What to Expect for the Capitol Hill Area This Weekend

Over the past few weekends, the Capitol Hill area has weathered the peak of D.C. street festival season and the empty, but persistent, threats of a hurricane.

This Columbus Day weekend in D.C. should be a little quieter, with the major exception of Taste of D.C., which will take over Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 3rd and 7th streets NW Saturday and Sunday. On the east side of the Capitol, the D.C. Armory will hold a two-day expo to celebrate the Army Ten-Miler. The expo will have performances, interactive exhibits and workout gear sales.

Columbus Day on Monday could shake things up for commuters who don’t have the day off or people who are planning to use their day off to run errands.

Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of a two or three day weekend in the Capitol Hill area.

Columbus Day

• Schools, libraries and local government offices will be closed.
• Parking enforcement only will take place along the H Street NE streetcar route.
• No Trash and recycling collection will occur. All collection will move back one day.
• Metrorail will open at 5 a.m. and close at midnight. There is planned maintenance that will cause single-tracking on the Red and Green lines
• Metro buses will operate on a Saturday schedule, with some post-midnight trips cut.

Weather

The forecast for this weekend is a welcome turnaround from the gray days of last weekend. It’s expected to be sunny all weekend with temperatures in the high 60s and low 70s.

Events

Army Ten-Miler Race Expo
Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (8:30 – 10 a.m. for U.S. military and Defense Department workers)
D.C. Armory (2001 East Capitol St. SE)

D.C. residents don’t have to have run in Sunday’s Army Ten-Miler to stop by the race’s expo, held all day Friday and Saturday. Vendors inside the D.C. Armory will have sales on running clothing, shoes and accessories. Old Guard Drill Team and Fife and Drum Corps performances will happen throughout the day inside the armory, while Army special operations soldiers will host interactive exhibits outside the expo. The displays may include helicopters, trucks and a tank. The expo is free.

Southwest DC Waterfront Boat-Home Tours
Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Gangplank Marina (600 Water St. SW)

Meet the “liveaboard” community at Gangplank Marina as they open their doors to the public in the name of charity. The tour is self-guided with the opportunity to see up to 18 boat homes and learn about the residents’ lifestyles. Tickets are available for $20 online, and proceeds will benefit local southwest charities. The tours will happen as scheduled rain or shine.

Metrorail

• Additional Metro staff will work Saturday at Union Station, Capitol South and Federal Center Southwest during the “Justice or Else” 20th anniversary of the Million Man March rally on the National Mall.
• Metrorail will open at 5 a.m. on Sunday for the Army Ten-Miler. Additional Blue Line trains will run between Franconia-Springfield and Stadium-Armory between 6 a.m. and 8:40 a.m. and between 11:15 a.m. and 12:40 p.m.

Metrobus

• Several buses, including buses on the 30N, 30S, 32 and 36 lines, will detour around the Taste of D.C. on Pennsylvania Avenue between 3rd and 7th streets.