The Weekend Scene: Juneteenth celebrations, free concerts and more ways to count down to summer around DC

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A special display of the Emancipation Proclamation at the National Archives, a star-studded tribute to Marvin Gaye and festivals throughout the DMV are some of the ways to mark Juneteenth, coming up on Monday.

Juneteenth celebrations around the Beltway they are dynamic and diverse. See for yourself in our Juneteenth events guide.

Otherwise, D.C.’s having a celeb-y week...

• 💃🏾 Juvenile is celebrating 25 years of backing that thang up at the NMAAHC and the Howard Theatre tonight.
• ⚽ The prospect of potentially seeing Lionel Messi sent ticket prices for the DC United-Inter Miami game in July soaring to over $150 (normal cost: about $30).
• 🏀 Tickets for the Mystics' Pride Night game are going for well over $100 — Washington is hosting Phoenix Mercury, Brittney Griner's team (normal cost: $18).
• 🍚 Philippe Chow’s new, upscale Chinese restaurant at The Wharf is booked solid for nearly two weeks.
• 🐻 We'll count Franklin the Brookland bear, too. He even made it on a T-shirt.

⛅ Summer weather is here, even while we wait for the summer solstice on June 21. This weekend looks promising for fun on the water: dry with highs in the mid-80s. Here's the forecast.

Share your adventures with us! Tag #4TheScene and @nbcwashington on your socials for a chance to be featured in our newsletter and social feeds.

The Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival

📅 Events Fri. to Mon.
📍 Montgomery County, plus a concert at The Anthem in D.C.
💲 Various
🔗 Details

All are invited to learn the history, celebrate the community and respect the journey at The Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival spanning several locations. The Scotland A.M.E. Zion Church community is leading a coalition of historic Black churches and the larger community to create the multiday festival.

Here’s the full schedule — it has something for everyone, including:

• 🎶 Motown and oldies at Bethesda Blues and Jazz on Saturday ($60-$100).
• 🙏 Interfaith worship and a Day of Community Service on Sunday.
• 🐐 A children’s carnival with rides, music, face painting, a petting zoo and more family fun will take over Cabin John Regional Park on Monday.
• 🚗 A classic car show, health and wellness and history pavilions and a talent show on Monday at Cabin John Village (11325 Seven Locks Road, Potomac).
• 🎤 Wyclef Jean, Tarrus Riley, Patrice Roberts, Ricardo Drue and Gyptian perform at the Scotland Freedom Day Concert on Monday ($65-$153). Note that the event was moved to The Anthem.

Portside in Old Town Summer Festival

📅 Fri. and Sat.
📍 Waterfront Park Alexandria
💲 Free
🔗 Details

Live music, food, hands-on crafts, lawn games, local vendor fair and history activities (including a chocolate-making demo) are taking over the Alexandria waterfront.

Go Friday for the ALX Jazz Fest and local poets, then on Saturday for an eclectic lineup ranging from indie soul to zydeco to Ethiopian folk and jazz, plus upcycling crafts.

Awesome Con

📅 Fri. to Sun.
📍 Washington Convention Center
💲 $45 to $170
🔗 Details

D.C.’s premier con for nerds of all stripes is back.

Levar Burton and "LOTR" actors Elijah Wood, Sean Astin and Andy Serkis are just a few celebs showing up, while panels, a Star Wars dance party, science and book fairs, gaming and more will keep you busy.  It’s kid-friendly, too.

If you’re in the neighborhood, enjoy people-watching for cosplayers.

Emancipation Proclamation on display

📅 Sat. to Mon.,  10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
📍  National Archives
🔗 Details

The National Archives Museum offers extended hours so you can see the original documents at the root of the Juneteenth holiday — a once-a-year event.

Reserve a free ticket to save yourself time in line.

If you have kids, check out the Juneteenth Family Day on Saturday, too.

Home Rule Music Festival — free pick

📅 June 16-17, 24
📍 575 3rd Street, NW, D.C.
🔗 Details

Black-owned record shop HR Records, plus its music advocacy organization, and CapitalBop are hosting a festival to celebrate D.C. music and culture with a lineup of world-class jazz shows.

• 🌟 The main event on Saturday is a free day of music at the Parks at Walter Reed, complete with a record fair, food trucks and family-friendly fun.
• 🎵 Mark G. Meadows and The Movement, Brian Jackson, EU, The Experience Band and Show are included on the lineup.
• 🥪 Feel free to bring a chair and a picnic. ANXO will be selling craft drinks and cider; no outside alcohol is allowed. 
• 🐦 Songbyrd will host a free after-party. 

It's not free, but... if you’re after more jazz, Grammy nominee Kassa Overall will kick off the festival on Friday with a ticketed show at Songbyrd ($20 in advance, $25 at the door).

Music Snob Concert Picks

Boygenius, 5 p.m. Friday, Merriweather, $65-$129.50: A supergroup of indie rock singer-songwriters Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus – each a draw on their own. It's part of the Re:SET concert series. Details. 

Water From Your Eyes, 10 p.m. Friday, Comet Ping Pong, $18.54: Brooklyn art-pop duo makes some of the most interesting music around these days. Complex arrangements that are oddly ear-catching and intriguing. Details.

Trombone Shorty and Ziggy Marley, 7 p.m. Saturday, Wolf Trap, $49: The living New Orleans jazz/funk/R&B legend teams up with the son of the LEGEND himself, reggae icon Bob Marley. Another iconic singer, Mavis Staples, brings the blues and gospel for the evening. Details.

More Things to Do in Washington DC

• 🏀 Washington Mystics Pride Night: Fri., Entertainment and Sports Arena, $112+
• 🎬 DC/DOX: Fri. to Sun., various locations, $15.90 for most screenings
• What’s Going On NOW: A Tribute to Marvin Gaye: Fri. and Sat., The Kennedy Center, $39-$99
• 📚 Children’s Book Festival: Sat., Ronald Reagan Building, 💸🚫
• 🍷 Rosé All Day: Sat., The Yards, $35
• Noche De Verano Sin Ti: Bad Bunny Night: Sat., Union Stage, $20-$40
• Planet Word’s Black Author Book Festival: Mon., Northwest, free admission

More Things to Do in Maryland

• 🎤 Re:SET concert series: Fri. to Sun., Merriweather Post Pavilion, $45-$250
• City of Bowie Juneteenth Celebration: Fri. to Sun., Allen Pond Park, 💸🚫
• 🏳‍🌈 Glen Echo Park Pride Family Day:Sat., 💸🚫
• Juneteenth: Journey to Freedom: Sat., BlackRock Center for the Arts, 💸🚫
• Prince George’s Juneteenth Festival: Sat., Watkins Regional Park, free
• Juneteenth films: AFI Silver Theatre, $8
• 🍦 Ice Cream Festival: Sat., National Harbor, $10-$60
• DMV's Largest Juneteenth Celebration: Sat., MGM Grand Ballroom, $60-$100
• Celebrate Juneteenth: Mon., National Harbor, free

More Things to Do in Virginia

• 🎭 Last chance: “Passing Strange”: Through Sat., Signature Theatre, $56-$89
• Broadway in the Park: Fri., Filene Center in Vienna, $33+
• Kids Day at the Meadows Farms Nurseries: Sat., Chantilly, 💸🚫
• 🎹 Columbia Pike Blues Festival: Sat., S. Walter Reed Dr. and Columbia Pike, 💸🚫
• Small But Important Riots: The Cavalry Battles of Aldie, Middleburg, and Upperville: Sat. and Sun. FYI: Free tours and living history events, plus a book talk
• 🚗 Sully Annual Car Show: Sun., Sully Historic Site in Chantilly, $12 for adults (tickets)

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