JUNE
June 1 through 13: DC Jazz Festival
Local and international jazz artists converge to play concerts at venues around the city, including the Kennedy Center, National Portrait Gallery, and Carter Barron Amphitheatre. Some events, such as the family-friendly jazz concerts on the National Mall, are free, while others require tickets.

June 4 through 13: Capital Pride Festival
This festival celebrates Washington’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals and communities and their cultural and civil-rights achievements. Now in its 35th year, the event includes educational opportunities and civic and social events. The event culminates with a parade through DC’s Dupont and Logan circles and a street festival along Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest.

June 5 and 6: Old Town Arts and Crafts Festival & Volunteer Fair
Volunteer Alexandria, an organization that matches volunteers with local nonprofits, sponsors this annual fundraiser. The festival includes a marketplace of handmade arts and crafts by local artisans, as well as live music and food vendors. Nonprofit groups will be on hand to present opportunities for volunteering. Free.

June 5 and 6: Washington Folk Festival
Celebrate cultures from around the world at this annual folk festival at Glen Echo Park. Last year’s program included six performance stages for everything from puppets to music to storytelling, as well as dance workshops and an arts-and-crafts marketplace. The festival, which runs from noon to 7 both days, is free.

June 5 and 6: Vintage Virginia Wine Festival
Dozens of Virginia wineries offer unlimited pours at this popular annual event at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville. Food vendors serve cheese and other goods to pair with wine, and local artists sell crafts and artwork. Bands perform on the outdoor amphitheater stage, and in the Family Tent, kids can enjoy jugglers, magicians, balloons, and more. Festivities run from 11 to 6 both days. A $20 shuttle will take you to and from the Vienna Metro station. Discounted advance-purchase tickets—available here through June 4—run from $5 for kids to $125 for a VIP pass.

June 11 through 13: Celebrate Fairfax! Festival
Check out more than 400 vendors, artisans, and family activities at this annual community festival at the Fairfax County Government Center. Concerts are held on five stages—this year, feature performances include Rusted Root and KC & the Sunshine Band. If you have kids in tow, head over to the Children’s Avenue pavilion, which in the past has included a petting zoo, climbing wall, musical stage, and model-train exhibit. Discounted early-bird tickets are available here, but you can also get tickets at the gate.

June 11 through 26: Columbia Festival of the Arts
Now in its 23rd year, this annual summer festival celebrates performing and visual artists from Howard County. The LakeFest Celebration (June 11 through 13) opens the festival at Columbia Town Center, with three days of family-friendly activities including an arts-and-crafts marketplace, kids’ stories and crafts, a parade, and live music. Other festival highlights include art exhibitions, concerts, family activities, and art workshops. Some events, such as the LakeFest Celebration, are free, but others require tickets. Tickets are available at Tickets.com starting April 30.

June 12 and 13: National Harbor Food & Wine Festival
National Harbor’s nosh-and-sip fest includes kids’ cooking demonstrations and activities, seminars and demonstrations with guest chefs, a Belgian-beer cafe, and samples of boutique wines. Special events, such as a three-course clambake, are also in store. Tickets, which give you unlimited tastings, are available here at early-bird prices ranging from $15 to $69; children under six are free. General-admission tickets at the gate are $73.

June 12 through July 3: Source Festival
This three-week theater festival showcases more than two dozen never-before-seen performance pieces. It includes a mix of both full-length and short plays as well as works representing collaborations between artists from across multiple disciplines. Tickets are required for all performances.

June 22 through 27: Silver Docs
More than 100 films from 60 countries are screened during this documentary-film festival. Screenings are held at AFI Silver Theatre and Discovery Communications World Headquarters in Silver Spring, and the Round House Theatre in Bethesda. In addition to film showings, there are roundtable discussions and an idea-pitching forum for filmmakers and interested participants. Tickets are required.

June 24 through 28 and July 1 through 5: Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Learn about cultures around the world at the annual Folklife Festival on the National Mall (between Seventh and 14th streets). The Smithsonian packs the two-week event with music, food, dancing, crafts, cooking demonstrations, and outdoor exhibits. This year, Asian Pacific American cultures and Mexican traditions will be highlighted. The Smithsonian provides a behind-the-scenes look at its museums and institutions with the Smithsonian Inside Out program. The festival is open daily from 11 to 5:30, and evening events start at 6. Free.

June 26 and 27: National Capitol BBQ Battle
You’ll probably be able to skip lunch—and maybe dinner—if you check out the National Capital Barbecue Battle, held along Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest, between Ninth and 14th streets. Sample ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, and more as barbecue teams duke it out for $40,000 in cash and prizes. There are also cooking demonstrations, children’s activities, live music on two stages, and celebrity appearances. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for kids ages six to 12, under age six are free.

June 26 and 27: DC Caribbean Carnival
This annual festival features performances by local bands and artists who hail from Caribbean countries as well as island food, crafts, and entertainment. The don’t-miss event is the parade, which travels down Georgia Avenue from Missouri Avenue to Barry Place. The parade ends at the carnival grounds at Banneker Recreation Park. Tickets are required for entry to the carnival.