Kick-off National Poetry Month and the Festival of Literary Arts (FoLA) at the Poet's Day Party!

Join us for an afternoon filled with live poetry readings, spontaneous performances, and engaging discussions, as we gather to honor the beauty of language and the power of expression. Whether you're a seasoned poet or simply curious about the magic of poetry, this event promises to be a joyful exploration of the written and spoken word. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with fellow poetry enthusiasts and immerse yourself in the enchanting world of literature.

This is the first celebration event for the 2024 FoLA. FoLA is an annual event curated by PGAHC's Office of the Poet Laureate. In honor of National Poetry Month, the 2024 Festival of Literary Arts is purposed to support the cultural life of Prince George’s County by celebrating rich literary culture, engaging readers, supporting poets, writers, and literary scholars, facilitating conversations, and inspiring the next generation through great literature and poetry.

Afrofuturism evolved as an expressive outlet and platform to understand and interpret the history of race and African/Black cultural identity.  This show draws from the past and present using Kujichagulia- Self Determination, as a lens to acknowledge and honor some of our cultural norms from African and African American history.  

We tell the stories of an African young woman’s Rite of Passage, while honoring the contributions of her life; we honor our Babas through a prayer sung in Xhosa and the South African Gumboot as well as other stories that give a window to our place on this planet now and in the future.

Afrofuturism evolved as an expressive outlet and platform to understand and interpret the history of race and African/Black cultural identity.  This show draws from the past and present using Kujichagulia- Self Determination, as a lens to acknowledge and honor some of our cultural norms from African and African American history.  

We tell the stories of an African young woman’s Rite of Passage, while honoring the contributions of her life; we honor our Babas through a prayer sung in Xhosa and the South African Gumboot as well as other stories that give a window to our place on this planet now and in the future.

For one night only, Japan Society presents Nihon Buyo (literally “Japanese dance”), an elegant, refined art form performed by artists skillfully trained in kabuki dance. Its exciting annual presentation with the Kennedy Center features the dance pieces Toba-e and Boléro, along with performances by musicians playing traditional Japanese instruments. 

Acompáñenos para un evento comunitario con algunos de los mejores representantes de la música Latinoamericana en el área de DC. Desde mariachi y son jarocho de México, a cumbia Colombiana, y música Andina, esta presentación le dará la oportunidad a la comunidad de conocer la amplia diversidad, variedad y talento que vive y crece en nuestra área de Washington, DC.

Participantes incluyen:
- Grupo Fénix (Mariachi de México)
- Wayta (Música Andina, de Perú, Bolivia, Ecuador, y Chile)
- La Marvela (Bullerengue de Colombia)
- Son La Lucha (Son Jarocho de México)

¡Al concluir la presentación la audiencia tendrá la oportunidad de hacerle preguntas a los artistas!

Join us for a dynamic community event showcasing some of the DC area’s most unique Latin American tradition-keepers, from Mariachi music of Mexico, to cumbia and son jarocho, to the pan flute-filled South American music of the Andes, this showcase will allow an opportunity for the community to witness the true breadth of diversity, variety, and talent that thrives in the Washington, DC region.

Featured acts include:
- Grupo Fénix (Mariachi, Mexico)
- Wayta (Andean, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile)
- La Marvela (Bullerengue, Colombia)
- Son La Lucha (Son Jarocho, Mexico)

After the showcase, audience members will have the chance to ask the performers questions about their art!*

*This program will be run primarily in Spanish.

Drum TAO brings their one-of-a-kind instrumental performance, with the distinctly Japanese lineup of Wadaiko drums alongside traditional flute and harp. Drum TAO has received national acclaim for their dedication to the Japanese musical craft. Their traditional style paired with intense physicality and contemporary musical interpretations has earned them millions of YouTube views, a sold-out Off-Broadway run, and opportunities to represent Japan at Japonismes 2018 in Paris, and Japan Year in Russia. They have gained global renown for their dynamic, energetic performances and are on the road for their first world tour since 2020. 

We are a collaboration of 5 young dancers whose mission it is to maintain and perpetuate traditional African culture and to create a supportive, noncompetitive, positive, and nurturing environment for the expression of that culture. With the assistance and unyielding support of our brothers, we are able to connect with our community in a way that allows us to share our passion.

5 The Hard Way is the first of its kind. 5 instructors, 6 Classes, 5 different traditional West African rhythms, 5 minutes apart and one final collaborative class to bring it all together. Where you may fall short in stamina, you will be lifted by the amazing energy of family and community healing, celebration and cultural exchange.

Each of our Fab Five have worked as professional performers and lecturers in the art of traditional West African Dance. They have all worked under and with world renowned choreographers and musicians. They have traveled and performed nationally and internationally from villages to internationally known establishments and institutions. They have each taken the up the responsibility of sustaining and perpetuating culture.

FREE admission and parking!

Discover the rich and diverse culture of Native American Indians at this year's in-person festival!

Festival Activities

• Traditional and Contemporary Musical Performances Drumming 

• Singing

• Dancing 

• Oral Tradition Storytelling

Interactive Exhibits and Demonstrations

• Pre-Contact Native Technologies 

• Native Horsemanship Genealogy 

• Regalia 

• Arts & Crafts 

• Archery 

• Live Birds of Prey 

• Archaeology

Dates: October 5, 12 & 19, 2023 (Thursdays) | 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Following the Echoes of the Enslaved main event, the Archaeology Office and the Surratt House Museum invite you to help investigate and preserve our community’s cultural heritage. More than 40 years have passed since an archaeological excavation took place around the historic Surratt House kitchen, and those artifacts need to be properly stored and analyzed. During these three-week, hands-on workshops, we will work together to identify and stabilize objects that are nearly 200 years old. The staff will teach you all you need to know; prior experience is not necessary. Save our local history while doing a service for the community! FREE!

Dates: October 5, 12 & 19, 2023 (Thursdays) | 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Following the Echoes of the Enslaved main event, the Archaeology Office and the Surratt House Museum invite you to help investigate and preserve our community’s cultural heritage. More than 40 years have passed since an archaeological excavation took place around the historic Surratt House kitchen, and those artifacts need to be properly stored and analyzed. During these three-week, hands-on workshops, we will work together to identify and stabilize objects that are nearly 200 years old. The staff will teach you all you need to know; prior experience is not necessary. Save our local history while doing a service for the community! FREE!

Dates: October 5, 12 & 19, 2023 (Thursdays) | 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Following the Echoes of the Enslaved main event, the Archaeology Office and the Surratt House Museum invite you to help investigate and preserve our community’s cultural heritage. More than 40 years have passed since an archaeological excavation took place around the historic Surratt House kitchen, and those artifacts need to be properly stored and analyzed. During these three-week, hands-on workshops, we will work together to identify and stabilize objects that are nearly 200 years old. The staff will teach you all you need to know; prior experience is not necessary. Save our local history while doing a service for the community! FREE!

Bring your entire family to this year’s FREE Hispanic Festival at Lane Manor Park. FREE shuttle rides are available; visit pgparks.com for details. Please bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on!

Join us for:

• Music

• Live Entertainment

• Delicious Ethic Food

• Craft Vendors

• Children’s Area

• Teen Area

• Displays / Exhibitors

• Carnival Games

• And much more!

La Banda Chuska is reimagining the vintage sounds of Peruvian cumbia and surf through the lens of its New York City home and diverse musical and cultural backgrounds (Peru, P.R., Argentina, U.S.A.). The band’s post-punk energy and subversive playfulness have also evoked comparisons to a tropical version of the B-52s.

This festival commemorates Juneteenth, the day African American slavery ended in the United States. Join this cultural program as it entertains and educates through performances, family activities, vendors, and a genealogy workshop.

This event takes place rain or shine.

Join us at Amazon Headquarters as we commemorate the contributions of Arab Americans featuring Arab cuisine and cultural presentations.

CLICK HERE for more information and tickets.

The concert will be led by conductor Yue Bao, Assistant Conductor of the Houston Symphony Orchestra, and feature works by renowned composers played by a world-class symphony orchestra. With performances by Stella Chen, winner of the Queen Elisabeth International Competition and rising international opera star, Hyesang Park, this will be a showcase of phenomenal talent. Additionally, In honor of the cultural celebration, guests can enjoy performances by Chinese and Korean artists and family-friendly activities during our pre and post-concert events. The evening will be a jubilant experience that embodies connectivity and cultural appreciation through music.

For a grand finale at 6pm, go to the Millennium Stage in the Grand Foyer. The Red Crook-ed Sky American Indian Dance Troupe and the Stoney Creek Singers, bring new dance and music to the Kennedy Center to end the 2022 “Summer at the Millennium Stage” performances.

Soka Tribe is an Afro-Caribbean dance class that harnesses the power of soca music to bring the energy of Caribbean Carnival to you! Grounded in the vibrant 200+ year-old celebration that has taken the world by storm, Soka Tribe class creates a carnival environment with another level of vibes while increasing your stamina, flexibility, and coordination.

This production, which makes use of Stravinsky's 1949 Firebird suite (like most contemporary American productions) is influenced by Zulu / Xhosa culture.

This is a virtual event. You will be emailed a link to streamed event prior to start time or no later than one hour before the scheduled start time. No printed ticket required.

If registration is closed and you would like to attend or you haven't received the link 30 minutes before showtime, email us at contact-cpa@pgcc.edu. Please also check your spam folder for link.

Indian percussionist Zakir Hussain is an international phenomenon and one of the greatest musicians of our time. He is widely considered a chief architect of the contemporary world music movement. Red Baraat, “the best party band in years” (NPR) merges hard-driving North Indian bhangra with elements of hip-hop. They are joined by GRAMMY-nominated Falu’s Bollywood Orchestra for an evening of high-energy Indian fusion with the timeless elegance of Bollywood’s musical golden age.

As every year, we are taking you on a day trip around the world and present you the cuisine, culture and traditions of over 40 countries participating on the event.

The event is ADMISSION FREE, with plenty of national dishes and beverages available for purchase. A national dish is any country’s culinary, and to a large extent, cultural identity.

There will be a full day schedule of traditional dances on the stage starting at 11:30am! Ethnic arts & crafts, small businesses and non-profit organizations will also be present at the festival!

So, come join us for a fun and educational experience of culture, art, food and dancing!

FREE ADMISSION. PET FRIENDLY. RAIN OR SHINE EVENT.

GET Dance invites you to travel around the world with Melissa, an adventurous dancer who explores the world through dance. She relates her stories about India, Egypt, Turkey, some Caribbean Islands, Brazil and Colombia, inviting us to learn about the culture and dance of these magic regions.

Experience this special event in person, at a socially safe distance! Masks are required.

BUY TICKETS

Event Dates: May 1, 5 & 8 / Part in-person, part virtual

The DC Funk Parade is an inclusive cultural event featuring art, performance, and reflection on the state of the District of Columbia and its communities. We exhibit music, dance, and visual arts during this celebration of Washington D.C.’s U Street neighborhood funk: the subatomic particle of love that brings us all together!

Funk Parade is powered by community contributions. Every donation supports the health of Funk Parade and free-of-charge music programs for thousands of youth.

ON THIS DATE:

May 8, 2021  - Until our stages return to U. Street , enjoy our virtual festival full of the music, spoken word, dance, performance art & fUnKy appearances from artists and creatives who have been inspired by the Black Broadway corridor and its history! Celebrate & dance the weekend away with us right from FunkParade.com on your own time! GET TICKETS HERE

Event Dates: May 1, 5 & 8 / Part in-person, part virtual

The DC Funk Parade is an inclusive cultural event featuring art, performance, and reflection on the state of the District of Columbia and its communities. We exhibit music, dance, and visual arts during this celebration of Washington D.C.’s U Street neighborhood funk: the subatomic particle of love that brings us all together!

Funk Parade is powered by community contributions. Every donation supports the health of Funk Parade and free-of-charge music programs for thousands of youth.

ON THIS DATE:

May 5, 2021 (VIP)  - Black Broadway Mural Walk: Led by our Funk Parade Historian Bernie Demczuk, our mural tourists will visit 15 different murals in our festival’s home corridor! Look out…surprise performances will take place at (3)  landmarks featuring Saxophonists Reginald Cyntje & Elijah Balbed and Soul Singer/Guitarist Kenny Sharp! GET TICKETS HERE

Event Dates: May 1, 5 & 8 / Part in-person, part virtual

The DC Funk Parade is an inclusive cultural event featuring art, performance, and reflection on the state of the District of Columbia and its communities. We exhibit music, dance, and visual arts during this celebration of Washington D.C.’s U Street neighborhood funk: the subatomic particle of love that brings us all together!

Funk Parade is powered by community contributions. Every donation supports the health of Funk Parade and free-of-charge music programs for thousands of youth.

ON THIS DATE:

May 1, 2021 Come and join the Funk Parade Festival team at Aslin Beer Co. (Alexandria, VA) on May 1st between the hours of 11am – 9pm to try our Black Broadway beer! Be one of the first supporters to purchase our limited edition sour ale. Brewed with notes of Dragon Fruit, Passion Fruit, Blackberry, Milk Sugar & Vanilla – get your 4pack while supplies last!  GET TICKETS HERE

WTCDC presents Winternational, an exciting celebration showcasing the cultural and culinary traditions of Washington’s diplomatic community. The festival features a bustling global marketplace with more than 50 embassies promoting their countries through vibrant and interactive displays of visual art, food, handcrafts as well as travel and tourism. Free and open to the public.

For more information and list of participating embassies, visit: http://www.rrbitc.com/winternational/