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With the unofficial end of summer now behind us (that would be Labor Day), event professionals are looking to the fall—a traditionally busy time—to see how the economic recovery will help the industry rebound from what has so far been a pretty slow year. We asked a group of local planners and vendors what they have in the works for the coming months. Here are some highlights.

"We're looking forward to an extraordinary fall. Highlights for us include the Pittsburgh G20 Summit, scheduled at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in late September. World leaders from more than 30 countries will convene to discuss global challenges with more than 3,000 journalists scheduled to cover the event. We and our partner Showcall will provide extensive general contracting, audiovisual, decor, and production services. A variety of events focused on the environment also figure prominently in our schedule this fall, including the Solar Decathlon, to take place in mid-October on the National Mall. The event joins 20 college and university teams in a competition to design, build, and operate the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered house. Our calendar includes a diverse customer base, ranging from the 13th annual Human Rights Campaign National Dinner to the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference. Finally, with several exhibit pavilions at the Association of the U.S. Army show held annually at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, expos for the Marine Corps Marathon and Army Ten-Miler, and general contracting services for Modern Day Marine, we are geared up and ready for an exciting fall."
—Lana Ostrander, director of marketing and public relations, Hargrove Inc. MORE >>

G20 Summit, Human Rights Campaign National Dinner, Human Rights Campaign, Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference, Association of the U.S. Army, Marine Corps Marathon, Fight for Children, Fight for Children Fight Night, The Green Magazine, Washingtonian, PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction Gala, Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, Blue Note Records, Harman Center for the Arts, One, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, National Air and Space Museum, Fall Preview 2009

FEATURE 09.26.08 1:54 PM

Washington's Top Political & Press Events 2008

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi at the Washington Press Club Foundation's Congressional Dinner
Photo: Courtesy of WPCF

1. The State of the Union Address
Each January, the entire government shows up en masse for the president’s annual address at the Capitol. A newly inaugurated president is not expected to deliver an address, but usually gives a speech to a joint session of Congress outlining his administration’s goals.

2. White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner
The president and first lady are roasted by one of the nation’s top comedians each year. Late Late Show host Craig Ferguson took the stage at the Washington Hilton for the April dinner, organized by WHCA executive director Julia Whiston. After-parties included Bloomberg’s fete at the Costa Rican Embassy, and Vanity Fair’s exclusive soiree at Christopher Hitchens’s home. The 2009 dinner will take place in May.

3. Gridiron Club Black-Tie Dinner
Washington’s oldest journalistic organization held its 123rd black-tie dinner on March 8. President Bush entertained the crowd of 600 at the Renaissance Hotel with a country-and-western musical number, while White House correspondent Helen Thomas delivered a send-up of Condoleezza Rice. MORE >>

Washington's Top 100 Events, State of the Union, White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, Gridiron Club Black-Tie Dinner, Radio and Television Correspondents' Dinner, Presidential Medal of Freedom Ceremony, Washington Press Club Foundation’s Congressional Dinner, Human Rights Campaign National Dinner, Craig Ferguson, Condoleezza Rice, President Bush, Mo Rocca, Dick Cheney, Barack Obama, John McCain, Deborah Norville, Nancy Pelosi, Mitt Romney, Tim Gunn, Matthew Broderick

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