Celebrating Culture and Wellness at DMV Made

The DMV Made Festival returned to the National Mall for its second year, uniting music, wellness, and community in a vibrant celebration of the region’s culture and creativity.

The DMV Made Festival returned for its second year with even more energy, creativity, and community spirit—bringing together some of the region’s most influential artists, innovators, and wellness practitioners for a celebration of everything that makes the DMV unique.

Building on the momentum of its inaugural year, this year’s festival expanded its offerings with more performances, hands-on activities, and opportunities to explore the rich cultural landscape of the region through the lens of arts, music and wellness.

But DMV Made was more than just a music festival—it was a vibrant community hub designed to support holistic well-being.

Across 11 interactive pavilions, guests engaged with a wide variety of experiences promoting financial, physical, and mental wellness through arts and culture. From DIY crafts and hip-hop workshops to dance classes, pick-up games of soccer and flag football, live mural painting and grounding practices like yoga, tai chi, and sound baths—there was something for everyone to enjoy.

The celebration of DMV culture stretched across five stages, showcasing everything from poetry and dance to genre-spanning musical performances. At the center of it all stood the main stage, where the region’s most exciting and influential artists brought the DMV’s sound and spirit to life.

The National Mall’s green lawn came alive as festivalgoers danced and sang along to a dynamic lineup celebrating the DMV’s rich, diverse, and ever-evolving musical heritage. With the Washington Monument towering in the background, the main stage pulsed with sounds that spanned generations—from go-go, the region’s signature genre made famous by legends like E.U. Featuring Sugar Bear, to the jazz-infused punk of The Messthetics (with members of Fugazi), and the soulful rock of Oh He Dead.

The genre-spanning showcase also included KAMAUU’s blend of R&B and hip-hop, Navasha Daya’s Afrobeat and soul fusion, the future soul and quiet storm of Black Folks Don't Swim?, and Awon’s reflective, jazz-rooted lyricism.

Together, these performances captured the deep roots and bold innovation that define the DMV music scene. They honored tradition while pushing creative boundaries, affirming the region’s place as a thriving hub for emerging artists and fresh sounds—a scene that continues to grow, evolve, and inspire.

And of course, the heart of it all was you—the community. A huge thank-you to everyone who came out and brought the festival to life with your presence, energy, and support.

Stay tuned for more incredible events, and keep celebrating the creativity, culture, and community that make the DMV truly one of a kind.