Dupont Circle residents count on seasonal events in the park

Many D.C. residents enjoy the seasonal events in Dupont Circle Park. With the holidays around the corner, those working behind-the-scenes ensure it stays that way.

“When you see that people enjoy a certain event, you make tweaks to it and stuff like that, but really, you want to keep a good thing rolling, and if it’s not broken, to not fix it,” Jason Goldman, the marketing and events manager of the Dupont Circle Business Improvement District, said.

Dupont Circle BID hosts several events specific to the holiday season. 

“Music in the Circle,” the fall concert series, is every Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. until Nov. 7. On Oct. 31, the fall festival is back, with a pumpkin patch, pumpkin decorating, bluegrass music, and costume contests for kids, adults, and pets. 

Goldman said the 1500 New Hampshire Avenue holiday market, featuring more than 35 businesses, will return on Nov. 12, followed by a tree lighting on Dec. 5. The holiday market will offer jewelry, art, clothes, food, crafts, and more.

Planning looks different for each event.

The work behind the fall festival requires making sure everyone is ready to go for the day, including the performers and the stage rental, Goldman said. He arrives two hours early to set up on the day of the festival and produces the marketing ahead of time. 

Preparing the concert series, though, is simpler. 

Goldman said he books the performers months in advance, keeping a variety of genres in the lineup. He works out an agreement with the bands and ensures their payment. The day of the concerts, he arrives at Dupont Circle Park an hour or so early for sound check and to check in with the musicians. 

As for the holiday market and tree lighting, Goldman said that arrangement is “pretty routine.”

The carolers are practicing, and the trees are on their way, he said. 

And he keeps the neighborhood’s businesses in mind.

“The main goal of the Business Improvement District is to make sure that the neighborhood is active and vibrant, and to encourage people to go and check out the local businesses and find something new,” Goldman said.

Llalan Fowler, the head book buyer at Kramers bookstore and cafe in Dupont Circle, said she thinks the seasonal events are great, and they help businesses close to the circle.

Out of the events, she said, the holiday market brings in the most foot traffic for Kramers.

“It’s just great to have public events there to actually use the park,” Fowler said.

Dupont residents Nicole Garibaldi and Rachel Mashek feel similarly.

Mashek, who works in government consulting, and Garibaldi, who works in commercial real estate, were at Dupont Circle Park on Oct. 10., during one of the series’ concerts. 

Baltimore musician, Tavair Dominque, performed, and he said, “it was wonderful.”

“Playing in the city, especially at such a recognizable landmark, is a really electric feeling,” Dominque said.

The following weeks will feature concerts by Different Answers, Sadia, Shannon Leigh and the Good Bygones, and Too Much Talent.

Mashek and Garibaldi didn’t know about the Oct. 10 performance beforehand, but Mashek said it was nice.

“I don’t know the schedule, but I just show up, and there’s always something fun going on,” Garibaldi said. 

Mashek said she stays busy during the week and doesn’t see as much activity in the park, but on the weekends, everyone comes together. 

Garibaldi said she appreciates the events since she lives close by.

“I feel like it makes it feel like a community more so because there’s nothing like this, I think, in any other part of D.C.,” Garibaldi said. “It’s hard to replicate.”

Goldman said he thinks people, especially locals, enjoy that they can always expect activities.

“They know that if they’re free on a Saturday from 12 to three, and the weather’s good, then they can come check out a concert in Dupont Circle Park. It’s going to be there,” Goldman said.