4 Best Performing Arts in The Mall, Washington, D.C.

On Fridays from 5 to 8:30 pm from mid-May through the end of August, jazz groups from all over the country perform to packed crowds at the Pavilion Café in the Sculpture Garden. Listeners dip their feet in the fountain, sip sangria, and let the week wash away. Make sure to arrive early to snag a spot.

Throughout the year, the Smithsonian Associates sponsor programs that offer everything from big brass to Cajun zydeco bands; all events require tickets, and locations vary. The Smithsonian's annual summer Folklife Festival, held on the Mall, highlights several different cultures' cuisine, crafts, and day-to-day life.

In a Washington tradition, bands from the four branches of the armed services perform from June through August on weekday evenings on the U.S. Capitol West Front steps. Concerts usually include marches, patriotic numbers, and some classical music. Setup begins at 4 pm, with the concerts starting at 8 pm, but look out for scheduling changes or notices on individual bands' social media accounts. Food is permitted, but glass bottles and alcohol are not allowed.

Free classic, international, and art films—from Steven Spielberg's first feature-length film, Duel, to Béla Tarr's Macbeth, filmed inside a Budapest castle—as well as classic video art, are usually shown in this museum's large auditorium each weekend. Sometimes films complement the exhibitions. For more information, pick up a film calendar at the museum or visit their website. Guests must register in advance.