FRIDAY, MAY 27
DC BLACK PRIDE: Pride starts early for D.C.’s Black community. Since a 1991 gathering at Banneker Recreation Center, the Black queer community and its allies have met in the District over Memorial Day Weekend to celebrate Black pride, and call attention to ongoing issues the queer community faces — namely, HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness, and homophobia, bigotry and racism. After kicking off with Thursday happy hours and parties, Black Pride continues into the weekend with a wellness suite that provides STI and HIV testing, a queer market, a drag brunch, and lots of parties. (Renaissance Washington unless otherwise noted; all weekend; FREE+)
POPPY WALL OF HONOR: 645,000 red poppies come to D.C. this weekend, representing the American lives lost to military service since World War I. The Poppy Wall of Honor returns downtown for the first time since 2019, and is on display through Sunday (National Mall; Friday through Sunday; FREE)
BEAR SQUARE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES: Northern Virginia pop duo Elevado is the perfect group to kick off this year’s Bear Square Riverdale Park summer concert series. Their music sounds like summer — light, energetic, and warm. Enjoy the tunes while lounging around Bear Square. (The Station at Riverdale Park; 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; FREE)
SIGHTED EYES/FEELING HEART: Every month, DC Public Libraries dive into the queer film cannon with #DCQueerFlix. This weekend, Mt. Pleasant Neighborhood Library hosts a virtual screening and discussion of Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart, the first feature documentary about Lorraine Hansberry and the making of A Raisin in the Sun. (Virtual; 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.; FREE)
WOCO FEST: The Boulanger Initiative, an organization dedicated to uplifting women and people of marginalized gender identities in the world of classical music, is back with its fourth annual WoCo Fest. The event brings dozens of women and gender minority composers and musicians — especially women of color — to Church of the Epiphany on Friday, and AMP by Strathmore on Saturday, for a night of classical compositions written by people who are often erased from classical music spaces. (Church of the Epiphany and AMP by Strathmore; 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday; 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday; $30)
DAFT PUNK IS PLAYING AT MY HOUSE: Late 2000s indie-pop mainstays LCD Soundsystem bragging about playing early 2000s indie-pop mainstays Daft Punk at their house party was a peak of culture. This weekend, travel back in time to the glorious synths, bounces and thumps of 2000s music with DJs Phoenix and Dionysus at DC9 Nightclub’s dance party. Dance yrself into the weekend with the Ting Tings, Justice, Chromeo, Miike Snow, Passion Pit, MIA, Phoenix, and more. (DC9 Nightclub; 11 p.m.; FREE+)
MORE: Arlington National Cemetery: A History of Honor (Virtual; 12 p.m.; $20); Art Chat: Some Assembly Required (Virtual; 5 p.m.; FREE); The Heavyweights Comedy Show (Lost Origins Gallery; 7:30 p.m.; $10); Huggy Lowdown and Chris Paul (DC Improv; 7:30 p.m.; $25+); Arijit Singh (Eagle Bank Arena; 8 p.m.; $167+) Rayshun Lamarr (Olney Theatre; 8 p.m.; $35); Chris Porter (Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse; 9 p.m.; $20); Haragan y Cia (Mexico Lindo Night Club; 9 p.m.; $45); Superstar: A Variety Drag Revue (Songbyrd Music House; 11 p.m.; FREE)
SATURDAY, MAY 28
FUTURES FIELD DAY: Have a field day this weekend at FUTURES Field Day, created to level the playing field by making sports and fitness more inclusive and accessible, regardless of one’s gender, strength, or other factors. Former NFL wide receiver Darnerien McCants, former All-Pro NFL running back Brian Mitchell, and defensive lineman for the Washington Commanders James-Smith Williams will lead attendees in a day of sports and obstacle courses. There will also be a talk on women in sports, and the day will conclude with a screening of The Longshots on the National Mall. (Smithsonian Arts + Industries Building; 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.; FREE)
FORGOTTEN WOMEN: Observe Memorial Day early this weekend with A Tour Of Her Own, a local tourism company that focuses on women’s history. They’ll give tours of Arlington National Cemetery that focus on the burials of women, many of which are overlooked on traditional cemetery tours. Saturday’s 10 a.m. tour, “Forgotten Women of Arlington,” is modeled after a usual tour of the cemetery, but adds in a few more stops to make room for women. Sunday’s 9 a.m. tour, “Women on the Front,” takes attendees to the less-visited south side of the cemetery, where fallen service members of more recent wars are buried, and focuses exclusively on women lost. (Arlington National Cemetery; Saturday at 10 a.m. and Sunday at 9 a.m.; $35+)
THE O’MY’S: It’s hard to believe that only two musicians are driving the soulful, sonic soundscapes of The O’My’s. Composed of two Chicago musicians, vocalist-guitarist Maceo Vidal-Haymes and multi-instrumentalist Nick Hennessey, the duo has steadily built a repertoire of gentle, contemplative R&B music over the last decade. See them in action following last year’s release of their latest EP, No Swimming. (Songbyrd Music House; 7 p.m.; $15+)
MARK G. MEADOWS: Mark G. Meadows is a jazz pianist, but his music draws on a bit of everything, from gospel to hip-hop to R&B. In 2016, he made his acting debut to critical acclaim with Signature Theatre’s production of Broadway musical Jelly’s Last Jam. Since then, Meadows has remained both an active local thespian and musician. Catch him performing his first love — jazz piano — this weekend at Olney Theatre Center. (Olney Theatre Center; 8 p.m.; $35)
MORE: ViVa! Vienna! (Vienna; Saturday through Monday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; $20+); Capital House Music Festival (Fort Reno; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; FREE); Memorial Day at the National Army Museum (National Army Museum; all weekend; FREE); South Asian Pop-Up (The Outrage; 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.; FREE); Secrets of the National Mall (National Museum of the American Indian; 6 p.m.; $30+); Hump! Film Festival (Black Cat; Friday and Saturday; 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.; $25); The House Rules comedy show (Columbia Heights; 7 p.m.; $5); Kasaun Wilson (DC Comedy Loft; Friday and Saturday; 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.; $20); Ohio Players (Birchmere; 7:30 p.m.; $70); Tango of the Americas (Kennedy Center; 7:30 p.m.; $55+)
SUNDAY, MAY 29
ROLLING TO REMEMBER: This weekend, the sounds of revving motorcycle engines will fill the skies in an annual Memorial Day weekend tradition. This year’s Rolling to Remember event is intended to raise awareness about the ongoing issues veterans face, and to demand action for service members who are missing in action and for veterans who die by suicide. Events like the Blessing of the Bikes (Friday) take place throughout the weekend, but the big event is slated for Sunday. (RFK Stadium; Gates open 7 a.m., demonstration all day; FREE)
INVISIBLE WARRIORS: World War II narratives, like so many historical narratives, often leave out the contributions of Black women. Documentary Invisible Warriors seeks to change that. The film, screening this weekend in Benning, explores the role Black women played in World War II, and how they persevered in the face of racism, Nazism, and sexism. (Benning Neighborhood Library; 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.; FREE)
MORE: Comedy brunch with Joe Clair (DC Improv; 2 p.m.; $25+); Queer ‘Ol Opry (Rhizome DC; 2 p.m.; $10); D’Lai (DC Comedy Loft; 6 p.m.; $25+); La Piscine (Suns Cinema; 6 p.m. and 8:50 p.m.; $10); The Lion King (National Harbor; 6 p.m.; FREE); Pain of Salvation (Union Stage; 6:30 p.m.; $30); Lucky Seven (Songbyrd Music House; 7 p.m.; $22+); Dear Daria album release (Pie Shop; 7:30 p.m.; $12)
MONDAY, MAY 30
TOUR THE SOLDIERS’ AND AIRMENS’ HOME NATIONAL CEMETERY: When the Soldiers’ and Airmens’ Home National Cemetery was established in Northwest D.C. in 1861, it became the first national cemetery. Among the notable people buried there is Union political general John Logan, who in 1868 called for a national day of remembrance for those lost in the Civil War — which eventually became Memorial Day. Fittingly, this Memorial Day, you can attend a wreath laying ceremony or take a tour that take visitors through the history of the site and the holiday. at the cemetery at 10 a.m., and tour the cemetery at 10:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. The tours will . (Soldiers’ and Airmens’ Home National Cemetery; Wreath-laying, 10 a.m., Tours at 10:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.; FREE)
FALLS CHURCH MEMORIAL DAY PARADE: Gear up for the 40th annual Falls Church Memorial Day celebration, an event that has something for everyone. At 9 a.m., a no-registration-needed 3k fun run kicks off on Great Falls Street at Little Falls Street, followed by an 11 a.m. Memorial Day ceremony at the Veterans Memorial, featuring keynote speaker retired U.S. Navy Captain Shaw H. Cohe. At 2 p.m., the annual parade kicks off on Park Avenue. All day long, attendees can enjoy live music and food and craft vendors. (City Hall and Community Center Grounds; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; FREE)
NATIONAL MEMORIAL PARADE: For the first time since 2019, the National Memorial Day Parade returns in-person to Constitution Avenue to salute those who have died while serving the U.S. military. Can’t make it downtown? Don’t sweat it — you can catch the whole celebration from your living room. The parade will air on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW stations nationwide, along with a pre-parade program featuring speakers and guests. (Constitution Avenue or virtual; 2 p.m.; FREE)
MEMORIAL DAY KICKBALL TOURNAMENT: Turn your neighbors into friends and teammates this weekend at Anacostia Park with a free kickball tournament. Along with the Memorial Day competition, there will be a free barbecue, snacks, and other sports — including skating at the nearby roller rink. (Anacostia Park; 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.; FREE)
MORE: AAPI Teen Word Search (Southwest Neighborhood Library; all day; FREE); Newbery Medal Bingo (Capitol View Neighborhood Library; all day; FREE); TOKiMONSTA (Flash; 4 p.m.; $35+); Black Excellence Dinner Social (Mayflower Club; 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.; FREE+); Eugene Chadbourne and David Menestres (Rhizome DC; 7 p.m.; $15+); Al Olender (Pie Shop; 7:30 p.m.; $12+); Shear Madness (Kennedy Center; 8 p.m.; $58); Syd (Fillmore Silver Spring; 8 p.m. $27.50)
