August has arrived, bringing another month of festivals, shows, rooftop gatherings, and more unforgettable ways to experience the DMV as summer enters its final stretch.
Here’s what’s happening:
EDITOR’S PICKS
🎼 Southern Hip-Hop with Strings (8/14 + 8/15)
Juvenile and The 400 Degreez Band take over Baltimore’s Meyerhoff Symphony Hall (8/14, 7:30p, $62+), while Rick Ross performs hits off his “Port of Miami” album backed by The Renaissance Orchestra at Warner Theatre (8/15, 8p, $148+). Keep the night going at The Renaissance Orchestra’s after-hours party at Karma featuring live covers of hip-hop, R&B, and soul classics (8/15, 10p, $48+).
🕯Destiny’s Child Candlelight Tribute Concerts (8/16)
The iconic group’s timeless hits get a candlelit, string quartet reimagining during this immersive tribute featuring a VIP reception with Mathew Knowles. VIP guests will also receive a complimentary digital copy of “Destiny’s Child: The Untold Story” (Howard Theatre, 4:30p & 6:45p, $50+)
🍽️Summer Restaurant Week in the City (8/24 - 8/30)
From neighborhood favorites to Michelin-recognized destinations, Summer Restaurant Week returns with 3-course prix fixe menus for breakfast, lunch, & dinner, ranging from $25 - $65. See the participating locations and menus here.
ACTIVITIES + EXPERIENCES
8/4, 8/11 + Fridays This Month
U.S. Marine Corps Parades
Experience Marine Corps precision and pageantry during these free summer performances held Tuesdays in Arlington and Fridays at Marine Barracks in DC. The parades are free, registration is required for the Friday parades. (7p on Tuesdays, 8:45p on Fridays)
8/6
Late Night: Field Day at THE PLAYGROUND - National Building Museum | 6p - 9p, $25
Adults-only afterhours event with foam basketball games, double-dutch, a school supply drive, a live performance by The Experience Band & Show, & more inside of the museum’s summer installation that transforms the Great Hall into a giant playground. Will have food & drinks for purchase
8/8
PLAYGRND SERIES: DC EDITION - BETTE at BERHTA | 10p, $72 (currently waitlist only)
Popular traveling dance party with live DJ sets spinning hip-hop & R&BCareFreeBlackGirl Cookout - Sycamore & Oak | 2p - 8p, $8+
Will have music, vendors, activations, & free food for the first hour (available for purchase after that)
DockDogs at The Wharf - District Pier | 10a - 6p, free
The Wharf goes to the dogs as canine athletes compete in tests of speed & jumping to earn the title of Iron DogWine & Slow Jams R&B Festival - Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington, MD | 3p - 10p, $93+
8/8 + 8/9
Sneaker Con - Walter E. Washington Convention Center | 12p - 7p, $30+
Water Lantern Festival - National Harbor SouthPointe in MD | 5:30p, $35+
8/12
PO’ UP! Live Game Show One-Year Anniversary Celebration - Pearl Street Warehouse | 6:30p, $15+
Interactive game show experience featuring a brand of party games celebrating Black excellence. The live show will feature the College and Black in the Workplace editions
8/14 - 8/16
African Diaspora International Film Festival - George Washington University | various showtimes, $99+ for a pass
8/14 - 8/23
Alexandria Restaurant Week
Participating restaurants will offer prix-fixe dinner menus for $35, $45, or $55 per person. See the list of restaurants and menus here.
8/15
The Taste of Thompson Restaurant Experience - departs from Matchbox - Penn Quarter | 11:15a - 4p, $150
Foodie bus tour visiting restaurants under Thompson Hospitality, a Black-owned restaurant, food service, and facilities management company. Ticket includes transport & tastings at each stopSummer of Hope at The Wharf: Live Music & Movie Screening - Transit Pier | 4p - 9p, free
Will have live performances & a screening of “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” with a DJ spinning the soundtrack live, & family-friendly activitiesJollof Festival - Union Market | 2p - 9p, $34+
KAYTRADAY! - Penn Social | 9p - 2a, $24
Kaytranada-inspired dance partyBingo Loco - Howard Theatre | shows at 6p + 10p, $40
8/16
October London’s Summer Soirée - Hook Hall | 5p - 10p, $62+
R&B singer October London hosts an evening of music, cocktails, and summer vibes at Hook Hall, bringing together fans for a celebration inspired by classic soul and contemporary R&B
8/20
Movies on the Potomac outdoor screening of “Creed” - National Harbor Plaza in MD | 7p - 9p, free
8/22
The Black Bar Crawl - U Street | 3p - 10p, $15+
National Book Festival - Library of Congress | 9a - 8p, free with registration
8/22 + 8/23
Freedom 250 Grand Prix - National Mall | starts at 8a, free with registration (window has closed to register for tickets, but the race will be visible if you can find spots on 3rd + 7th Streets, or Pennsylvania + Independence Avenues)
8/23
Buga Suga, A Classic R&B Party - Songbyrd | 7p, $13+
Club 1BD Day Party - BANANAS at BERHTA | 3p, $42+
Viral traveling dance party. Dress code is yellow and orange tones
8/27
Summer Evening Hours at the Garden - US Botanic Garden | 5p - 8p, free
After hours event with live music, vendors, ice cream & sorbet, and mocktails and snacks available for purchaseMovies on the Potomac outdoor screening of “Michael” - National Harbor Plaza in MD | 7p - 9p, free
8/28
Embassy of Malawi Reception - 7p - 10p, $136
Will have remarks from the ambassador, a buffet & open bar
8/29
Broadway Rave - Union Stage | 10p, $27+
Dance party playing show tunes & musical theatre songs
8/30
Everyday People - BANANAS at BERHTA | 3p, $37+
CONCERTS + SHOWS
8/5
PJ Morton - Warner Theatre | 8p, $53+
Digable Planets - Rams Head on Stage in Annapolis, MD | 8p, $66+
8/6
Dave Hollister - The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA | 7:30p, $88
WWE Summer Tour - EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, VA | 7:30p, $54+
8/6 - 8/9
Tommy Davidson - DC Improv | multiple showtimes, $40+
8/7
Alex Isley - The Theater at MGM in National Harbor, MD | 8p, $57+
KenTheMan - Nevermore Hall in Baltimore, MD | 8p, $92+ (check resale sites for additional pricing)
8/7 - 8/9
Sommore - Baltimore Comedy Factory in MD | multiple showtimes, $61+
8/9
Noname - Howard Theatre | 8p, $$ for resale tickets
SeatGeek | StubHub | Vivid SeatsLoe Shimmy - The Fillmore in Silver Spring, MD | 8p, $106+
8/12
Olivia Dean - CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, MD | 8p, $$ for resale tickets
SeatGeek | StubHub | Vivid Seats
8/13
Tank and The Bangas - Pier Six Pavilion in Baltimore, MD | 8p, $31+
Next, Silk & H-Town: R&B Unplugged - Bethesda Theater in MD | 8:30p, $95+
8/14
Juvenile & The 400 Degreez Band - Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore, MD | 7:30p, $62+
Rome Streetz - Songbyrd | 7p, $32+
8/15
Rick Ross Port of Miami Orchestra Tour with The Renaissance Orchestra - Warner Theatre | 8p, $148+
8/17
Isaiah Rashad - The Fillmore in Silver Spring, MD | 8p, $60+
8/19
Diana Ross - Filene Center in Vienna, VA | 8p, $66+
Musiq Soulchild - Warner Theatre | 8p, $71+
Alena Ciera - Pearl Street Warehouse | 8p, $40
8/21
Ella Mai - The Anthem | 8p, resale tickets available for $100+
SeatGeek | StubHub | Vivid SeatsTequilaTlk Live - Union Stage | 7p, $34
Jon Batiste - Filene Center in Vienna, VA | 8p, resale tickets available for $85+
SeatGeek | StubHub | Vivid Seats
8/21 + 8/22
Ledisi - The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, MD | 8p, $60+
8/21 - 8/23
Chico Bean - Baltimore Comedy Factory in MD | multiple showtimes, $44+
8/22
Masego - The Anthem | 8p, $63
Thot Daughter Tour ft. Bbymutha - Transmission | 10p, $30
8/23
October London - Power Plant Live! in Baltimore, MD | 4p, $52+
FATTMACK - Howard Theatre | 8p, $36+
8/25
Chance the Rapper - Nevermore Hall in Baltimore, MD | 8p, $106+
Robert Glasper - The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA | 7:30p, $101+
8/27
Kehlani - Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD | 6:30p, $43
Waka Flocka - Bethesda Theater in MD | 8:30p, $80+
8/28
Asake - Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, MD | 8:30p, $64+
with Uncle WafflesRaheem DeVaughn - The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA | 7:30p, $108+
Dess Dior - Union Stage | 7p, $40+
Chxrry - Pearl Street Warehouse | 8p, resale tickets available for $135+
SeatGeek | StubHub | Vivid Seats
8/29
KevOnStage - The Theater at MGM in National Harbor, MD | 8p, resale tickets available for $85+
SeatGeek | StubHub | Vivid SeatsArlo Parks - Howard Theatre | 8p, $45