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 continues. Be sure to consult our Outdoor Movie Guide. Promise me you will.

• Wednesday, August 19 – I haven’t seen Monsoon Wedding. Maybe you haven’t either. Well this is our chance, because it’s showing at Harrison Field on U Street.

• Thursday, August 20 – Remember how great Guardians of the Galaxy was last summer? It’s still that great. Check it out at the Navy Yard.
• Friday, August 21 – Despicable Me is screening at Getaway Park, Rosslyn. Bring your own Minions.

• Friday, August 21 – The state of the world is woeful, but no worries Captain America will single-handedly resolve this in a matter of hours. See the whole ordeal play out at Strawberry Park in the Mosaic District.
• Friday-Saturday, August 21-23 – Comcast will be hosting an Outdoor Film Fest benefiting NIH Charities this weekend. Friday: they’ll be showing How to Train Your Dragon. Saturday: it’ll be Interstellar. Sunday: Guardians of the Galaxy.

• Thursday, August 20 –  Flaccid, the Cringe, and Torso are playing at Warehouse Loft at 411 New York Ave. The cover is $7.

• Thursday, August 20 – This month’s Specific Ignorance at the Bier Baron Tavern will feature Brittany Carney (Church Night), Andrew Bucket (the Guardian), and Alyssa Cowan (The Kitchen Sink Party Show). Admission is totally free!
• Friday, August 21 – Be at Wonderland Ballroom for this important moment in Romane & Lettuce history. If you don’t know what kind of entertainment you’ll be getting from Romane & Lettuce, it’s a comedy show.
• Friday, August 21 – Above the bayou, catch BIG HUSH, Zula, Gauche, and ET al. Please message for the address or you’ll end up at the restaurant.

• Friday, August 21 – There’s a concert happening at Dr. Clock’s Nowhere Bar. Come see Boy Harsher, C10, and DJ Jonathan Wollen as they kick out some dark electronic jams. 
• Friday, August 21 – If you’re in college park stop by the Mad Ox for ROMP and American Lions. They’d really appreciate it; they came all the way from Brunswick.
• Friday, August 21 – The Black Cat is hosting a benefit concert for SultWalk DC with the Escape Artist and Atoka Chase. Tickets cost $12 but it goes to a good cause.

• Saturday, August 22 – There’s also a benefit show to support Radio CPR. Check out Party Dark, J.Flax & The Heart Attacks, Alfajor, and more at someone’s house. The address is on the Facebook page.
• Saturday, August 22 – Now the concert we’ve all been waiting for: Babe City Records is celebrating its one year anniversary at the 9:30 Club. Though tickets are $15 there may or may not be free gifts/music. There also may or may not be some secret performances.
• Saturday, August 22 – See some high school bands at the Electric Maid. Bucky’s Fatal Mistake would be so happy to see you there.
• Sunday, August 23 – I know how you love shows at Comet Ping Pong because they basically come with pizza. Well check out the show this Sunday featuring Kepi Ghoulie and Mikey Erg. Sounds like it should be folk-y show.
• Sunday, August 23 – Amanda X and the Spirit of the Beehive will be playing with D.C.’s own FLAMERS backstage at the Black Cat. 

• Monday-Sunday, August 17-23 – The brand new Good Humor truck will continue providing the District with joy in the form of free ice cream this week. Follow them on tweeter as they drive around D.C. doling out the good stuff.

Have fun in the 🌞 with free 🍦 and the Good Humor Man this week. Tweet a friend to invite them to #JoyhoodDC: pic.twitter.com/pQ9quWQPhd

— Good Humor (@GoodHumor) August 17, 2015

• Tuesday August 18th-31st – Anyone who purchases a ShopHouse House Favorite bowl will get a card that entitles them a free Chipotle entree. Delicious free food.
• Tuesday August 18 – Brookland Pint turns one today. The party begins at 5pm with food specials, a free buffet for the kids, and beers from 3 Stars Brewing.
• Thursday, August 20 – The pancakes & booze art show at Penn Social has the things you love most. All-you-can-eat food, booze, and exhibiting artwork. There will be body paint. There will be music. There will be pancakes. And all of this will only cost you $5.

• Sunday, August 23 – Come to Bethesda Row for the first ever slider smackdown and block party. While it’s free to attend, if you donate a school supply product you’ll receive a free kids tasting ticket. Otherwise an adult tasting ticket will cost you $20.

• Tuesday, August 18 – Professor emerita of ethic studies at California State, Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, will be discussing her new book  An Indigenous Peoples History of the United States. It’ll probably be somewhat depressing but in an empowering way.

• Wednesday, August 19 – The summer is winding down. This Wednesday marks the last late night of the beach at National Building Museum. Be sure to check it out before it’s all gone.
• Thursday, August 20 – The Museum of Chinese in America is hosting a trivia night inspired by all things Asian American. For instance, did you know that the Disney classic Bambi was illustrated by Tyrus Wong? I didn’t.
• Friday, August 21 – Friday means free yoga at the Hirshhorn Museum’s plaza.

• Saturday, August 22 – Come celebrate a great day in D.C.’s history: Chuck Brown’s Birthday. There’s a full day worth of activities schedule to happen at Chuck Brown Memorial Park that day.
• Saturday, August 22 – DCTV has brought back the Community Day Festival. The FREE outdoor celebration of all things D.C. will have music, food, and a moon bounce. The event takes place from 1 to 6 p.m.

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.