Weekend Roundup: Fall in Love with D.C.
By • February 11, 2026 0 410
With this weekend being Valentine’s Day and Presidents Day, there are dozens of events and things to do around the area. Grab your special someone and check out one (or all!) of these activities. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Dumbarton Concerts Continues with Jeneba Kanneh-Mason
Courtesy Dumbarton Concerts.
British pianist Jeneba Kanneh-Mason will be performing Friday evening as part of Dumbarton Concerts. Mason was catapulted into fame 11 years ago, along with her six musical siblings. Her repertoire ranges from Bach to Debussy to Chopin and more. More on how to get tickets can be found here.
The Most Tony Nominated Play of All Time is at The National Theatre
Courtesy National Theatre.
Stereophonic is at The National Theatre now through March 1. The most Tony Award nominated play of all time, it tells the tale of the ups and downs of a 1976 music studio. The show is written by David Adjmi and directed by Daniel Aukin, with music by Will Butler of Arcade Fire. More information on how to get tickets can be found here.
Dance into Imagination Stage with ‘Havana Hop’
Courtesy Imagination Stage.
Beginning Saturday at Imagination stage is a story by D.C. artist Paige Hernandez, who used her childhood for inspiration. Audiences will meet Yeila, who visits her grandmother in Cuba to add a bit of salsa to her own hip-hop dance style. You’ll also see what happens if you were invited to dance for President Obama. More information on how to get tickets can be found here.
Start Valentine’s Day Weekend Off with Kurt Elling at Strathmore
Courtesy Strathmore.
Grammy Award winner Kurt Elling will be performing with the debut of the new Strathmore Jazz Orchestra, the institution’s first big band, on February 13. Enjoy a romantic evening of jazz music with Elling, who has been called “the standout male jazz vocalist of our time” by the New York Times. More information on how to get tickets can be found here.
The National Portrait Gallery Celebrates America’s 250th
The National Portrait Gallery is kicking off the yearlong celebration of America’s 250th birthday with a “250th Festival: A Celebration of Our Story” on Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The afternoon will include history, culture, guided tours through the galleries, story time and games. Guests can create art and take home a booklet with ideas on how to celebrate all year. The community festival is free, and registration is encouraged. You can register here.
Enjoy a Valentine’s Day Concert with the National Chamber Ensemble
Courtesy National Chamber Ensemble.
The National Chamber Ensemble is presenting “Chords of Desire: Broadway and Opera Favorites: A Valentine’s Day Concert of Love, Passion and Drama” on Saturday. The concert will be at the Gunston Arts Center in Arlington. More information on how to get tickets can be found here.
Support Brain Cancer Research at the Embassy of France
Courtesy Eventbrite.
Join Gray for Glioblastoma’s 2nd Annual Charity Valentine’s Ball at the French Embassy on Saturday evening. Brain cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in children and the 10th leading cause of cancer death in adults. However, as of 2023, just three percent of all cancer funds went to brain and central nervous center cancers. The event Saturday will have food, desserts and an open bar. There will be no on-site parking, and guests are welcome to park on Reservoir Rd. for limited street parking. More information on how to get tickets can be found here.
See the 39th Annual Black History Month Invitational Swim Meet
Courtesy USA Swimming.
This weekend at Takoma Aquatic Center is the annual Black History Month Invitational Swim Meet. The event was co-founded by the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation and the United Black Fund, Inc. in 1987. The invitational’s goals are to provide urban youth around the country with a positive outlet for exposure to competition, expression and a place to meet role models. More information on the event can be found here.
Round House Theatre Premieres ‘Nothing Up My Sleeve, Simple Deceptions for Curious Humans’
Courtesy Round House.
Check out the collaboration between illusionist Dendy and playwright and director Aaron Posner with the world premiere of this one-man show. The performance is a bit of a magic act and man’s own personal journey. The entertaining event includes fun tricks and enthralling storytelling. More information can be found here.
The Folger Gets Romantic
Courtesy The Folger.
This weekend, visit Folger Theatre for “Love Songs of the 15th Century,” a Valentine’s Day concert that draws from the “Chansonnier Cordiforme,” a heart-shaped manuscript with popular love songs from the 15th century. The program features many songs sung from a woman’s perspective too. More information on how to get tickets can be found here.
The Choral Arts Society Presents ‘Living the Dream…Singing the Dream’
2024 Living the Dream, Singing the Dream concert. Courtesy Choral Arts Society.
The Choral Arts Society of Washington and Washington Performing Arts are co-presenting the 38th annual choral tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Sunday at Strathmore. The concert’s theme is “We Are One: A Global Song for Justice and Unity.” More information on how to get tickets can be found here.
Check Out the D.C. Independent Film Festival
Courtesy Film Freeway.
Don’t miss the D.C. Independent Film Festival, which runs through this Monday. In addition to featured films, there will be workshops and seminars centered on how sound and music can affect how audiences experience films. More information on the festival can be found here.
At Tudor Place: ‘Founding Fortunes: The Estate of Sale of Martha Washington’
Wikipedia photo.
Tudor Place has opened a new exhibit called “Founding Fortunes: The Estate Sale of Martha Washington,” which explores an exhibit at the home of Martha Parke Custis Peter, the granddaughter of Martha Washington and step granddaughter of George Washington. The exhibit looks at historic objects from Mount Vernon, with many on view for the first time. More information can be found here.
