Dupont Circle’s Fall Festival draws community together, solidifying its place as a cherished tradition

D.C.’s Dupont Circle transformed into a lively gathering spot this past Saturday as the Fall Festival and Bluegrass Jamboree returned for its third year, this time bigger than ever and with a Halloween twist.

Organized by the Dupont Circle Business Improvement District, the event took place in Dupont Circle Park, solidifying its place as a cherished annual tradition.

“Every event comes with new challenges, but this one’s just on a bit of a bigger scale than what we normally do. But we’re really happy with the way it turned out today,” said Jason Goldman, the marketing and events manager at the Dupont Circle bid.

From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., festivalgoers immersed themselves in a vibrant array of activities, including live bluegrass performances, pumpkin painting, and costume contests.

Live music filled the air, creating an infectious atmosphere that encouraged many to hit the dance floor and celebrate together.

Among the performers were Shannon Leigh and the Good Bygones, returning for their third consecutive year. With a desire to “spread this kind of music,” the band sought to bring the community together through their melodies.

“This is a great opportunity, we hopefully have people here that never really heard it, and I hope that our music makes them happy,” said Shannon Leigh, a member of a bluegrass band.

To Leigh, music acts as a bridge that links people to each other as a part of something.

Celebrating something people commonly love or, at least, enjoy is a way to bring everyone together, she said.

Alongside the music and to maintain the Halloween vibe, this year’s festival introduced three costume contests: one for adults, one for kids, and one for pets.

Participants were invited to wear their favorite costumes for a chance to win a prize for best costume, awarded to the top three of each category.

“We used to do a fall event and a Halloween event normally, and we thought, why not combine it and just pool our resources to make one really big event this year,” said Goldman.

Incorporating Halloween-themed activities into this year’s fall festival was a strategic decision aimed at boosting community engagement, according to the organizing team.

“It’s really cute. I liked the free pumpkins, the live music is really nice, like a perfect weekend,” said Adalia Olmos, who recently moved to D.C

Olmos came to the festival for the first time with a friend and said she enjoyed painting a ghost face on her pumpkin. To her, the festival really helps with community engagement.

“This kind of event just makes everyone feel a whole lot more comfortable with each other and like there’s a bigger sense of community, so we care for each other more,” Olmos said.

Eric Lee attended the festival for the first time and was captivated by the vibrant atmosphere. As he participated in the pumpkin painting, Lee said he felt a sense of community that was both “welcoming and entertaining.”

 “The music is really good and brings everyone together,” he said.

“Painting pumpkins is such a creative way to connect and have fun! I’m not from D.C. but I will come back next year,” Lee said.

The festival aspires to grow into a cherished annual tradition, strengthening local community bonds and bringing people closer. Yet, as a nonprofit, juggling “budget constraints” adds a unique layer of challenge to the vision.

“We’re a nonprofit, so we work within budget constraints, but I hope that we can do this every year and make people remember it,” said Goldman.