Amy here from Free in DC bringing you some highlights from my site for free and low-cost things to do tonight and this weekend. Lots of good stuff going on this weekend, especially over at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage.

Thursday
The Suzanne Farrell Ballet performs Pas d ‘Action from Divertimento No. 15, Meditation, pas de deux from Agon, and Tzigane from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Millennium Stage. If you can’t make it in person to the Millennium Stage events, the Kennedy Center live streams the shows live or watch it later from the archives.

You can check out some live bluegrass music over at the Torpedo Factory art center in Old Town Alexandria. Metro to King Street and hop on the free trolley down to the waterfront for tonight’s Thursday Nite Local Spotlight featuring the Port Tobacco Pickers, a seven-piece band from southern Maryland, at 7 p.m.

Also at 7 p.m., you can head over to the Freer Gallery by the Smithsonian Metro station for a lecture on Fiona Tan and Venice, in conjunction with the Indonsesian-born photographer and videographer’s show that opened last week at the Freer’s sister museum, the Sackler.

“Postcards to My Parents“ features postcards that graphic designer and blogger Carolyn Sewell sent to her parents, one every day for a full year. The show kicks off with a reception at Fathom Creative on 14th Street from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

At 6:30 p.m., catch the free screening of the classic coming-of-age tale American Graffiti at the Smithsonian American Art Musuem.

Friday
It’s the First Friday in Dupont Circle, which means that the galleries in the area stay open until 8 p.m. Highlights include works by Ron Riley at Studio Gallery and live DJs at Hillyer, which stays open ’til 9 p.m.

“Wild Music: Songs & Sounds of Life“, a new interactive exhibit at National Geographic, opens today. The exhibit is free and runs through January 2.

Also at National Geographic: the All Roads Film Festival, which continues through Sunday. All remaining films are available for half-price now, just $5.

Saturday
The Washington Printmakers Gallery hosts an opening reception for their new show “New Faces, New Prints” from 1 to 4 p.m. The show, which highlights prints by members who have joined the gallery within the past 12 months, includes the work of Shahla Abdi and Trisha Gupta, who will be on hand at the opening. The gallery is in the Pyramid Arts Center on Georgia Avenue, near the Silver Spring Metro.

At 2 p.m. at the National Gallery of Art, enjoy a free film screening of David Hockney: A Bigger Picture, about the acclaimed British contemporary painter’s return to his native Yorkshire.

They Might Be Giants is playing the Millennium Stage this Saturday! The hour-long free show starts at 6 p.m.

Rebecca Gates, formerly of ’90s indie group The Spinanes, performs a free show at Comet Ping Pong, on Connecticut Ave. north of Van Ness, at 10:30 p.m.

Sunday
The Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition is hailed as the most prestigious in the world. Twelve young jazz vocalists will compete for more than $100,000 in scholarships and prizes. The competition goes from 1 to 5 p.m. at the American Indian Museum. The event is free, but you need tickets, which will be available at noon at the museum.

Two poets are the featured readers at today’s Open Door Series at The Writer’s Center in Bethesda at 2 p.m. Ron Slate will read from The Great Wave, and local writer Sandra Beasley will read I Was the Jukebox.

There’s one more great event over at the Millennium Stage this weekend! The Metro Dance DC Showcase features performances by CityDance Ensemble, Laura Schandelemier, Flamenco Aparicio, and more at 6 p.m.

Amy Melrose is the creator of Free in DC, a blog that highlights low-cost and free events in the D.C. metro area. For complete details about the events mentioned above, visit Free in DC or follow Free in DC on Facebook.