Del Ray Music Festival June 22

Don't miss the Del Ray Music Festival this Saturday June 22, as its a free event from noon until 9pm and showcases many local bands. This is the seventh year the event has graced Alexandria, VA with the goal to "highlight, support, and showcase the local musical talent through a community event for families and children." The headliner for the event is Catie Curtis, with other bands on two stages including:
The Walkaways
The Highballers
Orchard Wall
The Beanstalk Library
Tiffany Thompson
The Weathervanes
Kate Moran Band
Elroy Jenkins
Rock of Ages student performances

The event offers food from local Del Ray restaurants and is family friendly with a moon bounce and games for kids. They are also partnered with the non-profit all-volunteer Guitars not Guns, which aims to use music to inspire at-risk and underprivileged youth by providing music education and mentoring opportunities.

The list of musicians and events is too long for here, so check out their Facebook, website or Twitter for more event information. Thanks to Kate Moran for organizing this, and if you want to volunteer you can sign up here.

Rosslyn outdoor film festival starts tonight

Tonight, Friday May 17 is the first night in the series of outdoor film showings in Rosslyn's Gateway park. This summer all the movies have a school related theme, with the 80s classic The Breakfast Club kicking things off at around 8pm. Bring a blanket, folding chairs, or snacks to these free movie showings on the grass between Lee Highway. Here is the full summer movie schedule:

May 17 - The Breakfast Club (R) 1985
May 24 - Ferris Bueller's Day Off (PG-13) 1986
May 31 – Clueless (PG-13) 1995
June 7 - Risky Business (R) 1983
June 14 - Can't Buy Me Love (PG-13) 1987
June 21 - Easy A (PG-13) 2010
June 27 - 10 Things I Hate About You (PG-13) 1999
July 5 - Bring It On (PG-13) 2000
July 12 - Pretty in Pink (PG-13) 1986
July 19 - She's All That (PG-13) 1999
July 26 – Fame (R) 1980
August 2 - Can't Hardly Wait (PG-13) 1998
August 9 - Sixteen Candles (PG) 1984
August 16 - High School Musical 3: Senior Year (G) 2006
August 23 - American Graffiti (PG) 1973
August 30 – Grease (PG-13) 1978

Sweet Tea Pumpkin Pie music festival Oct 5-7

Get in the mood for autumn with the massive Sweet Tea Pumpkin Pie music festival in DC next weekend. This live music event hosts over 200 bands in multiple locations in DC from Firday Oct 5 to Oct 7. Over the course of 3 days bands from DC, PA, NYC, VA, MD, NC, TX and beyond fun music festival across multiple venues around Adams Morgan, U Street, Shaw, Cleveland Park, and more in Washington, DC. A $1 donation gets you a entry wrist band and sticker, $5 adds in a bottle opener gift, and $10 also gets you a T-Shirt. You can find more info at www.STPPFest.com

Central Library Puzzle Festival on Saturday

The first ever Arlington Puzzle Festival will be held this Saturday Nov 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Central Library Auditorium, 1015 N. Quincy St. The day will include speakers in the morning, followed by puzzle competitions in the afternoon. Puzzles are provided by Will Shortz, from the New York Times and NPR, and world sudoku champion Thomas Snyder.

Old Town Wine Festival this weekend

Thirteen restaurants will be participating in the Old Town Wine Festival this Saturday and Sunday, Oct 10-11 11am to 6pm.

Twenty wineries will be contributing their products for tasting at two locations in Alexandria.

Tasting tickets are $35 and general admission is $15.

If you purchase online, use this promo code from the Washington Post to give you $10 off the admission: SG537

Folklife Festival @ National Mall

A nice surprise to my trip to DC was the 2009 Smithsonian Folklife Festival being held on the National Mall.

Located right off the Smithsonian Metro exit, halfway between the Monument and the Capital, if featured dozens of tents with live music and diverse food. Musical performances range from Welsh signers to traditional Latin bands.

The festival is this week from July 1st through 5th, 11am till around 5pm.