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SUMMER IN THE CITY 2016: events

Concert, parties, food trucks and more pepper regional calendar

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10 years ago

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events, gay news, Washington Blade
events, gay news, Washington Blade

Patrons enjoy a ride at Brew at the Zoo. (Photo courtesy the National Zoo)

As summer gets into full swing, lots of activities and events are happening in the District to pack in those long summer days and nights. Free outdoor concerts, movie screenings, beer and food festivals and pool parties in the coming weeks will give plenty to do in the local area.

The Alden and the McLean Community Center hosts Summer Sundays in the Park at McLean Central Park (1468 Dolley Madison Blvd., McLean, Va.) every Sunday in July at 5 p.m. Tribute bands will play including the English Channel, a British invasion tribute band; the Reflex, an ‘80s tribute band; Still Surfin’, a Beach Boys tribute band; and more.

Downtown Silver Spring (908 Ellsworth Dr., Silver Spring, Md.) holds live concerts on the Fountain Plaza every Friday night this summer from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Genres include new swing, latin, pop-rock, classic rock, blues, Motown and pop.

Mansion at Strathmore (10701 Rockville Pk., North Bethesda, Md.) holds free summer outdoor concerts every Wednesday this summer at 7 p.m. Performances are held at the Gudelsky Gazebo. Upcoming performers include Ken &Brad Kolodner, the Wild Reeds, Aztec Sun, Cissa Paz and more. Picnic blankets, low beach chairs and small coolers are welcome. Food is available for sale on site.

Truckeroo, a monthly food truck festival, is held through October at the corner of Half Street and M Street, S.E. The next Truckeroo date is July 8 from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Participating food trucks include Bonmi, Surfside, Tapas, D.C. Slices, Feelin’ Crabby and more. There will also be live music and cold drinks.

Brew at the Zoo is at the National Zoo (3001 Connecticut Ave., N.W.) on Thursday, July 21 from 6-9 p.m. This beer festival features unlimited tastings from more than 70 breweries, food trucks and live music from the Reagans. Animal encounters and brew games are also included. Early admission tickets are $85, general admission tickets are $65 and VIP tickets are $100. VIP tickets include a VIP area at Great Cats Circle, complimentary food tastings, lion and tiger keep talks and a takeaway gift. Proceeds benefit Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

Signature Theatre (4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, Va.) hosts an open house on Saturday, July 23 from noon-8:30 p.m. There will be performances every 15 minutes, master classes, family cabarets, season preview concerts and a Broadway on the Plaza finale concert. Games and crafts will also be on the plaza all day.

Kegs and Corks Fest, a craft beer and Maryland wine festival, is at Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds (1450 General Hwy., Crownsville, Md.) starting at noon on Saturday, Aug. 20. There will be unlimited craft beer samples, unlimited wine samples, beer trucks and live music. Lawn chairs and blankets are permitted. Regular admission tickets are $40. VIP tickets are $100 and include private seating under tent, private bathrooms, unlimited beer and wine and a catered reception with food and drinks.

Mer Events hosts a pool party at Vida Fitness Penthouse and Pool Lounge (1212 Fourth St., S.E.) on Saturday, July 30 from 7:30 p.m.-1 a.m. Tickets are $25 until Tuesday, July 26. Tickets are $30 between July 26-30.

Splash Sunday pool parties are every Sunday this summer from noon-6 p.m. at Capitol Skyline Hotel’s rooftop pool (10 I St., S.W.) There will be two outdoor bars and one indoor bar. An outdoor grill will be running all day. DJ Antonio Ernesto plays music. There is a free burger and beer with ticket. Tickets are $15.

Various outdoor movie screenings occur all over the District this summer.

Congressional Cemetery (1801 E St., S.E.) screens “Singin’ in the Rain” on Friday, July 22. There is a suggested $10 donation.

Dumbarton House Jane Austen Film Festival screens “Emma” on Wednesday, July 13 and “Pride and Prejudice” on Wednesday, July 27 at Dumbarton House (2715 Q St., N.W.). Films begin at sunset and admission is $6.

Films at the Stone presents “Zootopia” on Thursday, July 21 at 8:15 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial (1964 Independence Ave., S.W.). “Race” screens on Thursday, Aug. 25 at 8:15 p.m.

Golden Cinema Series screens films every Friday through July at Farragut Park (Connecticut Ave., and K St., N.W.) at 7:30 p.m. Upcoming films include “Clear and Present Danger,” “Manchrian Candidate,” “National Treasure: Book of Secrets” and “Mars Attacks!”

Georgetown Sunset Cinema screens movies at Georgetown Waterfront Park at sundown. “Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind” is on Tuesday, July 12; “ET” is on Tuesday, July 19; “Thelma & Louise” is Tuesday, July 26; and “Into the Wild” is Tuesday, Aug. 2.

Mitchell Park Films in the Field screens films at S and 23rd St., N.W. “To Kill a Mockingbird” is on Thursday, July 21 at 8:30 p.m.; “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” is on Thursday, Aug.18 at 8 p.m.; and “Ghostbusters” screens on Friday, Sept 9 at 7 p.m.

Family Night at Sursum Corda is on the plaza at L and First streets N.W. “Up” screens on Friday, July 19 and “Zootopia” is on Friday, Aug. 16. Movies start at sunset.

Union Market (1309 Fifth St., N.E.) hosts a drive-in movie for “Ratatouille” on Friday, Aug. 5 and “Grease” on Friday, Sept. 2. Movies start at 8 p.m. and include captioning. Drive-in parking is $10. Ground seating is free.

U Street Movie Series hosts its film screenings at Harrison Field (1330 V. St., N.W.). “Pee Wee’s Big Adventure” is on Friday, Aug. 17; “Finding Nemo” is on Saturday, Sept. 17;  and “The War Room” is on Wednesday, Sept. 21.

events, gay news, Washington Blade

Truckeroo, a monthly food tasting event, returns July 8 in Southeast Washington. (Photo courtesy Georgetown Events)

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Calendar

Calendar: January 23-29

LGBTQ events in the days to come

Published

18 hours ago

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January 23, 2026

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Friday, January 23

Center Aging Monthly Luncheon With Yoga will be at noon at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. Email Mac at [email protected] if you require ASL interpreter assistance, have any dietary restrictions, or questions about this event.

Trans Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. This group is intended to provide an emotionally and physically safe space for trans people and those who may be questioning their gender identity/expression to join together in community and learn from one another. For more details, email [email protected]. 

Saturday, January 24

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation.  Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Black Lesbian Support Group will be at 11 a.m. on Zoom. This is a peer-led support group devoted to the joys and challenges of being a Black lesbian. You do not need to be a member of the Beta Kappa Chapter or the Beta Phi Omega Sorority in order to join, but they do ask that you either identify as a lesbian or are questioning that aspect of your identity. For more details, email [email protected]. 

Monday, January 26

“Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more information, contact Adam ([email protected]).

Queer Book Club will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This month’s books are “The Nightmare Before Kissmas” by Sara Raasch and “Transgender History” by Susan Stryker. For more details, email [email protected]. 

Tuesday, January 27

Coming Out Discussion Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a safe space to share experiences about coming out and discuss topics as it relates to doing so — by sharing struggles and victories the group allows those newly coming out and who have been out for a while to learn from others. For more details, visit the group’s Facebook. 

Genderqueer DC will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a support group for people who identify outside of the gender binary, whether you’re bigender, agender, genderfluid, or just know that you’re not 100% cis. For more details, visit genderqueerdc.org or Facebook.

Wednesday, January 28

Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.

Asexual and Aromantic Group will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is a space where people who are questioning this aspect of their identity or those who identify as asexual and/or aromantic can come together, share stories and experiences, and discuss various topics. Currently, this group is a meeting place for both identities, but we realize that as time passes, the groups may choose to host individual meetings.For more details, email [email protected]. 

Thursday, January 29

Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breath work and meditation that allows LGBTQ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.  

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Out & About

Love board games and looking for love?

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1 week ago

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January 16, 2026

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(Image by VLADGRIN/Bigstock)

Quirk Events will host “Board Game Speed Dating for Gay Men” on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. at KBird DC. 

Searching for a partner can be challenging. But board games are always fun. So what if you combined board games and finding a partner?

Picture this: You sit down for a night of games. A gaming concierge walks you through several games over the course of the night. You play classics you love and discover brand new games you’ve never heard of, playing each with a different group of fun singles. All while in a great establishment. 

At the end of the night, you give your gaming concierge a list of the folks you met that you’d like to date and a list of those you met that you’d like to just hang out with as friends. If any two people put down the same name as each other in either column, then your gaming concierge will make sure you get each other’s e-mail address and you can coordinate a time to hang out.

Tickets cost $31.80 and can be purchased on Eventbrite. 

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Calendar

Calendar: January 16-22

LGBTQ events in the days to come

Published

1 week ago

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January 16, 2026

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Friday, January 16

Friday Tea Time will be at 12 p.m. at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ+ adults. Bring your beverage of choice. For more information, contact Mac ([email protected]).

Trans and Genderqueer Game Night will be at 7 p.m. at the DC LGBTQ+ Community Center. This is a relaxing, laid-back evening of games and fun. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website. 

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Social in the City” at 7 p.m. at Hotel Zena. This event is ideal for making new connections and community building or just to unwind and enjoy extended happy hour. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Saturday, January 17

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community Brunch” at 11 a.m. at Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant. This fun weekly event brings the DMV area LGBTQ+ community, including allies, together for delicious food and conversation.  Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

The DC LGBTQ+ Community Center and SMYAL will host a free film screening of “Mama Bears” celebrating queer youth, resilience, and the power of living authentically. Whether you’re a movie lover, looking to make new friends, or simply want a safe, affirming space to relax, this event is for you. Click this link to RSVP. 

LGBTQ People of Color will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This peer support group is an outlet for LGBTQ people of color to come together and talk about anything affecting them in a space that strives to be safe and judgement free. There will be all sorts of activities like watching movies, poetry events, storytelling, and just hanging out with others. For more details, visit thedccenter.org/poc or facebook.com/centerpoc.

Sunday, January 18

Go Gay DC will host “LGBTQ+ Community and Conversation” at noon at As You Are. This event is for those looking to make more friends and meaningful connections in the LGBTQ+ community. Look for the Go Gay DC sign on the long table near the front window. Attendance is free and more details are available on Eventbrite.

Monday, January 19

“Center Aging: Monday Coffee Klatch” will be at 10 a.m. on Zoom. This is a social hour for older LGBTQ adults. Guests are encouraged to bring a beverage of choice. For more information, contact Adam ([email protected]).

Tuesday, January 20

Center Bi+ Roundtable will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This is an opportunity for people to gather in order to discuss issues related to bisexuality or as Bi individuals in a private setting.Visit Facebook or Meetup for more information.

Tae Kwon Do Class with Avi Rome will be at 12:30 p.m. This inclusive and beginner-friendly class, led by Instructor Avi Rome, offers a light warm-up, stretching, and instruction in basic techniques, patterns, and striking padded targets. Each session is designed to be adaptable for all ability and mobility levels, creating a welcoming space for everyone to build strength, confidence, and community through martial arts. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.

Wednesday, January 21

Job Club will be at 6 p.m. on Zoom upon request. This is a weekly job support program to help job entrants and seekers, including the long-term unemployed, improve self-confidence, motivation, resilience and productivity for effective job searches and networking — allowing participants to move away from being merely “applicants” toward being “candidates.” For more information, email [email protected] or visit thedccenter.org/careers.

Thursday, January 22

The DC Center’s Fresh Produce Program will be held all day at the DC Center for the LGBT Community. People will be informed on Wednesday at 5 p.m. if they are picked to receive a produce box. No proof of residency or income is required. For more information, email [email protected] or call 202-682-2245. 

Virtual Yoga Class will be at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This free weekly class is a combination of yoga, breathwork and meditation that allows LGBTQ+ community members to continue their healing journey with somatic and mindfulness practices. For more details, visit the DC Center’s website.  

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