Our end-of-the-week picks for May 2-4, 2025
We've gathered up some fun things to do in DC this weekend. You can also read what else is going on during the week and throughout the month.
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Friday
Filmfest DC
The largest and longest-running annual international film festival in Washington, DC, Filmfest DC returns with another varied lineup featuring quite the genre exercise: comedies, dramas, thrillers, shorts and documentaries will all be on display.
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Latin Restaurant Weeks
Support local Latinx culinary businesses during this new promotion that offers specials at restaurants all over the DMV. Expect mouth-watering specials at participating food trucks and eateries. The roster includes Colada Shop, La Famosa, El Centro DF and many others.
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Flower Mart
During Passport DC’s first weekend, the Washington National Cathedral hosts its annual Flower Mart, a two-day event that allows visitors to shop for plants and gifts, eat fun festival food, enjoy children’s activities, ride a historic carousel and take in the beauty of the International Floral Exhibit.
More Info | Free Admission
Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave NW Washington, DC 20016
Embassy Chef Challenge / Events DC
Savor the Flavors
As part of Passport DC, the city’s annual celebration of international cultures hosted by Events DC, Savor the Flavors activates restaurants across the city. Taste the world on a culinary journey that stretches throughout the month of May.
M3 Rock Festival
Rock 'n roll diehards can get the full ‘80s arena experience at the two-day M3 Rock Festival. The can't-miss event features legendary rockers like David Lee Roth, Sebastian Bach, Ace Frehley, Warrant, Lita Ford and many more.
Merriweather Post Pavilion 10475 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia, MD 21044
Photo by Cpl. Chloe McAfee
Friday Evening Parades at the Marine Barracks
This breathtaking 75-minute ceremony showcases the precision and pride of the Marine Corps with spectacular performances by "The President's Own" Marine Band, "The Commandant's Own" Drum & Bugle Corps and the renowned Silent Drill Platoon. Held every Friday from May through August at the historic "Oldest Post of the Corps," the free event has captivated audiences for decades.
Marine Barracks, 8th & I Streets SE, Washington, DC 20390
Dog photo credit: Photo by Cpl. Chloe McAfee
The Damned
Any punk rock origin story must include The Damned. Considered the first punk band from the UK to release a single and studio album, the group introduced what would be a trailblazing genre to the United States, along with fellow forebears like The Sex Pistols and The Ramones. Even nearly 50 years after their formation, The Damned are still going to rock the house at the equally legendary 9:30 Club.
8 p.m. | Tickets
9:30 Club, 815 V Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Saturday
Around the World Embassy Tour
A month of programming across the city focuses on highlighting DC’s international culture. The Around the World Embassy Tour kicks it off this Saturday with access to dozens of embassies in the District. Most events and tours can be enjoyed entirely free of charge. Read our guide to all of the fun and get more details at Events DC’s site below.
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Adams Morgan Spring PorchFest
One of the District’s most popular neighborhoods showcases some of DC’s best musical talent. Adams Morgan Spring PorchFest will feature more than 80 bands playing an array of genres, including rock, reggae, funk, Go-Go, rap, bluegrass, classical and pop. Twenty porches, business patios and parks, as well as the closed 18th Street, will become stages for the day, drawing music-lovers from around the region into the tree-lined streets and small businesses of Adams Morgan.
Free Admission
A Radical Alteration: Women’s Studio Workshop as a Sustainable Model for Art Making
The National Museum of Women in the Arts celebrates the Women’s Studio Workshop (WSW) with a special exhibit that examines the organization’s history as a proponent of the book arts in marginalized communities across the U.S. Founded in 1974 by four women, WSW emerged at the vanguard of second-wave feminism and has published more than 240 artists’ books thanks to its Artist-in-Residence program. The display showcases more than 40 objects, including artists’ books, zines, ephemera and archival materials.
Hours & Admission
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
Blooming Wonders: A Best of Spring Exhibition – Final Weekend
ARTECHOUSE’s annual springtime exhibit has become a must-see for locals and visitors alike. This year’s display brings together past smash-hit cherry blossom-themed installations as well as a new interactive experience. Fix your gaze upon immense floral landscapes, spellbinding digital visualizations and surreal spring-themed environments. Use discount code 'AEF10' for 10% off your tickets.
Tickets
ARTECHOUSE, 1238 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20002
Running of the Chihuahuas at The Wharf
The Wharf celebrates Cinco de Mayo with this too-cute-to-be-true chihuahua race. Watch the little pups run their way to glory at one of the most exciting places in DC. You’ll also be able to enjoy a beer garden, a DJ, an adoptable pet parade and an all-breed costume contest.
2-5 p.m. | Free Admission
The Wharf, 600 Water Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
International City Food Festival
Get a taste of DC’s global food and drink at the second annual International City Food Festival complementing the first weekend of Passport DC. The three-day event will include celebrations aimed at making culinary diplomacy accessible — with free admission — to all ages. The festival offers a timely launch point to travel the globe and understand other cultures, all in the heart of DC.
More Info | Free Admission
The Square, 1875 I St NW, Washington, DC 20006
Sister Act at Ford's Theatre
Based on the smash hit 1992 film starring Whoopi Goldberg, Sister Act makes for divine musical comedy at Ford’s Theatre this upcoming spring. The Tony-nominated musical follows a nightclub singer who takes to a convent to hide from the mob. Self-discovery and glorious group harmonies ensue. The play features original music by the legendary Alan Menken.
Tickets
511 10th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Kings and Commonwealth
The iconic look of Guy Hawkes and the Gunpowder Plot has been used as a symbol of political resistance since early 17th-century England, co-opted by artists, hacker groups, anarchists and many others. The music from that same period reflects the political and religious upheaval of the time, hence The Folger Consort taking on some of the era’s most popular ballads during this special performance.
Tickets
Folger Theatre, 201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
Ramy Youssef
Whether Ramy Youssef has come into your life thanks to his extraordinary stand-up comedy, his acclaimed Hulu show Ramy or his outstanding performance in 2023’s Oscar-winning Poor Things, you’re likely quite thankful he has. The multimedia star will take the stage at Warner Theatre for one night only in one of the most anticipated shows of the season.
7 p.m. | Tickets
Warner Theatre, 513 13th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
DEVO
Some would say that humanity peaked with the creation of the band DEVO in 1973; it’s just been de-evolution from there. We know the group, led by legendary singer/songwriter/composer/satirist Mark Mothersbaugh, would likely agree. That’s why they’re celebrating more than 50 years of culture going backwards with a new tour. Check out the iconic group – and their very famous hats – at The Anthem.
8 p.m. | Tickets
The Anthem, 901 Wharf Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
Sunday
Back and Forth: Rozeal., Titian, Cezanne
Four stunning art works across six centuries are in conversation in a new exhibit at the National Gallery of Art. Through a recent piece by Rozeal., Titian’s Venus with a Mirror and Ranuccio Farnese and Cezanne’s Boy in a Red Waistcoat, visitors can find unexpected connections and visual similarities that draw the 16th, 19th and 21st centuries together.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC
Guerrilla Girls: Making Trouble
An artist collective that continues to make its mark today, Guerrilla Girls celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2025. The National Museum of Women in the Arts honor the attention-grabbing group known for their provocative, text and graphic-based prints that denounce discrimination. Their work uses bold and eye-catching aesthetics to call out gender disparity and other important social injustices across billboards, banners, buildings and other sites. The museum’s extensive collection informs the exhibit that features an expansive and enthralling chronology of Guerilla Girls’ vital work.
Hours & Admission
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs
Featuring a Grammy-winning score by Kennedy Center Composer-in-Residence emeritus Mason Bates and singing by Pulitzer Prize-winning librettist Mark Campbell, The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs weaves the tech titan’s story through operatic drama. Immerse yourself in Jobs’ journey from working in a garage to becoming one of the great innovators in world history.
Tickets
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566
Akira Kurosawa Explains His Movies and Yogurt (With Live & Active Cultures!)
Playwright Julia Izumi and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company invite audiences to a thoughtful and hilarious rumination on the amazing films and cultural contributions of Akira Kurosawa. The Japanese director is a character in the play, peering into his own filmography, discussing cultural imperialism and … yogurt. Among many other things.
Tickets
Woolly Mammoth Theatre, 641 D Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
Hedwig & The Angry Inch
Get ready for glam, grit, glitter and plenty of heart from the classic rock-n-roll romp when the Signature Theatre stages Hedwig & The Angry Inch this spring in its ARK Theatre. The story entails a song-stealing ex-lover, a childhood in Communist East Germany, a botched sex change operation and some of the most unforgettable songs in the history of musicals.
Tickets
Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206
Places to Stay
Need some inspiration for a place to stay in between events? Washington, DC is filled with a multitude of hotels to fit your needs. Whether you are looking for that specialty boutique hotel or booking at your favorite hotel brand, Washington, DC's booking engine has it all. Find your stay today!
Do you know where you’ll be dining pre- or post-event? From pop-up restaurants to award-winning hot spots to laid-back food halls, our DC food guide is perfect for helping you plan a more memorable experience.
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