Down in the Reeds Presents an Evening of Cumbia Balkan Beats and more...
The founders of Down in the Reeds Festival will return to The Parks at Walter Reed to present a fall afternoon of live music, family fun, and local food and beverage. The event is Saturday, October 14th from 3-7pm on the Great Lawn at The Parks at Walter Reed.
This year’s special celebration is free to the public and will continue to celebrate the power of music to heal across communities and cultures. The afternoon will feature musical performances from Leon City Sounds, Black Masala (small band), and Cumbia Heights, along with lawn games from DC Fray, vendors, local food truck favorites including Takoma Station Wingery, Bun’d Up and beverages from ANXO.
Some folks may have heard that the Down in the Reeds Festival for 2023 was canceled, but thanks to the incredible team at The Parks at Walter Reed, Down in the Reeds will be able to present a scaled-down musical showcase for the community to celebrate the vibrant musical diversity our region has to offer.
Listen Local First announced earlier this year that the festival would be canceled in 2023 due to funding issues, but support from The Parks at Walter Reed team ensures this event can continue.
This year’s celebration however will mark the end of 13 years for music festivals and showcases co-presented by Listen Local First DC, whose mission over the past decade was to raise awareness and create opportunities for the local music ecosystem and raise the profile of DC’s incredible local music scene.
While we are sad this era is coming to an end we are super excited for the opportunities ahead to help so many more creatives and people organizing amazing events in our city. It has been an honor to present so many amazingly talented artists for over a decade, and we can't wait to present this incredible line up as the last LLF show.
Please help spread the word and join us for this last outdoor musical celebration of the year at The Parks. Make sure to tell your friends, your family, your neighbors and get everyone excited for this afternoon of Cumbia Balkan and Latin Beats... Hope to see you on Saturday October 14th.
About Down in the Reeds
Our mission is to create an outdoor fall gathering that brings together a mosaic of entertainment and activations reflective of DC’s cultural diversity, and in celebration of the healing power of music. The ability of music to heal at the micro and macro level is one of music’s fundamental characteristics, bridging race, culture, and socio-economic status across all wards. This one-day celebration seeks to highlight that common experience through performances from some of DC’s most vibrant musicians as well as workshops, arts activations, community & family engagement, and more. For additional details on this year’s event, please visit