Dupont Circle Historic Homes Tour

The tour is offered sometime in mid-October, from noon to 5 P.M. Call 202-265-3222 or log on to www.dupont-circle.com for tickets and information.

Family Day in the National Garden

Create a butterfly, listen to music, or explore the wetlands. On the last Saturday of September from 10 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. at the new National Garden of the U.S. Botanic Gardens, across from the Capitol along First Street SW, on the National Mall. Free. 202-225-8333. www.usbg.gov.

White House Fall Garden Tours

In mid-October, the White House opens its private gardens to visitors for two days, with musical entertainment. Call 202-456-2200 for more information.

Marine Corps Marathon

In late October, thousands of runners race from the Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington through the city and end at the Mall, a 26.2-mile run that passes by most of the city's most famous attractions and has been nicknamed “Marathon of the Monuments.” The race starts at 8:30 A.M. Call 703-784-2225 or visit www.marinemarathon.com for more information.

The Annual Boo at the Zoo

Over the weekend before Halloween, the National Zoo stays open late and offers night tours of the bat cave, haunted trails, and trick-or-treat stations for kids where costumed volunteers hand out treats. There's also a goodie bag for all grownups, from 5:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. Children under two get in free, members pay $13, nonmembers pay $23. Call 202-633-1000 or www.fonz.org for more information. For tickets, call Friends of the National Zoo at 202-633-4470 early — it usually sells out weeks in advance.