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.
Summer in D.C. comes with a packed calendar. From Caribbean concerts to comedy shows, maker festivals, and floating bicycle races, there’s something for everyone this weekend. Whether you're looking to learn something new, make something with your hands, or simply be entertained, consider this your push to leave the house.
THURSDAY, JUNE 25
Settle onto a soccer field with takeout and a lighthearted comedy about baby kangaroos. (Ted Eytan / Flickr)
Live Figure Drawing: Pop-Up Art Night at Merry Pin 📍 Merry Pin (7350 Georgia Ave. NW) ⏰ 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. 💸 $20 (18+) An inclusive, queer-affirming figure drawing session invites artists of all skill levels into a body-positive space for real-time drawing from life. Whether you’re refining technique or simply learning to see in new ways, the room offers space for both focused study and ease. Materials are provided, though personal tools are welcome. The model will be posing nude, so participants are asked to engage with attentiveness and respect.
Adams Morgan Movie Nights: Kangaroo 📍 Marie Reed Recreation Center (18th & California St. NW) ⏰ Sunset 💸 FREE A D.C. classic returns to the field at Marie Reed for another season of free outdoor films under the stars. As the sun sets, spread out a blanket, unpack your snacks, or grab takeout from a nearby restaurant and settle in for a heartwarming evening with neighbors.
X Marks the Spot Late Night Comedy Show 📍 Golden Age (1726 Connecticut Ave. NW) ⏰ 10 - 11:30 p.m. 💸 FREE School’s out for summer — so stay up late for a cocktail with a side of comedy. This weekly comedy night in Dupont Circle features headliner Jack Schwartz alongside producer Alec Quinn, Kade Wonders, Dee Ahmed, and Dino Nzanga, with each comic bringing their own flair for storytelling and observation.
FRIDAY, JUNE 26
Celebrate Caribbean heritage and culture through music, movement, flavor, and art at Sycamore & Oak. (GoToVan / Flickr)
Fourth Annual Caribbean Cultural Concert 📍 Sycamore & Oak (1110 Oak Dr. SE, Suite 9) ⏰ 4 - 10 p.m. 💸 FREE A vibrant celebration of Caribbean heritage comes alive through music, movement, and flavor, hosted by D.C.’s Mayor’s Office on Caribbean Community Affairs. Steelpan, soca, reggae, and calypso keep the energy flowing, while dancers, poets, and visual artists share stories and cultural traditions. In between performances, try your hand at making a Carnival costume and explore the wellness fair, while enjoying classic foods from the region.
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SPONSORED: Escape with Washington Improv Theater! 📍 Studio Theatre (1501 14th St. NW) ⏰ June 26 - 28 💸 $20 + service fee Say goodbye to the heat, grind, and headlines. Say hello to laughter and hilarious improv with WIT this weekend, including the debut of the new production "Thin Walls" on Friday at 9:30 PM and the return of The Cookout: A Celebration of Black Improv in the DMV on Saturday at 4, 6, and 8 p.m. (Sunday’s 4 and 6 p.m. shows are BOGO!)
Big Moments, Little Stories 📍 Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum (1901 Fort Pl. SE) ⏰ 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. 💸 FREE Inspired by the exhibition “We Make History,” this hands-on storytime invites young learners and their caregivers to listen, imagine, and create together. Through stories and art-making, participants will explore how everyday moments can become lasting memories and meaningful pieces of the histories we share. Designed for early childhood audiences, the program celebrates storytelling as both a creative outlet and a way of making sense of the world around us.
Friday Night Concert Series: Hi Fi! Soul Band 📍 Yards Park (355 Water St. SE) ⏰ 7:30 - 9 p.m. 💸 FREE Hi Fi! Soul Band brings a wide-ranging set of soul, pop, R&B, and Afrobeats-inspired grooves to a boardwalk right by the Nats ballpark. With sing-along moments and danceable rhythms, the show offers nostalgic hits and modern tracks to keep the energy high all night long. Lay out a blanket or dine nearby to enjoy the vibes!
SATURDAY, JUNE 27
Stay centered, rooted, and present at Rhizome DC. (Natalie Goodwin / Pexels)
Yoga & Tarot Workshop 📍 Rhizome DC (6950 Maple St. NW) ⏰ 1 - 3 p.m. 💸 $35 Designed as a practice in embodied reflection, this two-hour session begins with yoga to ground breath and awareness, then moves into tarot as a tool for intuition and inquiry. Through guided prompts and shared reflection, participants explore how movement and symbolism can support inner clarity. Bring a mat, a tarot deck if you have one, and anything else that helps you settle into presence.
Improv for All! Workshop 📍 MLK Library (901 G St. NW) ⏰ 1 - 2:30 p.m. 💸 FREE Consider this your low-pressure invitation into the world of improvisation. Guided by Washington Improv Theater, this workshop invites participants of all experience levels to explore spontaneity, listening, and collaborative storytelling. The only requirement is a willingness to say “yes, and…” as you see where the room takes you.
MONSTERS! Opening Reception 📍 Thundershark Gallery (52 O St. NW #202c) ⏰ 4 - 8 p.m. 💸FREE Exploring the idea of “monsters” in all their forms, this eclectic exhibition within the 52 O Street Studios brings together a lineup of D.C.-area artists for a playful, celebratory evening of creative expression and community. Works will be available for purchase, and the artists will be on hand throughout the night. If you're feeling inspired to embrace your inner monster, this is your moment. BYOB adds to the relaxed, come-as-you-are atmosphere.
Red Bull Spin Off 📍 The Wharf (760 Maine Ave. SW) ⏰ 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 💸 FREE This daytime event combines improvisation and controlled chaos on water.Two-person teams test their kinetic prowess and build custom bicycles to race across a floating course where coordination matters as much as speed. It’s equal parts engineering challenge and performance spectacle all for your viewing pleasure — and, raising the stakes, we confirmed that if competitors fall, it will be into the Washington Channel.
SUNDAY, JUNE 28
Wander through a maze of 20 vendors offering vintage finds at The Parks Flea Market. (Newman Photographs / Pexels)
The Parks Flea Market 📍Marketplace Plaza (1155 Dahlia St. NW) ⏰ 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. 💸FREE The hunt for something unexpected is half the fun at this monthly flea market featuring more than 20 vendors selling vintage goods, accessories, records, books, and plenty of quirky treasures. Come for the finds, stay for the easygoing neighborhood atmosphere.
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SPONSORED: District Creates: An All Local Maker Festival 📍 633 Howard Rd. SE ⏰ 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. 💸 $10-75 By D.C. Makers, for the People of D.C.! Join the DC Makers Guild this Sunday for District Creates — a one-day outdoor festival packed with live craftsmanship demos, a curated Maker Market, hands-on Make & Take workshops, creative conversations, local craft beer, food trucks & music. Every ticket directly supports the Guild and funds resources, programming, and community for local makers throughout the year.
India Kea is a D.C. native and essayist adventuring through the city with a focus on art and food. Her writing reflects her passion for all things quirky and flavorful.
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