Saxes and synthesizers, wolves and wax workshops, love stories and lotus flowers. The festivals this weekend have ’em all. Some celebrate our local history, a few require you to pack a lunch and leave your beloved D.C. neighborhood for the day, but we all need some time outside the concrete jungle, right?

>>We would be seriously remiss if we didn’t highlight the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival, starting today. Over 50 performances will take place all over the city, but naturally, U Street will be home to most of the concerts celebrating the local jazz phenomenon over the next five days. Stop by the Lincoln Theater tomorrow at 8 p.m. for the Duke Ellington Tribute by Randy Weston, Victor Masondo, Lalela and Roy Hargrove ($26-36), or take in Hargrove’s free Master Class at American University on Friday at 12:30 p.m. And don’t miss the free concert on the Mall on Saturday at noon. Check out the rest of the schedule to plan your weekend honoring our own Jazz Royalty.

>>It seems our friend in the north is the only one who wants us ignoring his town, because Free Fall Baltimore, which started last weekend, is the city’s effort to draw residents and visitors alike to their bustling arts scene. Grants provided by the city mean that every single event during this two month-long festival is absolutely free (though note that some require reservations), including art workshops, concerts, movies, and city tours. This weekend you can take guitar lessons, check out the CenterStage street festival, or learn some Caribbean dance. Personally, I’m marking my calendar for the orchestra performance at the National Aquarium on Oct. 13 and one of the many pinhole camera workshops at the Baltimore Gallery. See the calendar for the entire list of events.