You may think D.C. is all suits and pearls, but the city has some cool events to beat the heat in the summer months, from the Barbeque Battle to the Fringe Festival and a ton of music and art celebrations. In addition to your kickass internship, we want you to spend an unforgettable summer in our nation’s capital. Here’s a roundup of events you won’t want to miss.
D.C. Jazz Festival
June 17-19
Get some cool in the summer heat. Thousands flock to this annual jazz festival, with more than 125 performances on dozens of stages including the Navy Yard and the JFK Center. The festival presents a selection of jazz’s most acclaimed artists, as well as emerging artists, and exposes the rich music history in the D.C. area. This season you can see the likes of KAMASI WASHINGTON, EDDIE PALMIERI, LATIN JAZZ SEPTET, CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT and REGINA CARTER. For more information and lineup, visit www.dcjazzfest.org
Safeway Barbecue Battle
June 25-26
The 24th annual Giant National Capital Barbecue Battle is heaven on a bun for BBQ lovers. Think: brats, dogs, wings, burgers, brews, live music and much, much more. Tastings of course, but demonstrations can teach you how to up your game on BBQ. Praised by CNN, The Travel Channel and more, you won’t want to miss two days of pigged-out bliss. For more information, visit bbqindc.com
The Source Festival
June 8 – July 3
Theatre geeks, rejoice! The Source Festival is unlike any other, where the event features full-length plays, 10-minute plays and artistic “blind dates”, where nine artists from different creative disciplines collaborate over four months to create an original work. Visit www.sourcefestival.org for more information and lineup.
AFI Docs
June 22-26
Documentary film buffs, this one’s for you! The international documentary film festival is smartly hosted in D.C., aspiring to influence our nation’s key stakeholders, such as senators, congresspersons, Supreme Court Justices, and of course, you. For more information, visit www.afi.com/afidocs/#
Smithsonian Folklife Festival
June 29-4 and July 7-10
This historic event celebrates the city’s rich history and allows visitors to learn about other cultures. This year, the event is broken up into two parts: Basque Innovation by Culture, which highlights how the Basque Country sustains culture. Learn how to cook the food and speak the Euskara language. The second part of the festival, the Sounds of California, is an evening musical treat, hearing unique music you won’t hear east of the Rockies. For more information, visit www.festival.si.edu.
Capital Fringe Festival
July 7 – 31
Experience what’s new in Comedy, drama, dance, music and everything in between during the annual Fringe Festival. You may bump into music during rush hour, or find other performances all around town, with over 20 venues and free events. The main hub is at The Logan Fringe Arts Space with live music at the bar. For more information click here
Summer Spirit Festival
August 6-7
Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and the Dead all played at the historic Merriweather Post Pavilion halfway between DC and Baltimore, a short train ride from DC. The outdoor pavilion was designed by architect Frank Ghery, known for his futuristic creations, and that alone is worth the trip. Listen to the amazing Erykah Bhadu among other greats this year. Any music buff should grab a ticket to this always sold out series of events. More info and schedule here
WISHing you all an unforgettable summer in DC.