Organizers of Virgin Mobile FreeFest announced Tuesday that this year’s event has been canceled for unspecified reasons. The popular music festival has been held at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland since 2009.
Despite this disappointing news, there are some other notable festivals held in the DMV area to consider substituting in place of FreeFest’s absence.
Taste of Georgetown, Sept. 13
Hosted by the Georgetown Business Improvement District, this year marks the 21st annual festival. From noon until 5 p.m., attendees get a literal taste of all that the neighborhood has to offer from more than 35 of D.C.’s best restaurants. Not to mention that there is a Beer and Wine Pavilion, along with live entertainment. This year, the Georgetown BID moved the event from Wisconsin Avenue to K Street along the Georgetown Waterfront.
Tickets range from $5 for one tasting to $20 for five tastings, and all proceeds go towards the Georgetown Ministry Center. Craft beer and wine tasting tickets are sold separately. For more details, head over to the Taste of Georgetown web site.
Adams Morgan Day, Sept. 14
From noon until 7:00 p.m., the annual festival brings live music and international food to the heart of Adams Morgan on 18th Street between Florida Avenue and Columbia Road. There’s a dance plaza that features live dance performances, live music and workshops for a variety of international dances (rumba, folk, salsa, etc.). The Kid’s Fair is the biggest attraction for children with games, interactive exhibits, clowns and dancers on display.
H Street Festival, Sept. 20
Known as the D.C.’s best neighborhood festival, H Street Festival showcases the community’s best qualities with more than 150 local restaurants, vendors and food trucks on 10 blocks of the strip. (Beer gardens and vodka tasting areas can also be found within the perimeter.) Last year’s festival brought about 50 artists and 80 performances to 10 stages. Shop at the art exhibits, get educated at the seminars and converse with local entrepreneurs, artists and organizers. The festival runs from noon to 7 p.m. For updates on the vendors, check the H Street Festival site.
Taste of Bethesda, Oct. 11
Mark your calendar for Bethesda’s 25th annual food and music festival. It transports 60 restaurants to the Maryland suburb’s Woodmont Triangle. The event also brings five stages with non-stop entertainment as well as arts and crafts from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. More information is available at the Taste of Bethesda site.
