The DMV Shows Its Pride This Weekend
It is Capitol Pride weekend in the DMV, and there are no end to related activities. As many as 350,000 people from the DMV and the Mid-Atlantic Region are expect to participate in Saturday’s Capital Pride Parade and Sunday’s Capital Pride Festival. The main events are Saturday’s parade in Dupont and Logan neighborhoods and Sunday’s festival along Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the U.S. Capitol featuring headlines Meghan Trainor and Charlie Puth. The full schedule is available http://capitalpride.org/events-365/ online.
Metro’s SafeTrack work continues this weekend with the subway closing at midnight instead of 3 a.m. The Red Line will single track between Silver Spring and Glenmont with training operating every 12-15 minutes between Shady Grove and Silver Spring and every 20 minutes between Silver Spring and Glenmont. Orange and Silver Line trains will single track between East Falls Church and Ballston with trains running every 18 minutes. Blue Line trains will also run every 18 minutes to coordinate with Orange and Silver Line trains. The Yellow Line will operate every 18 mintues between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square ONLY. And Green Line trains will single track between U Street and Georgia Avenue with trains every 18 minutes.
Celebrate Fairfax
Celebrate Fairfax celebrates 35 years of the annual community festival. There is plenty to enjoy for every member of the family, including 300 exhibitors and food vendors, rides, a scavenger hunt, a 5k run Sunday at 8 a.m. and contests. There is also music each day, including Plain White T’s at 8 p.m. Friday, the B-52s at 8 p.m. on Saturday and Living Colour at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, and each day ends with a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m.
June 10 from 6 p.m.-midnight, June 11 from 10 a.m.-midnight and June 12 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center, 1200 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. Tickets are $5-$22 online and increase at the gate.
D.C. Jazz Festival
The 12th annual D.C. Jazz Festival get into full swing this weekend, with more than 90 acts and shows both inside and outdoors and at every price point. On Friday, George V. Johnson Jr. plays the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, with Jazz in the Garden merging with the http://dcjazzfest.org/jazz-in-the-hoods Jazz in the ‘Hoods program, which features more than 80 performances in more than 40 venues in 21 neighborhoods. Saturday features a number of Jazz in the ‘Hoods events, including a live jazz mural project at the D.C. Alley Museum. And on Sunday, Etienne Charles bring his “Creole Soul” to the Hamilton for a show at 7:30 p.m. ($22.75-$41.75). See the full schedule http://dcjazzfest.org/schedule online.
Through June 19 at venues throughout the DMV. Ticket prices vary, but many of the shows are FREE!
Park Potomac Spring Festival & Craft Beer Garden
Rescheduled from last month, the Park Potomac Spring Festival & Craft Beer Garden features a beer garden with seven local breweries — Flying Dog, DuClaw, Heavy Seas, Jailbreak, 7 Locks, Oliver Brewing Co. and Milkhouse – and wine. There will also be live music from Lovely Rita and food samples from Park Potomac restaurants including Founding Farmers Montgomery Coutny, Zoes Kitchen, SuGo and Elevation Burger along with food trucks. For the kids, there will be a petting zoo, face painting, balloon twisting and My Gym activities.
June11 from 1-5 p.m. on the lawn at Park Potomac, 12505 Park Potomac Ave., Potomac. Admission is FREE! Drink tickets are $5 each or five for $20. Proceeds benefit the Rockville Fire Department.
Capital Pride Parade
More than 180 contingents, including floats, are schedule to ride or march in the 41st annual Capital Pride Parade. Amarjeet Sohi, Canada’s Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, will be the first known high-level official from another country to march in the parade. The British, Royal Netherlands, and Swedish embassies will also have groups. Emmy-award winning actor Leslie Jordan from Will and Grace and American Horror Story is this year’s grand marshal. Goaltender Braden Holtby will lead a contingent from The Washington Capitals hockey team that includes mascot Slapshot, the Red Rockers, Washington Wizards’ Wizard Girls, Washington Mystics Energy Squad and Monumental Sports and Entertainment staff members. The Washington Nationals baseball team will also have a contingent in the parade. D.C. politicians will also march including Mayor Murial Bowser and council members Phil Mendeslon, Anita Bonds, Jack Evans, David Grosso, Kenyan McDuffie and Vincent Orange. The parade will travel along P Street to Dupont Circle, where it winds around to New Hampshire Avenue and head to R Street, then turns right onto 17th Street before turning left back onto P Street. From there it will travel to 14th Street then head north to S Street.
June 11 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. starting at 21st and P Streets NW and ending at 14th and S Streets NW. Admission is FREE!
A Night at the World’s Fair
Smithsonian at 8 presents A Night at the World’s Fair: A Celebration at the Arts and Industries Building, a grand party with a taste of world’s fair history. There will be music by DJ Trayze, roving performers, dancing, drinks and midway-inspired food, games, trivia, a photo booth, cash bar and more.
June 11 from 8-11 p.m. at the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building, 900 Jefferson Drive SW. General admission tickets are $50 online and includes two drinks and carnival snacks. VIP admission is $100 with an open bar all night and admission at 7 p.m. featuring a bar than includes specialty cocktails and small bites. General admission tickets are $60 at the door and VIP admission is $125.
Discover Strathmore
The annual Discover Strathmore open house takes visitors inside children’s literature and song by introducing its summer exhibition “Turning the Page: Children’s Book Illustrations.” Other highlight include Ellen Cherry, a former artist in residence, debuting a new song about Strathmore and D.C. Shorts presenting a family film showcase. There is also live music, face painting, workshops, food and arts and crafts activities.
June 12 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda. Admission is FREE!
Takoma Park JazzFest
In its 21st year, the Takoma Park JazzFest brings 12 acts to the stage for a seven-hour concert. Performances include establishes local acts, such as the Greater U Street Collective and the Hokum Jazz Trio, as well as school jazz ensembles from Takoma Park Middle School and Silver Spring International Middle School. The outdoor festival includes two stages and more than 50 booths with artists and community groups. There will be gift certificate giveaways to local shops and restaurants, and food will be for sale.
June 12 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at 7001 Carroll Ave., Takoma Park. Admission is FREE!
Capital Pride Festival
The Capital Pride Festival will feature concerts from 1-9:45 p.m. including Meghan Trainor at 7 p.m., Charlie Puth at 6 p.m., Melanie Martinez at 3 p.m. and Alex Newell at 2 p.m. on the Capitol Concert State at Third Street and Pennsylvania Avenue among others. Two other stages will feature local performers and DJs. There will also be more than 300 booths representing LGBT and LGBT-friendly organizations including federal government agencies such as the Department of Justice, CIA and FBI, food vendors and two beer gardens.
June 12 with exhibits from noon-7 p.m. and entertainment from 1-9:45 p.m.along Pennsylvania from Seventh to Third Streets NW in front of the U.S. Capitol and Canadian Embassy. Admission is FREE!
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.