Labor Day Weekend 2015 Washington DC Events: What To Do In The Nation's Capital To Celebrate The End Of Summer

Across the country, people are ready to leave their jobs for a couple days to enjoy the long weekend in celebration of Labor Day. Picnics will be planned, mini-vacations will be had and pools and beach houses will be used for possibly the last time of the year, as Labor Day brings in the unofficial end to summer, and beginning of fall. While many Americans will be escaping cities this weekend in favor of sand and surf, Washington, D.C. has concerts, sports games and even a book festival for travelers and locals to enjoy the weekend in the nation’s capital. Here are a few events happening in Washington D.C. this weekend, courtesy of Washington.org.

The National Symphony Orchestra's Labor Day Capitol Concert

When: 8 p.m. Sunday

Where: U.S. Capitol, West Lawn

Cost: Free

This 90-minute concert is performed every year, and has many of people's favorite patriotic tunes, including "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "America the Beautiful." The classics will be covered, but the NSO will also perform folk hits such as "This Land Is Your Land" by Woodie Guthrie and more modern songs such as Bob Dylan's "My Back Pages." While the official start time is at 8 p.m., the musicians have open rehearsals starting at 3:30 p.m. If it rains, the concert is scheduled to be held at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.

DC Blues Festival

When: 12 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: The Carter Barron Amphitheatre, 4850 Colorado Ave. NW

Cost: Free

To hear some music equally good music at a less grand scale than on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol, this blues and gospel festival is a good choice. The day will feature performances as well as workshops for budding musicians.

Washington Nationals Home Game

When: Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday at various times

Where: Nationals Park, S. Capitol St. SE

Cost: Varies from $12 to $350

The Nationals are the home team for D.C., and what better way to celebrate the end of summer than with a cold drink and a hot dog enjoying a baseball game? Between Friday and Sunday, the Nationals will play the Atlanta Braves, and Monday they'll play the New York Mets, currently the National League East leaders, just in front of the Nationals.

Library of Congress National Book Festival

When: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday

Where: Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt. Vernon Place NW

Cost: Free

If you're not a sports fan, maybe a book festival is the best choice. To commemorate both the 15th anniversary of the festival and the 200th anniversary of the year the Library of Congress was given Thomas Jefferson's personal library, this year's festival theme is Jefferson's own quote "I cannot live without books." The festival takes place over most of the day Saturday, and is scheduled to feature more than 170 writers, illustrators and presenters.

"A Midsummer Night's Dream" Performance

When: Various times

Where: Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW

Cost: Free, but you have to enter a lottery or wait in line for tickets

The Shakespeare Theatre Company is a Washington, D.C., tradition, and they offer free tickets to some of Shakespeare's greatest works. The best tip to get tickets? Get in the line early.