Free & Almost Free Things To Do This Week In DC

Here we focus exclusively on the cheapest YET most satisfying entertainment to be found around DC. Every week we highlight free and almost free activities, a choice happy hour or two, food specials and hot tips for budget survival. PLEASE POST YOUR FREE EVENTS (FOR FREE!) ON OUR AGENDA PAGE or send us FREE TIPS to [email protected] for inclusion in the future FREE THINGS guide. So, time to plan the week! 

Outdoor movie season is beginning. That’s means there’ll be no end to the free movies showing throughout the city and into the burbs. Be sure to consult your Outdoor Movie Guide, my friend, if this is your bag

• Tuesday, July 21 – Rio 2 plays at NoMa’s Family Film Night. BYO(Chairs), they’ll be showing it in an outdoor lot.
• Tuesday, July 21 – No Way Out plays at Georgetown’s Sunset Cinema, if you’re into 80s political thrillers set in the very same neighborhood.
• Tuesday, July 21 – Bethesda’s Outdoor Movie Festival will have outdoor movies all week, starting Tuesday night with Sixteen Candles.
  
  
• Wednesday, July 22 – South Riding Movie Night will show 101 Dalmatians on the Town Green. Remember, guys, to spay and neuter your pets.
• Wednesday, July 22 – Save the Last Dance plays at NoMa Summer Screen, featuring a  contemporary dance performance by Culture Shock.
• Thursdays, July 23 – Capitol Riverfront Outdoor Movies will show Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, if you’re still not scarred from seeing that boat scene all those years ago.
  
• Thursday, July 23 – Congressional Cemetery’s Cinematery will take place, following a cancellation this past weekend due a thunderstorm, screening North by Northwest. 
• Friday, July 24 – Clueless shows in Rosslyn, as if.
  
• Friday, July 24 – The Italian Job screens at Golden Cinema downtown.
• Saturday, July 25 – If you’re out in Ellicott City, you can always see Frozen at the Wine Bin.
• Saturday, July 25 – Or if you’re out near Potomac Town Center you can see Happy Feet. Tap dancing penguins? Sure, why not.

• Tuesday, July 21 – Velvet Lounge’s Summertime Sadness show brings Grotto Girl and June Gloom to the U Street Corridor.
  
• Thursday, July 23 – Small Wonder, Tall Friend and Care play at Comet Ping Pong. Tall Friend is local (Maryland), be sure to show them some love + the out of town bands.
• Thursday, July 23 – The saga of Fort Reno continues with bands Incredible Change, Rancho Notorious, and Magnetar Flares.
• Thursday, July 23 – Plus if you’re actually in Maryland (and close to Baltimore) you can see locals Trunkweed play at the Windup Space.
• Friday, July 24 – Quarterbacks, Sitcom, Dogbreth all jam at Babe City, if you are really into really, really, really sad music (I know I am).
  
• Friday, July 24 – Go see locals Go Cozy and Sealab at 453 Florida Avenue.
• Friday, July 24 – Hand Grenade Job plays a “one time only back from the dead” performance at St. Stephen & the Incarnation with the Goodbye Party.
• Saturday, July 25 – Thrashing will happen at the Pinch as Gatecreeper brings “Sonoran Desert death metal” from Arizona to DC, along with locals Narrow Grave’s punk.
• Saturday, July 25 – DC Free Store opens its doors for their July event at the Peace House. You bring something, you take what you need, it’s beautiful, postcapitalism at its finest.
  
• Saturday, July 25 – A night of girl power throws down the gauntlet at Comet Ping Pong, featuring the music of Two Dragons and a Cheetah. 

• Thursday, July 23 – “this is a temporary gallery” presents an intimate evening of performance and art at Above the Bayou from 6 PM to 11 PM.
• Thursday, July 23 – If you’re close to Baltimore, you can attend a cool discussion entitled “Sub Persona,” attempting to answer the simple question of “what do mask signify?” A fun free discussion for all.
  
• Saturday, July 25 – St. Stephan & the Incarnation will host the 5th Annual DC Zinefest, featuring both local magazines and lots of creators from out of town as well. You can check out the list of tablers here.
• Saturday, July 25 – See a screening of “I Need a Dodge: Joe Strummer on the Run,” with a thirty minute teaser of “Punk The Capital” at St. Stephens.
  

That’s all, remember – PLEASE POST YOUR FREE EVENTS (FOR FREE!) ON OUR AGENDA PAGE or send us FREE TIPS to [email protected] for inclusion in the future FREE THINGS guide. Feel free to leave us your suggestions in the comments. Sharing is the new caring.