The 31 best things to do in D.C. this weekend and next week

The most beautiful destination in Washington this weekend is Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, where the annual Lotus and Water Lily Festival brings music, dance, yoga and other activities to the only national park that specializes in aquatic plants. Its only rival may be the Smithsonian Castle, which is being transformed into a work of art — and staying open late — on Friday and Saturday nights. Elsewhere, you can choose to get out of town for a sunflower festival, a celebration of Virginia wine, or a Native American powwow. Or stick around for a bar crawl through Old Town Alexandria, bluegrass at the Postal Museum, and the return of the Loudoun County Fair. Lower-key options include screenings at the D.C. Asian Pacific American Film Festival and a silent reading party in the Folger Shakespeare Library’s Great Hall.