, and stroll past whimsical Halloween scenes featuring skeletons and fantastical creatures along the main walkway. Looking for a more spine-chilling experience? Don't miss out on Night of the Living Zoo. Sponsor: National Zoo. Venue: National Zoo. Event Location: Throughout the Zoo. Cost: Tickets on sale this fall. Get Tickets/Register: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/visit/events/boo-zoo. Categories: After Five. Kids & Families. Friday, October 16, 2026 – Sunday, October 18, 2026. For more info visit nationalzoo.si.edu.

Tucson Meet Yourself

“Of the People” Festivals Since 1974, Tucson Meet Yourself has invited artists, performers, home cooks, and other culture bearers from across the Arizona-Sonora region to demonstrate their heritage and the practices they pass from generation to generation. The signature public program of the Southwest Folklife Alliance, Tucson Meet Yourself proudly celebrates and interrogates the meaning of folklife, tradition, and community, transforming downtown Tucson into a site of vibrant cultural exchange. Sponsor: Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Categories: Performances. Culinary Arts. Kids & Families. Demonstrations. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Event Location: Tucson, Arizona. Friday, October 16, 2026 – Sunday, October 18, 2026. Jácome Plaza Tucson, AZ. For more info visit tucsonmeetyourself.org.

Historic Washington Cemeteries - In Person

All Programs Cemeteries are more than places of burial: They are landscapes of memory that reveal how cities grow, communities endure, and histories are preserved. Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours, leads an exploration of Oak Hill Cemetery, Mount Zion Cemetery and the adjacent Female Union Band Society Cemetery, Rock Creek Cemetery, and Glenwood Cemetery as she traces their stories across the years. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: Departs Mayflower Hotel, DeSales St side 1127 Connecticut Ave NW. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/historic-washington-cemeteries?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Friday, October 16, 2026, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

Enid A. Haupt Garden Tour

Smithsonian Gardens Enjoy a fall Friday in the Enid A. Haupt Garden with one of our knowledgeable volunteers or staff for a free garden tour! Discover the history of this urban oasis and explore the new Garden Time Machine installation, part of the Growing Tomorrow exhibition. Tours are offered each Friday in October at 10:00 a.m. and run approximately 40 minutes. Sponsor: Smithsonian Gardens. Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: The tour begins inside the garden near the south entrance to the Smithsonian Castle. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Friday, October 16, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM.

Big Moments, Little Stories

One-Time Events Join us at the Anacostia Community Museum for a cozy story time that brings children, caregivers, and community together through books, creativity, and play. Stories will connect with ACM’s current exhibition and celebrate themes of community, family, neighborhood, history, and the fall and winter seasons. Families are invited to stay for indoor play, creative exploration, and time to connect with one another. This welcoming, accessible program supports different ways of participating, with sensory toys and tools available for children who benefit from tactile, movement, or sensory experiences. Come in, get cozy, meet your neighbors, and share stories that remind us that we all have a place in our community’s story. Recommended Audience: 18 months – 7 years Time and Schedule: 10:30 a.m. Duration: About 1 hour. Sponsor: Anacostia Community Museum. Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Sunburst Lounge. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/big-moments-little-stories-storytime-and-sensory-play-tickets-1999723326300?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Kids & Families. Friday, October 16, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM.

Masterpieces of the Uffizi

All Programs The Uffizi Gallery in Florence is one of the world’s great museums and an early model of the modern gallery. Even before its 1765 opening, visitors could request access. Housed in Giorgio Vasari’s 1559 building for the Medici, it now displays masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Art historian Elaine Ruffolo leads a two-part virtual exploration of its history, architecture, and Renaissance art. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit). Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/masterpieces-of-uffizi?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/masterpieces-of-uffizi?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Friday, October 16, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.

The Knights Templar: The Rise, Fall, and Legend of Europe’s First Military Order

All Programs Founded after the First Crusade to protect pilgrims, the Templar Order evolved into a powerful religious-military order, major landholder, and influential financial force. Its history reveals tensions between faith and violence, poverty and wealth, secrecy and authority. Medieval historian Jochen Schenk of the University of Glasgow traces its rise, dramatic suppression in the early-14th century, and transformation into a legend, exploring why it became influential, vulnerable, and enduring. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/knights-templar?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/knights-templar?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Friday, October 16, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM.

Book Talk with Joe Rohde

One-Time Events Disney Legend and Imagineer Joe Rohde unlocks the secrets of creativity in this powerful exploration of imagination, innovation, and life lessons for turning vision into reality with his new book, Floating Mountains, The Art of Imagining The Impossible. Q&A to follow with Bethanee Bemis Tickets are FREE and required for entry. Space Limited Books will be sold at venue 20% off with SI Badge. Sponsor: African Art Museum. Venue: African Art Museum. Event Location: Sankofa Hall, Second floor. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/joe-rohde-on-floating-mountains-the-art-of-imagining-the-impossible-tickets-2001384687476?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Shopping/Book Signing. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Friday, October 16, 2026, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM.

Opening Celebration: Light Is a Plastic Medium

One time events Celebrate the opening of Light Is a Plastic Medium: The Photography of Carlotta Corpron with a special evening suitable for visitors of all ages. Step inside our survey of work by the American abstract photographer and educator whose investigations into the poetics of light and form and innovative use of technology between the mid 1930s-1950s supported the establishment of photography as fine art.  Learn more about Carlotta Corpron (1901-1988), her life and artistic achievements with talks by leading experts in the field including a return visit by Katy Hessel, art historian and founder of @thegreatwomenartists. Attendance will be limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis as gallery space allows.  6 pm: Curator Tour: Betsy Johnson  7 pm: Insights: Katy Hessel on Carlotta Corpron   All galleries will be open. Circle back to some of our talked-about exhibitions: Big Things for Big Rooms  Mark Bradford: Pickett’s Charge  Laurie Anderson: Four Talks  Adam Pendleton: Love, Queen  Catch … Sponsor: Hirshhorn Museum. Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Whole museum. Cost: Free. Categories: After Five. Celebrations. Friday, October 16, 2026, 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM.

Center Stage

Films Director’s Cut, 35th Anniversary screening, in 4K Restoration! Watch the Trailer International superstar Maggie Cheung (In the Mood for Love) embodies tragic screen siren Ruan Lingyu in this unconventional biopic by Hong Kong New Wave master Stanley Kwan (Rouge). Known as the “Greta Garbo of China,“ Ruan was praised for her moving and emotive onscreen presence. But Ruan’s private life began to mirror the melodramas that brought her fame and was frequent fodder for the vicious Shanghai tabloids. This tumult culminated in her suicide at age 24. Kwan and Cheung paint a kaleidoscopic yet intimate portrait of the ill-fated actress, deftly blending lush period drama, archival footage, and metatextual documentary sequences of Cheung reflecting on Ruan’s legacy. The result is, much like the films of Ruan Lingyu themselves, “tender, vivid and almost overwhelmingly moving” (Time Out). Description adapted from Film Movement. Director: Stanley Kwan (Hong Kong). Released: 1991. Length: 154 min. Format: DCP. Language:… Sponsor: Asian Art Museum. Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://chinaclassics.eventive.org/films. Categories: Films. After Five. Accessibility: Captioning. Wheelchair accessible. Friday, October 16, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM.

A Day at Blackwater Falls State Park - In Person

All Programs Spend a fall day immersed in the wild color of Blackwater Falls State Park, where canyons glow and dark waters plunge over sandstone ledges. Naturalist Matt Felperin leads explorations from wetlands to forest trails under a canopy of copper and gold. Spot newts, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and soaring ravens as you trace ancient Appalachian geology, ending at Lindy Point for a breathtaking mountain sunset. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: Departs from the Holiday Inn Capitol at 550 C St SW (corner of 6th & C Sts). Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/day-at-blackwater-falls-state-park?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Saturday, October 17, 2026, 7:00 AM – 10:30 PM.

Out of Many: The Declaration at 250

One-Time Events During the 250th anniversary, educators are invited to explore the people, ideas, and debates that have shaped the American story. As the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, educators are invited to explore the people, ideas, and debates that have shaped the American story. Using the National Portrait Gallery’s exhibition Out of Many: Portraits from 1600 to 1900 and artist Bartlett Frost’s immersive diorama depicting the signing of the Declaration of Independence, this workshop examines the document’s enduring promise that “all men are created equal” and explores how that ideal has been interpreted, contested, and expanded. Through guided inquiry, close looking, and collaborative discussion, participants will investigate the origins and meaning of the Declaration’s most famous phrase. Drawing on the portraits featured in Out of Many and the storytelling power of Frost’s diorama, the workshop will model strategies for using visual art as a primary source to engage… Sponsor: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: G Street Lobby. Cost: $12.51. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/teacher-workshop-out-of-many-the-declaration-at-250-tickets-1998229182275?aff=ebdsoporgprofile. Categories: Workshops. Saturday, October 17, 2026, 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM.

FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand

One-Time Events The FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand returns for another farm stand season in 2026. This farm stand is direct-to-consumer located East of the River in Ward 8. The FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand takes place on the outdoor plaza of the Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum (1901 Fort Place, SE Washington, DC 20020) every Saturday (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) from April 18 - November 21, 2026.* You can learn more about what is happening at the farm stand from our friends over at FRESHFARM Markets. The FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand is generously supported by The Hillside Foundation - Allan and Shelley Holt. *Weather permitting. Be sure to follow the Anacostia Community Museum for updated information. Sponsor: Anacostia Community Museum. Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Plaza. Cost: Free to Attend. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/freshfarm-acm-farm-stand-tickets-1985418954539?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Shopping/Book Signing. Saturday, October 17, 2026, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.

Medieval History Through Artists' Eyes

All Programs Explore the art and architecture of the Middle Ages through four transformational moments in history and how painters, sculptors, and architects responded to them. Independent art historian Judy Scott Feldman examines the art of the thousand-year period between classical antiquity and the Renaissance and its relationship to an evolving society infused with faith and spirituality. (World Art History Certificate core course, 1 credit). Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/medieval-history-through-artists-eyes?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/medieval-history-through-artists-eyes?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Saturday, October 17, 2026, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.

NMAAHC Kids Book Day

One-Time Events NMAAHC Kids Book Day , Designed for children ages 4-8 Inspired by the Museum’s newest children’s book, 123 I Like You and Me: A Joyful Counting Book, we will celebrate the things that make us the same and different! On this Book Day, we’ll explore pages 9, 8 and 7 together through art projects, games and hands-on activities. Sponsor: African American History and Culture Museum. Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: NMAAHC 4th Floor Overlook. Cost: Free. Registration required. . Get Tickets/Register: https://tickets.si.edu/nmaahc/events/019e02d7-579d-7941-18e3-dfced30c6fd6?tg=019e02d7-57a2-e620-e1a8-a2b02b46b9bc. Categories: Kids & Families. Saturday, October 17, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:45 PM.

Coffee & Collections: Objects that Create Connections

One-Time Events Discover objects that have connected the aspirations of people in Anacostia with those of a community in Bangladesh. The participatory art of Monica Jahan Bose encourages personal reflection and action, giving physical form to a shared desire for healthy communities. The hand-printed textiles she co-creates with the public archive expressions of hope, dedication and joy. Join us for a conversation with the artist about her Anacostia-based work for the Storytelling with Saris art project. Sponsor: Anacostia Community Museum. Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: 1901 Fort Pl SE 1901 Fort Place Southeast Washington, DC 20020. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/coffee-collections-objects-that-create-connections-tickets-1999417716212?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Lectures & Discussions. Saturday, October 17, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.

Katy Hessel: An Illustrated Guide to Amazing Women Artists

One time events Join art historian and bestselling author Katy Hessel for a special family book talk celebrating the release of The Story of Art Without Men: An Illustrated Guide to Amazing Women Artists, introducing young readers to the groundbreaking women artists too often left out of history. Through interactive discussion, drawing, and visual storytelling, Hessel invites families to participate in expanding the story of art history and discover how art can always be relevant to them. Hessel will be joined on stage by illustrator Ping Zhu for an interactive live drawing demonstration to accompany the program.  Copies of Hessel’s books, including The Story of Art Without Men: An Illustrated Guide to Amazing Women Artists, will be available for purchase in the Museum Shop.  EVENT SCHEDULE 11 AM – 12 PM | Talk and Visual Storytelling with Katy Hessel and Ping Zhu | Ring Auditorium  12 PM | Book Signing with Katy Hessel and Ping Zhu | Lower Level Lobby  10 AM – 2 PM | Art-making inspired by Joan Mitchell | Hirshhorn Art… Sponsor: Hirshhorn Museum. Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Ring Auditorium. Cost: Free. Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Kids & Families. Saturday, October 17, 2026, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM. For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu.

Art Walk

One-Time Events Join the National Portrait Gallery every Saturday morning for a themed sketching tour featuring up to three portraits from the museum’s collection. During each session, Portrait Gallery educators will encourage participants to look closely, sketch what they see, and make connections. This program is designed for visitors of all ages, and no prior drawing experience is necessary. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. After the tour, participants are invited to continue creating in the Education Center through a hands-on artmaking activity. All art materials are provided by the National Portrait Gallery. Sponsor: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: G Street Lobby. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/art-walk-tickets-1995913274332?aff=ebdsoporgprofile. Categories: Kids & Families. Gallery Talks & Tours. Saturday, October 17, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM.

Art Studio

Ongoing Tours & Activities Calling all artists! Join the Portrait Gallery for a free, drop-in art program, where creativity knows no bounds. Every weekend, visitors of all ages are invited to explore a different artistic medium while drawing inspiration from the Portrait Gallery’s collections and exhibitions. On select weekends, learn from a featured guest artist, who will lead specialized workshops and share their expertise. To stay informed about upcoming guest artist workshops, please check the Portrait Gallery’s Eventbrite page. Sponsor: Portrait Gallery. Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. No Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-art-studio-tickets-1112707681629?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile. Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops. Saturday, October 17, 2026, 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

Portrait Signs: A Tour in ASL

Ongoing Tours & Activities Portrait Signs is a Deaf-led tour in American Sign Language that explores a variety of topics related to portraiture, history and biography, focusing on works from the museum’s special exhibitions and permanent collection. Sponsor: Portrait Gallery. Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: G Street Lobby. Cost: Free. Registration Encouraged. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-portrait-signs-a-tour-in-asl-tickets-713964475967?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Saturday, October 17, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

DC | Quilt Along: Sit and Sew

One-Time Events Join Emma Alcazar (Chickasaw) and fellow Quilt Along participants in person for a screen-free afternoon of community and connection. Bring your quilt, at whatever stage it may be in, or any other sewing project. Hand-sewing only, no machines.  Note: Visitors are not allowed to bring scissors, sewing machines, irons, rotary cutters, and other sharp tools into the museum.  Registration is not required but is strongly encouraged to ensure there is enough seating for all participants. Register here! Sponsor: American Indian Museum. Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1: Potomac Atrium. Cost: FREE. Get Tickets/Register: https://nmai.swoogo.com/QALDCSitandSew. Categories: Celebrations. Demonstrations. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, October 17, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM. For more info visit nmai.swoogo.com.

NY | Quilt Along: Sit and Sew

One-Time Events Join Margaret Wood (Diné/Seminole) and fellow Quilt Along participants in person for a screen-free afternoon of community and connection. Bring your quilt, at whatever stage it may be in, or any other sewing project. Hand-sewing only, no machines.  Note: Visitors are not allowed to bring scissors, sewing machines, irons, rotary cutters, and other sharp tools into the museum.  Registration is not required but is strongly encouraged to ensure there is enough seating for all participants. Register here! Sponsor: American Indian Museum. Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1: Diker Pavilion. Cost: FREE. Get Tickets/Register: https://nmai.swoogo.com/QALNYSitandSew. Categories: Celebrations. Demonstrations. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, October 17, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM. For more info visit nmai.swoogo.com.

DC | Look, Learn, Create: "Water's Edge" for Families

One-Time Events Join a museum educator for a family-friendly interactive tour of the Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe exhibition! Visitors will engage with three of his artworks and can participate in guided discussions, and experience items from the museum's Teaching Collection. After finding inspiration from Truman Lowe’s artworks, families can continue into the imagiNATIONS Activity Center and create their own water-inspired artwork to take home. Recommended for children ages 4-10 and their families. All ages welcome. *Visitors 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult. First come, first served, capacity and supplies are limited. **This program can accommodate approximately 30 young visitors and their adult caregiver. Leading support provided by Bank of America. Major support provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. Generous support provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art and Ameriprise Financial. Additional support provided by John and Meryl Lavine, Greg and Cathy Tibbles, and Leslie A. Wheelock. Sponsor: American Indian Museum. Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 3: Exhibition Gallery, imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Saturday, October 17, 2026, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM.

People’s Poetry Gathering

“Of the People” Festivals The People’s Poetry Gathering, founded as a biennial event in 1999 by City Lore and Poets House, with Bowery Poetry joining soon after, assembles poets from New York City and beyond to pursue discourse, exchange, and cultural preservation through poetry. In 2026, the gathering returns to Lower Manhattan for the first time in twenty years. It will feature performances and workshops by an array of artists, including Indigenous, folk, youth, and literary poets and musicians, as well as collaborations with iconic venues and restaurants, free writing workshops, and a POEMobile initiative that will visit all five boroughs projecting poems onto walls and buildings alongside live readings and music.  See a full schedule of events. Sponsor: Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Categories: Performances. Cost: $0–25. Event Location: New York, New York. Sunday, October 18, 2026 – Sunday, November 1, 2026. Lower Manhattan New York, NY. For more info visit citylore.org.

John Adams: Architect of Our Democracy

“By the People” Events 2–3 p.m. CT Join one of the foundational founding fathers in a discussion of what rights you hold most dear. Engage in civil debate about how our imperfect nation has endured, and how it might yet “be good and do good.” Share your American story with John Adams, an American whose family roots go back to 1632, the Massachusetts Bay Colony and the Mayflower. Sponsor: Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Cost: Free. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Event Location: Elgin, Illinois. Sunday, October 18, 2026. Elgin Area Historical Society & History Museum 360 Park St. Elgin, IL. For more info visit ilhumanities.org.

Beyond the Studio Workshop: Paper Quilling with Ashley Chiang

One-Time Events Ashley Chiang of PaperLiberated provides an overview of modern quilling techniques based on her personal practice, using different widths and weights of paper. Participants will learn various techniques to create a small mandala design using a mix of traditional- and modern-styled strips. Please note that space is limited and registration is required. Participants must register by 7 p.m. ET on October 4.  Photo courtesy of the artist. Sponsor: Smithsonian American Art Museum. Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: MacMillan Education Center. Cost: $20 | Registration required     Tickets available September 4. Get Tickets/Register: https://events.blackthorn.io/5f4ZMUx7/5a2bVR3skaP. Categories: Workshops. Sunday, October 18, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.

On-Location Photography - In Person

All Programs Great shoots start with great locations—and Washington, D.C. offers plenty of unbeatable visual inspiration. Learn to capture this vibrant city and sharpen your way of thinking about shooting outdoors as you deploy a minimal amount of equipment and a lot of fresh perspective. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/on-location-photography?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Sunday, October 18, 2026, 1:45 PM – 4:45 PM.

Farewell My Concubine

Films Uncut 4K restoration including 20 minutes missing from the original US release! Watch the Trailer Preceded by a live performance of the sword dance and suicide by Lady Yuji from the Peking opera Farewell My Concubine, presented by DC Beauty of Beijing Opera. Cheng Dieyi (Leslie Cheung) and Duan Xiaolou (Zhang Fengyi) grow up enduring the harsh training of the Peking Opera Academy, where instructors regularly beat the students to instill in them the discipline needed to master the complex physical and vocal techniques of this ancient art. As the two boys mature, they develop complementary talents: Dieyi, with his fine, delicate features, assumes the female roles while Xiaolou plays masculine warlords. Their dramatic identities become real for Dieyi when he falls in love with Xiaolou, who fails to fully reciprocate his affections and marries a courtesan, Juxian (Gong Li), creating a dangerous, jealousy-filled romantic triangle. Hailed as a “cultural achievement” (The New York Times) and widely considered… Sponsor: Asian Art Museum. Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Meyer Auditorium. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://chinaclassics.eventive.org/films. Categories: Films. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Captioning. Assisted listening devices. Sunday, October 18, 2026, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM.

Spanish Language Docent Tour

One-Time Events Join the National Portrait Gallery for free Spanish language tours. Experience iconic art and learn from expert guides about the faces and stories that shaped the nation. Perfect for fluent speakers and language learners alike. The Portrait Gallery strives to provide programs that are accessible to all visitors. If you have any questions about the accessibility of this program, or require sign language interpretation or any other accommodations, please contact us. Sponsor: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: F Street Lobby. Cost: Free. No registration required. Categories: After Five. Gallery Talks & Tours. Sunday, October 18, 2026, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM.

Illustrated Mapmaking

All Programs Explore the art of illustrated mapmaking, where the rigid rules of cartography need not apply. Illustrated maps can be playful and personal: a way of capturing a place as you remember it rather than as it exists. Through guided exercises and feedback, delve into composition, visual hierarchy, and the interplay between text and image, building both confidence and creative direction. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/illustrated-mapmaking?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/illustrated-mapmaking?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Monday, October 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM.

Garden Play: Trees!

Smithsonian Gardens Join Smithsonian Gardens in the Flight Garden at the National Air and Space Museum for hands-on activities and story time exploring this month’s topic, trees! And be sure to check out the Growing Tomorrow garden exhibition about Amazing Oaks. Location: Find us in the Flight Garden on the west side of the National Air and Space Museum near the corner of Jefferson Drive, SW and 7th Street, SW. Please note that if you would like to enter the National Air and Space Museum during your visit, free timed-entry passes are required for all visitors, regardless of age. About Garden Play Garden Play is designed for children ages two and up and their caregivers and families. Activities are designed with early learners in mind, but children of all ages are welcome. Parents and guardians must remain with their children. Please come prepared for an outdoor experience. Wildlife and insects, including bees and mosquitoes, are a part of our gardens. Participants are encouraged to bring water, sun protection, their own… Sponsor: Smithsonian Gardens. Venue: Smithsonian Gardens. Event Location: The Flight Garden at the National Air and Space Museum, near the corner of Jefferson Drive, SW and 7th Street, SW. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Growing Tomorrow. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Monday, October 19, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM.

Portrait Gallery Kids

Ongoing Tours & Activities Children and families are invited to learn, play and create at the Portrait Gallery! Join educators every Monday as we explore a variety of topics and artistic materials. Participants will get a closer look at art with hands-on activities, music and story times. Portrait Gallery Kids is a fun way to engage with art and each other. Sponsor: Portrait Gallery. Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Education Center, E151. Cost: Free. No Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-gallery-portrait-gallery-kids-tickets-654254040447?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-share-source=organizer-profile&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=organizer-profile. Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops. Monday, October 19, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM. For more info visit www.eventbrite.com.

Printmaking, Postage, and Process: A Virtual Educator Workshop with Heather Moulder

One-Time Events Virtual | Open to educators of all grade levels and subject areas  Free event, registration required Join the National Postal Museum’s 2026 Guest Artist, Heather Moulder, for a virtual workshop designed for K–12 educators. Explore the intersection of stamps, art, and printmaking while learning about the history of printmaking, Heather Moulder's work, the process behind creating the USPS 2024 Bluegrass Forever stamp, and accessible printmaking techniques that can be adapted for any classroom. The session will conclude with a Q&A. Sponsor: Postal Museum. Event Location: Online only, registration required. Online Link: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/O0W9AXk_QuqjCfNf-lEqww. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/meeting/register/O0W9AXk_QuqjCfNf-lEqww. Categories: Workshops. Webcasts & Online. Related Events: https://postalmuseum.si.edu/guest-artist-program. Monday, October 19, 2026, 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM. For more info visit smithsonian.zoom.us.

German Art After WWI

All Programs In the first half of the 20th century, German art was shaped by dramatic political and social upheaval, especially in the years surrounding World War I. Movements such as Expressionism, Dada, and the New Objectivity reflected the era’s turbulence. Art historian Aneta Georgievska-Shine explores how artists of the period expressed their disillusionment with war and the prolonged uncertainty of the Weimar Republic—ultimately destroyed by the rise of Nazism. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)  . Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/german-art-after-wwi?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/german-art-after-wwi?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Monday, October 19, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.

The Man Behind the Musketeers: Alexandre Dumas and French Identity

All Programs Alexandre Dumas (1802–1870) has been alternately diminished, reclaimed, and celebrated, reflecting broader debates about what it means to be French. Dumas, the author of The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, was of mixed-race heritage, and his experiences with racism further complicated his status. Historian Eric Martone traces how Dumas’ reception has evolved from his century through the present. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/man-behind-musketeers?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/man-behind-musketeers?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Monday, October 19, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM.

Luis Barragán and Mexican Modernism

All Programs Luis Barragán, a leading figure of 20th-century modern architecture, transformed design through bold color, light, and space. Art historian Jennie Hirsh highlights his Mexico City projects, including Casa Luis Barragán, Jardines del Pedregal, the Hotel Camino Real, and Casa Gilardi. She also examines his influence on postwar and contemporary artists and the complex fate of his archives in Switzerland. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit). Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/luis-barragan?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/luis-barragan?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Monday, October 19, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:15 PM.

Postmarks and Paperbacks October Meeting

One-Time Events Join staff from the Smithsonian National Postal Museum and the Postal Museum in London for a discussion on 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff on Monday, October 19th at 7:00pm. If you have any accessibility requirements, please email NPMprograms@si.edu and we will do everything we can to meet your needs. A Zoom link will be emailed to participants prior to the program. Registration is required. Sponsor: Postal Museum. Event Location: Online. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/postmarks-paperbacks-october-meeting-tickets-1998484205055?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true. Categories: After Five. Monday, October 19, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM. For more info visit postalmuseum.si.edu.

Art in the A.M.

One-Time Events Inspire early childhood creativity with SAAM during Art in the A.M. Children ages up to 5 years and their caregivers are invited to the museum before hours to learn, connect, and create in the galleries. During this program, participants will explore the exhibition Much Here Is Beautiful, then create their own photomontage artworks. Sponsor: Smithsonian American Art Museum. Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: Meet in G Street Lobby. Cost: Free | Registration required Participants must register by noon ET on October 19. Get Tickets/Register: https://events.blackthorn.io/5f4ZMUx7/5a2bVR3slRd. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Exhibition: Much Here Is Beautiful: Photography Surveys of the U.S. Bicentennial. Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 10:30 AM.

Knitting for Beginners - In Person

All Programs Learn the fundamentals of knitting, including casting on, basic knit and purl stitches, increasing, decreasing, and binding off. Students learn by practice and may start a knitting project during class. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/knitting-for-beginners?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM.

Unique and Exciting Knitting Techniques - In Person

All Programs Knitters confident in their beginning skills are invited to try techniques that provide an entertaining experience for the knitter and a beautiful knitted piece too. Liven up your projects with double knitting, thrumming, knitting backwards, strip knitting, and freeform knitting. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/unique-and-exciting-knitting-techniques?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 6:15 PM – 8:45 PM.

Paranoia on Screen: The Sci-Fi and Horror Movies of the Cold War Era

All Programs Technology and science ran amuck on screen during the 1950s as moviemakers addressed the tensions and uncertainties associated with scientific, political, and technological developments during the Truman-Eisenhower years. The world exploded, pods replaced humans, and invaders came from Mars. Film historian Max Alvarez explores out-of-this-world selections of spine-tingling sci-fi and horror films from the period. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/paranoia-on-screen?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/paranoia-on-screen?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.

The Port Royal Experiment: Breathing Democracy into Reconstruction

All Programs In fall 1861, Union forces seized Port Royal, South Carolina, and the Sea Islands, leaving thousands of formerly enslaved people behind as white residents fled. Northern reformers soon launched an ambitious Reconstruction experiment in education, labor, and landownership. Historian Valinda Littlefield traces how Black families, new political players, and evolving federal policies reshaped suffrage, property rights, and opportunity, laying foundations for generational wealth and a transformed postwar South. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/port-royal-experiment?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/port-royal-experiment?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM.

The Sack of Rome and the End of the Renaissance in Italy

All Programs In May 1527, Rome suffered one of the most devastating catastrophes in its long history. The Sack of Rome, carried out by mutinous imperial troops during the wars between Pope Clement VII and the emperor Charles V, was a moment of extraordinary violence that marked a turning point for Europe itself. Historian Ross King explores why the sack happened, what it revealed about the fragile balance of power in Renaissance Italy, and how it reshaped the political, religious. and artistic landscape of the continent. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/sack-of-rome?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/sack-of-rome?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM.

Wellness Wednesday

One-Time Events Join the Portrait Gallery and wellness expert Aparna Sadananda for mindfulness programs inspired by the Portrait Gallery’s collection. Explore artful meditations, sound baths and musical meditations. For a detailed schedule of wellness programs please reference the specific dates below. These programs are for ages 18+ and are suitable for all skill levels. No experience is necessary. Sponsor: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: G Street Lobby. Cost: Free. Registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wellness-wednesdays-tickets-2001072638128?aff=ebdsoporgprofile. Categories: Workshops. Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.

Art in the Post–World War II Era

All Programs Artists in America during and after the Second World War grappled with the war from many perspectives. The Nazi “Degenerate Art” exhibition and the purge of modernists drove major European artists to the United States, helping shift the artistic center to New York. Art historian Matthew Palczynski examines this transatlantic transformation and how Americans responded, from Japanese internment camp depictions to Edward Hopper and his nighttime scenes. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit). Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/art-in-post-world-war-ii-era?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/art-in-post-world-war-ii-era?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM.

Looking Closely: Identity and Belonging in Portraiture | Cultivating Learning

Smithsonian Sponsored Events In this Cultivating Learning workshop, participants engage in close looking using the Unveiling Stories thinking routine to explore Shimomura Crossing the Delaware by Roger Shimomura. Through guided observation and discussion, educators examine how themes of identity, immigration, and personal experience shape the meaning of the work. The session connects art, biography, and history while encouraging thoughtful interpretation. Participants reflect on the question: what does it mean to be American? Program Details: This is a Zoom webinar with automatic captioning. You’ll be able to participate using the chat and Q&A, and your camera and mic will be disabled. We’ll record and post the webinar on the Smithsonian Learning Lab’s Events page approximately 72 hours after the session ends. For general questions, or if we can provide additional accessibility services to support your participation, please email us at learninglab@si.edu. Please make your accessibility request as far in advance as possible—preferably… Sponsor: Smithsonian Office of Educational Technology. Event Location: Online. Cost: Free. Categories: Webcasts & Online. Related Events: For the 2026-2027 Cultivating Learning series, Smithsonian educators share teaching techniques and resources to help students engage closely with objects to spark curiosity and discussion. Teaching with objects encourages close looking, asking questions, and listening to multiple perspectives. These techniques can be applied to a range of content, including actual material objects and artworks, but also music, primary source documents, oral histories, data sets, and more. Join us to explore strategies for u… Accessibility: Captioning. Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM.

An Evening With Chris Geremia and Tom Murphy: Return of the Last Wild Bison Herd in Yellowstone

One-Time Events The American bison, our national mammal, once roamed much of North America in numbers so vast the herds were measured in miles, not numbers. By the turn of the 20th century, they were nearly extinct.   In their new book, Yellowstone Bison: Return of the Last Wild Herd, biologist and Yellowstone National Park’s bison manager Chris Geremia and photographer Tom Murphy trace the remarkable recovery of bison in Yellowstone National Park.   Join us at the National Museum of Natural History for a conversation with Geremia, Murphy and Sant Director Kirk Johnson. Copies of the their new book, Yellowstone Bison: Return of the Last Wild Herd, will be available for purchase and signing at the program.    Before and after the program, chat with an educator from the Smithsonian National Postal Museum about the U.S. Postal Service American Bison stamp released in May 2026 that features one of Tom Murphy’s photographs and how it connects to the bronze bison and Bison: Standing Strong exhibit at the National Museum of Natural… Sponsor: Natural History Museum. Co-sponsor: National Postal Museum. Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: National Museum of Natural History (Ground Floor). Cost: Free; registration is required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/93569146/an-evening-with-chris-geremia-and-tom-murphyreturn-of-the-last-wild-bison-herd-in-yellowstone-washington-national-museum-of-natural-history. Categories: After Five. Lectures & Discussions. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:15 PM. For more info visit www.etix.com.

A Stroll Through Georgetown - In Person

All Programs Established 50 years before Washington, D.C. Georgetown got its start as a gritty port city on the banks of the Potomac River. Despite its modest beginnings, Georgetown eventually came to have some of the most expensive and desirable property in the District. Join Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours, for a walk through one of D.C.’s most exclusive neighborhoods, home to palatial mansions, elegant cemeteries, stately churches, and a world-class university. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: Tour meets at 1052 Thomas Jefferson St NW Washington, DC. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/stroll-through-georgetown?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Thursday, October 22, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM.

Mussolini and the Rise and Fall of Fascism in Italy

All Programs Discover the dramatic story of Benito Mussolini with writer Adam Tanner, tracing the rise of Italy’s fascist dictator, his consolidation of power, reconciliation with the Vatican, overseas empire in Africa, and ties to Adolf Hitler. Tanner examines Mussolini’s cult of personality and the lasting imprint of fascist architecture across Italy, revealing both the regime’s ambitions and its darker consequences. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/mussolini?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/mussolini?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Thursday, October 22, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM.

DC | Closer Look: Stretching the Canvas

One-Time Events Join curator Anya Montiel (Mestiza/Tohono O'odham descent) and artist Melissa Melero-Moose (Northern Paiute/Modoc) for an in-gallery conversation about select works in Stretching the Canvas: Ten Decades of Native Painting, including Melero-Moose's own Access Denied (2020-2021, 27/689). The exhibition explores how American Indian art expanded after World War I and how Native painters began to advocate for themselves in a world that often ignored their talent.   Melissa Melero-Moose is a Northern Paiute enrolled with the Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe with ties to Fort Bidwell Paiute and Modoc tribes.  She is a mixed media painter whose imagery, with use of willow, pinenuts and earth, portrays abstractions of landscape and memory in her Great Basin home.  Melissa holds a BFA from the Institute of American Indian Arts and a Bachelor of Science from Portland State University, Oregon.  She lives with her family in Northern Nevada working as a professional artist, curator for the Great Basin Native Artists Gallery… Sponsor: American Indian Museum. Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 4. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: Stretching the Canvas: Ten Decades of Native Painting. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Thursday, October 22, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.

Pet Portraits

All Programs Learn to draw pet portraits using colored pencils and chalk pastels. Discuss what makes the pet portrait so appealing as you discover techniques to capture the essence that makes your portrait most resemble your pet. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/pet-portraits?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/pet-portraits?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. Thursday, October 22, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

Art Signs Gallery Talk: Artful Conversations in ASL

One-Time Events Curious about American art? Join us for a 30-minute in-person conversation about selected works from the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s collection. This program is presented in American Sign Language (ASL) with voice interpretation for hearing participants. Image credit: Photo by Mary Tait. Sponsor: Smithsonian American Art Museum. Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: Meet in the F Street Lobby. Cost: Free | Registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://events.blackthorn.io/5f4ZMUx7/5a2bVR3shKo. Categories: After Five. Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Thursday, October 22, 2026, 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM.

Spanish Language Docent Tour

One-Time Events Join the National Portrait Gallery for free Spanish language tours. Experience iconic art and learn from expert guides about the faces and stories that shaped the nation. Perfect for fluent speakers and language learners alike. The Portrait Gallery strives to provide programs that are accessible to all visitors. If you have any questions about the accessibility of this program, or require sign language interpretation or any other accommodations, please contact us. Sponsor: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: F Street Lobby. Cost: Free. No registration required. Categories: After Five. Gallery Talks & Tours. Thursday, October 22, 2026, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM.

Stirred by the Ages: A Dialogue Between Cocktails and History

All Programs Join cocktail experts David Wondrich (author of The Comic Book History of the Cocktail) and Philip Greene (co-founder of the Museum of the American Cocktail) for a lively conversation about the challenges of tracing cocktail history. They explore how historians sift through unreliable sources and uncover surprising findings. Throughout the evening, enjoy six sample cocktails from different moments in history, each offering insight into its time and place. You also learn how to make each drink, take home recipes, and enjoy light snacks. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Venue: S. Dillon Ripley Center. Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center 1100 Jefferson Dr SW. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/stirred-by-ages?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Culinary Arts. Thursday, October 22, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:45 PM.

The American Revolution, Part 2

All Programs The American War of Independence freed the 13 British colonies in North America from Crown rule and set the stage for the United States’ bold experiment in self-government. Drawing on primary sources, historian Christopher Hamner continues exploring the pivotal turning points and strategic choices that shaped the course and the conclusion of the war in a fall series. This session focuses on the Battle of Cowpens and Battle of Yorktown. Sponsor: Smithsonian Associates. Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/american-revolution-part2-1D0172C?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/american-revolution-part2-1D0172C?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops. After Five. Thursday, October 22, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:00 PM.