DC’s newest fall music festival is just around the corner (Saturday, October 19th, 11am - 6:30pm). Down in the Reeds (DitR) is a day long fall music festival, celebrating the power of music to heal across culture and community.

Set around the amphitheatre at the historic campus of the former Walter Reed Medical Center, now called The Parks at Walter Reed, the festival will feature some of DC’s best and most diverse musical acts, local artisans, breweries, food-trucks, family games and activities.

The Parks at Walter Reed Main Stage line-up will include live performances (12:00pm - 6:30pm) from Crank Lukongo, Aaron Abernathy, Denise Henderson, Yasmin Williams, Babby, Dove Lady, Thraxx King, New Sewell Music Conservatory Showcase, Boundless Eclectic + Wychdokta, and more to be announced...

The workshop stage (11:30am - 6:00pm) co-presented by Humanities DC will feature performances, presentations, demos and showcases from The Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation, The Sanctuaries (featuring Uptown Shane, Osa the Healer, and Ben Lasso), IMKA, Son Cosita Seria, Casey Rae, Uasuf Gueye, Robert Plagmann, Tom Teasley & Studio in the Woods Soul Voyage and more.

Along with two stages of performances and workshops, festival goers will be able to enjoy a community healers tent, festival partner activations, outdoor games, pumpkin carving and decorating, family arts and crafts, live art from Khalid Thompson and more. Attendees will also get to enjoy stellar local cuisine from some of the DMV’s most delicious food trucks, maker and artist vendors from around the DMV and the Atlas Brew Works Beer Garden.

The Festival is open to the public but we encourage all who can to make a suggested donation of $10 to support the amazingly talented musicians and creatives who will be performing and presenting all day. To make that donation, visit https://downinthereeds.eventbrite.com .

For up to date announcements on the festival, line up, schedule of activities, FAQs, and more please continue to check our website leading up to the event. https://www.downinthereeds.com/ You can also follow @DownintheReeds on all social media platforms.

This festival is a product of some amazing DMV partners and stakeholders including: the TPWR Development Team (Urban Atlantic, Hines, Triden Development), the Office of the Deputy Mayor of Planning & Economic Development, Think Local First DC, Listen Local First DC, Dom Flemons, The American Songster, Mars on Gravity, Ward 4 Councilmember Brandon Todd, Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs, Ward 4 Arts Council, Atlas Brew Works, Smithsonian Year in Music, CulturalDC, DC Humanities Council, DC Office of Cable Television Film & Entertainment, Solar Solution, Supreme Window, Shepherd Park Citizens Association, Brightwood Community Association, ANC 4A03, Uptown Art House, Multiflora Productions,The Sanctuaries, Boundless Eclectic, Short Eats, DC Public Library, DC Fray, Chuck Levin’s Music Center, DMV Food Truck Association, Tenleytown Trash, The Infinite Goodness, The Archie Edwards Blues Jam Heritage Foundation, Art of Noize, Sperry Entertainment, Rhizome, Petworth Arts Collaborative, Noah Friedman Studios and many more.

Current Media Partners include: Brightest Young Things, WPFW, DC Music Review, On Tap Magazine, Petworth News and @REVIVE_POC.

Listen Local First DC along with organizers and producers of the Funk Parade and Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival, Grammy Award winning American Songster Dom Flemons, and over 20 local partners, have been working for months to bring this event to life. We are excited for the count down and hope you will share this info with your community.

Want to Get Involved?

Down in the Reeds is intended as a celebration of community, requiring input and buy-in from the community. Different ways to get involved include:

Sponsorship - Business, foundations and other nonprofits, and government agencies interested in providing cash and in-kind contributions to offset the festival’s expenses. Interested in sponsoring or contributing? Please fill out this FORM

Local Vendors - Including artists, makers, food trucks, and breweries/wineries/distilleries. If interested in vending please fill out this FORM

Music Healing Partners - local organizations, nonprofits, art collectives and individuals whose work in music healing or music therapy should be highlighted at this event. Please email info@downinthereeds.com