Celebrations of Earth Day continue this weekend, with family-friendly festivals, garden sales and exhibits across the D.C. area. The Smithsonian National Carousel reopens Friday after an extensive restoration project, while the National Archives unveils an exhibit about the Declaration of Independence. Book lovers can explore more than two dozen independent bookstores to find discounts and prizes. Georgetown turns into an outdoor market for three days, while the streets of Clarendon become an open-air art market on Saturday and Sunday. There are chances to sample chocolate at the French Embassy, try free fitness classes outdoors at the Yards, and explore more than 100 Black-owned vendors at Nationals Park. Music lovers can immerse themselves in electronic sounds with the Making Time crew, wish Willie Nelson a happy birthday, or swing dance inside the Smithsonian.
Thursday, April 23
Smithsonian Craft Show at the National Building Museum
“The finest in American contemporary craft and design” is celebrated at the 44th Smithsonian Craft Show, which features a juried selection of more than 120 artists showing and selling their furniture, jewelry, sculpture, basketry, glass, wearable fabrics and creations in other mediums. In addition to browsing, special events include a discussion about the history of handcrafted objects in America (Friday at 1 p.m.; free tickets distributed Friday morning). Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $25 for one day admission; $40 for unlimited admission.
Sant Jordi Day at Casa Teresa
In the Spanish region of Catalonia, April 23 is a holiday where people give partners and loved ones books and roses — “their version of Valentine’s Day, but make it literary,” explains D.C. restaurant Casa Teresa. Its local celebration, at the Square food hall, includes pop-up vendors with books and flowers, but also an all-day happy hour, a free Catalan wine tasting (5 to 7 p.m.) and a class teaching customers how to drink wine from the pitcher known as porrón (5:30 p.m.). For $75, foodies can take a hands-on class with James Beard-nominated chef Rubén García, learning to make tapas and sangria (6 p.m.). Noon to 8 p.m. Free.
‘Aesop’s Fables’ at Adventure Theatre
Timeless tales are reinvented for Gen Alpha in Adventure Theatre’s upcoming production of “Aesop’s Fables.” The children’s theater in Glen Echo Park stages these famed ancient Greek stories by enlisting a cast of storytellers to bring them to life. Audiences can expect to hear five fables, each with its own moral, including “The Tortoise and the Hare” and “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.” The play premieres Thursday with a pajama party that ends with milk and cookies. Pajama party Thursday at 7 p.m., then regular performances through May 24. $26.
Gold Clover Anniversary Cookout
Happy second birthday to Gold Clover Bar, one of our favorite low-key neighborhood hangouts in the entire city. Maybe it’s the free fried chicken on Fridays, or the early openings for select Premier League matches (read: games involving Arsenal), or the pop-up record shops. It could just be that, when you walk through the doors at Florida Avenue and Third Street NW, you know you’re getting great drinks and a solid crowd with no pretense. Gold Clover marks its anniversary with a special cookout featuring free food from 6 to 9 p.m., and probably toasting with a few Incredible Hulk cocktails. Yes, they’re back. 6 p.m. Free.
Friday, April 24
Smithsonian National Carousel reopens
For the first time in three years, colorful horses and a shiny hippogriff will bound in a circle on the National Mall. The Smithsonian National Carousel, which moved from the Gwynn Oak Amusement Park near Baltimore in 1981, reopens to the public Friday after an extensive restoration. It’s hard to think of a more beautiful setting to ride a wooden horse, but this carousel, in front of the Arts and Industries Building, also played a role in American history. On Aug. 28, 1963, Gwynn Oak was desegregated after years of organized protests. An 11-month-old girl named Sharon Langley became the first Black child to ride the carousel, on the same day Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have A Dream” speech on the Mall. A horse marked “Freedom Riders” commemorates Langley’s ride, as well as other civil rights leaders. No reservations are required to climb aboard. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $6 per ride.
Georgetown French Market
Squint a bit and Georgetown feels like a Parisian arrondissement during this annual open-air festival on Wisconsin Avenue. More than 40 locally owned boutiques, cafes and galleries participate in three days of sidewalk sales and specials. Take a break from the throngs of shoppers to grab a croissant or macarons, or a heartier lunch prepared outdoors on the grill. Because this is a fete, look out for live music, face painters and entertainers, including a wandering mime, among the shops. Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free.
Liberation Weekend at the Black Cat and Transmission
Billed as a “Pitchfork Fest for trans rights,” Liberation Weekend was born in the first year of the second Trump administration to reject anti-trans legislation and raise money for the Gender Liberation Movement. By consequence of a stellar lineup of trans artists and allies, it was also a massive party. Organized by D.C. punks Ekko Astral, Liberation Weekend II: A Festival Fundraiser for Trans Liberation and Mutual Aid stretches over three full days, with emo, indie and punk rockers taking the stage at the Black Cat. Meanwhile, Saturday and Sunday bring daytime concerts to Transmission. The lineups include Laura Jane Grace, Illuminati Hotties, Gladie, Pretty Bitter and Ezra Furman. Through Sunday. $17.03-160.85.
DC Chocolate Festival at the Embassy of France
“Eat more chocolate” is the unofficial motto of the ninth annual DC Chocolate Festival, which connects cocoa aficionados with professional chocolatiers. Naturally, the French Embassy is a fantastic venue for an event devoted to all things chocolate, and the affair kicks off Friday night with an “Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund Award Ceremony.” Saturday’s activities are divided into morning and afternoon shifts, granting ticket holders access to samples from local and international chocolate makers, as well as micro-workshops to learn more about the business and art behind your favorite sweet treat. Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. $30.23; Free for kids younger than 10.
Ella Fitzgerald Day at the National Museum of American History
In honor of the birthday of jazz’s First Lady of Song, the National Museum of American History hosts a day of tributes to Ella Fitzgerald. Museum curators lead a panel discussion on “Ella Fitzgerald in 10 Photos,” drawing from the Smithsonian’s archives at 11 a.m. Howard University professor Reginald Bowens leads a workshop on scatting and vocal jazz at 1 p.m., followed by a performance by Howard’s SASSy jazz vocal ensemble at 1:30. Rare items from the museum’s collection of the singer’s items will be on display throughout the day. 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Free.
Saturday, April 25
D.C. Independent Bookstore Crawl
Once feared to be going the way of the dinosaur, independent bookstores have enjoyed a renaissance over the last decade. The annual D.C. Independent Bookstore Crawl is your chance to find a new favorite — or at least get a start on your summer reading. More than two dozen bookstores in D.C. and the Maryland suburbs are participating. Visit old favorites such as Capitol Hill Books and Politics and Prose, or explore the shelves at more recent additions, like Wonderland Books and Pages and Volumes. Pick up a map and get stamps from at least six bookstores over the course of the day to receive a prize. Shops are also offering their own reasons to come in: East City Books will have flash sales ranging from 10 to 30 percent off at various times; Solid State Books has a “Buy a book, get a blind date with a book” special at both locations; and cookbook destination Bold Fork Books is throwing a party with coffee and matcha from Findunderscore, pastries by Manifest Bread and scoops from Happy Ice Cream, plus 10 percent discounts on everything in the store. Hours vary by location. Free.
‘Free and Independent: A Celebration of the Declaration’ at the National Archives
By the end of 2026, you might know more about the Declaration of Independence than you ever thought possible. The latest exhibit celebrating what has been called “America’s birth certificate” is at the National Archives, where you can see the original document in the Rotunda. This exhibition takes an expansive view of the Declaration’s origins and legacy, including pre-Revolution proclamations issued by King George III, stories about July 4 celebrations since 1776, and a look back at how the public commemorated the nation’s 100th and 200th birthdays. There’s no fee to visit the Archives, but visitors can skip the line with a $1 timed entry ticket. Through July 5, 2027. Free.
FONA Garden Fair and Plant Sale at the National Arboretum
Grow a garden approved by Friends of the National Arboretum when you shop at their annual spring plant sale, stocked with thousands of annuals and perennials, as well as shrubs, trees and rare plants. Garden experts are on hand to dole out advice, and the day goes beyond just plants, thanks to free family-friendly activities and a vendor village featuring locally made goods and food and drink. There are even plant-sitting services, so you can park your plants after purchasing and check out the rest of the fair — or the Arboretum itself — unencumbered. Note that the vendor village opens to the public at 9 a.m., but the plant tent is members-only until 11 a.m. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free. Registration requested but not required.
Living Earth Festival: ‘Always Becoming’ at the National Museum of the American Indian
The National Museum of the American Indian’s weekend-long Living Earth Festival takes this year’s theme from artist Nora Naranjo Morse’s “Always Becoming” outdoor sculpture, constructed in 2007 using Native building techniques. She’s currently revitalizing the sculpture using natural materials like clay, straw, sand, soil and wood, and you can watch her and her team work on the structures. Other outdoor activities include a seed ball workshop and a museum garden tour. Visitors can also head inside for pottery and clay sculpture demonstrations, children’s story time, or a performance of traditional native dances from the MaaTuu Pueblo Dance Group. Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free.
Earth Day Fairfax at Lake Fairfax Park
Fairfax County throws what feels like a block party for Earth Day, with food trucks, music from local bands and a craft beer garden. It’s all happening at Reston’s scenic Lake Fairfax Park, and there are a ton of activities for kids of all ages, too, such as rock climbing walls and hands-on STEM experiments, plus animal encounters courtesy of the county’s Hidden Pond Nature Center and Frying Pan Farm Park. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission; $10 per car for parking.
Montgomery County GreenFest at BlackRock Center for the Arts
Montgomery County GreenFest hops around to different locations each year, and this year’s host is Germantown’s BlackRock Center for the Arts. The county’s largest environmental festival includes an array of vendors, environmental nonprofits and eco-friendly businesses, so you can learn more about farm-fresh produce, local recycling options, alternative energy, or organizations dedicated to cleaning up local streams or the Chesapeake Bay. There are food trucks and activities for kids, too. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free.
Maryland Day at the University of Maryland
You don’t have to be an alumni to appreciate the annual open house at the University of Maryland — you just have to have wide-ranging interests and a thirst for knowledge, or a taste for fresh ice cream. There are more than 400 activities taking place across the College Park campus during Maryland Day, many of which are fun and educational. Take part in a watermelon seed-spitting contest with the Maryland-Delaware Watermelon Queen, build a stomp rocket or a Lego racer, watch the football team’s spring showcase, or make a poster or a zine. Visitors can play with the university’s collection of video games from the 1970s to 2000s, see a comedic production of “The Tempest,” join a K-pop dance party, or visit an insect petting zoo. The university was founded as an agricultural college, and that spirit lives on in showcases that let the public meet the university’s resident horses and pigs, and, oh yes — get free scoops of ice cream, fresh from the Maryland Dairy Farm. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free.
Waterfront Wellness at the Yards
Fitness-focused businesses around the Navy Yard are offering free outdoor classes and experiences this weekend at the community “sundeck” park at the Yards. Join yoga or pilates classes, go on a run with Pacers, try cardio kickboxing or dance workouts, or reset with a sound bath or breathing session. Everything is open to drop-ins, although attendees are asked to register their interest and bring their own mats for certain classes. See the Yards website for a full schedule. Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free.
HyBall 2026: Retro-Futurama at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center
Dress with a retro space-age vibe? Go as a cyberpunk? Turn yourself into a postapocalyptic party animal? These are sartorial choices facing attendees at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center’s after-hours party. The welcoming arts hub is celebrating 10 years in Hyattsville with its annual art party. Visitors can create art on Pyramid Atlantic’s equipment, such as letterpresses and screen printing; visit a bar for local beers or cocktails using local spirits; or dance to DJs spinning vintage and futuristic tunes. Sign up for the costume contest or take advantage of photo-op stations, but don’t miss the silent auction benefiting Pyramid Atlantic’s work in the community. (If you’re not wiped out at the end, there’s an after-party with karaoke!) 8 to 11 p.m. $50, includes four drinks. $10 after-party.
Making Time at Berhta
For years, Making Time has provided one of the best chances to expand your mind at an electronic music festival. The annual event usually spans a few days outdoors by the Delaware River in Philadelphia, but this party streamlines the experience into one night. Headlining act Fcukers is the duo of Shanny Wise and Jackson Walker Lewis, a pair of indie rock survivors who, to paraphrase LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy, sold guitars and bought turntables. Electronic music standout Avalon Emerson will perform twice, as a DJ and with her synth-pop project, the Charm, and underground dance fixtures Tiga and organizer Dave P. will DJ, too. 9 p.m. $59.74.
Zwanze Day at the Sovereign
The Cantillon brewery in Brussels is renowned for its lambic beers, which are spontaneously fermented by wild yeasts. The beer spends years aging in wooden barrels to develop sour, acidic and funky flavors, sometimes infused with ingredients like grapes or apricots, before being skillfully blended. Zwanze Day is an annual “holiday” in the beer world, in which Cantillon sends one-off beers to breweries around the globe, all to be drunk on the same day. This year, Cantillon partnered with Vermouth Sullivan to create a lambic blended with botanicals including wormwood, sage, juniper and gentian, and a kriek, or cherry beer, blended with apple, marjoram, verbena and other herbs. The Sovereign in Georgetown is the host again, and both Zwanze Day beers will be tapped at 3 p.m. Look for nine other Cantillon beers on draft, and 20 available by the bottle. An additional selection of bottles will be available to take home. 10 a.m. Free; beer prices vary.
Shout and Feel It! D.C. Lindy Exchange at the National Museum of American History
The American History Museum’s celebrations of Jazz Appreciation Month continue with one of its more lively events. Up to 600 swing dancers are expected to descend on the museum’s Flag Hall for an afternoon of Lindy Hopping to the big band sounds of Josh Lee and the Extended Family. Join a free beginner dance lesson at noon before the music begins at 2 p.m. If you fall in love with the rhythms, there’s a dance Saturday night at the historic Glen Echo Spanish Ballroom with Scott Silbert’s “Biggest” Big Band as part of the annual D.C. Lindy Exchange weekend. Noon to 5 p.m. Free.
Bark at the Boro at Boro Park
Your best four-legged friend is welcome for a morning of play at the Boro in Tysons. Take a quick training session with Zoom Room before letting your pup loose among the obstacles on an agility course. (The two quickest dogs win $100 restaurant gift cards for their humans.) Attendees can have a dog tag engraved, design a custom dog bandanna, or fill a bag of treats at the “bone bar” before hitting the photo booth. It’s not just for canines, either: Kids can make crafts or get glitter tattoos. 10 a.m. to noon. Free; reservations suggested.
Eliza McLamb at the Atlantis
Years of podcasting and essay writing trained the multi-hyphenate creative Eliza McLamb well for crafting confessional lyrics that both punch and stick around for the sting. Her body of work — including a 2024 debut and 2025’s “Good Story” — is a product of self-mythologizing, united by an internet-addled sense of preening and presentation, incessantly prodding the scab of whether we are who we pretend to be. Over an indie rock framework informed by her North Carolina upbringing, she carefully sings on “Mausoleum”: “Catch it quick/ Frame the image/ Make your meaning before you’ve lived it.” April 25 at the Atlantis. theatlantis.com.
Sunday, April 26
Earth Day at Brookside Gardens
One of the area’s most beautiful gardens puts kids first during its Earth Day celebrations, with activities and performances entirely geared toward families. Little ones can try out being a naturalist and learn how to pot a plant — and take said potted plant home, while supplies last. Watch live science experiments with the Science Guys of Baltimore during the first half of the event, and then a set from children’s music band L-M-N-O-People. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free.
Congressional Cemetery Spring Fair
D.C.’s historic Congressional Cemetery is bringing back its eco-focused Spring Fair for a second year. Learn about the beekeepers who tend the apiary at the cemetery, browse a market of sustainable vendors, bring cuttings of your favorite house plants for a plant swap, or go on a walk to learn about the trees growing on the grounds. Percussion troupe Batalia leads a parade to celebrate the return of warm weather. While the cemetery isn’t hosting any guided tours during the festival, visitors can download or print self-guided tours of the gravestones, based around themes like “Men of Adventure,” “Civil Rights Heroes” and “The Burning of Washington,” and wander among the tombs to learn more about the “permanent residents” buried at Congressional. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free.
Earth Day Every Day Festival at Langston Boulevard
Arlington’s Langston Boulevard community comes together each year for a family-friendly Earth Day-themed outdoor festival, enlisting four bands to provide the soundtrack for the day. Hear kids music from Rainbow Rock Band, mariachi from Mariachi Estrellas, jazz and funk from singer Munit Mesfin, and American roots rock from the Longtimers. Exhibitors such as the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, Arlington Friends of Urban Agriculture and Wild Birds Unlimited demonstrate ways to make your life more eco-friendly. The fest also includes a makers market, food options from local restaurants, and kids’ activities like scavenger hunts and art projects. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free.
Black on the Block at Nationals Park
A marketplace with more than 100 Black-owned vendors — think clothing, candles, jewelry, accessories, records and much more — is the centerpiece of this annual gathering at Nationals Park. DJs, including WKYS’s Little Bacon Bear, set the vibe and get the crowd dancing, while food trucks, bars and yard games offer distractions. 1 to 7 p.m. $20-$21.19.
Willie Nelson Birthday Fiesta at Republic Cantina
The remarkable, somehow ageless country legend Willie Nelson turns 93 on Wednesday, and Truxton Circle Tex-Mex restaurant Republic Cantina is honoring its patron saint with its fifth Willie Nelson Birthday Fiesta. Human Country Jukebox performs Nelson’s greatest songs, as well as tunes by associated artists like Waylon Jennings or Kris Kristofferson, while the crowd sips half-price Shiner Bock and Lone Star beers, or tucks into tacos or chips and queso. No reservations are available during the party, so show up early to snag a table, or just hang out at the bars and enjoy the vibes. 2 to 5 p.m. Free.
Chamber Music Sunday at Domestique
Bloomingdale’s Domestique wine shop is known for its fun and lively mix of bottles — natural, sparkling, skin contact, just approachable for a sunny afternoon — and hosts a free tasting session every Sunday. But this week, while you sip wines, you can listen to a chamber ensemble containing members of the National Symphony Orchestra perform four numbers, each paired with what’s in your glass. There’s no charge to sample, though don’t be surprised if you end up taking something home. 2 to 4 p.m. Free.
Monday, April 27
Punch Party at La Cosecha
Bartenders from hot spots including Allegory, Bar Betsie, Jane Jane, the Mirror, Press Club and Sost are among the mixologists creating boozy and booze-free punches at Union Market’s La Cosecha to raise money for Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid. Admission includes a punch cup and one drink ticket, with additional punches available for purchase a la carte. 6 to 10 p.m. $28.52.
Tuesday, April 28
Jesse Solomon at Songbyrd
Fans of Bravo reality show “Summer House” got wrapped up in some shocking revelations over the past few weeks, thanks to an unexpected dating announcement from two cast members of the Hamptons shore house. The West and Amanda saga can’t help but juice ticket sales for fellow castmate Jesse Solomon’s concert tour this spring. After writing and performing a jokey song on the show, Solomon is turning singing into his passion project. Catch his jazz-tinged act to Union Market’s Songbyrd venue in April as he plays the piano and interacts with fans in his bid to become the “next-generation Michael Bublé,” per Rolling Stone. 7 p.m. $32.19.
Trouble Bird’s third anniversary party
Navy Yard cocktail room Trouble Bird never disappoints with its creative signature cocktails — or its satisfying collection of hot dogs. The bar’s third anniversary brings all-day happy hour, which means $12 cocktails, $10 beer-and-a-shot combos and $6 ballpark dogs, plus additional drink specials for the occasion. 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Free.
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