Down in the Reeds Music Festival

After a two-year hiatus, the Down in the Reeds Festival returns on Saturday, October 8, 2022 with a whole new lineup, activities and entertainment for music lovers of all ages.  Save the date for 2022! More details will be coming soon. 

In 2021: 

The lineup included live music and workshops on three stages from 11:00am to 7:00pm.  The 2021 performers and workshop presenters include: RDGLDGRN, See-I, BORN-I, La Marvela, Calista Garcia, Shug Line, Amadou Kouyate, Leo Rua, BRASSIE, Bele Bele Rhythm Collective, Pan Lara, Finding Rhythm Musical Collective, Baba Ras D, Boundless Eclectic, Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Ensemble, Washington Jazz Arts Institute, DC Music Summit Workshops and a Rock Creek Drive Jam After-Party hosted by Black Fire Culture & HR Records at Rhizome. Here's a list of how to enjoy the festival with the whole family. 

The festival will also include interactive activations by: Hands on Drums, House of Musical Traditions, DC Public Library, Art of Noize, Zenith Community Arts Foundation, Metta Creative, DC Fray, Terrence Nicholson, RIYL, Curious Caravan and more. The detailed list of activities, vendors, and schedule of performances will be released on www.downinthereeds.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter over the next couple of weeks.  

Down in the Reeds is a daylong fall music festival celebrating the power of music to heal across communities and culture.  The free all-ages festival is set on the grounds of the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center at The Parks at Walter Reed (theparksdc.com/). In addition to the wealth of talent, workshops and activations, the festival will feature food and beverage from local food trucks and businesses as well as art vendors, makers and dedicated kids and family programming. 

Current Supporters

Down in the Reeds Festival is co-produced by Think Local First DC and CNDB LLC.  This project is supported by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and Humanities DC.  Additional support is provided by Hines-Urban Atlantic-Triden, the US Small Business Administration, Solar Solutions, Atlas Brewery, Supreme Window, Listen Local First DC, Walnut Street Creative, Pipkin Creative, The Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs, Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George, Upper Georgia Avenue Main Street, Brightwood Community Association, DC Fray, RIYL, Petworth News, Noah Friedman Studios and so many more local organizations and individual artists.  

COVID Protocol

In order to protect all of our artists, staff, volunteers, partners and you, our loving community, we are asking that everyone over the age of 12 attending the festival be fully vaccinated or have proof of a negative COVID test within 48 hours of attending the festival.  We are also asking that EVERYONE wear a mask at the festival unless they are eating or drinking.  

All festival staff, volunteers, and performers will be REQUIRED to have proof of vaccination or proof of a negative COVID test within 48 hours of the festival. There will be a perimeter around each of the performance areas where no one will be able to enter unless they are vaccinated or have proof of a negative COVID test as mentioned above. 

For more information about the festival, including a detailed stage lineup, sponsorship information, and more, visit downinthereeds.com or their Facebook event page.

The Parks at Walter Reed events are sponsored by Children’s National Hospital, Aspen Square at The Parks by NVHomes, The Vale, The Brooks, and Streetsense.