FRIDAY, APRIL 29
GEORGETOWN FRENCH MARKET: if you’re a fan of croissants, macarons and pastries, head to the 19th annual Georgetown French Market. More than 30 locally-owned cafes, boutiques and galleries will participate with items for sale and specials. There will also be live music, stilt walkers and a caricature artist. (Georgetown; 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; FREE)
HBCU CON: This celebration (virtually and in-person) is said to bridge “the gap between Historically Black Colleges/Universities and Black geeks-at-large.” It will feature special cosplay guests, panels and events like a step show and fashion show. (Bowie State University; Friday through Sunday; $50)
BETHESDA FILM FEST: For the 10th annual festival, there will be a screening of short documentaries by regional filmmakers. The films are called 1km à Pied, Resurgence, Time and Temperature, My Brother is Deaf, La Manplesa, The Hill We Climb. The films will also screen on Saturday. (Imagination Stage; 7 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday; $12)
BLACK PARADE: Celebrate a night of dancing and singing by attending a drag show tribute to Black icons in music. Performers will include Evon Dior Michelle, Alicia Kelly, Kendra Lattimore, Giselle Cassidy Carter and Kayden Amore Chloe. (Olney Theatre Center, 8 p.m., $20)
AFRO-ATLANTIC HISTORIES FESTIVAL: The National Gallery of Art hosts a day-long festival highlighting the art and cultures of the African Diaspora in conjunction with its new exhibit, “Afro-Atlantic Histories.” There with be eight events, including a local creators pop-up, a performance by Batalá Washington and Sticks+Bars Youth Marimba Ensemble, a cooking and taste demonstration by Jamaican executive chef Chris Curtis, a first-time performance of When We Gather by artist María Magdalena Campos-Pons and a performance by the youth group East of the River Steelband. (National Gallery of Art, 10 a.m., FREE)
MORE: Georgetown Heritage Canal Boat Tour (C&O Canal Lock 3, 10 a.m., $10+); Jena Friedman comedy show (Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse, 9:30 p.m.); Bad Moves with Gauche and Bottled Up (Black Cat; 8 p.m.; $15); “Two Things Can Be True” opening reception (Eaton DC; 7-10 p.m. ); Black Broadway on U Virtual Tour (Virtual; 5:30-8:30 p.m.; FREE)
SATURDAY, APRIL 30
CHOCOLATE LOVERS UNITE: Head to the 5th Annual DC Chocolate Festival for a chance to taste test and meet chocolate makers. The event is hosted by The Chocolate House DC and will feature 30 vendors, host workshops and screen the film “The Chocolate War.” (La Maison Française at Embassy of France in the U.S., 10:30 a.m., $20)
BOOK TALK:Busboys and Poets present a discussion led by illustrator Shane Evans, a co-creator of the picture book WHY. The children’s book discusses racial injustice from a child’s perspective. Evans will also talk about the impact of illustration in storytelling and share some of his illustrations. (Livestream on YouTube and Facebook, 4:30 p.m., FREE)
CAROUSEL DAY: Come celebrate Glen Echo Park’s 101-year-old Dentzel Carousel. The carousel opens for a new season and will have live music and performances, kids arts and crafts and more. (Glen Echo Park, 11 a.m., FREE, with carousel rides $2 per ride/$5 for day pass)
COMEDY KARAOKE SHOW: The Capital City Showcase presents The Comedy Karaoke Trivia Funtime Show, which happens the last Saturday of each month. Guests can put a team together and win prizes in a trivia challenge, then the top three teams battle it out in karaoke. The event also includes a comedy show from regional comedians. (Highline RxR, 7 p.m., $10+)
SPONSORED WHY I LIVE AT THE P.O.: UrbanArias presents a delightful new addition to the opera canon with the World Premiere of Why I Live at the P.O. which takes the comic masterpiece by beloved author Eudora Welty and combines it with classic and contemporary American musical styles to tell the story of some supremely relatable family drama. (Keegan Theatre, April 30 – May 7; $35 – $50)
MORE: 17th Annual Washington DC Metro VisionWalk (Lincoln Memorial, 9 a.m., registration required); Eckington Parks + Arts presents VXN dance fitness class (Alethia Tanner Park, 2 p.m., registration required); The Soul of Broadway starring Terron Brooks (Bowie Center for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m., $35 presale/$40 at the door); Gimme More: A Britney Spears Dance Party (Union Stage; 8 p.m.; $10).
SUNDAY, MAY 1
LITERARY HILL BOOKFEST: For its first in-person bookfest since 2019, Literary Hill will host authors of fiction, history, memoir, poetry, children’s literature, politics, mystery and more. There will also be a poetry open mic at Tunnicliff’s after the festival. (Eastern Market, 11 a.m.)
MOVIES ON THE POTOMAC: Grab a cozy blanket or chair and watch Sing 2 on the Potomac. A family-friendly movie will play every Sunday, and date night films on Thursdays. The outdoor movie series will continue until September. (National Harbor, 6 p.m., FREE)
DAVID SPADE: Saturday Night Live alum and Joe Dirt star David Spade will make a stop in Virginia this weekend for his “Catch Me Inside” tour. (Capital One Hall, doors open at 6 p.m., $49.75+)
SPONSORED: HERSTORY ONSTAGE: It’s opening weekend of Prologue Theatre’s production of The Revolutionists by Lauren Gunderson. An irreverent comedy, set during the French Revolution, is a true story. Or total fiction. Or a play about a play. You be the judge, jury, and executioner. (Atlas Performing Arts Center; 7:30pm; through May 22; $25+)
MORE: Reigning National Women’s Soccer League Champions kick off their 10th season with versus OL Reign (Audi Field, 5 p.m., $25+); Sunrise Photography Class and Tour on the National Mall (Lincoln Memorial, 5:10 a.m., $89); Mothers of Old starring Nikea Marie and Wiley B (Lincoln Theatre; 5:30 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show; $69-$89).
