The DC Lineup for this weekend: Sweet treats before Valentine’s Day

This weekend in the District, observance of Black History Month continues with a poetry open mic, an afternoon concert and a talk by an esteemed World War II pilot. Other activities on tap include used-book sales, a new art exhibit at George Washington University, ice skating and celebrations of the Chinese New Year — plus opportunities to indulge your sweet tooth with a crêpe day and chocolate festival or to create handmade cards for Valentine’s Day.

After a sharp rise in temperatures this week, the weather will dip back to colder temperatures ranging from 58 to 21 degrees. Cloudy conditions will prevail Saturday and Sunday.

1. History: Spend Saturday learning about African-American pioneers in aviation and space during a family day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum at Independence Avenue and 6th Street SW. Visitors will have the opportunity to take part in hands-on activities as well as watch puppet shows and listen to a talk from Charles McGee, a distinguished World War II U.S. Air Force pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen.

2. Spoken Word Poetry: Ode to the Black Village: an open mic night is on Friday at Politics and Prose at Union Market, 1270 5th St. NE. The event from 6:30 to 9 p.m. honors the Black Lives Matter Week of Action in Schools. It is hosted by Teaching for Change and Center for Inspired Teaching, two local organizations that are dedicated to social justice and transforming education. Register online to perform original work on stage.

3. New Year’s Celebrations: Observe the new year on the lunar calendar this weekend with the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association’s Chinese New Year Parade on Sunday. The festivities start at 2 p.m. at 6th and I streets NW and is complete with traditional lion and dragon dances, kung fu demonstrations, fireworks, music, a beauty pageant and more. … Come early for the DC Library’s special story hour, Talk Story: Year of the Pig, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Xfinity Chinatown, 715 7th St. NW. This event is produced with the 1882 Foundation, which raises awareness of the Chinese Exclusion Acts that prohibited the Chinese from immigrating to the United States until the acts were repealed in 1943. (Keep in mind that on Saturday and Sunday shuttle buses will replace Metrorail service along the Red Line between Dupont Circle and Union Station, with the upper level of the Gallery Place station closed.)

4. Valentine’s Day: The Smithsonian National Postal Museum will host its annual drop-in Valentine’s Day Card Workshop on both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Supplies such as gems, rubber stamps and patterned paper will be provided to create homemade Valentines. Open to all ages, this heartwarming event is free and does not require registration. The museum is located at 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE.

5. Food & Drink: Get a head start on Valentine’s Day sweets with the Chocolate Festival on both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Potomac Atrium at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, 4th Street and Independence Avenue SW. The activities celebrate chocolate’s history, from its origins in the Maya culture to current recipes from the museum’s own executive chef, such as Mexican hot chocolate and cacao-rubbed pork loin. The program also includes a few tastings as well as food for purchase. The fest is free and accompanied by chocolate-themed events such as music, storytelling and films elsewhere in the museum.

6. Music: On Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m., the annual Black Composers Concert — presented by the James Weldon Johnson Community School of the Arts of Capitol Heights, Maryland — will bring classical, jazz, gospel and sacred music to Dunbar High School, 101 N St. NW. The performance from 3 to 5 p.m. will feature music written by composers of African descent brought to life by The Artist Group Chorale of Washington along with featured pianists, sopranos, tenors and cellists. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. The Dunbar Alumni Federation, the Ben Holt Memorial Branch of the National Association of Negro Musicians and the DC Strings Workshop are all supporters of this production.

7. Recreation: Join the Diversify Ice Fellowship & Foundation (DIFF) for a pop-up fundraiser on ice this Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at Canal Park Ice Rink, 200 M St. SE. Tickets cost $25 to $30 and benefit DIFF, which mentors underrepresented figure skaters through programs like its national #BeDIFFerent Campaign. This initiative brings reduced-cost or free after-school skating sessions to schools with large low-income populations all over the United States. Admission includes skate rental, entrance to the rink, and skating lessons from Joel Savary, an internationally known coach and DIFF founder and executive director; attendees will also have a chance to win raffle prizes.

8. Literature: During the last weeks of winter, curl up with a book from the Janney Elementary School Used Book Sale on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 4130 Albemarle St. NW. Titles for youth and adults — as well as special-interest publications such as cookbooks — will be available for 50 cents to $3. For the last hour, there will be a special offer: just $5 for an entire bag of books. … If you’re on the other side of town, you can catch the annual Maury Elementary School Used Book Sale at Maury Village, 1840 Constitution Ave. NE, also from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All proceeds from this market go to support the Maury fifth-graders’ trip to the U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. All-inclusive $10 passes cover up to 10 items (books plus a maximum of three non-book items like puzzles, DVDs and games), one hot chocolate, one piece of fruit, one arts and crafts project and unlimited story time. You can also opt to donate to the cause online or sponsor a pass for a family in need.

9. Food & Drink: The Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens celebrates France’s Crêpe Day — La Chandeleur — this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 4155 Linnean Ave. NW. The holiday signifies the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. The French celebrate by eating crêpes since they are circular and yellow like the sun in the springtime. The museum’s collection of French masterpieces provides a picturesque setting for visitors to dine on crêpes, listen to readings of classic French fables, tour the museum’s French items, go on a treasure hunt and decorate a plate in a French-inspired design. Tickets cost $18 for the general public, $15 for seniors, $12 for members, $10 for students and $5 for children ages 3 to 18. Admission is free for kids under 3.

10. Art: This is the first weekend to see an exhibition by DC-based artist, filmmaker and street projectionist Robin Bell called OPEN at George Washington University’s Corcoran School of the Arts & Design. Bell’s work has included collaborations with the Sierra Club and MoveOn.org to raise awareness of social and political issues. This new exhibit is an installation of lights and projections that is meant to be “a counterpoint to censorship, erasure and closure,” according to the university’s website. OPEN kicked off with an evening reception on Thursday and is on view at the Flagg Building, 500 17th St. NW, until March 31. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and from 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.