Hill Rag

On Saturday, Oct. 31, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., there will be a 5K run (or walk) through the grounds of the National Arboretum, ending at the Capitol Columns. This race is scenic, safe and secure. All roads will be closed to cars through this 451-acre urban green space. A professional race announcer will call out runners as they cross the finish line and there will be music before and after the event. Tickets are $45; ages 12 and under, free.

You can have your child's car safety seat inspected and properly installed at the Department of Motor Vehicles Inspection Station. Inspections are free during normal operating hours at 1001 Half St. SW. A passenger child safety technician will install the seat and share information about the importance of proper use. www.dmv.dc.gov/service/car-safety-seat-program

The annual H Street Festival, on Saturday, Sept. 19, noon to 7 p.m., is 12 blocks long on H Street NE. It has 15 diversely themed and programmed staging areas featuring music of different genres, dance, youth-based performances, interactive children's programs, fashion, heritage arts and poetry. The festival has grown into a 150,000-participant event. hstreetfestival.org

Community Forklift's 2026 Circular Showcase invites artists, designers, builders and makers to transform salvaged materials into original works of furniture, lighting, art and functional design. Works in the creative reuse competition will be featured at the Circular Showcase Celebration on Oct.

On Saturday, Sept. 5, at 7:30 p.m., follow the second star to the right and straight on until morning. Celebrate Steven Spielberg's epic with the National Symphony Orchestra, as John Williams' score comes to life with the full film on screen. Robin Williams stars as an adult Peter Pan who rescues his children from Captain Hook (Dustin Hoffman) and rediscovers the magic of who he truly is. Tickets start at $43. All persons, regardless of age, must have a ticket.

On Saturday, Sept. 19, and Sunday, Sept. 20, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., both days, step back in time at the Colonial Market & Fair, a 12-acre site featuring food and wares made by colonial artisans. Explore ceramics, furniture, glasswork, textiles, woodcraft, soap and more. Talk to artisans and watch them demonstrate their craft using 18th-century techniques. Enjoy early American entertainment, meet General Washington and take home handmade items.

The Marine Corps Marathon Kids Run, on Oct. 26, the day prior to the MCM, is a one-mile, just-for-fun running challenge for kids aged 5-12. Participants may select from six specific starting waves. Shuttles from Metro, post-event hospitality, entertainment, games and mascots make this an unforgettable event. Registration is $27. Each participant receives a shirt, access to the Camp Miles Family Fitness Festival and a medal at the finish line. www.marinemarathon.com

E very fall, families settle into the rhythm of a new school year. And every fall, once the new-year shine wears off, some parents begin to notice that something isn't quite right. Homework that used to take 20 minutes now takes two hours. A child who used to talk about school comes home and shuts the door. A teacher's email arrives with a subject line that makes your stomach drop. It's easy to picture a struggling child as one who is failing tests or acting out in class.

Bring your four-legged friends and join neighbors for afternoons filled with "tail-wagging" fun at the The Wharf this fall at Pints for Paws! Attendees are invited to enjoy live music, meet adoptable dogs, enjoy food and beverages and more. The August event will include a special tennis ball engraving activation. The event will benefit Lucky Dog Animal Rescue.

Tickets are on sale now for the Historic Congressional Cemetery's "Soul Strolls" will return this fall with opportunities to explore the cemetery through lantern-lit walks and immersive performances. This year's theme, "Becoming America," explores the tension between the nation's founding ideals and the realities of American history through the stories of people interred at the cemetery. Costumed interpreters will share the true stories of those buried at Congressional Cemetery.