Festival Alert – H Street is Saturday Sept. 21st and Columbia Heights Day is Saturday Oct. 5th!

Big news for festival fans – two of the most anticipated ones have announced dates for this year. First up is H Street’s:

“The 2013 H Street Street Festival—Washington, DC’s premier neighborhood festival— will be held Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013.

Organized by H Street Main Street, the festival will feature over 50 artists and 80 performances on 10 stages accompanied by an array of local, regional and international cuisine, shopping, arts exhibits, educational events, seminars and conversations with local entrepreneurs, artists and community organizations spanning 10 blocks of H Street NE.

This annual event is one of the most popular festivals in Washington, DC, attracting thousands of foodies, art aficionados, wine and beer connoisseurs and music lovers to one of the city’s fastest-growing and most exciting areas.

More than 150 local restaurants, vendors and food trucks will offer a bounty of food selections, including international cuisine, regional fare and much more. The festival will also have several beer gardens and vodka tasting areas featuring a wide array of libations from breweries and distilleries.

The uniqueness of the art and fine crafts in DC is unrivaled and a big part of the identity and culture of the H Street NE area. That’s why this year’s festival will host a variety of art cars, artist booths and installations. These displays are sure to delight art enthusiasts of all types and will allow festivalgoers to interact with displays and talk one-on-one with their creators.

In addition to food, wine, beer and art, the festival has 10 stages with a variety of entertainment, which will feature some of the best local and regional performers in rock-n-roll, rap, jazz, opera, soul music, gospel, Caribbean and more. There will also be pie eating and tattoo contests, live boxing, martial arts demonstrations and many more non-musical performances.

The festival’s emphasis on the distinctiveness and vibrancy of the H Street area extends beyond the food, art and music. Visit the DC Fashion Week stage and help area designers kick off their annual celebration of fashion. Or for a more family-oriented atmosphere, the kids and family zone will be serving up kid-friendly entertainment and interactive events from start until close. The festival will also feature a fitness area, featuring a climbing wall sponsored by REI, as well as other health-promoting events and vendors.

Festival hours are from noon – 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013. The festival will take place from the 400 block to the 1400 block of H Street NE.”

And then is Columbia Heights Day’s:

“Community celebration features live music and arts performances, family activities, local artisans, food trucks and more

WHAT: 7th Annual Columbia Heights Day
WHEN: Saturday, October 5, 2013
10:00 am to 6:00 pm

WHERE: Harriet Tubman Elementary Field
(Entrance on Kenyon St. NW between 11th and 13th streets)
Just 3 blocks from the Columbia Heights Metro (Green and Yellow lines)

COST: FREE
WHO: Schedule of events include:

Live music and arts performances
Petting Zoo & Kids Zone, with fun games and family entertainment
Morning yoga workshop
Your favorite DC food trucks
Cupcake eating contest
Dozens of local businesses and community groups”