Get Some Culture: Area To-Do’s

Spring is in the air—and DC is bursting with things to do. The days are longer .. yea! The weather’s warmer … double yea! The city is coming alive with fresh energy that includes outdoor festivals and art pop-ups to garden strolls and live action theatre, the team at TheListAreYouOnIt.com has rounded up the best ways to shake off winter and soak in the season. So swap that scarf for sunglasses—it’s time to make your spring plans bloom.
 

Museum Visits

Little Beasts at the National Gallery of Art: Little Beasts: Art, Wonder, and the Natural World explores the rich exchange between artists and naturalists at the dawn of European natural history. In major cities like Antwerp, artists such as Joris and Jacob Hoefnagel and Jan van Kessel created highly detailed drawings, prints, and paintings of insects, animals, and other beestjes, or “little beasts” in Dutch. Little Beasts features nearly 75 prints, drawings, and paintings alongside some 60 objects from the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, marking the first time their collections of art and specimens have been displayed together. Reserve here. 

National Building Museum: The National Building Museum has extended its Frank Lloyd Wright’s Southwestern Pennsylvania exhibition through Sunday, October 5, 2025. This exhibition is a journey into the famed architect’s mind, articulating—for the first time—his broader creative vision. Presenting both realized and unrealized projects Wright designed for the Southwest Pennsylvania region from the 1930s through the 1950s, the exhibition examines how Wright’s vision of the future might have impacted urban, suburban, and rural landscapes. 

Theater:

Liquid: LIQUID by New York Circus Project is a 75-minute punk rock circus party where punk rock collides with jaw-dropping spectacle. Follow a reclusive salesman as he’s pulled into a wild punk world filled with acrobats, tap dancers, and aerialists from around the world, navigating chaos with a pulsating soundtrack from The Ramones to Avril Lavigne. From the moment you arrive, the show surrounds you: graffiti streaks, neon lights, and a full bar serving craft cocktails from the minds behind Jack Daniel’s and Diplomatico Rum. Get tickets here. 

Folger Theatre: Twelfth Night: Folger Theatre’s production of Twelfth Night is on stage at the Folger Shakespeare Library from May 13–June 22, 2025. Tickets start at $20. Folger Theatre presents a playful interpretation of a beloved Shakespeare comedy that brings gender fluidity, mistaken identities, and what it means to move between worlds into a joyful discovery of love. Buy tickets here. 

Grab Some Popcorn:

Drive-In at Union Market: Union Market District’s Drive-In Movie Series is back for its 13th season. Roll down the windows, feel that summer breeze and turn up the volume for one of DC’s favorite warm-weather rituals. The series returns May 9 and continues with a movie night each month through October 3. Get tickets here. 

Listen to the Music:

 Jazz @ Met: Back for a third year, Jazz @ Met invites all to celebrate the warm weather and incredible music at the weekly free concert series in National Landing’s Metropolitan Park. Hosted by the National Landing BID, presented in partnership with the DC Jazz Festival and sponsored by Amazon. The 2025 lineup is as follows:
May 22: Alison Crockett (Jazz Fusion)
May 29: Veronneau (Brazilian Jazz)
June 5: Son Cubano Subterráneo (Cuban Son)
June 12: Carr-Keys (Straight-Ahead Soul Jazz)

Chevy Chase Lake Summer Concert Series: Chevy Chase Lake has a new event series. Music highlights include performances by The Original Moonlighters, Hurricane Kevin & The Cat 5 (CBMA Song of the Year) and Honest Lee Soul, recently named Best Blues Band at the 2024 Maryland Music Awards. The events will also feature local retailers, food and beverage partners like Elena James and community nonprofit Nature Forward.

City Ridge Concert Series: City Ridge is thrilled to announce the return of its Summer Concert Series, kicking off Friday, May 2, 2025. Every Friday evening through September, the central square at City Ridge will come alive with the sounds of live music, showcasing a vibrant lineup of local artists. From bluegrass and jazz to pop and global rhythms, line dancing to salsa dancing, the series promises something for every music lover. Get tickets here. 
 

Where Else You'll Find Us

Summer Nights Barbecue Series: Presented by a.kitchen+bar D.C. x OpenTable + Benefiting Southern Smoke Foundation: join James Beard Foundation Outstanding Restaurateur Ellen Yin + team for a sizzling five-part BBQ & grilling series featuring top DC chefs. One night only dinners will feature a range of flavors including Korean,modern regional Vietnamese, Italia, and bold Mexican. Each chef (headshots here) will prepare four signature dishes ($18-$38). Guests can expect live DJ sets, pay-as-you-go plates + cash bar, with proceeds to support Southern Smoke Foundation ($10 entry fee). Chef lineup below, all events Thursdays, 5–9PM. More info here. 

Stephane Koerwyn at Park Hyatt: The Park Hyatt  has the exhibit of internationally recognized French artist Stephane Koerwyn’s aluminum creations of “prêt ART porter” in both the public spaces and the private suites of this landmark luxury hotel in the West End of the nation’s capital. A total of 30 sculpture dresses are on display and available for purchase. Koerwyn will be at Park Hyatt Washington on Thursday, May 29, and available for interviews as he tours his installation at the hotel with a welcome reception. The talented culinary team at the hotel’s award-winning restaurant, Blue Duck Tavern, has created a new cocktail, European Spring, priced at $24, available in both the restaurant and bar during the exhibition, which will remain in place until October 30, 2025. The libation is a nod to these colorful dresses made of painted recycled aluminum that are a fusion of art and fashion. More info here. 

Virginia Horse Country Pop Up: The 2025 Upperville Colt & Horse Show presented by MARS EQUESTRIAN™ is the oldest horse show in the U.S. and will celebrate its 172nd year June 2-8. The show runs daily from 8 a.m. until sunset and admission and parking are free. While shopping and eating, attendees can also catch amazing equestrians on horses and ponies, competing in various disciplines in multiple rings all week. From tiny tots in leadline classes to the family class, a therapeutic equine celebration; hunter, sidesaddle and conformation competitions, to watching some of the nation’s top showjumping equestrians competing over challenging courses at amazing heights, there’s something for everyone. There is even an invitational car show on Sunday, for antique and muscle car enthusiasts.  More than 1200 pairs of horses and riders will compete throughout the week. More info here. 

Distillery & Gristmill Tours: These guided tours allow you to see the distillery where George Washington made his whiskey and the gristmill that produced thousands of pounds of flour and cornmeal a day. If you're not planning to visit Mount Vernon and only wish to tour the distillery and gristmill, purchase a $10 tour ticket. Info here.