Happy Monday, DC!
There’s plenty of cool things to do over the extended weekend. Snag a ticket to the highly-anticipated opening of Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Othello, take the family to IlluminAsia Festival, or snap your fingers at Jazz in the Garden’s kick-off concert.
Best Things to Do This Week and Weekend
May 18–25
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- Jazz in the Garden. Jazz in the Garden returns this weekend to the picturesque Sculpture Garden. Take in views of the National Gallery of Art’s outdoor works while listening to the smooth rhythms of live jazz, Latin fusion, R&B, and other genres. The kick-off concert welcomes one of DC’s favorite soul and funk bands Oh He Dead (Fridays May 22-August 14, free but lottery registration required, National Gallery of Art).
- Othello at Shakespeare Theatre Company. Wendell Pierce from Baltimore-based TV show The Wire stars as Shakespeare’s troubled character struck by jealousy and obsession in the classic tale of Othello (Tues through June 28, $76+, Penn Quarter).
- The IlluminAsia Festival. returns to Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art to celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month. This weekend there are three main events: a Bruce Lee film screening accompanied by a live dee-jay score on Friday and a Children’s Book Fair spotlighting Asian writers followed by a BookCon Fair and Disco dance party on Saturday (Fri-Sat, free but registration encouraged, Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art).
- National Memorial Day Parade and Concert. Honor the sacrifice of America’s soldiers and service members at the National Memorial Day Parade. The Freedom 250 parade will march down Constitution Avenue, with spectators being able to watch live on the street or on a television broadcast. The pre-parade entertainment beginning at 9 AM on Memorial Day includes live performances and celebrity appearances. The day prior, you can attend a live concert broadcast on the West Lawn of the United States Capitol featuring Jack Everly, Blessing Offor, National Symphony Orchestra, and many others (May 26, free, virtual, Downtown).
- Del Fest. Cumberland’s family-friendly music festival brings bluegrass singers and musicians together for a multi-day outdoor showcase. Music fans can attend for a day or camp out on the grounds overnight. The Del McCoury Band and the Travelin’ McCourys bring together a packed lineup of talent including fiddler Alison Krauss, rock ensemble Toy Factory Project, and several others. There will also be a kids’ zone, late night concerts, food vendors, and yoga (Thurs-Sun, $29+ for kids, $195 for teens, $83+ for adult single day passes).
Want More Things to Do?
Arts and culture:
- NMWA Nights features an after-hours art gathering with music, drinks, and the new “Burnished” pottery exhibit (Wed, $25, Downtown).
- Discover Tudor Place’s florals and landscapes at their Spring Garden Party (Wed, $300+, Georgetown).
- Capital Harvest on the Plaza is back for seasonal fresh food and art shopping (select Weds through October 28, free, Downtown).
- Don’t miss this cooking demo with Italian cooking teacher Giuliano Hazan (Thurs, free, Smithsonian National Museum of American History).
- Look at 150 photographs spanning two centuries of American mining history (Sat through August 23, free, National Gallery of Art).
- Compete in a game of Mahjong while enjoying dinner bites from LowBowl Supper at the Chinese American Museum (Sun, $69, Downtown).
Community and heritage:
- Celebrate DC Black Pride week at the Unity Ball, comedy shows, a pageant, a leadership summit, and more events (Thurs-Mon, prices vary, various DC locations).
- Learn about Indigenous service members on a museum tour and talk with Native veterans during Memorial Day weekend (Sat, free, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian).
- Honor America’s fallen service members at Arlington National Cemetery’s Flowers of Remembrance Day (Sun, free, Arlington).
Theater and shows:
- See The Gardener—a drama on love, loss, and self-discovery— at Miracle Theatre (Wed, $15, Eastern Market).
- It’s the last chance to see F. Scott Fitzgerald’s timeless novel The Great Gatsby live on stage at National Theatre (closes Sun, $67+, Downtown).
Music and concerts:
- Joe Brotherton plays New Orleans-style jazz at Met Park (Thurs, free, Arlington).
- The Honest Politix and DC’s Hue perform at Go-Go Moshpit (Thurs, $20, H Street Corridor).
- Rock-and-roll icon Sting is live in concert alongside bandmates Dominic Miller and Chris Maas for three nights at Wolf Trap (Thurs-Sat, $66+, Vienna).
- Dance to cumbia melodies outdoors at Block Fest (Sat, free, Mount Pleasant).
- Move your body to tracks from ABBA, Donna Summer, The Bee Gees, and several other artists from the ‘70s and ‘80s at 9:30 Club (Sat, $32.50, Shaw).
- Local DJs and soul artists perform at The Capital House Music Festival at Alethia Tanner Park (Sat, free with registration, NoMa).
Sports:
- DC United faces off against Montréal this holiday weekend. Root on our beloved soccer team and attend a post-game autograph session with Sean Johnson (Sat, $26+, Audi Field).
Exercise and wellness:
- Find your zen at this community yoga class with Balance Gym (Thurs, free, U Street Corridor).
- Join an outdoor tap dance jamboree (Sat, free, Dupont Circle).
- Break a sweat at a Bollywood-inspired workout (May 25, free, Union Market).
Things to do with kids:
- Asia on the Creek is an outdoor festival where all ages can experience traditional Asian art, dance, music, cuisine, fashion, and shops (Sat, free, Frederick).
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.
