Our end-of-the-week picks for March 28-30
We've gathered up some fun things to do in DC this weekend. You can also read what else is going on during the week and throughout the month.
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Friday
The National Cherry Blossom Festival
DC celebrates the blooming of cherry trees with a month-long festival that commemorates the 1912 gift from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city. Check out popular festival events in the lead-up to the celebration, in addition to our guide to the celebration, how to get the most popular blossom spots and the best places to snap photos.
Earth to Space: Arts Breaking the Sky
Across three weeks of programming, the Kennedy Center welcomes musicians, astronauts, poets, researchers, visual artists, engineers, actors, environmentalists, architects, astronomers, dancers, scientists, filmmakers and more to provide insights into the marvel of the universe. Earth to Space aims to inspire action to protect the planet and stimulate thinking on the challenges that modern society faces.
More Information
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566
© Kennedy Center
New York City Ballet: Coppélia
The New York City Ballet returns to the Kennedy Center to stage a comedic masterpiece about an eccentric toymaker and the doll he creates. The entire family can delight in the misadventures of the spirited Swanilda, her foolish sweetheart Frantz and the mad inventor Dr. Coppélius in a ballet filled with unforgettable moments and a legendary finale.
Tickets
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566
Big Bear Cafe Cherry Blossom Market
The annual market in northwest DC features more than 25 local vendors on site. Expect to see a wide variety of items for sale, from vintage fashion to handmade pottery to artisan chocolates. Live music by Amy Reid will set the vibe as you shop for the perfect springtime finds.
Free Admission | Register
Big Bear Cafe, 1700 First Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Presents: Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (in concert)
Experience one of the greatest films of all time as you never have before at Strathmore. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will perform John Williams’ legendary score for Raiders of the Lost Ark as you watch the movie play on the big screen. Indiana Jones’ adventures take him across the world and you’ll be swept up in the action during this unique opportunity.
7:30 p.m. | Tickets
The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD 20852
Saturday
Blossom Kite Festival
Head to the Washington Monument grounds for this free kite-flying extravaganza, one of the most highly anticipated events of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The entire family can watch expert kite fliers from all over the world, whether enjoying the event near the Monument or at a featured park. More information is available on the Festival's website.
Bloomaroo at the Wharf
Visit The Wharf for Bloomaroo®, a free spring extravaganza featuring an evening of cherry-blossom themed art, music, fireworks and family-friendly fun along the waterfront. Enjoy beer gardens on District Pier, fireworks and three stages, each with its own lineup of live music. You can also check out more than 80 shops and restaurants along The Wharf.
4-9 p.m. | Free Admission
760 Maine Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024
#Charlottesville
Keegan Theatre serves as the platform for a powerful new one-woman show from award-winning performance artist Priyanka Shetty. In 2017, the “Unite the Right” rally and counter-protests shook Charlottesville, Va. and the country at-large. Shetty’s play uses interviews and her own insights to paint a portrait of the toll the incident has taken on residents of Charlottesville.
Tickets
Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
It’s A Mother****ing Pleasure
Woolly Mammoth Theatre, along with the award-winning and disability-led theatre company FlawBored, invite you to explore disability rights and wrongs. The searing satire focuses on PR firm “Rize” as they team up with Ross, a Blind influencer who’s ready to profit off the guilt of non-disabled, anxious people. Prepare yourself for a sensational examination of identity politics and the cost of doing the right thing.
Tickets
Wolly Mammoth Theatre, 641 D Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Sister Act at Ford's Theatre
Based on the smash hit 1992 film starring Whoopi Goldberg, Sister Act makes for divine musical comedy at Ford’s Theatre this upcoming spring. The Tony-nominated musical follows a nightclub singer who takes to a convent to hide from the mob. Self-discovery and glorious group harmonies ensue. The play features original music by the legendary Alan Menken.
Tickets
511 10th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Jason’s Lyric Live!
A star-studded cast that includes Allen Payne, Eva Marcille, Treach, Tyrin Turner, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs and K. Michelle brings Je’Caryous Johnson’s stage adaptation of Jason’s Lyric to vivid life at the National Theatre. Based on the motion picture, the production focuses on a couple fighting for their love and future in the gritty streets of Houston.
Tickets
The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004
The Age of Innocence – Final Weekend
Adapted from the beloved Edith Wharton novel by playwright Karen Zacarías, this new play at Arena Stage will captivate audiences with its stirring depiction of 1870s New York City. The Age of Innocence is timeless in its powerful critique of the harshness of societal norms as it masterfully depicts Newland Archer’s struggles as he must choose between privilege and passion.
Tickets
Arena Stage, 1101 6th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
Sunday
Delighting Krishna: Paintings of the Child-God
A new exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art puts the Pushtimarg tradition front-and-center and showcases 14 “pichwais,” which are monumental paintings of Krishna on cotton cloth. The pieces have not been displayed to the public since the 1970s. Museum visitors can encounter the larger-than-life creations and learn about how the Hindu Pushtimarg community engages with the spiritual.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of Asian Art, 1050 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560
Elizabeth Catlett: A Black Revolutionary Artist
Through singular and daring prints and sculptures, Elizabeth Catlett became of the defining artist-activists of her day. Catlett has roots in DC, Chicago and New York but spent 60 years in Mexico, where she created art “for the people.” U.S. and Mexican injustices resonate throughout her work. The National Gallery of Art will display more than 150 of her creations, including rarely seen paintings and drawings.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC
Blooming Wonders: A Best of Spring Exhibition
ARTECHOUSE’s annual springtime exhibit has become a must-see for locals and visitors alike. This year’s display brings together past smash-hit cherry blossom-themed installations as well as a new interactive experience. Fix your gaze upon immense floral landscapes, spellbinding digital visualizations and surreal spring-themed environments. Use discount code 'AEF10' for 10% off your tickets.
Tickets
ARTECHOUSE, 1238 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20002
Go to a DC Defenders game at Audi Field
Defenders football has become a springtime tradition at Audi Field in the nation’s capital. Hard-hitting action returns so expect a rowdy atmosphere as the DC squad looks to defend home field against the Birmingham Stallions in their first game of the season.
Tickets
Audi Field, 100 Potomac Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20024
The Sound of Black Music
Viewed through a utopian, Afrofuturistic lens, this vibrant one-act concert reimagines the classic musical, featuring songs such as "Do-Re-Mi," "Edelweiss" and "Climb Ev'ry Mountain," all recast through a Black Roots music kaleidoscope. With beautiful voices, dazzling arrangements and a powerful message of unity and resilience, this electrifying show celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Black music and its indelible impact on American popular culture. “One of the most titanically musical nights of my year” (New York Times).
Tickets
Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD 20852
Uncle Vanya
Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Harman Hall welcomes acclaimed English actor Hugh Bonneville to its stage for a tension-filled production. Bonneville plays the titular role in this play that sees a family and its traditions torn apart when its elderly figurehead debuts a new young wife. Audiences will be dazzled by this dramedy from the mind of Anton Chekhov.
Tickets
Harman Hall, 610 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Places to Stay
Need some inspiration for a place to stay in between events? Washington, DC is filled with a multitude of hotels to fit your needs. Whether you are looking for that specialty boutique hotel or booking at your favorite hotel brand, Washington, DC's booking engine has it all. Find your stay today!
Do you know where you’ll be dining pre- or post-event? From pop-up restaurants to award-winning hot spots to laid-back food halls, our DC food guide is perfect for helping you plan a more memorable experience.
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