Best Offbeat Experiences in Washington, D.C.

• Bring a Drum to Meridian Hill Park and Join the Drum Circle: Sunday afternoons, when the weather is right, Meridian Hill Park is the setting for an all-comers-welcome African drum circle. The tradition is 50 years old and dates from the tumultuous days of the 1960s, when activists sought a way to celebrate black liberation but also mourn the death of African-American leader Malcolm X. One drummer started, others gradually joined in, and over time the sonorous Sunday drum circle turned into a steady gig. Participants and spectators are a diverse crowd, reflecting the population of the city. The park is stunning, designed to resemble an Italian garden, complete with statuary, a cascading fountain, and landscaped grounds.

• Dine at a Drag Brunch: Sassy drag queens dressed to the hilt sashay around the room, lip-syncing to the DJ’s tunes and entertaining all who’ve turned up for the all-you-can-eat $25.95 buffet at Perry’s Drag Brunch, 1811 Columbia Rd. NW (www.perrysam.com; tel. 202/234-6218), held every Sunday from 10am to noon, and 1pm to 3pm. The brunch is a Washington institution so expect to see partiers burning the candle at both ends and straight-laced types heading to the office after the show.

• Explore Washington from an Unconventional Angle: Yes, it’s a graveyard, but Georgetown’s Oak Hill Cemetery is also a handsome wooded and landscaped garden with a grand view of the city from its hillside perch. Here lie monuments for some of Washington’s most illustrious residents, from the city’s early days as well as recent years.

• Play Street Hockey in Front of the White House: Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House is closed to traffic, which makes it a perfect place for street hockey fanatics to show up Saturdays and Sundays at 10am and sometimes Wednesdays at 6:30pm for pickup games. All you need are Rollerblades and a stick, although gloves and shin pads are also recommended. Go to www.whitehousehockey.com for more info.

• Participate in an Outdoor Yoga Class on the Water—or Indoors at the Kennedy Center: The Yoga Factory hosts free beginner-friendly yoga classes seasonally on Saturday mornings at the Wharf in the Southwest Waterfront (www.wharfdc.com/upcoming-events/). Dress comfortably, wear sunscreen, and bring your mat to the District Pier, to strengthen your core as you admire the view. Or take your yoga love indoors at the Kennedy Center. A partnership between the National Institutes of Health and the Kennedy Center is behind this program, called Sound Health (www.kennedy-center.org/festivals/soundhealth). Every other Saturday at 10:15am, the KenCen’s Grand Foyer turns into a free, all-levels vinyasa class taught by a local yoga studio instructor. Sign up in advance online and bring your own mat and towel.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.