Save the Date! Adams Morgan Day 2019 (Sept. 8, 12-6pm)

The AU Humanities Truck last year at Adams Morgan Day. (Photo credit: Playful City Lab)

We will be returning to Adams Morgan Day for a second year to anchor the “Community History” section of the Festival with the Humanities Truck, an experimental recording and exhibition space on wheels. The truck will feature stories about historic Adams Morgan from the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum’s “A Right to the City” exhibition, in partnership with the DC Public Library.

We will be featuring several interactive and digital elements of our DC Storytelling System, including a raffle that sends historic photos of Adams Morgan from the event. In addition to everything happening around the truck, we plan to station a couple of our “Classic Phones” at select local businesses for the day so that more community members will be able to participate in the storytelling system.

For the history section, DC Public Library is sponsoring the performance stage of music and dance with an international flair reflective of the diversity of the neighborhood. Stop by the library booth to get a library card, check out books, and learn about neighborhood history resources in Washingtoniana!

This community history section will be at the intersection of 18th and Belmont Streets NW from noon-6pm on September 8, 2019.

For general information on Adams Morgan Day, visit AdMoDay.com.

Here is the official press release from the event organizers:

Press Release from June 11, 2019

See What’s Next at Adams Morgan Day Festival, September 8, 2019 Music, Art, Culture, Vending, Family Fun Zone, Food and Beverage Specials

WASHINGTON, June 11, 2019 — The Adams Morgan neighborhood looks forward to hosting old friends and first-time visitors this September 8 for the 41st anniversary of the longest-running neighborhood festival in Washington, D.C., Adams Morgan Day.

The event is free to attend and will take place at businesses and public spaces along Columbia Road NW, and along 18th Street NW, which will close for the day between Columbia Road and California Street to make way for entertainment, activities, artists and makers vending unique and locally made goods from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Adams Morgan Day is now organized by the all-volunteer Adams Morgan Community Alliance, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that began forming in 2015 with the sole purpose of restoring and sustaining the historic annual event. “It’s been quite a journey — lots of fun, and lots of hard work,” said Kara Davis, who chairs the Alliance’s Board of Directors. “The self-directed charge of our small organization was to bring back Adams Morgan Day in a way that strengthens community and trust while showcasing our amazingly creative and diverse neighborhood. We’ve been working to build the infrastructure, neighborhood relationships and transparency required to continue this annual tradition long into the future.”

Donations are welcome and details are available now for vendors, artists, musicians, organizations, businesses and sponsors who would like to participate or contribute, at www.AdMoDay.com.

Scheduled entertainment, activities, and special deals offered by neighborhood businesses and restaurants will be listed as they are confirmed. Attendees can also follow AdamsMorganDay on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram to keep apprised of plans for the event.

Details thus far include:
Stages on 18th Street NW just south of Columbia Road and at Marie Reed Plaza near Wyoming Avenue featuring live music and other entertainment organized by Songbyrd Music House and Record Café and other volunteer presenters.


— Interactive visual arts performances and demonstrations in Artists’ Alley, coordinated by Corinto Gallery.


The Family Fun Zone will be provided by The Volo City Kids Foundation. Volo City Kids will bring certified volunteers and equipment for soccer, flag football and games for kids of all ages — obstacle course games, corn hole, Connect Four, KanJam, Jenga and more. Families can also sign up for free kids’ sports leagues occurring in Adams Morgan and around the city.


— The Marie Reed Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization is organizing a student arts and crafts sale to benefit after school programs. These and other family activities will be located at the recently renovated Marie H. Reed Elementary School and Community Center grounds, and adjacent soccer field.


— DC Public Library, Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum and American University are collaborating to highlight Adams Morgan history at the festival again this year. Enjoy exhibits and activities at AU’s Humanities Truck, where visitors can learn about the history of community organizing from Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum’s “A Right to the City” exhibition and hear music celebrating local culture hosted by DCPL.

Also tied to the history of the neighborhood and event are photos by local photographer Nancy Shia, posting now as part of an interactive “guess the location” social media campaign on #ThrowbackThursdays at AdamsMorganDay on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and at @Nancy_Shia on Twitter.

Beyond a feel-good festival, true to the creative and diverse roots of Adams Morgan, the event gives a boost to many independent and local businesses. “It’s been our pleasure to be involved these past five years, planning with residents and other local businesses, offering awesome food and craft beer specials, hosting a band on our roof deck and welcoming our largest crowd of guests each year on Adams Morgan Day,” said Dave Delaplaine, general manager of Roofers Union and Jug & Table.

“We’re grateful to our community volunteers — including residents, businesses and non-profit organizations that will make the 2019 event the best in recent years,” said A.Tianna Scozzoro, Adams Morgan Community Alliance president.

Early sponsors and donors for this year’s event include the Adams Morgan Partnership BID, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 1C, music coordinated by Songbyrd Music House and Record Café, graphic design by Corinto Gallery, and the Family Fun Zone by Volo City Kids Foundation with Marie Reed Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization. Helping with local business outreach are Roofers Union and Jug & Table, The LINE Hotel DC, Mellow Mushroom and Amsterdam Falafel.

Secure credit card donations may be made through PayPal by clicking the button on https://www.admoday.com/sponsorship-opportunities/.

Sponsors may write to AdamsMorganAlliance@gmail.com with their ideas and any questions or expectations, and they will be contacted by the festival planners.

This post was contributed by Hazel Arroyo, a Game Design graduate student at American University, with feedback from the team at The Playful Cities Lab.