This weekend’s list of events is a surefire way to honor the legacies and cultural hitters of the nation’s capital, with a hint of artistic appreciation and social advocacy.
Kick the weekend off by diving into ocean life and climate change studies with Science on a Sphere Gallery Talks & Tours, or using Friday to uncover the realities of Black farming.
Of course, with spring on the cusp and cherry blossoms in bloom, this weekend welcomes spring-filled fun with the Blossom Kite Festival and Cherry Blossom Dining Cruises. Natives can honor the legacies of DMV changemakers by joining A Conversation: The Enduring Legacy of Frederick Douglass or enjoying the rhythmic blues of Duke Ellington’s jazz and music.
In the mood to keep the artistic trend going? Enjoy a Friday night performance of Finesse2Tymes and New Impressionz, or help bring awareness to domestic violence in a 5K Marathon.
To keep up with all the fun, don’t forget to check out the Washington Informer Calendar.
Keep your outlook vibrant and remember, there’s always something happening in the DMV to keep your spirit — and social life — lit.
Thursday, March 28
Science on a Sphere Gallery Talks & Tours
11 a.m. – Noon | Free
National Museum of Natural History, Constitution Ave. NW & 10th St NW, Washington, D.C., 20004
Come explore the blue planet with the National Museum of Natural History Ocean Educators. Through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)‘s Science on a Sphere technology, guests will encounter a series of interactive visualizations projected on the Sant Ocean Hall’s giant globe. Watch sea turtles migrate coast to coast, track ships through global waters in real-time, explore the changing climate patterns shaping our planet, and much more!
A Conversation: The Enduring Legacy of Frederick Douglass
6 p.m. – 7 p.m. | Free with registration
National Portrait Gallery, 8th Street NW & F Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20004
The renowned abolitionist, author and orator Frederick Douglass was the most photographed American of the 19th century. In conjunction with the National Portrait Gallery’s exhibition “One Life: Frederick Douglass,” this panel discussion will explore the ways Douglass used speeches, personal narrative and images to further his activism.
Hear from the exhibition’s co-curators: John Stauffer, the Sumner R. and Marshall S. Kates professor of English and of African American Studies at Harvard University; and Ann Shumard, the National Portrait Gallery’s senior curator of photographs. Joined by Kenneth B. Morris, Douglass’s great-great-great-grandson, they will discuss the freedom fighter’s ongoing legacy.
Friday, March 29
DC Premiere: Farming While Black After Five, Films
7 p.m. – 9 p.m. | Free
National Museum of Natural History, Constitution Ave. NW & 10th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
Presented on behalf of the Environmental Film Festival, ”Farming While Black” examines the historical plight of Black agronomists in the United States and the rising generation of farmers reclaiming their agricultural heritage and reconnecting with their ancestral roots. The film chronicles the work of Soul Fire Farm co-founder Leah Penniman and two other Black farmers and the impact of their work, collectively, as leaders in sustainable agriculture and food justice movements. A conversation with film subject and author Leah Penniman and director Mark Decena will follow.
Finesse2Tymes & New Impressionz
9 p.m. | $30+
Privilege DC Nightclub & Live Performance Venue, 1115 U Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20009
Join Privilege DC Nightclub & Live Performance Venue for a night of unforgettable entertainment! Get ready to experience the ultimate party with Memphis rapper Finesse2Tymes & musical group, New Impressionz. This event promises to showcase the best in music, dancing, and vibes. Located on U Street Northwest in Washington, DC, this is the place to be for a night you won’t forget.
Saturday, March 30
Blossom Kite Festival
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Free
Washington Monument, 130 17th Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20006
Join the National Cherry Blossom Festival at the Washington Monument Grounds for activities, music, competitions, and performances. The Blossom Kite Festival is an annual kite event usually held on the National Mall during the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The festival was founded in 1967 by aviation pioneer Paul E. Garber, the first curator of the National Air and Space Museum (NASM).
Kite enthusiasts, beginners, families, and friends are all welcome.
Shades of Domestic Violence: 5K Walk & Run
10 a.m – 4 p.m. | $25+
Prince George’s Sports & Learning Complex – Indoor Field House/Track, 8001 Sheriff Road, Landover, MD 20785
The Shades of Domestic Violence 5K marathon is a family-friendly community event to promote domestic violence awareness and provide resources and support to survivors. Come and enjoy fun music and good company with a walk/run to raise money for transitional housing organizations and homeless shelters for domestic violence survivors.
A portion of proceeds from this event will go to support housing services at N Street Village in Washington, D.C.
Sunday, March 31
Robert Glasper-Black Radio: A Duke x Dilla Celebration
8 p.m. – Midnight | $85+
Kennedy Center, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20566
In honor of Duke Ellington’s 125th and hip hop’s 50th birthdays, five-time Grammy Award-winning pianist, composer, producer, and founding Kennedy Center Hip Hop Culture Council Member Robert Glasper celebrates the iconic musical legacies of Ellington and hip hop legend J Dilla through his genre-shattering brand-Black Radio.
Cherry Blossom Dining Cruises
9:30 a.m. | $52+
City Cruises, 580 Water Street SW, Washington, D.C., 20024
Treat yourself to a delicious brunch, lunch, or dinner cruise and revel in the sights of the cherry blossom trees as you tour some of the most iconic landmarks in the country like Old Town Alexandria, the National Harbor, and the Washington Monument.
Reservations are available daily from March 22 until April 14 (some exclusions apply).
Source: Washington Informer
