June is officially here, and with it comes the perfect opportunity to kick off summer with a bang! The DC metro area and Eastern Panhandle are buzzing with festivals, historic celebrations, and cultural events this month. From world-class film screenings and Juneteenth community parties to music festivals and vibrant Pride celebrations, there’s something for everyone. Dive into our curated guide to the top events in the DMV and WV to ensure you live this month to the fullest. Get ready to mark your calendars!
The Upperville Colt & Horse Show | June 1-7
8300 John S. Mosby Hwy, Upperville, VA
This year marks the historic 173rd anniversary of the Upperville Colt and Horse Show, the oldest and longest-running horse show in America, and Corcoran McEnearney is a proud sponsor! Be sure to check out the full lineup of special events and activities here so you don't miss a moment of the fun.
General Admission Parking is free. No tickets are needed; reserved seating is available, and you must contact [email protected] or 540-687-5740.
Shepherdstown Street Fest | June 6, 10 AM - 8:30 PM
This is a festival that celebrates all that is unique, artistic, and welcoming in Shepherdstown! Since 2005, StreetFest has been one of the best fine arts & crafts festivals in the region, along with great live music and kids' activities. It is an event for EVERYONE! This year, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to two great charities.
FREE
Strawberry Festival | June 6-7, 8:30 AM - 6 PM
22222 Davis Mill Road, Germantown, MD 20876
Celebrate the season at Butler’s Orchard’s Strawberry Festival, the ultimate family-friendly farm adventure! Enjoy live music, tractor-driven trolley rides, giant slides, and an interactive "Touch-A-Tractor" experience. Guests can also customize their day with classic farm fun like pick-your-own strawberries, feeding the goats, and delicious treats from the Farmer’s Porch Kitchen.
Tickets are available online and at the gate.
17th Annual Taste of Del Ray | June 7, 1-3 PM
Mount Vernon Recreation Center Fields, Alexandria, VA
Ticket holders will enjoy a wide range of tastes from top Del Ray restaurants and can cast their votes for the People’s Choice award. Participants are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for ALIVE!, to support our neighbors in need. Our very own Jen Walker Team is sponsoring the VIP reception.
DC/DOX Film Festival | June 11-14
Various venues throughout Washington, DC
The fourth edition of DC/DOX is a premier documentary festival showcasing 113 films from 32 countries, anchoring the global art of non-fiction storytelling with exclusive premieres, urgent investigations, and an honorary retrospective of legendary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman.
Photos courtesy of National Air and Space Museum
Innovations in Flight | June 13, 10 AM - 3 PM
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly, VA
Explore the engineering and design achievements of the past century of flight at this highly anticipated annual event. Talk with pilots, explore cockpits and cabins, and view over 60 vintage, modern, and commercial aircraft flown in and on display outside the museum for one day only. Inside, enjoy family-friendly activities, meet modern innovators, and see a unique air racer be officially accepted into the museum's permanent collection.
Must Reserve Free Tickets for outdoor activities. Up to 6 can be ordered at a time.
WV Fest | June 13, 10 AM - 5 PM
101 East Washington Street, Charles Town, WV 25414
Hosted by the City of Charles Town and Charles Town Now, this fun-filled day celebrates West Virginia! Live music, 120+ vendors (including food trucks), Kids Zone, and more.
FREE
29th Annual Columbia Pike Blues Festival | June 13, 12 - 8 PM
Penrose Square, 2597 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA
Now in its 29th year, the Columbia Pike Blues Festival is a high-energy celebration that brings nationally recognized music, community, and culture to the heart of Arlington. Headlined by the powerhouse soul band Joslyn and The Sweet Compression, this vibrant summer tradition honors great musicians and hometown favorites alike.
FREE
38th Annual Antique & Classic Boat Festival | June 19-21, 10 AM - 5 PM
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, Saint Michael’s, MD
The 38th Antique & Classic Boat Festival and Coastal Arts Fair is returning for a special Father’s Day weekend celebration. This family-friendly event features one of the Mid-Atlantic’s largest classic boat shows, highlighting a theme of “Boats Built in Michigan & the Midwest.” Visitors can enjoy regional food vendors and multiple ways to get out on the water, including free classic boat rides, ticketed sails on the historic skipjack Rosie Parks, and narrated river cruises.
Tickets (Save $2 per ticket when purchased online.)
17th Annual Silver Spring Blues Festival | June 20, 10 AM - 10 PM
Finish off Silver Spring Blues Week with this all-day music festival that will fill your soul with blues that you may not have heard before!
Free Admission and Parking
Savage Mill Bluegrass Festival | June 20, 12 - 5 PM
8600 Foundry St, Savage, MD 20763
The Little Lot comes alive with a full lineup of bluegrass bands, local brews from Manor Hill, wine from Boyd Cru, and plenty of space to kick back and stay awhile. Bring your chairs, blankets, and your crew, and settle in for a day of great music. Pups are welcome too!
34th National Capital Barbecue Battle | June 27 & 28, 11 AM - 7 PM
Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 3rd and 7th Streets, NW, Washington, DC
Kick off summer at the Giant BBQ Battle on Pennsylvania Avenue. This high-energy festival features world-class pitmasters competing for over $50,000 in prizes, live cooking demos, and more than 100 free food tastings. Entertainment spans six live stages, a sports zone, and activities for all ages.
Tickets | Kids under 12 are free.
Berkeley County Independence Celebration | June 27, 5 - 9:30 PM
Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport, Martinsburg, WV
Start your 4th of July festivities early! Bring your family, friends, and neighbors to this celebration with live music and a variety of family-focused activities, including Warbird rides available for sale, and capped off by a fireworks show.
FREE
Capital Pride 2026
Photos courtesy of Capital Pride
2026 marks the 51st anniversary of Pride in Washington, DC, with the theme of “EXIST. RESIST. Have the Audacity!” In addition to the big festival weekend, including the parade, there are a host of events throughout the area:
- The Audacity Brunch: In Full Fuchsia - June 7, 11:30 AM - 3 PM
- Night of Expression - June 10, 7 PM
- RIOT: Official Opening Party - June 19, 9 PM - 3:30 AM
- Crack of Noon Parade Brunch - June 20, 12 - 3 PM
- 17th Street Pride Block Party - June 20, 12 - 10 PM
- Capitol Pride Family Fun Festival - June 20, 11 AM - 3 PM
- EXLIX-Her: Official Women’s Party - June 20, 10 PM - 3 AM
- Capital Pride Concert - June 21, 1 - 10 PM
Capital Pride Parade | June 20, 3 - 7:30 PM
Logan & Dupont Circle Neighborhoods, Washington, DC
This beloved tradition honors the history and acknowledges the evolution of the LGBTQ+ neighborhoods in Washington, DC, while respecting the origins and importance of taking to the streets in the fight for equality. Be prepared to experience one of the largest Pride Parades to ever take place in the Nation’s Capital.
Tickets Online Only. No tickets will be sold onsite.
Capital Pride Festival | June 21, 12 - 10 PM
Pennsylvania Ave NW and 3rd Street, NW, Washington, DC (next to the National Mall)
Join the community on America’s Main Street, historic Pennsylvania Avenue, for the final electrifying day of the celebration weekend at the Capital Pride Festival. Enjoy an unforgettable experience filled with delicious food, beverage gardens, and multicultural and multilingual performances across multiple stages. This vibrant celebration connects visitors with hundreds of skilled artisans and exhibitors, and it remains completely free to the public.
Free Admission and Open to the Public
Celebrating Juneteenth
Photos courtesy of Anacostia Community Museum and WTOP
Communities throughout the DC area will commemorate Juneteenth with celebrations big and small. Here are some highlights:
- CAACO Juneteenth Celebration, Cheverly, MD | June 20, 12 - 4 PM
- Juneteenth at Watkins Regional Park, Upper Marlboro, MD | June 13, 12 - 5 PM
- The Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival, Montgomery County, MD | June 13-19
- Juneteenth Celebration at Sully Historic Site, Chantilly, VA | June 19, 10 AM - 2 PM
- Juneteenth at National Harbor, Oxon Hill, MD | June 19
- Freedom Before Emancipation: Family Day, Mount Vernon, VA | June 19-20
- Juneteenth Celebration presented by “Burg” Family Reunion Club, Leesburg, VA | June 20
Juneteenth Celebration | June 19, 10 AM - 10 PM
Anacostia Community Museum, Washington, DC
The Anacostia Community Museum stays open late to host this block party-style celebration of freedom, heritage, and community. Enjoy a full day of activities outdoors featuring live music performances, powerful spoken word, cooking demonstrations, front-porch foodways conversations, youth activities, and gardening. The evening culminates with a high-energy outdoor late skate to close out the celebration.
FREE
Emancipation Proclamation & General Order No. 3 | June 19 - 22
National Archives, Washington, DC
On June 19, 1865, two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s historic Emancipation Proclamation, U.S. Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3, which informed the people of Texas that all enslaved people were now free.
This day has come to be known as Juneteenth, a combination of June and nineteenth. It is also called Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. It is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
The original Emancipation Proclamation and General Order No. 3 will be on display at the National Archives building June 19-22.
FREE
