Join Friends of the National Arboretum on Friday, September 5th at the National Arboretum for a Music in the Meadow concert celebrating the spirit of this rock musical garden. The Route 66 Band will play a medley of classic rock songs inspired by the plants growing in the Herb Garden, like ‘Purple Rain’ peppers and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ sunflowers, along with tunes from bands like Korn and The Cranberries.

Explore the National Herb Garden before the event and see if you can spot all the plants featured in the band’s setlist! Local musicians will also showcase instruments crafted from plants, and there will even be a “musical instrument petting zoo” for you to explore. To get you “jazzed up” for the big event, don’t miss our Spotify playlist, featuring the songs, musicians, and instruments represented in the garden.

Feel free to come dressed as your favorite rock era — from the classic 50s to the flannelled 90s grunge. Plus, enjoy delicious offerings from food trucks and local breweries on site. We can’t wait to rock with you!
Registration is required to enter the National Arboretum for this event. The Arboretum’s R Street gate will open at 5:30 PM, and the concert will begin at 7:00 PM. Only the Ellipse Meadow, Capitol Columns, and National Herb Garden will be open to attendees during this event.

This project is supported in part by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Primary banner photo by Zak Khaliqi.

Gallaudet University proudly presents the Deaf Way Film Festival, a four-day celebration spotlighting the creativity, power, and stories of deaf filmmakers and professionals in the film industry.

October 16 – 19, 2025 — Mark your calendars for film screenings, engaging panels, art exhibitions, and networking events that center Deaf stories. The festival will be open to the public, including those who do not know about deaf culture or use American Sign Language.