Things to Do

27 Things to Do in the DC Area This Week and Weekend

Washington National Opera's "Treemonisha," Herstory 5K, and Ratboys concert are exciting things to do.

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Sang a ticket to Aluminate the Night at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Photograph by Tony Powell/NMWA.

Happy Monday, DC!

Jumpstart March at a 5K race in Downtown DC to celebrate Women’s History Month. You can also get tickets to an inspiring new opera from Washington National Opera or Ratboy’s indie-rock concert.

 

Best Things to Do This Week and Weekend

March 2–March 8

    1. Washington National Opera’s Treemonisha. Washington National Opera’s Treemonisha is the company’s first performance since leaving the Kennedy Center. The early 20th century opera by ragtime composer Scott Joplin narrates the story of a young Black freedwoman determined to be a leader (Sat-Sun, March 15, $62+, Lisner Auditorium).
    2. Aluminate the Night. Don your favorite glitter or metallic outfit for Aluminate the Night at the National Museum of Women in the Arts. The sparkling after-hours program features live mural art, pop-up activations, music, and drinks to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of award-winning social media campaign #5WomenArtists.  (Thurs, $150+, Downtown).
    3. Ratboys in concert. The Chicago indie-rock band Ratboys has a sold-out show at 9:30 Club this weekend. There’s still time to snag a ticket from third-party sellers so you don’t miss the group’s melodic performance of new album Singin’ to an Empty Chair (Fri, $51+, Shaw).
    4. “Vishnu’s Cosmic Ocean” exhibit at the National Museum of Asian Art. Observe a rare discovery from the 11th century at the National Museum of Asian Art. Parts of the bronze Vishnu—a statue representing the Hindu god—have been reunited for the first time to create a 20-foot-long sculpture on loan from the National Museum of Cambodia (Sat through September 7, free, Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art).
    5. HerStory 5K. Runners and walkers can honor Women’s History Month during the HerStory 5K at Freedom Plaza this weekend. The race kicks off at 9:15 AM for kids and 10 AM for adults. After the dash, there’s a community festival with music and local women-owned vendors (Sat, free, Downtown).
Related
February Culture Guide: 45 Things to Do in the DC Area

Want More Things to Do?

Arts and culture:

  • National Gallery Nights features an artsy garden party where you can dress in your best spring attire, craft floral art, and find more blossom-inspired fun (March 12, free but registration required, ticket lottery opens Mon, National Gallery of Art).
  • Play a round of music trivia with neighbors at Songbyrd (Tues, free, Union Market).
  • Linguist Dr. Anne Curzan discusses the sounds of the American Revolution at Planet Word (Tues, $15, Downtown).
  • Tap into techno music and culture with music historian Adrian Loving at Phillips after 5 (Thurs, $20, Dupont Circle).
  • See film clips, artifacts, and more objects related to the Red Scare as part of the “Blacklisted: An American Story” exhibit (Fri through September 7, $12 for adults, free for ages 12 and younger, Downtown).
  • Watch a historical biopic about Portuguese explorer Magellan at the Smithsonian (Sun, free, registration encouraged, Smithsonian National Asian Art Museum).

Community and heritage:

  • Watch movies featuring women leads in celebration of Women’s History Month (Mon, free, West End).
  • Experience music, Irish dancers, pipe bands, and more at Ballyshaners St. Patrick’s Day parade (Sat, free, Alexandria).
  • Create a corn husk doll, enjoy cultural dances, and learn about Native women’s history from museum curators (Sat, free, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian).

Theater and shows:

  • Indie-rock musical Safety Not Guaranteed opens at Signature Theatre (Tues through April 12, $47+, Arlington).
  • The Harlem Globetrotters blend together basketball, air-defying stunts, and live performance at Capital One Arena (Sat, $47+, Capital One Arena).

Music and concerts:

  • Iconic rock band Journey arrives in DC for their farewell tour (Wed, $62+, Capital One Arena).
  • Virtuoso violinist Joshua Bell performs classical works with Academy of St. Martin in the Fields at Strathmore (Fri, $78+, Bethesda).
  • Listen to Indian music and see cultural dance showcases in celebration of Holi (Sat, free, Dupont Circle).
  • Get ready to move your feet at DC Square Dance Party (Sat, $10, Columbia Heights).

Bites and beverages:

  • Enjoy afternoon tea and Maryland crab beignets amid glamorous cherry blossom decor in the Waldorf Astoria’s Clocktower Atrium (begins Fri, $120, Downtown).
  • Celebrate International Women’s Day at Hotel Zena’s Her Plate multi-course dinner and meet local women chefs (March 6, $128, Downtown).
  • Hank’s Oyster Bar commemorates Women’s History Month in a tasty collab with Chef Patrice Cleary (through March 31, free entry, Alexandria, Dupont Circle, Wharf).

Get involved:

  • You can adopt a puppy at Atlas Brew Works Bridge District (Sat, free, Anacostia).
  • Find a new clothing item or book at the Queer & Fat Positive Market to help raise funds for DMV Mutual Aid (Sat, $15, H Street Corridor).
  • Compete in a ping pong or pickleball tournament to support education nonprofit 826DC (Sat, donations welcome, Columbia Heights).

Things to do with kids:

  • Kiddos can watch an interactive performance led by the Great Zucchini and make crafts at Atlas Performing Arts Center (Sat, free, H Street Corridor).

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.

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Briana Thomas

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.