This weekend’s lineup of festivals, parades, and other events brings food, art, music, and dance, yes–but also several road closures across the city. Here are the restrictions you need to know about, according to guidance from the Metropolitan Police Department:
World Culture Festival
This celebration of international arts, entertainment, and food that will fill the National Mall has been shutting down roads for traffic and parking since September 18. Restrictions will continue into next week (though plans after Saturday may change if the government shuts down).
Roads marked Emergency No Parking until Thursday, October 5 at 12 PM:
- Fourth Street from Independence Avenue, Southwest to Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest
Roads that will be marked Emergency No Parking from Thursday, September 28 through Sunday, October 1:
- Third Street from Independence Avenue, Southwest to Constitution Avenue, Northwest
- Seventh Street from Independence Avenue, Southwest to Constitution Avenue, Northwest
- Madison Drive from 14th Street to Third Street, Northwest
- Jefferson Drive from 14th Street to Third Street, Southwest
Roads closed to vehicle traffic through Thursday, October 5:
- Fourth Street from Jefferson Drive, Southwest to Madison Drive, Northwest
- Fourth Street from Independence Avenue to Jefferson Drive, Southwest
- Fourth Street from Madison Drive to Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest will be open for local traffic only
Roads closed to vehicle traffic from approximately 6 AM to 11 PM on Thursday, September 28 through Saturday, September 30 and from approximately 6 AM to 4 PM on Sunday, October 1:
- Madison Drive from 14th Street, Northwest to Third Street, Southwest
- Jefferson Drive from 14th Street, NW to Third Street, Southwest
And some maybes–these roads could be closed to vehicle traffic, if deemed necessary for public safety, from approximately 6 AM to 11 PM on Thursday, September 28 through Sunday, October 1:
- Third Street from Independence Avenue, Southwest to Constitution Avenue, Northwest
- Seventh Street from Independence Avenue, Southwest to Constitution Avenue, Northwest
- 12th Street Expressway from I-395 to Constitution Avenue, Northwest
- 14th Street from the 14th Street bridge to Constitution Avenue, Northwest
Art All Night
This Friday and Saturday nighttime event will set up artsy activities and celebrations—including a block party at Penn Quarter’s Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library on Saturday evening—throughout the city. The Congress Heights Day Parade on Saturday afternoon will also bring restrictions.
All closures are for Saturday, September 30.
Roads that will be marked Emergency No Parking from 10 AM to 6 PM:
- Fourth Street from Mississippi Avenue to Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, Southeast
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue from Fourth Street to Elm Street, Southeast
Roads that will be marked Emergency No Parking from 4 PM to 4 AM:
- Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue from Fifth Street Place to Raleigh Street, Southeast
- Alabama Avenue, from Sixth Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, Southeast
Road that will be marked Emergency No Parking from 6 AM to 4 AM:
- G Street from Ninth Street to 10th Street, Northwest
Roads closed to vehicle traffic from 1 PM to 6 PM:
- Fourth Street from Mississippi Avenue to Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, Southeast
- Martin Luther King, Jr Avenue from Savannah Street to Sheridan Road, Southeast
Roads closed to vehicle traffic from 4 PM on Saturday, September 30 to 4 AM on Sunday, October 1:
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue from Malcolm X Avenue to Savannah Street, Southeast
- Fifth Street from Alabama Avenue to Savannah Street, Southeast
- Alabama Avenue from Fifth Street to Sixth Street, Southeast
Road closed to vehicle traffic from 12 PM to 4 AM:
- G Street from Ninth Street to 10th Street, Northwest
Red Mass
The 71st annual Red Mass—which commemorates the opening of the Supreme Court’s annual term— will be held on Sunday morning at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle near Dupont Circle.
All closures are for Sunday, October 1.
Roads that will be marked as Emergency No Parking from 5 AM to 12 PM:
- Rhode Island Avenue from Connecticut Avenue to 17th Street, Northwest
- 17th Street Evans Alley from M Street to Rhode Island Avenue, Northwest
Roads that will be closed to vehicle traffic from 5 AM to 12 PM:
- Rhode Island Avenue from Connecticut Avenue to 17th Street, Northwest
- 17th Street Evans Alley from M Street to Rhode Island Avenue, Northwest
