What's happening, updated every Wednesday.
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On sale now! Events in the ~ future ~ that you may want to buy tickets for before they sell out:
tunes: Foo Fighters & Mannequin Pussy (8/17), lost city books September book clubs and future book clubs at the library, go-go at Carter Barron (8/22), Kehlani (8/27), Robyn, night 2 (9/9), Thee Sacred Souls (9/17), all things go (9/25-9/27), Two Door Cinema Club (10/11), tunes: Rebecca Black (10/15), JPEGMAFIA (10/21), Beck (10/25), Dana and Alden (10/29), Slow Pulp (11/9)
Wednesday August 5
One year of occupation
DC has been under occupation for an entire year, now for the next week, Free DC will be telling the story of the ways it's hurt our communities. Wednesday’s rally focuses on justice for DC’s students and schools. (6pm)
Be the DJ you wish to see
No Kisses is passing the aux to the crowd: bring records from home and the resident DJs will spin them while you sip natural wine and meet fellow vinyl lovers. This month’s theme is Heat, so there's an optional hot yoga class beforehand if you'd like to pregame. (7pm)
Also || Wharf movie night: Roman Holiday, farmer’s market at common good city farm, yoga at the national arboretum, after hours at the Hillwood Museum, yoga on the farm, tunes at pocket, a gay little history of MD, crafting + wine, tunes: Riff Wood, argue with people who shuck corn at the farmers’ market, apply for a rhizome writer’s retreat, go on a rat walk
Thursday August 6
Go piece something together, together
The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities is closing out their juried collage show with a reception and hands-on workshop. Three exhibiting artists walk you through paper and fabric collage pulled from their own practices, so you can let it rip too. (6-8 pm)
See it on 16mm or not at all
Rhizome screens the animated shorts of Helen Hill, filled with puppets, found footage, and film she developed by hand. She was a pioneer of hand-processing, and one short sits in the National Film Registry. A rare chance to watch it as intended. (7pm)
Also || grrrrl jam, assassination of trotsky, field day at the playground, microcinema at rhizome, last minute comedy, Chicago: Teen edition, talk: liberation summer, Freedom Dreaming, Session 3, Phillips after 5: Jazz Soirée, dj thic cutt, outdoor concert in Adams Morgan, salsa social, predict the future at la betty, “never worry about money again”, The Malin (a new members club???) hosts a block party, stand up comedy
Friday August 7
I think Princess Donut would love this event
Head to the American Film Institute in Silver Spring for CatVideoFest 2026, a compilation of the latest and best cat videos culled from submissions, animations, music videos, and classic internet powerhouses. Plus, the proceeds from each show go directly to local cat charities. (11:15am, 7:15pm, all weekend)
Does working from home feel fake and lonely?
Make it feel fake and social! Pack your lunch and pause your Teams meeting for a group arts and crafts break at the Living Room. They’ve scheduled a day to make coworking a little less painful. Make sure to wiggle the mouse every few minutes. (11am)
Also || MD tunes at Pocket, tunes: Foot Traffic at DC9, sex ed trivia, she’s the man irl! twelfth night, author talk: Grace Viall, reiki meditation, all levels yoga class, rally: Delete DoorDash, all stars comedy show, comedy: Jenny Cavallero at Black Cat, catch me in my 1890s fit: decades themed burlesque show and dance party, tunes: Hound Mouth, tunes: foot traffic, 2000s dance party at dc9, live music at Hi-Lawn, crafty fash tattoos at patchwork
Saturday August 8
doggo-lympics
Head to the Wharf to catch jaw-dropping Big Air jumps, lightning-fast Speed Retrieve races, and the thrilling Extreme Vertical finale at the DockDogs competition. Plus, for humans, you can sip on some refreshments, do a dog photo-op, and more! (free, 10:30am-6pm)
The other Odyssey everyone's talking about
Nolan's isn't the only one. This event digs into 1882: A Gold Mountain Odyssey, a novel following one man through the first wave of Chinese immigration to America. There will be an author talk and Q&A, plus a community leader offering extra historical context. (2pm)
Tunes & films & comedy: showcase to support Girls Rock!, unearthed: mining on film, tunes: ammonite at rhizome, film: obsession (the 1976 version) at Suns, tunes: Titus Andronicus, tunes: KALEO, tunes: Fairweather, dance club at dc9, bad bunny dance party
Art: indigo & shibori 101, art workshops at kreeger,
Learning and trainings: national mall during the civil war, “Justice for DC youth” + Film the Police training
Other highlights: DC Roller Derby Double Decade Double Header (say that 5 times fast), HTML Day picnic, kids storytime at NMAAHC, vintage fill-a-bag sale
Sunday August 9
Maybe I’ll be able to find the physical CD of Taylor Swift’s debut album where she says, “You’re gay!”
Tired of streaming? The head to the physical media swap at rhizome! Bring old CDs, DVDs, stickers, defunct band merch, or whatever your heart desires and swap away. (12pm-4pm)
It’s swag bag szn
The Atlantis is hosting their inaugural V Street Market featuring local vendors, discounted merch, and a karaoke DJ. Best part, the first 250 through the door snag a free swag bag of local goodies. (12pm)
Also || harvest your own foliage, tunes at rhizome, choir: Cuspicious Cheese Lords, social media to social reckoning, “Celebrating Malcolm X Park”, vintagevintagevintage car show!, CatVideoFest, EleFest, free online watercolor class w/ the smithsonian, tunes: Margot Sinclair, vintage fill-a-bag sale, get a bahn mi at snappys
Monday August 10
Meet lovers and enemies inside Dupont Circle
Some DC redditors have become invested in mapping the micro social scene within Dupont Circle (though the OP in that second link did seem a little fishy). The last time you got dumped, did you sit on a bench in the Northeast quadrant of the park?
Michelin-star dining at a beer garden
An award-winning chef developed a 4-course menu to pair with Aslin’s new brew. Fancy pizza, beer, and peaches! It’s the perfect August meal. (6pm)
Also || when nazis prowled our coasts, “Justice for Unhoused Neighbors”, anime club, virtual book club: The Vegetarian, ecology book club, tunes: Millkzy, tunes: the Philharmonik (watch their iconic tiny desk!), take a free online class with your library card, doonya dance workout, rug tufting workshop
Tuesday August 11
No phones, just me and my friends making art at the Portrait Gallery
It’s analog night at the Portrait Gallery. Bring your own analog hobby (knitting, watercolor, collaging, mahjong) or join the museum in making a summer memory box inspired by La caja de la memoria viva. Plus, it’s free! (5pm)
Halloween just keeps getting earlier
Learn the history behind the American vampire trope, and the original undead craze of the 19th century. It’s not about Edward Cullen, but it’s not not about him, either… (7pm)
Also || book talk: a hard habit to break, the gooning lecture, final rally: “One Year In, End the DC Occupation”, she’s the he at Suns Cinema, tunes: Dogstar, queer line dancing, artivism jam session, pay for a stranger’s meal
AUGUST
8/12: Wharf movie night: 10 Things I Hate About You, farmer’s market at common good city farm, yoga at the natl. Arboretum, what to cook when you don't feel like cooking, solidarity story microgrants, punk at pocket, curious about DSA?, film: Pauline at the Beach
8/13: new faces in comedy in Takoma, book talk: lost and found, richmond punk comes to rhizome, ainae last tour show is in dc, BYOB comedy, tomato party!
8/14: local tunes at DC9, Bronte Sister House Party, African Diaspora International Film Festival, Panda Fest, tunes at rhizome, tunes at pocket, vintage market at hook hall
8/15: energizers speaker ball, panda fest, yoga at the sculpture garden, pocket tunes, NADIE NADIA at Pie Shop, tunes at rhizome, jazz at the kreeger, Back-to-School Community Bash, virginialicious, throw horns for history, rhizome writers retreat
8/16: comedy incubator for underrepresented genders, fighting words civil war
8/18: YIMBY HH, iron joy at rhizome, hell and gone
8/19: Wharf movie night: F1, farmer’s market at common good city farm, yoga at the national arboretum, tunes at pocket, cookbook club, Observatory DC
8/20: pocket tunes, book talk: War Boys, soundscape at phillips collection
8/21: tunes at rhizome, young professionals night at Gruesome Playground Injuries
8/22: jazz in the parks, Summer Abundance Forest Bathing at the National Arboretum, guided meditation at Kreeger, crab at pocket, Mt Plantry, not so grand prix, Friday the 13th!, exhibit opening: OUT OF CHAOS
8/23: friday night fishing, pollinator festival in mt. pleasant, grow your own mushrooms, summer restaurant week, tunes at pocket, encountering cryptids, DC Modular Meetup
8/25: Annie Lowrey at 6th & I, becoming a better ally, queer linedancing
8/26: Wharf movie night: Project Hail Mary, farmer’s market at common good city farm, comedy: Honey, Drop It at DCAC
8/27: own your experience
8/28: tunes at pocket, BYOB trivia
8/29: freelance sweatpants at pocket, disco in the district, graftings at rhizome
8/30: honey harvest festival, parks flea market, home is where the bat is, Survivor DC, tunes at pocket
8/31: sour tooth at rhizome
SEPTEMBER
9/2: Wharf movie night: When Harry Met Sally & First Wives Club, farmer’s market at common good city farm, tunes at rhizome
9/4: tunes at pocket
9/5: youth in government at pocket
9/6: indigo & shibori 101, friday night fishing, Ladybird w/ Dylan Rockwell + Little Lungs
9/9: author talk: R.F. Kuang, punk at pocket, looney tunes rediscovered
9/10: somewhere over the border
9/11: Camp Merry, tunes at pocket
9/12: book of stories, DMV girls hockey weekend
9/13: steph phest 2026
9/17: book talk: Kristin Hannah, soundscape at phillips collection
9/18: caribbean happy hour, PARK(ing) Day, Mt. Joy, anti-rat webinar
9/21: the critical musician
9/22: Psalmayene 24 at Folger Theatre
9/23: Taylor Tomlinson at 6th&I
9/24: tunes at rhizome
9/25: comedy: Body Language
9/26: jazz in the parks, tunes at pocket, anti-rat webinar
9/27: parks flea market, tunes at pocket
9/28: Charli XCX
9/30: music improv at rhizome
OCTOBER
10/2: eli winter trio at rhizome
10/8: cookbook talk at 6th&I
10/9: tunes at the pocket
10/10: Chelsea Wolfe at 6th&I
10/11: moony w Wall Carpets
10/12: the italian job, tunes at rhizome
10/14: tunes at rhizome
10/15: comedy at Sixth & I
10/16: parks line dancing, Black Women and Shakespeare
10/20: cocktails for a cause
10/23: beatbox battle, give a shuck
10/24: tunes at rhizome
10/25: parks flea market
NOVEMBER
11/4: sound at rhizome
11/6: OFFSITE duo at rhizome
11/9: Rick Steves at Sixth & I
11/10: Julia Jacklin
11/13: love isn't blind
11/28: echoes of doubt at rhizome
11/29: parks flea market
