Wanderlist: 50+ Awesome Things to Do in DC in May

May is one of our favorite months in DC. It's the pre-summer sweet spot when there's no humidity, the nights are cool and the great outdoors beckons you to spend time exploring off-the-beaten-path spots and hidden gems. Plus, there's no mosquitoes!

This month brings the return of outdoor movies, Funk Parade celebrations, embassy open houses are back after two years, nature walks, live music festivals and concerts, a one-of-a-kind garden art party at Hirshhorn and so much more.

We've curated 50+ activities for you to enjoy; there'll never have a dull moment! Ready, set, choose your spring adventure!

SPONSORED CONTENT
​Prologue Theatre - The Revolutionists | April 28 - May 22

BUY TICKETS

The Revolutionists is a new play about four very real women who lived boldly in France during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror. Playwright Olympe De Gouge, assassin Charlotte Corday, former queen (and fan of ribbons) Marie Antoinette, and Haitian rebel Marianne Angelle  hang out, murder Marat, loose their heads and try to beat back the extremist insanity in the Paris of 1793. What was a hopeful revolution for the people is now sinking into hyper violent hypocritical male rhetoric. However will modern audiences relate.
​
This grand and dream-tweaked comedy is about violence and legacy, art and activism, feminism and terrorism, compatriots and chosen sisters, and how we actually go about changing the world.

Legend:

• ​🆓 ​: This is a free event
• ​💲:  Donation or paid ticket required
• ​👤:  This is an in-person event
• 💻: This is an on-line/streaming event​

Outdoor fitness. Get beach body ready with Capitol Riverfront's outdoor fitness series. For five-weeks in May, feel the burn with Yogalates (yoga + Pilates), boxing and bootcamp classes. 🆓 ​👤Starts May 1

Movies on the Potomac. Kick back at National Harbor and enjoy free movies on the big outdoor screen. This month's theme is animals with titles for date night on Thursdays and family night on Sundays. Feature titles include Sing 2, Babe, Jaws and Lion King. 🆓👤May 1 - May 29

Sunday jazz. Spend Sunday nights grooving to live jazz music performed by DC-based Blue Dot Jazz Troupe (blues, funk, Afro-Cuban and pop music) and libations on the All Day patio at Kramers. 🆓​ ​👤Starts May 1 - 29; Sundays

Mural walk. As part of the 8th annual Funk Parade celebration, take part in a 2nd line mural walk highlighting explore the murals on U Street and Shaw hosted by author Briana Thomas with surprise 2nd line performances. 🆓​👤​May 4

Herstory. Based in part on the autobiography of Mary Seacole, Pulitzer Prize winner Jackie Sibblies Drury enacts her extraordinary journey through space and time: from mid-1800s Jamaica, to the frontlines of the Crimean War, to a modern-day nursing home. 💲​👤 May 4 - 22

All that jazz. Capitol Riverfront kicks off the outdoor music season with the return of the spring Jazz in Canal Park Series. The middle block will play host to local jazz groups every Wednesday from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. The series will launch with a performance by Levine Music, 🆓👤​  May 4 - 25

Get on your feet. The story of Gloria and Emilio Estefan and the success of their band, The Miami Sound Machine, gets the theatrical treatment in the DC premiere of "On Your Feet.." Debuting at Gala Theatre, production features some of the most iconic songs of the past quarter-century, including “Rhythm is Gonna Get You,” “Conga,” “Get On Your Feet,” “Don’t Want To Lose You Now,” “1-2-3,” and “Coming Out of the Dark.”  Presented in Spanish with English surtitles 💲​👤​May 5 - June 5

Marine Barracks parade. Witness the historical significance and esprit de Corps of the US Marine Corps at the Evening Parade at the Marine Barracks, the “Oldest Post of the Corps”. Registration required 🆓👤Starts May 6 - August 26 (Fridays)

In Lincoln's Footsteps. Abraham Lincoln left an impression both on the United States and the city of Washington. Spend a day following in his footsteps with author and journalist Chuck Raasch as he guides a journey through the city to sites connected with the fascinating president, from the Willard Hotel to the Old Soldiers Home to the memorial that honors him. 💲​👤May 6

Broccoli City.  Broccoli City Festival returns to DC bigger and better than before! For the first time, the music and culture festival will take place over two days and features performances by Ari Lennox, Summer Walker, Jeezy, Wale, 21 Savage, Larry June and more. Hosted by Gia Peppers, Rodney Rikai and Little Bacon Bear. It will also include ne-of-a-kind activations, a local marketplace and surprise performances. 💲​👤​May 6 - 8

Spanish art. Transforming the Physical Environment features 12 works by Spanish creators inspired by the garden of the Former Residence of the Ambassadors of Spain over the past year that are now gathered in an indoors exhibition. Available during special events and by appointment. 🆓​👤May 6 - Oct 31

Flower mart. After two years, Flower Mart returns to National Cathedral. The fundraiser for the Cathedral's grounds and gardens will include the famous antique carousel, free entertainment, the International Floral Display, dozens of food and gift vendors, carnival games for the children, an astounding White Elephant Sale, and of course, flower and plant sales. Part of Cultural Tourism's month-long Passport DC event ​🆓​​👤May 6 + 7

Strathmore solo art show. DC art Terence Nicholson debuts new work in Pivot that embraces a creative shift that represents an exploration of exploration that was sparked during the COVID shutdown. The processes are just as important as the pieces themselves. 🆓 ​👤May 7 - July 2

We want the funk.  The "Magic of Music" is back with the return of the all-day Funk Parade to celebrate U Street's history, art, and culture. 🆓​👤 May 7

Embassy open house. Embassies will open their doors to DC visitors and residents for the Around the World Embassy Tour so they can travel the world as they experience the food, art, dance, fashion, and music of different countries. Come see the world through the embassies of missions of our global neighbors. Part of Cultural Tourism's month-long Passport DC event ​ 🆓​ ​👤May 7

Plot twist.  Feeling stiff? Work out the kinks with yoga in the cemetery at Congressional Cemetery. The guided Vinyasa yoga class is open to all levels. $10 minimum suggested donation. 💲​👤​Starts May 7 (Saturdays)

Veg out. Celebrate the rich vegan cuisine of the nation’s capital with plant-based dishes from a range of fast-casual to elegant sit down restaurants during DC Veg Restaurant Week. 💲​👤May 7 - 14

Painting doors. Paint your own colorful greek doors in a fun and relaxing paint-by-number print class and enjoy a glass of wine (or two) while you create your masterpiece. 💲​👤​May 8

Cities after COVID. ​One need not walk far through Washington D.C. to see how the pandemic has impacted different sections of the city. Are our nation’s cities going to return to the way they were post-pandemic? If not, what will the post-pandemic city look like? Profs and Pints DC hosts an examination of how the pandemic has altered the status and future of urban centers, 💲​👤May 9

Poetry of Black Roses. When spoken word poet Harold Green III turned his poems into a collection of tributes to contemporary Black women, from activists to athletes, after they went viral on Instagram. Join Harold Green in conversation with one of the “roses,” Eunique Jones-Gibson, founder of Because of Them We Can at Planet Word. “Black Roses: Odes Celebrating Powerful Black Women” will be available for sale and signing. 🆓​ ​👤May 9

Women in conversation. The National Museum of Women in the Arts chats with DC artist MISS CHELOVE, a.k.a. Cita Sadeli, whose murals decorate the city, including a four-story mural printed on mesh fabric, Reseeded: A Forest Floor Flow, is presented on the east façade of the museum’s exterior through July 31. 🆓💻 May 10

Rock Creek walk. Spend a spring morning exploring the wooded trails of Rock Creek Park with naturalist and author Melanie Choukas-Bradley as she introduces the trail network that provides recreation for millions of local residents and visitors annually. 💲​👤May 11

Future fashion. Smithsonian Arts + Industries Building explores the future of sustainable, equitable and inclusive fashion with some of fashion’s most innovative designers, thought leaders and brands that includes a runway, performances, and interactive talks. 🆓 May 11

Cineomatic Wednesdays.  Enjoy nostalgia night in NoMA with throwback movies under the stars at Alethia Tanner Park's outdoor movie series. Titles include Mrs. Doubtfire, Cool Runnings, The Sandlot and Space Jam. 🆓 ​👤May 11 - June 8 (Wednesdays)

Wine festival and sunset tour. Taste unlimited samples of wines from Virginia's finest wineries at Mount Vernon’s Spring Wine Festival and relax on the east lawn overlooking the Potomac River as you experience George Washington’s estate after hours. 💲​👤​May 13

Renwick open house. Be one of the first to see the newest exhibition, This Present Moment: Crafting a Better World, during a unique in-person open house at SAAM’s Renwick Gallery that activates both floors of gallery space with artworks that honor the history of studio craft while also introducing progressive contemporary narratives. 🆓 👤May 13

Drive-in movies. Roll down the windows, feel that summer breeze and turn up the radio because the 10th Annual Drive-In at Union Market is back.  The series of six movies includes titles like Space Jam, In the Heights, Ferris Beuller's Day Off, Encanto and Black Panther. 💲👤 May 13 - Oct 14 (second Friday of every month)

Jason Moran + Kara Walker. As part of Afro-Atlantic Histories, a satellite installation in the National Gallery’s Sculpture Garden presents jazz pianist Jason Moran and artist Kara Walker’s in conversation and musical collaboration for Katastwóf Karavan (2018), a work incorporating a steam calliope, a musical instrument used in the 19th century on steamboats and in carnivals.  Moran will perform the calliope live on May 14 from 3:30–4:00 p.m. and May 15 from 2:00–2:30 p.m 🆓👤May 14 + 15

​Additional Programming:
The Sculpture Garden will be a site for a temporary installation of Kara Walker's The Katastwóf Karavan, a work incorporating a steam calliope, a musical instrument used in the 19th century on steamboats and in carnivals. A playlist will be played at regular intervals during the installation. See above for live performance dates/times 🆓👤May 12 - 19

EU open house. Bonjour! Travel to the embassies of the European Union and enjoy the authentic music, dance, food, film, and art of 28 distinctive nations. Participants in the embassy open houses include Austria, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden and EU Delegation. Part of Cultural Tourism's month-long Passport DC event 🆓 ​👤May 14

Say "Grace." Created by DC native Nolan Williams, Jr., the world premiere musical "Grace" celebrates the history of the African-American culinary tradition  and the challenges faced by Black-owned businesses through an eclectic mix of styles including jazz, R&B, rousing up-tempos and raise-the-roof ballads. 💲👤Ends May 14

Living sculpture. CultureDC's mobile art gallery heads to The Parks where it will host a large-scale, colorful, tissue paper sculpture collaged together like a quilt by artist Maya Freelon. Workshops will be held for the public to help create one of the sculptures with Maya; the finished works will become the backdrop for local opera company IN Series’ performance of Desdemona, a play by Toni Morrison set to the music of Nina Simone in June. 🆓​👤Ends May 15

Hike Shenandoah National Park. Leave the city behind and escape into Shenandoah National Park for a two-day two-day active getaway designed for outdoor lovers, Explore Blue Ridge trails at the height of their spring beauty, and stay at a historic lodge on Skyline Drive that offers magnificent panoramic views of the mountain landscapes. 💲​👤May  15 - 16

Anacostia portraits. On display at Honfleur Gallery, photographer Elena Volkovis's Anacostia Portraits is a participatory arts project using a historic photographic process to create a visual archive celebrating the people who make up the Anacostia region of the District of Columbia. In this revival of the 19th century tintype, individuals with a connection to the community were invited to sit for portraits that will be shown in this exhibit. 🆓👤 May 6 - June 18

It's getting hot in here. Keegan’s Boiler Room Series presents a series of productions from in progress to ready for prime time, including public staged readings with audience talkbacks, workshop sneak peeks, exclusive interviews with playwrights, and working sessions with directors and artists — all designed to bring audiences into the world where plays get made. Pay what you can, donations welcome. 👤💻 May 13 - 22

Craft happy hour.  Renwick's Handi-hour is back  with an in-person crafting happy hour. Create your very own mini macramé piece while sipping on craft cider from DC-based ANXO Cidery. Then, explore our latest exhibition, This Present Moment: Crafting a Better World, which activates both floors of gallery space. Ticket includes  two drinks, crafting supply kits, and light snacks. 💲👤May 19

Sail away. Set sail on the 65-foot schooner, The American Spirit for a three-hour sunset sail on the Potomac. Enjoy iconic views of landmark monuments from the water; feel free to bring along a picnic of food and beverage. 💲👤 May 20 - October 7 (every other Friday)

Spring in Southwest. The Southwest neighborhood greets spring with a 3-day celebration to welcome the reopening of the parks. Events include crafts and face painting at the Southwest Library (May 19;) disco at the SW Duck Pond (May 20) and concludes with food, music and games at the Lansburgh Park Block Party (May 21). 🆓 👤May 19 - 21

Mapping segregation. Hill Center celebrates Benjamin Drummond Emancipation Day with "Mapping Segregation in Washington DC," a public history walking tour of DC’s Bloomingdale neighborhood. This tour highlights key sites in the legal campaign against racially restrictive deed covenants, which kept much of this neighborhood off-limits to African Americans when it was first developed around the turn of the 20th century. 💲​👤​May 21

Military history. Take a walking tour through American military history, from the American Revolution to the present, through the stories and personalities of military graves and memorials at the Historic Congressional Cemetery. 💲​👤May 21

Flutronix. The Library of Congress concert series presents Flutronix and the duo's high-octane duo’s unique electro-acoustic repertoire that melds classical music, hiphop, electronic programming and soulful vocals in a creative partnership paving the way from their classical roots to the future of music. 🆓 ​👤May 21

Hirshhorn ball. Dress to impress for Hirshhorn's outdoor art party for a night of art and fashion in celebration of pop art and boundary-pushing artists. There will be imaginative performances, art activations, an outdoor dancefloor, and an open bar with creative cocktails and light bites. 💲​👤​May 21

Asia street fair. To commemorate Asian Pacific American Month, the Fiesta Asia Street Fair offers outdoor craft exhibits, live performances, food and open market vendors, interactive displays, martial arts demonstration, talent show, cooking demo, and more, all  in front of Capitol Hill. Part of Cultural Tourism's month-long Passport DC event 🆓👤 May 21

Concert to benefit Ukraine. Ukrainian professional duo violinist/vocalist Solomia Gorokhivska and folk flute master Andrei Pidkivka come together at for a special concert to benefit Ukraine. The musicians create original arrangements of traditional Ukrainian folk melodies and rhythms that reflect their passion for blending the old with the new, Pidkivka received a Grammy Award for his work on the haunting  soundtrack for the HBO series Chernobyl. 💲​👤May 22

Admo night at the  movies. Head to the Marie Reed soccer field for the return of Adams Morgan Movie Nights! The theme of this year's series is "The Road Less Traveled," featuring characters who are on a quest or journey of sorts. Titles include: The Princess Bride, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and Encanto. Arrive early to snag free cookies from Insomnia Cookies (first come, first served) and free free freshly-popped popcorn from Gifted Curators. 🆓👤May 24 - June 21 (Tuesdays)

Movies on the memorial. Hang out with the Lone Sailor at the Navy Memorial for their summertime outdoor movie series. Titles include Top Gun, Crimson Tide, Men on Honor and Anchors Aweigh. 🆓 ​👤Starts May 26 (Thursdays)

Whodunit. See if you can solve a murder case when a competitor drops dead at trivia night at The Answer is Murder, an interactive comedy show starring comedian Rob Maher (Comedy Central, DC Improv). The murderer could even be YOU! 💲​👤​May 27

Forgotten women of National Cemetery. Discover the gravesites and hidden histories of the women (yep, it's not just men) buried at Arlington National Cemetery with a Tour of Her Own. Tour includes the gravesite of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, plus several prominent military pioneers, First Ladies, aviation pioneers, medical pioneers, artists, and the living women that help make Arlington National Cemetery the special place that it is today.  As a TOHO partner, we're pleased to offer you a 35% discount on all programs in The LINEUP as well as all annual memberships. Use promo code CURIOUSCARAVAN2022 💲👤May 28

Shirley Chisholm celebration. In 1972 Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm became the first African American to seek a major party’s nomination for President. Fifty years, National Museum of African American History + Culture uses Smithsonian collections to celebrate and discuss the 50th anniversary of her presidential run. 🆓💻May 31

Drum beat. Inspired by laws mandated that enslaved Africans could not assemble or use their drums to signal the uprising, Step Afrika's latest production, Drumfolk, tells the rich story of a movement that could not be stopped and transformed African American culture from then to the present day, The immersive production will be the first of three as part of a multi-year collaborative partnership between Step Afrika! and Arena Stage.💲​👤May 31 - June 26

Villans have more fun. In present day Appalachian Georgia, a high school class explores the seminal American classic, The Crucible in John Proctor is the Villain . As scandal swirls in their community and old heroes are unmasked, the English assignment becomes uncomfortably relevant for the students. The line between witch and heroine blurs in this post-Me Too examination of power, love, and sex education. 💲​👤Now thru June 5​

Temple open house.  The For the first time in 50+ years, the Washington D.C. Temple of the Church of Latter-Day Saints (the one that looks like a Disney castle) will be open for public tours. This is a rare opportunity to go inside this important landmark and experience its beautiful architecture, art, and décor.  🆓 👤Now thru June 11

Black excellence. The Nicholson Project presents a solo exhibition by Kokayi, curated by Jarvis DuBois. Exhausted and frustrated by the ever-present images of black death and trauma, multimedia artist and musician Kokayi offers a new way of seeing and being seen. Blackness and the Infinite Potential Well brings together sculpture, film, sound, and digital collage to create an immersive experience of varied and nuanced Black critique, joy, and resilience.  The exhibition will debut new work created during the artist’s residency at The Nicholson Project. 🆓​​👤Now thru June 18

Citywide play. Chemical Exile, the newest interactive and immersive play from Rorschach Theatre, takes participants to eight locations across the DC area as a complex story unfolds about families, forgotten histories and the uncharted frontiers of the mind. The season-long fictional narrative plays out over layers of history and magic realism. Guests receive a box in the mail monthly that includes a new Chapter in the story, each box containing hand-crafted objects - letters, drawings, souvenirs, photos, or even snacks - and a map to a location in their city. The season ends with a live in-person event that culminates the story. 💲👤Now thru July 31

Massive mural. While it’s closed for renovations, the National Museum of Women in the Arts will feature a four-story mural by DC artist Cita Sadeli, also known as Miss Chelove. Titled “Reseeded: A Forest Floor Flow,” the piece is meant to portray the resurgence of the world during the pandemic and the contribution of women to ecological activism.  🆓 👤Now thru July 31 ​

Notre-Dame AR. On the three-year anniversary of the 2019 fire that ravaged this UNESCO World Heritage site, the National Building Museum marks the North American debut of an augmented reality immersion experience into the history and restoration of the revered Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris, 💲​👤​Now thru Sept 26

---

Curious? There's more!

• There's More Flowers Blooming in DC Than Just Cherry Blossoms
• We Take a Look at Smithsonian Arts & Industries' Past As New Exhibit Focuses on the FUTURES
• Hidden Gem: Howard Theatre's Walk of Fame