Juneteenth 2024 at Watkins Regional Park
The Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation throws its Juneteenth 2024 celebration at Watkins Regional Park in Upper Marlboro. Visitors can immerse themselves in living history demonstrations, help paint murals or join dance lessons. Entertainment includes the Chuck Brown Band and Trouble Funk, while vendors sell food, drinks and crafts. Noon to 5 p.m. Free.
Freedom at the Rock at BlackRock Center for the Arts
Montgomery County’s 27-year-old Juneteenth festival returns to the BlackRock Center for the Arts on Saturday for Freedom at the Rock, a day-long concert that includes Secret Society; DuPont Brass; Trouble Funk; and “Black Broadway on U,” a tribute to Duke Ellington’s 125th birthday with vocalist Deborah Bond. Beyond the music, multiple stages feature dance performances and workshops, documentary screenings and record vendors. Noon to 10 p.m. Free.
Columbia Heights Day at Harriet Tubman Elementary
The Target on 14th Street was still under construction when the first Columbia Heights Day Festival was held in 2007. While the neighborhood has changed, and continues to change, the festival is a chance for the community to come together on an elementary school’s field for a day of celebration. Kids are welcomed with a stage full of magic shows, double Dutch, hands-on music (including songs from “Encanto” and “Coco”) and games, while on the main stage, adults can catch bands or learn salsa steps. Other attractions include a market with craft and food vendors, a mechanical bull, a foam party, a moon bounce, a dunk tank, and interactive art. Complete a scavenger hunt around the neighborhood to win a T-shirt. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free.
Columbia Pike Blues Festival
The Columbia Pike Blues Festival is a summer staple in Arlington, and this year, the 27th annual block party celebrates women in blues with an entire lineup of female-fronted bands. Brooklyn native Bette Smith, who mashes up soul, gospel, and rock and roll, headlines the festival, right after a performance from Mississippi blues pianist Eden Brent. DMV-based artists round out the bill, including Mama Moon & the Rump Shakers, the Stacy Brooks Band and the Honey Larks. Beyond music, kids can jump in a moon bounce at the Kid Zone and work on crafts at Art Alley, while vendors set up tents to create an outdoor shopping mall. 1 to 8:30 p.m. Free.
Silver Spring Blues Festival
Silver Spring’s annual blues festival provides 12 straight hours of music in the heart of downtown. The day begins with acoustic music from the Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Ensemble and other artists until 3 p.m., when the “electrified” artists begin, with featured performers including the Deanna Bogart Band (4 p.m.), guitarist Memphis Gold (5:30 p.m.), and the bar blues of the legendary Nighthawks (8:30 p.m.). WPFW DJs serve as MCs. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Free.
Arlington Pride runs through the month of June, with a different featured event each weekend. It’s the Clarendon Ballroom’s turn to take center stage, where a Beyoncé-inspired party features a “Cowboy Carter” tribute by drag queen Elecktra.g; line dancing; DJs; and a costume contest, so boots and hats are a must. VIP tickets include reserved seating for up to five people and a bottle of tequila. 8 p.m. Free; $50 VIP.
Walk on the Wild Side Pride Party at Union Market
Taking over Dock 5 and the plaza behind Union Market, this is actually two events in one. The free party on the plaza features drag and burlesque performances, music by Les the DJ, a voguing class with Tony Play, a makers market, food trucks, and a cash bar. Inside, the $45 ticket includes a 32-foot runway for drag and burlesque performances, DJs Farrah Flosscett and Alex Love, performance art, live drawing, tarot readings, a cash bar, and food vendors. Proceeds benefit the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center. Outdoors 4 to 8 p.m.; indoors 7 p.m. to midnight. Free-$45.
The Uptown Pride Festival brings Pride festivities to the corner of 14th Street and Colorado Avenue NW, with two stages featuring live music by Roadwork, multiple DJs, a vendor market and a reading by queer writers. All ages are welcome, and the event includes a family yoga session, drag story time with Tara Hoot, and a children’s area with face painting and games. 2 to 7 p.m. Free.
Philippine Independence Day Festival at Mosaic
Filipino American actress and singer Roxanne Barcelo — a native of Fairfax — is host of Mosaic’s first Philippine Independence Day Festival, which features performances of traditional Philippine music and dance as well as Philippine hip-hop and contemporary music, and a Philippine game show. But the festival has a broad reach, including local performers, martial arts demonstrations, Mongolian rappers and Chinese dance. Kids can splash in a water area, hop on inflatables or have their faces painted, while adults browse more than 80 vendors selling vintage clothing, crafts, food and drinks. Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free.
Denizens Brewing 10th anniversary
When Denizens Brewing Company opened its brewpub in Silver Spring in 2014, one of its original (and one of the most impressive) offerings was a Czech pilsner called Born Bohemian, which became a flagship for the woman-owned brewery. Denizens marks a decade in business at its Riverdale Park production facility and taproom with Lager Fest, which features six lagers — including the new Good Neighbors, made to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Brookland’s Finest restaurant — and a variety of lagers made by Atlas Brew Works, Franklins, Lost Generation, Manor Hill, Port City and Streetcar 82. Beyond the beers, look for live music by LoLo and the Flint Hill Hustle and hot dogs from Catalyst. 1 to 5 p.m. Free.
Lost Rhino Brewing Company’s 13th anniversary
You might not guess it from the brewery’s location in an Ashburn industrial park, but Lost Rhino’s name was inspired by surfing — a “rhino chaser,” the brewery says, is someone out to find the best and biggest waves. That’s why pipelines and surfboards adorn the cans, and Lost Rhino’s 13th anniversary party features pork and pineapple, spam fried rice, and frozen rum drinks in addition to live music, vendors and, oh yeah, a sunny lime version of Rhino Chasers pilsner. 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Free.
Metrobar’s third anniversary
Three years ago, one of D.C.’s most original bars opened with a decommissioned Metrorail car at the heart of its beer garden. Metrobar’s diverse calendar — karaoke, movie nights, family days, DJ parties, beer cocktail tastings — has quickly made it a fixture. Celebrate three years in business at a party with DJs Mazlow and Ty-One; Atlas Brew Works specials; and, most poignantly, a takeover with District Made Spirits, the Ivy City distillery that closed in the spring. Try cocktails with District Made’s gin, whiskey and vodka, and enter a lottery for a guided tasting with distiller Alex Laufer inside the rail car. (Registration is available by RSVPing on Eventbrite.) Petit Afrik and El Jefe pizza are the food trucks on duty. Noon to 11:45 p.m. Free; reservations requested.
Children’s Book and Learning Festival on Woodrow Wilson Plaza
Capital Book Fest, the monthly pop-up used book/record/DVD sale on the Ronald Reagan Building’s plaza, takes a fun turn this month. Seventeen authors and illustrators representing the Children’s Book Guild of Washington are setting up with their work, which range from picture books to middle-grade novels. Readings will be held throughout the day. Each author is paired with an activity, such as making animals from paper plates, crafting an African-inspired necklace or learning how to paint with oil pastels. And because it’s Capital Book Fest, there will be thousands of books to buy and take home for $7 or less. 10 a.m. Free.
Josiah Henson’s Birthday Celebration
Author and abolitionist Josiah Henson was born into slavery in Charles County, but he spent years enslaved in Montgomery County before eventually escaping to Canada. His autobiography helped inspire “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” Montgomery County celebrates Henson’s birthday with a party at the Josiah Henson Museum and Park in Bethesda, featuring archaeological and house tours, living history demonstrations, a concert of period music by the Jubilee Voices, a film screening, lawn games and crafts. Note that parking is off-site, with shuttle service provided. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free.
The D.C.-based event series that delivers zany lectures returns to DC9 this weekend with three offerings: a tour of the “magical kingdom of fungi” that answers the question of whether the premise of “The Last of Us” is plausible; a discussion on why worms are the closest Earthbound species we have to aliens; and a two-hander that pins a hypochondriac comic against an actual pathologist. 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. $10-$15.
A Taste of the DMV: Food, Music and Culture Festival
Celebrate the diversity of talents in the D.C. area with the third annual Taste of the DMV festival, which will shut down Pennsylvania Avenue NW (between Third and Seventh Streets NW) for seven hours Saturday. More than 40 local bands, including the neo grunge band Oh Violet and the folksy duo Tiny Hands, will take to one of five stages scattered throughout the festival. There are also over 200 vendors, including food trucks and booths and artist shops. Local brews and unique local drinks will be offered at the beer garden, where you’ll also find music and vendors that are less family-friendly. Noon to 7 p.m. $10; free for children 10 and under.
