Your Fall Guide to National Landing
Arlington’s urban community offers a fall season packed with free events—a Latin music series, Beer and Wine Festival, Mystic Market, movie parties, outdoor fitness and more
WHAT: As fall approaches, National Landing’s events calendar is filling up with programming across the communities of Crystal City, Pentagon City and Potomac Yard. September and October bring back community favorites like NaLa Noches, Met Park Movie Nights and Fit @ Met, alongside family-friendly programming from MoCA Arlington’s Innovation Studio. The fall lineup also features creative and cultural events hosted at local businesses like Daydrift Books and Coffee and Alamo Drafthouse, as well as industry programming including Deep Tech Week. Together, these events are part of a broader lineup that brings the community together in National Landing to experience the everyday unexpected through shared moments of food, art, music and more.
NATIONAL LANDING EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
NaLa Noches: Spice up your Thursday evenings with NaLa Noches, a celebration of Latin music and culture at Metropolitan Park in the heart of National Landing. New this year, get on your feet for a short, beginner-friendly dance lesson hosted by Inspira Dance during the set break. Enjoy food onsite from favorite Peruvian Brothers and participate in art activities lead by the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington.
- WHEN: Every Thursday, September 17 – October 15 from 5 to 7 p.m.
- WHERE: Metropolitan Park | 1330 S Fair St, Arlington, VA, 22202
HOW: This event is free and open to the public. Register via Eventbrite.
Met Park Movie Nights: Grab some friends, a blanket and popcorn as Met Park’s central green comes alive with a family-friendly movie series every other Friday. Settle in from 6 to 8 p.m. as favorites like Back to the Future, The Princess Diaries, Encanto and Coco play on the big screen.
- WHEN: Every Other Friday, September 4 – October 16 from 6 to 8 p.m.
- WHERE: Metropolitan Park | 1330 S Fair St, Arlington, VA, 22202
- HOW: This event is free and open to the public. No registration necessary.
Fit @ Met: Join United Fray + National Landing at Metropolitan Park on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. from September 2 to October 21 for free, instructor-led classes that are sure to help you break a sweat. No experience required. All you have to do is select the class you’re interested in from the lineup, grab your gear and get ready to work.
- WHEN: Every Wednesday, September 2 – October 21 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
- WHERE: Metropolitan Park | 1330 S Fair St, Arlington, VA 22202
- HOW: Classes are free and open to the public. Register via Eventbrite.
Community Cleanup: Help keep National Landing looking its best while you connect with neighbors and take part in the transformation happening in our community.
- WHEN: Thursday, October 22, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- WHERE: Begins at Water Park | 1601 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA 22202
- HOW: Registration to open via Eventbrite in September.
RETAILER EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Daydrift Crafts & Coffee Series: Grab a cup of coffee and join the “Crafts & Coffee Series” this fall for events including a Junk Tote Bag Workshop, a Fall-Themed Paint & Sip, and even a Trinket Tray & Coaster Workshop.
- WHEN: 12 – 2 p.m. on the following dates:
September 6 | Junk Tote Bag Workshop
October 18 | Fall-Themed Paint & Sip
November 8 | Create Your Own Custom Scent
November 22 | Trinket Tray & Coaster Workshop
December 20 | Cozy Christmas & Winter-Themed Candle Workshop - WHERE: Daydrift Books and Coffee | 1550 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA 22202
- HOW: Events are open to the public. Prices vary. Register via Eventbrite.
MoCA on the Move, Fall Fun Family Series: The Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington will host a fall family series each Sunday in Met Park with live music, lawn games, bubbles and hands-on art-making activities guided by local artists.
- WHEN: Sundays 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on the following dates:
September 13 | Abstract Painting
September 20 | DIY Stamps + Stationery
September 27 | Doodles on Paper + Beyond
October 4 | Fall Charm Bar
October 11 | Stained Glass Dreamcatchers
October 18 | "Build-a-Gnome" Doll Making
October 25 | Calavara Masks - WHERE: Metropolitan Park | 1330 S Fair St, Arlington, VA 22202
- HOW: Events are free and open to the public. Register via Eventbrite.
Special Events at Alamo Drafthouse: Experience two special events hosted by Alamo Drafthouse this fall. Take the family to a screening of CatVideoFest 2026, a zany compilation of the latest cat videos. A portion of ticket sales will go directly to local cats in need. Or have fun with a friend at the Mystic Market in celebration of Practical Magic 2, which includes iconic Midnight Margaritas, tarot readings, cat adoptions with AWLA and vintage and handmade goods from local vendors.
- WHEN: September 5 from 1:15-12:45 p.m. – CatVideoFest 2026; September 12 from 2-7 p.m. – Practical Magic 2 Mystic Market)
- WHERE: Alamo Drafthouse Crystal City | 1660 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA 22202
- HOW: Show tickets can be purchased via the website.
Virginia Beer and Wine Festival at Water Park: Say "cheers!" to autumn with the third annual showcase of local vineyards and breweries in Water Park, alongside festival merch, live music, lawn games, a photobooth, and more. Reserve your spot ahead of time and you'll receive a complimentary ticket at the door.
- WHEN: September 26 from 1-5 p.m.
- WHERE: Water Park | 1601 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA 22202
- HOW: Register via Eventbrite.
COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
Deep Tech Week: National Innovation Quarter and JBG SMITH are bringing Deep Tech Week to the D.C. region for the first time, with events taking place September 7-12 across National Landing. The week will bring together founders, investors and innovators shaping the physical economy, spanning industries from defense and robotics to biotech, semiconductors and energy. Events will run in parallel throughout the region, hosted by VC firms, labs, startups and nonprofits driving the deep tech community forward.
- WHEN: September 7 – September 12
- WHERE: JBG Smith Concorde | 2011 Crystal Dr, Arlington, VA 22202 and JBG Smith Experience Center | 241 18th St S, Arlington, VA 22202
- HOW: Registration is free via the website.
Amazon Community Day: Amazon Community Day returns to National Landing for a third year in a row with free, family-friendly fun featuring interactive experiences, outdoor activities, local vendors and entertainment for all ages. The community event will offer a full day of ways to explore, play and connect, with additional programming and details to be announced.
- WHEN: Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- WHERE: Amazon’s HQ2 at Metropolitan Park, 510 14th St S, Arlington, VA 22202
For more information on programming hosted by the National Landing BID and community partners, visit nationallanding.org or follow on Instagram @nationallanding.
MEDIA CONTACT:
The Brand Guild
nationallanding@thebrandguild.com
602-579-8848
ABOUT NATIONAL LANDING:
National Landing is an urban community in Arlington, VA, uniting the three neighborhoods of Crystal City, Pentagon City, and Potomac Yard.
Here, the region’s rising talent connects with the industries building the future in the National Innovation Quarter (National IQ)—anchored by the Pentagon, Amazon HQ2, and the Virginia Tech Institute for Advanced Computing.
Five minutes from Reagan National Airport and ten minutes from Washington, D.C., National Landing offers unparalleled connectivity and leading mobility infrastructure across five Metro stations, VRE access, and miles of protected bike lanes.
With a nearly 1:1 employee-to-resident ratio, work and daily life exist side-by-side with ease. Walkable streets lead to global cuisines and shopping. Sixty acres of parks and public space invite gathering, from jazz nights to yoga mornings. Murals and modern design bring color to mid-century architecture. In National Landing, innovation and everyday life meet in surprising and meaningful ways.
To learn more, visit nationallanding.org and follow @nationallanding