Later this month, the Kennedy Center hosts An American Playlist, three days of free performances to celebrate the Center's Arts in Crisis initiative. Two free tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to each person in line at the Kennedy Center on Saturday, July 10, 2010. At 10 a.m. in the Hall of Nations States, tickets will be available for the July 18 show, featuring The Roots' ?uestlove and Black Thought. Tickets for the July 19 jazz and dance performance, with saxophonist Branford Marsalis, will be available at 11 a.m.in the Hall of States on the River Terrace. The final show, on July 20, will feature Smokey Robinson and John Mayer with the National Symphony Orchestra, and tickets will be available at 9 a.m. on the River Terrace in the Hall of Nations. All performances will begin at 6 p.m. Those unable to obtain tickets may view the performances on screens in the Grand Foyer. more ›

Well, maybe this year it won't be snowing? D.C. residents' holiday rituals can include everything from frenetic Black Friday shopping to a trip to the White House Christmas tree. But for some of us with a high tolerance for cold, the traditions include standing in line for hours to get free tickets to the Kennedy Center's Messiah Sing-Along. As we told you last year, much like those folks who lined up the night before to... more ›

Just two days left in our V Fest ticket giveaway video contest. Make your best entry that includes some form of a song by a V Fest artist, load it to YouTube, tag it with "DCist," and send an email to amanda (at) dcist (dot) com with the link and your contact information to put your hat in the ring. All entries must come in by 5 p.m. this Sunday night. Don't miss your... more ›

OMGeez guys! We were completely overwhelmed with your submissions for our LOLCats V Fest ticket giveaway contest. They were numerous, hilarious, and covered almost every possible angle of converging the I Can Has Cheeseburger lexicon with the Virgin Festival. We put it to a vote, and the DCist staff chose Nicole Young's submission as our clear winner. Congrats Nicole, you'll soon get some living proof. Be sure to check out some of our favorite... more ›

We really enjoy giving away free stuff, and so apparently do your favorite local bands. That's why we got together with Cedars to arrange for an EP and ticket giveaway to their show tonight with Scotland's the Cinematics and Chicago's the Changes at the Rock and Roll Hotel! Who loves ya? DCist loves ya. more ›

FRIDAY: >> At 11 a.m. today or noon tomorrow, grab the kids and a box or twelve of tissues and head down to the National Archives for a screening of An American Tail. Part of their celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month, they're sharing the story of Fivel and his cheese-paved streets with the next generation. We can only assume they'll watch it over and over like we did, each time hoping Fivel doesn't go... more ›

>> After bitching about extreme lack of tickets to Friday's sold out Arcade Fire show, our friends at Washingtonian Magazine alerted us to their ticket giveaway. Only one seat is up for grabs, you didn't want to bring your girlfriend anyway, right? Contest ends Thursday at noon. >> Tim Westergren, founder of Pandora Internet radio, hosts a meet up tonight at Be Bar. Open to listeners and non-listeners alike, guests can chat about the... more ›

We've chosen a winner for our ticket giveaway for the Gathering tonight. Commenter Apple captured the emotional impact that music can have on people, while also bringing us into a specific event and time — namely, Mark Farina at the Edge, circa 2000. Way to go Apple! Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories, and please feel free to share in the original post throughout the day! more ›

Joanna Robertson is the third and final winner of our Editors ticket giveaway. She'll join our previous weeks' winners and, if the number of contest entrants is any indication, a very large crowd of music lovers Thursday night at the 9:30 Club. Congratulations Joanna, may you play The Back Room plenty, and wear your Converse All Stars well. Thanks to everyone who entered; don't be too distressed, tickets are still available for the low low price of $15! more ›

Editor's Note: This preview of the Olney Theatre Center's Summer Shakespeare Festival comes to us from Missy Frederick, who has joined our staff to write about theater. DCist appreciates, heck, even admires the egalitarian nature of the annual Shakespeare Theatre Free For All's ticket giveaway madness that went down last month. The getting up early, the waiting in line for hours, then the returning to the amphitheater well in advance of curtain time only... more ›

Thanks to everybody who entered the Arcade Fire ticket giveaway (all 50+ of you). The randomly picked winner of a pair of tickets to the Jan. 30 show at the 9:30 Club is...Lauren Pearlman! We'll be e-mailing her details and contact information shortly. Now, we hope Lauren will use the tickets to actually go to the show instead of selling them for billions of dollars; DCist is most decidedly not a fan of scalping, though... more ›