Cirque du Soleil's Corteo, which means cortege in Italian, is a joyous procession that combines the actor's passion with the acrobat's grace and power to plunge the audience into a theatrical world of fun, comedy, and spontaneity situated in a mysterious space between heaven and earth. (Courtesy photo)
Cirque du Soleil's Corteo, which means cortege in Italian, is a joyous procession that combines the actor's passion with the acrobat's grace and power to plunge the audience into a theatrical world of fun, comedy, and spontaneity situated in a mysterious space between heaven and earth. (Courtesy photo)

This weekend enjoy a plethora of themes celebrating the arts to anniversaries. 

Start your weekend with the appreciation of art through the Temple of Invention AR Experience and the 30th Annual Juried Multi-Media Art Show

Enjoy the future of filmmaking with the likes of the MoCo Youth Media Festival or honor the past by celebrating the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. 

DMV residents can look forward to the return of Cirque du Soleil and the sights of cultural dance performances before engaging in the immersive experience of learning Japanese koto music or the lively experience of Caribbean Wine & Music.  

Remember, there’s always something happening in the DMV to keep your spirit– and social life– lit. To keep up with all the fun, don’t forget to check out the Washington Informer Calendar

Thursday, May 16

30th Annual Juried Multi-Media Art Show

11 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Free

Mattawoman Creek Art Center, 5565 Upham Place, Marbury, MD 20658

Celebrate spring at Mattawoman Creek Art Center in beautiful Smallwood State Park. This waterside gallery is hosting its 30th annual juried art show where regional artists – displaying a variety of media, styles, and subject matter – will compete for awards. The show runs Fridays through Sundays until May 26. 

The Temple of Invention AR Experience

12 p.m. – 5 p.m. | Free

Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th St NW & F Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20004

Visit the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) and experience the museum’s free and new  augmented reality (AR) experience, “The Temple of Invention,” now available to visitors through May 16.

Through AR this game, visitors will meet fascinating people – including inventors, soldiers, poets, artists, and architects and experience key moments such as Clara Barton tending to wounded Civil War soldiers, President Abraham Lincoln’s raucous second inaugural ball, and a disastrous fire in 1877 that destroyed thousands of patent models. 

Friday, May 17

Celebrating the Past, Shaping the Future: 70th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free with registration 

National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., 20560

The National Museum of African American History and Culture marks the anniversary of a landmark United States Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education, resulting in a major step toward equality and justice for African Americans.

Join the museum in examining this historic event’s impact on the current state of education and honor the champions who have made the pursuit of educational justice possible.

Cirque de Soleil presents “Corteo”

7 p.m. | $25+

EagleBank Arena, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax, VA 22030

Cirque du Soleil’s Corteo is back in North America and heading to Fairfax, Virginia to charm audiences for the very first time. This unique production, directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca, first premiered in Montreal in April 2005, and will be presented at the Eagle Bank Arena for eight shows from May 17 through May 25.

Saturday, May 18

MoCo Youth Media Festival 

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Free

AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, MD 20910

This year marks the 15th Montgomery County (MoCo) Youth Media Festival, which celebrates the creativity and impact of young filmmakers and artists from across the region.

This year’s festival will include a special tribute to festival founder Richard Jaeggi, who died in 2014. 

Fest Of Spring Baltimore ’24

Noon- 8 p.m. | $20+ 

16700 Barnesville Road, Boyds, MD

Hosted by RHU LLC, step into a world where the Caribbean spirit comes alive, and immerse yourself in a sensory journey that celebrates the unique culture, cuisine, and music of the Caribbean. Get ready to experience the vibrant colors, tantalizing flavors, and infectious rhythms of the Caribbean at the FEST OF SPRING Caribbean Wine Food & Music Festival. 

Enjoy live performances by CULTURE feat. Kenyatta Hill, EXCO LEVI, Image Band & more. Music by DJ ABLAZE, DJ SMALLY & NAJ SUPREME. 

Kids 12 & under free. RV Parking / Camping On-Site

Sunday, May 19 

Washington Toho Koto Society Introduces Japanese Koto Music 

2 p.m. – 3 p.m. | Free

Wheaton Library, 11701 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20902

The Washington Toho Koto Society, a nonprofit group of koto players and friends founded in 1971, hosts an event where presenters will discuss the cultural context of the koto, a 13-string traditional Japanese instrument that creates a very simple, clean and clear sound. 

Performances will include classical, children’s and contemporary pieces. 

The program will take place in the Multipurpose Room on the first floor, in the Library.

Four Seasons Dancers “Dances of the World 2024”

4 p.m. – 6 p.m. | $30+

Cultural Arts Center Montgomery College, 7995 Georgia Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20910

Join for an unforgettable evening of cultural dance performances at the Cultural Arts Center, Montgomery College at Four Seasons Dancers’ “Dances of the World 2024.”  

Get ready to be mesmerized by the rhythms, movements, and colorful costumes that showcase the rich traditions of different countries.

Jada Ingleton is a Comcast Digital Equity Local Voices Lab contributing fellow through the Washington Informer. Born and raised in South Florida, she recently graduated from Howard University, where she...

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