The DC Lineup for this weekend: festivals, films and four-legged friends

Longtime customs as well as brand-new developments are on our list of things to do in the District this weekend, March 29 to 31. Springtime continues with a variety of events, whether it’s welcoming a new local festival for the trans community or cheering on NCAA men’s basketball teams during March Madness’ Sweet 16 at Capital One Arena. Boat rides on the Potomac, a dog walk in a historic cemetery, a class with a former White House chef and quite a few film screenings are also taking place this weekend. And don’t overlook a bash to conclude the city’s Francophone fest — plus kite flying amid cherry blossoms, a DC classic.

It should be cloudy throughout the weekend, according to the weather forecast. Temperatures are expected to reach 76 degrees on Saturday before cooling off with morning showers and a high of 59 degrees on Sunday.

The cherry blossoms will be near their peak this weekend. The National Park Service’s Bloom Watch announced that the cherry blossoms reached stage four, “peduncle elongation,” on March 25. Due to warmer temperatures, their predicted peak bloom — the sixth and final stage — has been moved up a few days to April 1.

1. Local Community Festival: The first-ever Trans Visibility Community Festival is this Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. at Spaces NoMa, 1140 3rd St. NE. The schedule will showcase organizations that serve the trans community as well as the work of trans artists and creatives, including a short-film series, an open mic and art exhibitors. There will also be panel discussions, information sessions, a raffle, and food and beverages. This all-ages event is free to attend. Registration is available online, along with opportunities to volunteer. The fest is envisioned to be an annual event “for the local community to come together and celebrate the journeys of trans folx,” according to the website.

2. Sports: The District is hosting Sweet 16 action this year during March Madness. The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament East Regional takes place at Capital One Arena, 601 F St. NW. On Friday, Michigan State plays Louisiana State University in Game 1 at 7:09 p.m. and Duke takes on Virginia Tech in Game 2 immediately afterward. The winners will advance to the East Regional Final on Sunday at 2 or 4:55 p.m., according to the NCAA schedule. Friday’s games are sold out, but resale tickets for Sunday’s game are available starting at $219.

3. Recreation: Two best friends born and raised in Arlington — Jack Maher and Jack Walten — co-founded the Potomac Paddle Pub, an eco-friendly, 16-passenger Cycleboat powered by those on board, with a motor available if needed. It is the first and only of its kind in DC, according to the website. Kick off the new season with the Potomac Paddle Pub Launch Party on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Nick’s Riverside Grill, 3050 K St. NW. Individual tickets are available for weekday trips with a minimum of two seats per transaction, at $45 for each adult and $25 for each kid. Full boat rentals are available for $500 during the week and $625 on the weekend. All cruises are bring-your-own beer and food.

4. Local Food & Drink: Susan Barocas, guest chef for White House Seder from 2014 to 2016, hosts a cooking class on Sunday — Haroset: Beyond Apples & Nuts. Learn about different varieties of Haroset, a sweet paste of fruits and nuts traditionally eaten at Passover Seder, and sample Moroccan and Persian foods. The event takes place from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Tifereth Israel Congregation, 7701 16th St. NW. Admission costs $15 for Tifereth Israel or Sephardic Heritage International DC members and $18 for non-members. Register online.

5. Seasonal Festival: Watch thousands of kites fly over the grounds of the Washington Monument at the Blossom Kite Festival on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This free event near 15th Street and Constitution Avenue NW features competitions and demonstrations, including Rakkaku Battles with Japanese fighter kites and the Hot Trick Showdown, a stunt kite-flying event. Children can make kites while supplies last, but you can also bring your own or purchase one at the fest. There are also kite-maker competitions for both youth and adults.

6. Local Film: The short documentary film Dog Parks and Coffee Shops: Diversity Seeking in Changing Neighborhoods is screening at the Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Library, 3162 Mount Pleasant St. NW, on Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. The story follows old and new DC residents to investigate gentrification, consumption and diversity. See the trailer for a preview. It was created by Vanessa Perry, associate dean for faculty and professor of marketing at The George Washington University, and Sonya Grier, a professor at American University researching topics like race in the marketplace. The event is free with limited seating. It is part of “A Right to the City,” a programming series produced by DC Public Library and the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum that began in March and runs through the summer.

7. Local Film: Watch a screening of a documentary made by DC-based filmmakers Andrea Kalin and Karen Simon of Spark Media. The film, No Evidence of Disease, follows six gynecologic cancer surgeons who form a rock band that helps their patients heal. The film will be shown on Friday at Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St. NW, an organization that produces programs for those dealing with cancer. Tickets cost $20, with proceeds benefiting Nueva Vida’s Latina Cancer Clients. A panel discussion with medical experts and cancer survivors will follow the film. The event runs from 6 to 8:10 p.m. View the trailer to learn more.

8. Film: Finish off Women’s History Month with The Women Directors Film Festival: Visionaries, Then and Now. This free, all-day event from noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday includes screenings of films made from 1912 to 2012, as well as discussions with Q&As. The Smithsonian American Art Museum hosts the event in its McEvoy Auditorium, 8th and F streets NW. No registration is needed.

9. Musical Theater: You have just five more chances to catch this year’s Hexagon show, “Romp in the Swamp” at the Wilson High School Theater, 3950 Chesapeake St. NW. The troupe describes itself as “Washington’s only” and “America’s oldest continuously running all-original political satirical musical comedy theater group.” The 2019 revue depicts a group of archaeologists who discover “the long-lost city of Washington, DC, now a literal swamp,” and meet its denizens. This weekend’s shows are at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday; the final two performances are at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 5, and Saturday, April 6. Tickets cost $15 to $30 and are available online or by calling 202-333-7469. … The Georgetown Gilbert & Sullivan Society, an affiliate of the Georgetown University Law Center, is performing Urinetown this weekend. The award-winning musical comedy satirizes the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility and corporate mismanagement, among other topics. The show opened on Wednesday and will continue with performances on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Hart Auditorium, 600 New Jersey Ave. NW. General admission tickets are discounted online to $15 ($12 for students, alumni, faculty members and society members) and are available for $30 at the door.

10. Pets: Take a long walk with four-legged friends on Spring Dog Day from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday at Georgetown’s Oak Hill Cemetery, 3001 R St. NW. It’s the only day that pets are allowed in the 22-acre cemetery, which is listed as a National Historic Place because of its gothic design elements and its role in the cultural heritage of DC. The dog day is free, and no reservation is required. Donations to the Oak Hill Cemetery Historic Preservation Foundation are welcome.