No matter your scene, there's great things in store For Your Weekend. An international film festival is spotlighting comedies from around the world, D.C.'s cannabis community will take over RFK Stadium, and there's beer celebrations to be found in Virginia and D.C.
Want to enjoy your weekend cheaply? Here's our top free and cheap picks in D.C.:
Photos: Free and Cheap Things to Do in Washington, DC
Sports and Sporting
The Wizards in the Playoffs
Friday, 8 p.m.
Sunday, 6 p.m.
CapitalOne Arena
As of this writing, tickets are still available for the Wizards' next two games against the Toronto Raptors.
Kitten Yoga with Yoga Heights
Saturday at 3 p.m. and 4:15 p.m., Humane Rescue Alliance (15 Oglethorpe St. NW)
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Hang out with kittens, support the Humane Rescue Alliance and enjoy gentle yoga. Tickets are $25.
The Purple Rain Run 5K
Saturday, 10:30 a.m., Fletcher's Cove
How much Prince is on your workout playlist? If "I Wanna Be Your Lover" and "U Got The Look" are staples, this 5K was made for you.
Music, Movies, Laughs and Art
Light City
Through April 21, Baltimore's Inner Harbor
Journey to Baltimore for an amazing light displays throughout the harbor.
Light City: Baltimore's Inner Harbor Turns Into Interactive Art Show
FilmFestDC
Through April 29, various theaters
Watch a movie you might have never otherwise seen -- or even known about --at D.C.'s international film festival. This year's event puts a focus on laughs.
6th Annual Arlington Festival of the Arts
Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Clarendon
More than 100 artists are set to showcase a huge range of art works. Whether you're decorating or just want to appreciate, head to N. Highland Street and enjoy.
Tracy Morgan
Friday, 8 p.m., The Kennedy Center
The comedian is only in town for one night -- and reviewers seem to think he'll make it count.
Silver Spring Record Fair
Sunday, 1-6 p.m., Silver Spring
A lineup of DJs and beer will welcome you to the Denizens Brewing Co. record fair.
DC's Best Upcoming Concerts: Diana Ross, Beck u0026 More
"2001: A Space Odyssey" Immersive Exhibit
Through May 28 at the National Air and Space Museum
You'll need a timed ticket to transport yourself into Stanley Kubrick's futuristic world. Check out our story about the exhibit here.
No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man at The Renwick
Through January 2019, downtown
A slice of the fantastical and larger-than-life arts festival Burning Man has taken over the Renwick Gallery and even spilled out onto the surrounding streets. Expect a lot of buzz and selfie-takers, but between the virtual reality experience, the epic Grand Salon makeover and the larger-than-life displays, it'll be worth the inevitable lines and crowds.
Check out our first look here:
Out of the Desert, Into DC: Renwick Opens Burning Man Exhibit
Parties, Eats and Drinks
Truckeroo
Friday, 4-11 p.m., The Fairgrounds
Truckeroo is back! Choose from more than a dozen food truck options coupled with live music.
National Cannabis Festival
Saturday, 12 p.m., RFK Stadium
Friday is 4/20. Saturday is the National Cannabis Festival. A long list of exhibitors offers the chance to check out D.C.'s burgeoning industry for "grower's gear, art, fashion, wellness products and more." Cypress Hill is set to perform a headlining set, alongside an number of other artists. You must be 21 to attend. Tickets cost $42 (get it?!).
2018 DC Beer Fest
Saturday, noon and 5 p.m., Nationals Park
A $45 ticket gets you admission to one session offering three hours of uninhibited beer drinking, lawn games, food trucks... but mostly beer. You must be 21 to attend.
Ocelot's 3rd Anniversary Party
Saturday, 12 p.m., Dulles
This family-owned brewery is celebrating three years in business with the release of an IPA.
IGNITE: A Fire Cabaret
Saturday, 8-11 p.m., Atlas District
An "infernal speakeasy"? Consider us intrigued. You'll need a ticket ($25-$30) to attend the show at Gallery O on H.
Community Connections
Small Business Expo
Friday, 9 a.m., Washington Convention Center
Network and learn at what organizers say is the biggest event of its kind. A free ticket gives you access to workshops on topics including building a brand, avoiding debt, and social media. There's also oppurtunities for networking. Paid ticket upgrades are available.
8th Annual African-American Heritage Tour
Saturday, 7:45 a.m., meet at THEARC
Join a motorcoach tour to Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park in Church Creek, Maryland. It's a two-hour trip, and the $25 ticket is a good way to make the drive if you don't have a car (tickets are $15 for those 16 and under).
Rally to Prevent Suicide
Saturday, 4:30-7:30 p.m., U.S. Capitol
Organizers are seeking volunteers to help, or you can join the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, health, military and veterans groups. The goal of the rally is to petition Congress to prioritize suicide prevention.
p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Follow landscape architect Ron Henderson’s journey following the cherry blossom trail from southern to northern Japan. His sketches exhibit not only looks at the trees themselves, but how they’re cared for. This exhibit — and all the others! — is free.</span></p>
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<p><a href="https://www.thewatergatehotel.com/the-next-whisky-bar/dc-cherry-blossom-garden-globes"><strong>The Watergate Hotel’s Cherry Blossom Domes</strong></a></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Saturday and Sunday in Foggy Bottom</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Enjoy afternoon tea in one of the Cherry Blossom Domes (previous known as the Igloos). Rentals for two to eight people start at $100. They’re also offering a </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/135945050556034/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">flower crown making class</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (times vary).</span></p>
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<p><strong>Bring the Craic on Saint Patrick’s Day</strong></p>
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<p><a href="https://shamrockfest.com/lineup"><strong>National Shamrock Fest</strong> </a></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Saturday (12 p.m. to 8 p.m.) at RFK Stadium</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sum 41, Shaggy and Less Than Jake headline this one day festival of beer, music and of course, Irishness.</span></p>
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<p><a href="http://www.ballyshaners.org/parade/"><strong>Alexandria St. Patrick's Day Parade</strong></a></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Saturday (11:30 a.m.) in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia</span></em></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Looking for some chill, Irish-themed fun? Alexandria’s St. Patrick’s Day parade kicks off at 1:30 p.m. from King Street and St. Asaph Street. The fun continues afterwards with a car show. Go early for the Fun Dog Show.</span></p>
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<p><a href="http://lindypromo.com/washington-dc/barcrawl_dc-st-patricks-day-bar-crawl-in-washington-dc-3-17"><strong>St. Patrick's Day Irish Stroll Bar Crawl</strong> </a></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Saturday (1 p.m.) in Dupont Circle, Northwest Washington DC</span></em></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A </span><a href="http://lindypromo.com/washington-dc/barcrawl_dc-st-patricks-day-bar-crawl-in-washington-dc-3-17"><span style="font-weight: 400;">bar crawl entry ticket</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> will get you cover-free entry to 10 participating bars, including Decades, Dirty Bar, Living Room and Barcode. Drink specials include $3 beers, $4 specialty beers and $5 mixed drinks. Tickets cost $20, but </span><a href="http://lindypromo.com/washington-dc/parties_washington-dc-st-patricks-happy-hour"><span style="font-weight: 400;">combo tickets to the Friday night party and Saturday bar crawl cost $15.</span></a></p>
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<p><a href="https://tickets.theshamrockcrawl.com/event/washington-dc"><strong>The Shamrock Crawl</strong></a></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Saturday (2 p.m.) Dupont Circle, Northwest Washington D.C.</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Participants have access to more than 16 bars, including Public Bar, Eden, Kabin and Heist. </span><a href="https://tickets.theshamrockcrawl.com/event/washington-dc"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Anyone with a ticket</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gets a refillable shamrock mug, party favors, $2 beers, $4 shamrock shots and $5 Irish Car Bombs. $35 in advance; $40 day of.</span></p>
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<p><a href="https://dupontunderground.ticketfly.com/listing"><strong>Sights & Sounds: Ireland Today</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></a><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Friday (7 p.m.), Saturday (10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.) and Sunday (4 p.m.) in Dupont Circle</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dupont Underground is hosting artist Solas Nua to discuss her project exploring video art in Ireland. </span><strong>Friday</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">, Nua will discuss her work ($10). On </span><strong>Saturday</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">, you can stop in and enjoy the exhibit. From 10 a.m. to noon, the exhibit is free and offers activities geared towards kids. After noon, it costs $15. On </span><strong>Sunday</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">, you can catch short films at the Irish Short Film festival ($8).</span></p>
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<p><a href="https://www.nbcwashington.com/entertainment/the-scene/St-Patricks-Day-Washington-DC-Maryland-Virginia-Bar-Crawl-Parade-Specials-476983663.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">We have a roundup of the best brunch specials and drink deals right here.</span></a></p>
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<p><strong>Rage… against injustice, with music or by smashing a printer</strong></p>
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<p><a href="http://www.thearcdc.org/events/breathe-musical-0"><strong>Breathe: The Musical</strong></a></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Friday, Saturday and Sunday (8 p.m.) at THEARC (1901 Mississippi Avenue SE, Washington, D.C.)</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Howard University alum Cleavon Meabon IV wrote and directed this play, which follows a family of sharecroppers in the early 20th century as they struggle under Jim Crow injustice, KKK attacks and police brutality. </span></p>
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<p><a href="https://rageroommd.com/"><strong>Rage Room of Maryland</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></a><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Friday (4 p.m. to 8 p.m.) and Saturday (1 p.m. to 8 p.m.) in Glen Burnie, Maryland</span></em></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Grab your friends and vent some frustrations! Full-service packages start at $25. You can BYOB (bring your own breakables) starting at $10.</span></p>
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<p><a href="https://www.unionstage.com/event/1648411-r-bumppp-free-dance-party-washington/"><strong>R&BUMPPP! Dance Party</strong></a></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Saturday (10:30 p.m.) at The Wharf)</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Union Stage hosts an R&B night featuring The Good Guys. No covers, just dancing.</span></p>
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<p><a href="https://www.930.com/#upcoming-shows-container"><strong>The Floozies at 9:30 Club</strong></a><strong>; G-Eazy; Judas Priest; Justin Timberlake</strong></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">All weekend, various locations</span></em></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Even if fiddles aren’t your thing, there’s a lot of music to be heard this weekend:</span></p>
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<p><strong>Celebrate makers and creators</strong></p>
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<p><a href="http://invention.si.edu/about/events/innovative-lives-how-women-shaped-alcohol-industry"><strong>Innovative Lives: How Women Shaped the Alcohol Industry</strong></a></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Friday (6:30 p.m.)</span></em></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Enjoy craft beer and custom cocktail tastings while learning about the history of booze from four women whose life work is to brew and distill. Tickets are $40 and include appetizers and drinks.</span></p>
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<p><a href="https://africa.si.edu/events/"><strong>The “Real Life” Warriors of Wakanda Tour</strong></a></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Saturday (3 p.m.) and Sunday (3 p.m.) Smithsonian National Museum of African Art on the National Mall</span></em></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Discover the true inspiration behind the afrofuturist world of Wakanda by exploring historic African art. This awesome, free tour fills up fast, so RSVP soon.</span></p>
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<p><a href="http://nova.makerfaire.com/about/"><strong>NoVa Maker Faire</strong></a></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sunday (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) George Mason University campus, Fairfax, Virginia</span></em></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Whether you’re interesting in older crafts like spinning yarn and woodworking, or are looking ahead to robotics and auto hacking, the Maker Faire promises something for you. This all-ages event costs $15 for an adult, $5 for kids or $36 for a family of five.</span></p>
