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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.
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.
CANCELLED - 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…
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.
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.
Open Studio: Feelings in Color
One time events
Get into the art-making spirit in October at Open Studio! Each week we’ll get inspired by a different artwork on view from artists such as Aliza Nisenbaum, Pablo Picasso, Joan Mitchell, and more!
Join us this week as we get inspired by the artist, Joan Mitchell and her artwork, Cercando un Ago. Mitchell experienced synesthesia—a neurological condition where the senses overlap, causing one sense to trigger another. This led her to see sounds and feelings as colors. Inspired by her artistic practice, we’ll think about colors and what they mean to us.
Meet in Art School on the Museum’s Lower Level.
ABOUT OPEN STUDIO
Let your creativity run wild at Open Studio! Drop in to explore modern and contemporary art through interactive hands-on activities inspired by the Hirshhorn collection and artworks on view. Open Studio helps you transform your ideas into reality.
Every session introduces a new theme and a fresh perspective on art-making. Activities are designed to captivate everyone—from budding young…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Events: Open Studio Hirshhorn Art School Art School Everywhere Art Project: Paint with No Rules.
Saturday, October 17, 2026, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. 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).
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.
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.
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…
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.
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.
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.
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 with Emma Alcazar
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!
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 with Margaret Wood
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!
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.
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.
Teen Studio: Action and Abstraction
One time events
Teens: Ready to level up your art? Join us for Teen Studio, a free art-making program exclusively for teens ages 13–19. Push your artistic boundaries using materials and techniques inspired by artists whose work is now on view at the Hirshhorn.
Abstract Expressionist artists use colors and energetic brushstrokes called gestures to capture an artist’s raw emotions and thoughts. In this workshop, warm up with an “abstract emotions” activity and then take inspiration from Joan Mitchell’s Cercando un Ago and create your own abstract expressionist ‘portrait’.
Drop in to Teen Studio every Saturday between 2:30 and 4:30 PM. Register for the entire school year here (one-time registration covers all sessions). Join one session or join them all! Meet in Art School on the Museum’s Lower Level.
Looking for more? Explore Art School Everywhere, wherever you are, to learn about artists in the Hirshhorn collection and get creative any time.
Do this at home! Pour It Out with Morris Louis, , ABOUT TEEN STUDIO
Teens ages…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Events: Teen Studio Hirshhorn Art School Art School Everywhere Pour It Out with Morris Louis.
Saturday, October 17, 2026, 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. 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.
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.
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. Portrait InSight: Verbal Description Tour
One-Time Events
This educator-guided gallery talk combines detailed verbal description with multisensory engagement and group conversation. We'll explore select portraits in the America's Presidents exhibition, including tactile reproductions of President Abraham Lincoln's face masks.
Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: G St Lobby. Cost: Free—Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/portrait-insight-verbal-description-tour-tickets-1999120888392?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Audio description. Sensory Programs.
Sunday, October 18, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM.
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.
Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: MacMillan Education Center. Cost: $20 | Registration required
Tickets available September 4. 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.
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…
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.
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.
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…
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.
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.
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) .
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
Play Date at NMNH: Awesome Arachnids!
One-Time Events
Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators!
Come join us as we celebrate the many wonderful ways arachnids help our planet, make observations of different arachnid species, and create art inspired by the different colors and shapes found on arachnids! Families will be able to explore through play, art, and select specimens from our collection.
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 Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center, on the Ground Floor of the museum. Please enter through the Constitution Avenue entrance. Q?rius is located on the right as you enter the museum.
Accessibility: Access services such as American Sign Language interpretation, real-time captioning (CART), or audio-description are available with advanced notice.…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center (Ground Floor). Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
History Film Forum presents "Faith Healers"
One-Time Events
The History Film Forum proudly presents Faith Healers, in partnership with the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center.
Faith Healers explores the history of doctors who left the Philippines to care for patients in the United States. The documentary traces Dr. Zorayda Lee-Llacer's journey to the United States and her contributions to American healthcare. Against the backdrop of the colonial relationship between the United States and the Philippines, the film examines the challenges and achievements of a vibrant Filipino American community that grew just outside the nation’s capital in Prince George’s County, Maryland.
Along with the story of Dr. Lee-Llacer, the film explores the experiences of second-generation Filipino Americans and examines how the Philippines continues to shape their identities from afar. Faith Healers is ultimately a story of sacrifice, service, community, and the preservation of Filipino American history.
After the screening, enjoy a panel conversation with:
Regina Aquino (writer,…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Warner Bros. Theater, 1 Center. Cost: Free, tickets required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/history-film-forum-presents-faith-healers-tickets-2002460893437?aff=trumba. Categories: After Five. Films. Lectures & Discussions. Related Exhibition: How Can You Forget Me: Filipino American Stories. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible. Captioning.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Book Signing & Pastry Pop-up with Chef Carla Hall
One-Time Events
Meet and greet celebrity chef Carla Hall in the Sweet Home Café and grab a signed copy of her latest book, Carla Bakes. The café will also host a special pastry pop-up station featuring desserts from the cookbook. In Carla Bakes, Hall shares “80 joyful recipes designed to help you bake with confidence, creativity, and a whole lot of heart.”
Copies of the book will be available for sale, courtesy of Smithsonian Enterprises.
Timed-entry passes are required to enter the museum.
Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: Sweet Home Café (Concourse Level). Cost: Free to attend. Categories: Culinary Arts. Shopping/Book Signing.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
For more info visit nmaahc.si.edu. 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.
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).
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…
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…
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.
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.
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 and…
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 – 2:00 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.
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.
DC | Inspired to Create: "Stretching the Canvas"
One-Time Events
Embrace your creativity! Following the “Closer Look” program in Stretching the Canvas take an art break to make a small artwork of your own inspired by the exhibition.
Join a museum arts educator for a hands-on art experience inspired by Melissa Melero-Moose’s piece Access Denied in Stretching the Canvas. Participants will create a wax resist postcard with watercolors to take home. Drop by the tables on the Level 4 Overlook near Windows on Collections to spend some time creating after your gallery visit.
Event Location: Level 4, Overlook. Cost: FREE. Categories: Demonstrations. Workshops. Related Exhibition: Stretching the Canvas: Ten Decades of Native Painting. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, October 22, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:30 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.
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.
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.
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. After Five.
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.
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.
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.
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-1CWB12?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Lectures & Discussions.
Friday, October 23, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:30 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.
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 23, 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.
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 23, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM.
Jim Henson: A Creative Life in Six Objects - In Person
All Programs
From inventing beloved characters to crafting fantastical worlds to creating television for the whole family, Jim Henson’s creative genius was unparalleled. The Jim Henson Company Archives Director Karen Falk and biographer Brian Jay Jones explore six extraordinary objects donated by Henson’s family to the National Museum of American History. Each offers a unique window into Henson’s creativity, artistic evolution, and long-lasting cultural impact. Guided by Ryan Lintelman, entertainment curator in the Smithsonian’s Division of Culture and the Arts, the discussion weaves together biography, behind-the-scenes insights, and historical context.
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/jim-henson?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Friday, October 23, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Art Bites Gallery Talk
One-Time Events
Join SAAM’s research fellows for this lunchtime series of gallery talks, each focused on one compelling artwork. Discover the stories behind these objects and the insights they offer into the United States’ ever-evolving cultural landscape. Homer Arnold, George Gurney Predoctoral Fellow, discusses Martha Rosler’s Semiotics of the Kitchen.
Image credit: Martha Rosler, Semiotics of the Kitchen, 1975, single-channel video, black and white, sound; 06:09 minutes, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase made possible by the Ford Motor Company, 2008.21.7, © 1975, Martha Rosler. Courtesy Electronic Arts Intermix, NY.
Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: In-person | Smithsonian American Art Museum. Cost: Free | Registration encouraged
Meet in the G Street Lobby. Get Tickets/Register: https://events.blackthorn.io/5f4ZMUx7/5a2bVR3hZ2P. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours.
Friday, October 23, 2026, 12:15 PM – 12:45 PM.
Night of the Living Zoo
Special Zoo Events
Night of the Living Zoo is back — and deader than ever. Join us Friday, Oct. 23, for the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s adults-only Halloween bash, where the spirits are high and the vibes are otherworldly.
🎃 21+ only. Valid ID required for entry.
Looking for a not-so-scary experience? Get tickets to the family-friendly Boo at the Zoo!
Venue: National Zoo. Event Location: Lower Zoo (near the Great Cats exhibit). Cost: Tickets on sale this fall. Get Tickets/Register: https://nationalzoo.si.edu/visit/events/night-living-zoo. Categories: After Five. Performances.
Friday, October 23, 2026, 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM.
For more info visit nationalzoo.si.edu. The Adventures of Prince Achmed
Films
100th Anniversary Screening! Live accompaniment by Rahim AlHaj
Watch the Trailer
Lotte Reiniger’s 1926 adaptation of tales from The Thousand and One Nights is widely believed to be the very first animated feature film. The Adventures of Prince Achmed uses striking silhouette cutouts inspired by traditional Indonesian wayang shadow puppets and gorgeous color tinting. These methods bring to life the story of an Arabian prince who is whisked away on a flying horse to an enchanted land where he tangles with an evil sorcerer, rescues a princess, and joins forces with none other than Aladdin. Painstakingly composed frame by frame over the course of three years by Reiniger, this landmark work is both an enchanting storybook saga and a retina-delighting triumph of visual imagination. Description adapted from the Criterion Collection.
Presented in a digital restoration by DFF – Deutsches Filminstitut & Filmmuseum e.V.
Director: Lotte Reiniger. Country: Germany. Released: 1926. Length: 65 min. Format: Restored DCP.…
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. After Five. Performances. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Captioning. Assisted listening devices.
Friday, October 23, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM.
Talbotton Blues Festival
“Of the People” Festivals
A stunning example of rural Gothic architecture and Georgia’s centuries-old Episcopal infrastructure, Zion Church in Talbotton has stood at the heart of the state’s historical and cultural preservation efforts for many years. Its annual Talbotton Blues Festival is one of the many fundraising and culture-sustaining events produced by Zion Church Restoration, Inc. and the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, and features local artisans, cooks, and blues musicians.
Categories: Performances. Culinary Arts. Cost: TBA. Event Location: Talbotton, Georgia.
Saturday, October 24, 2026.
Zion Episcopal Church
Talbotton, GA.
We Tell These Truths: Union Makes Strength (L'unione fa la forza) Italian American Heritage Month Celebration (Concert of Colors Neighborhood Program)
“Of the People” Festivals
2–5 pm ET
Through collaborations with the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and community-based organizations across Metro Detroit, the Concert of Colors will host a series of free neighborhood events celebrating the cultural traditions that have helped shape our nation. Together, these programs remind us that the journey toward a more perfect union begins with listening, sharing, and creating solutions together.
Featured artists: Maestro Francesco Mamola and Alfonzo Brandi (guitarist). Presented in partnership with the N.O.I. Foundation (Nuovi Orizzonti Italiani).
Categories: Performances. Cost: Free. Event Location: Clinton Township, Michigan.
Saturday, October 24, 2026.
Macomb Center for Performing Arts
Clinton Township, MI.
For more info visit www.concertofcolors.com. 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.
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 24, 2026, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
Growing Community: Endings and Beginnings in the Fall Garden
One-Time Events
We will celebrate the ending of the growing season and the beginning of the fall and winter garden. Participants will reap the benefits of the summer crops while learning the importance of planting and cultivation of the new plants that will be our food for late fall and winter. We will learn how through time the fall garden was a time for reflection and future planning. We will revisit our journals, and as a group, we will share garden stories from the summer.
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/growing-community-endings-and-beginnings-in-the-fall-garden-tickets-1999722552987?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Demonstrations. Kids & Families. Workshops.
Saturday, October 24, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
A Safari Adventure with WETA PBS Kids & the National Museum of Natural History!
One-Time Events
Learn more about your place in the world through explorations of nature and culture with museum educators and our friends from WETA!
Join us on Saturday, October 24, for a special African safari adventure with our friends from WETA PBS Kids, the Smithsonian's National Zoo, and a special guest—Elmo! Explore the animals that live on the African savanna, create art inspired by a safari, and watch Elmo’s safari adventure in Sesame Street and the Great Elephant Adventure! In Sesame Street’s first-ever safari, our friends embark on an unforgettable journey of discovery. They travel from the caring confines of the elephant sanctuary into the unpredictable African bush, where they come face-to-face with some of nature’s most iconic wildlife, including lions, zebras, giraffes, and hippos. Families with learners of all ages are invited to explore different stations, observe specimens from our collection, and engage in play and art-making. They can meet costume character Elmo in person and capture a memorable moment…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Ground Floor, Q?rius: The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, October 24, 2026, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
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.
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-1CWC12?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Lectures & Discussions.
Saturday, October 24, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM.
Death and Beyond: Comparative Reflections in World Religious Traditions
All Programs
Issues of death, dying, love, and the meaning life—and the afterlife—hold key places in the belief systems of the major religious traditions of the world. Graham M. Schweig, a professor of philosophy and religion at Christopher Newport University, leads a seminar that surveys differing visions of these timeless themes from a variety of Eastern and Western cultural-religious perspectives.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/death-and-beyond?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/death-and-beyond?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Saturday, October 24, 2026, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
Inside the Folger Shakespeare Library - In Person
All Programs
Go behind the scenes at the Folger Shakespeare Library for a day of rare books, scintillating conversation, and live theater centered on one of Shakespeare’s most provocative plays, Measure for Measure. Staff members provide a guided introduction to the Folger and its renowned collections—which include 82 First Folios—along with a tour of the recently renovated building. Enjoy a special session that offers insights into the play before the matinee and a private discussion with Folger production staff afterward.
Event Location: Folger Shakespeare Library & Theatre 201 East Capitol St SE. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/inside-folger-shakespeare-library?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours.
Saturday, October 24, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
Autumn Sketching in the Smithsonian Gardens - In Person
All Programs
October and November are magical in the Enid A. Haupt Garden. Sketch in this stunning garden using watercolors to capture the changing light of the season.
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/autumn-sketching-in-smithsonian-gardens?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Saturday, October 24, 2026, 10:15 AM – 2:15 PM.
Embroidery 101 Workshop - In Person
All Programs
In this workshop, students learn the basics of hand embroidery with a simple project and leave the class feeling confident in their ability to finish it with all they have learned.
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/embroidery-101-workshop-1E0APD?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Saturday, October 24, 2026, 10:15 AM – 2:15 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.
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 24, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
Art & Me | Family Workshop: Outdoor Sculpture
Kids and Family
What happens to art that lives outside? In this hands-on workshop, children ages 3–8 and their caregivers explore outdoor sculptures at the museum and learn how conservators care for artworks exposed to sun, rain, and more. Then, kids make their own outdoor art and take it home to observe how it stands up to the elements. Image credit: Department of Conservation and Scientific Research, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: East Building. Event Location: ImaginAsia Studio. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/art-me-family-workshop-outdoor-sculpture-tickets-1994363833914?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Workshops. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Saturday, October 24, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM.
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.
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 24, 2026, 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Go-Go Fitness
One-Time Events
Join Go-Go Fitness LLC as they lead a fun dance fitness workshop for the whole family to DC’s home sound – Go-Go Music. Dress in loose fitting, comfortable clothes, wear tennis shoes, and bring water and a hand towel. Reserve your spot today! Since February 2012, Go-Go Fitness LLC has been a trusted partner and leader in dance fitness and total health and wellness in the District, the nation and the world spreading the love of DC’s homegrown Go-Go Music through dance fitness. Native Washingtonians Danette Tucker and Erica Berry Wilson started Go-Go Fitness to provide a family-friendly environment that encourages women, men and children of all ages to get fit and have fun while doing so. Throughout our history, we have encouraged physical activity to support the health and well-being of families and communities.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Program Room. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/go-go-fitness-tickets-1999418353117?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Workshops.
Saturday, October 24, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.
Jewelry Tool Talk: Cold Connections
All Programs
Have you wanted to take the next step with your jewelry, from bead stringing and wire work to cold connections on sheet metal, but weren’t sure where to start? Find the answers to your questions in this demonstration-based workshop. Students are not expected to have supplies but to come with a desire to learn more about the infinite toolbox available to jewelers.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/jewelry-tool-talk-cold-connections?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/jewelry-tool-talk-cold-connections?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Saturday, October 24, 2026, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Mammoth Performance (Afternoon)
One-Time Events
Join Nick Cave for a site‑specific performance that transforms the museum’s Kogod Courtyard into a living landscape animated by memory and imagination. Inspired by the current exhibition at SAAM, Cave will bring his herd of mammoths to life through sound and movement. The work features an original score and live musical performance by Kahil El’Zabar, performed alongside local musicians and collaborators.
Presented for one day only, the performance will take place at 12:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. with a total run time of approximately 45 minutes. Registration is required. General seating will be available on a first‑come, first‑served basis. Mammoth is presented in collaboration with Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company.
, Nick Cave: Mammoth is organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Major support is provided by Cindy and Mark Aron, Leslie Berriman and Nion McEvoy, the Elizabeth Broun Endowment, Carolyn and Maurice Cunniffe, the James Dicke Family Endowment, Robert and Arlene Kogod, Nion McEvoy Publications…
Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum. Cost: Free | Registration required
SOLD OUT | Join the waitlist. Get Tickets/Register: https://events.blackthorn.io/5f4ZMUx7/5a2bVR44PyP. Categories: Performances. Related Exhibition: Nick Cave: Mammoth.
Saturday, October 24, 2026, 12:30 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.
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 24, 2026, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM.
Art & Me | Family Workshop: Outdoor Sculpture
Kids and Family
What happens to art that lives outside? In this hands-on workshop, children ages 3–8 and their caregivers explore outdoor sculptures at the museum and learn how conservators care for artworks exposed to sun, rain, and more. Then, kids make their own outdoor art and take it home to observe how it stands up to the elements. Image credit: Department of Conservation and Scientific Research, National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: East Building. Event Location: ImaginAsia Studio. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/art-me-family-workshop-outdoor-sculpture-tickets-1994363833914?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Workshops. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Assisted listening devices.
Saturday, October 24, 2026, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM.
Smartphone Photography
All Programs
Learn how to take great photos with your smartphone. By understanding a few principles of what makes a good image, you can use your phone’s camera to create stunning photographs.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/smartphone-photography?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/smartphone-photography?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Saturday, October 24, 2026, 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM.
Performance: Rahim AlHaj, oud
Performances
Join master musician Rahim AlHaj for an intimate solo performance on the oud (the grandfather of all stringed instruments). This performance celebrates our exhibition From the Louvre: Masterpieces of Islamic Art.
AlHaj and his trio also accompany our screening of The Adventures of Prince Achmed. Rahim AlHaj has performed around the globe and is considered one of the finest oud players in the world. Born in Baghdad, Iraq, he moved to the US as a political refugee in 2000 and later became a US citizen. Since he began playing oud at age nine, he has studied under Munir Bashir (considered by many to be the greatest oud player of the twentieth century) and Salim Abdul Kareem at the Institute of Music in Baghdad, Iraq. AlHaj has won many accolades and awards, including two Grammy nominations and the National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship. He has recorded and performed with various master musicians such as genre-busting American guitarist Bill Frisell, Indian sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan, and…
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: East Building. Event Location: S1 Lobby. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: Performances. Related Exhibition: From the Louvre: Masterpieces of Islamic Art. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, October 24, 2026, 2:00 PM – 3:15 PM.
Teen Studio: Are You Surreal?
One time events
Teens: Ready to level up your art? Join us for Teen Studio, a free art-making program exclusively for teens ages 13–19. Push your artistic boundaries using materials and techniques inspired by artists whose work is now on view at the Hirshhorn.
Think like a Surrealist! This Saturday, check out Moonmad by Max Ernst, a surrealist piece that blurs a recognizable face into something totally dream-like. Then head back to Art School to explore portraiture as a tool for self-expression, experimentation, and storytelling with guest artist Simone Agoussoye. Guest Artist Simone Agoussoye
Simone Agoussoye is a Washington, D.C.-born multidisciplinary artist, curator, and arts educator whose work explores identity, visibility, self-worth, and the experiences of Black women through portraiture. Known for incorporating materials such as broken and crushed glass into her work, Agoussoye uses texture, reflection, and light to expand traditional approaches to portraiture. She has exhibited throughout the DMV and beyond and…
Venue: Hirshhorn Museum. Event Location: Art School on the Lower Level. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Related Events: Teen Studio, Hirshhorn Art School, Art School Everywhere, Picasso Rocks!
Saturday, October 24, 2026, 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM.
For more info visit hirshhorn.si.edu. Mammoth Performance (Evening)
One-Time Events
Join Nick Cave for a site‑specific performance that transforms the museum’s Kogod Courtyard into a living landscape animated by memory and imagination. Inspired by the current exhibition at SAAM, Cave will bring his herd of mammoths to life through sound and movement. The work features an original score and live musical performance by Kahil El’Zabar, performed alongside local musicians and collaborators.
Presented for one day only, the performance will take place at 12:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. with a total run time of approximately 45 minutes. Registration is required. General seating will be available on a first‑come, first‑served basis. Mammoth is presented in collaboration with Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company.
, Nick Cave: Mammoth is organized by the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Major support is provided by Cindy and Mark Aron, Leslie Berriman and Nion McEvoy, the Elizabeth Broun Endowment, Carolyn and Maurice Cunniffe, the James Dicke Family Endowment, Robert and Arlene Kogod, Nion McEvoy Publications…
Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum. Cost: Free | Registration required
SOLD OUT | Join the waitlist. Get Tickets/Register: https://events.blackthorn.io/5f4ZMUx7/5a2bVR41PlF. Categories: Performances. Related Exhibition: Nick Cave: Mammoth.
Saturday, October 24, 2026, 7:30 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.
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 26, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Churchill and the Crown
All Programs
Winston Churchill’s political career began when Queen Victoria was on the throne and ended during the reign of Elizabeth II. His experience over half a century at the forefront of British politics made him an indispensable adviser upon the accession of the young queen—whom he first met as a 2-year-old princess. Katherine Carter, curator of Churchill’s country home at Chartwell, shares the history of this remarkable friendship.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/churchill-and-crown?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/churchill-and-crown?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, October 26, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM.
Before Baker Street: Joseph Bell and the Making of Sherlock Holmes
All Programs
Sherlock Holmes is known the world over, yet the man Arthur Conan Doyle credited as Sherlock’s prototype is unsung. The deductive powers of 19th-century doctor Joseph Bell—who read patients’ ailments, occupation, and personal habits at a single glance—had a profound influence on medical student Conan Doyle. Author Lindsey Fitzharris recounts how Bell’s work took him from ward to witness box as a medical detective.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/before-baker-street?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/before-baker-street?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Lectures & Discussions.
Monday, October 26, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM.
Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna
All Programs
In the historic university city of Bologna, the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Bologna houses one of Italy’s most important collections of Renaissance painting. Among its treasures are masterpieces by Giotto, Raphael, and Parmigianino, as well as of the Bolognese school. Italian Renaissance art expert Rocky Ruggiero discusses the significance of this extraordinary collection and the enduring legacy of Bologna’s artistic tradition. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/pinacoteca-nazionale-di-bologna?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/pinacoteca-nazionale-di-bologna?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Monday, October 26, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.
The Geology of Yellowstone: Past, Present and Future
All Programs
The Yellowstone Caldera, formed 630,000 years ago, anchors America’s first national park, yet Yellowstone’s volcanic story stretches back 17 million years and continues today, notes volcanologist Kirt Kempter. He guides participants through the park’s geology, from unique rocks to hydrothermal features, using Google Earth views, diagrams, maps, and field photos to reveal how ongoing volcanic and geothermal forces shape Yellowstone’s dramatic landscape.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/geology-of-yellowstone?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/geology-of-yellowstone?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, October 26, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM.
Hues in Harmony: Color Mixing and Maximizing Your Palette
All Programs
Refamiliarize yourself with the fundamentals of color theory while learning an approach to mixing color that relies on color harmonies. Gain a deeper understanding of complementary color relationships so that you can more intuitively mix colors and harness color harmonies to better express depth as well as the contrast between light and shadow.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/hues-in-harmony-color-mixing?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/hues-in-harmony-color-mixing?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
Professor Wingnut Wants to Fly!
Discovery Theater
Ages 3 to 8. Professor Wingnut and his friend Seymour the Seagull explore the amazing science of flight!
Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center Discovery Theater, 3rd Sublevel. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/268279?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276224. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/268279?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276224. Categories: Kids & Families.
Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM.
Play Date at NMNH: Bats!
One-Time Events
Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators!
Tuesday, October 27th, is all about bats! Families can celebrate Bat Week by making observations of different bat species for our specimen collection, explore different elements of play related to bats, and learn why almost all bat species hang upside down! Come and join us for a fun time learning through play and exploration!
The event is part of our drop-in program, Play Date at NMNH. Play Date at NMNH is a program designed for early learners and their caregivers and families. Activities are designed with early learners in mind, but all ages are welcome.
Location: This program is held in Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center, on the Ground Floor of the museum. Please enter through the Constitution Avenue entrance. Q?rius is located on the right as you enter the museum.
Accessibility: Access services such as American Sign Language interpretation, real-time captioning (CART), or audio-description are available with…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center (Ground Floor). Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Professor Wingnut Wants to Fly!
Discovery Theater
Ages 3 to 8. Professor Wingnut and his friend Seymour the Seagull explore the amazing science of flight!
Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center Discovery Theater, 3rd Sublevel. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/268282?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276224. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/268282?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276224. Categories: Kids & Families.
Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM.
Science Without Borders: Italian Physicists in American Discoveries
All Programs
Event Location: Embassy of Italy 3000 Whitehaven St NW. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/science-without-borders?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
How to Read a Film
All Programs
Humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson reminds viewers that films are built from thousands of creative choices, and understanding them means examining elements like pace, music, lighting, direction, acting styles, and editing. Learning to isolate these components deepens appreciation without diminishing enjoyment. Jenkinson illustrates his approach through two films from Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer and The Odyssey, and Philip Kaufman's The Right Stuff.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/how-to-read-film?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/how-to-read-film?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.
The Language of 1776
All Programs
In 1776, Americans were not only fighting for political independence but also creating the conditions for new, distinctly American ways of speaking. Linguist Anne Curzan explores the state of the English language in the richly multilingual context of 18th-century America. Curzan traces the birth of Americanisms such as maize, backwoods, and bluff. She also illustrates how patterns of immigration shaped the American accents and dialects heard across regions and social groups today.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/language-of-1776?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/language-of-1776?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Lectures & Discussions.
Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM.
The Great Harry Houdini: Life, Death, and the Afterlife
All Programs
The death-defying escapes and daredevil stunts of Harry Houdini made him a sensation. But he created a new role for himself as an anti-spiritualist crusader in his later years, believing that so-called mediums who professed to make contact with the spirits of the departed were hucksters. Author Daniel Stashower explores Houdini’s life and legacy, while actors Scott Sedar and Bari Biern give voice to his career both onstage and in the séance room.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/harry-houdini?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/harry-houdini?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:15 PM.
Historically Speaking: What a Dream Can Do: Building a Collection, Preserving a Legacy
One-Time Events
Join the editors of What a Dream Can Do—Deputy Director Michelle D. Commander, Assistant Director for Collections Michèle Gates Moresi, and Senior Editor for Publications Douglas Remley—and advisory team member Dwandalyn Reece, Associate Director for the Humanities, for a lively discussion moderated by Michel Martin, host of NPR’s Morning Edition.
Celebrating the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s 10th anniversary, the conversation will explore stories behind select objects that illuminate centuries of African American creativity, resistance, determination, and joy.
Signed books will be available for purchase courtesy of Smithsonian Enterprises.
Tickets will be available starting September 24, 2026
To support full participation, we welcome attendees to share any accessibility or accommodation needs. Assistive listening devices are available upon request for all public programs. Please email your request to NMAAHCPubPgms@si.edu as early as possible. While we will attempt to honor…
Venue: African American History and Culture Museum. Event Location: The Oprah Winfrey Theater. Cost: Free; Registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://tickets.si.edu/nmaahc/events/019ff198-5377-7f06-cd03-fe567f4b4f25?tg=019ff198-537b-6709-8502-cdb90ac8e708. Categories: After Five. Lectures & Discussions. Shopping/Book Signing.
Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:45 PM.
The Art of Floral Design
All Programs
Learn the fundamentals of floral arranging as this class covers essential base mechanics, sourcing flowers, working with seasonal blooms, and photographing your work.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/art-of-floral-design?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/art-of-floral-design?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM.
Professor Wingnut Wants to Fly!
Discovery Theater
Ages 3 to 8. Professor Wingnut and his friend Seymour the Seagull explore the amazing science of flight!
Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center Discovery Theater, 3rd Sublevel. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/268283?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276224. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/268283?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276224. Categories: Kids & Families.
Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM.
Story Time with DC Public Library
One-Time Events
Join us for Story Time in collaboration with the DC Public Library! Children and their grown-ups can enjoy story time as an interactive way to exercise language and literacy skills. Story Time is designed for learners ages 5 and under, but all are welcome!
For questions about this event, please email us at: HistoryTeachers@si.edu.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: 1 West. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families.
Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 10:45 AM – 11:15 AM.
Professor Wingnut Wants to Fly!
Discovery Theater
Ages 3 to 8. Professor Wingnut and his friend Seymour the Seagull explore the amazing science of flight!
Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center Discovery Theater, 3rd Sublevel. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/268284?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276224. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/268284?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276224. Categories: Kids & Families.
Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM.
Heresy: How the Search for the True Faith Shaped Christianity
All Programs
Throughout Christian history, followers of Christ have sought to define his message and the correct faith in God and the Trinity. Yet the search for orthodoxy (“right belief”) has been inseparable from the condemnation of heresy (“wrong belief”). Historian David Gwynn explores the debates about what was orthodoxy and what was heresy and their importance for understanding the historical evolution of Christianity from the original disciples and the apostle Paul to the Christian Roman empire and beyond.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/heresy?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/heresy?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM.
Wings of Change: The Tuskegee Airmen and the Fight for Equality
All Programs
During World War II, a group of determined young African American men took to the skies in defiance of the racial barriers that sought to ground them. Known as the Tuskegee Airmen, these pioneering pilots and crew members flew more than 1,578 sorties across Europe and North Africa. Aviation expert Jerry Burton explores their extraordinary achievements. The lecture begins with an introduction from Jeremy R. Kinney, associate director of research, collections, and curatorial affairs at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/wings-of-change?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/wings-of-change?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Holy Terrors: Medieval Gargoyles
All Programs
From the rooftops of medieval churches and cathedrals across Western Europe, looking out over the world below are gargoyles—stone figures shaped by both engineering necessity and artistic imagination. Art historian Janetta Rebold Benton reveals how craftsmen transformed functional drainage systems into expressive sculptures of humans, animals, and hybrid creatures. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/holy-terrors-medieval-gargoyles?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/holy-terrors-medieval-gargoyles?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:15 PM.
Drawing Light and How the Masters Did It In Color
All Programs
Using watercolor, learn the strategies Morisot, Constable, Monet, and Cézanne employed to harness light in their images. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/drawing-light-and-how-masters-did-it-in-color?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/drawing-light-and-how-masters-did-it-in-color?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Thursday, October 29, 2026, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
Professor Wingnut Wants to Fly!
Discovery Theater
Ages 3 to 8. Professor Wingnut and his friend Seymour the Seagull explore the amazing science of flight!
Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center Discovery Theater, 3rd Sublevel. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/268285?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276224. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/268285?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276224. Categories: Kids & Families.
Thursday, October 29, 2026, 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM.
Professor Wingnut Wants to Fly!
Discovery Theater
Ages 3 to 8. Professor Wingnut and his friend Seymour the Seagull explore the amazing science of flight!
Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center Discovery Theater, 3rd Sublevel. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/268286?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276224. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/268286?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276224. Categories: Kids & Families.
Thursday, October 29, 2026, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM.
A History of the Movie Musical
All Programs
As soon as movies learned to talk, they also learned to sing and dance—and the movie musical quickly became one of America’s most popular film genres. Media historian Brian Rose guides you through the rich history of the movie musical, illustrated with extended clips from dozens of classic films. From 42nd Street and Swing Time to Meet Me in St. Louis, West Side Story, and Chicago, the four-part series celebrates the songs, stars, and stories that made movie musicals an enduring part of American culture.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/history-of-movie-musical?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/history-of-movie-musical?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Thursday, October 29, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM.
Ocean Hall-o-ween
One-Time Events
Visitors beware, you're in for a scare! Join us for an eerie educational experience in the Ocean Hall, where costumed scientists will share curious creatures and spooky specimens in the spirit of the season!
Photo of Chimaera by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, The Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free and open to the public. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: The Sant Ocean Hall. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, October 29, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Portrait Gallery Reading Rhythms
One-Time Events
Join the Portrait Gallery and Reading Rhythms for a reading party designed to make it easy for people to gather and read socially. We invite folks to bring any book they want while we facilitate silent reading periods, one-on-one breakouts, and group discussions about the art that everyone is engaging with. This adult program unites a community of readers to learn together and experience art with curated music.
Venue: Portrait Gallery. Event Location: Great Hall. Cost: Free. Registration Required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/portrait-gallery-reading-rhythms-tickets-1985367092418?aff=erelexpmlt. Categories: After Five.
Thursday, October 29, 2026, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
Autumn Scenes
All Programs
Hone your thematic skills and train your lens on classic fall scenes. Embrace the season by stepping out to snap picturesque landscapes, flame-colored foliage, and other autumnal sights from pumpkin patches and farm equipment to black cats and scarecrows.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/autumn-scenes?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/autumn-scenes?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Thursday, October 29, 2026, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM.
Henri Matisse: An Enduring Fascination
All Programs
Henri Matisse is considered one of the most innovative and influential artists of the 20th century. Matisse’s oeuvre includes a wide range of materials and styles, but he is best-known for sensual, motion-infused canvases that pulsate with the intense light and vivid color of southern France. Art historian Nancy G. Heller examines these canvases and provides examples of how the artist’s work continues to fascinate. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/henri-matisse-enduring-fascination?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/henri-matisse-enduring-fascination?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Thursday, October 29, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM.
The American Colonies in the Age of Sail
All Programs
In the early 18th century, American colonists along the seaboard built and sailed small vessels in coastal trade. Growing Caribbean plantations needed provisions, prompting widespread smuggling that violated British, French, and Spanish mercantilist laws. Skilled American mariners, adept in shallow-water navigation, became ideal illicit traders. Historian Carl Herzog of the USS Constitution Museum argues that decades of defying imperial policies fostered professional networks, business savvy, and covert practices that ultimately helped sail colonists toward revolution.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/american-colonies-in-age-of-sail?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/american-colonies-in-age-of-sail?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Lectures & Discussions.
Thursday, October 29, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM.
Hidden Terrors in America: The 1830s Cholera Pandemic
All Programs
From 1832 to 1836, cholera swept through U.S. cities, towns, farms, prisons, and plantations, killing victims within hours and baffling Americans who lacked bacteriology. Though it struck all classes and regions, elites insisted it targeted only the supposedly immoral, blaming deaths among enslaved African Americans, Indigenous peoples, and Irish immigrants. As fatalities mounted, the universal threat became undeniable. Historian Paul Kelton reveals how this deadly germ collided with the social injustices of the era.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/hidden-terrors-in-america?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/hidden-terrors-in-america?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Thursday, October 29, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:00 PM.
At Home in Space: Stories from ISS Astronauts (John H. Glenn Lecture in Space History)
One-Time Events
“Living and working in that orbiting laboratory was just a dream come true,” astronaut Zena Cardman told viewers as she recounted her recent trip five-month trip to the International Space Station (ISS).
Over the last 25 years, the ISS has been home to more than 280 astronauts from 26 different countries. In fact, humans have been in space every day since November 2000. Orbiting about 250 miles above Earth, crews on the ISS have conducted over 4,000 groundbreaking scientific experiments, completed over 270 spacewalks, and engaged in international cooperation.
Those of us back on Earth have connected with the astronauts on board the ISS through downlinks, social media posts, and stunning photos of Earth from hundreds of miles up. The crews of the International Space Station have made a home in space, creating a sustainable habitat for humans and proving we can live and work off our planet.
Visit the Museum's galleries from 7-8 pm and then hear from current NASA and international astronauts as they discuss…
Venue: Air and Space Museum. Event Location: Lockheed Martin IMAX. Cost: Free with registration. Categories: After Five. Lectures & Discussions. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices.
Thursday, October 29, 2026, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
ONLINE: At Home in Space: Stories from ISS Astronauts (John H. Glenn Lecture in Space History)
One-Time Events
“Living and working in that orbiting laboratory was just a dream come true,” astronaut Zena Cardman told viewers as she recounted her recent trip five-month trip to the International Space Station (ISS).
Over the last 25 years, the ISS has been home to more than 280 astronauts from 26 different countries. In fact, humans have been in space every day since November 2000. Orbiting about 250 miles above Earth, crews on the ISS have conducted over 4,000 groundbreaking scientific experiments, completed over 270 spacewalks, and engaged in international cooperation.
Those of us back on Earth have connected with the astronauts on board the ISS through downlinks, social media posts, and stunning photos of Earth from hundreds of miles up. The crews of the International Space Station have made a home in space, creating a sustainable habitat for humans and proving we can live and work off our planet.
Join current NASA and international astronauts as they discuss stories from their time on the International Space Stati…
Event Location: YouTube. Cost: Free with registration. Categories: After Five. Webcasts & Online. Lectures & Discussions. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program.
Thursday, October 29, 2026, 8:00 PM – 9:00 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.
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 30, 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.
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 30, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM.
NY | Hands On: Lotería!
One-Time Events
Let’s play Lotería!
A popular game played in Mexico, Lotería is similar to the game of bingo. Our version will introduce you to the colorful world of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations. Whether you’re a seasoned expert or new to the game, our bilingual (Spanish/English) Lotería highlights the different elements related to the celebration, such as plants, animals, people, and activities, in a fun and easy way to learn.
All are welcome!
*Visitors age 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families.
Friday, October 30, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
The Delicious World of Fortified Wine
All Programs
Spend a Friday evening expanding your knowledge of the world of wine as you sip along with sommelier Erik Segelbaum in a fall series of delectable adventures. He takes you on an exploration of fortified wines. This immersive program includes a curated personal tasting kit to enhance the experience.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/fortified-wine?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/fortified-wine?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Culinary Arts.
Friday, October 30, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
Halloween Screening: Train to Busan
Films
10th Anniversary Remastered Version!
Zombie Costumes Welcome!
Watch the Trailer
Yeon Sang-ho’s global phenomenon Train to Busan arrives back in theaters to celebrate its 10th Anniversary. What begins as a simple birthday trip for a father and daughter turns into a high-octane fight for survival when a zombie outbreak ravages South Korea. Trapped on a speeding train, they must navigate a landscape of terror to reach safety. Experience the relentless action and heart-wrenching drama on the big screen like never before.
Director: Yeon Sang-ho. Country: Korea. Released: 2016. Length: 128 min. Format: DCP. Language: Korean with English subtitles. Image courtesy of Well Go USA.
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/halloween-screening-train-to-busan-tickets-2000509312205?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true. Categories: Films. After Five. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Captioning. Assisted listening devices.
Friday, October 30, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:15 PM.
Smithsonian Sleepover at the American History Museum
All Programs
In-person Family Program: Salute the country’s 250th birthday by taking an all-American road trip at the American History Museum. Unfold your map, turn on the engine, and follow the road through the museum’s galleries in a memorable overnight adventure. Geared for children ages 8 to 14 years old, accompanied by an adult.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: National Museum of American History 14th St & Constitution Ave NW. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/ah-sleepover-1P0931?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Kids & Families.
Friday, October 30, 2026, 7:00 PM – Saturday, October 31, 2026, 9:00 AM.
DC | Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
One-Time Events
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a time for commemorating our ancestors. Rather than a period of mourning, it is an occasion for celebrating with family—both living and dead—and honoring the cycle of life. Enjoy family-friendly activities throughout the day, including dance performances by Grupo los Tecuanes, making paper marigolds to be placed on a Catrina statue, and making papel picado (perforated paper decorations) with David Amorozo. Learn how pan de muerto (bread of the dead) is made with Neil Vargas, Jr. Learn about La Catrina and her joyful view of life and mortality by interacting with live Catrinas roaming the festival. Visitors are invited to leave photos and mementos of their loved ones on the ofrenda (altar) or commemorate them by writing their names on a butterfly to attach to the memorial arch.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS, LEVEL 3: imagiNATIONS Activity Center, 10:30 AM | Story TimeFamilies are invited to an interactive story time featuring the book Día de los Muertos by Roseanne Greenfield…
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1: Potomac Atrium and Level 3: imagiNATIONS Activity Center. Cost: FREE. Categories: Performances. Celebrations. Kids & Families.
Saturday, October 31, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:00 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.
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 31, 2026, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
The World & Me: Bat Week Extravaganza with special guests…Arachnids!
One-Time Events
Join us for a special program celebrating Bat Week!
Come help us celebrate bats as we learn about how important bats are to our planet. Help us also shine the light on the importance of spiders! See bat and spider specimens up close, make art celebrating bats and spiders, and learn other ways you can support bats and spiders all year long! Feel free to wear your favorite bat or spider attire. Families can join at any time during the duration of the event and stay as long as suits each family.
Location: This program is held in Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center, on the Ground Floor of the museum. Please enter through the Constitution Avenue entrance. Q?rius is located on the right as you enter the museum.
Accessibility: Access services such as American Sign Language interpretation, real-time captioning (CART), or audio-description are available with advanced notice. However, accommodations may not be possible with less than two-weeks advanced notice. To request this service, please…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Ground Floor, Q?rius: The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families.
Saturday, October 31, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM.
NY | Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
One-Time Events
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a time for honoring the cycle of life, and remembering our ancestors and those who have gone before us. Learn about the ofrenda (altar) and commemorate a loved one who has passed by leaving a photo or memento. Families can enjoy coloring activities and making paper marigolds and butterfly masks. Visitors of all ages can enjoy traditional dance performances by New York-based Aztec dance group Cetiliztli Nauhcampa. Performances begin at 12 PM and 3 PM.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS, Level 1: Hallway and Diker Pavilion, 12 PM and 3 PM | Dance Performances by Cetiliztli NauhcampaNew York-based Aztec dance group Cetiliztli Nauhcampa will present traditional dances around the community ofrenda to honor ancestors. 11 AM-4 PM | Ongoing Activities, Hands On: Lotería! | Level 1, imagiNATIONS Activity Center ClassroomA popular game played in Mexico, Lotería is similar to the game of bingo. Our version will introduce you to the colorful world of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)…
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: Diker Pavilion. Cost: Free. Categories: Celebrations. Kids & Families. Performances.
Saturday, October 31, 2026, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
NY | Hands On: Lotería!
One-Time Events
Let’s play Lotería!
A popular game played in Mexico, Lotería is similar to the game of bingo. Our version will introduce you to the colorful world of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations. Whether you’re a seasoned expert or new to the game, our bilingual (Spanish/English) Lotería highlights the different elements related to the celebration, such as plants, animals, people, and activities, in a fun and easy way to learn.
All are welcome!
*Visitors age 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, October 31, 2026, 11:00 AM – Sunday, November 1, 2026, 4:00 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.
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 31, 2026, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
Stamp & Scream
One-Time Events
Venue: Postal Museum. Event Location: National Postal Museum. Cost: Free ; no registration required. Categories: Kids & Families. Celebrations. Related Events: Step into a world of spooky stamps, silly surprises, and creative Halloween fun! Families can explore hands‑on artmaking, join a museum‑wide costume parade, and discover seasonal stories and activities around every corner.... Costumes encouraged!
*Costumes must keep faces visible and include no masks or face coverings and no fake weapons of any kind.
Timed Activities: 12 pm and 2pm | Story Time with DC Public Library 1pm | Costume Parade throughout the Museum Activities Include: … Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program.
Saturday, October 31, 2026, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
NMAAHC Kids at the National Postal Museum for Halloween!
One-Time Events
NMAAHC Kids at the National Postal Museum , PLEASE NOTE: This program takes place at the National Postal Museum located at 2 Massachusetts Ave NE.
Step into a world of spooky stamps, silly surprises, and creative Halloween fun as we join our friends for a festival at the National Postal Museum! Families can explore hands‑on art making, join a museum‑wide costume parade, and discover seasonal stories and activities around every corner. Costumes encouraged!
Find NMAAHC Kids Educators to learn all about the connections between The Wizard of Oz and The Wiz! At our station, we'll take a closer look at The Wizard of Oz stamp and amazing costumes from The Wiz in the NMAAHC collection. Then, you'll design your own colorful costume for Toto!
Learn more about this program here. See you on Halloween!
Venue: Postal Museum. Event Location: National Postal Museum. Cost: FREE, no registration required. Get Tickets/Register: https://postalmuseum.si.edu/visit/calendar?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D208744254. Categories: Kids & Families.
Saturday, October 31, 2026, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
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.
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 31, 2026, 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Pumpkin Painting: Creative Minds
One-Time Events
Celebrate the fall season with creativity! Join us for a festive Pumpkin Decorating Workshop, perfect for families, friends, and neighbors of all ages. Instead of carving, guests will have the option to paint pumpkins with bold patterns, whimsical characters, or abstract designs or adorn them with dried flowers and greenery for a more modern and elegant touch. Either way, you’ll transform an ordinary pumpkin into a one-of-a-kind seasonal masterpiece that’s safer, easier, and just as fun. All materials will be provided—just bring your imagination and fall spirit!
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Program Room. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pumpkin-painting-creative-minds-tickets-1999418565753?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops.
Saturday, October 31, 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.
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 31, 2026, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM.
The Axelrod String Quartet: Stradivarius and Amati (Saturday series)
All Programs
Smithsonian Chamber Music Society audiences are privy to the unparalleled experience of being able to hear two magnificent quartets of instruments—one made by Antonio Stradivari, the other by his teacher Nicoló Amati—in this popular four-concert series on Saturdays. This concert features music composed by Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.
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/axelrod-string-quartet-1P0923?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Saturday, October 31, 2026, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM.
From Memory to Hope: A Service of Poetry and Prayer to Honor the Ancestors (People’s Poetry Gathering)
“Of the People” Festivals
Join a special All Saints’ Day service and community sing to honor and celebrate those we have loved and lost, and whose lives continue to inspire us. A collaborative presentation by St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery, NEWorks Productions, the People’s Poetry Gathering, and Of the People: The Smithsonian Festival of Festivals, the service will weave together liturgy from the Episcopal tradition and original music by American composer Nolan Williams, Jr. rendered by the NEWorks Voices of America, the St. Mark’s Choir, and the gathered assembly.
Through poetry, prayer, and song, we will lift our voices in remembrance and gratitude, honoring those who have gone before us and celebrating the love, courage, and hope that continue to connect us across generations. The service is open to the public and everyone is welcome.
Nolan Williams, Jr.—multihyphenate creative and chief music editor of the landmark, bestselling African American Heritage Hymnal—has become a preeminent leader of community sings that bring…
Categories: Celebrations. Cost: Free. Event Location: New York, New York.
Sunday, November 1, 2026.
St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery
New York, NY.
For more info visit citylore.org. Beyond the Studio Workshop: Embroidery with Capital Stitch Co
One-Time Events
Local maker Miri Artyukhina of Capital Stitch Co unveils a brand-new pattern for booklovers at this November workshop. Participants will learn embroidery basics and all skills required to create a charming artwork, to keep for yourself or gift to your favorite bookworm. Please note that space is limited for this program and registration is required. Participants must register by 7 p.m. ET on October 18.
Image courtesy of the artist.
Venue: American Art Museum. Event Location: MacMillan Education Center. Cost: $20| Registration required
Tickets available September 18. Get Tickets/Register: https://events.blackthorn.io/5f4ZMUx7/5a2bVR3skqX. Categories: Workshops.
Sunday, November 1, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
NY | Hands On: Lotería!
One-Time Events
Let’s play Lotería!
A popular game played in Mexico, Lotería is similar to the game of bingo. Our version will introduce you to the colorful world of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations. Whether you’re a seasoned expert or new to the game, our bilingual (Spanish/English) Lotería highlights the different elements related to the celebration, such as plants, animals, people, and activities, in a fun and easy way to learn.
All are welcome!
*Visitors age 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult caregiver.
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 1: imagiNATIONS Activity Center Classroom. Cost: FREE. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Sunday, November 1, 2026, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
El Día de los Muertos
One-Time Events
A celebration of el Día de los Muertos!
Join us for our annual celebration of el Día de los Muertos—one of the Portrait Gallery’s biggest events of the year—with live music, Mexican folk-dance performances, workshops and a variety of activities for all ages, from 5 to 8 p.m in the museum's Kogod Courtyard. From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. take the celebration to the streets and see video artwork by artists MasPaz and Guache. The artists will create their work live from the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library rooftop and project it on the outside of the museum building (G and 9th Streets).
The Portrait Gallery strives to provide programs that are accessible to all visitors. If you have questions about the accessibility of this program, or if you would like to request real-time captioning (CART), sign language interpretation, or any other accommodations, please contact npgeducation@si.edu. Two weeks' advance notice is appreciated for requesting accommodations.
Event Location: Kogod Courtyard and G and 9th Streets. Cost: Free. Registration encouraged. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/el-dia-de-los-muertos-tickets-1999711845962?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: After Five. Celebrations.
Sunday, November 1, 2026, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
The Axelrod String Quartet: Stradivarius and Amati (Sunday series)
All Programs
Smithsonian Chamber Music Society audiences are privy to the unparalleled experience of being able to hear two magnificent quartets of instruments—one made by Antonio Stradivari, the other by his teacher Nicoló Amati—in this popular four-concert series on Sundays. This concert features music composed by Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.
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/axelrod-string-quartet-1P0927?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Sunday, November 1, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 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.
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, November 2, 2026, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Jamestown: The First 100 Years
All Programs
While the early days of Jamestown were marred with struggle, conflict, and tragedy, the settlement would survive as the first permanent English colony in North America. Unearth the tumultuous first century of Jamestown in this four-part series with Mark Summers, the public historian for the Jamestown Rediscovery archaeological project.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/jamestown-first-100-years?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/jamestown-first-100-years?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Monday, November 2, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Megalodon Mania
One-Time Events
Have you ever wanted to hold a piece of ancient history in your hands? Get up close with real fossilized Megalodon shark teeth collected at the bottom of the ocean! Travel millions of years into the past to discover where these giant sharks lived, where their fossils are found, and how fossils form.
Presented by: Dr. Colleen Brown, Aquatic Ecologist, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow
Photo by Colleen Brown.
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: 1st Floor, Sant Ocean Hall. Cost: Free. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Monday, November 2, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Watercolor Beginning Techniques
All Programs
Have you wanted to try watercolor but found extended courses difficult to schedule? This three-session watercolor workshop covers the basics that you need to get your watercolor practice started.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/watercolor-beginning-techniques?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/watercolor-beginning-techniques?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Monday, November 2, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Night Photography in Washington, D.C.
All Programs
Learn the techniques required to capture great nighttime photos, including how to use exposure modes, exposure compensation, white balance, and ISO. For the second session, meet in the field to photograph the World War II Memorial, Washington Monument, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, Korean War Memorial, and Lincoln Memorial.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/night-photography-in-washington-d-c?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/night-photography-in-washington-d-c?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Monday, November 2, 2026, 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM.
Orchids: Rooted in History
All Programs
Orchids aren’t just beautiful—they’re ancient survivors, with a lineage stretching back more than 120 million years. Over time, they’ve adapted to nearly every environment, evolving extraordinary forms and captivating people across cultures. Barb Schmidt, the vice president of the American Orchid Society, leads a journey through deep time, from orchids that grew alongside dinosaurs to the dazzling varieties of today. Schmidt explores their evolution, stories of daring orchid hunters, and the cultural meanings that have made these blooms so fascinating.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/orchids-rooted-in-history?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/orchids-rooted-in-history?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Monday, November 2, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM.
The Statue of Liberty: A Transatlantic Story
All Programs
When French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi first traveled to the United States to propose the construction of a giant tribute to liberty, Americans either rejected the idea or were baffled by it. Nevertheless, completed in 1886, the Statue of Liberty stands today as one of the best-known symbols of the United States. It was ultimately a gift from the French people to the American people, as private citizens, not the two governments, financed it from torch to toe. Historian Edward Berenson illuminates the origins of Lady Liberty, the complex construction process, and her shifting meaning.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/statue-of-liberty?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/statue-of-liberty?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Lectures & Discussions.
Monday, November 2, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.
Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Rise of Fascism
All Programs
Historian and author William I. Hitchcock argues that Americans were not simply indifferent to the rise of fascism before World War II. From Mussolini’s rise in 1922 to Pearl Harbor in 1941, the nation engaged in intense debates over the threat—and appeal—of authoritarianism. Initially focused on the New Deal and avoiding foreign conflicts, Franklin D. Roosevelt gradually recognized fascism’s dangers. Influenced by journalists, advisers, and activists, he helped build a coalition committed to defending democracy, human rights, and freedom worldwide.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/fdr-and-rise-of-fascism?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/fdr-and-rise-of-fascism?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: After Five.
Monday, November 2, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:00 PM.
Write Into Art: Creative Writing Inspired by Visual Art
All Programs
Discover how visual art can inspire creative writing and how writing can offer a powerful way to experience art. Join Mary Hall Surface, the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, for a course of three online workshops that explore essential elements of writing and styles through close looking, word-sketching, and imaginative response to prompts. The sessions spotlight a diverse range of visual art chosen to inspire writers of all experience levels to deepen their process and practice. This session focuses on 16th-century Bolognese Mannerist painter Lavinia Fontana.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/write-into-art-1K0739?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/write-into-art-1K0739?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Lectures & Discussions.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM.
Play Date at NMNH: Animal Spotlight - Bison!
One-Time Events
Join us on Tuesdays for special family play dates with museum educators!
This week is a special animal spotlight on bison! Families can celebrate our national mammal by making observations of bison specimens from our education collection, learn about ways they help their ecosystem, and explore how bison have been portrayed in art.
The event is part of our drop-in program, Play Date at NMNH. Play Date at NMNH is a program designed for early learners 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 Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals exhibit on the 1st floor of the museum. Please note that space is dependent on the location of that week's event. Some locations have less capacity than others. It is possible that the program might be at capacity when you arrive. If this happens, please enjoy other areas of the museum and try again later in the program.
Accessibility: Access services such as American…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Kenneth E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals (1st Floor). Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM.
Chinese Art: From the Bronze Age to the People’s Republic
All Programs
With a dynamic, far-reaching history that spans the Neolithic period to the modern age, Chinese civilization has given rise to some of the world’s most remarkable artistic creations. Art historian Robert DeCaroli explores this complex legacy by examining how shifts in China’s social, religious, and political life have influenced transformations in its material culture. (World Art History Certificate core course, 1 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/chinese-art?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/chinese-art?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
Magna Graecia: Early Greek Culture in Italy
All Programs
In Plato’s time the South of Italy was known as “Greater Greece,” the beautiful land settled in the centuries after 800 B.C.E. by colonists from the Greek mainland. Author Ross King examines how these settlers brought trade and prosperity as well as their religion, customs, alphabet, and language. They also nurtured on Italian soil the political, philosophical, and artistic foundations that would influence and support the world of the Ancient Romans and, much later, that of the Italian Renaissance.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/magna-graecia?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/magna-graecia?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Lectures & Discussions.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026, 6:30 PM – 7:45 PM.
Van Gogh’s Toolbox: Expressive Techniques in Drawing for Self-Taught Artists
All Programs
Although Vincent van Gogh was self-taught, his imaginative drawings and instantly recognizable touch reveal a deep understanding of principles like line weight, spacing, and value. Through hands-on exercises prompted by van Gogh’s drawings and his global influences, discover how to make your marks more imaginative and expressive. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/van-goghs-toolbox-techniques-in-drawing?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/van-goghs-toolbox-techniques-in-drawing?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 10:00 AM – 1:00 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.
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, November 4, 2026, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM.
Advanced Embroidery Stitches
All Programs
Expand your knowledge of embroidery into more challenging stitches and learn how to best use them in designs. Study the “families” of stitches and explore their many variations.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/advanced-embroidery-stitches?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/advanced-embroidery-stitches?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
A History of Gilbraltar
All Programs
In classical antiquity, Gibraltar inspired the original idea that the Earth was divided into distinct continents. Sailors, poets, and geographers saw Gibraltar as a natural marker separating the Mediterranean from the Atlantic and Europe from Africa. This idea had lasting global ramifications, and the geography of the Strait of Gibraltar helped create the pattern of European imperialism and the trajectory of the slave trade. Historian Geoffrey Plank traces Gibraltar’s story from its connections across the Mediterranean to its role as a symbolic boundary between continents, cultures, and religions.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/history-of-gilbraltar?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/history-of-gilbraltar?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 12:30 PM – 1:45 PM.
Musical Innovation in the Age of AI
One-Time Events
Throughout history, new technologies have changed the ways people create, experiment, and bring ideas to life. Today, AI is becoming another tool in the creative process, giving songwriters new ways to improvise, explore possibilities, and develop variations on their ideas. What happens to the creative process when people collaborate with AI? How might new technologies change what it means to compose, invent, and create?
In this free public program, a human-centered composer and an expert in computational creativity join a music journalist and critic to explore how AI is reshaping songwriting and the relationship between people and technology. Together, they will consider the possibilities and pitfalls of AI-assisted creativity and what this emerging technology can teach us about the nature of invention itself.
Doors open at 6:00 PM | Program Begins at 6:30 PM
An audience Q&A and light reception, including book and vinyl LP sales and signing, will follow.
Speakers: inti figgis-vizueta & Maya Ackerman…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Warner Bros. Theater, first floor. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2002301153651. Categories: After Five. Demonstrations. Performances. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. By Illegitimate Means: How Birth Decides Dynasties
All Programs
Legitimacy in medieval and early modern England was never private. Birthright could reorder kingdoms and spark wars. Historian Cheryl White traces how disputed heirs shaped dynasties—from William the Conqueror, mocked as “the Bastard” yet able to seize a throne, to the crises after Edward III and the tenuous claim of Henry VII. White reveals how the fate of a kingdom could turn on one enduring question: Who was born to rule?
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/by-illegitimate-means?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/by-illegitimate-means?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM.
Gaudí's Vision: Heritage, Innovation, and the Future of Design
All Programs
As the world commemorates the 100th anniversary of Antoni Gaudí's death, explore the lasting influence of this visionary architect. Most of Gaudi’s Modernist designs are in or near Barcelona, Spain, and seven of them have been named UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Amilcar Vargas, head of heritage at Casa Batlló—a Gaudi masterpiece and UNESCO World Heritage Site—examines how the architect’s work inspires conversations about creativity, sustainability, craftsmanship, and the relationship between nature and the built environment. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
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/gaudis-vision?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Lectures & Discussions.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:45 PM.
Virunga National Park
All Programs
The mist-enshrouded peaks of the Virunga Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are part of one of Africa’s earliest protected natural areas. Known for an active chain of volcanoes, Virunga National Park is home to the endangered mountain gorilla and more than 300 other faunal and floral species. Historian Justin M. Jacobs shows how together with the adjacent lands of Volcanoes National Park, made famous by the fieldwork of zoologist Dian Fossey, Virunga provides a tense yet majestic backdrop for the competing demands of economic development and ecological preservation.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/virunga-national-park?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/virunga-national-park?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:15 PM.
San Francisco: Then and Now
All Programs
Regional historian and master storyteller John Martini brings the past vividly into the present through the fascinating art of rephotography—the process of locating the exact vantage points of historic photographs and capturing those same scenes today. Using dozens of compelling “then-and-now” comparisons, Martini reveals how some of the Bay Area’s most famous landmarks, including Alcatraz Island, Fort Point, and Sutro Baths, have evolved across more than a century of dramatic change.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/san-francisco-then-and-now?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/san-francisco-then-and-now?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Lectures & Discussions.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM.
The American Table: 10 Cookbooks That Shaped a Nation
All Programs
Among the thousands of cookbooks published since the nation’s earliest days, a select few have transformed the way Americans cook, eat, and think about food. Cultural historian Leslie Goddard journeys through the pages of some of America’s most influential cookbooks, including ones by Fannie Farmer, Irma Rombauer, and Julia Child, and uncovers what they reveal about the evolution of American food culture.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/american-table?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/american-table?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Culinary Arts.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM.
Historically Speaking – Loving the Fire: A Conversation with Deborah Santana
One-Time Events
Join us for an intimate, uplifting evening with Deborah Santana in the Oprah Winfrey Theater.
Deborah Santana is a celebrated author, business leader, and founder of Do a Little, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding educational and health opportunities for women and girls globally. Santana is the author of Space Between Stars, co-editor of All the Women in My Family Sing, and producer of five documentary films. She is also a leadership donor and member of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture Council, Co-chair of the Smithsonian Education Advisory Board, and a lead investor in the Courage Museum in San Francisco.
Her new book, Loving the Fire: Choosing Me, Finding Freedom, reflects powerfully on transformation, motherhood, family heritage, profound life changes, and spiritual growth. Deborah takes readers on a deep human journey of resilience and renewal. From her work with Daraja Academy to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, she shows…
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/01a0d99f-9584-ac84-07b7-c29dcc119172?tg=01a0d99f-958b-f59f-bc15-e31f272d3093. Categories: After Five. Lectures & Discussions. Shopping/Book Signing. Accessibility: Assisted listening devices. Wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
Dancing Stories
Discovery Theater
Ages 5+. Kalanidhi Dance leads an exciting Asian adventure through the South Indian classical dance form of Kuchipudi.
Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center Discovery Theater, 3rd Sublevel. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/268287?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276224. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/268287?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276224. Categories: Kids & Families.
Thursday, November 5, 2026, 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM.
Dancing Stories
Discovery Theater
Ages 5+. Kalanidhi Dance leads an exciting Asian adventure through the South Indian classical dance form of Kuchipudi.
Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center Discovery Theater, 3rd Sublevel. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/268288?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276224. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/268288?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276224. Categories: Kids & Families.
Thursday, November 5, 2026, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM.
A History of the Movie Musical
All Programs
As soon as movies learned to talk, they also learned to sing and dance—and the movie musical quickly became one of America’s most popular film genres. Media historian Brian Rose guides you through the rich history of the movie musical, illustrated with extended clips from dozens of classic films. From 42nd Street and Swing Time to Meet Me in St. Louis, West Side Story, and Chicago, the four-part series celebrates the songs, stars, and stories that made movie musicals an enduring part of American culture.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/history-of-movie-musical-1J0583B?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/history-of-movie-musical-1J0583B?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Thursday, November 5, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM.
DC | Artful Evenings: "Water's Edge" with Artist Sky Hopinka
One-Time Events
Enjoy an artful evening that celebrates Water’s Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe, and learn about the impact of the acclaimed Hoocąk artist and educator on filmmaker and visual artist Sky Hopinka (Ho-Chunk Nation/Pechanga Band of Indians).
Sky Hopinka’s photo and video art—including This is a mnemonic for Truman Lowe in the museum’s collection—shares Truman Lowe’s interest in Indigenous homelands, cultural knowledge, and traditional practices. Hopinka contributed to the exhibition catalog for Water’s Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe, writing on Lowe’s lasting impact on his work. Hopinka joins the museum for this special after hours event featuring a screening of three of his short video works followed by a discussion with Rebecca Head Trautmann, Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art and exhibition curator, along with art-making activities, and a closer look at some of Lowe’s work currently on view.
Sky Hopinka has been widely recognized for his experimental short films and photo-based works. A MacArthur Fellow,…
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1, Rasmuson Theater and Level 3, North Gallery. Cost: Free, registration recommended. Categories: After Five. Celebrations. Films. Lectures & Discussions. Related Exhibition: Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Captioning.
Thursday, November 5, 2026, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM.
For more info visit s.si.edu. Air and Space After Hours: Innovating Galleries
One-Time Events
From groundbreaking technologies to creative preservation methods, innovation is at the heart of the National Air and Space Museum’s exhibitions. Join us for an after-hours event at the Museum to:
Talk to our curators about the past, present, and future of aviation and space, Get behind-the-scenes stories from staff that care for our artifacts and develop our exhibitions, Meet our partners from around the Smithsonian, including the National Zoo, the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. Explore the Allan and Shelley Holt Innovations Gallery, Enjoy small bites (included while supplies lasts) and beverages (available for purchase), Listen to music by strolling musicians throughout the building, This program is for guests 21 or older. Guests must present a valid ID for entry.
This event is free but tickets are required. Tickets will be available to be reserved from this linked webpage above on October 2, 2026 at 6 PM ET.
Venue: Air and Space Museum. Event Location: National Air and Space Museum. Cost: Free with registration, only 21+
Tickets will be available to be reserved from this linked webpage above on October 2, 2026 at 6 PM ET. Get Tickets/Register: https://airandspace.si.edu/whats-on/events/air-and-space-after-hours-2026. Categories: After Five. Gallery Talks & Tours. Demonstrations. Lectures & Discussions. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Thursday, November 5, 2026, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM.
For more info visit airandspace.si.edu. J.M.W. Turner and John Constable: Rivals in the Romantic Era
All Programs
J.M.W. Turner and John Constable, two of Britain’s greatest painters, were contemporaries. While they had very different approaches to their work, their shared belief in the natural world as inspiration and a source of imagination is reflected in their paintings. Art historian Bonita Billman looks at the lives, careers, and oeuvre of Turner and Constable, examining their artistic influences, painting methods, patrons, and personal interests. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/turner-and-constable?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/turner-and-constable?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Thursday, November 5, 2026, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM.
Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet
All Programs
Joseph Smith Jr. became one of 19th-century America’s most influential and controversial religious leaders, publishing The Book of Mormon and founding the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He built temples, created a city-state, ran for president, and practiced plural marriage. Historian John G. Turner traces Smith’s rise from impoverished farmhand to his mob-killing, showing how he forged a religious tradition that continues to resonate widely.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/joseph-smith?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/joseph-smith?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Thursday, November 5, 2026, 6:45 PM – 8:00 PM.
Exposure by Exposure Skate
“Of the People” Festivals
The largest and longest-running event of its kind, Exposure is an annual festival, fundraiser, competition, and skate clinic in Encinitas, California, that champions the growing and dynamic universe of women’s skateboarding. Exposure Skate brings together world-renowned skateboarding legends, rising stars, and young aspiring athletes to activate their mission of empowering women and girls in the skateboarding community through service, mindfulness, and compassion.
Categories: Demonstrations. Performances. Cost: TBA. Event Location: Encinitas, California.
Friday, November 6, 2026 – Sunday, November 8, 2026.
Encinitas, CA.
For more info visit exposureskate.org. Edgar P. Richardson Symposium – Revolutionary Rivals: Portraits from the Global Theater of War
One-Time Events
Event Location: McEvoy Auditorium. Cost: Free. Registration is required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/edgar-p-richardson-symposium-tickets-2001386384552?aff=ebdsoporgprofile. Categories: Lectures & Discussions.
Friday, November 6, 2026, 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM.
Dancing Stories
Discovery Theater
Ages 5+. Kalanidhi Dance leads an exciting Asian adventure through the South Indian classical dance form of Kuchipudi.
Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center Discovery Theater, 3rd Sublevel. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/268289?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276224. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/268289?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276224. Categories: Kids & Families.
Friday, November 6, 2026, 10:00 AM – 10:45 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.
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, November 6, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM.
Dancing Stories
Discovery Theater
Ages 5+. Kalanidhi Dance leads an exciting Asian adventure through the South Indian classical dance form of Kuchipudi.
Event Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center Discovery Theater, 3rd Sublevel. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/268290?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276224. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/268290?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276224. Categories: Kids & Families.
Friday, November 6, 2026, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM.
Art and Beauty in Siena
All Programs
Art historian and author Laura Morelli leads an immersive virtual tour of Siena, one of Tuscany’s most beautiful and historic cities. Exploring the Gothic cathedral, the Palazzo Pubblico, and the distinctive Piazza del Campo, she reveals the artistic treasures that define Siena’s medieval legacy. Along the way, Morelli examines masterpieces by Duccio, Simone Martini, and the Lorenzetti brothers, highlighting the art, architecture, and history that make Siena a jewel of Tuscany. (World Art History Certificate elective, ½ credit).
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/art-and-beauty-in-siena?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/art-and-beauty-in-siena?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Friday, November 6, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM.
Lifelong Learners: Community in a Cup
One-Time Events
Led by Brittany Mona' , Community in a Cup: Session 1 is a two-hour hands-on candle-making workshop designed for adults to explore wellness, creativity, and community building through creative practice. The experience invites participants to slow down, reflect on their relationship with the natural world, and discover how simple creative practices can support relaxation, connection, and joy.
Drawing inspiration from the ways communities have used light, scent, and gathering to create spaces of comfort and connection, participants will engage in guided conversation about the personal and cultural meanings associated with candles and communal spaces.
Through facilitated discussion, sensory exploration, hands-on art making, and social interaction, participants will learn the basics of candle making and create a personalized candle using selected scents and materials. Throughout the workshop, participants will have opportunities to share memories, stories, and experiences while connecting with fellow learners.…
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Program Room. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lifelong-learners-community-in-a-cup-tickets-2002298877844?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Workshops.
Friday, November 6, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:00 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 “Mountain Strong: Steady and Grounded.”
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. Utagawa Hiroshige 歌川広重 (1797–1858); No. 14 Hara: View of Fuji and the Ashitaka Mountains, from the series Pictures of Famous Places of the Fifty-Three Stations (detail); Japan, 1855, 7th month; ink and color on paper; National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Freer Study Collection, Gift of Victor and Takako Hauge, …
Event Location: Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_p2Y4aTSfRMOPnZ9b0h3lAQ. Cost: Free. Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonian.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_p2Y4aTSfRMOPnZ9b0h3lAQ. Categories: Kids & Families. Webcasts & Online. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program.
Friday, November 6, 2026, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM.
Unmasked: A Happy Hour for Autistic Adults
One-Time Events
Join the National Portrait Gallery for Unmasked, a relaxed evening social event for autistic and neurodivergent adults (ages 18+). Held in the building’s iconic Great Hall, this event pairs a low-sensory environment with opportunities to connect with the community, explore American history through portraiture and enjoy a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and snacks. Guests can explore the galleries at their own pace or join a 30-minute gallery talk at 6 p.m.
Free—Registration required. Each guest will receive one drink coupon. Additional drinks may be purchased. .
Event Location: The Great Hall. Cost: Free. Registration is required. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unmasked-a-happy-hour-for-autistic-adults-tickets-2001382416684?aff=ebdsoporgprofile. Categories: After Five.
Friday, November 6, 2026, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM.
Family Fun | Diwali
Kids and Family
Bring the whole family to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. Make crafts, listen to stories, participate in a scavenger hunt, and learn how we protect light-sensitive art. Image credit: National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, Photo by Sonya Pencheva.
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Building: West Building. Event Location: Courtyard, Gallery 1, Gallery 2, Gallery 12. Cost: Free. No registration or tickets (walk-up only). Categories: After Five. Celebrations. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Friday, November 6, 2026, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM.
Asia After Dark | Diwali Festival
Performances
Celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, with an evening of food, music, dance, and activities! Learn how different regions celebrate this Hindu holiday, create crafts to take home, and see the museum lit up once the sun goes down.
Register in advance for the best experience. Some activities have a limited capacity, with entry on a first-come, first-served basis. Food VendorsCuisine from the Indian Diaspora
5–9 p.m.
West Building, Plaza, Crafts & ColoringFamily Fun Activities
5–7 p.m.
West Building, North Corridor and Galleries 1 and 2, Color a Diya
5–9 p.m.
East Building, Level B2, ImaginAsia, Decorate a Rangoli with Kulture Khazana
East Building, Level B1, Gallery 27
5–9 p.m. PerformancesStrings for the Festival of Lights: Classical Sarod Recital by Swarnendu
6 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.
West Building, Meyer Auditorium, Dance Performances by Vishious Vicinity
5:30 p.m. 6:15 p.m. 7 p.m.
West Building, Plaza, Afterhours Dance Party with DJ MAIYA
7:30–9:30 p.m.
West Building, Plaza, Tours & TalksConservation…
Venue: Asian Art Museum. Event Location: East Building, West Building. Cost: Register in advance (recommended). Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/asia-after-dark-diwali-festival-tickets-2001238735931?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true. Categories: After Five. Celebrations. Performances. Kids & Families. Gallery Talks & Tours. Related Exhibition: The Art of Knowing in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Himalayas, Body Image: Arts of the Indian Subcontinent. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. ASL-interpreted program. Assisted listening devices.
Friday, November 6, 2026, 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM.
Día de los Muertos Celebration
“Of the People” Festivals
A cornerstone of the public art movement, Self Help Graphics & Art is home to one of the nation’s longest-running celebrations of Día de los Muertos, a pillar of Mexican, Indigenous, and Mexican American heritage that honors and commemorates ancestors and those who have passed. Each year, weeks of seasonal arts workshops culminate in a one-day festival complete with a procession, traditional Aztec dance, public altars, vendors, music, and more.
Categories: Performances. Demonstrations. Kids & Families. Celebrations. Cost: Free. Event Location: Los Angeles, California.
Saturday, November 7, 2026.
Self Help Graphics & Art
Los Angeles, CA.
For more info visit www.selfhelpgraphics.com. Staunton, Shakespeare, and Steam: Fall in the Shenandoah Valley
All Programs
Nestled in the heart of scenic Shenandoah Valley, Staunton, Virginia, is alive with history, culture—and a little steam. Washington, D.C. area guide Lynn O’Connell leads a weekend getaway that offers a sampling of Staunton’s best sights, including the only replica of Shakespeare’s indoor theater and the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, plus a train excursion.
Event Location: Detailed information for overnight tours is emailed approximately FOUR WEEKS. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/staunton-shakespeare-and-steam?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours.
Saturday, November 7, 2026, 7:30 AM – Sunday, November 8, 2026, 7:30 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.
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, November 7, 2026, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
Growing Community: Garden as Places of Art
One-Time Events
We will unpack the intersections of plants, art, and a living canvas. Through the lens of gardens as living sculptures, we will forage the garden for found objects that inspire and illuminate the growing that surrounds us all. We will create a canvas collage that will reflect our living environment. We will explore the lasting beauty of Mother Nature on canvas.
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Community Garden. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/growing-community-garden-as-places-of-art-tickets-2002299723373?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Kids & Families. Workshops. Demonstrations.
Saturday, November 7, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
The World and Me: National Bison Day
One-Time Events
Learn more about your place in the world through explorations of nature and culture.
Join us Saturday, November 7th, as we celebrate National Bison Day! Discover different bison adaptations and learn how the bison almost went extinct but are now rising in numbers. Families with learners of all ages will be invited to explore different stations, make observations of museum specimens up close, and explore bisons through play and art.
This is a drop-in event. Families can drop in anytime from 10:00am - 12:30pm and stay for as long as your family would like. No registration is required. Cost: Free.
Location: Meet at the entrace of Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center, on the Ground Floor of the museum. Q?rius is located next to the Constitution Avenue entrance.
Accessibility: Access services such as American Sign Language interpretation, real-time captioning (CART), or audio-description are available with advanced notice. However, accommodations may not be possible with less than…
Venue: Natural History Museum. Event Location: Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center, Ground Floor. Cost: Free. Categories: Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, November 7, 2026, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM.
Celebramos a los Veteranos: A Festival of Service and Remembrance
American Latino Museum
Across 250 years of American history, generations of Latinos have served the nation through the U.S. military. Celebramos a los Veteranos: A Festival of Service and Remembrance honors that history while bringing together veterans, service members, families and communities to reflect on what it means to serve.
Presented by the National Museum of the American Latino at the National Museum of American History, the festival will explore stories of military service across generations—from Admiral David Glasgow Farragut to Colonel Marisol Chalas and veterans serving today. Through conversations with veterans, service members and military historians; historical tributes; a pop-up exhibition; and participation from veterans organizations nationwide, the program will examine the many ways Latino service has shaped American military history.
Visitors will also experience the music of military and civic life, exploring how marching bands, patriotic music and other musical traditions have become part of the Ameri…
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: Molina Family Latino Gallery, 1 East. Cost: FREE, Registration Recommended. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebramos-a-los-veteranos-a-festival-of-service-and-remembrance-tickets-2003465168250?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Kids & Families. Lectures & Discussions. Celebrations.
Saturday, November 7, 2026, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM.
Mosaic Express - In Person
All Programs
Create a 2D, contemporary mixed-media mosaic artwork while you learn the basics of mosaics, experience working with a variety of materials, and enjoy the company of others in the studio. Everything you need to create a small home décor artwork in this workshop is provided.
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/mosaic-express?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Saturday, November 7, 2026, 10:15 AM – 5:15 PM.
DC | Service and Sacrifice: Veterans Day 2026
One-Time Events
Join the National Museum of the American Indian in honoring the enduring and distinguished service of Native Americans in every branch of the US military. Throughout the day, visitors of all ages can learn more about Native military service and honor veterans through presentations, a short film, hands-on activities, various information tables, and more.
The Native American Women Warriors (NAWW) will present the colors to begin the day's programming with a welcome from museum leadership. Take in the exhibition Why We Serve: Native Americans in the United States Armed Forces and watch the short film that complements the exhibition. Hear about the history and design of the National Native American Veterans Memorial on our grounds. Learn about the significance of tobacco in Indigenous cultures and make prayer ties to honor veterans. Meet with members of the Native American Women Warriors and learn about their service. Color your own Lakota star quilt as you learn about the history and significance of quilts in…
Venue: American Indian Museum DC. Event Location: Level 1: Potomac Atrium, Rasmuson Theater, Level 3: imagiNATIONS Activity Center, Outdoors: Welcome Plaza, National Native American Veterans Memorial. Online Link: https://www.americanindian.si.edu/livestream. Cost: Free. Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Webcasts & Online. Kids & Families. Films. Accessibility: ASL-interpreted program. Captioning.
Saturday, November 7, 2026, 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM.
For more info visit americanindian.si.edu. NY | Native Sounds Downtown: Agalisiga “The Chuj” Mackey
One-Time Events
Welcome Cherokee country and blues musician Agalisiga “The Chuj” Mackey to the Native Sounds Downtown stage at our New York museum this November! Performances begin at 11 AM, 1 PM, and 3 PM.
Agalisiga "The Chuj" Mackey is a musician and educator from the Cherokee Nation in Northeast Oklahoma. Mackey spent his early years in the traditional Cherokee community of Kenwood, OK, where his mother’s family settled after the forced removal of Cherokee people from what is now North Carolina. Mackey later moved to Tahlequah, capital of the Cherokee Nation, to become fluent in the Cherokee language at the Cherokee Immersion School.
Mackey grew up participating in traditional Cherokee ceremonies and singing ceremonial songs. He also draws inspiration from the “Father of Country Music” Jimmie Rodgers and hill country blues musician R.L. Burnside. He writes and sings original compositions in the Cherokee language in his deep baritone voice, melding classic country and blues. In addition to his artistic endeavors,…
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 2, Great Hall. Cost: FREE. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, November 7, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
Spirit Toonz: D.C. Soccer in Art
One-Time Events
Join artist Rain Young for a fun, hands-on art workshop celebrating soccer, creativity, and Washington, D.C.’s ever-evolving story. Participants will choose from a selection of featured Washington Spirit players and create one large collectible sports card using a playful, cartoon-inspired interpretation of their chosen player. With illustration, color, and imagination, families can add their own creative style to a one-of-a-kind card to take home.
More than a sports card, each creation offers an opportunity to explore how art and sports can help tell the stories of the people, teams, and moments that have become part of D.C. history. As objects and stories connected to Washington sports rotate through We Make History, the workshop invites families to think about history as something that isn’t only in the past—it’s something we’re all making every day.
Whether you love soccer, drawing, collecting sports cards, or simply creating together, come kick off your creativity and make a little D.C. history of…
Venue: Anacostia Community Museum. Event Location: Program Room. Cost: Free. Get Tickets/Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spirit-toonz-dc-soccer-in-art-tickets-2002299832700?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Workshops. Kids & Families.
Saturday, November 7, 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.
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, November 7, 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.
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, November 7, 2026, 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM.
For more info visit www.eventbrite.com. Wirework Intensive: Explorations in Fiber Jewelry
All Programs
Explore the intersection of fiber art and jewelry to create soft, tactile, textural pieces of wearable sculpture. Working with recycled fabrics and creating bead embroidery and 3D forms are explored.
Event Location: This online program is presented on Zoom. Online Link: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/wirework-intensive-explorations-in-fiber-jewelry?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/wirework-intensive-explorations-in-fiber-jewelry?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Saturday, November 7, 2026, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
NY | Native Sounds Downtown: Agalisiga “The Chuj” Mackey
One-Time Events
Welcome Cherokee country and blues musician Agalisiga “The Chuj” Mackey to the Native Sounds Downtown stage at our New York museum this November! Performances begin at 11 AM, 1 PM, and 3 PM.
Agalisiga "The Chuj" Mackey is a musician and educator from the Cherokee Nation in Northeast Oklahoma. Mackey spent his early years in the traditional Cherokee community of Kenwood, OK, where his mother’s family settled after the forced removal of Cherokee people from what is now North Carolina. Mackey later moved to Tahlequah, capital of the Cherokee Nation, to become fluent in the Cherokee language at the Cherokee Immersion School.
Mackey grew up participating in traditional Cherokee ceremonies and singing ceremonial songs. He also draws inspiration from the “Father of Country Music” Jimmie Rodgers and hill country blues musician R.L. Burnside. He writes and sings original compositions in the Cherokee language in his deep baritone voice, melding classic country and blues. In addition to his artistic endeavors,…
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 2, Great Hall. Cost: FREE. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, November 7, 2026, 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM.
A Walk on the Wild Side with Photomontage - In Person
All Programs
If you like the idea of using images from magazines to create collages that tell a story, then this class is for you. Take this opportunity to walk down the path of surrealism, political commentary, or any other subjects of your choosing to create your own photomontage.
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/walk-on-wild-side-with-photomontage?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223.
Saturday, November 7, 2026, 1:00 PM – 5:00 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.
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, November 7, 2026, 1:15 PM – 2:00 PM.
NY | Native Sounds Downtown: Agalisiga “The Chuj” Mackey
One-Time Events
Welcome Cherokee country and blues musician Agalisiga “The Chuj” Mackey to the Native Sounds Downtown stage at our New York museum this November! Performances begin at 11 AM, 1 PM, and 3 PM.
Agalisiga "The Chuj" Mackey is a musician and educator from the Cherokee Nation in Northeast Oklahoma. Mackey spent his early years in the traditional Cherokee community of Kenwood, OK, where his mother’s family settled after the forced removal of Cherokee people from what is now North Carolina. Mackey later moved to Tahlequah, capital of the Cherokee Nation, to become fluent in the Cherokee language at the Cherokee Immersion School.
Mackey grew up participating in traditional Cherokee ceremonies and singing ceremonial songs. He also draws inspiration from the “Father of Country Music” Jimmie Rodgers and hill country blues musician R.L. Burnside. He writes and sings original compositions in the Cherokee language in his deep baritone voice, melding classic country and blues. In addition to his artistic endeavors,…
Venue: American Indian Museum NY. Event Location: Level 2, Great Hall. Cost: FREE. Categories: Performances. Kids & Families. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible.
Saturday, November 7, 2026, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra - 100 Years of Jazz Giants
All Programs
Nineteen twenty-six was the birth year of a generation that would permanently change the course of jazz history. The Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra honors groundbreaking musical artists who make up “the class of 1926,” including Ray Brown, Melba Liston, and Randy Weston.
Venue: American History Museum. Event Location: National Museum of American History Warner Bros. Theater. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/sjmo-jazz-giants?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Workshops.
Saturday, November 7, 2026, 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM.
Second Sundays: “This Land Is ...”
Spotlight Programs
11 a.m.–2 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. In this family-friendly event, visitors can participate in artmaking workshops with AMBOS: Art Made Between Opposite Sides, and join a national conversation at the We Hold These Truths interviewing booth.
Categories: Lectures & Discussions. Kids & Families. Cost: Free with general admission. Get Tickets/Register: https://tickets.huntington.org/events?_gl=1%2a12laoua%2a_gcl_au%2aMTE4MDYwMDcxOS4xNzg4OTkxMDYy%2a_ga%2aMTc2NDgyOTc4Ni4xNzg4OTkxMDYy%2a_ga_1BGEDHGTJ6%2aczE3ODg5OTEwNjMkbzEkZzAkdDE3ODg5OTEwNjMkajYwJGwwJGgw. Event Location: San Marino, California.
Sunday, November 8, 2026.
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens
San Marino, CA.
For more info visit www.huntington.org. All Eyes on Pittsburgh
All Programs
The centerpiece of this art-filled three-day visit to Pittsburgh—a city of smokestacks and steel reborn as a vibrant cultural capital—is the 59th Carnegie International, North America’s longest-running survey of international contemporary art. In addition, the tour led by arts journalist Richard Selden offers a deep dive into Pittsburgh’s distinctive art and history, including visits to the Mattress Factory, Andy Warhol Museum, Senator John Heinz History Center, and National Aviary and a ride on the historic Duquesne Incline.
Event Location: Detailed information for overnight tours is emailed approximately FOUR WEEKS. Cost: View registration price. Get Tickets/Register: https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/programs/all-eyes-on-pittsburgh?utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=&promo=276223. Categories: Gallery Talks & Tours.
Sunday, November 8, 2026, 8:00 AM – Tuesday, November 10, 2026, 10:00 PM.
Pakeezah
Films
New 4K Restoration!
Following our Diwali celebration, enjoy this beloved Bollywood classic, a heartbreaking romance with gorgeous visuals and some of the most beautiful songs ever committed to film. Set against the backdrop of the courtly era of the Nawabs of Lucknow, Pakeezah is a poetically exquisite classic that took fourteen years to complete. The film’s painterly frames are saturated with color, opulent sets and costumes, haunting music, and actress Meena Kumari in an unforgettable performance.
The courtesan Nargis is rejected by the family of her husband Shahabuddin and dies giving birth to her daughter Sahibjaan who grows up to become a renowned courtesan. But she lives in a gilded cage, yearning for love and a life of dignity. Her life takes a turn when a forest officer, Salim, accidentally encounters her while she is asleep in a train compartment. Captivated by her, he leaves behind a note praising her beauty and innocence without knowing her identity. Their paths cross again and they fall in love.…
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/pakeezah-tickets-2000643239786?aff=oddtdtcreator. Categories: Films. Celebrations. Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible. Captioning. Assisted listening devices.
Sunday, November 8, 2026, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM.