FRIDAY, JUNE 2
CAPITAL JAZZ FEST: All that jazz is coming to the Merriweather Post Pavilion this weekend at Capital Jazz Fest, which returns for its 30th edition. This year’s lineup includes legendary jazz guitarist George Benson, “Put Your Records On” singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae, 2000s pop star Ne-Yo, and a whole lot more. (Merriweather Post Pavilion; Friday-Sunday; $89.50+)
GREEK FESTIVAL: Get yourself to the Greek Festival this weekend at Saint Katherine’s in Falls Church. Friday through Sunday, the church will be celebrating all that Greece has to offer with Greek food, pastries, live music and traditional dancing. Don’t miss Saturday’s Taverna Greek Night, featuring a DJ spinning Greek music all night long. (Saint Katherine Greek Orthodox Church; Friday-Sunday; FREE)
CULTURE FIX: How do arts and culture play a role in solving global injustices? Find out at cultureFIX, a cultural diplomacy celebration held by non-profit Meridian International Center. This year’s agenda is chock full of thought-provoking conversations featuring folks like Tuliza Fleming, a curator at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and Patricia Michaels, a Project Runway finalist. (Meridian House and virtual; 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.; FREE)
EIGHTIES NIGHT: Break out the legwarmers and ski jackets — it’s ‘80s Night at The Parks at Walter Reed. The Parks is back this summer with its monthly happy hours on the plaza, and this weekend’s aperitivo brings you beverages, food, and all your favorite ‘80s tunes. (Arts Plaza at The Parks; 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.; FREE)
MORE: End Gun Violence Festival (Freedom Plaza, 12 p.m.-4 p.m.; FREE) CAMP: All the Little Things (Duke Ellington School of the Arts; Friday 6:30-8:30; Saturday 5 p.m.-7 p.m.; $25), Rockin’ at the Ridge (City Ridge; 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.; FREE), The Jonny Cohen Love Machine Record Release Party (Dew Drop Inn; 7 p.m.; FREE), Women’s Work (Athenaeum; 7:30 p.m.; $21)
SATURDAY, JUNE 3
STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL: Get your summer on at the Sandy Spring Museum’s Strawberry Festival, which returns to Montgomery County this weekend for its 41st year. The two-day event brings food trucks, live music, games, crafts — and of course, the festival’s famed strawberry shortcake. (Sandy Spring Museum; Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; $5)
MUSEUM WALK WEEKEND: D.C. is a city full of free museums, but some of its best art collections are still kept behind ticketed doors. This weekend, some of those ticketed spaces — including the Phillips Collection, Dumbarton House and Dupont Underground — are opening up their doors for free during the annual Museum Walk Weekend. (Dupont Circle; Saturday and Sunday; 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; FREE)
CHINATOWN COMMUNITY FESTIVAL: Bonsai specialists, Henna artists, K-pop dancers, tea experts, tai chi practitioners, yo-yo performers and more will take part in the Chinatown Community Festival, which the Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs brings to Chinatown Park this Saturday. (Chinatown Park; 11 a.m.; FREE)
AFRO LATINO FEST: It’s never a bad idea to swing by Malcolm X Park on a Saturday, but this Saturday, it’s a particularly good one, because the DC Afro Latino Fest is taking over. Hosted by the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs, the festival brings you a celebration of D.C.’s Latinx community through music, dancing and more. (Malcolm X Park; 12 p.m.-7 p.m.; FREE)
TAKOMA TRUKGARTEN: Booze up your weekend at Takoma Trukgarten, a celebration of craft beer and cider taking over Takoma this Saturday. Buy a tasting package and receive a number of pours as well as a commemorative glass. Don’t forget to pair your beer of choice with meals from your favorite local food purveyors. (Parking Lot Next to 201 Ethan Allen Ave.; 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.; $30+)
WASHINGTON FOLK FESTIVAL: From bluegrass and honky tonk to tango and klezmer, the Washington Folk Festival brings you a global sampling of folk music performed by musicians who live in the D.C. area. In addition to live music, this free event brings you dance demonstrations, storytelling, and artisan crafts. (Glen Echo Park; 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.; FREE) (For more upcoming summer festivals, check out DCist’s full summer festival guide.)
QUEERING SOUND: It’s June, meaning your weekend event options are about to get a lot more queer. If you’re looking for a Pride event this Saturday, consider Rhizome’s Queering Sound, which brings together queer musicians and artists from the DMV for a weekend of experimental sounds and musical innovation. (Rhizome DC; Saturday 2 p.m.; Sunday 7 p.m.; $10+)
R&B N’ BUNS: Sandlot Anacostia hosts R&B and Buns, a ’90s and ’00s R&B cookout on Saturday afternoon featuring food vendors, drinks, and music from DJs K-Meta and Bundysworld. Early bird tickets are still available,but the price goes up as the event gets closer. (Sandlot Anacostia; 4 p.m.-9 p.m.; $10-20)
MORE: A Writing Hour: A Guided Writing Workshop (Capitol Hill Arts Workshop; 10 a.m.; FREE), Paws on the Plaza (Tysons Corner Center; 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; FREE), Pride Family Day (Smithsonian American Art Museum; 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.; FREE), Culture Queen Kids Hour: Create a Culture (Anacostia Community Museum, 12 p.m.; FREE), DC Truck Touch Festival (RFK Stadium Lot 8, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.; FREE) Pride Month Kick Off Carnival (Eastern Market Metro Park; 12 p.m.-3 p.m.; FREE), Storytelling: A Workshop in Creative Nonfiction (Hill Center at Old Naval Hospital; 1 p.m.-4 p.m.; $55), Mary Cassatt: Painting the Modern Woman (National Gallery of Art; 2 p.m.; FREE), Southwest Block Party at Lansburgh Park (Lansburgh Park; 2 p.m.-4 p.m.; FREE), Town Square Soiree at Chevy Chase Lake (Chevy Chase Lake; 6 p.m.; FREE), Atlas Arts Lab in Concert: Christopher Prince (Atlas Performing Arts Center; 4 p.m.; $25), DC Strings Workshop Annual Gala (Arts Club of Washington; 5 p.m.-9 p.m.; $150+), BENT: Pride 2023 (9:30 Club; 10 p.m.; $25)
SPONSORED Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Events: Join us at the museum this month! We’re celebrating World Ocean Day on June 8 with a day of activities for all ages, including penguin puppet encounters and conversations with scientists and artists. Check out our full schedule of events & exhibits here. (National Museum of Natural History, FREE.)
SUNDAY, JUNE 4
OPEN STREETS: You’ve only got two opportunities to attend an Open Streets festival — during which the city shuts down a D.C. street and repurposes it for recreation — this year, a reduction from last year’s six. One of those opportunities arrives this Sunday on 12th Street NE, with hourly outdoor classes and demonstrations. (12th Street NE; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; FREE)
DOLLY: Hello, Dolly Parton! Kick off Pride Month with the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington D.C.’s Dolly, a tribute to the glamorous country music legend. For their season finale, the chorus will break out their cowboy boots and singing Parton hits like “Here You Come Again” and “Jolene.” (Lincoln Theatre; Saturday 7 p.m.; Sunday 3 p.m.; $25+)
NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR: Get to know your neighbors this weekend at A Wider Circle’s Neighbor to Neighbor Day, a community event featuring learning opportunities, volunteer projects, carnival games, arts and crafts, and food and drinks. Don’t miss the panel discussion on poverty, equity and economic security featuring WAMU’s own Michael King and Morgan Baskin. (A Wider Circle; 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.; $25+)
MORE: Emma’s Torch Brunch Club (2212 Rhode Island Ave. NE; Saturdays and Sundays through July; $35+), Through the Gates of Hell: Dante and Auguste Rodin (National Gallery of Art; 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.; FREE), Impressions (Dance Loft on 14; Friday 7:30 p.m.; Sunday 2 p.m.; $30), Vermeer: The Greatest Exhibition (National Gallery of Art; 2 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.; FREE), Carmina Burana + Hailstork’s Fifth Symphony (National Philharmonic; 3 p.m. $19), Sake Tasting (Love, Makoto; 6 p.m.; $125), Profs & Pints DC: Mermaid Tales (metrobar; 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; $14.31), Over Easy: Queer Dance Party (Songbyrd Music House; 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.; $2.58)
