18 things to do around D.C. this weekend

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Every Thursday, we share weekend events happening around the city. Are you planning an event you’d like us to consider for this roundup? Send it to our team at 51st.news/submit-events.

Find even more events in our Civics Roundup, which focuses on ways to get more involved locally.

With America 250 in the rearview and the World Cup winding down, it's easy to imagine the excitement of July is all over. Luckily, there's never a dull weekend in D.C., and there are still ample opportunities to liven up this sticky summer weekend.

For those who can stand the humidity, step outside and connect with the capital’s unique nature at the Lotus and Water Lily Festival. If you prefer the comforts of AC, expand your perspective at the DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival.

ONGOING

DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival
📍 Various locations
⏰ July 16 - 19
💸 $15
This long-running local film festival platforms the creative voices of members of the Asian diaspora, demonstrating the power of diverse storytelling and representation. Screenings and events take place at the D.C. Alamo Drafthouse, Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market, AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, and more. Highlights include:

Thursday, July 16, at 6:30 p.m.: The Custodian, the opening night’s documentary, covers the attempt by a Pakistani-American superfan of D.C. NFL team to sell his collection of merch to please his wife.
Saturday, July 18, at 3 p.m.: Traces of Home is a referendum on intergenerational trauma. Filmmaker Collete Ghunim confronts her parents’ history, in an attempt to find healing.
Saturday, July 18, at 7 p.m.: Spa Night, a film by director Andrew Ahn, follows a young Korean-American man whose part-time job in a spa leads to revelations about his sexuality.

THURSDAY, JULY 16

The statue in Washington, D.C.'s Logan Circle at night — Spend a summer evening in Logan Circle. (Ted Eytan / Flickr)

Fungi Frolic
📍 Meet at the Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library (3310 Connecticut Ave. NW)
⏰ 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
💸 FREE
Mushrooms don't have to be scary! Take your little ones and join your neighbors in getting familiar with the most intelligent fungi in your backyard. The whole family can learn something while getting fresh air and connecting with the community. Don’t be late, or you’ll be left behind!

Schism: A Drag and Burlesque Show
📍 Barrel House Cafe & Bar (1341 14th St. NW)
⏰ 10 - 11:30 p.m.
💸 $23.18
Summer and winter battle in this month’s variation of the variety show at Barrel House. Witness talented local performers as they transform your night into one from a fantasy. Participants can dress up in the fire and ice theme for a potential prize!

FRIDAY, JULY 17

A bronze statue of reclining Vishnu at a museum — Learn about the history of the National Museum of Asian Art’s new Reclining Vishnu statue, on loan from the National Museum of Cambodia. (Ellywa / Wikimedia Commons)

America's 250th Birthday: African American Contributions to Nation Building
📍 Bellevue (William O. Lockridge) Neighborhood Library (115 Atlantic St. SW)
⏰ 3 - 5 p.m.
💸 FREE
This tourist and Trump-free America 250 event honors the contributions of African Americans to the building of this country through screenings of cinematic works exploring Black Revolutionary Patriots, pioneering filmmakers, and defining civil rights milestones.

Rock the Dock at the Wharf
📍 Transit Pier (970 Wharf St. SW)
⏰ 7 - 9 p.m.
💸 FREE
An all-ages outdoor summer concert is something that everyone can enjoy. This week’s edition, down by the river, features local party/rock cover band Hot Cactus. Bring a picnic, or grab dinner from one of the nearby restaurants!

Friday Night Fishing
📍 Diamond Teague Pier (1520 First St. SE)
⏰ 5 - 8 p.m.
💸 FREE
Looking for the other fish in the sea? Learn how to cast a line with your southeast neighbors. Beginners are welcome at this community activity in Anacostia. It’s first-come, first-served — so get there early. Anacostia Riverkeep staff will be there with bait, tackle, and rods, ready to teach you the basics.

Lifelong learners: Pots and Paint
📍 Anacostia Community Museum (1901 Fort Pl. SE)
⏰ 1 - 2 p.m.
💸 FREE
Use your creativity to connect with nature through terra cotta pot painting and herb harvesting at the only Smithsonian museum focused on the local. Come prepared for dirty hands and newfound knowledge on the healing abilities of both plants and using your creativity.

Teen Night at the Museum of Illusions
📍 The Museum of Illusions (927 H St. NW)
⏰ 5 - 8 p.m.
💸 FREE, with required registration
The library is promising to get teens off their phones for at least one night by offering the exciting opportunity to experience alternate reality in real life. A good lesson in learning that things can be quite different than how they appear! Tickets usually run $28.95, but for this event a limited number are covered, as long as you register in advance!

Asia After Dark | Vishnu's Cosmic Ocean
📍 National Museum of Asian Art (1050 Independence Ave. SW)
⏰ 5 - 9 p.m.
💸 FREE
Celebrate one of the museum’s newest additions with a special after-hours event. Along with exclusive insights into the artwork by the curator, visitors will get to see a special dance inspired by the bronze Vishnu and watch a special screening of a short film by Cambodian-American director praCh Ly about the present-day community of the bronze's original temple. Finish off the night with a conversation with the filmmaker, the choreographer, and the curator.

SATURDAY, JULY 18

A pink lotus flower blooming — A lotus flowers blooms at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. (Judy Gallagher / Flickr)

Lotus and Water Lily Festival

📍 Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens (1550 Anacostia Ave. NE)
⏰ 10 a.m - 6 p.m.
💸 FREE
Witness the gorgeous peak bloom of the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens water lilies. The annual summer event draws the garden’s biggest crowd of admirers! This year, the festival seeks to tie its theme to America’s 250 anniversary by highlighting stories that connect our shared national history with the beauty of this treasured landscape.

Music from the Hearts of America
📍 National Museum of American History (1300 Constitution Ave. NW)
⏰ 12 - 1 p.m.
💸 FREE
Experience an exploration of the influence of Brazilian music on American jazz. Learn how traditions like samba and Bossa Nova became stitched up into the fabric of this American genre. Following a workshop and lecture, there will be a concert by Origem, a Brazilian jazz band led by the Lucini Brothers.

THRIVE FEST
📍 Go-Go Museum and Cafe (1920 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE)
⏰ 6:30 - 9 p.m.
💸 FREE
Honor late local activist Adisa Bakare in an amazing night of music and community. Every year, Whitman-Walker Heath throws a community block party and back-to-school resource fair to bring folks together and share more about how the community health center can provide care and services to people living in Wards 7 and 8. This year’s edition will feature live go-go from The Experience Band and Show.

Meditation in the Gallery: Symmetries & Broken Symmetries
📍 National Academy of Sciences (2100 C St. NW)
⏰ 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
💸 FREE, registration + ID check required
Take a break from the chaos and visit the National Academy of Sciences for a contemplative experience inspired by art, physics, and the cosmos. Meditation teacher Jeneen Piccuirro will guide participants through a series of mindfulness practices designed to deepen your engagement with the exhibition.

Riggs Park Art Walk
📍 5401 South Dakota Ave. NE
⏰ 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
💸 FREE
Have you been lacking in artistic inspiration lately? The Riggs Park Art Walk may be what's needed to spark your creativity again. Everyone is welcome to this neighborhood event to meet local creatives and art appreciators during a lively walk through the Northeast D.C. streets.

Little Garden Market: Peaches
📍 McLean, Virginia (RSVP for address)
⏰ 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
💸 $15
Grab a ticket to this intimate curated backyard market centered around the quintessential summer fruit: Peaches. Buy fresh fruit and check out several locally owned and highly Instagrammable food vendors. This market seeks to be everything a midsummer day could dream: warm, intimate, and full of good food.

SUNDAY, JULY 19

Twelfth Night
📍 Shakespeare Theatre Company (450 7th St. NW)
⏰ 7:30 - 9 p.m. (also playing on July 21, 23, and 25)
💸 $25
It’s wedding season — but wouldn't you rather witness nuptials featuring someone else’s family drama? See Shakespeare at his most charming in this romantic comedy that (spoiler alert) ends in a double marriage. Local actors from the George Washington University and Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Academy wrap up their MFA program with this (affordable!) performance.

Gelalli X Anthea Manari: The African Luxury Fashion Edit
📍 SOST (1901 9th St. NW)
⏰ 12 - 6 p.m.
💸 $10
This in-person-only pop-up at the Shaw bar and restaurant features a curated edit of African fashion brands alongside jewelry from Anthea Manari, and a clothing swap hosted by women's-empowerment organization Vanede. This lineup is a one-time thing, so don't miss your chance!

World Cup Final Watch Fest
📍Atlas Brew Works Bridge District (600 Howard Rd. SE)
⏰ 12:30 p.m.
💸 $28.75
Catch the finale of the World Cup at this Anacostia brewery! Your ticket gets you a guaranteed seat and your first Atlas beer. Ensure you don’t miss the game waiting in line at bars and savor the last chance to enjoy the summer of soccer’s camaraderie and competitive energy! A portion of the proceeds from ticket and beer sales will go to DC SCORES.