More than 150 local artists will fill streets across all eight D.C. wards on Friday, Sept. 11, as Art All Night kicks off its 15th year.

The free festival runs Friday and Saturday, Sept. 12, with programming in 24 Main Streets and Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) citywide, according to the mayor's office. A new addition this year: the Run for the Arts 5K Run & Walk on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 9:30 a.m. at Yards Park Marina along the Navy Yard waterfront. The timed race is free and open to all, with registration at DCArtAllNight.org/5k-art-run.

Mayor Muriel Bowser said the weekend reflects years of investment in D.C.'s creative economy. "Art All Night shows what that investment looks like," Bowser said. "It brings people into our neighborhoods, puts local talent on center stage, supports our restaurants and small businesses and showcases DC as a city of culture and creativity."

The festival began in 2011 as "Art All Night: Nuit Blanche DC," launched by Shaw Main Streets with more than 30,000 attendees. Last year drew a record 250,000-plus visitors and more than 1,200 artists and performers.

Shaw Main Streets, where it all started, announced that Art All Night returns to Shaw on Saturday with eight hours of free programming at 18 venues stretching from K Street to W Street.

In Anacostia, Friday night's celebration carries the theme "Good Trouble — Louder!" inspired by the legacy of Congressman John Lewis, Mid City DC News reported. Programming runs 5 p.m. to midnight along Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE and Marion Barry Avenue SE, featuring go-go music, spoken word, fashion and skate culture. A highlight is the first D.C. exhibition of the Good Trouble Quilts, a collection by African American fiber artists honoring Lewis, displayed at 1800 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE. We reported on the quilts' arrival Sept. 10.

Georgetown hosts its edition Saturday from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. New venue partnerships this year include Tudor Place, 1223 Potomac Gallery, O Street Collection and Klagsbrun Studios. Georgetown Main Street Executive Director Rachel Shank told the Georgetowner in a Sept. 3 preview that the event has become "part of the rhythm of the neighborhood and the way we welcome fall in Georgetown."

The companion Dine All Night program runs Thursday, Sept. 10, through Sunday, Sept. 13, with more than 100 restaurants participating across the District. On Sept. 8, Bowser wrote on X that "DC restaurants help showcase the creativity and talent of our city."

Federal data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the National Endowment for the Arts showed arts and cultural production contributed roughly $15 billion to D.C.'s economy in 2023. That figure represented 9% of the local economy.

The sector supported more than 50,000 workers. The $15 billion was up about 47% from $10.2 billion in 2015. In 2019, Art All Night alone generated more than $2 million in revenue across participating neighborhoods.

Rosemary Suggs-Evans, director of the Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD), said the festival connects creativity directly to neighborhood economies. She said each performance, meal and visit creates an opportunity for someone to discover a local artist or spend money with a D.C. entrepreneur.

Festivalgoers can use the Art All Night mobile app to find events by neighborhood, build schedules and navigate between activations. Full details are at DCArtAllNight.org.

What's coming up:

  • Friday, Sept. 11: Art All Night opens citywide. Free.
  • Saturday, Sept. 12: Art All Night continues, including Shaw (18 venues) and Georgetown (5:30–10:30 p.m.). MLK Library Block Party features a free concert with Black Alley, Sirius & Company and the Chuck Brown Band.
  • Sunday, Sept. 13: Run for the Arts 5K, 9:30 a.m., Yards Park Marina. Free; register at DCArtAllNight.org/5k-art-run.
  • Through Sunday, Sept. 13: Dine All Night at 100-plus D.C. restaurants.