Fall Gardens and Painted Pumpkins: October at the Anacostia Community Museum

This month at the museum, learn to crochet, join a chess tournament, shop the Saturday farm stand, and bring your children to Friday storytime. All programs are free and open to the public.

CURRENT EXHIBITION

“We Make History”
Through Sunday, Jan. 2, 2028
Museum Gallery
The museum’s exhibition explores how history happens and is preserved and shared, anchored by stories of Washingtonians whose legacies as change makers and history keepers have had generational impact. Objects on view include the family diary of Adam Francis Plummer, believed to be the only multigenerational diary started by an enslaved person in the United States; singer Marian Anderson’s coat; a guitar belonging to Chuck Brown, the “Godfather of Go-Go”; and a jersey from the Washington Spirit, the city’s professional women’s soccer team.

ONGOING SERIES

“Big Moments, Little Stories: Storytime and Sensory Play”
Fridays, Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30; 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Sunburst Lounge
Children, caregivers and community gather for a story time built around books, creativity and play. Stories connect with the museum’s current exhibition and celebrate themes of community, family, neighborhood, history and the fall and winter seasons. Families are invited to stay afterward for indoor play, creative exploration and time to connect with one another. Sensory toys and tools are available for children who benefit from tactile, movement or sensory experiences. The program is designed for children ages 18 months to 7 years and their caregivers.

“FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand”
Saturdays, Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Plaza
The FRESHFARM ACM Farm Stand, a direct-to-consumer farm stand located East of the River in Ward 8, takes place on the museum’s outdoor plaza every Saturday, weather permitting. The 2026 season runs through Saturday, Nov. 21. The Farm Stand is free to attend and produce is available for purchase. The farm stand accepts SNAP/EBT, WIC and Senior FMNP benefits.

PROGRAMS

Lifelong Learners: “A Place to Perch”
Friday, Oct. 2; 1 to 2 p.m.
Program Room and Outdoors
Participants paint a wooden birdhouse, transforming it into a colorful, one-of-a-kind creation to take home. Finished birdhouses can be displayed on a patio, in a garden or on a windowsill, or used as a bird feeder. The workshop offers an afternoon of creativity, connection and self-expression. It is part of the museum’s Lifelong Learners series, designed for adults seeking connection, creativity and lifelong discovery. The program is for ages 21 and older.

“Crochet Kingpin’s Wearable Art”
Saturday, Oct. 3; noon to 2 p.m.
Program Room
D.C.-native artist Dwayne Lawson-Brown, known as “Crochet Kingpin,” leads a workshop on the art of crocheting wearable art. Participants will learn the basics of crocheting and practice chains, single crochet and double crochet. The workshop welcomes beginners and experienced makers, and participants may bring their own works in progress. Experienced crocheters will receive a pattern for lace blossoms to explore and work on during the session with Lawson-Brown. The workshop is suited for ages 8 and older.

“Always Think B4U Move: The Art of Strategy II”
Saturday, Oct. 10; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Program Room
Players compete in a free four-round open tournament, take beginner-friendly chess lessons and join guided open play, interactive chess trivia and a ChessNut Move Challenge during this community chess program in honor of National Chess Day. The program also includes tournament recognition and chess-related digital prizes. Designed for youth, adults, families, first-time players and experienced competitors, the four-hour program is facilitated by the Big Chair Chess Club. All ages are welcome.

“Coffee & Collections: Objects that Create Connections”
Saturday, Oct. 17; 11 a.m. to noon
Program Room
Artist Monica Jahan Bose discusses her participatory Storytelling with Saris art project and the objects that have connected the aspirations of people in Anacostia with those of a community in Bangladesh.

Bose’s participatory art encourages personal reflection and action, giving physical form to a shared desire for healthy communities. The hand-printed textiles she co-creates with the public archive expressions of hope, dedication and joy. The conversation focuses on her Anacostia-based work for the project. All ages are welcome.

“Growing Community: Endings and Beginnings in the Fall Garden”
Saturday, Oct. 24; 10 a.m. to noon
Program Room

Participants mark the transition to fall with gardening, storytelling and journaling, celebrating the end of the growing season and the beginning of the fall and winter garden. They will reap the benefits of the summer crops while learning the importance of planting and cultivating the new plants that will provide food for late fall and winter. The group will explore how, through time, the fall garden was a time for reflection and future planning, then revisit their journals and share garden stories from the summer. All ages are welcome.

“Pumpkin Painting: Creative Minds”
Saturday, Oct. 31; noon to 3 p.m.
Program Room

Instead of carving, participants paint pumpkins with bold patterns, whimsical characters or abstract designs, or adorn them with dried flowers and greenery for a more modern look. Each participant transforms an ordinary pumpkin into a one-of-a-kind seasonal piece that is safer and easier than carving. The workshop is designed for families, friends and neighbors of all ages. All materials are provided, so participants need only bring their imagination.

VISITING

The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Dec. 25. Admission is free. The museum is located at 1901 Fort Place S.E., Washington, D.C.

About the Anacostia Community Museum

Founded in 1967, the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum shares the untold and often overlooked stories of communities furthest from opportunity in the greater Washington, D.C., region. In celebrating stories of resiliency, joy and strength, the museum inspires those who visit to translate their ideas into action. For more information about the museum, visit anacostia.si.edu or follow the museum on X, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Amy Kehs | Read More

Amy Kehs is a brand strategist and communications expert for museums.