20 Things You Have to Do in DC This June, Like a Huge Barbecue Festival
Fun things to do in Washington DC this weekend, from Pride to Juneteenth.
Summertime is upon us, finally, and the season is splashing into the city with a bang. It’s our favorite time of year to escape the crowds and enjoy an epic view and chilled cocktail at one the district’s many excellent rooftop bars or to a nearby swimming hole for a city escape.
From Pride parades to Juneteenth celebrations to rosé parties and free outdoor dance performances, there’s no denying this is DC has officially entered its most festive season. Here are 20 things you don’t want to miss out on in DC this June.
June 1, 12 pm–2 pm, 3 pm–5 pm
Edgewood, $99 and up
Want to try the city’s newest restaurants and bars before anyone else does? Your best chance is on June 1 at the New Kitchens On The Block showcase. An impressive array of new favorites including Bar Cana by Robert Curtis of Mercy Me, Bourbon Steak, and an as of yet unnamed new bakery by Kevin Tien and Susan Bae of Moon Rabbit. Hijos del Maizby Saul Zelaya of Boogy & Peel, will be also debuting their offerings. Beers from the neighborhood’s Right Proper Brewing Company will be served as will cocktails by Republic Restoratives.
June 2, 2 pm–5 pm
Navy Yard, $99 and up
Nothing says summer quite like a chilled glass of rosé, are we right? District Winery is celebrating the start of rosé season with a rooftop party early summer dreams are made of. Snag a ticket to enjoy includes rosé tastings, specialty rosé cocktails, and light bites. A DJ, dancefloor, and grown-up activities that will make you feel like a kid again, including a wine bottle painting station, cotton candy making, temporary tattoos, will also be on offer.
Ongoing
Tysons, $13 and up
Yes, Tysons is a bit of a drive or a metro ride, but there is no denying that it's home to some of the best Japanese cocktails and sushi in the DMV. Wren just launched their new summer menu, and the new options are mouthwatering to say the least. You’ll want to sample the Tokyo Girl cocktail (gin, lavender, egg white) as well the Kagoshima Vice (rum, clarified coconut milk, strawberry). For any super fans, keep in mind that on Monday nights in June, Wren is opening limited spots for their renowned 18-20 omakase experience.
June 7–8, 6:30 pm
Penn Quarter, Free
It’s not every day you get to see The Washing Ballet perform for free. In fact, it’s more of a once-a-year opportunity so don’t miss out! The renowned dance troupe will be performing abbreviated, contemporary dance works at the plaza in CityCenter entirely for free. Seating will be first come first served, so plan to arrive for this popular event early.
June 8, 2 pm–10 pm
The Wharf, Free
DJ sets, dancing, drag shows, and fireworks—the Wharf is going all out for its annual celebration of LGBTQIA+ visibility and pride. Come to the waterfront neighborhood any time after 2 pm to celebrate (drinks and snacks will be available for purchase), or swing by later for the firework show that will close out the night. If you’re feeling indulgent, VIP tickets are available for $65 and up and include access to an air-conditioned lounge as well as free drinks and bites.
Starting June 8
U Street Corridor, $20 and up
A double billing of two world premiering plays is happening this June thanks to Voices Festival Productions, and you won’t want to miss it. Written by Rachel Lynette, a Yale Prize winning playwright, the two works (one dramatic, one comedic) tackle politics, race, and gender from wildly different lenses. “Letters to Kamala” imagines the Vice President receiving three spiritual visits from trailblazing women from American history, while “Dandelion Peace” is a comedic work. The production will certainly give you something to talk about for a long time to come.
June 11, 3 pm–7:30 pm
Logan Circle & Dupont Circle, Free
If there’s one event this Pride Month not to miss, it’s the Capital Pride Parade. The mile and a half route celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, and its allies, kicks off at 14th Street (at the intersection of T Street NW) and winds its way to finish at P Street and 21st. Grab a spot anywhere along the route to join in the city-wide party, or head to 17th Street between P & Church Street for a Block Party (starting at 12 noon) which will feature music and entertainment galore from the parade stage, as well as local food trucks and a beverage tent. Consider this the pre-game to 2025 when DC will be the host of WorldPride.
June 14–16
Union Market, Free
If you’ve ever wanted to go to Miami’s Museum of Graffiti but didn’t want to have to buy a plane ticket to do so, you’re in luck. The museum will be popping up over the weekend at Union Market with an immersive exhibit celebrating the intersection of sneaker culture and street art. The free pop-up will showcase original and rare sneakers by artists including Cey Adams and Futura. Bring your own pair of kicks and make sure you plan for some time at the pop-up’s complimentary sneaker customization bar.
June 14–16
Various Location, $10 and up
DC/DOX, which made its debut in the city last year, is returning for a full line-up of screenings of films. Expect a stellar line-up of powerful and timely stories from filmmakers around the world. The multi-day festival, with screenings around the city, will include over 70 short and feature-length documentaries as well as Q&As and talkbacks with filmmakers and journalists. While the festival opens on Thursday with a screening of Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, there are lots of great weekend screenings as well. Look out for Diane Furstenberg: Woman in Charge (June 14), Photographic Memory (June 15), and Sabbath Queen (June 16).
June 15–16
Alexandria, $35
Dive into Alexandria’s rich and complex Black history with a guided bus tour in celebration of Juneteenth. The 90-minute tours will visit various important and notable historical sites around town—places like the Barrett Library, the Alfred Street Baptist Church, Freedom House, and the site of the 1939 Alexandria Library Sit-In. Led by experts at the Manumission Tour Company, the bus tours will depart from the Alexandria Black History Museum.
June 15, 11 am–4:30 pm
The National Mall, Free
The National Museum of African American History & Culture is celebrating Juneteenth a little early this year with a day-long celebration. The museum’s community day will include family-friendly craft activities, storytimes for kids, live musical performances, gallery talks, a mixology class and more.
June 19, 10 am–5 pm
Anacostia, Free
Celebrate Juneteenth this year at the amazing Anacostia Community Museum. The museum will be running a free all-day event in honor of the holiday with family-friendly programming and live music. It’s a great opportunity to check out the museum’s latest exhibition, A Bold and Beautiful Vision: A Century of Black Arts Education in Washington, DC., 1900-2000. The exhibit dives into the stories and lives of students and teachers who contributed to DC’s legacy as a center for Black arts education over a one-hundred-year time span.
June 22–23
The National Mall, $20 and up (kids under 12 free)
If you’re serious about your barbeque, this one’s for you. The district’s annual BBQ Battle is back for its 32nd year and 2024’s promises to be bigger and better than ever. The two-day festival, which will be taking over Pennsylvania Avenue, will have bbq samples from over 100 vendors, live music, a spoken word competition, a sports zone, an arts and craft tent, and because this is DC in the summer, misting tents.
June 26–30
The National Mall, Free
DC’s iconic and beloved summer festival, Folklife, returns to the National Mall on June 26. This year’s festival will celebrate indigenous voices of America and DC’s National Museum of the American Indian which is turning 20 this year. Expect a full line-up of classes, performances, life music, cooking demos, and a marketplace of indigenous crafts.
Ongoing, 10 am–5:30 pm
Lafayette Square, Free
Fiber art by women—that is, sewing, quilting, needlework, and the like—have historically been dismissed and marginalized from having pride of place in the museum world. The Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery is turning this notion on its head and celebrating the rich, diverse, and fascinating history of fiber handicrafts. The new exhibition, Subversive, Skilled, Sublime: Fiber Art by Women, will feature 33 pieces including rugs, woven tapestries, embroideries, and quilts created by women between 1918 and 2004. It’s a quietly groundbreaking show that gives a new platform for this long-ignored art form.
June 21
Capitol Hill, Free
At long last the Folger Shakespeare Library is reopening on June 21. After a four-year closure for renovations, which involved digging beneath the original 1930s building to create a new floor, the Folger is again opening its doors. New exhibition spaces which house a vast collection of printed objects, books, and works of art related to William Shakespeare and theatrical history, as well as a brand-new cafe and garden are all part of the charm. While the Folger is free to visit, they ask for a pay what you can donation, and it’s recommended that you reserve timed entry passes in advance.
Ongoing
The Wharf, $25 and up
Mini golf plus Pixar characters may be many a young family’s weekend dream. Thanks to a limited pop-up at the Wharf, that dream can become a reality. The pop-up family golf experience will feature an 18-hole, highly interactive course that’s inspired by the characters and stories of Pixar classics like Toy Story, Wall-E and Monsters Inc. Book your mini golf session early before they sell out!
June 21–22
Alexandria, Free
Celebrate the summer solstice (June 20) and the best season to be on the water, at the Portside Summer Festival. The Old Town festival will have a full line-up of live music (including special evening jazz concerts and poetry readings), lawn games, summer craft activities, and tours of the tall ship Providence. Plenty of beer from local favorite Port City Brewing will be on hand.
June 22, 4 pm–12 am
Alexandria, $10
Alexandria’s annual Pride Bar Crawl is a colorful, festive jaunt through the city’s best bars. Check in first at the Alexandria Bier Garden for a map of participating neighborhood bars. Your ticket includes two free drinks, exclusive drink specials and discounts, lots of fun Pride merch, waived bar covers, and free admission to the Pride Bar Crawl afterparty. A portion of all proceeds go directly to Safe Space NOVA which supports LGBTQ+ youth throughout Northern Virginia. Plan to dress in your most vibrant colors
Ongoing
Georgetown, $95 and up
It’s a big month for DC’s unlikely hometown hero, William Shakespeare. Not only is the Folger Library reopening after a four-year closure and renovation, but Shakespeare’s legacy also is being celebrated at one of the city’s best kept dining secrets, La Bohème. Located on the second floor of Georgetown row home, above the champagne bar and restaurant, Apéro, La Bohème is all about the playwright this spring. Thoughtfully created Shakespeare themed four and six course menus are paired expertly with wines and with cocktails inspired by his plays. For example, the Puck’s Potion cocktail, a gin, lemon, and pea tendril concoction is designed to perfectly pair with the Enchanting Oberon’ ricotta gnocchi. This is also one of (if not the most) affordable prix fixed, beverage paired meals in the city. And lucky for us, it’s also one of the best. You’re welcome.