Black women artists, thought leaders, musicians, and other creatives will spend International Women’s Day weekend sprinkling their magic on the Kennedy Center.

The center has teamed up with the award show Black Girls Rock! to throw the first-ever Black Girls Rock! Festival, a weekend extravaganza of events celebrating and elevating black women and girls.

“We’re really excited to be partnering with them to launch this in its inaugural year,” says Simone Eccleston, the Kennedy Center’s first director of hip-hop culture. “The Kennedy Center is the nation’s cultural center, so … it’s only fitting that this would be the first city for which the brand would expand outside of the awards show.”

Founded by DJ and former model Beverly Bond, the annual Black Girls Rock! awards show that airs on BET recognizes black women in multiple disciplines, including entrepreneurship, music, technology, community service, and entertainment. The festival takes that idea to the next level. The collaboration came together after Bond DJ-ed a party at the Kennedy Center last fall, and she and Eccleston brainstormed ways to keep their creative juices flowing.

The three-day event launches Friday with a free welcome party featuring DJ sets from Bond and rapper MC Lyte, a founding member of the Kennedy Center’s hip-hop culture council.

“At the dance party it’ll just be joyful celebration and freedom, like the moment where you let loose with your girlfriends,” Eccleston says. The bash starts at 7 p.m., but the Kennedy Center recommends arriving an hour early to ensure entry.

Saturday’s event—already sold out—starts with a chat about Bond’s book “Black Girls Rock!: Owning Our Magic. Rocking Our Truth,” which honors black women’s achievements around the world. Panel discussions on black women in technology and black girl magic will follow.

On Sunday, the festival concludes with the three hour and 15-minute Rock Like A Girl! concert, which recognizes black women’s contributions to the arts. Set to perform at the concert hall are Grammy nominated-singers Jazmine Sullivan and D.C.’s own Maimouna Youssef (a.k.a. Mumu Fresh), and surprise guests. It’ll be hosted by Angie Ange, host of Angie Ange in the Morning on D.C.’s WKYS 93.9 FM.

“It’ll be like church and all of the things that happen when people perform works that resonate with you,” Eccleston says.

This celebration is needed, Eccleston says, because in her view, black women’s contributions to the culture are often unsung. She sees the event as a rightful celebration because black women have always been doing the work, and their contributions to culture have always been there.

“Ultimately, I want people to feel like they’re home here and bring their full selves—from the person who’s going to get loose, to the intellectual and the creative,” Eccleston says. “And all of them will have that space this weekend. You can be yourself here because we’re creating space for all of that.”

Friday’s opening night party takes place in the Kennedy Center atrium at 7 p.m., FREE.  Sunday’s concert takes place in the concert hall at 8 p.m. Tickets $59-$119.