When the mass exodus begins, you know the summer season has arrived in Washington, DC. If you’re sticking around the city for the wild swampus, don’t worry. There is plenty to keep you busy, from street festivals and outdoor movies to major concerts and fireworks displays. Mark your calendars for the Capital Pride festivities, DC JazzFest, AFI Docs, Smithsonian Folklife Festival, the 17th Street Festival, DC Beer Week, and more. Here’s everything you need to do to make the best of your DC summer.
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Pick a show from the summer season at Wolf Trap
Now through Sunday, September 8
Wolf Trap Filene Center
One of the best outdoor concert venues in the region has a packed and diverse season. Get ready for performances by musical legends Diana Ross, Sting, Lionel Richie, and Earth, Wind, & Fire; country songstresses Sheryl Crow, Reba McEntire, and Kacey Musgraves; powerful vocalists Jennifer Hudson, Josh Groban, Sarah McLachlan, and Mary J. Blige; and a ton of other acts ranging from Rodrigo y Gabriela to Nas. Plan your summer concert calendar accordingly.
Cost: Ticket prices vary
Catch a movie under the stars
Now through Friday, October 4
Various locations
Summer means outdoor movie season, and there’s no shortage of places for cinema al fresco. National Harbor’s Movies on the Potomac series screens everything from Selena to Oceans 8 on Thursdays and Sundays through September 30. Union Market’s drive-in series runs on the first Friday of the month through October, with films projected on the market wall and the DC Rollergirls on hand to sell and deliver candy. The Golden Cinema series in Farragut Square shows popular movies every Friday at sunset from June 7 through August 2. Del Ray’s Mt. Vernon Recreation Center features family-friendly films one Saturday per month through September for Cinema Del Ray. And the Capitol Riverfront Outdoor Movie Series projects popular titles on Thursdays from June 13 through August 22 in Canal Park.
Cost: Screenings at National Harbor, Farragut Square, Mt. Vernon Recreation Center, and Canal Park are free. Screenings at Union Market are free for walk-up viewing in the picnic area are $15 per car.
shhhOUT your pride
Friday, May 31 - Sunday, June 9
Various locations
Capital Pride 2019 kicks off with the NYE-style Countdown! party, followed by a week of exuberantly celebrating the past, present, and future of pride. Featured events include a rooftop rally, brunch at the Human Right Campaign, Dupont Circle block party with DJs and a drink tent, Capital Pride parade with more than 200 organizations represented, concert with Marshmello and Zara Larsson, and a sunset dance party to close things out.
Cost: Prices vary, many events are free.
See Betty Buckley belt in Hello, Dolly!
Tuesday, June 4 - Sunday, July 7
Kennedy Center Opera House
Consider this the original rom-com. The Tony Award-winning Betty Buckley stars in this touring production of Hello, Dolly! The high-energy show pays tribute to the original musical comedy and takes the stage at one of DC’s most renowned venues.
Cost: Tickets start at $49.
Jam out at DC JazzFest
Friday, June 7 - Sunday, June 16
Various locations
This year marks the 15th anniversary of DC JazzFest, the only city-wide festival dedicated to the genre in the mid-Atlantic. The festival takes over DC with a wide array of national and international artists in diverse venues. Headliners include Snarky Puppy, Jon Batiste & Stay Human, the Brass-A-Holics, and Nick Cannon hosting the finale.
Cost: Ticket prices vary.
Feast from the food trucks at Truckeroo
Fridays, June 7 - September 20
The Bullpen
This fan-favorite food truck festival is back for the season. Truckeroo brings together the hottest food trucks in the area for monthly festivals at The Bullpen. The family-friendly affair is chock full of live music, cold drinks, games, and, of course, delicious eats from more than a dozen mobile kitchens. The lineup changes each Friday, featuring trucks like Millie’s, DC Slices, Due South, Red Hook Lobster Pound, BBQ Bus, Urban Poutine, DC Empanadas, and more.
Cost: Entry is free, food and drink prices vary.
Dine and dash for a cause
Wednesday, June 12
Various locations
Chef José Andrés’ annual Dine-N-Dash is an epic night of eating and drinking around the city, and it all benefits World Central Kitchen’s smart solutions to hunger and poverty. One ticket gets you access to a restaurant crawl including more than 30 food favorites in Penn Quarter, along 14th Street, and at The Wharf.
Cost: General admission tickets are $150.
Explore art and dialogue By the People
Saturday, June 15 -Sunday, June 23
Various locations
This international festival features visual art and performing art, as well as dialogue around the themes of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The weeklong event will include massive installations, pop-up performances, augmented reality, a local art fair for collectors, and more.
Cost: Free, but donations encouraged.
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Learn something new at AFI DOCS
Wednesday, June 19 - Sunday, June 23
Various locations
The American Film Institute’s annual documentary festival presents the year’s best non-fiction films along with events and panels with policy leaders, filmmakers, and story subjects. This year, the festival opens with the world premiere of HBO’s True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality and will close with Raise Hell: The Life & Times of Molly Ivins. Other special screenings include Sea of Shadows, Chasing the Moon, and RUTH - Justice Ginsburg in Her Own Words.
Cost: Tickets for individual screenings start at $12.
Take in an epic concert at Capital One Arena
Friday, June 21 - Thursday, August 15
Capital One Arena
This mega-venue always pulls in big names, and this summer is no exception. You’ll have a chance to see Ariana Grande, New Kids on the Block, Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lopez, John Mayer, Queen + Adam Lambert, Shawn Mendes, the Jonas Brothers, and other headliners.
Cost: Ticket prices vary.
Go hog wild at the Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle
Saturday, June 22-Sunday, June 23
Pennsylvania Avenue between 3rd and 7th Streets, NW
Prepare to pig out at this event featuring hot-off-the-grill BBQ, national competitions, live music, and celebrity chefs. Sample barbecue, sip wine and beer, watch expert cooking demos, and cheer on barbecue big shots at the Championship Cooking Contest.
Cost: Tickets start at $12.
Experience the social power of music at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Saturday, June 29 - Sunday, June 30
National Mall
Smithsonian’s annual cultural festival has a musical theme this year, with two days of concerts showcasing the power of song. There will be live shows, food trucks, instrument workshops, archiving demonstrations, and more.
Cost: Free.
Celebrate Independence Day in the most apropos place
Thursday, July 4
Various locations
Despite what Trump may have tweeted, July 4 celebrations are, of course, a long-held tradition in DC. Muster your patriotism and take your pick from a high profile lineup of Fourth of July events. There’s the national parade along Constitution Avenue, a concert on the West Lawn of the Capitol, and of course, the show-stopping fireworks that can be viewed around the city.
Cost: Free.
Discover new artists at the Capital Fringe Festival
Tuesday, July 9 - Sunday, July 28
Various locations
Across seven venues and 13 stages, Fringe presents 94 productions -- from unjuried shows to ambitious curated productions. The goal of this independent art festival is to expand audiences’ appetites for independent theater, music, art, dance, and other forms of live performance and visual art in DC.
Cost: Tickets go on sale on June 17.
Bring the family down to the farm
Tuesday, July 23 - Sunday, July 28
Loudoun County Fairground
The Loudoun County Fair is a chance for cityfolk to get a taste of the country, with milking demonstrations, a duckling waterslide, an egg toss contest, chicken poop bingo, a kiss-a-pig contest, goat yoga, a touch-a-truck event, and a watermelon eating contest (sign us up for one of each, please).
Cost: Tickets start at $12.
Celebrate the 17th Street community at a street festival
Saturday, August 24
17th Street from P Street to R Streets, NW
More than 100 vendors -- including artists, makers, nonprofits, politicians, entrepreneurs, and local businesses -- turn out for this annual street festival. There will be plenty of activities for the kids, like a giant slide and face painting, as well as plenty of fun for adults with live music food from some of the city’s best restaurants.
Cost: Free.
Say goodbye to summer
Monday, September 2
Various locations
Labor Day Weekend is summer’s swan song, so relax and take in the last moments of the sweet season. Hit up one of the nearby beaches, take a river cruise, savor a weekday brunch, or check out the NSO’s free annual concert.
Cost: Prices vary.
Sip suds at DC Beer Week
Sunday, September 8 - Sunday, September 15
Various locations
Organized by the DC Brewers’ Guild, the city’s annual beer week celebrates the region’s robust craft community. Local breweries, restaurants, and bars will offer tastings, educational seminars, and parties featuring the best in local beer throughout the week.
Cost: Prices vary.
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