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Third Annual Rock the Park D.C. WKNDR Returns on October 21 & 22

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August 30, 2023
For Immediate Release
Contact: Mercy Chikowore, mercy@mercyc.com

A Free Two-Day Dance Music Festival at Franklin Park Including Local Performers and Internationally Renowned DJs

Washington, D.C. — Get ready to dance the weekend away, as the eagerly awaited two-day dance music festival, Rock the Park DC WKNDR, takes center stage once again. Produced by seasoned curators Abby O’Neill and Adrian Loving in partnership with the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID), this celebration of music and community is slated for October 21 and 22, 2023, in the heart of the District’s largest downtown green space, Franklin Park. 

Celebrating Music, Unity, and Community

The stage will resonate with the energetic sounds of house music juggernauts Moodymann and Miguel Migs as headliners, with an incredible lineup of supporting acts including Rich Medina, J.Rocc, and Dam-Funk. And that’s not all: local Go-Go icons Trouble Funk, DJ Miss H.E.R, Keenan Orr, and Mumu Fresh will keep the city’s spirit alive.

Anticipate a diverse offering of live performances and DJ sets, spanning various genres from funk and soulful house to Go-Go, hip-hop, Afrohouse, and rare groove. Complimenting the music, Rock the Park D.C. will present food trucks, event-branded merchandise, and other attractions. This inclusive, family-friendly event is open to all, free of charge, and is set to unfold come rain or shine.

“We’re thrilled to host Rock the Park DC once again in Franklin Park, particularly as it overlaps with one of the city’s biggest local weekends: Howard University Homecoming,” said Gerren Price, the BID’s President and CEO. “This October’s gathering will continue the excellence of this three-year-old signature BID event, and we are beyond excited to present local and national performers for free cultural and musical programming that will bring the city together to dance.”

“Rock the Park DC resonates with the heartbeat of our city, evolving into a beloved annual tradition that captures the very essence of D.C.’s pulse and love of music. As we embark on the third year of our free 2-day festival, we’re thrilled to infuse the infectious rhythms of house music, go-go, funk, and hip-hop with an electrifying and idyllic lineup,” says curator Abby O’Neill. “Leave your stresses at home and come let it all out on the dance floor.”

“We are super amped to have such an amazing lineup this year. These artists and DJs are the best in class! As a Howard University alum, the timing for our festival couldn’t be better! I am honored to encourage celebration and fellowship with my fellow Bisons and give a nod to the thousands of alumni visiting D.C. for Howard Homecoming,” says curator Adrian Loving. 

Join us in this joyous and vibrant musical celebration as we rock the park together. 

The following is the scheduled lineup for each day. To RSVP, visit downtowndc.org/rtp23.

ROCK THE PARK D.C. WKNDR

October 21, 3:00–10:00 PM / Free / Hosted by Mumu Fresh

October 22, 3:00–10:00 PM / Free / Hosted by Reesa Renee

 

About the DowntownDC BID
The DowntownDC Business Improvement District was founded in 1997 and is a private nonprofit organization that provides capital improvements, resources, and research that keep the BID area clean, safe, economically and environmentally strong, and accessible. The DowntownDC BID is a catalyst, facilitator, and thought leader in diversifying the economy, promoting public-private partnerships, and enhancing the downtown experience for all. DowntownDC encompasses a 138-block area of approximately 520 properties, from Massachusetts Avenue on the north, including the convention center at Mount Vernon Square, to Constitution Avenue on the south, and from Louisiana Avenue on the east to 16th Street on the west.

About Franklin Park
Originally established in 1832 and controlled by the U.S. National Park Service, the 4.8-acre Franklin Park is the District of Columbia’s largest downtown green space. In September 2021, it reopened to the public after a comprehensive two-year renovation. The park’s amenities now include an expanded and restored fountain plaza, a new children’s garden, public restrooms, full ADA accessibility, enhanced lighting, conversational seating, multiple green spaces, new plantings, and a cafe pavilion. Managed, operated, and programmed by the DowntownDC BID, Franklin Park is a signature destination in the heart of D.C. for residents, workers, and visitors.