Events
In 2025, Community Forklift commemorates 20 years as a local resource for secondhand home and building materials! Join us for our fun events, celebrate the reuse community that you’ve helped build, and reflect on our nonprofit’s impact as we plan for the future.
Forklift Flash Shop at metrobar DC
Thursday, August 14, 2025: 5–8pm
640 Rhode Island Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002
We’re bringing the salvage to you for a one-night pop-up Flash Shop at metrobar in Washington, DC! Shop a curated selection of home goods and building materials while enjoying metrobar’s creative upcycled digs. Located near the Rhode Island Ave. metro station, the indoor bar is fashioned from a redesigned Metro train car and the outside shipping container bar features cabanas and picnic tables. They even incorporated salvaged materials from Community Forklift’s reuse warehouse in metrobar’s construction!
Bring your friends and family and join us for a laid back evening of thrifting, drinks, food, and good vibes.
First Friday: September Edition and Edmonston Car Show
Friday, September 5, 2025: 5–8pm
Enjoy the live music, food, local vendors, and deals on salvaged materials that you’ve come to love at our First Friday events, PLUS a courtyard car show sponsored by the Town of Edmonston! Visit our reuse warehouse to celebrate salvage and the community that makes it work. We’ll be open late for shopping and donating materials as well! Alcohol available for purchase at First Fridays to those 21+.
FOOD TRUCK: Aunt Titty’s American Street Food
DESSERTS: Kreative Ice
DRINKS: Maryland Meadworks
MUSIC: Tritone Jazz Trio
LOCAL ARTISTS AND VENDORS
FIRST FRIDAY: OCTOBER EDITION
Friday, October 3, 2025: 5–8pm
Celebrate salvage and the community that makes it work! Visit our reuse warehouse for live music, food and drink for purchase, local artists and vendors, a face painter, discounts on secondhand materials, and more. We’ll be open late for shopping and donating materials as well! Alcohol available for purchase at First Fridays to those 21+.
FOOD TRUCK: The Burger Shop
DRINKS: Streetcar 82 Brewing Co.
MUSIC: Lab Monkey Rebellion
LOCAL ARTISTS AND VENDORS
20TH ANNIVERSARY SALVAGE SOIREE – Ticketed event
Thursday, October 16, 2025
6:30pm (Ticketed event, stay tuned for purchase info!)
Join Community Forklift for a fun evening at the warehouse to commemorate 20 years of service through reuse. Sign up to be notified when tickets go on sale! More details to come.
20TH ANNIVERSARY COMMUNITY CELEBRATION
Saturday, October 18, 2025
Celebrate our 20th anniversary at this free public event with special store sales, live music, food and drink for purchase, and local vendors. More details to come!
SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY MARKET
Saturday, November 29, 2025: 12–3pm
Support the local economy at our holiday pop-up shop featuring salvaged holiday décor and gifts along with local vendors and artists, live music, food, drinks, and more. More details to come!
COFFEE & SNACKS: Vintage Glam Tea Party
MUSIC: O’McPub Band
LOCAL ARTISTS AND VENDORS
Event Partner Application
We’re always excited to hear from local artists, musicians, experts, tradespeople, and community members interested in joining our events and supporting our community outreach. Learn more about our events and how to get involved!
