DC Jazz Festival

DC JazzFest at The Wharf is the rare festival that actually feels like it belongs to the city. The waterfront transforms into a living, breathing jazz hub, with music spilling out from every corner and a crowd that’s as diverse as the lineup. The DCJazzPrix competition is always a highlight, drawing serious talent from around the globe, but the real magic happens in the smaller moments: a late afternoon set with the river as backdrop, or a candid “Meet the Artist” chat that leaves you thinking about music in a new way. Arena Stage hosts some of the festival’s most anticipated performances, but don’t sleep on the pop-up gigs and spontaneous collaborations that seem to materialize out of nowhere. If you want to see how jazz fits into the city’s present, not just its past, this is the weekend to do it.