(Photo by Bobby III)
It’s Memorial Day Weekend, patriots! Time for barbecues, sunbathing, and fun in the … never mind. Another weekend, another less-than-ideal weather forecast. Will it rain? Maybe. Possibly. Probably. You know how it goes! Let’s roll the dice. Check outdoor events for cancellations.
FRIDAY, MAY 26
JAZZ: Kick off your weekend with a summertime staple. We’re looking at a decent chance of the weather not totally sucking this Friday, so grab a blanket (and maybe a plastic sheet thing), hit up your local cheese shop, and settle in for some Dixieland jazz. Jazz in the Garden presents the United States Coast Guard Dixieland Jazz Band, which has traveled around the country and internationally performing classic jazz, blues, and rags with a “New Orleans” vibe. (Sculpture Garden, 5-8:30 p.m. FREE)
HUMMUS: Churches do at least two things very well: prayer and food. This weekend is the seventh annual Middle Eastern Food Festival. Come eat tasty shawarma, kabob, manakish, drink coffee, throw the kids into the moonbounce (ideally before giving them tons of food), and more. You can also get your fill of falafel Saturday, starting at 10 a.m. (St. Aphraim Syriac Orthodox Church, 6-11 p.m. FREE)
LGBTQ POC PRIDE: It’s DC Black Pride Weekend, an opportunity for members of the Black LGBTQ community to come together, learn, give back, and have a great time. Start your weekend meeting new people and partying with friends at meet-and-greets, associated happy hours, takeovers, and a bar crawl. Festivities continue throughout the weekend with workshops, discussions, a film festival, brunch, a theater showcase, and many, many parties. (Various locations, times, and prices)
SOLDIERS ON SCREEN: BBQs are great, and everyone loves a long weekend. But don’t forget what Memorial Day is all about. The GI Film Festival presents a lineup of films that aren’t your typical war movies. There are stories of heroism and sacrifice, but also short films and features about women warriors, the greatest generation, returning home, veterans in the arts, and more. The festival closes Sunday. (Various venues, various times, $15)
HIR: It’s opening night for Hir, Obie Award-winning playwright Taylor Mac’s black comedy about a veteran who returns home to find his formerly timid mom has become an outspoken feminist, his sibling is now a genderqueer anarchist, and his abusive dad is wearing clown makeup and popping estrogen pills—against his will. Shana Cooper directs this exploration into gender power dynamics as told through a dysfunctional family with drastically different political views. (Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, 8 p.m. $17-44)
More: The Chainsmokers
Vertical dance troupe BANDALOOP performs in D.C. back in 2012. (Photo by Steve Cota)
SATURDAY, MAY 27
JFK ALL DAY: The Kennedy Center is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its namesake’s birth with a fun-filled open house featuring dozens of free shows and activities. You can catch a tribute to Chuck Berry, see a presentation of The Washington Ballet’s new space-themed work Frontier, learn about the Jamaican dance style called flex, listen to a patriotic Memorial Day Weekend choral concert, or crane your neck to take in gravity-defying demonstrations by vertical dance troupe BANDALOOP. Up the energy by dropping in to the Finding a Line skate park, or sit back and watch seasoned skaters do their thing. (The Kennedy Center, 12-10 p.m. FREE)
PORCH PARTY: The annual Takoma Park Music Festival is coming to a porch near you! All are welcome to this community celebration, taking place at various homes within a mile or less of each other. Each porch will host two music acts, with the same lineup presenting their mini concert twice. If you want to see a specific band, you can catch them in the 2 p.m. or 4:15 p.m. set. If it rains, the show will go on—at least on porches that are covered. (Takoma Park, MD, 2-6 p.m. FREE)
ROARING LAWN PARTY: Don your finest flapper threads for a roaring 20s outdoor event! We’re hoping the weather holds up for the Dardanella: Great Gatsby Lawn Party, which will feature lessons and a performance by D.C. Lindy Hop dance troupe Fidgety Feet, lawn games (croquet, anyone?), food, Prohibition-era cocktails, and more. All-woman jazz orchestra Shannon Gunn & The Bullettes and The Foggy Bottom Whomp Stompers will perform live, and the Dapper DJ’s will help get the joint jumpin’. Period attire is strongly encouraged, but leave your flasks at home. Despite the bootleg-celebratory theme, bringing your own booze is neither legal nor welcome. (Washington National Cathedral, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. $55-85)
HOUSE MUSIC: Do you like typing in all caps? DJ KEVY KEV DOES! He also really likes house music. If you do too, check out the third annual DMV House Music Fest, an outdoor dance party featuring sets by Ozzie Mandias, Jay Jay Tate, Sam “The Man” Burns, and Timmy Regisford. Pack your picnic basket—an umbrella wouldn’t be a bad idea either—and lace up your dancing shoes for a day in the park. (Malcolm X Park, 12-9 p.m. FREE)
WRITE NIGHT: Do you write or read any great fan fiction? Did you once think you wrote good fan fiction, but have since realized the truth about those high school blog posts? Share it with an audience at Boozy Fanfic Night with the Welders. The local playwright collective is teaming up with a local comic book store for an evening of drinking and fan fiction reading. (Fantom Comics, 7-9 p.m. FREE)
More: Anxo Cidery and Tasting Room Opening, Vegan Potluck Picnic with FARM, Saturday Night Dance Party at Showtime!
The annual Rolling Thunder Run seeks to honor and bring attention to service members who’ve been left behind. (Photo by cb nworks)
SUNDAY, MAY 28
MEMORY: Kaleidoscope closes today at Creative Cauldron. The world premiere musical by Matt Conner and Stephen Gregory Smith traces a legendary Broadway performer’s descent into dementia. Florence Lacey stars as the fictional actress Evelyn Thorne, who is on stage for one last hurrah: a one-woman show about her life and career. With humor and sensitivity, the production endears audience members to its protagonist while demonstrating the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s disease. See it before it closes. (Creative Cauldron, 2 p.m. or 7 p.m. $20-30)
CONCERT AND FIREWORKS: “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band will launch Wolf Trap’s 2017 summer season with a free concert. The band will play patriotic marches, a Ragtime number, an arrangement of songs from Guys and Dolls, and Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. Stick around after the music for a fireworks display. (Filene Center, 8 p.m. FREE)
MUSICAL TRIBUTE: Grab your spot on the West Lawn for the annual National Memorial Day Concert. Co-hosted by Joe Mantegna and Laurence Fishburne, this evening performance is dedicated to our men and women in uniform, their families, and the service members who made the ultimate sacrifice. You’ll hear musical artists Renee Flemming, Vanessa Williams, Scotty McCreery, and many more. Moana actress Auli’i Cravalho will sing the national anthem. See it in person, or sidestep the whole rain issue by tuning in to the broadcast on PBS. (Capitol Building, 8 p.m. FREE)
HEY MR. DJ: Dance like you don’t have work tomorrow. Swedish DJ and musician Alesso is stopping in D.C. as part of his world tour. Put on some comfortable shoes—or not; they’re your feet—and get lost in the music. (Echostage, 9 p.m. $40)
More: 7th Annual Pink & White Memorial Day Rooftop Party at the W, REV909: French House/Daft Punk Tribute & Indie Dance Classics, Rooftop Silent Disco, Rolling Thunder Run
