Happy Monday, DC!
Let’s end March with music, kite-flying, cherry blossom fun, and a colorful Holi festival. There’s also some egg-citing ways to celebrate Easter weekend with your kids.
Best Things to Do This Week and Weekend
March 25-March 31
- Zach Bryan in concert. In 2022, singer-songwriter Zach Bryan made a major-label debut with American Heartbreak, and last year, he released a hit self-titled album. There’s no surprise his Capital One Arena show is sold out. Fans of the country artist’s storytelling can find resale tickets online (Mon, $202+, Capital One Arena).
- Blossom Kite Festival. Kite enthusiasts can fly kites and play games on the Washington Monument Grounds for the Blossom Kite Festival. In between flying your colorful kite, you can watch live Japanese drumming performances, and see kite demos by experts Team KiteLife, Wings Over Washington Kite Club, and traditional Edo-style kite master Mr. Mikio Toki (Sat, free, National Mall).
- Holi in the District. Holi, the Festival of Colors, returns to Union Market for an evening of fun, fellowship, and cultural performances. Upon arrival, guests will receive a satchel of colored powder and a T-shirt, to participate in the Indian holiday tradition of color throwing. DC Dosa, RASA, Malai, and Buffalo & Bergen will be serving drinks and delicious food to add to the celebration, and help raise funds for the Akshaya Patra Foundation (Mon, free, Union Market).
- Larry David at the Anthem. After 12 hilarious seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm, the sitcom is coming to a close next month. Ahead of the series finale, fans of the show and its creator—Seinfield’s Larry David—can join an intimate conversation with David at the Anthem as he discusses his contributions to comedy culture (Fri, $125+, Wharf).
- “Unknown Soldier” at Arena Stage. With heartfelt and playful songs by composer Michael Friedman and a book by Daniel Goldstein, this historical musical narrates three generations of a family’s past after a woman uncovers a mysterious World War I-era secret. The Unknown Soldier premieres this weekend at Arena Stage (Fri through May 5, $56+, Southwest DC).
- Amaarae in concert. Up-and-coming Ghanaian-American singer Amaarae continues to rise in popularity since the release of her sophomore project, Fountain Baby. She’ll bring her Afro-pop fusion sounds to Silver Spring’s Fillmore (Wed, $40+, Silver Spring).
- Bloomaroo at the Wharf. Usher in the arrival of spring at the Wharf’s rescheduled cherry blossom-inspired Bloomaroo. All ages are welcome to participate in a matcha tea sampling, a haiku creation station, and kids’ crafts, and you can also watch go-go, jazz, and rock performances across multiple music stages. To close out the affair there will be a pink fireworks finale along the decorated waterfront (Sat, free, Wharf).
- “Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection, 1860–1960.” The Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is commemorating a 50-year anniversary with a major survey of works from their robust collections. View a mostly-chronological presentation of 270 artworks in “Revolutions: Art from the Hirshhorn Collection, 1860–1960” (through April 20, 2025, free, Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden).
Want More Things to Do?
Arts and culture:
- It’s the final week to watch nature-themed films at The Environmental Film Festival (closes Sat, free+, various locations).
- The Bachelor finale is happening this week. You can catch all the drama at Mission’s watch party (Mon, $15+, Navy Yard).
- Food writer Bee Wilson discusses the history of cooking at Bold Fork Books (Mon, $5+, Northwest DC).
- View live art from artists Eazy Yoke and Aundrae Williams, listen to live music, and participate in drink tastings at Barrel & Bushel (Mon, free entry, Tysons).
- Play a round of Women’s History Month-themed trivia at the Smithsonian (Tues, free, Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery).
- Authors Leah and Richard Rothstein discuss their new book about the history of racial segregation, Just Action (Tues, free, Takoma).
- Compete in a game of fact-finding and trivia to win prizes at DC9 Nightclub (Tues, free, U Street Corridor).
- Browse 19th-century quilts crafted by Amish women at the Smithsonian’s new “Pattern and Paradox” exhibit (Thurs through September 2, free, Smithsonian American Art Museum).
- It’s opening weekend for Eckington Flea pop-up market. You can shop art, candles, chocolate, Mexican bites, and more (Sat through May 4, free, Eckington).
Community and heritage:
- Join a thought-provoking discussion about The State of Black Women in the Government Workplace (Tues, free, Penn Quarter).
- Celebrate the achievements of women in entertainment with the Mayor’s office (Tues, free, Downtown).
- Visit the museum to learn how abolitionist Frederick Douglass used speeches, personal narrative, and images to expand his activism (Thurs, free, Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery).
Theater and shows:
- Attend the live taping of The Political Gabfest podcast at The Hamilton Live (Wed, $20+, Downtown).
- Comedian Greg Warren tells jokes live at DC Improv (Thurs, $22, Downtown).
- A new play by Mosaic Theater highlights the legacy of Nancy Reagan (Thurs-April 21, $53, H Street Corridor).
- Local dancers showcase a new movement work in Prime (Thurs, $22+, Arlington).
Music and concerts:
- The Hip Hop & Jazz Festival at Kennedy Center boasts jazz listening sessions, a concert with pianist Robert Glasper, and more funk and R&B spotlights (Wed-April 19, free+, Kennedy Center).
- DC rock guitarist Dave W. Chappell plays at Blues Alley (Wed, $30, Georgetown).
- Alternative rock band Grouplove performs two sold-out shows at 9:30 Club; some tickets are available via third-party sellers (Wed, $55+, Shaw).
- You’re sure to groove at Fulton Lee’s DC9 Nightclub pop concert (Wed, $20+, U Street Corridor).
- Experience a live acoustic concert as part of the NoMa in Bloom Pop-up series (Wed, free, NoMa).
- Hailey Whitters brings country tunes to The Atlantis (Thurs, $42 , U Street Corridor).
- All-star DJ Steve Aoki spins tunes at Echostage (Fri, $55+, Northeast DC).
- Watch The North Country band’s new music video through a VR lens at Culture House DC (Fri, $25, Southwest DC).
- Black country and folk artists collaborate as the Black Opry Revue (Fri, $37, Vienna).
Things to do with kids:
- Search for pastel-colored Easter eggs at The Perch (Sat, free to attend, $20 for hunt, Tysons).
- Kids can participate in a Easter egg scavenger hunt, and watch a magic show at Cherry Hill Park (Sat, free, but bring your own basket, Falls Church).
Plan ahead:
- Go on an egg-citing family adventure through the National Zoo on Easter Monday (April 1, free, but timed-entry pass required, National Zoo).
If you enjoyed these events, please don’t forget to share this post with a friend on social media, and sign up for our newsletter for more things to do.
Briana A. Thomas is a local journalist, historian, and tour guide who specializes in the research of D.C. history and culture. She is the author of the Black history book, Black Broadway in Washington, D.C., a story that was first published in Washingtonian in 2016.
