The 26 best things to do in D.C. this weekend and next week (2024)

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Smithsonian Folklife Festival

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the National Museum of the American Indian, and the Smithsonian’s beloved Folklife Festival is celebrating with a program honoring “Indigenous Voices of the Americas.” Through Monday, the National Mall comes alive with cultures spanning two continents. Visit tents and outdoor structures to listen to master storytellers and musicians; watch chefs share professional tips and traditional foodways; and learn how craftspeople are keeping their knowledge of weaving, ceramics and other art forms alive for future generations. Families can try a variety of hands-on crafts and attend performances for young people. You might not expect to find a group of Bolivian women hosting skateboarding workshops on ramps on Jefferson Drive, or a field with lacrosse and archery games, but that’s the kind of thing that makes coming to Folklife an annual tradition for so many Washingtonians, despite the sweltering heat. No matter what catches your eye, stick around for the evening concerts, which include Indigenous hip-hop ranging from Florida to Chile (Friday) and a contemporary take on traditional Inuit dance and music (Saturday). Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Monday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Free.

Presidential debate viewing parties

The first presidential debate takes place at 9 p.m., and there are viewing parties across D.C., whether you want drinking games (Union Pub), themed co*cktails like the Dark and Stormy Daniels (the Dirty Goose), discounted beers and shots (Red Derby), or an all-you-can-drink deal (Dirty Water). Read our roundup for all the details.

Spacing Out at DC Brau

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work for NASA, being involved with missions like the James Webb Space Telescope? Join Mike Menzel, the mission systems engineer for the James Webb Space Telescope at the Goddard Space Flight Center, and Shawn Domagal-Goldman, an astrobiologist who serves as the deputy director of the Sciences and Exploration Directorate at Goddard, in DC Brau’s taproom to talk about their careers, recent discoveries and current topics in space exploration. 5:30 p.m. Free.

Chamber Dance Project at Harman Hall

Performing in the summer, Washington’s contemporary ballet company can often be relied on for a bold conceptual gamble. The troupe’s 2024 season, titled “Ramblin’,” boasts live performances by the Red Clay Ramblers, the Tony Award-winning string band. The band’s tunes will accompany “Book of Stones,” a world premiere choreographed by Christian Denice, and the Washington premiere of “Ramblin’ Suite” by Diane Coburn Bruning, Chamber Dance’s founding artistic director. Additional repertoire rounds out the program, so ramble on by. Through Saturday. $65-$80.

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Taylor Swift Tribute Band in Chevy Chase

Maybe you couldn’t get time off to travel to Europe to see the Eras Tour in person. Maybe you’re just looking for something to do on a Friday night. In either case, the Collection at Chevy Chase — the collection of shops and restaurants just across the D.C. line from Friendship Heights — is hosting a Taylor Swift Tribute Band, for everyone who wants to end their week by shaking it off. Getting there early? The nearby Clyde’s Chevy Chase has happy hour until 6 p.m., with $6 beers, $8 wine and co*cktails, and discounted oysters. 6 to 7:30 p.m. Free.

Bats at the Byrd at Songbyrd Music House

The NoMa venue is replacing last year’s influx of Taylor-themed bashes with something a little more Gothic. This dance party is spinning dark-wave, industrial and post-punk, courtesy of aptly named DJs Vampyre Noire, Vlad and Sara Vox. 11 p.m. Free.

Raging Red at Shakers

Unleash some inner rage about that situationship or ghost at Shakers’s dance party dedicated to breakup songs. Expect new pop hits like Tate McRae’s “Exes” and Ariana Grande’s “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love)” spun by award-winning DJ Alex Love, plus pop-up drag performances throughout the night. 10 p.m. Free.

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Montgomery County Heritage Days Festival

More than 30 historic museums and parks across Montgomery County open to the public free this weekend as part of the 25-year-old Heritage Days Festival. The two-day celebration includes guided tours of the National Capital Trolley Museum, the Woodend Nature Sanctuary and a C&O Canal lock house; a bluegrass jam at the Sandy Spring Museum; a documentary screening and free carousel rides at Glen Echo Park; and farm animals and hands-on family activities at the Agricultural History Farm Park. A map and schedule are available on the Heritage Montgomery website and app. Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Free; some locations may charge extra for activities.

Arlington Pride at Long Bridge Park

The third Arlington Pride festival moves to Long Bridge Park for a day of music, drag performances, country and salsa dance lessons, vendors, food and drinks — even “Puppy Pride.” Noon to 7 p.m. Free.

SummerFest at Bohrer Park

Get an early start on your Independence Day celebrations with SummerFest at Gaithersburg’s Bohrer Park at Summit Hall Farm. Miniature golf starts at 11 a.m., and the skate park opens at noon. The real action takes place later: The District — a party-pleasing band that covers Lizzo, Bruno Mars, the Killers and the Beatles — takes the stage at 6 p.m., while local craft breweries and cideries, including Waredaca and Lone Oak, and food trucks sell refreshments. (Picnics are also welcome.) Fireworks begin at about 9:20 p.m. and are followed by a SummerGlo party with more live music and entertainment from LED-lit Hula-Hoopers and stilt walkers. 6 to 11 p.m. Free.

New Balance Appreciation Day at Metrobar

Some people might consider New Balance to be dad shoes, but if you’re from the D.C. area, you know that the brand, known for its 990s and 995s, has been a staple of D.C. streetwear since the 1980s. Celebrate New Balance’s importance to locals at New Balance Appreciation Day at Metrobar. Killa Cal of Rare Essence is the host, and the centerpiece is a panel discussion with Anwan “Big G” Glover of Backyard Band, Mustafa Tariq of the throwback Instagram account DC Decades, and Brandon Bull of Beats, Bars and Bourbon discussing their memories of New Balance and its role in D.C.’s signature look. DJ Biggs provides the beats, Adrenaline Lifestyles brings hot cars and bikes, and food trucks including Who Want Smoke and KC Kitchen Plug serve up the grub. Note that an RSVP doesn’t guarantee admission, which is first come, first served. 2 to 7 p.m. Free.

Chinatown Park Festival

The Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs organized this lunchtime festival in Chinatown Park, promising live music and dance performances, martial arts demonstrations, face painting, hands-on arts and crafts, a clothing swap, and other activities to celebrate Immigrant Heritage Month. (This festival, originally scheduled for June 22, was postponed due to heat.) 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free.

Broadway in the Park at Wolf Trap

Signature Theatre and Wolf Trap join forces once again for Broadway in the Park, a night under the stars dedicated to tunes from beloved musicals both new and old. This year, Broadway stars Laura Benanti and Jordan Fisher grace the stage at the Filene Center along with performers familiar to Signature’s audiences. Expect to hear standards from “My Fair Lady,” “Cabaret,” “Pippin” and “Les Misérables” as well as newer smash hits like “Dear Evan Hansen” and “Hamilton.” 8 p.m. $33-$153.

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Pride in the Plaza at Veterans Plaza

Montgomery Pride wraps up a month of celebrations with Pride in the Plaza in Silver Spring’s Veterans Plaza. The main event is the finals of Drag Duels, an ongoing competition that features drag performers going head-to-head and stacked-heel-to-stacked-heel. There’s also live music, DJs and a Pride Ball that allows talented dancers to strut their stuff. New this year: the Community Stage, which organizers say features diverse, family-friendly entertainment. Noon to 8 p.m. Free.

Books & Booze Fair at Red Derby

When the book fair came to your elementary school, it brought scented pencils, glow-in-the-dark erasers and the new Percy Jackson novel. When the book fair comes to Red Derby this weekend, it’ll bring spicy-smooth drinks from Chacho Distillery, conversation with book sellers, and rows of bestsellers and underrated must-reads from Lost City Books and Loyalty Bookstores. A ticket will get you a Chacho drink, but the full bar at Red Derby (which was recently voted by Post readers as one of the city’s best dives) is also available. 6 to 9 p.m. $10.

Republic Cantina anniversary party

Tex-Mex joint Republic Cantina marks five years in Truxton Circle this weekend with a day-long party. Get an early start with breakfast tacos at 9 a.m. before the block party in the alley, which features Joe Neuman of Sloppy Mama’s BBQ and Rob Cain of the Red Hen serving as guest pitmasters. Human Country Jukebox and the swaggering Heaven Forbid provide classic country covers throughout the day. Look out for a piñata, birthday cake, a kolache happy hour — Republic Cantina’s owners got their start as Republic Kolache — and DJs spinning country vinyl. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Free.

Land Conservation Day at Hellbender Brewing Company

Casey Trees, a nonprofit that seeks to restore and protect Washington’s tree canopy, is teaming up for the second year with Hellbender Brewing Company for an afternoon dedicated to urban forests in the nation’s capital. Casey Trees holds a conservation easem*nt on a patch of forest located near the brewery, and you’ll be able to tour this green space nicknamed “Hellbender Hill” during the event. Join a tour of Hellbender Hill at 2:30 or 4:30 p.m. to see the work — like invasive-vine pulling or cleanups — that’s being done as part of the land conservation program. Besides tree tours, the day will include food trucks, live music, raffles and a chance to hear from like-minded organizations. Hellbender’s taproom and the outside patio are open during the event, and a seasonal beer will be promoted in honor of Casey Trees. 2 to 7 p.m. Free; registration requested online.

‘Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity’ at Rock Creek Park Planetarium

Rock Creek Park Nature Center has so much to offer in the summer, including its own planetarium, where you can escape the heat with some virtual stargazing. The last Sunday in June is the last chance to take a simulated space flight to a supermassive black hole, courtesy of the film “Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity.” Narrated by actor Liam Neeson, the 30-minute presentation, aimed at audiences age 14 and up, is all about the science behind black holes. The planetarium’s domed screen will feature immersive animations of phenomena like star birth and death and the collision of giant galaxies. 4 p.m. Free.

‘Salute to Divas’ Drag Brunch at Surreal

Arlington Pride wraps up Sunday with the Salute to Divas Drag Brunch at Surreal in National Landing, hosted by Shi-Queeta Lee and featuring the 2024 Miss Arlington Pride Queenie Iman Glamazon. 11 a.m. $25.

Country Night at Pitchers

The D.C. Rawhides support country dancing in the LGBTQ+ community by hosting parties with line dancing, partner dancing and dance lessons most Saturdays in Eastern Market’s North Hall. They’re spreading out this weekend and heading to Pitchers, too, where you can learn the Canadian Stomp line dance before open dancing. 4:30 to 7 p.m. Free.

Pride Art Market at Atlas Brew Works

The brewery’s Ivy City location is celebrating the last day of Pride Month with a makers market featuring works from LGBTQ+ artists. Masks are encouraged and will be provided. 1 to 7 p.m. Free.

Crate Convention at Anacostia Arts Center

The Crate Convention is a celebration of culture, combining vendors selling records, magazines, comics and clothing; music from DJs and producers; and works by local artists and makers in one room at the Anacostia Arts Center. Food and drinks are available. Noon to 5 p.m. Free.

Orville Peck at the Anthem

For the last few years, the yeehaw agenda has been in full effect. From Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” and Kacey Musgraves’s pop crossover to Beyoncé’s latest album and Post Malone’s latest transformation, musicians outside the mainstream of country music have taken cowboy culture for a ride and found comfort in the saddle. The rise of Orville Peck has come alongside this cultural shift, and the 36-year-old singer-songwriter — who performs under a pseudonym and wears a mask — is making country music that recalls outlaw traditions and has found fans in collaborators Willie Nelson, Elton John and Kylie Minogue. The artist, who is gay, also serves as a reminder that neither America nor Americana is as hom*ogenized and heteronormative as it may seem. 7 p.m. $59.50.

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Hiatus Kaiyote at the Fillmore Silver Spring

If you think you haven’t heard of this band, you’re probably wrong, especially if you listen to rap. The band has been countlessly sampled by various artists — most notably by rap superstars Kendrick and Drake. Hiatus Kaiyote’s maximalist sound lends itself well to being reused in a genre like hip-hop that’s always innovating how sampling works. Singer Nai Palm attributes the sampling to their attention to detail, referring to her and her bandmates as “nerds” when it comes to production. “Instead of just, ‘Oh, we’ll just put that down, it doesn’t matter,’ everything is perfectly curated textually,” Palm says. 8 p.m. $53-$72.50.

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Vienna’s Independence Day Celebration

The town of Vienna’s annual party fills George C. Yeonas Park with a mix of live music — Latin American from Cantaré, pop and funk from Thunderball — as well as family activities, food trucks and picnicking on baseball fields. Fireworks begin around 9:30. Free parking is available off-site. 6 to 10 p.m. Free.

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‘National Treasure’ at the National Archives

Nicholas Cage’s 2004 action-adventure film “National Treasure” has a preposterous plot: stealing the Declaration of Independence from the National Archives to find a map on the back, leading to a secret treasure hidden by Freemasons? No wonder it’s become a cult classic. (At the time, Post reviewer Stephen Hunter called “National Treasure” “the movie equivalent of comfort food.”) On the eve of Independence Day, what could be more appropriate than watching a film about the theft of the declaration at the place it was allegedly stolen from? The National Archives Foundation is the sponsor of this free screening in the William G. McGowan Theater. Just don’t get any big ideas on your way out. 2 p.m. Free; registration required.