Check out a handful of the many events happening in the DMV this weekend. To keep up with all the fun, don’t forget to check out the Washington Informer Calendar.
Give back to your community, yourself, and celebrate the artistry of notable industry names with this weekend’s variety of events.
Jazz Appreciation is in full swing with the Afar Music Conference and Charles Rahmat Woods Quartet, both events promising some of jazz’s finest educators and performers.
If you’re looking to recognize some familiar faces, check out the Spring 2024 Gala – an event that honors the work and legacy of Tracee Ellis Ross – or join Alan Cumming in conversation at Montgomery College.
For tips on how to effect change in your life and environment, the Black Health Matters Health Summit & Expo offers ways to prioritize health, while the Neighborhood Design Center’s Trash Dash welcomes eco-warriors committed to protecting the planet.
Then there’s the annual Hip-Hop Bar Crawl and DC Comedy Festival, which will have participants on their feet or in their seats wanting more laughs, music, and good times.
In the spirit of spring, stay growing and thriving, and remember, there’s always something happening in the DMV to keep your spirit– and social life– lit.
Thursday, April 11
7 p.m. – 9 p.m. | Free with registration
Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., 20001
The Afar Music Conference is a two-day symposium of clinics held by some of the best jazz and Pan-American educators in the Western Hemisphere. By discussing the pros and cons of the music environment, the conference’s overall goal is to help serve students of music much better. It also includes a component of instructional feedback for high school music students followed by a 45-minute jam session.
The conference will culminate with a performance by the Dizzy Gillespie Latin All-Star Group, led by John Lee, a prominent and influential jazz formation.
7 p.m. – 10 p.m. | $30+
Bier Baron Tavern Comedy Loft, 1523 22nd St NW, Washington, D.C., 20037
The DC Comedy Festival is back and it’s bigger, bolder, and funnier than ever. With the best comedic talents from across the nation, the festival is an unforgettable journey of laughter and entertainment. The festival will span across iconic comedy clubs, theaters, and open-air stages in the District and feature a stellar mix of national headliners, local stand-up stars, improv geniuses, and sketch comedy groups.
Friday, April 12
6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. | $2,000+
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave NW, Washington, D.C., 20005
After a two-year hiatus, embark on a special night at the museum’s largest annual fundraising event in its iconic space.
This year, actor Tracee Ellis Ross will be honored with the 2024 NMWA Achievement Award for Excellence in the Arts. A trailblazer in the entertainment industry and a passionate advocate for gender equity, Ross embodies the spirit of NMWA’s mission to champion artists and their work. Due to an unforeseen project commitment, Ross will be honored in absentia.
In Conversation with Alan Cumming
7:30 p.m. | $43 – $45
Montgomery College, 51 Mannakee Street Rockville, MD 20850
Actor, writer, singer, and activist Alan Cumming will sit down with Olney Theatre Center’s Artistic Director, Jason Loewith, for a wide-ranging discussion covering his rural and difficult upbringing, the effect it had on his career, LGBTQ topics, and so much more.
Cumming’s most recent projects include creating a dance theater piece about the Scottish bard Robert Burns, lip-syncing the protagonist in a documentary, directing a podcast series about a sperm bank heist, playing a gangster opposite Liam Neason in a Neil Jordan film, curating a cabaret festival in Australia and recording a duet with a Gaelic rapper.
He is a Tony- and Olivier Award-winning theater actor. He hosted the Tonys and was nominated for an Emmy for doing so. He has been nominated for five Emmys, won a New York Emmy, a Scottish BAFTA and a British Comedy Award. He is an Independent Spirit award-winning producer and National Board of Review-winning director. He is a Grammy and multiple Golden Globe nominee.
Saturday, April 13
Black Health Matters Spring Health Summit & Expo
8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Free
The Kellogg Conference Center, 800 Florida Ave., N.E., Washington, D.C, 20002
(Virtual and in-person formats)
Join actor Lamman Rucker and NBC4’s Jessica Faith and get free health screenings, including for: A1c, hypertension, glucose, cholesterol, memory, body & muscle, metabolic rate and more.
Hear from healthcare providers, community leaders, health and wellness experts, and influencers on all things related to Black health and get an energizing workout with Dashaun Johnson, affectionately known as the “Guru of Abs.”
Enjoy free breakfast, lunch, and great prize drawings, all while being inspired to be your healthiest!
2 p.m. – 10 p.m. | $20+
U Street, 1208 U St NW, Washington, D.C., 20009
With the spring edition of the Hip-Hop bar crawl, hop from bar to bar and rock out to the best DJ’s spinning hip-hop gems from back in the day all the way to the current hits.
The twist to this bar crawl is that each DJ will spin different hip-hop themes at the bars that they are in.
Take the journey on U Street and party to good music and good people all day long.
Sunday, April 14
Neighborhood Design Center’s Trash Dash
1 p.m. – 3 p.m. | $100 – $200 depending on team
Bladensburg Waterfront Park, 4601 Annapolis Rd, Bladensburg, MD 20710
Neighborhood Design Center’s (NDC) annual Trash Dash seeks teams of eco-warriors for a competition to see who can collect the most trash in one hour. Like fundraising races, teams of 5-10 people are encouraged to get sponsors to donate to support their clean-up efforts as they race against the clock, competing for prizes in categories like most trash collected, best found object, and team spirit.
This family-friendly, earth-friendly FUNdraiser brings the community together to steward public places — all for a great cause in a blend of clean up, community spirit, and friendly competition. The inaugural Trash Dash removed 55 bags of trash from polluting the Anacostia Watershed making a huge impact on local water. The winners get one-of-a-kind trash trophies, swag, and bragging rights.
Jazz Month Celebration Featuring The Charles Rahmat Woods Quartet
2 – 3 p.m. | Free
Olney Library, 3500 Olney Laytonsville Road, Olney, MD, 20832
Join Olney Library for a celebration with the Charles Rahmat Woods Quartet for a delightful Sunday afternoon of all things Jazz.
Born in Buffalo, NY and a longtime resident of Maryland, flutist, saxophonist and recording artist Charles Rahmat Woods has provided exciting and insightful performances in the jazz idiom throughout the DMV and New York for over 40 years.
This performance is funded by Friends of the Library Montgomery County. For questions, call the Olney Library at (240) 773-9545, or find out how to Get a Library Card.