Folklife Festival Returns Featuring Peru
It’s the weekend before the Fourth of July and that means the Smithsonian’s Folklife Festival returns to the National Mall. This year’s featured country is Peru. Alexandria’s Food & Wine Festival is on tap at a new waterfront location and the international World Police & Firefighter Games are in the DMV for the next few weeks. There’s plenty for everyone to do this weekend.
This weekend, Green Line trains will operate at regular weekend intervals. Red Line trains will operate every 15 minutes between Shady Grove and Glenmont with trains running every 7-8 minutes between Grosvenor and Silver Spring from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Orange, Silver and Blue line trains will operate every 20 minutes throughout the weekend. On Saturday and Sunday, Silver Line trains will operate between Wiehle-Reston East and East Falls Church stations only. Customers traveling to Silver Line stations east of East Falls Church should connect to the Orange Line at East Falls Church for continuing travel. Buses will replace Yellow Line trains between Huntington and King Street/Old Town. Eisenhower Avenue and the Huntington stations will be closed. Yellow Line trains will operate regular weekend intervals between Franconia-Springfield and Mt. Vernon Square only.
If you need a break at the Folklife Festival, take a seat in a totora reed raft, used for fishing and surfing off the coast of Huanchaco. (Photo: Josh Weilepp/Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives)
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
This weekend kicks off the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which will spotlight Peru. Enjoy music and dance performances, Peruvian cuisine, demonstrations and more.
June 24-28 and July 1-5 from 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. with a nightly concert at 7 p.m. on The National Mall between Third and Fourth Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
Shop the best from local Goodwill stores all in one location this weekend. (Photo: Goodwill)
Goodwill Summer Trunk Show
If you’re looking for fashionable summer clothing but need to stick to a strict budget, head to this weekend’s Goodwill Summer Trunk Show, where an edited selection of the best outfits from local Goodwill stores will be on display and on sale. The space will also feature historical images commemorating Goodwill’s 80th anniversary in our nation’s capital.
June 26 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and June 27 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Pepco Edison Place Gallery, 702 8th St. NW. Admission is FREE!
World Police & Fire Games
A team of firefighters competes in the 2013 World Police & Firefighter Games in Belfast. (Photo: World Poice & Fire Games)
Held biannually, the World Police & Fire Games offers police officers, firefighters, customs and corrections officers from around the world the opportunity to showcase their athletic experience in more than 65 sporting events. This year more than 12,000 public safety athletes from 70 countries will compete for more than 1,600 medals in events ranging from baseball, basketball, bowling, darts and a decathlon to morocross, swimming, billards, air rifle, rugby, soccer and swimming. A full schedule is available here.
June 26-July 5 at various times in Fairfax and other locations around the DMV. Admission is FREE! Free tickets are required for boxing and bodybuilding competitions due to venue capacity. Tickets for the opening ceremony June 26 at 6 p.m. at RFK Stadium are sold out.
D.C.’s Biggest Dance Party
Carnegie Library will host D.C.’s Biggest Dance Party Friday evening. (Photo: Historical Society of Washington, D.C)
While it can’t be promised that this event at Carnegie Library will break any records for size or capacity, D.C.’s Biggest Dance Party hosted by the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, which will take place outdoors and feature a groovy mix of retro hits from the 70s, 80s and 90s, as well as current hits spun by DJ Quicksilva, DJ Rusty B and All Good Funk Alliance, should be a fun night out regardless.
June 26 from 7-11 p.m. at Carnegie Library, 801 K St. NW. Admission is FREE, but you must RSVP!
Summer Open Studios
The O Street Artist Studios will hold an open house this weekend. (Photo: O Street Artist Studios/Facebook)
Join the O Street Artist Studios for their Summer Open Studios Explore artists’ work spaces, meet the artist and art professionals with a range of backgrounds and disciplines, and see and purchase some of their most recent work fresh from the site of creation.
June 27 and 28 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at the O Street Artist Studio, 52 O St. NW. Admission is FREE!
Alexandria’s Food & Wine Festival
Visitors to last year’s Alexandria Food & Wine Festival sample Virginia Wines. (Photo; Alexandria’s Food & Wine Festival)
The fourth annual Alexandria’s Food & Wine Festival returns at a new waterfront location. It features tastes of local food and Virginia wines, as well as artisans, a children’s corner and live entertainment. Local restaurants will compete for best appetizer, best main course and best dessert. There will also be demos throughout the day.
June 27 from noon-6 p.m. at Oronoco Bay Park, Oronoco Street and Union Street in Old Town Alexandria. Admission is FREE, but admission to the wine garden is $20 and includes a wine glass, bottle of water and unlimited tasting. Food samples are $20 for eight tickets. Most samples require two or three tickets. Tickets are available on site.
America Now! Innovation in Art
Rendering of Starry Heavens in American Art’s Kogod Courtyard. (Rendering: Air Design Studio)
At America Now! Innovation in Art visitors explore how artists are using technology to propel their work. Play the interactive game Starry Heavens, created by Italian architect Nathalie Pozzi and video game designer Eric Zimmerman, under a floating, ribbon-like installation designed for the American Art Museum’s Kogod Courtyard. Try Oculus Rift, a virtual reality headset for 3D gaming, to explore the game by designer Greg Aring combining oculus and Kinect technology, and immerse themeselves in the independent virtual reality games Flutter Bomb and Dispersion by Earthborn Interactive. Digital paint pioneer Jeremy Sutton will paint to the beats of Seattle based electro-swing band Good Co. and international DJ Eliazar, who fuse jazz and swing to create their own eclectic sound. A special Starry Heavens-inspired cocktail, beverages and snacks are available for purchase in the Courtyard Café.
June 27 from 4-7 p.m. at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, 800 O St. NW. Admission is FREE!
Pops for Pets
Pops for Pets is a concert for pets and their owners. (Graphic: Animal Welfare League of Arlington)
If you’re looking for a classy, laid-back evening of outdoor live music, head to the Lubbock Run Amphitheater to see the Arlington Philharmonic on Sunday. This particular free show, dubbed Pops for Pets to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. The oncert is animal-friendly, so bring your dog with you. The program will include patriotic, classical and animal-related pieces
June 28 at 6 p.m. (rain date is July 1 at 6 p.m.) at Lubber Run Amphitheater, N. Columbus Street and Second St., Arlington. Admission is FREE! Donations will be accepted for the Animal Welfare League of Arlington.
Editor-in-Chief Mark Heckathorn is a journalist, movie buff and foodie. He oversees DC on Heels editorial operations as well as strategic planning and staff development. Reach him with story ideas or suggestions at dcoheditor (at) gmail (dot) com.
