The DMV is filled with family fun and excitement this weekend. Check out a handful of the many events happening — from immersive installations and nostalgic musicals to historic celebrations of culture and legacy.
To keep up with all the fun, don’t forget to check out the Washington Informer Calendar, and remember, there’s always something happening in the DMV to keep your spirit — and social life — lit.
Thursday, Sept. 19
Dvořák Dreams: An Installation by Refik Anadol
4 p.m. | Free
Kennedy Center, 2700 F St NW, Washington, D.C., 20566
Refik Anadol’s acclaimed fusion of art, music, history, and artificial intelligence makes its U.S. premiere at the Kennedy Center, with an immersive data sculpture transforming the legacy of Czech composer Antonín Dvořák into a multi-sensory experience.
A Night at the Museum: Celebrating 57 years of ACM
7 p.m. – 10 p.m. | Free registration
Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Pl SE, Washington, D.C., 20020
Come celebrate 57 years of the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum. Embracing their legacy of preserving the community stories of Washington D.C., this year will take a page from the past and host a ’90s-themed party.
Guests will enjoy throwback vibes by DJ Farrah Flosscett and be entertained by local breakdancers. Experience ACM’s current exhibition: A Bold and Beautiful Vision: A Century of Black Arts Education In Washington, D.C. 1900 – 2000. Bar service provided by Sugar Rim, small bites by 7 Starr Wings and Penny Candy to bring home the nostalgia!
Friday, Sept. 20
Summer Jam: Hispanic Heritage Month
5:30 – 8:30 p.m. | Free
Driskell Park, 3911 Hamilton St, Hyattsville, MD 20781
Come celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the Hispanic Heritage-themed Summer Jam at Driskell Park! Make new friends, practice your Spanish, and have fun while learning about rich cultures. Live music, food, adult beverages, and kids activities will also be available.
Saturday, Sept. 21
Festival of Cultures – Gallery Exhibition
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Free
Oxon Hill Library, 6200 Oxon Hill Rd, Oxon Hill, MD 20745
Operations ARTS Foundation is thrilled to unveil an extraordinary gallery exhibition featuring the talented artist Marilyn Gates-Davis. Part of the much-anticipated “Festival of Cultures,” in partnership with Prince George’s County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS), the exhibition will take place at the Oxon Hill Library branch on Sept. 21, and is on display until Oct. 21.
The exhibition will kick off with a grand opening during the “Festival of Cultures,” a community event dedicated to honoring and celebrating the rich tapestry of cultural diversity. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to experience Gates-Davis’s compelling art in a prominent and accessible public space.
Truth and Service Classic – Hampton vs. Howard
4 p.m. | $27+
Audi Field, 100 Potomac Ave SW, Washington, D.C., 20024
Audi Field will host the fourth annual “Truth and Service Classic” college football game between home team Hampton University and visitor Howard University.
The Truth and Service Classic is not just a football game; it is a celebration of the rich history and enduring legacy of Howard University and Hampton University. This storied rivalry between two of the nation’s prominent historically Black colleges dates to 1908 and is known as the “Battle for the Real HU.”
Sunday, Sept. 22
1 p.m. | $54+
Capital One Hall, 7750 Capital One Tower Rd, Tysons, VA 22102
Everyone’s favorite ogre is back in the hilarious stage spectacle based on the Oscar®-winning, smash hit, DreamWorks animated film.
Tony Award-winning duo Jeanine Tesori (music) and David Lindsay-Abaire (book) revisit their first collaboration to deliver a more intimate and engaging experience – a joyful, colorful SHREK that leans into the humanity in everyone that celebrates their differences.
With all-new original direction and choreography by Danny Mefford (Choreographer, “Dear Evan Hansen”) filled with lush orchestrations, this reimagined production brings the show back to its roots – giving it a new kind of love emphasizing the importance of loving ourselves and one another.
DC Theatre Week 2024: City on the River Concert
3 p.m. | $27+
District Wharf, SW, Wharf St SW, Washington, D.C., 20024
Theatre Washington returns to the DC Wharf Transit Pier to make waves with musical theatre showstoppers from a dozen of the local theatre scene’s productions from this season. The banks of the Potomac will hum with songs from “Jersey Boys” (Toby’s Dinner Theatre), “In the Heights” (Signature Theatre), “Frozen” (Olney Theatre Center), and more.
This year’s free City on the River Concert will feature 15 D.C.-area theatre artists who will spend the afternoon showing off highlights from the season’s biggest musicals. Plus, audiences can be part of the fun too, by telling their stories at the pre-show interactive performance piece: “Our Living Room” with Melanie Douglass.