Park and Recreation - Prince Georges County MD

1252 Band
2027-04-03 20:00 (America/New_York)
The 1252 Band delivers a vibrant live performance rooted in R&B, funk, jazz, and contemporary soul. Known for polished musicianship and infectious energy, the band creates an engaging concert experience that blends smooth grooves with crowd-moving rhythms, leaving audiences energized and fully immersed in the music.

Gladys Knight & Patti Labelle Tribute with LaNesha Alexander & Brigette Johnson
2027-04-04 16:00 - 17:30
This unforgettable matinee celebrates two queens of soul and their trailblazing impact on music and culture. Featuring phenomenal vocalists LaNesha Alexander (Gladys Knight) & Brigette Johnson (Patti Labelle).A seven-time Grammy Award-winner Gladys Knight, also known as “The Empress of Soul”, is truly an icon in the music industry. Patti LaBelle, often referred to as the “Godmother of Soul,” has become synonymous with grace, style, elegance and class. Come hear your favorite songs like “Midnight Train to Georgia”, “Neither One of Us”, “Love Overboard”, “Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me”, “If Only You Knew”, “On My Own”, “Lady Marmalade”, “Love Need and Want You” and many more!Brigette Johnson began her singing career in 2003. Since then, she has performed with several local DC area R&B / jazz / neo soul bands and has most notably performed with Saxophonists Ronnie Laws and the late Wilton Felder of the Crusaders. LaNesha Alexander is a gifted vocalist born and raised in Baltimore, MD. She has also performed background vocals for the Dream For It Foundation from 2009 to the present, as well as for Tracy Hamlin.

Please Note: All Publick Playhouse ticket sales are final. There are no refunds or exchanges.

...If Not But You: BUCK!
2027-04-05 - 2027-05-29
In the high-energy solo exhibition …If Not But You, the artist BUCK! presents a vibrant exploration of identity, legacy, and the bold aesthetic of the next generation. A rising force in the DMV arts scene, BUCK! uses distinct visual language to challenge traditional narratives and celebrate the unapologetic spirit of contemporary culture.

Across the Threshold: Celebrating 25 Years of the Open Studio Tours
2027-04-05 - 2027-05-29
Across the Threshold celebrates a quarter-century of the region’s most intimate and enduring artistic tradition. Long before the official designation of our creative corridor, the Open Studios tour began as a grassroots effort by local pioneers to invite the public behind the scenes of the creative process. This milestone exhibition honors the 25-year history of those early artists who opened their doors, shared their crafts, and laid the foundation for what would eventually become the Gateway Arts District.

Featuring a curated selection of works from across the studios, the exhibition reflects the grit and collaborative spirit that have defined our neighborhood for decades. From the original artists who first welcomed the community into their workspaces to the new generation currently expanding our boundaries, this showcase tells the story of a creative community built from the ground up. Join us as we celebrate 25 years of artistic transparency, mentorship, and the enduring legacy of the makers who call this region home.

Party People: Holly Bass
2027-04-05 09:00 - 2027-05-29 20:00
In the immersive solo exhibition Party People, multidisciplinary artist Holly Bass presents a powerful series of photographs and videos documenting the soul of the dance floor. Centering on the vibrant nightlife cultures of Washington, D.C., and Detroit, this body of work serves as both a celebration and a deep sociological study of the communities that thrive after dark.

Party People: Holly Bass - Artist & Curator Talk
2027-04-05 09:00 - 2027-05-29 20:00

Lunchtime Listening with Muneer Nasser, trumpet
2027-04-07 11:00 - 13:00
Back by popular demand! Experience the soulful fusion of Memphis blues, New York fire, and D.C. flavor with the Muneer Nasser Quintet. A master trumpeter, composer, and jazz historian, Muneer Nasser brings his deep-rooted passion for jazz to every performance, creating a sound that is as rich in tradition as it is alive with innovation. His latest album, Blue House Session, blends blues, Afro-Caribbean rhythms, and timeless jazz energy into a dynamic, genre-spanning musical journey. Join us for an electrifying concert that showcases Nasser’s signature style and the powerful artistry of his ensemble. This is jazz at its most vibrant. Experience the music. Let it move you.

Watkins Park Farmers Market
2027-04-10 10:00 - 14:00, 2027-04-17 10:00 - 14:00, 2027-04-24 10:00 - 14:00, 2027-05-01 10:00 - 14:00
Come support new growers, explore the fields, and take home something delicious at the Urban Farm Incubator at Watkins Regional Park.

Every Saturday, 10 am-2 pm, from late May to mid-November, you can shop fresh vegetables, fruit, herbs, and flowers grown on-site by ten emerging farm businesses. Expect nutrient‑dense, culturally relevant, all‑natural produce!

DIRECTIONS: Once inside Watkins Regional Park, follow signs for the Urban Farm Incubator and park inside the black deer fence.

The Urban Farm Incubator hosts ten beginner farm businesses growing vegetables, fruit, herbs, and flowers. The Urban Farm Incubator at Watkins Regional Park is a collaboration among ECO City Farms, the Prince George’s Soil Conservation District (PGSCD), Prince George’s Food Equity Council (FEC), The Capital Market, and M-NCPPC, Department of Recreation, Prince George’s County.

This event is held at 601 Watkins Park Drive

For more info, visit https://www.ecoffshoots.org/urban-farm-incubator or email urbanfarmincubator@gmail.com

Music City D.C.: The Nashville of the North – When Country was King in D.C.
2027-04-10 14:00
Ken Avis’ lecture The Nashville of the North – When Country was King in D.C. reveals that before there was Nashville, there was D.C., telling the forgotten story of hillbilly and country music in the nation’s capital.

Music City D.C. is a four-part lecture series with music historian and performing musician Ken Avis, featuring four entertaining audio-visual sessions to surprise and delight.

Rich Isaacman: Cityscapes: City Views Around the World - Public Reception
2027-04-10 14:00 - 16:00
Through fog, rain, shifting light, and flowing traffic, Rich Isaacman captures cities as living, breathing environments. His photographs reveal moments of quiet beauty within constant motion—from towering skylines and construction sites to reflective streets and silhouetted architecture—offering viewers a poetic glimpse into urban life around the globe.

Elisa Mayes: Service & Sanctuary - Between Use and Meaning - Public Reception
2027-04-10 14:00 - 16:00
Between Use and Meaning brings together ceramic and textile works that explore the shifting role of handmade objects. Familiar forms, vessels, and stitched coverings rooted in traditions of care and daily use appear alongside sculptural works that move beyond function. Through clay and cloth, these works reflect on protection, memory, and quiet defiance. Objects shaped in service that hold space, endure, and gently resist the structures meant to contain them.

...If Not But You: BUCK! - Opening Reception
2027-04-10 17:00 - 20:00

Across the Threshold: Celebrating 25 Years of the Open Studio Tours - Opening Reception
2027-04-10 17:00 - 20:00

Herberman Seikaly Trio
2027-04-14 14:00
Vocalist Lena Seikaly and guitarist Steve Herberman have played together regularly for the past seven years in the D.C. metro area. They enjoy spontaneous interaction while performing live, offering something new each time, harking back to the iconic collaboration of Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass. Seikaly has headlined venues throughout the U.S., as well as Turkey and China. Herberman is an internationally known jazz guitarist featured in the book The Great Jazz Guitarists by Scott Yanow. As a duo, they appear regularly at the Tabard Inn and have headlined Blues Alley, the Gaithersburg Arts Barn, and various other D.C. venues.

Veronneau
2027-04-16 20:00 - 22:00
Spirited, jazzy, and retro-soulful, award-winning duo VERONNEAU—vocalist Lynn Veronneau and guitarist Ken Avis—present Blue Tapestry, an intimate celebration of Joni Mitchell and Carole King. Inspired by the albums Blue and Tapestry, the show blends lush arrangements, heartfelt vocals, and storytelling that invites audiences to sing along and rediscover songs that changed music forever.

International Dance Experience
2027-04-17 14:00 - 17:00
Dancers representing countries from around the world come together to share their traditions in a fun, family-friendly, and educational experience. Enjoy a live DJ playing a mix of international music while learning new dance steps and exploring cultures from across the globe. Celebrate the diversity of our community through movement, music, and hands-on participation!

Bowie Center for the Performing Arts 15200 Annapolis Rd, Bowie 20715

ON KEE Jazz Experience
2027-04-17 15:00
Founded in 1993 by the visionary Lenny McLean, ON KEE has established a remarkable and consistent presence in the realm of refined live jazz entertainment. The genesis of this esteemed ensemble can be traced back to performances alongside the nationally recognized recording act Classic Example, a group skillfully produced by the renowned Maurice Starr. It was through this initial collaboration that the musicians discovered a profound shared passion for the intricate art of jazz and the compelling expression of original compositions.

Vibrant Nature: Paintings and Illustrations by Jamie Downs - Public Reception
2027-04-18 13:00 - 15:00
Jamie Downs’ art career spans more than 50 years, exploring themes of oneness and transcendence. Her recent series of non-objective works draws on floral archetypes, local birds, bees, and animals, interpreted through an abstract lens. Influenced by Color Field painting and Abstract Expressionism, her work blends luminous color and organic movement to create a deeply contemplative experience.

The 58th Annual Laurel Art Guild Juried Exhibition
2027-04-24 - 2027-05-30
This annual exhibition, organized by the Laurel Art Guild, is juried by a regional professional and shows works by artists ages 18 and older in the Washington, D.C., area. The exhibit includes paintings, drawings, photographs, wall-hung sculptures, collages, and more. Cash prizes are awarded for first, second, and third place, along with three merit awards. Get involved and enjoy the support and camaraderie of your fellow local artists. More information is available at laurelartguild.org.

Bao Yen Nguyen
2027-04-24 - 2027-05-30
Working in mixed media on canvas, Bao Yen Nguyen reflects on the beauty of being Vietnamese‑American through a deeply personal and cultural lens. Drawing from personal memory, photographic transfer, and cultural inheritance, her work examines how identity is shaped across generations, geography, and memory. Existing between two worlds, Nguyen navigates the quiet tensions and harmonies of heritage and assimilation, drawing attention to the nuances that define lived experience.

Annual Montpelier Festival of Herbs, Tea, and the Arts
2027-04-24 10:00 - 16:00
Welcome spring and delight in the sights and sounds of nature, art, and history at this fun festival for the entire family, hosted by Montpelier Arts Center and Montpelier Historic Site & Museum! Explore the vendor marketplace, relax to live music, attend a talk on gardening, tour the Historic Site & Museum, and indulge in a picnic tea box. Visit the resident artists’ studios at the Arts Center, watch art demonstrations, paint the Montpelier bird, and create spring-themed crafts. Stroll the galleries and view the exhibitions of Rich Isaacman, Bao Yen Nguyen, and the Laurel Art Guild. At 1 pm, join us in the Main Gallery for a performance by soprano Samantha Sosa. Held rain or shine.

Samantha Sosa
2027-04-24 13:00 - 14:00
With a Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music, Samantha Sosa is an award-winning soprano from Venezuela. She was a Resident Artist at The Glimmerglass Festival where she performed the role of Ellen in Oklahoma! as well as in the ensemble of Cosi. Her performance will feature classical and contemporary vocal works, featuring selections from opera and art songs that explore themes of identity, storytelling, and human connection. In addition to opera, Sosa has premiered new works by living composers and has acted in the film The Saints of the Rue Scribe.

Dallas Black Dance Theatre (Weekend)
2027-04-24 14:00 - 16:00, 2027-04-24 19:00 - 21:00, 2027-04-25 16:00 - 18:00
Celebrating their 50-year anniversary, Dallas Black Dance Theatre (DBDT) continues to mesmerize audiences with its spellbinding performances and educational programs that bridge cultures and reach diverse communities. Founded in 1976, DBDT is the oldest continuously operating professional dance company in Dallas. The ensemble, a contemporary modern dance company, consists of experienced, full-time dancers performing a mixed repertory of modern, jazz, ethnic, and spiritual works by nationally and internationally known choreographers. Their repertoire includes works by Alvin Ailey, Elisa Monte, Milton Myers, Asadata Dafora, Matthew Rushing, Christopher L. Huggins, Twyla Tharp, and others.

Sat., Apr. 24, 2 pm Tickets

Sat., Apr. 24, 7 pm Tickets

Sun., Apr. 25, 4 pm Tickets

Please Note: This program has multiple dates and showtimes. Please double-check your selection carefully before purchasing. All Publick Playhouse ticket sales are final. There are no refunds or exchanges.

The Sweater Set
2027-04-30 20:00 - 22:00
Warm, harmony-rich, and deeply heartfelt, award-winning folk duo The Sweater Set—Maureen Andary and Sara Curtin—invite audiences into their joyful friendship through soaring soprano-alto vocals and original songs. Longtime D.C. favorites praised as “charming” by The Washington Post, they have toured internationally and shared stages with Dar Williams, Aoife O’Donovan, and Michelle Shocked. At Montpelier Arts Center, they appear in a rare, full-band performance with bassist Nicole Saphos and drummer Ele Rubenstein, offering fuller, more expansive arrangements of their beloved music.

Paper Flower Sculptures
2027-05-01 13:00 - 15:00
Create bold and beautiful paper flowers using sculptural techniques. Families will leave with everlasting blooms perfect for decorating or gifting.
