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

• Saturday, August 15 – See James Stewart in Harvey, the prequel to Donnie Darko, at National Archives. It’s probably better than Donnie Darko and It’s a Wonderful Life combined because those are both horrible movies.
• Wednesday, August 12 – Reacquaint yourself with the lovely Kevin Bacon by catching Footloose at NoMa Summer Screen. Make sure to check out our Bacon Bros Recap first.

• Wednesday, August 12 – There is nothing better than treating yourself to a depressing documentary, so check out This Little Light of Mine: The Legacy of Fannie Lou Hamer at Hill Center.
• Thursday, August 13 – Relive your childhood with The Goonies at Capitol Riverfront.
• Friday, August 14 – The Hangover is playing at the Rosslyn Outdoor Film Festival and if you plan on going you should definitely bring a flask (or two).

• Friday, August 14 – Jackie Chan’s The Legend of Drunken Master is playing at the Freer Sackler Gallery and it sounds amazing. Maybe one day you too will be a drunken master.
• Friday, August 14 – The Princess Bride is playing at the Palisades Citizens Association. Good luck getting to the Palisades.

• Saturday, August 15 – Do you like crying in public and astronauts? Then you should probably hit up Apollo 13 at The Win Bin in Ellicott City, MD.
• Sunday, August 16 – Diva is the final screening of the Hong Kong Film Festival and it looks like a tear-jerker. I do love crying in public.

• Tuesday, August 11 – A deluge of Latin American bands are descending upon D.C. Sem Hastro, Cadenaxo, Maloso, Stressors, Outliers, and Department will all be at The Pinch.
• Wednesday, August 12 – The Summer Camp show is back at Wonderland Ballroom! Relive your glory days (just kidding everyone knows camp was horrible).
• Wednesday, August 12 – The DC Bike Party is throwing a Water World themed bike ride. They encourage you to wear swim suits and bring all manner of squirt guns. Someone is going to run over a car while getting beamed by a water balloon. I just know it.

• Thursday, August 13 – Celebrate the third spookiest day of the year with some dreamy tunes at the Looking Glass brought to your by BYT editor Brandon Wetherbee.
• Friday, August 14 – For those of you rich enough to purchase physical media (I kid), Babe City Records is throwing a tape release party for Bueno. That means good in Spanish.
• Friday, August 14 – I don’t know what “The Afro Latin Funky Funana” but I sure do love alteration. Head to Haydees Restaurant a Cape Verde Twist Party ft. the Sol Power All-Stars.
• Friday, August 14 – Haven’t you always wanted to be loud in a Library? Then check out Mellow Diamond at MLK Memorial Library. Being loud is great.

• Friday and Saturday, August 14 – 15 – Wytold Lebing Quartet, Rico Amero, and BG & the Mojo Hands are performing at the Lubber Run Ampitheater in Arlington. I have no idea who those bands are but I have a lot of questions about Mojo Hands.
• Saturday, August 15 – “Strange and captivating Chinese-influenced clarinet-math-rock from the land of Chicago” is the best thing I have ever read in a Facebook event description. If that hasn’t sold you then I don’t know what will.
• Saturday, August 15 – Seth Schowalter & the False Witness, The Outer Loop, and Austin Caughlin are all playing at The Pinch. The varied band names make me feel like this is going to be a ecclectic show (I mean that in a good way).
• Saturday, August 15 – Boardroom Heroes, Rememberalls, Canker Blossom, American Television, and Six Foot Machine are all at the St. Stephen’s Church. I really really hope Rememberalls is a Wizard Rock band. Actually, I hope they’re all Wizard Rock bands.

• Wednesday, August 12 – Johnee Wilson (I have never seen that name spelled like that and I am INTRIGUED) will teach you how to make homemade vegan meals at Busboys and Poets. Sounds healthy and… potentially delicious? I don’t know. Vegan food makes me nervous.
• Wednesday, August 12 – Beer Week is in full swing which means if you’re not getting drank every night of the week you have failed your countrymen. Swing by Glen’s Garden Market to get up close and personal with a variety of cask ales and rarities from Baltimore breweries like Brewers Art, Charm City Meadworks, and Union Craft and more.
• Thursday, August 13 – It’s time for a little adventure in your life. Make your way to the NE side of D.C. (you’ll be fine, trust me), for a little cook out at Dew Drop Inn with your friends at Atlas Brew Works. There will be burgers and brats and Rowdy Rye. What else could you need?

• Saturday, August 15 – Bluejacket is cutting the ribbon on their brand new bottle shop. If you want to grab some never before seen brews (like a whiskey barrel aged Mexican Radio) then you best get there as soon as it opens.
• Sunday, August 16 – You’re probably sick of beer… Just kidding! That’s impossible. Prove to your friends and companions that nothing can keep you away from this nectar of the gods by beating them all in a beer scavenger hunt. You know you want to.

• Tuesday, August 11 –  Become an expert in Vietnamese music and dance at Kennedy Center’s Vietnamese Cultural Events (just kidding you’ll never be an expert in anything, you might as well stop trying).
• Tuesday, August 11 – Show off how smart you are and drink all of the booze your heart desires at Looking Glass Lounge’s Trivia Tap Takeover with Denizen Brewing Co.

• Tuesday, August 11 – Win a year of free Ubers by… you guessed it… using Uber as much as possible. I wonder if they would disqualify you by taking a lot of $1 rides…
• Wednesday, August 12 – The American Art Museum is having a talk about video games and art! See mom and dad, video games are enriching. Super Smash Melee is the highest form of art.
• Saturday, August 15 – The American Art Museum is having a video game day. Perfect for those of us with stellar hand eye coordination (aka not me).
• Saturday, August 15 – The weirdest event of the summer is happening at the Capitol Skyline Pool. SynchroSwim is basically a bunch of performance pieces that take place in a pool and I can’t imagine anything fucking wackier than that. If you miss this you are 100% going to regret it.

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.