In the market for a new best friend? Saturday is your lucky day: It's Clear the Shelters, meaning area shelters are waiving or reducing adoption fees for animals who need loving homes. Public service announcement: You can never pet too many dogs.
Clear the Shelters
Aug. 17
Various locations
Stop by the annual Clear the Shelters event, a nationwide pet adoption initiative hosted by NBC and Telemundo stations on Aug. 17. Adoption fees in hundreds of shelters across the country are waived so animals can find their forever homes. Enter your zip code below to find the shelter nearest you.
2019 Pokémon World Championships
Aug. 16-18
Washington Convention Center
Pikaaaa! World-class Pokemon players descend on D.C. this weekend to compete for $500,000 in prizes and serious bragging rights.
Spectator tickets are sold out but you can stream the action online. If you managed to snag a ticket or find one, visitors will get treated to the full Pokemon tournament fanfare including signings, side events and demos.
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
Prince William County Fair
Aug. 9-17
The Fairgrounds at 10624 Dumfries Rd. Manassas, Virginia
The Prince William County Fair is no run-of-the-mill festival: Keep an eye out for chainsaw art, a demolition derby, wine and a Youth Goat Show, as well as your classic mechanical bull rides, petting zoos, amusement rides and farming antiques. See the full activity schedule here. Admission is $12 for adults (14-64) and $6 for children (5-13) and seniors (65+). Entry for children 4 and under and active military personnel is free, and ride wristbands are available for purchase.
Montgomery County Agricultural Fair
Aug. 9-17
Montgomery County Agricultural Center, 501 Perry Parkway, Gaithersburg, Maryland
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Montgomery County Fair, which hosts more than 5,000 animals each year, according to the website. Explore 62 acres of fairgrounds with free and paid activities each day. Adult tickets are $12 online and $15 at the gate, and kids 11 and under are free. Parking is available on-site for $10 cash. Learn more here.
Emerging Writers Festival
Aug. 16-18
Various locations in Old Town Alexandria
Aspiring writers can attend sessions on topics including breaking into food writing, online writing, publishing and more, whereas any literary lover can check out a blended yoga class-poetry reading, a book fair and reading from D.C. chef and author Kwame Onwauchi.
Bethesda Magazine Restaurant Week
Aug. 9-18
Various locations
Welcome to Bethesda Magazine Restaurant week, where 30 restaurants offer a discounted price for their lunch, dinner and some brunch menus. See the full list of participating restaurants here.
D.C. Restauraunt Week
Aug. 12-18
Various locations
The District isn't just known for its museums — enjoy the best food metropolitan D.C. has to offer during Restaurant Week, where you can get a three-course lunch or brunch for $22 and dinner for $35. Dozens of restaurants are participating, and you can search your favorites by name, cuisine, neighborhood, and whether they serve brunch, lunch or dinner. You can book your table online and sign up for the Diner Rewards Program for special deals.
Arlington County Fair
Aug. 14-18
Thomas Jefferson Community Center, 3501 Second Street South, Arlington, Virginia
Admission is free at Arlington's County Fair, which will feature amusement park rides, local businesses and lots of food. All the most popular thrill rides will be back this year, including the Zipper, Heart Flip, Rainbow and more, the website says. There will be no public parking, but shuttle services are available from Arlington Career Center, Wakefield High School, Interstate 66 parking garage and Virginia Square Metro Station.
Dear Evan Hansen
Through Sept. 8
The Kennedy Center
The critically-acclaimed musical started at D.C.'s Arena Theatre, went on to Broadway, picked up a bunch of Tony awards and now its back where it all started. Tickets start at $79.
Friday
Free Pick
Capitol Riverfront Friday Night Concert Series
Aug. 16, 7 - 9 p.m.
The Yards Park, 355 Water Street SE
Kick back, relax and enjoy free summertime tunes at the Yards Park on Friday. The band on the schedule is Brent & Co., self-described as "rock, country and reggae all in one place at the same time." There are only three weeks left in the ninth-annual Capitol Riverfront concert series, so check it out while you still can.
A Garden Party: From Africa to Asia
Aug. 16, 8 - 11 p.m.
Enid A. Haupt Garden, entrances at 1000 Independence Avenue and 1100 Jefferson Drive SW
For a sophisticated twist to your evening, peruse Asian and African art and explore a dramatically-lit garden at the Smithsonian's Garden Party event. General admission is $30 online and $35 at the door. Check out a GIF photo booth, a cash bar, food for sale, curators' talks, music by DJ Alkimist and a scavenger hunt through the National Museum of African Art and the Sackler Galleries. VIP tickets are available for $55 online and $60 at the door — perks include early event access, an open bar and appetizers. Guests must be 21 or older to attend. Dress code is "global garden-party best," and you can buy your tickets here.
Public Coffee Cupping
Aug. 16, 6-7 p.m.
A Baked Joint, 440 K Street NW, Washington D.C.
Stop by A Baked Joint for a guided sample tasting session. The baristas will brew six coffees for you to try. Tickets are $3 online.
Saturday
Free Pick
Around the World Cultural Food Festival
Aug. 17, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Freedom Plaza, 1455 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Tour the globe with a fork and a knife in hand. The Around the World Cultural Food Festival selected one restaurant per country to best showcase each culture's food. Traditional dance performances will take place all day, and artists from around the world will share their craft. Admission is free.
Free Pick
Chuck Brown Day
Aug. 17, 2 p.m.
Chuck Brown Memorial Park, 2901 20th Street NE
Honor the Godfather of Go-Go with refreshments, giveaways and of course, lots of music. There will be food trucks and a kids activity area on-site.
Nationals - Patrick Corbin Bobblehead
Aug. 17, 7:05 p.m.
Nationals Park
Just what you've always wanted: snag a Patrick Corbin bobblehead at Nationals Park on Saturday while watching the Nationals play the Milwaukee Brewers. Buy your tickets here.
Sunday
Hot Air Balloons, Barnstorming Airshow, Biplane Rides
Aug. 18, 6 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Flying Circus Aerodrome, 5114 Ritchie Road, Bealeton, Virginia
This event is a bit far away, but if you're an early-rising aviation fan, the Hot Air Balloons airshow is for you. The majestic balloon launch will happen at sunrise, and airplane rides will be available for purchase throughout the day. The airshow will feature antique airplane demos, formations and mid-air acrobatics. A gift shop and a snack bar will be available on-site. Admission for adults is $15 ($13 for military members), $7 for children ages 5-12 and free for children under 5. The website advises arriving before noon to avoid long lines to enter the airfield. All launches are weather-permitting.
Free Pick
Signature Theater Open House
Aug. 18, Noon - 7 p.m.
4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, Virginia
Signature Theater's open house event will feature free performances every 15 minutes, and there will be games, snacks and crafts outside the theater. Also available are special discounted prices for performances of "Assassins," "A Chorus Line," "Gun & Powder" and more. Check out the full event schedule and discount list here.
LGBTQ AF
Aug. 18, 7:30 - 9 p.m.
DC Arts Center, 2438 18th Street NW
Laugh it up at a live comedy show featuring rising and established LGBTQ artists in the D.C. area. Stand-up, storytelling, sketch and improv performers will hit the stage at the DC Arts Center on Sunday. Tickets for DC Arts Center members are $9.39 with a service fee and $12.54 for general admission. Buy them here.
