A weekend of celebration and activism is coming to the DC area. Crowds of people are expected to demonstrate against gun violence on Saturday during the March for Our Lives, and thousands of members and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community will stand up for visibility and acceptance at Capital Pride.
While Saturday’s forecast calls for clouds and rain by noon, we expect streets filled with rainbows.
Capital Pride Parade, Festival and Concert
Capital Pride will be back in full force after two years with the REUNITED theme.
The Capital Pride Parade is the centerpiece of the weekend. It will take place Saturday from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Dupont Circle and Logan Circle neighborhoods. Here is a map of the parade route. Before or after, stop at pride party 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on 17th Street NW.
Sunday, the Capital Pride Festival will take over Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 7th and 3rd Streets near the National Mall. DNCE, with singer Joe Jonas, will headline the Capital Pride Concert. Entry to the festival and concert is free, although VIP packages are available.
From family gatherings to nighttime ragers, there are plenty of ways to celebrate Pride weekend.
The Pride on the pier and fireworks (Saturday, 2pm-9pm, The Wharf) will feature entertainment, a dance party and a family area.
There is also an author to speak with James Kirchick about his book “Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington” (Thursday, 7 p.m., Library of Congress), DC Front Runners Pride Race (Friday, 6:30 p.m., Congress cemetery), Sixth & I National Pride Shabbat Service (Friday, 6 p.m.), the WERQ Pride Party and Drag Show (Saturday, 3-6 p.m., DC Brau beer garden) and the We say Gay Pride Party (Sunday, 3-11 p.m., Dirty Habit).
The parties include RIOT! The official opening night of Capital Pride (Friday, 9 p.m., Echostage) and WONDERLANDwhich organizers describe as “Alice in Wonderland meets Willy Wonka meets Studio 54” (Saturday, 8 p.m. HQO).
Our Pride Guide has more details and an overview of other LGBTQIA+ Pride Month celebrations in Maryland and Virginia.
More events and things to do in DC, Maryland and Virginia this weekend
Maryland Strawberry Festival
Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 11am-4pm
Sandy Spring Museum (17901 Bentley Road, Sandy Spring, Maryland)
Celebrate – and eat – delicious strawberries all day in Montgomery County. The 40th Annual Sandy Spring Museum Strawberry Festival will also feature live entertainment, carnival games, crafts, a plant sale and more for the whole family. Tickets start at $5.
Mount Vernon Summer Festival
Friday and Saturday, 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
George Washington’s Mount Vernon, 12 acre field
Watch a sunset over George Washington’s historic Mount Vernon estate while listening to live music and craft beer samples. Bring a blanket or a small lawn chair. Tickets start at $40 for members and $48 for the public. Here are more details.
Princess Diana: Exhibition with Accredited Access
Open Wednesday to Sunday until August 31, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Ground floor of Tysons Corner Center
Discover the life and legacy of Princess Diana from the unique perspective of her official royal photographer. The intimate portrayal of the icon in the documentary is exclusive to the exhibition, as it uses never-before-seen images, videos and stories.
Prices vary depending on factors such as age and day of the week.
Monster Jam Stadium Championship Series
Saturday
FedEx Field
Giant, colorful trucks with 5.5-foot-tall wheels will tear up the dirt and fly through FedExField. Competitors include “El Toro Loco” and “Grave Digger”. Tickets for Monster Jam start at $25. Check out the Pit Party for photo ops and to meet drivers.
Celebrate in Rosé
The plateau at National Harbor
Saturday, doors open at 11 a.m.
Rosé all day is no joke here. Put on your best pink and white outfit to enjoy sample libations, photo installations and live music.
Whiskeys of the World
June 11, 6 p.m. VIP or 6:45 p.m. GA
Yours Truly DC Hotel (1143 New Hampshire Ave NW, Washington, DC 20037)
Whiskey exhibitors from around the world come together in DC to create a high-class tasting experience. Attendees can explore the flavors of different whiskeys with access to ‘unlimited bites’, souvenir glassware, connections to top international distillers and more.
General admission tickets are $99. For perks like 45-minute early access to the event, VIP tickets are available for $150.
WERQ Pride Party and Drag Show
DC Brau Beer Garden (3178 Bladensburg Road Northeast)
Saturday, June 11, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Turn up the volume on this drag show night hosted by CAKE with performances from Crimsyn, Crystal Edge and Druex Sidora. Tickets are $15 and include a Signature Pride Pilsner beer.
Jollof’s Day
Saturday, 3 p.m.-7 p.m.
Sand Court, 633 Howard Rd SE, Washington, DC
Jollof, the beloved West African rice dish cooked with tomatoes and spices, is the star of this festival. Participants can sample a variety of recipes and then vote for their favorite, all to crown the winner of the Jollof Wars.
Tickets range from $20 to $75. A pre-festival panel titled “The Economics of Culture” will take place Friday at the Eaton DC Hotel, and it’s free with registration.
“Drum Family”
Until June 26
arena scene
Stage Africa! and Arena Stage have been powerhouses of DC’s cultural scene for decades, and now they’re joining forces. The story of “Drumfolk” focuses on the Stono Rebellion of 1739, which led to a South Carolina law banning enslaved African Americans from using drums. The story is told through bold movements and music.
Free things to do this weekend in DC, Maryland and Virginia
Afterhours @ NMAA: cool Korean
Friday, 5-8 p.m.
National Museum of Asian Art
Step into Korean culture and enjoy an after-hours foray into the National Museum of Asian Art. A folk-pop group from Seoul called ADG7 will perform and curators will lead gallery tours. You can buy Korean-inspired dishes at Bun’d Up, ice cream at Ruby Scoops, and signature cocktails at Please Bring Chips. It’s free, but register here in advance.
Korean Film Festival
Various screenings until next weekend
Freer Art and Virtual Gallery
The Korean Film Festival kicks off with a screening of “Hot in Day, Cold at Night” Friday at 8 p.m. in the Freer Gallery’s Meyer Auditorium. Here is the ticket information.
Other movies you can see this weekend include “Introduction” and “In Front of Your Face.” More films are set to premiere next weekend, both online and virtually. Here is a guide to the movies.
FUTURE Figure: Pride 2050
Friday, June 10, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Smithsonian Arts + Industries Building (in-person and virtual)
Reimagine the future of PRIDE at the Smithsonian’s FUTURES Cypher: Pride 2050. The main event is a call and response style art performance. Speakers of queer identification will share their thoughts on ideal futures, and performance artists will translate those thoughts into different mediums.
Showcase of innovative housing
Showcase from Friday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
National Mall, between 7e and 4e NW streets
Life-size home prototypes are popping up on the National Mall to showcase new technologies and building innovations. Hosted by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, it’s like an open door to the future.
Fly Together on Family Air and Space Day – UFOs: Fact or Fiction?
Saturday June 11, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia
Future astronauts and their families can learn about UFOs together by exploring the Air and Space Museum’s Soar Together @ Air and Space Family Day. Activities will include a video chat with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, an IMAX film screening, collaborative music creation, and other hands-on UFO demonstrations.
Although the cost is free, registration for the event is still required and parking at the site is $15. Tickets and registration can be found here.
Exhibition “Pattern Recognition” by Matt Neuman
Open on Saturday, then hours are Thursday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Long View Gallery (1234 9th Street NW Washington DC)
Matt Neuman’s geometric artwork reminiscent of optical illusions will be on display at the Long View Gallery in Mount Vernon. The visit is free.
Road to ESSENCE Culture Festival
Gateway DC (2700 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE, Washington, DC)
Saturday, noon to 4 p.m.
A preview of the big ESSENCE culture festival in New Orleans, this “pre-game” afternoon will feature a DJ, giveaways and “culturally inspiring experiences”, according to organizers. You must register and present proof that you are vaccinated.
Civic holiday
Sunday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The National Archives
More than 200 museums and cultural sites across the country are set to participate in the programming to “help inform the activism of tomorrow”, according to organizers. At the National Archives, you’ll find quizzes, art projects, and a Sign the Declaration activity.
