A Blossoming Weekend in the DMV
The cherry blossoms are here! Due to the uncharacteristically warm weather, peak bloom is here sooner than expected, but hey, we’re not going to complain about that! In celebration of the blooms, the National Cherry Blossom Festival is in full swing, creating a jam-packed weekend of events celebrating spring and Japanese culture. We’ve highlighted some of the festival’s events in this week’s guide, but be sure to check out the full schedule.
It’s a cherry blossom Miracle, there is no Metro track work this weekend or the next three! Enjoy!
Students from dance departments at American University and George Washington University are set to perform this Friday at the Kennedy Center. (Photo: American University, Dance Department)
American University & George Washington University Dance
Kick your weekend off with a round of performances from dance students from both American University and George Washington University dance departments. Choreographed by both students and faculty, expect to see a wide range of contemporary dance performances from these local college students.
Mar. 25 at 6 p.m. at at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St. NW. Admission is FREE!
Don’t Block the Box Comedy Show
Hillary Scofield headlines the Don’t Block the Box Comedy Show. (Photo: Hillary Scofield/Twitter)
Get your laugh on at D.C. comedy show staple Don’t Block the Box Comedy Show. Local comedienne Hillary Scofield will headline this show featuring performances from LizaBanks Campagna, Shelley Kim and Jessy Morner-Ritt. Grab a drink and beware of sitting in the front row of this guaranteed laugh riot.
Mar. 25 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at The Wonderland Ballroom, 1101 Kenyon St. NW. Tickets are $5 at the door.
Cinematsuri
Personal Non Grata close out CineMatsuri this weekend. (Photo: Persona Non Grata Film Partners)
Organized by the Japanese-American Society of Washington, D.C., CineMatsuri is D.C.’s first-ever Japanese film festival. Now in its third year, the festival showcases Japan’s more recent and best films, reflecting the diversity of today’s Japanese cinema. The festival finishes up this weekend with two encore performances of Persona Non Grata at the Angelika Pop-Up theater and Bethesda Row Cinema. Movies are in Japanese with English subtitles.
Mar. 25 at 9:15 p.m. at the Angelika Pop-Up at Union Market, 550 Penn St. NE and Mar. 27 at 7 p.m. at Bethesda Row Cinema, 7235 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda. Tickets are $11 and can be purchased here for the Friday screening at Angelika Pop-Up and here for the Bethesda Row screening.
Hunt for eggs among the famous wax statues at Madame Tussauds. (Photo: Yelp)
Easter Egg Hunt
The Easter Bunny is set to make his yearly trip to Madame Tussauds’ annual Easter egg hunt. In it’s fifth year, the Easter egg hunt offers a unique twist to the time honored tradition. Help your kids search for empty eggs, hidden among wax figures of some of the biggest celebrities both past and present. Children can trade in their eggs for a gift bag. There will also be a meet and greet with the Easter Bunny, an on-site petting zoo and Easter crafts. Forget the White House Egg Roll, you’ll be among all 44 presidents at this Easter event!
Mar. 26 at 8 a.m., 8:30 a.m. or 9:30 a.m. at Madame Tussauds, 1001 F St. NW. Tickets are $25 for adults, while children 12-years-old and younger are FREE!
National Cherry Blossom Festival Family Day
A wide range of activities await you and the family at the National Cherry Blossom Festival Family Day. (Photo: National Building Museum)
If the Tidal Basin is a little too crowded, considering popping by the National Cherry Blossom Festival Family Day. This kid-friendly event offers hours of hands-on activities at various stations. Guests can fold origami masterpieces, design a memorial for the National Mall, construct a tatebanko diorama, meet DuAro, Kawasaki’s drawing robot, try on traditional Japanese clothing, learn more about zen gardens and landscape architecture or catch a film presented by the National Park Service. Along with being a part of the Cherry Blossom Festival, Family Day is helping the National Parks celebrate their Centennial Celebration.
Mar. 26 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. Admission is FREE!
Japanese Culture Day
Learn more about Japanese culture at the Library of Congress this weekend. (Photo: Washington.org)
Explore the traditions and stories of the Japanese at Japanese Culture Day, presented by the Asian Division of the Library of Congress and the Center for the Book. Activities include origami-making, kimono dress-up and a karate demonstration. Japan-in-a-Suitcase, a program presented by the Japan-America Society of Washington D.C., will detail Japanese life, culture and cuisine.
Mar. 26 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Library of Congress, Young Readers Center, Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. SE. Admission is FREE!>
Cinéma Restauré
See the French film that inspired cartoon character Pépé le Pew at the National Gallery of Art. (Photo: Rialto Pictures/Photofest)
If cherry blossoms aren’t you’re thing, the National Gallery of Art is offering two chances to catch a free film as part of their Cinéma Restauré program. Offered quarterly, the Cinéma Restauré program presents new digital restoration of archived international films. This weekend’s program features two films from French director Julien Duvivier: Pépé le Moko and Un Carnet de Bal. Showing on Saturday, Pépé le Moko is the story of a jewelry thief and his eventual demise. Un Carnet de Dal, screening Sunday tells the tale of a widow who goes on a journey to visit her previous lovers.
Mar. 26 at 12:30 p.m. and Mar. 27 at 4 p.m. at the National Gallery of Art, East Building Auditorium, Sixth and Constitution Avenue NW. Admission is FREE!
Cherry Blossom Beer and Wine Festival
Get outside and sample over 100+ different beers and wines at Drink the District’s Cherry Blossom Beer and Wine Festival. (Photo: DC After Five)
Make a toast to the cherry blossoms and Spring’s arrival at Drink the Districts Cherry Blossom Beer and Wine Festival. According to the weather reports, Saturday is looking to be the perfect day to get outside and sip on samples of over 100 different beers and wines. There will be food vendors and food trucks including Arepa Zone, Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken, Cap Mac, Peruvian Brothers, Red Hook Lobster Pounds, Captain Cookie and the Milk Man, Crepe Love, D.C. Slices, Dirty South Deli, The Big Cheese and Urban Poutine among others. Live entertainment will be provided all day by DJ Juian Rivera, Worldtown Sound System and the Dan McGuire Group. Grab your favorite drinking buddy and find a new favorite beverage.
Mar. 26 from 1-4 p.m. or from 6-9 p.m. at The Yard’s parking lot, 1300 First St. SE. Tickets are $45.
Pop-Up Concert
Musicians Tim Park and Mayu Kishima perform as part of the 6821 Quintet. (Photo: National Cherry Blossom Festival)
Classical music quintet 6821 hit the stage this Sunday for a Pop-Up Concert as part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The group, which includes violinist Mayu Kishima, cellist Tim Park, violist Meng Wang, pianist Mayumi Sakamoto and violinist Andrew Kwon, was specially assembled for the festival. Its name, 6821, represents the distance between Tokyo and D.C.
Mar. 27 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at The Plaza at CityCenter, H Street NW between Ninth and 10th Streets. Admission is FREE!
Hansel and Gretel
It’s Hansel and Gretel with an interactive twist! Check out this free performance at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. (Photo: The Kennedy Center)
It’s the festival that keeps on giving! Celebrate the cherry blossoms one last time this weekend at a performance of Hansel and Gretel presented by the Japan Information and Culture Center. Deemed a “four dimensional opera,” the retelling of this classic tale is all about audience interaction. Jump right in.
Mar. 27 at 6 p.m. at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Millennium Stage, 2700 F St. NW. Admission is FREE!
