The DC Lineup for this weekend: Back-to-school special

Classes at DC public schools officially begin Monday, and the District is getting a head start this weekend with many events that have educational components. Learn an important part of our nation’s history during a bell-ringing ceremony that commemorates 400 years of African American history on the anniversary of the first day that enslaved Africans were brought to North America. Take notes on drama at film festivals or Arena Stage’s celebration of its 70th anniversary season. Re-create gym class at one of the Washington National Cathedral’s tower climbs or a golfing event at Nationals Park. Discover world cultures at a festival or savor the unofficial last weekend of summer with all-you-can-eat crabs. Our list also includes formal back-to-school events like ribbon-cutting ceremonies for two Ward 4 schools and a chance for students to get free haircuts, eye exams and backpacks full of school supplies.

The weather forecast for this weekend, Aug. 23 to 25, calls for a rainy Friday, a mostly sunny Saturday and a partly cloudy Sunday. Temperatures should fall between 63 and 81 degrees.

1. History: On Sunday afternoon, the National Park Service will participate in a Nationwide Bell Ringing Ceremony aimed at healing and reconciliation on the 400th anniversary of the first landing of enslaved Africans in English-occupied North America, which occurred at Point Comfort in what is now Hampton, Virginia. “Bells are symbols of freedom,” the National Park Service notes on its website. “They are rung for joy, sorrow, alarm and celebration … universal concepts in each of our lives.” To join in solidarity, bells will ring simultaneously across the United States for four minutes at 3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time to honor 400 years of African American history. In DC, free bell-ringing ceremonies and related events will be held at the following National Park Service sites: Lincoln Park on Capitol Hill at East Capitol and 11th streets NE; the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, 1411 W St. SE; the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site, 1538 9th St. NW; the Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site, 1318 Vermont Ave. NW; Peirce Mill in Rock Creek Park at 2401 Tilden St. NW; and Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, 1550 Anacostia Ave. NE. A ceremony will also take place just outside DC at the Netherlands Carillon at Arlington Ridge Park near the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. … Sunday’s Georgetown Waterfront Park Day coincides this year with the nationwide commemoration. Activities start from 10:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. with a slate of tours and talks on the history of the Georgetown waterfront. From 2 to 3:15 p.m., the National Park Service and the Georgetown African American Historic Landmark Project & Tour will present a wreath-laying “in remembrance of enslaved Africans aboard ships that docked along the Georgetown Waterfront as early as 1732,” according to an event listing. At 3 p.m., several Georgetown churches will ring their bells. 

2. Theater: Arena Stage kicks off its 70th anniversary season with a Community Day on Saturday that features a chance to buy props from past performances. Pricing begins at $1 and available items include household furniture like dining room table sets and lounge chairs — all great conversation pieces since the objects all graced the stage during productions like Carousel, Anything Goes and South Pacific. Select props can be previewed online. The sale runs from 1 to 5 p.m. at Arena Stage, 1101 6th St. SW. A wine and beer garden will be open  from 2 until the fair ends at 6 p.m. Activities throughout the day will include pony rides, face painting, dance, music, storytelling and food from Southwest restaurants.

3. Education: Families can prepare their kids for the school year at the Get Lit to Be Equipped  Back to School Event. Free haircuts, eye exams, food and a giveaway of backpacks filled with school supplies will be offered on a first come, first served basis. Other highlights include family and community resources, plus a chance to sign up for the 2020-21 DC Opportunity Scholarship Program. Music, games, arts and crafts, as well as a slime station will also be on site at the Boys & Girls Club, 1901 Mississippi Ave. SE. The fair takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. 

4. Food & Drink: The fourth annual Brookland Crab Fest is this Saturday at the Brookland Pint, 716 Monroe St. NE. Enjoy this classic summer tradition with local beer and all-you-can-eat locally sourced Maryland blue crabs that will be steamed on site. Diners can choose from two different time slots: 1 to 3:30 p.m. or 4 to 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $65 and can be purchased the day of the event. Families can make reservations to dine separately from the festival on the top portion of the patio by emailing info@brooklandpint.com.

5. Recreation: The Washington National Cathedral will offer a chance to climb its towers this weekend for scenic views of the iconic landmark and its surroundings. The Combination Tower Climb is on Saturday at 10:15 a.m., which combines the Bell Tower Climb (featuring the ringing chamber) with the Angels and Monsters Tower Climb (showcasing the gargoyles and grotesques around the cathedral). Tickets cost $75. Climbs are held year-round, with additional Combination Tower Climbs set for Friday, Aug. 30, at 3 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 7, at 10:15 a.m.; and Saturday, Sept. 28, at 12:30 p.m. Note that the tours are not appropriate for young children and have a 48-inch height requirement.

6. Ward 4 Neighborhoods: Start the new school year with the Coolidge High School Ribbon Cutting and Cookout with Mayor Muriel Bowser and Schools Chancellor Lewis Ferebee. The free program starts at 11 a.m. and will include food and all-ages activities to celebrate the modernization of Calvin Coolidge High School, located at 6315 5th St. NW. Afterward, the focus of the celebration shifts to the opening of the new Ida B. Wells Middle School, located on the Coolidge campus. A ribbon-cutting for its facilities will take place at 12:30 p.m. DC Public Schools, the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education and the Department of General Services are among the events’ supporters.

7. Culture: Celebrate the presence of diverse global communities in DC at the fourth annual Taste of the World Festival this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Guy Mason Recreation Center, 3600 Calvert St. NW. The fest features an international food court, a marketplace with handmade products, and entertainment like music and dance with audience participation. Performances will include Caribbean and Latin music from Grupo Miel; African dance from Zed Trio Dancers; Colombian music from the all-female band La Marvela; Greek music from Karpouzi Trio; a blend of cumbia and other musical forms from La Colombopercutiva, a musical collective of immigrants; and a traditional Peruvian dance involving a Paso horse and rider. Alpacas, which are native to South America, will also be on site. The DC Department of Parks and Recreation, Mayor’s Office on African Affairs and Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs are among the partner organizations. The event is free and registration is open on the festival’s website.

8. Film: The theme of this year’s Global Impact Film Fest is “Emerging Power of Media for Social Justice,” featuring narratives and documentaries about world issues like the environment, health, equality and diplomacy. The fifth annual festival takes place this weekend downtown at the Washington, DC Renaissance Hotel, 999 9th St. NW. The schedule starts off with a welcome party at 6 p.m. on Friday, followed by screenings at 8 and 10 p.m. and a cultural event at midnight hosted by the festival’s local production company DCBX. Screenings begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, with a workshop about branding at 1 p.m., followed by additional screenings at 2 and 4 p.m. Saturday’s evening program features a panel discussion at 6, a dinner break at 7, a rooftop networking party at 8, a screening at 10 p.m. and another DCBX party at midnight. On Sunday, catch screenings at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. before the 3 p.m. lunch break. The final set of screenings is at 4, followed by an award ceremony at 6 and farewell party at 8 p.m. Tickets are available online. An all-access pass for the whole weekend costs $99, with a pass for Saturday or Sunday available for $74. Tickets are also available for individual events: $10 for the workshop, $15 for the awards ceremony, $8 for adults (or $5 for children) to attend any of the shorts programs, and $15 for Saturday’s VIP networking event. Registration opens at 10 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

9. Sports: Golf meets baseball with Topgolf CRUSH at Nationals Park through Sunday as the baseball field becomes a golf course with brightly lit targets. Beers and snacks will be available for attendees to enjoy, and golfers and non-golfers are welcome to attend. Ticket options include a $10 festival ticket (best for those who don’t plan to golf) that provides all-day event access and all-ages Crush Zone activities. Regular tickets cost $50 and include the same benefits as festival tickets plus a one-hour golf game and complimentary use of golf clubs and balls. Premium tickets cost $110 and add perks such as two drink tickets for beer, wine or house cocktails and a meal voucher for an entree and side. Those interested in purchasing group tickets can email topgolfcrushsales@complexse.com for details.

10. Film: The Shakespeare Theatre Company presents a mix of lighthearted, family-friendly flicks at Free Films for All this weekend. The lineup kicks off with Jurassic Park on Friday at 8 p.m. On Saturday night, Legally Blonde screens at 7 followed by Clueless at 9:30 p.m. Then on Sunday, the schedule wraps up with The Princess and the Frog at 11 a.m. and Inside Out at 2 p.m. All screenings are free and held in Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW. Reservations are encouraged but not required.