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For Your Weekend: Cherry Blossom Festival to Close With Japanese Culture Fest, Parade

Slather on your sunscreen and soak in some vitamin D on Friday and Saturday: Spring has tentatively sprung. We've got more than two dozen options for your weekend, including the end of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the Rhode Island Avenue Porchfest and bobblehead day at Nats Park. 

Enjoying your weekend cheaply? Here's our top free and cheap picks in D.C.:

Photos: Free and Cheap Things to Do in Washington, DC

National Cherry Blossom Festival Closes Out

This is it: the 2018 National Cherry Blossom Festival is comes to a close on Sunday. The cool weather has preserved the Cherry Blossom flowers, but the weekend warm up could bring the blooms to the end.

The Tidal Basin is the quintessential spot for blossom watching, but you can avoid the crowds at these spots:

13 Spots to View Cherry Blossoms u002du002d When You're Trying to Avoid the Tidal Basin Crowds

Local

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Cherry Blossom Festival Parade
Saturday, 10 a.m. to noon, downtown

The parade runs along Constitution Avenue from 7th Street NW to 17th Street NW. You can buy a grandstand seating ticket starting at $20, or watch between 9th and 15th Streets for free.

"Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)" signer Silento, hip-hop group Arrested Development, "The Voice" contestants Billy Gilman and Sarah Potenza are set to make an appearance alongside giant balloons, marching bands and an extreme pogo stunt team.

The Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival
Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., downtown

Enjoy Japanese bites, music, dance and more at the largest one-day celebration of Japanese culture in the U.S. Anyone over 13 needs a $10 ticket to get in, which you can buy in advance. You'll find the festival on Pennsylvania Avenue between 3rd and 7th Streets NW.

Anacostia River Festival
Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the 11th Street Bridge Park

Close out the Cherry Blossom Festival by exploring the Anacostia via canoe, riding in a bike parade and playing lawn games. The festival is free.

Cherry Blossom Wine and Beer Festival
Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Buzzard Point

One $50 ticket gets you admission to the festival, where organizers promise endless refills of wines, ciders and craft beers. There's live music, games and food trucks to enjoy, as well.

After weather pushed back peak bloom twice, visitors were finally able to enjoy the gorgeous sites around the Tidal Basin.

Community Connections

Emancipation Day Parade, Concert and Fireworks
Saturday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Freedom Plaza

Celebrating the day when 3,185 people who were enslaved in D.C. finally won their freedom, Emancipation Day 2018 will feature music, a parade and fireworks. The parade kicks off at 2 p.m. from 10th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW — and you can even sign up to walk with Mayor Muriel Bowser in the procession. Afterwards, Brandy, Angie Stone, Big Daddy Kane and other artists are set to perform. The day caps off with fireworks at 8:30 p.m.

Rhode Island Avenue Porchfest
Saturday, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Langdon/Brookland

Dozens of artists are slated to perform on porches and stoops along Rhode Island Avenue in Northeast. In addition to music, dancing and poetry, there's also chances to eat, drink and shop. A free shuttle is scheduled to bring guests from the Rhode Island Metro station.

Light City
Saturday through April 21, Baltimore's Inner Harbor

Journey to Baltimore for an amazing light displays throughout the harbor.

Light City: Baltimore's Inner Harbor Turns Into Interactive Art Show

March for Science
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the National Mall

Hear from a number of scientists or attend a teach-in ahead of a rally and march.

White House Garden Tours
Saturday 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Tours of the White House gardens are free and open to the public, but even the smallest of guests will need a ticket. Visitors can get free tickets starting at 8:30 a.m. on each of the tour days at the National Park Service tent, near the intersection of 15th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Tickets are given out on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Race to End Poverty
Sunday, 7:30 a.m. registration, Silver Spring

The non-profit A Wider Circle is set to host a Race to End Poverty on Saturday. The organization's founder and executive director, Dr. Mark Bergel, shared details of the race and spoke with News4's Pat Lawson Muse how ending poverty is an achievable goal:

Pat Lawson Muse discusses two community events. The non-profit A Wider Circle is set to host a Race to End Poverty on April 15. The organization's founder and executive director, Dr. Mark Bergel, discusses how ending poverty is an achievable goal. Ahread of the 50+ Employment Fair, Jewish Council for the Aging's Micki Gordon discusses how older adults can discover new opportunities.

Capre Librum Pop-Up Bookstore
Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Union Station

Every book costs $5 or under. Proceeds benefit the education non-profit Turning the Page. Sounds like a winner.

Ballet Folklórico Mexicano de Georgetown
Saturday, 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Georgetown University

Organizers promise dancing, music and food in Georgetown University's Gaston Hall.

History Talks at the Hill Center at the Old Navy Hospital
Friday at 7 p.m. — African American Women: A History of Sexual Violence & Trauma
Saturday at 2 p.m. — Tragedy, Turbulence, Transition and Transformation: Remembering 1968 Washington, DC

Ahead of Emancipation Day, take a scholar-led tour through history at the Hill Center.

Sports and Sporting

The Nationals
Friday, 7:05 p.m. — Sean Doolittle Bobble head night
Saturday, 1:05 p.m.
Sunday, 1:35 p.m. — Jackie Robinson and Black Heritage Day

The Nationals face off against the Colorado Rockies at three home games this weekend.

Nats Park has some very interesting new drinks and bites to try:

Adult Juice Packs Among Nationals Park's Newest Food and Drink Options

The Capitals
Sunday, 7:30 p.m., Capital One Arena

The Capitals have made it to the playoffs! As of writing, $44 tickets are still available for Sunday's game. We'll keep you updated on the results of all games, too.

This Is How Caps Fans #RocktheRed

Music, Movies, Laughs and Art

DC Comedy Festival
Through Sunday, various venues

From Friday's free showcase to a host of solo shows, the DC Comedy Festival is bringing laughs to restaurants and bars across the city, including Ben's Chili Bowl (H Street location), Red Rocks, Bier Baron Tavern, Busboys and Poets (Mount Vernon location). Many shows cost $10 or $15. Several are free.

SHIFT Festival at the Kennedy Center
Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Musicians from throughout the U.S. will travel to D.C. in a celebration of symphony orchestras. Tickets are $25 for each show.

DC's Best Upcoming Concerts: Diana Ross, Beck u0026 More

The Thousand Incarnations of the Rose Guitar Festival
Friday, Saturday and Sunday at various times and locations in Takoma Park

Although festival passes are sold out, there are several free-to-the-public performances scheduled, all in celebration of American primitive guitar music. Here's the schedule.

Lil Rel Howery Comedy Show
Early and late shows on Friday and Saturday

The true hero of "Get Out" will grace Arlington with his comedic routine with 4 shows on Friday and Saturday.

Slow Art Day
Saturday, various times at Dumbarton Oaks, the Hirshhorn, National Museum of Women in the Arts and the National Portrait Gallery

Take a deep breath, museum rushers, and spend time contemplating one work for longer on Slow Art Day. If you want a guide, a Hirshhorn Gallery Guide will lead 30-minute dives into different pieces of art. The National Portrait Gallery will help visitors enjoy the experience with music, art and writing activities.

Best of Bollywood at the AFI Silver Theatre
Saturday and Sunday in Silver Spring

The AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center is screening Bollywood classics for another weekend. Movies are in Hindi with English subtitles. The full schedule is here and you can buy tickets here.

"2001: A Space Odyssey" Immersive Exhibit
Through May 28 at the National Air and Space Museum

You'll need a timed ticket to transport yourself into Stanley Kubrick's futuristic world. Check out our story about the exhibit here.

No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man at The Renwick
Through January 2019, downtown

A slice of the fantastical and larger-than-life arts festival Burning Man has taken over the Renwick Gallery and even spilled out onto the surrounding streets. Expect a lot of buzz and selfie-takers, but between the virtual reality experience, the epic Grand Salon makeover and the larger-than-life displays, it'll be worth the inevitable lines and crowds.

Check out our first look here:

Out of the Desert, Into DC: Renwick Opens Burning Man Exhibit

Parties, Eats and Drinks

Jaleo's Gin and Tonic Festival
Friday, Saturday and Sunday 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Bethesda and downtown locations

Free gin tastes? Yes please.

Kegs & Eggs
Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Navy Yard

Enjoy a classic college breakfast — beer and eggs — made upscale at a rooftop farm. Tickets start at $55 and allow you unlimited beer/egg samples.

Crawfish for Cancer's 6th Annual DC Boil
Saturday, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pinstripes Georgetown

Stuff your face for a good cause at this all-you-can-eat (and drink) crawfish celebration. Proceeds from tickets, which are $90 in advance or $100 at the door, benefit the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.

p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Follow landscape architect Ron Henderson&rsquo;s journey following the cherry blossom trail from southern to northern Japan. His sketches exhibit not only looks at the trees themselves, but how they&rsquo;re cared for. This exhibit &mdash; and all the others! &mdash; is free.</span></p>

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<p><a href="https://www.thewatergatehotel.com/the-next-whisky-bar/dc-cherry-blossom-garden-globes"><strong>The Watergate Hotel&rsquo;s Cherry Blossom Domes</strong></a></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Saturday and Sunday in Foggy Bottom</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Enjoy afternoon tea in one of the Cherry Blossom Domes (previous known as the Igloos). Rentals for two to eight people start at $100. They&rsquo;re also offering a </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/135945050556034/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">flower crown making class</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (times vary).</span></p>
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<p><strong>Bring the Craic on Saint Patrick&rsquo;s Day</strong></p>
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<p><a href="https://shamrockfest.com/lineup"><strong>National Shamrock Fest</strong> </a></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Saturday (12 p.m. to 8 p.m.) at RFK Stadium</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sum 41, Shaggy and Less Than Jake headline this one day festival of beer, music and of course, Irishness.</span></p>
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<p><a href="http://www.ballyshaners.org/parade/"><strong>Alexandria St. Patrick's Day Parade</strong></a></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Saturday (11:30 a.m.) in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia</span></em></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Looking for some chill, Irish-themed fun? Alexandria&rsquo;s St. Patrick&rsquo;s Day parade kicks off at 1:30 p.m. from King Street and St. Asaph Street. The fun continues afterwards with a car show. Go early for the Fun Dog Show.</span></p>
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<p><a href="http://lindypromo.com/washington-dc/barcrawl_dc-st-patricks-day-bar-crawl-in-washington-dc-3-17"><strong>St. Patrick's Day Irish Stroll Bar Crawl</strong> </a></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Saturday (1 p.m.) in Dupont Circle, Northwest Washington DC</span></em></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A </span><a href="http://lindypromo.com/washington-dc/barcrawl_dc-st-patricks-day-bar-crawl-in-washington-dc-3-17"><span style="font-weight: 400;">bar crawl entry ticket</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> will get you cover-free entry to 10 participating bars, including Decades, Dirty Bar, Living Room and Barcode. Drink specials include $3 beers, $4 specialty beers and $5 mixed drinks. Tickets cost $20, but </span><a href="http://lindypromo.com/washington-dc/parties_washington-dc-st-patricks-happy-hour"><span style="font-weight: 400;">combo tickets to the Friday night party and Saturday bar crawl cost $15.</span></a></p>
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<p><a href="https://tickets.theshamrockcrawl.com/event/washington-dc"><strong>The Shamrock Crawl</strong></a></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Saturday (2 p.m.) Dupont Circle, Northwest Washington D.C.</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Participants have access to more than 16 bars, including Public Bar, Eden, Kabin and Heist. </span><a href="https://tickets.theshamrockcrawl.com/event/washington-dc"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Anyone with a ticket</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gets a refillable shamrock mug, party favors, $2 beers, $4 shamrock shots and $5 Irish Car Bombs. $35 in advance; $40 day of.</span></p>
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<p><a href="https://dupontunderground.ticketfly.com/listing"><strong>Sights &amp; Sounds: Ireland Today</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></a><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Friday (7 p.m.), Saturday (10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.) and Sunday (4 p.m.) in Dupont Circle</span></em></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dupont Underground is hosting artist Solas Nua to discuss her project exploring video art in Ireland. </span><strong>Friday</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">, Nua will discuss her work ($10). On </span><strong>Saturday</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">, you can stop in and enjoy the exhibit. From 10 a.m. to noon, the exhibit is free and offers activities geared towards kids. After noon, it costs $15. On </span><strong>Sunday</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">, you can catch short films at the Irish Short Film festival ($8).</span></p>
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<p><a href="https://www.nbcwashington.com/entertainment/the-scene/St-Patricks-Day-Washington-DC-Maryland-Virginia-Bar-Crawl-Parade-Specials-476983663.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">We have a roundup of the best brunch specials and drink deals right here.</span></a></p>
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<p><strong>Rage&hellip; against injustice, with music or by smashing a printer</strong></p>
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<p><a href="http://www.thearcdc.org/events/breathe-musical-0"><strong>Breathe: The Musical</strong></a></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Friday, Saturday and Sunday (8 p.m.) at THEARC (1901 Mississippi Avenue SE, Washington, D.C.)</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Howard University alum Cleavon Meabon IV wrote and directed this play, which follows a family of sharecroppers in the early 20th century as they struggle under Jim Crow injustice, KKK attacks and police brutality. </span></p>
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<p><a href="https://rageroommd.com/"><strong>Rage Room of Maryland</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></a><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Friday (4 p.m. to 8 p.m.) and Saturday (1 p.m. to 8 p.m.) in Glen Burnie, Maryland</span></em></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Grab your friends and vent some frustrations! Full-service packages start at $25. You can BYOB (bring your own breakables) starting at $10.</span></p>
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<p><a href="https://www.unionstage.com/event/1648411-r-bumppp-free-dance-party-washington/"><strong>R&amp;BUMPPP! Dance Party</strong></a></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Saturday (10:30 p.m.) at The Wharf)</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Union Stage hosts an R&amp;B night featuring The Good Guys. No covers, just dancing.</span></p>
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<p><a href="https://www.930.com/#upcoming-shows-container"><strong>The Floozies at 9:30 Club</strong></a><strong>; G-Eazy; Judas Priest; Justin Timberlake</strong></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">All weekend, various locations</span></em></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Even if fiddles aren&rsquo;t your thing, there&rsquo;s a lot of music to be heard this weekend:</span></p>
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<p><strong>Celebrate makers and creators</strong></p>
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<p><a href="http://invention.si.edu/about/events/innovative-lives-how-women-shaped-alcohol-industry"><strong>Innovative Lives: How Women Shaped the Alcohol Industry</strong></a></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Friday (6:30 p.m.)</span></em></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Enjoy craft beer and custom cocktail tastings while learning about the history of booze from four women whose life work is to brew and distill. Tickets are $40 and include appetizers and drinks.</span></p>
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<p><a href="https://africa.si.edu/events/"><strong>The &ldquo;Real Life&rdquo; Warriors of Wakanda Tour</strong></a></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Saturday (3 p.m.) and Sunday (3 p.m.) Smithsonian National Museum of African Art on the National Mall</span></em></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Discover the true inspiration behind the afrofuturist world of Wakanda by exploring historic African art. This awesome, free tour fills up fast, so RSVP soon.</span></p>
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<p><a href="http://nova.makerfaire.com/about/"><strong>NoVa Maker Faire</strong></a></p>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sunday (11 a.m. to 5 p.m.) George Mason University campus, Fairfax, Virginia</span></em></p>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Whether you&rsquo;re interesting in older crafts like spinning yarn and woodworking, or are looking ahead to robotics and auto hacking, the Maker Faire promises something for you. This all-ages event costs $15 for an adult, $5 for kids or $36 for a family of five.</span></p>
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