From paddling down the Potomac to tasting the world’s best barbecue, take full advantage of the many, many great happenings in DC this summer.

Know of any other fun events or activities in DC this summer? Share below in the comments! 

• Summer Concert Guide: 31 can’t-miss shows, from Kendrick Lamar to U2

  In the age of Spotify streams and surprise albums, it seems that the only reassuring constant in music is the summer concert season — three reliably glorious months of sprawling crowds and splashy pyrotechnics, all beckoning us back to outdoor pavilions and football stadiums for singalongs on a massive scale.

• Where to find free music, movies, and yoga under the stars this summer

  Washingtonians love to gripe about the summer weather, but the truth is, we’ll do anything we can to spend time outdoors while we can. (Have you tried to get a spot on the Salt Line’s patio or next to the fountain at Jazz in the Garden?) Here are some fun and, most importantly, free ways to make the most of the season while enjoying your days alfresco.

• Boating in DC

  Boating in DC offers 7 convenient boathouses throughout the Greater Washington, DC, area along the Potomac and Anacostia rivers. Though rentals vary by location, our boathouses offer everything from kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, sailboats, and skulls, to hydro bikes and pedal boats. You can even join us for unique tours, adult lessons, and youth sailing day camps.

• Safeway National Capital Barbecue Battle– June 24-25

  Now celebrating its 25th year, The Safeway National Capital Barbecue Battle has become one of the largest and most unique food & music festivals in the country. Celebrating the art of cooking and the joy of eating, the Barbecue Battle offers residents of the Greater Washington area and throughout the east coast, the chance to enjoy America’s favorite pastime in our Nation’s Capital.

• Smithsonian Folklife Festival– June 29-July 4 and July 6-9

  Produced annually by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, the free Folklife Festival takes place for two weeks every summer. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival will host a series of programs exploring American identity and creativity. “Circus Arts” will take visitors behind the scenes to explore the cultural and artistic expressions of the ever-evolving circus. Program highlights will include daily performances in a Big Top circus tent, a full-scale circus school in the Arts and Industries Building and a series of hands-on activities for visitors. The “On the Move” program will bring together hip-hop artists, muralists and poetry slam performers, among others, to explore immigration and migration from new and diverse perspectives.

• Washington Kastles– July and August

  WTT is tennis like you’ve never seen it, featuring the biggest names in the world playing together in an innovative co-ed team format that offers exciting possibilities for players and fans alike.

• Capital Fringe Festival– July

  The annual Capital Fringe Festival creates a city filled with non-stop theatre, dance, music, visual art, and everything in-between. Audiences enjoy non-stop, creative experiences and artists develop their artistic visions in total freedom without any curatorial barriers. Our city is enriched as art takes over neighborhoods, animating the spaces — from traditional theaters, to corner bars, to vacant storefronts.