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Happy weekend to everyone except the Ellicott City peach and eggplant removers. Speaking of drama, D.C. Theatre Week is underway with deals on shows near and far.
Northeast D.C. will be popping with the legendary H Street Festival, celebrating 20 years on Saturday, plus an analog experience at D.C.’s first phone-free bar. Tommy asked Rock Harper about Hush Harbor in the latest edition of The Weekend Scene newsletter.
- Weekend weather: Temperatures will be summerlike on Friday before cooler weather arrives. Keep an eye on Sunday rain chances, too. Here’s the forecast.
Weekend highlights
Theatre Week
Sept. 18 to Oct. 5, tickets for $25, $45 or $65
🔗 Details
If you’re looking for a dose of culture and a deal, theatres around the D.C. area want to welcome you in for a show.
Think of D.C. Theatre Week like a restaurant week, but with more drama and clapping. Tickets are on sale now for more than two dozen productions, priced at $25, $45 or $65.
D.C. Theatre Week comes with free events, too, including the Lights Up! musical theater concert at The Wharf (Sun., 3 p.m.).
Maxwell And The Silent Serenade Ensemble
Thurs., Fri., Sat., MGM National Harbor, $78+
🔗 Details
Maxwell is celebrating thirty years of mood-setting with his trio of shows in Prince George’s County.
Level up your date or girls’ night by taking advantage of National Harbor’s Festifall, which includes Burger Week specials and free Capital Wheel rides for teachers on Saturdays this month.
Crossroads Music Festival
Fri. and Sat., downtown Leesburg, free to $250
🔗 Details
This music showcase in historic downtown Leesburg brings Sister Hazel (Fri.) and Andy Summers from the Police (Sat.) to the Tally Ho Theater. Tickets for those shows start at $55.
For a free option, go to the emerging artist showcase at ten locations around town on Saturday, including the Town Green. The music runs from 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Scroll (far) down on this page to see the full schedule.
Family-friendly
Whitman-Walker’s Walk &5k to End HIV
Sat., 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Anacostia Park
🔗 Details
For the 39th year, Whitman-Walker Health is hosting their annual walk to end HIV.
“The Walk is more than just a fundraiser—it’s a movement. Every step helps advance HIV prevention, support long-term survivors, and expand access to care for those most impacted, particularly young people and residents in Wards 7 and 8,” Whitman-Walker Health said in a release.
Participants are asked to fundraise or donate what they’re able. Any walker who donates or raises $35 is eligible for a T-shirt.
Free pick, family-friendly
H Street Festival
Sat., noon to 7 p.m., H Street Northwest Corridor
🔗 Details
Explore 12 blocks of H Street Northeast, sampling food, shopping from local businesses and stopping at stages with live music and local artists.
There will be activities for kids, and the festival is pet-friendly. Make a plan, though: H Street Festival is always packed. Take transit, and consider going early to beat some of the crowds. Bring a water bottle and sunscreen, too!
Free & family-friendly
Parks Ale Trail
Sat., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Rockville
🔗 Details
Get your Oktoberfest on while taking a spin around Lake Needwood, stopping along the way to enjoy an accordion player, living statues and a mid-hike beer garden at the Needwood Mansion. After the 2.5-mile walk, you can treat yourself to refreshments from local breweries and food vendors.
La Unica, a “Irish Latin Rock” band, will bring a lot of energy to the main stage, while kids can check out a bubble show, roving entertainers and yard games.
Free & family-friendly
#ALLCAPS Training Camp and Garage Sale
Did you know you can watch the Washington Capitals practice at MedStar Iceplex in Arlington for free? Training camp begins tomorrow, so you can swing by to watch an on-ice session. Here’s the schedule.
On Saturday, fans can also shop the Washington Capitals Garage Sale to score promo items from seasons past. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the general public, but season ticket holders can go early, starting at 10 a.m.
Free & family-friendly
Historic U.S. Constitution display
Through Oct. 1, National Archives
🔗 Details
Visitors have never before been able to view the entire U.S. Constitution at one time — until now.
To mark the United States’ 250th anniversary, the Constitution, its little-known “fifth page,” the Bill of Rights and the remaining 17 amendments are on display side-by-side for the first time.
You can see this special exhibit during the National Archives’ regular hours; reserve timed-entry tickets here. The Archives will also hold extended hours until 7 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday, plus Sept. 27-28.
Concerts this weekend
Bandalos Chinos, 8 p.m. Friday, Black Cat, $30 (advance)/$35 (day of)
Argentine pop band has a synthy sound reminiscent of disco and ‘70s and ‘80s soft rock. Chill grooves easy to move to. Details.
billy woods, 7 p.m. Friday, Union Stage, $25 and up
D.C.-born and New York-based rapper (and member of Armand Hammer) tours on the brilliant album “GOLLIWOG.” The rapper is hard to peg; the album is an astonishing achievement in horrorcore. Details.
Hayes Carll, 6 p.m. Saturday, Union Stage, $30+
Singer-songwriter writes everyman songs of folk, country, Americana and rock with an outlaw country vibe and biting sense of humor. Details.
Camper Van Beethoven, 6 p.m. Saturday, 9:30 Club, $45
California band came out of the early-’80s punk scene and threw rock, pop, ska and myriad more styles of roots and world music into the Cuisinart to come up with a completely unique sound. The group reformed a couple decades ago and is touring on the 40th anniversary of mold-breaking debut album “Telephone Free Landslide Victory.” Details.
More to do in D.C.
Theater – “Mary Shelley’s Monsters”: Sept. 18 to Oct. 4, Congressional Cemetery, $35
Concert – TV on the Radio: Tues. and Weds., Lincoln Theatre, sold out
Live! At the Library: Golden Age of Hollywood Costume Ball: Thurs., 5-8 p.m., Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building, free
National Mall of Pickleball: Fri. to Sun., National Mall at 12th Street (near Smithsonian Metro Station), free
Concert – Alabama Shakes: Fri., doors open 6:30 p.m., The Anthem, sold out
Outdoor movie – “The Sandlot”: Fri., Doors open at 7 p.m., 633 Howard Road SE, free
Potomac Paddle-Off: Sat., 12:15 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., Thompson Boat Center, $60-$120 to participate
P&G Truth & Service Classic – Howard vs. Hampton: Sat., 4 p.m., Audi Field, $30+
1st Mount Pleasant Cumbia Fest: Sat., 4 p.m., 3210 Mt Pleasant St NW, free
Concert – Polo & Pan: Sat., 8 p.m., The Anthem, $62+
Concert – Young the Giant: Sun. and Mon. (9/22): Lincoln Theatre, $74+
More to do in Maryland
The Great Fredrick Fair: Through Sun., Frederick Fairgrounds in Frederick, $8 for 11+, free for 10 and under
Concert – Maxwell And The Silent Serenade Ensemble: Thurs., Fri., Sat., MGM National Harbor
Sabor Latino – Latin music dance party with salsa instruction: Thurs., 8 p.m., BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown, free
Parks Ale Trail: Sat., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Lake Needwood in Rockville, free
Train Day: Sat., 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Gaithersburg Community Museum, free
Chuchito Valdes: Sat., 8 p.m., BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown, $20+
Commanders vs. Raiders: Sun., 1 p.m., Northwest Stadium
An Evening with Elizabeth Gilbert: Sun., 7 p.m., Strathmore in North Bethesda, $38+
More to do in Virginia
ART + WINE + CHEESE: Master Art Copyists: Thurs., 6-7:30 p.m., Nepenthe Gallery in Alexandria, free
Ziggy Marley and Burning Spear: Thurs., 6:30 p.m., Wolf Trap’s Filene Center in Vienna, $57
Venardos Circus: Sept. 18-28, Loudoun Station in Ashburn, $18.51+ (child)/$30.52+ (adult)
Crossroads Music Festival: Fri. and Sat., downtown Leesburg, free to $250
Laughs & Drafts: Aslin Beer x Resonance Improv: Fri., 7-9 p.m., Aslin Beer Alexandria (847 S Pickett St., Alexandria), free
Washington Capitals Garage Sale: Sat., 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (begins at 10 a.m. for season ticket holders), MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, free entry
HalloWEIRD Art Market: Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 2704 Mount Vernon Ave. in Alexandria, free entry
Old Town Manassas Oktoberfest: Sat., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Manassas Museum Lawn, free admission and parking
Taste of Annandale: Sat., 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Eileen Garnett Civic Space, free admission
Port City Brewing Company’s Wunderfest: Sat., 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., 3950 Wheeler Ave. in Alexandria, free entry
Reston Multicultural Festival: Sat., 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Reston Town Center, free
Old Firehouse Block Party: Sat., 12:30-4 p.m., 1440 Chain Bridge Rd. in McLean, free
Concert – Conan Gray: Sat., 8 p.m., EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, $113+
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