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Everyday adventures are all around you

Wanderful

Wanderlist: 60+ Awesome Things to Do in DC in June

5/24/2023

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Hello, festival season!

June officially kick starts the jam-packed festival season in the DC-metro area from music to BBQ, and films to art. There's something for every interest, age group and budget. And there will be some of the biggest celebrations in the city for Pride. Speaking of, be sure to get your glitter paint, rainbows and other gear to show your solidarity.

Here's a glimpse at what's ahead this month:
  • Smithsonian Folklife Festival celebrates the culture of the Ozarks
  • Get ready to get wet at the Super Soaker Party
  • District Fray + Selina host Art Out Loud, the biggest after-hours art party (it covers three stories!)
  • ​Live Music in the Meadow at the US National Arboretum
  • Get crafty with a nostalgic Renwick Handi-hour

Summer in the city is heating up. Get out your calendar, get your crew and start making plans to make the most of it with 60+ awesome things to do!
Legend:
  • ​🆓 ​:        This is a free event​
  • 💲:         Donation or paid ticket required​​
  • 💻:         This is an on-line/streaming event​
  • ​👤:         This is an in-person event
  • 🎉:         This is a Pride event
ONGOING
Yoga in Triangle Park. Bring a water bottle, yoga mat, and sunblock, and get your flow on in Dupont Circle's Q Street Park. Yogis of all experience levels welcome. 🆓 ​Now - October
Island Safari Tour. Join a ranger or National Park Service volunteer to explore Theodore Roosevelt Island. You'll learn about the conservation legacy of the 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt, the United States Colored Troops who trained on the island during the Civil War and the Mason family who owned the island for more than one hundred years. Saturdays. 🆓 Now - October
Renwick Invitational. “Sharing Honors and Burdens: Renwick Invitational 2023” focuses on six Native American or Alaska Native artists who were selected for their work that expresses the honors and burdens that Native artists balance as they carry forward their cultural traditions. These artists highlight principles of respect, reciprocity, and responsibility through their work that addresses themes of environmentalism, displacement, and cultural connectedness. 🆓 Now - March 2024
Canal Boat Tours. Have you heard the news? C&O Canal Boat Tours are back with seasonal cruises through the first mile of Georgetown’s historic waterway. Take a ride with a guide to learn about the traditions and culture of the canal. 💲Ongoing
ENDING SOON
Oreo Complex. The OREO Complex is a multi-disciplinary solo performance inspired by WEB DuBois’ concept of double consciousness. It tells the story of OREO Girl, a black woman, navigating predominantly white institutions. Through poetry, song and dance The OREO Complex unravels a variety of topics including: representation, stereotypes, assimilation, and microaggressions. 💲Now - June 2
Irish Dance. Atlas Theatre stages The Humours of Bandon, a one woman show about a 16-year-old Irish Dancer from Dublin who we meet her on the eve of the biggest competition of her life.💲Now - June 10
Finding Neil Patrick Harris. When frenemy nail techs Cha-Cha and Katie are privileged to hear a favorite customer's bizarre dying wish, they set off to make it come true. In their quest to find Neil Patrick Harris, they discover that what they've been searching for has been right in front of them. 💲Now - June 9
Pixelbloom: Timeless Butterflies.  Step into a virtual world of cherry blossoms and butterflies as pixels burst into full bloom as ARTECHOUSE reimagines spring in immersive digital design. 💲 Now - June 11
NEW THIS MONTH
Curated Guides to Can't Miss Events in DC
🎬 Summer Outdoor Movie Guide
🎸DC Outdoor Music Shows
🎉​  Out Loud: DC Pride Events
Week 1
An Evening with Chasten Buttigieg. To kick off Pride month, join the DC Public Library for a conversation with Chasten Buttigieg for his new young adult memoir, I Have Something to Tell You. Registration required. 🆓 🎉​ June 1
One in Two. Three Black queer men sit in an ethereal waiting room inviting audiences to join them in a theatrical experiment that is equal parts harrowing, hilarious, and hopeful  in this “defiantly life-embracing” new play. 🎉​💲June 1 - 25
Music Break.  Add a soundtrack to your lunch or mid-day break with live music at Franklin Park. Mellow out with  pop, soul, and jazz artists. Bring your homemade lunch or grab something from a nearby eatery, then sit, eat, and enjoy the music. Every Thursday. 🆓 Starts June 1
Clay and Cabernet. Unleash your inner creativity as you play with clay and sip on cabernet in this guided arts class. 💲June 2
Fearless Fashion. Sit front-row for Fashion For The Fearless fashion show extravaganza. Designer Jayzeer Shantay will showcase eight fabulous lewks from his Fashion for the Fearless label. Drag Queen Lady J Monroe will lead the runway as the host. 🆓🎉​ ​June 3
Chinatown Community Festival. Celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander cultures with a celebration featuring K-pop dance, traditional thai dance, taekwondo demonstration, a Japanese tea ceremony, arts and crafts, and more. 🆓 June 3
Art Out Loud. District Fray and Selina transform the hotel into a three-story, after-hours art party in celebration of DC's queer culture.  Featuring three floors of art activations, craft cocktails, music and a wellness lounge. 💲June 3
Daybreaker Tour. Wake up early and start your day with an immersive dance party and theatrical show. It’s all kicked off by a yoga practice scored by live musicians.💲June 3
Hello, Dolly. Yi-haw! The Gay Men's Chorus of Washington DC salutes country music legend Dolly Parton with a musical tribute featuring the hits “Here You Come Again,” “Islands in the Stream,” “Jolene,” and “My Tennessee Mountain Home.” 💲🎉​​June 3 - 4
Sound Scene 2023: After The End.  Through interactive audio art installations, live performances and small group workshops, you're invited to consider a future after the end of patriarchy, colonialism, ableism, climate catastrophe at this one-of-a-kind interactive art festival.🆓 June 3 - 4
The Queer Roots of Hip Hop. Georgetown University professor Amena Johnson and Washington Mystic's own "DJ Heat" host a lecture and sound salon where they connect over fifty years of music with the social and political connection to LGBTQ artists and events. Registration required.  🆓🎉​ June 4​
Exposed DC. Take a gander at Lost Origin and Exposed DC's 17th annual photography show, featuring 35 images taken by local photographers and selected for their unique perspective of the D.C. metro area. The exhibition will be on view at Lost Origins Outside located along the exterior wall of Ellē restaurant. 🆓 June 4
Different Drummers. In recognition of DC Pride, tune into a jazz concert featuring DC Different Drummers Jazz Band, an LGBTQ+ music organization that welcomes all.  The set features tunes with titles representing the colors of the progress pride flag, ranging from swing to salsa, blues to funk, and more!  Also featuring a performance from the improvisational jazz combo 2nd Independence.🆓 June 4
Super Soaker Party. Prepare to get wet at this really wet rooftop party. Bathing suits encouraged. 💲 June 4
Week 2
Literary Trivia. Put your literary knowledge to the test in the spirit of friendly competition hosted by Cap City Trivia. 🆓 June 5
Whiskey 101: A Global Tour.   Sip your way through six premium spirits representing famous regions from Kentucky to Scotland and learn about the diversity of flavors you'll find in each. 💲June 6
Rooftop Bingo. Join District Fray for game night under the stars and a chance to win prizes at Union Market's Hi-Lawn. Every Wednesday. 🆓 June 7
Renwick Handi-Hour. It's like adult summer camp with throwback arts and crafts. Make a bracelet with embroidery thread, a lanyard with plastic ties, or a popsicle stick bowl. Drinks from ANXO cidery and light snacks. Must be 21+ only event. 💲June 8
Jewish Museum Opens. DC's newest museum, the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum, opens. It's the first museum of its kind dedicated to celebrating the history of the Jewish experience in the nation’s capital. 🆓  June 9
Pride at Metrobar. Don't miss the train to the Pride celebration at Metrobar, featuring live music and drag performances including: Bryce Bowyn, Zach Benson, Synae, King Molasses, Ruth Allen Ginsberg and Sirene Noir Sidora Jackson. 💲🆓 🎉​ June 9
Afrofuturism Concert with Dawn Richard. In celebration of National Museum of African American History & Culture's new exhibition, Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures, singer and former member of Danity Kane, Dawn Richard will discuss her artistic career and creative influences,  and perform her futuristic, take on pop music. 🆓 June 9
Beats and Bourbon. Celebrate Hip-Hop’s 50th birthday with a special whiskey tasting all produced in the DMV, presented by Beats, Bars, and Bourbon. 💲🆓 June 10
Jazz at Kreeger. Jazz guitarist Tommy Holladay plays in the Grand Foyer at this hidden gem contemporary art museum. 💲June 10
You Spin My 'Round. Unleash your inner child as you have fun getting fit in this adult hula hooping class.  Learn different moves on your body like waist and hip hooping, and off your body like hand hooping and other tricks. All hula hooping levels welcome.  🆓  June 10
Summer Circle. Head to the Hall CP for this music festival highlighting the DMV's emerging artistis and creatives. The lineup includes: Featuring: O-Slice, Nomen, Foots x Coles, Odd Mojo, Kassim, Zaamwé, Hasani, Sarina, Hameed Idowu, Zay Ade, DJ Sero, Adwoa, Akinola Pedro, Tommi Tsunami, Rahiem Supreme, Coexist, DJ NUKicks & more special guests! 💲June 10
Jazz in the Park. Spend a relaxing evening listening to some of the area's best jazz musicians play on the lawn at the Old Hospital at Walter Reed. Listed by Washingtonian magazine as one of the area’s top five outdoor spots to listen to live music last year. Bring a picnic or grab a bite from on-site food vendors. Runs until September. 🆓 Starts June 10
Summer Sips Wine Tour. Enjoy a selection of six hand-selected wines at DC's waterfront winery. Experienced wine experts will share their knowledge about the wines -- white wines, refreshing rosés, and light-bodied reds --  what makes them perfect for summertime. 💲 June 10 - 11
Finnish Films. National Gallery of Art screens six short films, all directed by women, highlighting diversity in recent cinema from Finland. Programmed in partnership with the Embassy of Finland, the Finnish Film Foundation, and the American Film Institute, Silver Theatre. 🆓 ​June 11
Music in the Meadow. The US National Arboretum is the stage as the US Navy Concert Band performs classics like John Williams’s “Midway March” and Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story” alongside Gustav Holst’s iconic “First Suite in E-Flat” as well as a virtuosic reimagining of Tchaikovsky’s “Violin Concerto” performed by clarinetist MU1 Amy Eich.  🆓 ​June 11
Week 3
Mending Monday. Gather any pieces from home that need some love and attention, and  learn to mend, patch, and darn your items to give them a new life at this sewing workshop. 💲June 12
Outspoken. Celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride with Story District and Team Rayceen Productions at the 13th annual tribute to LGBT+ Pride. Enjoy a one-of-a kind night of true stories about first love, sex coaches, courageous choices, and Xena:Warrior Princess. 💲🎉​June 13
Congressional Soccer Match. Members of Congress, Hill staffers, athletes, lobbyists, embassies, and community leaders and organizations gather for a friendly (mostly) game of soccer to benefit kids. 🆓 ​June 13
Capitol Hill Luau.  Aloha! Barracks Row hosts an Hawaiian Luau and marketplace to showcase the variety of businesses on 8th Street SE with island entertainment and chance to win a trip to the islands. 💲June 13
Peacock Room Opens Shutters. Don't miss a beloved tradition as the National Museum of Asian Arts opens the shutters in the Peacock Room and see this unique masterwork of art and design in a whole new way as natural light reveals details of James McNeill Whistler's painted interior and accents the gleaming surfaces of Charles Lang Freer's collection of Asian ceramics. 🆓 June 15​
​Film & Sound Festival. The Library of Congress' inaugural Festival of Film and Sound brings together authors, historians, enthusiasts and special guests in a fun-filled weekend to enjoy classic rare silent and sound films from the 1920s through the 1950s not available on Blu-ray or streaming services.  All silent films will feature live musical accompaniment.💲June 15  - 18
DC/DOX Film Festival. The inaugural DC documentary film festival includes 31 features and 21 shorts from eight countries and kicks off with a screening of Joan Baez I Am A Noise, with Baez scheduled to attend. 💲June 15 - 18
Miss Juneteenth. Screening outdoors on the REACH video wall, the drama tells the story about a former beauty queen and single mother who prepares her rebellious teenage daughter for the Miss Juneteenth pageant.  🆓 ​​June 16
Home Rule Music Festival. Two weekends, one festival. This homegrown festival celebrates the music and DC with legendary jazz artists and musicians, and fun activities including a record fair, local food trucks, craft beverages, and more.  Artists include: Mark Meadows & The Movement. Doug Carn with the Home Rule Band, Kahil El’Zabar, EU and The Experience Band & Show. Tickets are required for some events. 🆓 June 16 - 17, + 24
Frederick Douglass’ Exhibit. Frederick Douglass changed traditional rules of representation by explaining how “true art” (as opposed to insidious caricatures) could be an engine of social change. This exhibit illuminates the legacy of one of the 19th century’s most influential writers, speakers and intellectuals through prints, photographs and ephemera. 🆓 June 16 - April 2024
Re:SET DMV. Boygenius, Steve Lacy, and LCD Soundsystem headline this three-day music event at Merriweather Post Pavilion. One stage, full sets by each artist, no conflicting schedules--genius. And there will also be local food and drink vendors. 💲June 16 - 18
Sound Art. Check out the Lost Origins exhibit Curating Sound: The Art of Inner Ear, Original Works From the Walls of DC’s Iconic Recording Studio by DC photographer Antonia Tricarico.  The opening night party includes special guests Don Zientara and Joe Lally (Fugazi, Coriky, and Messthetics). 🆓 June 17
Dragathon ExtravaGAYza. The outdoor festival, curated by Hennessey, features drag performances , food vendors, crafts and local queer businesses, organizations, and artists. 🆓 🎉​ June 18
Juneteenth Film Festival.  The Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival hosts this screening of five films that reflect and celebrate the Black experience, including three recently restored rediscoveries by Black independent filmmakers and a documentary that reflects on local Black history and culture. 💲June 18 - 22
Juneteenth Freedom Celebration. There's lots to do at the Anacostia Community Museum's Juneteenth bash. Test your east of the river knowledge, show off your skills in a double dutch contest, and learn about urban gardening. Local talent provides entertainment throughout the day. Don’t miss the museum’s latest exhibit about local women of color and their long history of activism and environmental justice. 🆓 June 19
Week 4
Oh God, A Show About Abortion. This is not your traditional stand-up. It is a one-woman political comedy that follows the abortion story of Alison Leiby, a Brooklyn-based writer and comedian, who touches on the stigma surrounding womanhood and motherhood, and the surprising perspective that comes with exercising your reproductive rights. June 20 - 24
A Raisin in the Sun. Lorraine Hansberry's immortal A Raisin in the Sun was the first play by a black woman to be performed on Broadway. In this landmark story, an African-American family struggles with poverty, racism, and inner conflict as they strive for a better way of life. 💲June 21 - July 2
International Yoga Day. Find a participating park in the city and practice your downward dog in a 1.5 hour session. 🆓 June 21
​Films on the Green in Anacostia. Films on the Green, which screens a variety of French or Francophone movies brings the festival to Anacostia Park. The featured movie will be Dancing the Twist in Bamako, about a young couple in love amidst the challenges of a political revolution. The movie will be in original version and have subtitles in English. 🆓 June 22
Congo Cravings Cooking Class. Take your taste buds to the Congo. In this interactive cooking class, you'll learn how to make chicken Mwamba, the national dish of the Congo, paired with plaintains, and the Congolese version of mashed potatoes (fufu), to round the full meal out. 💲June 22
Afro Dead + Sia Tolno in Concert. Feel the beat as Afro Dead and Guinean singer/songwriter Sia Tolno reimagine the music of the Grateful Dead with African, Jam Band Style, Afrobeat, Soukous & High-Life in this live concert. 💲June 22
Hillwood Forest Bathing. Experience the Hillwood estate (the former home of heiress and businesswoman Marjorie Merriweather Post)  in a whole new way---guided forest bathing walks through the  magnificent summer garden. 💲June 23
Friday Night Fishing. Cast your line for fun at the waterfront in this learn-to-fish program along the Navy Yard on the Anacostia River. Everything you need to land a big one will be provided. Open to all ages. 🆓 June 23 - August
BBQ Blowout. Come hungry and ready to eat as teams and restaurants from across the country bring their best meats, rubs and sauces for a chance at the title at the annual National Capital Barbecue Battle. Free samples (while they last) and music on multiple stages, including a Go-Go Stage with the Chuck Brown Band, EU, Backyard Band and others. Plus, DJ Jazzy Jeff headlines the 90's Block Party Stage. 💲June 24
Late Skate. Grab your skates and roll on down to skate into the night with a DJ at the Anacostia Skating Pavilion. Events last through out the day and include double dutch, lawn games, job fairs, boat trips and more! We can’t wait to see you there! 🆓 June 24
Summer Solstice. The Smithsonian marks the first Saturday of summer with its annual tradition of staying open late and hosting performances, talks and activities. Museums taking part (so far): Air and Space, Asian Art, Natural History  and American Indian. 🆓 June 24
Betches U Up? Live. The definitive modern dating podcast presented by Betches co-founder Jordana Abraham and comedian Jared Freid is coming to DC for a live edition. They’re here to help solve your dating struggles through honest and hilarious conversations about the modern dating world. From dating app makeovers to awkward sexual encounters, to defining the relationship and everything in between–they’re here to make sure you don’t die alone. 💲June 24
Wolf Trap Out & About Festival. This two-day festival celebrates Pride Month with performances from Brandi Carlile, Yola, Rufus Wainwright, Lucius, Oh He Dead, and other performers. For younger fans, the festival will feature Alphabet Rockers, a hip-hop children’s music collective, and the first New Orleans jazz band for kids, Jazzy Ash & The Leaping Lizards . 💲🎉​ June 25–26
Week 5
Pride Trivia Night. ​The National Portrait Gallery celebrates Pride with a happy hour trivia night. Test your knowledge of historic LGBTQ+ figures, events and artwork, all inspired by the Portrait Gallery’s collection. 🆓🎉​ June 27
1776. They knew they would make history, but not what history would make of them. This update of Tony Award–winning musical looks at a pivotal moment in American history with a cast that reflects multiple representations of race, gender, and ethnicity, putting history in the hands of the people who were left out the first time around. 💲Jun. 27 - Jul. 16
Smithsonian Folklife Festival. The first half of this year's festival will turn its gaze to the diverse history and culture of the Ozarks. During the day, musicians, cooks, artists, and performers will stage demonstrations from 11 a.m. through 5:30 p.m. to bring the region to life on the National Mall. The dance and crafts of this distinct geographic area will also find a home on several stages throughout the day, referencing the communities that make this area their home.  The theme for the second half of the festival, July 6 - 9, Creative Encounters: Living Religions in the U.S,  will explore how this theme has shaped humanity through deeply immersive workshops and demonstrations.🆓 June 29 - July 4 + July 6 - 9
Strangers That Clique: EP Release. You've been told to stay away from strangers. It's time you ignore that advice and embrace Strangers That Clique, a band that's taking the DC area by storm with its unique fusion of funk, hip hop, and rock. Get rock to out out at their EP release party at DC9. 💲June 30
Divine Sweater + Dorinda at Comet Ping Pong. The  tight vocal harmonies and a healthy dose of groove of Boston-based Divine Sweater and Reid Williams, a local indie-rock artist and bassist aka Dorinda meet for an eclectic double bill. 💲June 30

Curious? There's More!
  • The Best Canned Cocktails Made in the DMV to Try This Summer
  • ​Ahh! . . . Stop and Smell the Flowers at This "Secret" Smithsonian Garden
  • ​8 Great "Hidden" Parks and Green Spaces in DC to Discover Over Memorial Day Weekend
1 Comment
M
6/1/2023 02:16:08 pm

Thank you for posting this every month! It is a amazing resource and greatly appreciated :)

Reply



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