October in the Neighborhood: Grain Fair, pop-up markets, free concerts, and spooky fun for kids and pups

They’re fixin’ to wrangle some native plant-killing weeds. Rock Creek Conservancy’s yearly Weed Wrangle is rustling up some volunteers who will work with certified weed warriors in clearing invasive plants that threaten to crowd out beneficial native species. This year’s locations include Broad Branch on Oct. 10, and Picnic Grove #1 (across Tilden Street from Peirce Mill) on Oct. 10 and 11.

Explore the delicious history of DC agriculture. The free Grains Fair at Peirce Mill on Oct. 18 features all-ages activities, live music, cooking demonstrations and workshops, and shopping at the pop-up “Shoemaker Street Market.” Our neighborhood’s own Bread Furst will be one of the vendors.

Spend a day enjoying our neighborhood’s Main Street. Van Ness Main Street is hosting more than 20 local makers for an artisans pop-up market on Oct. 24. It’s also organizing a Forest Hills Park cleanup that morning and sponsoring a free concert in the park that afternoon.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at some out-of-this-world research. The Carnegie Earth and Planets Laboratory on Broad Branch Road opened its doors last October for its first ever open house. And it must have gone well, because they’re inviting us back on Oct. 24 for more interactive activities, “science snacks,” a chance to meet some of its scientists, and tours of the Broad Branch Road facility’s historic “Atom Smasher.”

Celebrate Halloween in the most adorable ways possible. On Oct. 24, Hillwood Museum is again opening its gates to our four-legged friends for its annual Spooky Pooch Howl-o-ween Celebration. Costumed canines can win prizes in categories including cutest, funniest and most glamorous ensemble.

Then, head to Forest Hills Park on Oct. 25th for its Spooktacular, a decades-old tradition now organized by the VNMS Good Clean Fun initiative. It’s always a great party, and a great excuse for families to give their costumes a pre-Halloween tryout. Afterward, participating businesses will welcome trick-or-treaters.

Plant for the pollinators. On Saturdays and Sundays in October, Master Gardener Kathy Sykes is leading volunteers in planting pollinator-supporting fall blooms and spring bulbs along the Connecticut Avenue corridor. ANC 3F01 Commissioner Amy Rofman has a handy list of dates, locations and times. And let Kathy know you’re coming!