What's Happening In Washington, DC: September 21, 2016

Washington is a city of dichotomies, on the one hand we are busting at the seams with steakhouses but host one of the most visited vegan festivals in the country with more than 20,000 people expected to attend DC VegFest this year. Beer and wine are never far behind so there are plenty of reasons to head for a burger at a national joint and try beer and a brat, or go more highfalutin and sip super Spanish wine at a historic hotel just steps from the White House. Now that's diversity. Moreover, it's what happening across the District this week and next.

DC VegFest is Saturday Sept. 24 at Yards Park
You don't have to be a vegan to appreciate the values and diet of this burgeoning lifestyle. If you want to find out what's happening in vegan land, you have to attend DC VegFest, Saturday, Sept. 24 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Yards Park (at the intersection of N Street SE and 1st Street SE), Lot H/I across from Nationals Park. Organized by Compassion Over Killing, this comprehensive festival is free to attend and includes all things plant-based from guest speakers to live music, advocacy groups, and food from more than 40 different restaurants and food vendors. Come for free samples and visit with more than 70 non-profit and commercial businesses that are central to the vegan community. If you are one of the first 1,000 attendees, you will receive a free 2016 commemorative DCVegFest tote bag filled with fun swag. Be sure to enter to win one of five Golden Tickets to skip the line for delicious desserts at Vegan Treats at the DC VegFest.

Hay-Adams to Host Vega Sicilia Wine Dinner
Bodegas Vega Sicilia is considered one of the world's great wines and brands, and a chance to taste it at the elegant Lafayette at the Hay-Adams Hotel is a rare treat. On Thursday, Sept. 29, at 7 p.m., The Hay-Adams Hotel will host a four-course winemaker's dinner in the Private Dining Room of The Lafayette for just 28 lucky guests.  Each wine will be hand-selected to complement the special menu created by executive chef Nicolas Legret and the price per person is $155 per person not including tax and gratuity. Reservations are required by calling (202) 638-6600 (a credit card is required to hold the reservation).

Shake Shack Hosting 11th Annual Shacktoberfest
If you love beer and burgers, this Friday, September 23 is going to be wunderbar until Oct. 2 because Shake Shack is celebrating its 11th annual Shacktoberfest featuring Oktoberfest-inspired menu items and a new Bavarian-Style Soft Pretzel. Look for the Brat Burger, the ShackMeister Brat; Apfelstrudel Shake; and the chocolaty Black Forest Shake. Bier ist gut too, so buy a special Shake Shack Bier Stein for $10, fill it with either Brooklyn Brewery's Oktoberfest brew or Shake Shack's own ShackMeister Ale, keep the stein, and get refills for just $7.69 each. Prost!

For more Washington DC dining and travel news, click here. Summer Whitford is the D.C. Editor and a food, drink and travel writer at The Daily Meal. You can follow her on Twitter @FoodandWineDiva and on Instagram at thefoodandwinediva.