Free Movies, Concerts and Theater on Tap

There’s only a few weeks left of Summer 2014, and it will be a perfect weekend to get out and take advantage of area events. From free concerts, to free movies, to free theater and more, there’s something for everyone happening in the DMV this weekend.

On Metro, the Takoma and Silver Sping stations will be closed beginning at 12:01 a.m. Saturday through closing on Sunday. Buses will replace Red Line trains between Fort Totten and Forest Glen. Riders should allow an extra 25 minutes on limited-stop busyes between Fort Totten and Forest Glen making one stop at Silver Spirng. Local buses will operate between Fort Totten and Forest Glen, making intermediate stops at Takoma and Silver Spring. Riders should add 10-12 minutes additional for each station stop. Trains will operate every 10 minutes between Shady Grove and Fort Totten and between Glenmont and Forest Glen. Silver and Green line trains will operate at regular weekend intervals. Orange and Blue line trains will operate every 20 minutes and Yellow Line trains will operate every 20 minutes between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square only.

Tysons Corner Center’s new outdoor plaza will host Friday night concerts through August. (Photo: Macerich)

Better Than Ezra concert

Better Than Ezra takes the stage on Tysons Corner Center’s new outdoor plaza tonight as part of the Fresh Artists Summer Concert Series. The opening act will be Stuart Lewis. Concerts continue Friday evenings through the end of the month. Performing Aug 22 is Andy Grammer and Jacquie Lee on Aug. 29. Visitors are welcome to bring a picnic. Lawn chairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis or you can take your own lawn chair or blanket. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis at the concierge desk on level 1 outside Macy’s and Starbucks beginning at 10 a.m.

Fridays through Aug. 29 starting at 7 p.m. at Tysons Corner Center’s new outdoor plaza, located on level 2 across from the Microsoft store, 1961 Chain Bridge Road, Tysons Corner. Admission is FREE, but limited to 1,500 people.

Let’s go to the fair

The Montgomery and Prince William county fairs continue through Sunday. (Photo: Prince William County Fair)

The Montgomery County Agricultural and Prince William County fairs are winding down this weekend after a week-long run. This is your last chance for an Italian sausage sandwich with grilled peppers and onions, fresh-squeezed lemonade, funnel cakes, candy apples or fried Oreos. There’s also animals, rides, games and more food. Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., the MoCo fair has demolition derbies, while the Prince William fair has monster truck shows both nights at 7 p.m.

Montgomery County Agricultural Fair through Aug. 16 from 10 a.m.-midnight at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 16 Chestnut St., Gaithersburg. The carnival area is open from noon-midnight. Admission is $10 online or at the gate, children 11 and younger are free. On-site parking is $10, but free parking and shuttle buses are available at the Lakeforest Mall.

Prince William County Fair through Aug. 16 starting at 5 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. Saturday and noon Sunday at the Prince William County Fairgrounds, 10624 Dumfries Rd., Manassas. Admission at the gate is $10, children 5-13 and seniors 60 or older are $5. Price includes parking.

Video game convention

Visitors can play in the free arcade at VGU Con. (Photo: Video Gamers United)

Gamers of all genres and ages should head to the Video Gamers United’s VGU Con this weekend at the convention center. The event brings together the top gamers, developers and minds in the video gaming industry. There will be panel discussions, keynote speakers, video game demos, gaming tournaments, cosplay contests, a celebrity charity event, a free arcade and more.

Aug. 16 and 17 from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place NW. One-day tickets are $40, two-day tickets are $75 and children 10 and under are free. Tickets are available online or at the door.

Hot August Music Festival

The Hot August Music Festival features blues and roots music. (Photo: Tim Newby)

The Hot August Music Festival may have rebranded this year from the longer Hot August Blues & Roots Festival, but the music is still bluesy and rootsy. The undercard is a strong lineup of up-and-coming acts,such as roots rockers Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds, funky big band Turkuaz and bluegrass act Cabinet. But you’ll likely attend for one of the the headliners: Philadelphia-based indie rockers Dr. Dog, the reunited Nickle Creek or the band behind Wagon Wheel, Old Crow Medicine Show.

Aug. 16 from 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m. at Oregon Ridge Park, 13401 Beaver Dam Road, Cockeysville, Md. Tickets are $59 online. Parking is an additional $15.

Summer Wine & Peach Fest

The Summer Wine & Peach Fest features all things peach in Silver Spirng. (Photo: Milk Lady Events)

All things peachy (and all things local) collide at the Summer Wine & Peach Fest, which feature food, wine, beer and live music. Enjoy live entertainment on two stages including jazz, Celtic, rock, country and slam poets. Local craft beer finds its way via Maryland breweries along with the harvest of local peaches from local farmers in peach mango salsa, a peach BBQ sauce on pulled pork, peach/pistachio biscotti, peach nectar sparkling soda, cousin of peach apricot squares, peach-filled cupcakes, cobbler in a Jar and decorate your own wine glass with a peach!

Aug. 16 from 2-7 p.m. at the Historic Silver Spring B&O Station, 8100 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring. Tickets cost $10-$39 online or at the gate.

Movies on the Green

The Plaza at Tysons Corner Center will show free Saturday night movies until the end of August. (Photo: Macerich)

Hop on the Silver Line and head out to Tysons Corner Center’s new outdoor plaza for a free screening of Jaws at Movies on the Green. Enjoy evenings outside with friends and family through the end of the month while watching your favorite films on the mall’s new outdoor plaza on level 2 across from the Microsoft store. The series continues Aug 23 with Man of Steel and Aug. 30 with The Blind Side. Visitors are encouraged to bring picnics, but alcohol is not permitted. Lawn seating is available on a first-come, first-serve basis as are lawn chairs, or you can bring your own chairs and blankets.

Saturdays through Aug. 30 starting at 8 p.m. on the plaza at Tysons Corner Center across from the Microsoft store, 1961 Chain Bridge Road, Tysons Corner. Admission is FREE!

SynchroSwim 2014

Performers at the 2012 Synchroswim. (Photo: Huffington Post)

D.C.’s performance art explosion is taking to the pool with http://wpadc.org/synchroswim/ SynchroSwim 2014, the fourth presentation of Washington Project for the Arts’ synchronized swimming performance art competition. Typically, synchronized swimming demands advanced water skills and requires great strength, endurance, flexibility, grace, artistry and precise timing, as well as exceptional breath control. WPA’s SynchroSwim, celebrates creativity and enthusiasm! During the one-hour event, approximately six teams will perform short, unique routines set to musical compositions. Some may actually be synchronized, but the vast majority will be a free expression of creativity. Past performances have included a biting critique of BP’s role in the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, a celebration of the music of Van Halen, an excerpt from Fluid Movement’s Jason and the Aquanauts: 20,000 Legs Over The Sea and even a performance by an actual synchronized swimming team.

Aug. 17 at 5 p.m. at Capitol Skyline Hotel, 10 I St. SW. Admission is FREE beginning at 4:30 p.m.!

The Shakespeare Theatre Co. will offer free performances of The Winter’s Tale through the end of August. (Photo: Shakespeare Theatre)

Shakespeare Free For All

The Shakespeare Theatre Company’s annual Free For All, now in its 28th year is back. This year’s free show is a revival of The Winter’s Tale, which the company staged in 2013. To secure your free tickets to one of 16 performances from Tuesday through Aug. 31, you’ll need to enter the theater’s online lottery between 12:01 a.m. and 8 p.m. the day before the performance you wish to attend or be among the first 200 people who line up in front of the theater two hours before curtain on show dates.

Aug. 19 through 31 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesdays, 8 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays at the Shakespeare Theatre’s Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW. Admission is FREE!
 
 
 
 

The heatwave should begin breaking today and the weekend temperatures are expected to be about 77 degrees on Saturday and 83 degrees on Sunday, great weather to get out and enjoy the many outdoor events in the DMV. But even if the 40 percent chance of rain materializes on Saturday, there are indoor events to keep you occupied.

On Metro, Green line trains will operate at regular weekend intervals. Red Line trains will run every 20 minutes between Shady Grove and Glenmont, with additional trains between Grosvenor and NoMa-Gallaudet during daytime hours. Orange, Blue and Yellow line trains will operate every 20 minutes. The Yellow line will only run to the Mount Vernon Square-Convention Center station and not to Fort Totten.

Attendees at the opening night film for AFI Docs. (Photo: AFI Docs)

AFI Docs documentary film festival

AFI Docs, formerly known as Silverdocs, is the American Film Institute’s annual five-day international documentary film festival. Celebrating its 12th year, films are shown in landmark venues in the DMV including the AFI Silver Theatre. Of the almost 2,000 documentaries submitted, 50 feature films and about 30 short are being screened. Some “catalyst” screenings, including ones on homeless youth, the Internet and skyrocketing college tuition, will include detailed panel discussions with filmmakers and experts afterwards. If you missed the opening screening of Holbrook/Twain: An American Odyssey, Holbrook’s award-winning one-man show Mark Twain Tonight!,you can catch it on Sunday at 4:15 p.m. at the Silver Theatre. The closing feature is Life Itself based on film critic Roger Ebert’s 2011 memoir of the same name, which will be screened at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the National Portrait Gallery.

Through June 22 at various locations including the AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, the Newseum, the Naval Heritage Center, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Archives and the Goethe Instiut, all in Penn Quarter. Tickets range from $11-$14.

Chris Kattan will perform a standup comedy routine at Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse. (Photo: NNDB)

Chris Kattan

Former Saturday Night Live cast member Chris Kattan — seen most recently on The Middle — hits the standup comedy circuit with four shows in Arlington. He appeared on SNL from 1995-2003 with recurring characters including Mr. Peepers, Mango, Azrael Abyss, Kyle DeMarco, Gay Hitler, Suel Forrester and, most notably, one half of the Butabi Brothers with fellow cast member Will Ferrell.

June 20 and 21 at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. at Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington. Tickets cost $25 online or at the door.

Elikeh

Elikeh will perform at Topicalia. (Photo: John Shore)

The D.C.based http://elikeh.net/ Elikeh is performing at Tropicalia tonight. Elikeh is an Afropop band that specializes in the catchy melodies and infectious rhythms of West African popular music. The band uses elements of Togolese rhythms as a foundation for exploration into American-influenced blues, funk and rock.

June 20 at 8 p.m. at Tropicalia, 2001 14th St. NW. Tickets are $12 in advance online or $15 at the door.

Pixar in Concert

Clips from the movies will be shown as the National Symphony Orchestra plays music from Pixar movies. (Photo: San Francisco Synmpony)

The National Symphony Orchestra gets animated when it performs Pixar in Concert, the music from Pixar’s greatest films – Ratatouille, A Bug’s Life, Finding Nemo, WALL-E, Up, The Incredibles, Brave, Monsters, Inc., Monsters University, Cars and Toy Story and more – while scenes from the movies are projected onto screens outside and inside Wolf Trap.

June 20 at 8:30 p.m. at Wolf Trap’s Filene Center, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna. Tickets cost $30-$58 online or at the gate.

Safeway Barbecue Battle

Pennsylvania Avenue will become a barbecue battle this weekend. (Photo: Safeway Barbecue Battle)

The 22nd annual Safeway Barbecue Battle kicks off Saturday with an intensely heated and smoky competition among 41 of the nation’s best pitmasters vying for a $40,000 grand prize. Samples, beer and cooking demos will be plentiful and 30 bands will provide entertainment.

June 21 from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and June 22 from 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. on Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 9th and 14th Streets. Admission is $12 in advance and $14 at the gate.

Alexandria’s Food & Wine Festival

Taste food from local restaurants and sample wines from Virginia wineries at Alexandria’s Food & Wine Festival. (Photo: Alexandria’s Food & Wine Festival)

Alexandria’s Food & Wine Festival features tastes of local foods and wine, as well as artisans, a children’s corner and live entertainment. The event transforms John Carlyle Square into a lively festival venue. Sample food from local restaurants including Walker’s Grille, Alexandria Cupcake, Las Tasca, Hilton Old Town, Rita’s Ice, Trademark, Whole Foods, Delia’s and Rice & Spice and wines from Virginia wineries including Democracy Vineyard, Lake Anna Winery, Mattaponi Winery, Horton Winery and Unicorn Winery.

June 21 from noon-5 p.m. at John Carlyle Square, 300 John Carlyle St., Alexandria. Admission is free, but eight food tickets cost $20 (samples require a various number of tickets) and admission to the wine tasting test is an additional $20. Tickets are available on-site.

Mid Summer Wine Fest

Sample Maryland wines at the Mid Summer Wine Fest in Silver Spring. (Photo: Milk Lady Events)

At the fourth annual Mid Summer Wine Fest expect free wine samples from Maryland vineyards, live honkytonk, salsa dancing and snacks from local performers. There will also be a strong showing from local farmers as well as a Ukrainian virility dance performance.

June 21 from 2-7 p.m. at the B&O Station, 8100 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring. Admission is $31 in advance until 9 p.m. on June 20 and $39 after.
 
 

Geek Chic Fashion Show

Cosplay fashions will be features at the Geek Chic Fashion Show. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Fantom Comics and PollySue’s Vintage Shop team up to co-host the Geek Chic Fashion Show, a fashion show for geeks. Instead of high-fashion designers, models will be dressed in nerdy street styles, casual cosplay, steampunk couture, high-fashion superheros, tiny princess supervillains and more. Proceeds benefit Con or Bust, a non-profit that sends fans of color to science-fiction and fantasy conventions.

June 21 at 7 p.m. at St. Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church, 1525 Newton St. NW. Admission is $5 at the door.

Bedroom Business

At Bedroom Business, professionals will give advice to improve your love life. (Photo: Twoology)

When’s the last time you had a bad bedroom experience? Why was it so bad? Was it you or your partner? Do you secretly struggle with how to improve your bedroom skills? Is there something you wish you knew how to do? Do you have a bedroom partner with a particular issue? Want to figure out how to talk to them about improving? At Bedroom Business: A Conversation for Men and Women, professionals will offer advice, products and workshops. There will also be a panel discussion about communication in the bedroom. Panelists include Dr. Richard Griffith, a licensed psychologist, Tunde Akinyeke, a blogger, Dr. Natasha St. Amand, a licensed professional therapist, and Lauren Williams, owner of The Bobby Pen blog.

June 22 from 3-6:30 p.m. at The Loft at 600 F, 600 F St. NW. Admission is $15 here.