National Capital Barbecue Battle, Saturday and Sunday The 19th installment of the Safeway National Barbecue Battle promises to be bigger and better than ever.
The expansive food selection features restaurants both local and national; celebrity chefs, and the National Pork Barbecue Championship.
Last year, the D.C. Fire Department Firefighting BBQ team took first place in Nation’s Best BBQ Sauce competition.
“We’re going to try and defend it this year,” said DCFD’s Michael Skahill
The DCFD BBQ Team has been around since 2004, and now enters 15 or 16 competitions a year, according to Skahill.
Skahill said that this weekend’s event is “extremely competitive.”
“Everyone likes something different,” he said. “That’s what great about barbecue.”
But what has always made the Barbecue Battle have broad appeal is the entertainment selection. Music takes place on four stages over the two days, and include acts such as Chuck Brown, Cowboy Mouth and locals Honor by August, in addition to many more. Plus appearances by Wizards star John Wall, and an array of contests.
Before entering into the competition, Skahill wasn’t even aware of the Barbecue Battle, which takes over a few blocks on Pennsylvania Avenue between the White House and Capitol.
“If I’d know it was down there I would have gone,” Skahill said. “I love it. It’s one of the top-five barbecue events in the country.”
Info: $10 in advance, $12 at the gate; bbqdc.com.
When: Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Creedence Clearwater Revisited at Wolf Trap, Friday
One shouldn’t hold their breath for a Creedence Clearwater Revival reunion of the band’s surviving members any time soon. So, aside from John Fogerty touring, this is the next best thing. Creedence Clearwater Revisited features the original CCR’s rhythm section Stu Cook and Doug Clifford. Expect to hear the hits, including “Lodi” and “Down on the Corner.”
Info: $40 in house, $25 on the lawn; wolftrap.org.
When: 8 p.m., Friday.
Funniest Fed at the Arlington Drafthouse, Friday
After six weeks of the laugh-out-loud performances, the Funniest Fed competition finals take place this Friday at the Arlington Cinema ‘n’ Drafthouse. Each year, the Drafthouse looks to find the funniest federal employee, from one of the many alphabet soup departments to our elected officials to the military. Now that the preliminaries are over, this Friday promises plenty of laughs. Plus 20 percent of proceeds go to the Fisher House Foundation (fisherhouse.org).
Info: $15, funniestfed.com.
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Michael Jackson events at the 9:30 Club and U Street Music Hall, Friday
Believe it or not, it’s been two years since Michael Jackson die. On Friday, two venues offer a King of Pop fix. The 9:30 Club welcomes Who’s Bad, an MJ tribute band. And at the U Street Music Hall five DJs present Michael Jackson is Still Alive.
When: Who’s Bad at the 9:30 Club, doors at 8 p.m. Friday; Michael Jackson Happy Hour at the U Street Music Hall, 6:30-10 p.m. Friday.
Info: Who’s Bad, $20, 930.com; Michael Jackson Happy Hour, free, ustreetmusichall.com.
Washington Jewish Music Festival, through Sunday
This annual festival enters its last weekend after opening June 9. The event wraps up on Sunday with Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights. This family-friendly act performs a pair of shows at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington in Rockville.
Info: $8 in advance, $10 at the door; wjmf.org.
When: 2 and 4:30 p.m., Sunday.
