Memorial Day weekend is finally here! We hope you get a chance to rest, recharge and reconnect with people you care about over the long weekend.
Our picks for the weekend show how the D.C. area is reawakening — the National Memorial Parade and D.C. Black Pride are both coming back in a big way.
Want to get out of town for the weekend? Sunday and Monday will both have great pool or beach weather. Check out these 10+ Places to Swim Near D.C. If You Want to Avoid Bay Bridge Traffic.
Hungry? Tommy McFly caught up with Washington Post Food Critic Tom Sietsema about this year’s dining guide. Or check out the historic Waffle Shop that has reopened and added pizza to the menu.
Also: The Scene team has officially launched The Weekend Scene newsletter! Every Wednesday, we’ll send our top favorite picks to your inbox, giving you plenty of time to plan your weekend. We would really appreciate if you subscribe here.
Things to Do in the DC Area for Memorial Day Weekend
Free Pick
Eastern Women’s Baseball Classic
Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29
Games in Purcellville, Virginia, at Firemens Field Park (250 S. Nursery Ave.) and Franklin Park (17501 Franklin Park Drive)
The Diamond Classic is billed as the longest-running women’s baseball tournament in the country. Local teams D.C. Thunder and Baltimore Pirates will participate alongside others.
The first game is Atlantic Storm vs. East Coast Yankees at 9 a.m. Saturday, and the last games start at 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Here’s the full schedule.
DelFest
Performances Thursday, May 26 to Sunday, May 29
Allegany County Fairgrounds (11400 Moss Ave., Cumberland, Maryland)
Bluegrass legend Del McCoury is bringing back DelFest after a two-year pandemic hiatus. Bands on the lineup include The Del McCoury Band, The Travelin’ McCourys, Tyler Childers, Railroad Earth and Béla Fleck. Four-day passes include camping. Or, check out the late-night show options starting at $25.
D.C. Black Pride
D.C. Black Pride weekend is “bigger and bolder than ever” with parties, workshops, a wellness fair and more. The Unity Ball, happy hours, receptions, rooftop parties and all-night club ragers will take over venues across the city.
Renaissance Washington DC Downtown will host daytime events including the Rainbow Row expo for LGBTQIA+ businesses and organizations (Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.), free health screenings; workshops on topics from livable communities to body positivity; a screening of “Fierceness Served;” an elimination-style poetry slam and more. Here’s the full rundown of events.
Rolling to Remember
Events Friday through Sunday
Washington, D.C.
Thousands of bikers ride into D.C. annually on Memorial Day weekend to remember prisoners of war and military members killed in action, plus to raise awareness about the epidemic of suicide among veterans.
Events include the Blessing of the Bikes (5 p.m. Friday at the National Cathedral), a candlelight vigil at the Vietnam War Memorial (8 p.m. Friday) and a rally with Jon Stewart in support of legislation to help veterans exposed to toxic burn pits (1 p.m. Saturday, RFK Stadium Parking Lot 8).
The big Rolling to Remember ride happens Sunday, including a motorcycle drill team performance at 9:30 a.m. followed by a performance from band The Real Last Circus. Here’s the schedule.
Art, Flowers and Flavors Festival
Saturday, May 28 to Monday, May 26, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
National Botanic Garden (26320 Ticonderoga Road, Chantilly, Virginia)
Sample Virginia wines, beer, food and chocolate among the sculptures and flora at the National Botanic Garden in Chantilly, Virginia. Artists will exhibit their work and there will be live music. Tickets cost $25 and include three samples. More goodies are available for purchase.
Free Pick
Hi-Lawn Rooftop Grill-Out & Picnic Party
Friday, May 27 to Monday, May 30
Union Market rooftop
Music, lawn games, creative grilled eats and drinks make for a fun weekend on…
Read More: 15 Things to Do on Memorial Day Weekend in the Washington DC Area – NBC4