After a brief coffee break, the sun’s back out just in time for spring break shenanigans. The city is stretching, shaking off the excess pollen, and stepping into a full weekend of music and movement.
There’s a lot unfolding at once: Celebrate the history of jazz and salsa, explore a waterfront festival or a vintage market, or breathe deeply at one of many reflective gatherings. This is your cue to follow your attention — drift a little and maybe stay longer than planned.
Ongoing
Filmfest DC
📍 Various locations
⏰ Through April 26
💸 $15
The District’s long-running international film festival celebrates 40 years of global cinema, with screenings across the city and a strong showing from DC’s own creative community of filmmakers. Screenings and events take place across the city. Highlights include:
- Making Their Pointe by DMV filmmaker Kamilah Thurmon, tracing how Black ballet teachers in segregated Washington, D.C., reshaped access to dance;
- Bust by Richie Katchtoum, a redemption story about a former pro athlete confronting his past after a failed career;
- The Essence of Eva, a moving portrait of Bowie, Maryland’s Eva Cassidy, whose voice reached the world only after her passing at 33
THURSDAY, APRIL 16
Day of Play
📍 The Fields at RFK Campus (401 Oklahoma Ave. NE)
⏰ 12 – 4 p.m.
💸 FREE
Grab the littles or just a homie and enjoy a spring break-friendly afternoon of games, music, and community fun. Expect organized sports and family activities, along with complimentary food and drinks throughout the day. Registration is required and people under 18 must attend with an adult.
Author event: A Night at the Disco, Christian John Wikane
📍 Lost City Books (2467 18th St. NW)
⏰ 6 – 7 p.m.
💸 FREE
Get pulled into the glittery orbit of 1970s dance culture through photography, storytelling, and sound. In a new book, music journalist Christian John Wikane shares images of more than 100 iconic artists, tracing the roots of disco’s global takeover. DJ John Murph will open and close the night with era-defining grooves.
FRIDAY, APRIL 17
Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra: Jazz Across America
📍 National Museum of American History (Constitution Ave. between 12th St. & 14th St. NW)
⏰ 7 – 9:30 p.m.
💸 $30-40
Jazz-heads and casual listeners alike will appreciate this full-bodied ride through a foundational American artform. Led by maestro Charlie Young, the night promises bold arrangements and deep cuts, with selections like Jelly Roll Morton’s “Black Bottom Stomp,” Sun Ra’s “Kingdom of Not,” and Leonard Bernstein’s “Meditation #1.”
SATURDAY, APRIL 18
Outdoor Cathedral Yoga
📍 Washington National Cathedral (3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW)
⏰ 9 a.m.
💸 $25
Start your morning with a slow exhale in the cathedral’s open-air amphitheater. This all-levels flow promises to be equal parts grounding and expansive, high above the city’s business. Bring your mat, your water, and whatever stress you’re ready to put down.
🎨
📍 National Museum of the American Indian (4th Street SW)
⏰ April 18, six activities at various times
💸 FREE
Bring the whole family to the National Museum of the American Indian to experience monumental nature-inspired artworks by Ho-Chunk artist Truman Lowe, then make your own artwork to take home. Join a curator-led tour, followed by an afternoon panel discussion. Young visitors can enjoy a brief highlights tour with a museum educator followed by a hands-on art activity.
That’s So Vintage
📍 The Square (1850 K St. NW, 5th Floor)
⏰ 12 – 5 p.m. (timed entry)
💸 $6+
It’s a treasure hunt disguised as a market! This weekend-long event features racks and tables stacked with everything from 1920s slips to Y2K statement pieces, plus jewelry, workwear, and beautifully odd finds in between. It’s curated but not precious, so you can dig a little. Come ready to fall in love with something you weren’t looking for.
District Sounds Festival
📍 District Pier (101 District Square SW)
⏰ 3 – 9 p.m.
💸 $6-12
At this waterfront music festival, catch DC public school students, international artists, and genre-blending acts in one place. The lineup moves from live sets like the Carly Harvey Band to a flamenco vs. tap dance battle … because why not? It all builds to a finale featuring Oddisee backed by an 80-piece orchestra.
Sketchbook Swap
📍 Rhizome DC (6950 Maple St. NW)
⏰ 12 – 2 p.m.
💸 FREE, RSVP recommended
Bring your sketchbook, swap with others, and leave this low-pressure, high-creativity hang with a book full of local, original art pieces. It’s collaborative and a little unorthodox, not to mention surprisingly wholesome. All skill levels are welcome!
Plaza Hoya: Celebrando Nuestras Raíces
📍 Gaston Hall (37th St. & O St. NW)
⏰ 7 – 9 p.m.
💸 FREE
Inspired by equinox traditions, this celebration of Mexican and Mexican American culture is one more way to bask in spring. Expect regional dances, performances from student groups and local DMV artists, and homemade favorites like pan dulce and tamales.
Eid: Listening While Muslim
📍 National Museum of Asian Art (Freer Gallery, 1050 Independence Ave. SW)
⏰ 2 – 3:30 p.m.
💸 FREE
A listening party celebrating spring that doubles as a cultural deep dive? Count us in: Through a sonic journey with Listening While Muslim, you’ll move through music, storytelling, and moments of connection that center community and renewal. Grab coffee from a local vendor and settle in with hosts Zarifa Adiba, Sannan Mahboob, and Karamat Khan—it’s meant to be experienced, not rushed.
¡Puro Ritmo!: Salsa Family Festival
📍 National Museum of American History (300 Constitution Ave. NW)
⏰ 12 – 5 p.m.
💸 FREE
Trying to learn salsa, or just want to be around the energy? This full-day event offers dance lessons, live performances from dancers and a salsa band, and a gallery tour if you want a little context with your rhythm. Don’t miss the West African percussion set!
A Day Unplugged
📍 Anacostia Community Museum (1901 Fort Pl. SE)
⏰ 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
💸 FREE
This is an invitation to slow down and get your hands in something real. Learn container gardening, wander through story time, or settle into a midday sound bath at this calm, grounded, and quietly restorative afternoon event. The seasonal farm stand launch adds a fresh, local touch.
SUNDAY, APRIL 19
Earth Day Forest Bathing
📍 U.S. National Arboretum (501 New York Ave. NE)
⏰ 9 – 11 a.m.
💸 $35
Reconnect you with your senses, not your step count. This slow, guided walk will move through the Arboretum with intentional pauses, quiet reflection, and space to just be. The experience closes with a simple tea ritual to bring you back in.
Emma Jean Oakley + Emily June w/ Sam Elmore
📍 The Pocket (1508 North Capitol St. NW)
⏰ 7 p.m. doors, 8 p.m. show
💸 $16+
This intimate night of alt-country and indie songwriting leans on warm melodies, raw honesty, and stories that will linger longer than the set. Each artist brings a distinct voice, but the through line: Feel your feelings. Come if you like your music a little unguarded, and show up early to support the local opener!
The R&B Club: Best Bridges and Choruses
📍 Songbyrd Music House (540 Penn St. NE)
⏰ 12 p.m.
💸 $15 advance, $20 door
A music nerd’s dream, this session of the monthly bookclub-style meetup zooms in on the moments that make songs stick, the bridges and choruses that hit every time. Expect deep cuts, hot takes, and a room full of people who care about the details.
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