Activities galore in the next few days! Check out the City of Falls Church Concert Band, Mary Riley Styles's author talk and folk music session, Meridian Theater Department's Amadeus, a Falls Church Arbor Day celebration, a Pollinator Party at Howard E. Hermann Park, Spanish Ballroom swing dance lessons to a live big band, the Hexagon's only-in-Washington mix of "political, satirical, and musical comedy," an echolocation-themed show at the Kreeger, more alpaca dining opportunities (!), the Georgetown French Market, and the annual D.C. Chocolate Festival. Plus, all the latest in local music, dance, theater, comedy, and fine arts.

LOCAL MUSIC

National Concert Band Festival ~ City of Falls Church Concert Band

George Mason University Center for the Arts, 2301 Smith Blvd., Arlington, Saturday, April 25, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.

The City of Falls Church Concert Band is performing at the Annual National Community Band Festival at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts alongside other regional community bands.

The community band is home to musicians with a wide variety of skills and interests. Sponsored by the City of Falls Church Recreation & Parks Department, the band performs an entertaining mixture of marches, classical pieces, Broadway show medleys, regional tunes and American classics at concerts held at outdoor parks and indoor retirement centers in the local community.

Tickets may be purchased online (with $4 processing fee) or at the door (free) – and they cost: $19 for adults, $14 for seniors (55+), and $9 for students for each afternoon of music, with five bands playing on Saturday and three on Sunday.

Free parking available in Lot K, located directly across the pond from the Center for the Arts. Covered parking available in the Mason Pond Parking Deck, just north of the Center for the Arts on Mason Pond Drive, for $10.

Link: Falls Church Concert Band Information.

For more info go here.

Picking Daisies: The Poetry of Folk Music

Mary Riley Styles Public Library, 120 N. Virginia Ave., Main Level Conference Room, Sunday, April 26, 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. Ages: Teen to Adult.

Registration is required for this event and it will close on April 26 at 2:00 p.m.

Picking Daisies: An April Celebration of the Poetry of Folk Music, featuring Bicyclist Blues

MRSPL is closing out Poetry Month with a special folk concert! Enjoy traditional and contemporary folk ballads performed by local musicians Susan & Rob of Bicyclist Blues.

Their program will include British and Scottish ballads, some with words by poet Robert Burns, and tunes written or made popular by Sandy Denny, Kate Rusby, June Tabor, Rioghnach Connolly, and Anais Mitchell (creator of Hadestown). Featured will be the anonymous Scottish ballad "Sir Patrick Spens," the Irish song "Siúil a Rúin," and "Poltergeist," an original composition by Susan.

About the Performers

Bicyclist Blues is a melancholy pop, folk and blues duo. Born of a love of alternate transportation and alt-music, Susan and Rob started playing lesser known tunes and reimagined passed-down tales that tickled their fancy.

Susan has been part of choirs spanning decades and two countries and has been tinkering with the guitar since she was a brooding teenager. An award-winning haikuist (yes, you read that right), she once had a poem ride the ART bus for a few months as part of the Arlington Transit Moving Words Contest and received a free songwriting class as the winner of Gotham Writer’s Honest Holiday Haiku contest. She’ll occasionally share a song written in that class, though she still prefers the ones she wrote as a brooding teenager. 

Rob studied Music Composition and Ethnomusicology at the University of Maryland Baltimore. He has played electric bass in several dad- and alt- rock outfits and took up learning the acoustic upright in 2023, roughly the same time as Bicyclist Blues started to wobble along on their training wheels, going through small revolutions to discover old and new tunes and take some paths less traveled.

Contact Info: Name: Paula Hawkins; Email: phawkins@fallschurchva.gov; Phone Number: (703) 248-5368.

To register go here. 

The AlgoRhythms

Clare and Don’s Beach Shack, 130 North Washington Street, Saturday, April 25, 5:30 p.m.

The AlgoRhythms are a modern bluegrass band composed of Jared Kimble (mandolin), Matt Lewis (bass), Sam Allen (banjo), and Brandon Lindley. They play original music, covers of bluegrass favorites, instrumental music, bluegrass-flavored takes on classic country and rock, and much more.

For more info go here. 

Mason Opera presents Gian Carlo Menotti’s 'The Telephone' and 'The Old Maid and the Thief'

George Mason University Center for the Arts, 4373 Mason Pond Drive, Fairfax, George Mason Dewberry School of Music, Friday, April 24, 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, April 25, 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, April 26, 3:00 p.m.

Mason Opera is delighted to showcase our talented vocalists in two comedic one-act operas by Gian Carlo Menotti, one of our most celebrated American operatic composers.

In "The Telephone," two young lovers meet with an important question between them. But when the phone will not stop ringing, one of them must find a creative way to break through the noise.

In "The Old Maid and The Thief," two women are caught between their façade of social propriety and the allure of a handsome stranger. But can they keep him in town long enough to win him over, AND keep their reputations intact?

Menotti is the beloved composer of the classic Christmas opera, "Amahl and the Night Visitors," and his fun and fast-paced style is on full display in these two one-act operas.

With a focus on real-world problems faced by everyday people, these productions were designed to appeal to modern audiences with easy-to-understand dialogue, quick pacing, and clever comedic timing.

April 26th performance will be Audio Described.

Tickets: $24 General Public, $19 Seniors, $9 Students. Prices include fees.

Performance Program:

The program for this performance will be available the week of the event. View digital program.

For ticket info go here. 

Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards 

10th Anniversary Finalists Concert & Awards Ceremony

The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Friday, April 24, 7:30 p.m.

Now in its 10th year, the The Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards showcases some of the most compelling emerging songwriters from Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Finalists take the stage at Strathmore to perform their original work before judges select this year’s winners. The competition awards a $10,000 grand prize plus studio recording support, along with a $2,500 award to one talented songwriter under 17. All finalists in both the adult and youth categories receive additional cash prizes. 

The evening offers a rare chance to hear fresh, original music from artists on the rise and to celebrate the region’s vibrant songwriting community.

Tickets: $20 - $35 in advance; $25 - $40 week starting April 23.

For ticket info go here. 

Amy K. Bormet returns to Hillwood! Enjoy an outdoor concert inspired the current exhibition On Time: Giving Form to the Fleeting.

Mark your calendars! ~ The Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens, 4155 Linnean Avenue NW, Wednesday, April 29, 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Jazz on the Lunar Lawn / Amy K. Bormet Presents “Time Travel”

Join Amy K. Bormet for an evening outdoor concert, "Time Travel," inspired by the special exhibition On Time: Giving Form to the Fleeting! The concert will feature classic songs and fresh new pieces about the passing of time, and understanding how it's measured through music. Traveling from Cyndi Lauper, Hindustani rhythms, to new jazz melodies her ensemble will transport the audience between eras and cultures. The group is led by celebrated bandleader, pianist, composer, and singer, Amy K. Bormet, and will feature fabulous jazz musicians from throughout the D.C. area.

Tickets: $30 non-member; $25 member; $10 student; $5 child (6-18). Free for children under 6.

Program Timeline:

5:30-6:30 p.m. | Explore Hillwood

• Enjoy Hillwood’s mansion, gardens, and greenhouse, and exhibition, On Time: Giving Form to the Fleeting
• Visit the museum shop and Merriweather To Go

6:30-7:30 p.m. | Concert on the Lunar Lawn

• Please bring your own lawn chairs or picnic blankets.

8 p.m. | Hillwood closes

Program Guidelines:

• This program takes place outdoors on the Lunar Lawn. (Please see the inclement weather plan below.)
• Please bring your own lawn chairs or picnic blankets. Picnicking is welcome.
• Merriweather To Go has sandwiches, light snacks, and beverages, including beer, wine, and champagne available by the glass or bottle.
• Hillwood’s liquor license does not allow patrons to bring in outside alcohol.

Inclement Weather Plan:  

If inclement weather occurs, the program will be postponed to Thursday, April 30 with ticket purchasers notified of the change by 3:00 p.m. If inclement weathers persists, the concert will be live-streamed on Thursday, and all ticket purchasers will be notified and sent a link to the performance by 3:00 p.m.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Inspired by Shirley Horn, Geri Allen, and Duke Ellington, D.C.’s own Amy K. Bormet is a pianist, vocalist, and composer, seamlessly fusing elements of jazz, singer-songwriter, and the avant-garde, leading her to stages on national and international festivals. Her compositions have been performed by ensembles of all sizes, from a Swedish chamber choir, to the National Symphony Orchestra.

In 2011, to foster creative community spaces – by, and for, women and non-binary musicians – Amy K. Bormet created the Washington Women in Jazz Festival. She directs, finances, and performs with Washington Women In Jazz to celebrate the women and non-binary artists of D.C.’s renowned improvisational music communities. The festival, now in its 16th year, she collaborates with Leigh Pilzer, Biggi Vinkeloe, Shana Tucker, and more than 75 women and non-binary musicians from around the globe.

For ticket info go here. 

LOCAL DANCE

Special Event: Doug Varone and Dancers

George Mason University Center for the Arts, 4373 Mason Pond Drive, Fairfax, Saturday, April 25, 8:00 p.m. Performance is free, but tickets are required.

Program:

Lux 
Home 
No Matter the End (premiere)

Doug Varone and Dancers brings the power, beauty, and humanity of dance to audiences worldwide. Touring nationally and internationally, the Company has built a rich legacy reaching audiences of all ages in urban and rural communities alike. It has been presented on major stages from Lincoln Center to London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, Moscow’s Stanislavsky Theatre, Buenos Aires’ Teatro San Martin, and the Venice Biennale. Honored with 11 Bessie Awards, the Company is also recognized for its highly sought-after education and outreach programs, and also its deep commitment to engage with local communities. Doug Varone and Dancers celebrates its 40th Anniversary this year.

Limit six tickets per order. Per Virginia law, complimentary tickets may not be resold. This performance is not available as part of a subscription package.

Run Time: Approximately 105 minutes, including intermission

Before the Performance: A pre-performance discussion with Artistic Director Doug Varone, moderated by George Mason University School of Dance Director Susan Shields, begins one hour prior to the performance.

For ticket info go here. 

An Asian American Dance Journey

Opens Tomorrow! ~ Woolly Mammoth, 641 D St. NW, April 24, 7:30 p.m.; April 25, 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Through May 3.

In honor of Asian American Heritage Month, Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company (DTSBDC) triumphantly returns to Woolly Mammoth with their signature grace in storytelling.

Exploring the inner emotional terrain of humanity, the world-renowned Company presents beloved pieces from their 33-year history repertoire with a special emphasis on the Asian American experience. The Company will perform the world premiere of “Drawing in Space” – a dance homage to the inveterate artist, Ruth Asawa.

The Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company creates and performs modern dances that explore diverse perspectives, histories, and traditions. The result is a shared audience understanding and empathy that attest to the transformative power of dance. It’s why the Company has been hailed by The Washington Post as “Not only a Washington prize, but a national dance treasure” and has been voted “Best Dance Company in DC” by Washington City Paper readers in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

For ticket info go here. 

SWING DANCE - DCLX 2026: SHOUT AND FEEL IT! - CRAIG GILDNER BIG BAND

Glen Echo National Park, Spanish Ballroom & Bumper Car Pavilion, Friday, April 24, 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

Beginner Swing Lesson: 8:00 p.m. | Social Dancing: 9:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Part of the 23rd annual Washington, D.C. Lindy Exchange – DCLX 2026: Shout and Feel It!

We’re starting the weekend strong! Dance to the Craig Gildner Big Band in the Glen Echo Spanish Ballroom Friday evening to kick off your DCLX 2026.

DCLX is a weekend-long Lindy Exchange with the highest quality live music, bringing together dancers and musicians from all over the country and beyond! Join us for full evening dances, late nights with both a slow room and a fast room, and unforgettable afternoons that you will not want to miss. View the full schedule here: https://dclx.org/schedule/.

Admission requires either a full weekend pass or a-la-carte tickets. Advance purchase a-la-carte tickets for each dance of DCLX 2026 are available, while supplies last, starting April 4th at 12:00 noon EDT. There will be limited a-la-carte tickets and full weekend passes available for purchase at the door. Doors open at 7:45 p.m. 

Presenter: D.C. Lindy Exchange. Admission: $40. Email: info@dclx.org. Admission: You can buy a full weekend pass or tickets to individual dances online now (at dclx.org) or at the door. Email: info@dclx.org. Web Site: https://dclx.org/registration/.

For ticket info go here. 

LOCAL THEATER

The Meridian Theater Department Presents: Amadeus

Opens Tonight! ~ Meridian H.S., 121 Mustang Alley, Thursday, April 23; Friday, April 24; Saturday, April 25. 7:30 p.m.; Doors open at 7:00.

Bold New Voices Festival

Creative Cauldron, 127 E. Broad St., Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Through May 9.

All tickets are FREE!

Creative Cauldron’s “Bold New Voices” initiative supports the development of new plays or musicals written by women and underserved voices. This is a safe space for all attendees. Join Creative Cauldron for a series of professionally staged readings and help us choose the final selection for our 2026-27 Season “Bold New Voices” production.

Sponsored by Diener & Associates, Certified Public Accountants. Principal Sponsor: John Wiant. Special Funding by ArtsFairfax and the Arts and Humanities Council of Falls Church.

ABOUT THE SELECTIONS AND WRITERS

The C Word

Written by Sarah Lina Sparks | Directed by Sally Imbriano

The C Word follows the story of five girls waiting for a job interview to become associate curator at a museum. While waiting for the interview, they're unexpectedly trapped by the hysterical oracle (Hystoracle). In order to escape, they must choose someone to sacrifice as tribute to the C-monster. 

Sarah Lina Sparks (she/her) is a proud Filipina playwright and recent UCLA graduate based out of Southern California. Her writing is largely inspired by her Filipino heritage, women, and the unique experience of coming of age in the new millennium.

Live From My Dad’s Couch

Written by Gaelyn D. Smith | Directed by A. Lorraine Robinson

Live from My Dad’s Couch is part stand-up comedy, part bad shower singing, coming together in a cabaret-style performance about the failure of the promises made to Gen-Z by those who came before us, in front of a live studio audience (you). From the set (her father’s living room) Gaelyn shares semi-autobiographical, very political, funny stories and observations of what it’s like to become an adult when the world (seems) to be falling apart.

Gaelyn D. Smith is an actor, writer, director, teaching artist, and digital content creator born and raised in Washington, D.C., whose work seeks to expand possibilities and add nuance to the representation of the Black experience.

His Girl Friday

Book by Danielle Moore | Music & Lyrics by Zachary Sloan and Danielle Moore | Directed by Matt Conner

His Girl Friday is a new musical comedy based on the classic Cary Grant / Rosalind Russell film of the same title (named to AFI's list of the 100 Greatest American Comedies). The film came properly into the adaptable public domain in 2024 when its source material, The Front Page, also entered public domain. Featuring a big band score, the piece is a love letter to screwball comedies and the importance of the fourth estate in combating corruption. 

Danielle E. Moore (she/her) is a writer, composer, and producer. Danielle’s work Audrey: The New Musical, was a Regional “Bold New Works” premiere at Creative Cauldron in 2023.

Policarpa: Apocalypse Sur Amerikka

Written by Diana Burbano | Directed by Elena Velasco

In Policarpa: Apocalypse Sur Amerikka an inexplicable plague infests La Gran Colombia. Ingrid Bolivar – the brilliant, mad ex-wife of Colombia's leader – is the only one who knows that the plague is carried by a young women of the streets, whom she adopts and uses as weapons against the government. Policarpa, a girl with magical gifts, is supposed to be Ingrid's secret apocalyptic weapon. But when Policarpa falls in love with a top government official, she resists becoming an instrument of destruction and instead seeks to become a savior through sacrifice.

Diana Burbano was named as part of the Los Angeles Times’ “La Vanguardia” 2022. She's a Colombian immigrant, a playwright, an Equity actor, and a teaching artist. Diana’s play Ghosts of Bogotá premiered at Alter Theatre in 2020 just before the pandemic shut down.

For more info go here.

Anthropology

Nova Nightsky Theater, Falls Church Presbyterian Church, Memorial Hall, 225 E. Broad St. Thursday, April 23, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, April 24, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, matinee, 2:00 p.m.

When a grieving woman builds an AI version of her late sister, she doesn’t expect the digital twin to start keeping secrets of her own. Anthropology is a gripping, heartfelt thriller about technology, loss, and what it means to be human.

For ticket info go here. 

Teen Cyrano (with Pre-Teen 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf')

Gunston Middle School, 2700 S. Lang St., Arlington, Friday, April 24, Saturday, April 25, Sunday, April 26, at 3:00 p.m.

Cyrano de Bergerac, a brilliant poet and soldier, possesses enormous wit, tremendous bravery, and an unmistakable feature – a nose that could rival the mountains. Lacking confidence and good looks, Cyrano is hopelessly in love with his longtime friend and endearing companion, Roxanne. He lives vicariously through the handsome Christian as he ghostwrites poetic love letters to his beloved, signed by his own romantic rival.

Synetic Theater’s clowning, commedia-inspired adaptation of the timeless masterpiece, Cyrano de Bergerac, takes audiences on a journey through the beauty of romance, loyalty, and sacrifice, reminding us that in the end, love is the only truth that truly matters.

This production will be preceded by our Pre Teen program’s fifteen-minute performance of The Boy Who Cried Wolf, directed by Synetic Company Member Maryam Najafzada. Please note, only the April 24, 25, and 26 performances feature the Pre-Teen performance. The second weekend includes Teen Cyrano only. 

For more info go here. 

I & You: The Musical

Just opened! ~ Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, MD, Thursday, April 23, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, April 24, 7:30 p.m., Sunday, April 26, 1:30 p.m. Through May 24.

A musical adaptation of the popular play that combines the emotional power of The Fault in Our Stars with the literary wit of Dead Poets Society.

It's a school assignment she doesn't want, about a poem she hasn't read, with a partner she'll never forget. Anthony (J. Antonio Rodriguez of the Hadestown National Tour) turns up in Caroline’s bedroom one night with oatmeal cookies, a beat-up book, and a presentation assignment they’re supposed to create together: explore Walt Whitman’s poem “Song of Myself.” Chronically absent with a serious illness, Caroline (Alex De Bard from Hello, Dolly! & Disney's Frozen) hasn’t been to school in a while… and can’t even remember meeting some kid named Anthony, which dials up both her suspicions and her “snark-o-meter.” But as the two get to know each other, they finally learn of the deeper mystery that brought them together. Whitman’s powerful poetry inspires the music and lyrics by American Idol veteran Ari Afsar, which expands the magic of Lauren M. Gunderson’s remarkable story.

Co-produced with McCarter Theatre Center. Based on the book and the play by Lauren M. Gunderson. Music and Lyrics by Ari Afsar. Directed by Sarah Rasmussen. Co-produced with McCarter Theatre Center.

For ticket info go here. 

JeCaryous Johnson Presents: Set It Off Live!

Warner Theater, 513 13th St. NW, Friday, April 24, 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, April 25, 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Writer/Director/Producer Je’Caryous Johnson who brought you the sold out hit play, “Married But Single” and the hilarious romantic comedy, “Two Can Play That Game” is back with another one – Je’Caryous Johnson presents SET IT OFF based on the hit iconic movie by the same name.

Fans will get to relive the ride that made them love SET IT OFF the movie, but this time around they'll experience it LIVE ON STAGE. The hit heist, cult classic movie you love is now a stage play. The same iconic characters – Frankie, Tisean (T.T.), Stoney and Cleo are back bringing the same action-packed, adrenaline-filled robbery scenes and emotionally charged antics against an equally exciting music soundtrack that will have you on the edge of your seat.

Multi–platinum selling rapper DA BRAT will star as Cleopatra “CLEO” Sims, the role originally played by Queen Latifah in the movie. Fans will recall SET IT OFF centers on four childhood friends who spent a lifetime struggling to move away from the mean streets of their neighborhood. The system stole their dreams and now the four are determined to steal them back. With their world in turmoil and their backs against the wall, they decide to seek their fortune - literally. Targeting the banks of Los Angeles, Cleo, Stony, Tisean (T.T.) and Frankie rob the city's most vulnerable financial institutions. Flush with cash, they discover that mo’ money equals mo’ problems.

For ticket info go here. 

Young Americans

Final Weekend! ~ 1st Stage Tysons, 1524 Spring Hill Road, Tysons. April 23, 24 at 7:30 p.m.; April 25 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Through April 26.

Written by Lauren Yee. Directed by Nikki Mirza.

Joe and Jenny, a young immigrant couple, embark on a cross-country drive to their new home, bonding over roadside landmarks, motels, and surprisingly memorable stops at IHOP. Two decades later, Joe retraces that same journey with their 21-year-old daughter, Lucy. As these parallel road trips unfold — separated by twenty years — a vivid portrait of a family, their past, and the lengths we go for the people we love begins to unfold.

“This wonderful little dramedy feels as wide open as the road from East to West Coast." - BroadwayWorld

Presented with generous support from The Mather.

Community Conversations

Following the 2:00 p.m. performance

4/18/26: Meet the Cast

Join 1st Stage in conversation with the cast of Young Americans.

4/19/26: Haiti: An Origin Story

Join 1st Stage in conversation with C.R. Gibbs about the story, colonization, and history of Haiti.

For ticket info go here. 

My Fair Lady

Vienna Theatre Company, 120 Cherry St. SE, Vienna, Evenings: April 24 and 25, also May 1 and 2 at 7:00 p.m.; Matinees: April 26, as well as May 3 at 2:00 p.m.  

Adapted from George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion. Lyric and Book: Allen Jay Lerner. Music by: Frederick Loewe.

​My Fair Lady is a musical about a Cockney flower girl, Eliza Doolittle, who is transformed into a lady by Professor Henry Higgins through speech and etiquette lessons as part of a bet. The plot explores themes of class, transformation, and identity, culminating in a new relationship for Eliza as she becomes too refined for her old life but too independent to be Higgins's creation.

For ticket info go here. 

The Book of Mormon

Broadway at the National

Mark your calendars! ~ National Theater, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, April 28 to May 3.

The New York Times calls it “the best musical of this century.” The Washington Post says, “It is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals.” And Entertainment Weekly says, “Grade A: the funniest musical of all time.” Jimmy Fallon of The Tonight Show calls it “Genius. Brilliant. Phenomenal.” It’s THE BOOK OF MORMON, the nine-time Tony Award® winning Best Musical.

This outrageous musical comedy follows the adventures of a mismatched pair of missionaries, sent halfway across the world to spread the Good Word. With standing room only productions in London, on Broadway, and across North America, THE BOOK OF MORMON has truly become an international sensation.

Contains explicit language.

For ticket info go here. 

The Minutes

Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church St. NW. Thursdays through Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Sundays at 3:00 p.m. Select Mondays and Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. Through May 3.

Playwright: Tracy Letts. Director: Susan Marie Rhea.

D.C. Premiere!

Night falls on Big Cherry, USA — a seemingly ordinary town with secrets festering beneath its folksy charm. As the city council meeting unfolds in real time, tensions rise, alliances shift, and a routine agenda veers into chaos. What begins as civic procedure spirals into a gripping unmasking of buried truths — and a chilling question: How far would you go to protect your version of the truth? From the razor-sharp pen of Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Letts (AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY), THE MINUTES is a darkly hilarious, slow-burning thriller that peels back the patriotic veneer of American identity. Part biting satire, part psychological mystery, it exposes the rot at the heart of institutional power and the stories we tell to survive it.

For ticket info go here. 

1776

Ford’s Theatre, 511 Tenth Street, NW, Through May 16.

Book by Peter Stone. Music and Lyrics by Sherman Edwards. Directed and Choreographed by Luis Salgado.

This popular American musical is an insightful, vibrant and humorous take on our founding fathers’ determination to do the right thing for their fledgling nation. As members of the Second Continental Congress struggle to reach consensus, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson argue for independence from the British monarchy. The ensuing debates defined our country. As we explore this historical moment through the evolving identity of America today, this robust, award-winning musical boldly brings our country’s beginnings to blazing life.

Duration: Three hours including a 15-minute intermission.

Recommended ages: 13 and up.

Accessible

Audio-Described Performances : May 2, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.

ASL-Interpreted Performance : May 9 at 1:00 p.m.

Sensory Friendly : April 25 at 1:00 p.m.

For ticket info go here. 

Young John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest

Limited Tickets Remaining! ~ Mosaic Theatre Company, 1333 H St. NE. April 24, 7:30 p.m.; April 25, 7:30 p.m.; April 29, 7:30 p.m. Through May 3.

Book & lyrics by: psalmayene 24. Music by KOKAYI. Directed by Reginald L. Douglas. Choreographed and Associate Directed by Tony Thomas.

Presented in partnership with the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation and Washington Performing Arts.

It’s time to make some Good Trouble! In this musical, Mosaic’s Playwright-in-Residence, Psalmayene 24, honors the legendary “Conscience of Congress”: the late Congressman John Lewis.

Focusing on the Congressman’s formative years of ages 18-28, Young John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest reveals the humanity and heart of this mighty historic figure. The musical explores how the murder of Emmett Till motivated Lewis to pursue a life of service, including leading the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, fighting for Civil Rights with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and working for nearly two decades in Congress.

A theatrical event not to be missed, Young John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest is both a galvanizing call to action and an inspiring reminder that we can all make a difference, no matter our age.

“[Young John Lewis] should not be missed” ~ BroadwayWorld Atlanta

“A rousing tribute” ~ Arts ATL

For ticket info go here. 

A Good Day to Me Not to You

A Waterwell Production

Arena Stage, Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle, 1101 Sixth Street SW, April 23, 24, and 25 at 8:00 p.m.; April 26, 2:00 p.m. Through May 3.

By Lameece Issaq. Directed by Lee Sunday Evans.

When a midlife crisis means rooming with nuns.

Drama Desk Award-winning actor Lameece Issaq teams up with two-time Obie-winning director Lee Sunday Evans on her wildly candid new play, which centers on the chaotic life of a 40-something dental lab tech who gets fired and moves into a woman's rooming house run by nuns. While there, she must come to terms with her unfulfilled path to motherhood and the untimely death of her younger sister, all while fending off her unpredictable and sometimes deranged cohabitants. A Good Day to Me Not to You is a deeply human and comedic one-woman show that “opts for all-out vulnerability, dissecting the psyche as if the stage were an operating table” (The New York Times).

• Running Time: Approx. 85 minutes without an intermission.
• Advisories: Contains adult language and mature content.

For ticket info go here. 

Appropriate

Nearly Sold Out! ~ Olney Theatre Center, Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab, 2001 Olney Sandy Spring Road, Olney, MD. April 23 and 24, 7:30 p.m.; April 25, 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; April 26, 2:30 p.m. Through April 26.

By Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Directed by Jason Loewith.

Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ searing satire of a family digging through their recently deceased patriarch’s crumbling estate is both gut-splittingly funny and shocking in its confrontation of conveniently forgotten family history. D.C.-luminaries Kimberly Gilbert (Angels in America) and Cody Nickell (Ink) star as siblings battling over the possession and meaning of their father’s dark patrimony. As the rest of the family descends on the ancestral property in rural Arkansas, old rivalries and grudges are eclipsed by the moral weight of what they find. Staged in our black box Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab, this will be a unique staging of one of the most important American plays of the past 15 years. 

ap • pro • pri • ate ~ adj. 1. suitable or fitting for a particular purpose, person, occasion, etc. 2. belonging to or peculiar to a person; proper v. 3. to set apart, authorize, or legislate for some specific purpose or use 4. to take to or for oneself; take possession of; 5. to take without permission or consent; seize; expropriate; 6. to steal, especially to commit petty theft.

If the performance you want is sold out, we recommend checking back, as member seats may be exchanged and are made available for sale on a first-come, first-served basis. Any additional seats for sold-out performances may be released for sale at 9:00 a.m. on the day of the performance.

Ticket prices: $52 - $116 (including fees).

Duration: three hours with one intermission. Act 1: 60 minutes. Act 2: 95 minutes.

Age Guidance: If this were a film, it would be rated R for strong language, racist imagery, and sexual content.

For ticket info go here. 

Macbeth: A Tribute to the Federal Theatre Project

Tomorrow only! ~ Folger Theatre, 201 East Capitol Street, SE, Saturday, April 25, 7:00 p.m. Limited Availability.

Adapted and directed by Adjoa Andoh MBE.

A staged reading commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Federal Theatre Project’s production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth concludes Adjoa Andoh’s Director’s Residency at the Folger.

The incredibly successful 1936 staging was one of the first to feature an all-Black cast in the United States and was directed by a young Orson Welles. Andoh’s adaptation celebrates the skill of the Black classical actors and musicians involved in the historic production, and stars Andoh alongside a full company of actors.

The reading is being performed as a benefit event for the Folger Shakespeare Library.

Tickets: $35–$70.

About the Director’s Residency

Andoh is the inaugural resident in the new Director’s Residency at the Folger Shakespeare Library, and this staged reading is one of the public programs scheduled for her April 19-25 residency.

For ticket info go here. 

LOCAL COMEDY

Hexagon 2026: Lollapalosers!

Closes soon! ~ Atlas Performing Arts Center 1333 H St. NE, April 24 and 25, at 8:00 p.m.; Matinees: April 25 and 26, at 3:00 p.m. Through April 26. All Ages.

Washington’s Only Original Political Satirical Musical Comedy Revue returns for its 70th year with more original songs and skits, with its usual serving of political zing. We spare no side but aim at both with wit and originality. Join us for a night (or afternoon) guffawing at political slime.

Hexagon is pleased to offer a 20% discount on ticket pricing to the deaf and hard of hearing community for our final April 26th – 3:00 p.m. performance which offers ASL interpreters. To request the discount code, please email jongrover@hexagon.org.

Runtime: 2 hours with a 15-minute intermission.

Content Advisory: Mild usage of flashing or strobing lights.

For ticket info go here. 

LOCAL FINE ARTS

See ‘250 and Counting’ at Falls Church Arts!

Falls Church Arts: ’250 & Counting’ Show Opens April 18

April 18 Evening Reception Launches Exhibition ‘Commemorating the Nation’s Semiquincentennial with Artistic Reflections, Future Visions’ Following is based on a recent press release from Falls Church Arts: Falls Church Arts Gallery is honored to present “250 and Counting,” featuring 66 multimedia artworks referencing themes of American life since the Declaration

The Falls Church IndependentChristopher Jones

Spotlight on the Arts Festival ~ Opening Night & Art Contest

Capital One Hall, 7750 Capital One Tower Road, Tysons, Va., Friday, April 24, 7:00 p.m.

You’re invited to “Opening Night at Spotlight!”

Join us for an evening of live entertainment, cocktail/light fare, and the 3rd annual Spotlight Art Contest, sponsored by Capital One Hall!

Enjoy musical performances by:

• Cristian Perez & Munit Mesfin
• The Sweet Adelines
• Fairfax Academy for Communications and the Arts MCT Student Artist Performance
• Spotlight Scholarship Award-Winning Pianists from George Mason University

YOU can choose our Art Contest’s Community Choice Award winner!

We received nearly 400 entries for our art contest this year! At Opening Night, our finalists’ artwork will be on exhibit and for sale*, and each Opening Night attendee will receive a ballot to vote. Who will win the Community Choice Award ($500)? Vote for your favorite!!

At Opening Night, we’ll also be announcing the New York Life Grand Prize ($1500), 2nd Place ($1000) the Student Artist Award ($500) winners, selected by a juried panel.

Dress however you’re comfortable! Casual, business casual, cocktail...

TICKET sales through through April 15. $35 General Admission.

For ticket info go here. 

The Collaborative | Pyramid Atlantic

Imar Lyman ~ Echo/Location: Exploring the Extra-Sensory

The Kreeger Museum, 2401 Foxhall Road, NW. Through July 11.

The Kreeger Museum and Pyramid Atlantic Art Center are pleased to present Imar Lyman ~ Echo/Location: Exploring the Extra-Sensory, a solo exhibition featuring the work of Imar Lyman, on view at The Kreeger Museum through July 11. This exhibition is presented under The Collaborative, a program developed by The Kreeger Museum to support Washington-area artists.

Echolocation is a form of biological sonic radar. Used as a tool for some animals to “see” and navigate their environments, sound waves are emitted to avoid prey and find their way in the dark.

Echo/Location showcases D.C.-based artist Imar Lyman’s [Hutchins] (b. 1970) new body of abstract work. Bringing together mixed media collage, painting, sculpture and printmaking, his artistry is in conversation with artists Sam Gilliam and Frank Stella, masterworks that have anchored The Kreeger Museum’s Contemporary Gallery since 1994 when the Museum opened to the public.

Imar Lyman’s debut exhibition at the museum utilizes “echoes” from the past to navigate the current moment and propel different points of view forward. Several pieces featured invite participation, asking the viewer to consider how the artwork is presented or to explore its form and function — things which may not always appear obvious. Constantly pushing boundaries, he also pays homage to overlooked aspects of printmaking traditions. The culmination becomes an energetic loop of color, patterns, and materiality that blend time and our place within it.

For more info go here. 

Reverie is not the same as 'Doing Nothing'

Final Weekend! ~ Fred Schnider Gallery of Art, 888 N. Quincy St., Arlington. Closing event with Michele Montalbano, April 25, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Mary Cassatt

National Gallery of Art, 4th Street and Constitution Ave. NW, West Bldg. Main Floor, Gallery 86. Through Aug. 30.

An intimate exhibition brings together rarely-seen treasures and iconic works by Mary Cassatt, marking 100 years since her death.

Mary Cassatt’s art and life reflect an independent spirit that defied expectations for women in her time. Explore three galleries in the National Gallery’s impressionist collection to look closely at how she worked. Some 40 paintings, drawings, and prints — largely drawn from our rich holdings of her work — show an artist shaped by tradition yet radically modern.

Admission is always free and passes are not required.

For more info go here. 

Of the Hills: Pahari Paintings from India’s Himalayan Kingdoms

Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Galleries 23 & 24, 1050 Independence Ave. SW, Through July 26.

The tallest mountains on earth rise from the plains of northern India in a series of steep hills, snowy peaks, and narrow valleys. From the same Himalayan region arose some of the world’s most beautiful—yet least understood—works of art.

Discover the extraordinary beauty and unique history of paintings made for Hindu kings in India’s Pahari (hill) region between the 1620s and 1830s. Pahari artists worked in radically different styles ranging from lyrical and naturalistic to boldly colored and abstracted. Of the Hills: Pahari Paintings from India’s Himalayan Kingdoms illuminates new scholarship on the collaborative artist communities in which most painters worked. Learn about the political, cultural, and religious contexts of these forty-eight exquisite works, and look closely to enter a world of fine detail that delights and astounds.

Of the Hills celebrates the remarkable collection of Pahari paintings the museum acquired from renowned art historian Catherine Glynn Benkaim and Ralph Benkaim. Some of these artworks have never been exhibited publicly before. We’ve brought these rare pieces into conversation with our historic collections and paintings on loan from the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Of the Hills is accompanied by the major publication Pahari Paintings: Art and Stories and runs concurrently with Pahari exhibitions at the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Cincinnati Art Museum.

For more info go here. 

Nick Cave: Mammoth

Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM), Open Daily, 11:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Through January 3, 2027. Free Admission.

In Mammoth, Nick Cave invites visitors to walk among the fantastical remains of these ancient creatures. His new project envisions a world animated by the power of the past and the transformative possibilities of the imagination. 

Nick Cave (b. 1959) is renowned internationally for his work that surreally and seductively combines sculpture, performance, and fashion. Known for the exuberant Soundsuits that he originally created in response to racialized police violence, Cave has long been interested in the intersections of history and identity. With this new body of work, his scope is both broader and more personal. Cave explores his family’s history in rural Chariton County, Missouri, his relationship with the landscape there, and the nature of his own creativity. In doing so, he invites us to consider our connections with the natural world and the everyday objects that surround us.

In Mammoth, Cave remakes the museum’s galleries into an immersive environment marked by the crafted hides and bones of mammoths, a video projection of the long-dead animals come to life, and hundreds of transformed found objects — from vintage tools to his grandmother’s thimble collection — presented like paleontological specimens on a massive light table. By showcasing the ordinary and often forgotten bits and pieces of the world we live in, Cave’s work shines light on what we value and how we make meaning together. It evokes the lives and cultures we've lost, as well as the magical possibilities of a universe created through imagination and the humblest of materials.

Focused on the fundamental connections between people and their environment, Cave asks how we can begin to make sense of our relationship with a landscape that continues to evolve. How might we adapt, persevere, even thrive? As the contemporary world increasingly challenges what it means to be human, Cave envisions a space of both grief and possibility.

For more info go here. 

Janet Loren Hill | Andrew Casto

Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art, 12001 Market St. #103, Reston Va. Through July 25.

The exhibition will feature recent work by artists Janet Loren Hill and Andrew Casto. Hill’s shaped paintings present surreal characters moving through complex environments, tracing various global histories of coercion, labor, and the potential for rupture.

Casto’s recent work — whose formal language is based on a material study of geological processes translated into ceramic and mixed-media vessel forms — explores the connection between “macrocosmic” environmental change and interruptions in our often routine existence.

Visually, their work plays both against and with each other: painting vs. ceramic, large vs. small scale, use of texture, the absurd and the sublime, decadent color, and sometimes unnerving forms. Contextually, they share a use of humor and absurdity, varied references to the body, and commentary on our world.

For more info go here. 

Miró and the United States

The Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW, Through July 5.

Special Exhibition!

At the end of his life, Joan Miró maintained, “It was really American painting that inspired me.” 

Co-organized with the Fundació Joan Miró in Barcelona, Miró and the United States explores the vibrant exchanges between Catalan artist Joan Miró (1893-1983) and the burgeoning American art scene in a pivotal moment of 20th-century art. This little-known yet decisive period of connection between Miró and American artists — including Alexander Calder, Louise Bourgeois, Lee Krasner, Norman Lewis, Jackson Pollock, Helen Frankenthaler, and Adolph Gottlieb — was influential in the development of post-war art on both sides of the Atlantic. 

For Miró, the United States represented new audiences and creative freedom. He had retrospectives at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1941 and 1959, and traveled to the U.S. seven times between 1947 and 1968, during which he met artists in their studios, collaborated on prints and architectural projects, and closely followed exhibitions at galleries and museums. Featuring 75 works by more than 30 artists, this exhibition reframes Miró’s legacy, revealing how his dream-like pictures evolved through artistic dialogue and experimentation with his American counterparts.

For more info go here. 

Teen Portrait Competition, 2025

National Portrait Gallery, 8th and G Streets NW, Second Floor, North Galleries. Through Aug. 30.

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery is proud to present the winners and finalists of the 2025 Teen Portrait Competition!

Matilda Myers of Maryland and Kate Stermer of California have been announced as winners of the 2025 Teen Portrait Competition, a triennial event inspired by the museum’s Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition. The teen competition is open to students between the ages of 13 and 17 who reside in the United States and its territories. Ten finalists were selected from the 13 to 15 age group, and nine finalists were selected from the 16 to 17 age group. The selected works showcase the next wave of contemporary portraiture by teens. Myers received the top prize from the 13–15 age group, and Stermer from the 16–17 age group. The photographs by the 19 finalists will be on view in a video presentation on the second floor of the National Portrait Gallery through August 30, 2026.

Teens were invited to submit their photographic portraits through an anonymous open call. The museum received more than 1,100 entries from students in 48 states, Guam, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. The photographs were reviewed by the Teen Museum Council, a group of high school students from Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia who aim to learn about museum careers while building a community for teens with interactive programs and events inspired by the Portrait Gallery’s collection. The council narrowed the submissions to 40 semi-finalists. Three members of the council, joined by artist Caitlin Teal Price, who is based in Washington, D.C., and New York, juried the competition’s final round to select the exhibiting artists and name the prizewinners.

Myers’ photograph, “Rest,” compares the masculine and feminine by showing a ballerina resting with a pickaxe. Stermer’s black-and-white portrait, titled “The Cost of Conformity,” depicts a teenage girl as a puppeteer manipulating the markers of success (cars) with marionette strings. Photographs by all 19 finalists prompt conversations about identity through the eyes of teens in the United States, and they address topical issues including tradition, mental health and sibling relationships. The photographs will be on view alongside the museum’s triennial “The Outwin 2025: American Portraiture Today” exhibition, featuring finalists of the 2025 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition by artists 18 and older.

For more info go here. 

Vishnu’s Cosmic Ocean

Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art, Arthur Sackler Gallery, 1050 Independence Ave. SW, East Building. Through Sept. 7.

At the dawn of time, the Hindu god Vishnu slept on a coiled serpent floating in the primordial ocean. There, he dreamed the universe into existence. This magnificent story of creation comes to life through the largest bronze ever cast in Southeast Asia, now on loan to us from the National Museum of Cambodia.

For the first time in centuries, you can experience this sculpture’s full monumental scale: a breathtaking six meters long (nearly twenty feet). Only the head and torso have been displayed since 1936, when the sculpture was found buried in a pit with dozens of loose bronze fragments. A team of international experts has recently conserved and reconnected the body’s remnants after decades of scientific research.

Vishnu’s Cosmic Ocean presents this monumental masterpiece of Cambodian artistry and explores its rich context. Delve into the sculpture’s original island-like temple, the deep blue waters of the surrounding reservoir, and the ancient city of Angkor. Learn about water’s cultural importance as a mirror of the ocean of creation, and admire the exceptional bronze-casting and engineering skills of artists who lived a thousand years ago.

An exclusive film brings you to the present-day reservoir and its surrounding community. Cambodian American director praCh Ly shares a day in the life of a local fisherman, a merchant, and a young Buddhist monk. Titled Awkun (meaning “thank you” in Khmer), this film draws attention to the relationships that bridge sacred and urban spaces, from past to present.

For more info go here. 

Basil Kincaid: Spirit in the Gift

Rubell Museum DC, 65 i Street SW. Through Fall, 2026.

Basil Kincaid: Spirit in the Gift marks the first solo museum exhibition in Washington D.C. for Kincaid (b. 1986, St. Louis, MO). Four large-scale quilted artworks created during the artist’s residency at the Rubell Museum in Miami in 2023 will be presented in the D.C. museum’s largest gallery. Kincaid’s work pays homage to the long history of quilt-making while exploring the relationships between identity, ancestry, and place. Some themes are deeply personal and autobiographical, others are more universal, but all evoke the joy inherent in the artist’s love for and nurturing of community. The entailed and labor-intensive process of creating these monumental works is balanced by an improvisational, spontaneous, and fluid quality that runs throughout them. The result is as indebted to freehand drawing and jazz music as it is to patchwork quilt making and embroidery.

For more info go here. 

Making Their Mark: Works from the Shah Garg Collection

National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave. NW. Through July 26. 

Making Their Mark: Works from the Shah Garg Collection brings together approximately 80 works by nearly 70 of the most influential artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, including Magdalena Abakanowicz, Cecily Brown, Sheila Hicks, Jenny Holzer, Julie Mehretu, Joan Mitchell, Faith Ringgold, Tschabalala Self, Amy Sillman, Lorna Simpson, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Pat Steir, Sarah Sze, Kara Walker, and Zarina. Featuring a wide variety of artworks from the past eight decades, including painting, sculpture, installation, textile, beadwork, and ceramics, the exhibition emphasizes connections between intergenerational and international artists who circumvent and upend conventions in art-making, embracing craft techniques, inventive methods, and alternative materials.

The exhibition is organized within seven sections that illustrate key thematic threads: Gestural Abstraction, Luminous Abstraction, Pixelated Abstraction, Disobedient Bodies, Of Selves and Spirits, The Power of Form, and Craft is Art. Each section juxtaposes works by emerging artists with the pathbreaking contributions of their predecessors, demonstrating how earlier generations anticipated contemporary perspectives on representation, identity, and power. Making Their Mark envisions art history as an interconnected web of influences and affinities among artists who subvert traditional narratives and hierarchies in a historically patriarchal field.

Many of the works on view question rigid and gendered distinctions between art and craft, eroding arbitrary and increasingly obsolete categories and value systems. Making Their Mark assembles significant works by artists whose innovative explorations demonstrate expansive vocabularies of art-making, highlighting the importance of prioritizing diverse perspectives to change the way art histories are told.

For more info go here. 

Finding Awe: Helen Frankenthaler’s Mountains and Sea

National Gallery of Art, East Building Upper Level, Gallery 407-C, Saturday, April 25, 10:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Ages 18 and up.

Part of Finding Awe.

Talks & Conversations

Use your senses to unlock new meaning in Helen Frankenthaler's abstract painting. Explore the awe found in big ideas and changing perspectives.

During this 90-minute pause from your daily route, we’ll look slowly and mindfully at Helen Frankenthaler’s Mountains and Sea. You’ll be invited to look closely, wonder, and share your insights with the group. Together, we’ll learn “awe practices” that you can bring to your everyday life.

When the workshop is full, the registration button will stop working. Due to last-minute cancellations, check back on the morning of April 25 to see if tickets are available for the morning or afternoon session. Questions? Email us at tickets@nga.gov.

"Finding Awe" is grounded in the National Gallery’s mission to welcome all people to explore and experience art, creativity, and our shared humanity. It offers new “awe practices” drawn from the research of Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology at the University of California-Berkeley, director of The Greater Good Science Center, and author of Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life (2023). Research shows that experiences of awe help support mental and physical wellbeing and open us up to greater creativity and deeper empathy. Explore awe at the National Gallery of Art.

To register go here. 

Enjoy a Local Author Talk!

Staging Shakespeare: From Script to Performance

Mary Riley Styles Public Library, 120 N. Virginia Ave., Main Level Conference Room, Saturday, April 25, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Ages: Teen to Adult.

Registration is required for this event and will close on April 25, at 2:00 p.m.

In honor of Shakespeare's birthday (traditionally celebrated on April 23), MRSPL is excited to welcome Georgetown University's Dr. Michael Collins for a lively lecture exploring the challenges and opportunities of taking Shakespeare's plays from script to performance!

Readers of Shakespeare’s plays soon discover they include very few stage directions, and even those they do include cannot be confidently ascribed to Shakespeare. Shakespeare’s words, moreover, are often ambiguous, open to multiple interpretations. As a result, as they bring a script to life on the stage, actors and directors must make choices about how particular moments should look and sound in performance. 

This talk will focus on two short speeches in Shakespeare’s King Lear in order to illustrate the possibilities inherent in all of Shakespeare’s scripts and some of the implications of choosing among them.   

About the Presenter

Michael Collins is a Teaching Professor and Dean Emeritus at Georgetown University. He taught Shakespeare and British theatre in the Department of English and has published articles on Shakespeare (with a focus on performance and pedagogy) and on modern British literature. He earned his Ph.D. and M.A. from New York University and his B.A. from Fordham College. An honorary fellow of Wrexham Glyndwr University, University of Wales, he is a recipient of Georgetown University’s Presidential Medal and its Bunn Award for Outstanding Teaching.

Contact: Name: Paula Hawkins; Email: phawkins@fallschurchva.gov; Phone: (703) 248-5368.

To register go here. 

Celebrate Arbor Day in Falls Church!

Falls Church Arbor Day Celebration and Tree Planting

Falls Church City Farmers Market, Cherry Hill Park, Saturday, April 25, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Free.

Join the Village Preservation and Improvement Society (VPIS) and the City of Falls Church to celebrate Arbor Day and take home a free tree!

VPIS will be giving away 250 oak tree saplings from 9:00 a.m. to noon at the Farmers Market.

Come and learn which oak tree is right for your yard. From 11:30 to 1:30 join the City’s Arbor Day Ceremony and Celebration to commemorate the 48th year of Tree City USA, the longest in the state, behind the basketball court in Cherry Hill Park.

There will be a short ceremony followed by oak tree sapling planting in the forested area to promote the age and species diversity to ensure a healthy forest for the future. Come prepared to play in the dirt and have fun!

Tools, gloves, and light refreshments will be provided. All ages are welcome. If you have questions, please contact the City Arborist at arborist@fallschurchva.gov or 730-248-5183.

The celebration and tree planting will take place in Cherry Hill Park behind the basketball courts. Parking will be limited, consider using public or street parking.

For more info go here. 

Check Out Summer Events at West Falls!

WEST FALLS KICKS OFF SPRING & SUMMER EVENT SERIES IN COMMONS PARK

Weekly programming and signature events bring live music, fitness and community gatherings to Falls Church

West Falls is excited to announce its spring and summer programming lineup, bringing a dynamic mix of live music, wellness experiences and community-centered events to Commons Park. Starting in April, a mix of live music, outdoor workouts, and community events that invite you to gather, unwind, and make the most of the warmer months. Whether it’s catching live music with friends, joining a fitness class, or putting your trivia skills to the test, the lineup is curated to create a lively, welcoming atmosphere, making West Falls a go-to spot all season long.

Live Music in Commons Park

• Dates: Every Friday starting Friday, April 17
• Time: 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.
• Location: Commons Park
• Cost: FREE
• Details: Kick off the weekend with live outdoor performances by local and regional musicians. This weekly series brings a rotating lineup of talent to Commons Park, including local musicians James Stevens, Laura Farrell and many more!

HIIT & Happy Hour

• Date: Wednesday, April 29
• Time: 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
• Location: Commons Park
• Details: Part of the City of Falls Church Fitness Challenge, this high-energy event kicks off with a 30-minute HIIT workout led by local studio Balanced Female Fitness. After the workout, keep the energy going at Honoo Ramen Bar right in Commons Park, where attendees can enjoy happy hour specials until 7 p.m. Grab a drink, refuel with bites and connect with friends and neighbors for the perfect midweek reset!

Trivia Night Tournament

• Dates: Every Thursday starting May 7 through June 11
• Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
• Location: Commons Park
• Cost: FREE
• Details: Put your knowledge to the test every Thursday night at our weekly trivia tournament. Bring your crew, pick up dinner from one of our restaurants, and go head-to-head for weekly prizes and ultimate bragging rights.

Barre3 Pop-Up Series

• Dates: Every second Saturday starting May 9
• Time: 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
• Location: Commons Park
• Cost: $10
• Details: Start your weekend on a high note with an energizing outdoor class led by Barre3, with an all-levels workout that combines strength, cardio, and balance for a feel-good start to the day. Come with a mat and water, bring a friend, and make a morning of it by exploring local shops or grabbing brunch!

WHERE: Commons Park at West Falls, 201 W. Falls Station Blvd.

Celebrate America's 250th!

Road to Revolution

National Archives Museum, West Rotunda Gallery, 701 Constitutions Ave. NW. Through April 30.

Road to Revolution is a rotating exhibition series highlighting National Archives records that document major milestones and critical historical context to the American Revolution, the Revolutionary War, and the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.

Augmenting the well-known sequence of events in the two years preceding July 4, 1776, are displays that focus on the diverse experiences and perspectives for members of the Founding generation whose stories are less well known — including Native Americans, free and enslaved African Americans, and women. 

Collectively Road to Revolution reveals that the journey from colonial resistance and rebellion to American revolution and independence is not composed of a single narrative but a story of many intersecting (and diverging) paths in the universal pursuit of life, liberty and happiness. 

Behind the Ink of the Declaration of Independence

Through April 30.

Meet the people who left their mark in ink on the Declaration of Independence.

View Virtual Exhibit

For more info go here.

Enjoy the Georgetown French Market!

Je t'aime Georgetown!

Along Wisconsin Ave. from O Street to Reservoir Road, April 24-26, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Georgetown BID is hosting their 23rd annual Georgetown French Market April 24-26, 2026. This popular open-air market – originally inspired by those often seen in France – will feature sidewalk sales and specials from more than 40 locally-owned boutiques, cafés and galleries along Wisconsin Avenue from O St. to Reservoir Rd., plus live music, stilt walkers, face painting, a mime and more. Neighborhood restaurants will also offer food and drink specials featuring French cuisine and beyond – from pastries, croissants, and macarons, to lunch items grilled outside, and wine discounts. 

The 23rd annual Georgetown French Market is sure to be magnifique! 

This event may be photographed and/or video recorded. Please be advised that by entering this event site you agree to being filmed and/or photographed, and the resulting assets may be used for marketing or promotional purposes. 

For more info go here. 

Chill Out with Alpacas!

Alpaca Happy Hour at Peruvian Brothers

Peruvian Brothers, 1450 South Eads Street, 23 and 30, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Come for the Alpacas, stay for the specials!

Peruvian Brothers is hosting happy hours in April with a few special guests. Friendly and fluffy mini alpacas will be on site between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. every Thursday in April. Come visit with these sweet and curious creatures and grab some delicious food and drinks from your favorite neighborhood Peruvian spot.

For more info go here. 

Now, This is How to Rejuvenate!

The Connective Power of Gardens: 30th Annual Orchid Show

Final Days! ~ National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Ave. NW, Through April 26. Free, time-entry passes required.

Featuring orchid collections from Smithsonian Gardens and the United States Botanic Garden, this joint exhibition explores the many ways orchids bring together individuals, communities, and nature. See hundreds of orchid blooms and discover stories of connection, scholarship, and art related to these extraordinary plants.

For more info go here. 

Kids, We're Off to a Pollinator Party!

Pollinator Party in the Park

Howard E. Herman Stream Valley Park, 601 W. Broad St., Sunday, April 26, 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Free, no registration required.

Join us for a fun and educational Pollinator Party in the park!

Kids will explore the amazing world of pollinators, while learning why they’re so important to our environment. We’ll discover native plants that help pollinators thrive, get creative with nature-inspired crafts, and even build our very own bee hotels to take home. 

For more info go here. 

Landscape Drawing, Perhaps?

Free Art Workshop ~ Drawing Landscapes with Eric Westbrook

Spots are Limited! ~ Stacy C. Sherwood Center, 3740 Blenheim Blvd., Fairfax, In the Art Room, Sunday, April 26, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Free.

This is a 2026 Spotlight on the Arts Festival event.

In this workshop, students will be introduced to the process of creating a landscape drawing in charcoal. Working from a photo, we’ll capture the forms and features of the outdoor environment.

Observing major shapes to create a strong composition will be explained and demonstrated. Emphasis will be also placed on studying the direction of the sunlight and the shapes of light and shadow it creates throughout the scene.

Students are free to work from any photograph they choose as a reference.

Registration is required – spots are limited!

Supplies to Bring:

Charcoal:

• Soft charcoal pencils
• Soft vine charcoal

Paper: 

• Medium texture (not smooth) surface recommended
• Newsprint pad, 18 x 24” or white drawing paper pad, 18 x 24”
• Kneaded eraser, sharpener

Contact: Christine Vincent, 703-273-6097; Christine.Vincent@fairfaxva.gov.

To register go here. 

Luxuriate in a Native Plant Walk!

Native Plant Walk with Keith Tomlinson

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, 9750 Meadowlark Gardens Ct., Vienna, Sunday, April 26, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Experience the beauty of spring woodlands on a guided walk through Meadowlark Botanical Gardens' Potomac Valley Collection! Led by Keith Tomlinson, former Garden Manager who developed and curated Meadowlark's native plant collection, this walk offers a unique opportunity to explore the region’s rich botanical diversity.

With 45 years of experience in botanical gardens, museums, environmental education, and plant conservation, Keith brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to this immersive tour. His expertise and passion for native plants will deepen your appreciation for the beauty and ecological importance of our local flora and fauna, information that will be helpful to those who are interested in adding native plants to their own yards.

Who Should Attend?

This walk is designed for adults and children ages 10 and up interested in native plants, conservation, and the natural history of our region.

What to Expect:

• An hour-long guided walk along our hilly, mulched trails
• Serene beauty of spring woodlands with native blooms
• Insights into spring native plants and their roles in our ecosystem
• Information about how native plants can enhance your own yard, providing improved habitat for wildlife
• Engaging storytelling from a seasoned nature interpreter

Important Details:

• Cost: $10 per person
• Registration: Online registration required.
• Participants should be able to walk on hilly, mulched trails for the hour-long tour.

Lace up your walking shoes and come discover the hidden gems of Meadowlark's native plant collection!

To register go here. 

Did You Say Chocolate?! 

The 9th DC Chocolate Festival (2026)

La Maison Française at the Embassy of France, Washington, D.C., 4101 Reservoir Road Northwest, April 24 and 25, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

By The Chocolate House DC.

Join us for the 9th DC Chocolate Festival on April 24th-25 at La Maison Française at the Embassy of France in Washington D.C.! Enjoy one and a-half days of chocolate education, samples, and chocolaty pleasure.

A true sign of spring in the District, the DC Chocolate Festival brings together chocolate makers, chocolatiers, cacao experts, and chocolate lovers for a weekend dedicated to tasting, learning, and celebrating fine chocolate.

Our partnership with the La Maison Française allows us to use their gorgeous light-filled event venue – the perfect setting to sample exceptional craft chocolate, discover new makers, and explore the stories behind the world’s favorite treat!

This year’s festival spans one and a-half days of chocolate education and indulgence, featuring:

• Generous sampling from outstanding local and international chocolate makers

• Educational micro-workshops and tasting sessions

• Conversations with makers about sourcing, craft, and flavor

• Incredible chocolate confections, treats, beverages, and craft chocolate bars

• New for 2026: During our Friday Evening session, we're honored to host a special HCP (Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund) Award Ceremony celebrating excellence in cacao and spotlighting efforts dedicated to cacao preservation and the future of fine chocolate.

Whether you are a casual chocolate enthusiast or a devoted craft chocolate fan, the DC Chocolate Festival offers a rich and immersive tasting experience.

Please visit the festival website at www.dcchocolatefestival.com for updated event details.

We are excited to offer a variety of ticket options tailored to different preferences and age groups.:

1. Friday Night (Age 10+) Time: 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Price: $25.00. Kick off the DC Chocolate Festival on Friday evening with full vendor access and a special HCP ceremony recognizing excellence in cacao and celebrating preservation efforts and the future of fine chocolate. Please note that guests can only enter at the stated start time and must leave by the end time. (Sales end on April 24, 2026)
2. Saturday Morning (Age 10+) Time: 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Price: $25.00. Enjoy the Saturday morning session with access to all event activities. Remember, guests can only enter at the designated start time and must leave by the end time. (Sales end on April 25).
3. Saturday Afternoon (Age 10+) Time: 2:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Price: $25.00. This ticket grants access to the afternoon session on Saturday. Guests can enter at the start time and must leave before the session ends.( Sales end on April 25.)
4. Free Kids Admission (Under 10 Years Old) Price: Free. This ticket provides free admission for children under 10 years old. Adults or parents must purchase a General Admission ticket to accompany the child. (Sales end on April 25.)

Please make sure to provide the full names of all attendees when purchasing tickets. We look forward to seeing you at the event!

For ticket info go here. 

Compiled by Christopher Jones