Apr
19
Fri
National Cannabis Festival @ RFK Stadium Grounds
Apr 19 all-day

The 8th Annual National Cannabis Festival returns to The Festival Grounds at RFK Campus on April 19 & 20 headlined by Wu-Tang Clan with Redman and Thundercat.

In addition to the concert, NCF ticket holders can explore sweet and savory eats, check out the epic Exhibitor Fair featuring more than 100 brands, enjoy demos, comedy, panel discussions, eating contests, and more in the Education Pavilions, visit sponsor activations and grab swag site-wide, all while checking out the talent rocking out the main stage on both days.

Apr
20
Sat
National Cannabis Festival @ RFK Stadium Grounds
Apr 20 all-day

The 8th Annual National Cannabis Festival returns to The Festival Grounds at RFK Campus on April 19 & 20 headlined by Wu-Tang Clan with Redman and Thundercat.

In addition to the concert, NCF ticket holders can explore sweet and savory eats, check out the epic Exhibitor Fair featuring more than 100 brands, enjoy demos, comedy, panel discussions, eating contests, and more in the Education Pavilions, visit sponsor activations and grab swag site-wide, all while checking out the talent rocking out the main stage on both days.

May
11
Sat
White House Spring Garden Tour @ White House Gardens
May 11 @ 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

White House Gardens Tour will take place Saturday, May 11th and Sunday, May 12th.

The tours are open and free to the public with daily timed tickets.

How to tour the gardens: The National Park Service will distribute free, timed tickets each day (May 11th – 12th) beginning at 8:30 AM ET, while supplies last. Tickets will be distributed outside the White House Visitor Center at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.

Space is very limited for this highly anticipated event, so please plan accordingly.

You must have a ticket in order to join the tour. White House Spring Gardens Tour Saturday, May 11th and Sunday, May 12th 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM ET

About the White House Rose Garden: First imagined in 1902, the White House Rose Garden is one of the most recognizable landscapes in the world. Throughout history, the garden has served as a prominent place for celebrating and marking important American milestones. The White House Gardens Tour is highly anticipated by visitors and Washingtonians alike.

May
12
Sun
White House Spring Garden Tour @ White House Gardens
May 12 @ 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM

White House Gardens Tour will take place Saturday, May 11th and Sunday, May 12th.

The tours are open and free to the public with daily timed tickets.

How to tour the gardens: The National Park Service will distribute free, timed tickets each day (May 11th – 12th) beginning at 8:30 AM ET, while supplies last. Tickets will be distributed outside the White House Visitor Center at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.

Space is very limited for this highly anticipated event, so please plan accordingly.

You must have a ticket in order to join the tour. White House Spring Gardens Tour Saturday, May 11th and Sunday, May 12th 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM ET

About the White House Rose Garden: First imagined in 1902, the White House Rose Garden is one of the most recognizable landscapes in the world. Throughout history, the garden has served as a prominent place for celebrating and marking important American milestones. The White House Gardens Tour is highly anticipated by visitors and Washingtonians alike.

May
18
Sat
National Chamber Ensemble Season Finale @ Marymount University Ballston Auditorium
May 18 @ 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
The National Chamber Ensemble will conclude its 17th season with a grand “Concerto Celebration”!
Join on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at Marymount University’s Ballston Auditorium.  The NCE will feature Beethoven’s dramatic Piano Concerto No. 5 “The Emperor” with piano virtuoso Carlos César Rodriguez and the popular Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E Minor.
The National Chamber Ensemble provides a unique way to experience exceptional music that enriches our cultural life. From classical to contemporary compositions, internationally acclaimed musicians provide outstanding performances creating an environment that is warm, welcoming, and engaging.
The Program

Joseph de Bologne, Chevalier de Saint Georges — Sonata for Two Violins No. 1 in B flat Major

Felix Mendelssohn — Violin Concerto in E Minor Op.64

Ludwig van Beethoven — Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor” Op.73

The Artists

Violinist Leonid Sushansky, celebrated for his “gorgeous tone” and “passionate intensity” by The Washington Post and The New York Times, made his Carnegie Hall recital debut in 2005 and has performed globally with orchestras, and as a recitalist, and chamber musician. He has garnered acclaim for performances with prestigious orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic and the Berlin Chamber Orchestra.

Carlos César Rodríguez, hailed for his brilliance and versatility, is renowned as a virtuoso pianist excelling in Hispanic and Spanish repertoire as well as Mozart and romantic works. Rodríguez continues to captivate audiences worldwide with his exceptional performances and leadership in music education.

Najin Kim, Assistant Principal Second Violin of the Washington National Opera Orchestra/ Kennedy Center Opera House, previously served as Associate Concertmaster of the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra. Kim’s distinguished career includes performances at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center.

Hanbing Jia, Assistant Concertmaster of the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra and section first violinist in both the National Philharmonic and the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, has performed extensively across the US, Europe, and China. Jia holds a Master of Music degree and Graduate Performance Diploma from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University.

Uri Wassertzug, a versatile violist, has performed globally with chamber music ensembles and as a guest artist, notably in New Zealand and Alaska. A member of the Washington National Opera/Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, he frequently serves as Guest Principal Violist with the National Philharmonic.

Steven Honigberg is a member of the National Symphony Orchestra. He has showcased his talent in recitals in Washington DC, New York, and across the US. He has appeared as a soloist with esteemed orchestras such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra.

May
19
Sun
Old Town Festival of Speed & Style @ Lower Blocks of King Street around Market Square area
May 19 @ 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

The Old Town Festival of Speed & Style, known as one of the most prestigious and premiere car events on the East Coast, returns to Alexandria on Sunday, May 19, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Presenting sponsor Burke & Herbert Bank, returns for the fifth year in a row to support the signature event that stretches across lower King Street and the surrounding side streets near Old Town’s waterfront, to showcase rare and exotic cars.

The Festival has garnered tens of thousands of spectators to the lower King Street area, doubling foot traffic to local businesses, generating widespread media coverage, and raising money for Alexandria-based nonprofits. The event is a high-sensory spectacle for participants, spectators and car enthusiasts, allowing them to experience the “Speed & Style” variety of exotic supercars and vintage motorcycles rarely seen sitting still for up-close viewing.

Center-stage at noon, a unique Fashion Demonstration will be hosted by Maria Elizabeth of Alexandria-based Salon DeZEN. Maria will discuss the elegance and importance of natural fashion and its profound impact when paired with beautiful automobiles. An award presentation highlighting cars judged to be the finest in 11 categories, will immediately follow the Fashion Demonstration.

“We’re thrilled to be the title sponsor of the Old Town Festival of Speed & Style for the fifth straight year,” said David P. Boyle, chair, Burke & Herbert Financial Services Corp. “As Alexandria’s hometown bank, being a part of bringing a festival of this magnitude to the heart of our city and right outside the doors of our historic Headquarters means a lot to us. We couldn’t be happier that Alive! and Community Lodgings – two valued local organizations – will benefit from the proceeds.”

New for this year, the event will include pre-war exotic cars, a myriad of different sponsors showcasing their goods under canopies strategically dispersed throughout the Festival area, and live rock and jazz music provided by two well-known local bands. 

 

 

EVENT DETAILS

What: 5th Annual Old Town Festival of Speed & Style, Presented by Burke & Herbert Bank

When: Sunday, May 19, 2024

Where: Lower Blocks of King Street around Market Square area (200-500 blocks of King Street, and the 100 blocks of North and South Fairfax St.; North and South Royal St.; and North and South Pitt St.)

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Website: https://www.festivalspeedstylealex.com/

Cost: Free – open to all!

Weather Plan: Rain or shine

Jun
6
Thu
D-Day 80th Anniversary Commemorative Concert @ Eisenhower Memorial
Jun 6 @ 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM

D-Day 80th Anniversary Commemorative Concert at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial

On this milestone, 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, the Trust for the National Mall invites you to attend a FREE commemorative, sunset concert at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial featuring the U.S. Army “Pershing’s Own” Brass Quintet. D-Day was the largest amphibious invasion in history of its time and was overseen by General Dwight D. Eisenhower, then the Supreme Allied Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces during World War II. The D-Day operations were a turning point in the war and are said to have been instrumental in liberation of the Western Front. Dedicated to one of only nine Americans to ever reach the rank of 5-star general, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial honors the making and keeping of peace as overseen by General and President Eisenhower. Eisenhower was a critical part in building modern, post-war America, influencing desegregation, creating NASA, and ending global conflicts.

Seats are limited and reserved on a first come, first-serve basis. Feel free to bring picnic blankets to enjoy the concert from the lawn.

Come to the event early to enjoy a free tour of the Eisenhower Memorial led by a volunteer docent!

Jun
15
Sat
 Children’s Book and Learning Festival @ Woodrow Wilson Plaza at Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
Jun 15 @ 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

It will be an exciting day of fun and learning on Saturday, June 15, as Capital Book Fest hosts its annual “Children’s Book and Learning Festival” presented by nonprofit, Turning the Page on Wilson Plaza at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center (RRB/ITC).

Coinciding with the Juneteenth Weekend celebrations, this family-friendly festival will offer a full day of engaging and educational activities, featuring an exciting lineup of local authors from the Children’s Book Guild of Washington, DC and exhibitions from partners National Children’s MuseumDC Public LibraryWashington NationalsNature GenerationReadAbilityUrban Adventure SquadThe Giving SquareWashington Informer Spelling Bee and the DowntownDC BID.

From 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., children and their families can enjoy a variety of activities, including “Story on the Plaza” presented by the National Children’s Museum (NCM) and DC Public Library,  a literary walking adventure with story pages on display from the book “Extra Yarn” by bestselling and award-winning author Mac Barnett. NCM will host readings at 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. from the stage.

In addition to this immersive experience, 15 authors from the Children’s Book Guild will lead themed activities based on their books, like:

  • Baseball Fun with Fred Bowen: Fred Bowen will share his latest baseball book, Extra Innings while the Washington Nationals knock spelling out of the park with a baseball themed spelling challenge, word searches, and more!
  •  Art and Animals with Susan Stockdale: Susan Stockdale will read from her latest book, Line Up! Animals in Remarkable Rows, and demonstrate how she painted the illustrations. Children can then create their own animal images using vibrant colored oil pastels on black paper.
  • Cultural Crafts with Danielle Joseph: Decorate a tap tap bus with items that represent you and your culture! Danielle Joseph will lead this activity, inspired by her book I Want to Ride the Tap Tap, which explores the vibrant taxi-bus service in Haiti.
  • Community Poetry with Pamela Ehrenberg: Join in creating DC’s longest-known magnetic-poetry-style poem! Inspired by her book Detour AheadPamela Ehrenberg invites visitors of all ages to contribute lines to a collaborative poem celebrating life in DC.

The full list of authors and activities here.

Thousands of gently-used books, for all ages, will be on sale for $7 or less, as part of Capital Book Fest’s collaboration with Carpe Librum an outdoor, pop-up book shop selling community-donated books and raising valuable funds for the education-based nonprofit, Turning the Page.  Festive music by DJ Joe will fill the air. A concession stand will offer lunch and refreshments, prepared by RRB/ITC’s culinary team. Participating authors will also be selling and signing their books.

The Festival will offer an unforgettable day of stories, creativity, and family fun.  It will be a unique opportunity to connect with local authors, enjoy interactive activities, and celebrate the magic of reading and learning together.

What: Capital Book Fest: Children’s Book and Learning Festival

When: Saturday, June 15, 2024 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Where: Woodrow Wilson Plaza at Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center

1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Metro: Federal Triangle Station

Parking: Public Garage at RRB/ITC

Who: Free and open to the public