The 44 best things to do in D.C. this weekend and next week (2024)

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DC/DOX festival

DC/DOX, a film festival devoted entirely to documentaries, is back for its second year in Washington. Catch a doc at museums, memorials, Landmark’s E Street Cinema, the Eaton hotel and more venues across town, with a total of 51 features and 47 shorts. That includes world premieres for five films, including a campaign-trail film analyzing Alaska’s ranked choice voting system called “Majority Rules” and another about the private companies vying to explore Earth’s orbit called “Wild Wild Space.” There’s something for all interests within the lineup, with films diving into topics from fashion design to hunting for dinosaur fossils. Through Sunday. Some films are free; most are $15. $195 for an all-access pass.

Flash 11th Anniversary

For 11 years, Flash has been a mainstay of D.C.’s club scene, and host to a broad spectrum of electronic music. That diversity is on full display over the next four days, as the Florida Avenue venue marks its anniversary. It kicks off Thursday with Amsterdam’s Marrøn, whose brand of techno is deep and aggressive. Friday brings veteran Ron Trent, grounded in Chicago house and Detroit techno, on the club level, while three-time DMC world champion DJ Craze spins a drum-and-bass set on the rooftop. Saturday begins with Nu Androids hosting tech-house producer Ayybo for an early (4 to 9 p.m.) set before the Lisbon-based Satya Records takes over two rooms for a showcase. Everything wraps up Sunday afternoon with a free wellness session and a set of chilled-out melodic techno from Berlin’s Einmusik. Through Sunday. Times and cover charges vary.

Beneficial Beers at Andy’s Pizza

Do you like award-winning pizza, delicious craft beers and helping the next generation of women? Enjoy all three at Andy’s Pizza in Shaw at a fundraiser for Girls Inc. DC, a nonprofit that works to inspire and support girls from kindergarten through 12th grade in D.C. The cover charge is good for unlimited pizza from Andy’s, our pick as the best New York-style slices in D.C. Andy’s beer director Emily Brown has curated a special menu to accompany the pies; beers are purchased individually, with all proceeds going to Girls Inc. 6 to 9 p.m. $20.

Paste and Rind’s Pride Beer and Cheese Pairing at Red Bear Brewing

A delicious Pride party finds Kara McGrath, the owner and cheesemonger at Paste and Rind, hosting a tasting of cheeses produced by LGBTQ+ cheesemakers, paired with beverages from Red Bear, D.C.’s first LGBTQ-owned brewery. Tickets include a cheese board, beer flight and guided tasting. 6 to 8 p.m. $50.

Drag happy hour at Dauphine’s

Black Punk Now at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library

D.C. is the home of Bad Brains, a trailblazing hardcore band whose members were all Black. More than 40 years after their self-titled debut, faces in bands and audiences remain predominantly White. James Spooner, the co-founder of the Afro Punk Festival, and Chris L. Terry, an author and former punk vocalist, are the editors of “Black Punk Now,” an anthology combining essays, autobiography, comics and fiction about the experiences of Black punk fans and musicians. They discuss the 2023 collection at the D.C. central library, followed by a signing session. 7 p.m. Free; registration required.

Classic Film Weekend at AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center

Before the Hays Code silenced the side of Hollywood that might’ve “lowered America’s moral standards,” films made between the late 1920s and 1934 explored social injustice, sex, ambition and crime. AFI Silver Theatre is bringing several of those pre-code films to the big screen, including those with stars such as Clara Bow, James Cagney, Barbara Stanwyck and Cary Grant. The series is co-curated by film historian and “The Dawn of Technicolor” author David Pierce. Through Sunday. $10-$13.

MLP Washington D.C. at Washington Tennis & Education Foundation

Washington has long been home to a professional tennis tournament, but now upstart racket sport pickleball is popping onto the scene, too. Major League Pickleball is coming to D.C. for the first time, hosting matchups at the Washington Tennis & Education Foundation’s campus in Southeast. Watch 34 coed matches over four days of action, pitting 15 teams — including Washington’s cleverly named D.C. Pickleball Team — against one another. DJs, food and drinks add to the atmosphere, and there’s even an amateur tournament for club-level Washingtonian pickleball players to try to claim bragging rights. Through Sunday. Day passes start at $40.

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Euro 2024 viewing parties at Wunder Garten

The European soccer championship kicks off in Germany this weekend, with two dozen countries vying to dethrone Euro 2020 winner Italy. (England is the favorite, followed by France and the home country.) Given the number of international soccer fans in D.C., lively viewing parties will take place across the city, at events sponsored by embassies as well as neighborhood watering holes. Kickoffs in the opening round take place at 9 a.m., noon or 3 p.m. D.C. time — much friendlier hours for bars than the last World Cup.

As with the last Euros, NoMa’s Wunder Garten looks to be the spot for official parties. The embassies of Germany and Britain are teaming up for Friday’s opening match between Germany and Scotland (3 p.m.), and the Embassy of Spain is in the beer garden for its Saturday match against Croatia (noon). A Monday doubleheader brings the embassies of Belgium and Slovakia (noon), followed by a viewing of France vs. Austria with the French expat group Union des Français de l’Étranger (2 p.m.). The British Embassy returns June 20 for England’s match against Denmark (noon). All events free.

Museum of Graffiti ‘Sneaker Stories’ pop-up at Union Market

Can shoes be works of art? The answer, according to this traveling exhibition created by Miami’s Museum of Graffiti, is a resounding yes. The pop-up highlights artists like Eric Haze, who has collaborated on colorful designer footwear with Nike and Jimmy Choo; Claw Money, who has designed shoes for Vans, Fila, Uggs and other companies; and Rammellzee, who worked with Supreme on a sought-after series of Nike Dunks. After examining the displays of juxtaposed shoes and street art, visitors can hit the free sneaker customization bar to pick up laces, buckle plates and other accessories for their own kicks. Through Sunday. Free; reservations suggested.

Bethesda Art Walk

You might associate art walks with Dupont Circle or Adams Morgan, but they’re not alone. Bethesda’s Art Walk links the city’s galleries, offering shows by resident and guest artists. In June, the highlight is a display of the eight finalists for the Bethesda Painting Awards, an annual juried competition, at Gallery B on Wisconsin Avenue. Free refreshments are provided throughout the five stops. 6 to 8 p.m. Free.

Flowerbomb at Comet Ping Pong

Flowerbomb churns out impeccable pop melodies with lyrics that nod to ennui and nostalgia (“I know that my heart beats faster/ Every day since ’98”) and will be celebrating an EP release as part of the band’s ongoing and au courant “Gloom Scroll” project. Flowerbomb will be joined by Pinky Lemon, a group that specializes in pop that is alternatingly synthy, spacey, gazy and dreamy with irony-heavy lyrics: “I’ve got big money down on pop criminal stocks,” it deadpans on “Pop Criminal.” “Everybody goes to jail when you hand me the aux.” 10 p.m. $15.

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Juneteenth 2024 at Watkins Regional Park

The Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation throws its Juneteenth 2024 celebration at Watkins Regional Park in Upper Marlboro. Visitors can immerse themselves in living history demonstrations, help paint murals or join dance lessons. Entertainment includes the Chuck Brown Band and Trouble Funk, while vendors sell food, drinks and crafts. Noon to 5 p.m. Free.

Freedom at the Rock at BlackRock Center for the Arts

Montgomery County’s 27-year-old Juneteenth festival returns to the BlackRock Center for the Arts on Saturday for Freedom at the Rock, a day-long concert that includes Secret Society; DuPont Brass; Trouble Funk; and “Black Broadway on U,” a tribute to Duke Ellington’s 125th birthday with vocalist Deborah Bond. Beyond the music, multiple stages feature dance performances and workshops, documentary screenings and record vendors. Noon to 10 p.m. Free.

Columbia Heights Day at Harriet Tubman Elementary

The Target on 14th Street was still under construction when the first Columbia Heights Day Festival was held in 2007. While the neighborhood has changed, and continues to change, the festival is a chance for the community to come together on an elementary school’s field for a day of celebration. Kids are welcomed with a stage full of magic shows, double Dutch, hands-on music (including songs from “Encanto” and “Coco”) and games, while on the main stage, adults can catch bands or learn salsa steps. Other attractions include a market with craft and food vendors, a mechanical bull, a foam party, a moon bounce, a dunk tank, and interactive art. Complete a scavenger hunt around the neighborhood to win a T-shirt. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free.

Columbia Pike Blues Festival

The Columbia Pike Blues Festival is a summer staple in Arlington, and this year, the 27th annual block party celebrates women in blues with an entire lineup of female-fronted bands. Brooklyn native Bette Smith, who mashes up soul, gospel, and rock and roll, headlines the festival, right after a performance from Mississippi blues pianist Eden Brent. DMV-based artists round out the bill, including Mama Moon & the Rump Shakers, the Stacy Brooks Band and the Honey Larks. Beyond music, kids can jump in a moon bounce at the Kid Zone and work on crafts at Art Alley, while vendors set up tents to create an outdoor shopping mall. 1 to 8:30 p.m. Free.

Silver Spring Blues Festival

Silver Spring’s annual blues festival provides 12 straight hours of music in the heart of downtown. The day begins with acoustic music from the Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Ensemble and other artists until 3 p.m., when the “electrified” artists begin, with featured performers including the Deanna Bogart Band (4 p.m.), guitarist Memphis Gold (5:30 p.m.), and the bar blues of the legendary Nighthawks (8:30 p.m.). WPFW DJs serve as MCs. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Free.

Arlington Pride Ho-Down

Arlington Pride runs through the month of June, with a different featured event each weekend. It’s the Clarendon Ballroom’s turn to take center stage, where a Beyoncé-inspired party features a “Cowboy Carter” tribute by drag queen Elecktra.g; line dancing; DJs; and a costume contest, so boots and hats are a must. VIP tickets include reserved seating for up to five people and a bottle of tequila. 8 p.m. Free; $50 VIP.

Walk on the Wild Side Pride Party at Union Market

Taking over Dock 5 and the plaza behind Union Market, this is actually two events in one. The free party on the plaza features drag and burlesque performances, music by Les the DJ, a voguing class with Tony Play, a makers market, food trucks, and a cash bar. Inside, the $45 ticket includes a 32-foot runway for drag and burlesque performances, DJs Farrah Flosscett and Alex Love, performance art, live drawing, tarot readings, a cash bar, and food vendors. Proceeds benefit the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center. Outdoors 4 to 8 p.m.; indoors 7 p.m. to midnight. Free-$45.

Uptown Pride D.C.

The Uptown Pride Festival brings Pride festivities to the corner of 14th Street and Colorado Avenue NW, with two stages featuring live music by Roadwork, multiple DJs, a vendor market and a reading by queer writers. All ages are welcome, and the event includes a family yoga session, drag story time with Tara Hoot, and a children’s area with face painting and games. 2 to 7 p.m. Free.

Philippine Independence Day Festival at Mosaic

Filipino American actress and singer Roxanne Barcelo — a native of Fairfax — is host of Mosaic’s first Philippine Independence Day Festival, which features performances of traditional Philippine music and dance as well as Philippine hip-hop and contemporary music, and a Philippine game show. But the festival has a broad reach, including local performers, martial arts demonstrations, Mongolian rappers and Chinese dance. Kids can splash in a water area, hop on inflatables or have their faces painted, while adults browse more than 80 vendors selling vintage clothing, crafts, food and drinks. Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free.

Denizens Brewing 10th anniversary

When Denizens Brewing Company opened its brewpub in Silver Spring in 2014, one of its original (and one of the most impressive) offerings was a Czech pilsner called Born Bohemian, which became a flagship for the woman-owned brewery. Denizens marks a decade in business at its Riverdale Park production facility and taproom with Lager Fest, which features six lagers — including the new Good Neighbors, made to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Brookland’s Finest restaurant — and a variety of lagers made by Atlas Brew Works, Franklins, Lost Generation, Manor Hill, Port City and Streetcar 82. Beyond the beers, look for live music by LoLo and the Flint Hill Hustle and hot dogs from Catalyst. 1 to 5 p.m. Free.

Lost Rhino Brewing Company’s 13th anniversary

You might not guess it from the brewery’s location in an Ashburn industrial park, but Lost Rhino’s name was inspired by surfing — a “rhino chaser,” the brewery says, is someone out to find the best and biggest waves. That’s why pipelines and surfboards adorn the cans, and Lost Rhino’s 13th anniversary party features pork and pineapple, spam fried rice, and frozen rum drinks in addition to live music, vendors and, oh yeah, a sunny lime version of Rhino Chasers pilsner. 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Free.

Metrobar’s third anniversary

Three years ago, one of D.C.’s most original bars opened with a decommissioned Metrorail car at the heart of its beer garden. Metrobar’s diverse calendar — karaoke, movie nights, family days, DJ parties, beer co*cktail tastings — has quickly made it a fixture. Celebrate three years in business at a party with DJs Mazlow and Ty-One; Atlas Brew Works specials; and, most poignantly, a takeover with District Made Spirits, the Ivy City distillery that closed in the spring. Try co*cktails with District Made’s gin, whiskey and vodka, and enter a lottery for a guided tasting with distiller Alex Laufer inside the rail car. (Registration is available by RSVPing on Eventbrite.) Petit Afrik and El Jefe pizza are the food trucks on duty. Noon to 11:45 p.m. Free; reservations requested.

Children’s Book and Learning Festival on Woodrow Wilson Plaza

Capital Book Fest, the monthly pop-up used book/record/DVD sale on the Ronald Reagan Building’s plaza, takes a fun turn this month. Seventeen authors and illustrators representing the Children’s Book Guild of Washington are setting up with their work, which range from picture books to middle-grade novels. Readings will be held throughout the day. Each author is paired with an activity, such as making animals from paper plates, crafting an African-inspired necklace or learning how to paint with oil pastels. And because it’s Capital Book Fest, there will be thousands of books to buy and take home for $7 or less. 10 a.m. Free.

Josiah Henson’s Birthday Celebration

Author and abolitionist Josiah Henson was born into slavery in Charles County, but he spent years enslaved in Montgomery County before eventually escaping to Canada. His autobiography helped inspire “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” Montgomery County celebrates Henson’s birthday with a party at the Josiah Henson Museum and Park in Bethesda, featuring archaeological and house tours, living history demonstrations, a concert of period music by the Jubilee Voices, a film screening, lawn games and crafts. Note that parking is off-site, with shuttle service provided. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free.

Nerd Nite at DC9

The D.C.-based event series that delivers zany lectures returns to DC9 this weekend with three offerings: a tour of the “magical kingdom of fungi” that answers the question of whether the premise of “The Last of Us” is plausible; a discussion on why worms are the closest Earthbound species we have to aliens; and a two-hander that pins a hypochondriac comic against an actual pathologist. 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. $10-$15.

A Taste of the DMV: Food, Music and Culture Festival

Celebrate the diversity of talents in the D.C. area with the third annual Taste of the DMV festival, which will shut down Pennsylvania Avenue NW (between Third and Seventh Streets NW) for seven hours Saturday. More than 40 local bands, including the neo grunge band Oh Violet and the folksy duo Tiny Hands, will take to one of five stages scattered throughout the festival. There are also over 200 vendors, including food trucks and booths and artist shops. Local brews and unique local drinks will be offered at the beer garden, where you’ll also find music and vendors that are less family-friendly. Noon to 7 p.m. $10; free for children 10 and under.

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Juneteenth Brewbilee at Arts Herndon

Henry Simms, a blacksmith who escaped slavery to become Herndon’s first Black business owner, is celebrated at Herndon’s Juneteenth party. At noon, historian Barbara Glakas shares Simms’s story before the main event: a beer tasting featuring Black-owned beers from Soul Mega, Urban Garden, Liquid Intrusion, Black Beauty, Black Viking, Joyhound and Virginia’s Bitter Fruit. Tickets include either 10 tastes ($20) or unlimited beers, a T-shirt and beers to take home ($40). Taps flow until 7 p.m., when the NuPop Jazz Cabaret with Al Robertson and Carolina concert begins. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Beer tasting from 1 to 5 p.m. Free-$40.

U.S. Open Rooftop Happy Hour

If you’re not heading down to Pinehurst for the U.S. Open this weekend, you might as well watch some golf at an afternoon happy hour. The Imperial’s rooftop U.S. Open party includes $5 Narragansetts, $11 co*cktails (including, obviously, a John Daly) and $24 buckets of High Noon seltzer to pair with $12 sandwiches, like pickle-brined fried chicken or a house twist on the Filet-O-Fish with Old Bay fries. 2 to 6 p.m. Free admission.

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Nordic Jazz Festival at Blues Alley

For its 18th year, the Nordic Jazz Festival, hosted at jazz club Blues Alley by the embassies of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, is bringing Swedish folk melodies mixed with modern New York jazz in the form of the Oskar Stenmark Sextet & 45 Riots. The festival also opens with the Sara Magnusdottir Hammond Organ Trio, led by an Icelandic pianist and composer, and closes with Tuomo & Markus featuring Verneri Pohjola, who deliver a blend of Nordic jazz and American indie folk music. Through June 25. $25 per show.

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Juneteenth at the National Archives

The National Archives holds the two documents central to Juneteenth: The Emancipation Proclamation, in which President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed all enslaved people in Confederate states “are, and henceforward shall be free” as of Jan. 1, 1863, and General Order No. 3, which Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger issued in Galveston, Tex., on June 19, 1865, informing all enslaved people that they were now free. The two historic papers are on display side by side in the Archives’ East Rotunda Gallery for three days only. Through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Free.

‘10,000 Dreams: A Celebration of Asian Choreography’ at the Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Center hosts a week-long festival devoted to talented Asian creatives working in ballet, with participation from the Washington Ballet, Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Singapore Ballet, Goh Ballet, Ballet West, Houston Ballet and dancers from the National Ballet of China. Two mixed repertory programs run throughout the week, and a special Friday program spotlights the work and legacy of the late Choo San Goh, whose extensive résumé included serving as the Washington Ballet’s resident choreographer for nearly a decade. Through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with additional matinee shows on Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. $29-$119.

‘Race’ at Adams Morgan Movie Nights

In honor of Juneteenth, the Adams Morgan Movie Nights selection is “Race,” starring Stephan James as Jesse Owens in a biopic The Post says “focuses on the most dramatic stretch of Owens’s life, culminating with his 1936 victories in four events” at the Berlin Olympics. Head to select neighborhood restaurants, such as Roofers Union or No Goodbyes, for discounted food and drinks before staking out a spot on the soccer field at Marie Reed Elementary School. 9 p.m. Free.

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Juneteenth Freedom Celebration at the Anacostia Community Museum

Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival

The Scotland community, founded by formerly enslaved people in Potomac in the 1870s and 1880s, hosts its second Juneteenth Heritage Festival with events in Cabin John Park and Cabin John Village, including a parade, a classic car show, a talent show, a Children’s Caribbean Carnival, history lectures, a 5K race, a baseball game and a food court, capped by a fireworks show. 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Free.

‘We Move In Color: See and Feel the Journey’ at the Kennedy Center

“We Move In Color: See and Feel the Journey” uses African drumming, traditional and modern dance styles, original music, poetry, and multimedia art to portray the African American experience from pre-colonial Africa through slavery, the great migration and modern life. It’s presented on the Millennium Stage. 6 p.m. Free.

Juneteenth for the City at Bread for the City

D.C. nonprofit Bread for the City hosts the Juneteenth for the City block party at its Michelle Obama Southeast Center in Anacostia, with live music, marching bands, double Dutch and other games, food trucks, and a marketplace of Black-owned businesses. 1 to 6 p.m. Free.

A Juneteenth Holiday Celebration in Alexandria

Alexandria’s Juneteenth events, which run from Friday through June 22, peak on Wednesday with a celebration in the historic Market Square including a performance by the Washington Revels Jubilee Voices, an ensemble that uses historic songs and spoken word to share the Black experience, and storytelling with Oumie and Van Di Galloway. City museums, including the Freedom House Museum, are open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Free; museums charge admission for nonresidents.

Juneteenth in the District at Bryant Street

Health is the focus at this day-long event sponsored by the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation’s FitDC. Programs include a yoga and meditation session with a sound bath, a high-energy boot camp workout, and a cardio session set to Afrobeats. After you sweat, there’s a drum line, live go-go, DJs, a vendor market and happy hour co*cktails. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free.

Juneteenth at National Harbor

On Juneteenth, National Harbor features a “Freedom Day” marketplace with Black makers and vendors; a community drummer’s circle; and a cultural showcase with Prince George’s County poet laureate Saniya Pearson, the Eleanor Roosevelt High School step team and the band Secret Society. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free.

‘Buck and the Preacher’ at AFI Silver

Sidney Poitier directed and starred in this 1972 western, which the American Film Institute says “blends together a trenchant sense of history, a civil rights movement consciousness and some Blaxploitation entertainment value.” Harry Belafonte and Ruby Dee co-star. AFI Silver is showing the film free on Juneteenth, though anyone reserving tickets must be in their seats 15 minutes before showtime or risk losing them. Noon. Free.

Juneteenth Celebration at Olney Theatre

Rey Smith of the Sandy Spring Slave Museum and dancers from Silver Spring’s Urban Artistry, a collective focused on performing and teaching urban styles, are featured at Omi’s Pavilion, Olney Theatre’s outdoor stage. Arrive early to browse vendors or purchase soul food from a food truck. 5 p.m. Free; reservations required.

‘Glee’ trivia at Dew Drop Inn

Sure, you’ve seen Harry Potter and Star Wars trivia nights pop up around the city for years — but this event, hosted by the queer events group Alphabet Soup, is sure to boast a far superior music round. Gleeks will be quizzed on all the relationships, songs and theater-kid drama that made the Fox show a smash hit and long-beloved meme. 7 to 9 p.m. Free.