Festivals Galore!
“Festival” is such a goofy word. We probably abuse it, considering the word is supposed to be describing an event centered around a feast, but who doesn’t love big cultural get-togethers? There’s usually food anyway, and even if there isn’t, festivals almost always are entertaining.
Regardless, you gotta love ‘em, especially when they’re free and cheap!
The Hip Hop Theater Festival is happening NOW through July 11 in various venues throughout D.C. With over 4 venues, 12 events and 20+ artists involved in productions from theater to dance to poetry to music, it sounds like it’s worth checking out (fo’ free)!
The Capital Fringe Festival (I love love LOVE this festival) is starting this Thursday, July 9 and will run until July 26 downtown in Penn Quarter and Mount Vernon Square. It’s not exactly cheap, per se — tickets are usually $10-$15 a show (some are free, others can cost up to $35), plus you have to pay for a $5 (just once) to get in to any show, and it can get you all kinds of discounts for the rest of the year at certain restaurants and theaters throughout the city. Also, if you go to a show at the Trading Post (one of the many festival’s many venues) you can get a lot of free stuff, like CDs, clothing, etc.
FreeFest, Folklife Festival and More
Lots of things to update today! First though, Michael Jackson died today, as did Farrah Fawcett. Devastating.
Here are a couple of FREE things to do/sign up for this weekend:
What’s better than Virgin Fest? I’ll tell you, FREEFEST. This awesome music festival will take place at Merriweather Post Pavilion August 30. Headliners include Weezer, Blink 182, Franz Ferdinand and a bunch more, and it all costs…$0.00.
oh yeah and GIRL TALK GIRL TALK GIRL TALK GIRL TALK GIRL TALK!!!!
(who, ps, is coming to JPJ August 22 at 8…$12 for upperclassmen. heeeelll yeah!)
From the website:
“The move celebrates both a giveback to music fans in a bad economy as well as an effort to solicit donations to homeless youth agencies around the country…”
You can sign up to get a free ticket and an optional $5 delivery fee, a free ticket as well as optional $5 delivery fee and an optional $5 donation, or a karma package: “get a free ticket & 1 t-shirt for $30 or get 2 tickets & 2 t-shirts for $55. Prices include $5 donation to youth homelessness.”
Those who’ve gone to VirginFest before will have the first opportunities to score free tix (you would’ve/should be getting an email about it). The rest of ‘em will be given out Saturday, June 27 starting at 10am. Check Ticketmaster Promotions for more details.
That sort of music not your thing? Check out the Smithsonian Folklore Festival! Happening June 24-28 and July 1-5 on the National Mall, the Festival celebrates different types of cultures from around the world. Some teasers from the website:
“In re-creating physical settings for the traditions represented, the Festival has built a horse racetrack (from the Washington Monument to the U.S. Capitol Building), an Indian village with 40-foot-high bamboo and paper statues, a Japanese rice paddy, and a New Mexican adobe plaza.”
Over a million people come to this thing. I went last year, ate delicious food and listened to some pretty sweet concerts. Check the full schedule for more information.
These cost $10, but seem well-worth the money:
The DC Caribbean Festival is happening this weekend. With a parade on Saturday (at 11 a.m., down Georgia Ave from Missouri Ave to Barry Place) and the festival happening all weekend (right across from Howard University), the event aims to educate visitors about “Caribbean arts, crafts, and cultures.” Learn more on the festival’s website, and take a look at these pictures from last year!
Safeway’s National Barbeque Battle is happening this Saturday, June 27. The event benefits the Boys and Girls Club, and has all kinds of food and entertainment (BBQ and more from Safeway, music, lots of family-friendly events like rides…pretty packed, I’d say). Get your tickets early to avoid the lines!
