Washington, D.C. – (Thursday, May 28, 2026) – After nearly two weeks of nonstop rain across the DMV, WHUR and NBC4 traded studio lights for backyard vibes – bringing food, fun, music , and community spirit to a SE, DC community with the kickoff of the Backyard Bash series.

The special community cookout took place in the Hillcrest Heights/Penn Branch area thanks to the generosity of homeowner Marsha Williamson, a semi-retired educator who has proudly called the neighborhood home for more than two decades. Williamson opened her backyard to family, friends, neighbors, and the community as WHUR and NBC4 left their studios behind to celebrate the start of the summer season with music, food, dancing, and fun.

The backyard was filled with the smells of hotdogs, hamburgers, crab stuffed salmon, potato salad, and other classic cookout favorites as guests enjoyed an evening of laughter and togetherness.

WHUR brought the soundtrack for the celebration with music and good vibes courtesy of DJ Weezy, while Nina Brown of “Afternoons with Nina Brown” and Joe Clair helped to keep the energy high and the crowd entertained throughout the event.

And no backyard cookout would be complete without line dancing. NBC4 Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer joined in the fun while also delivering the perfect backyard barbecue forecast for the evening.

The Backyard Bash was designed to celebrate community connection and neighborhood pride while creating memorable experiences for families across the DMV. Thursday’s event marked the official kickoff of a summer-long partnership between WHUR and NBC4, as both stations plan to surprise and “crash” backyard cookouts throughout the region all summer long.

Together, WHUR and NBC4 are proving that even after the rain, the DMV knows how to come together for food, family, fun, and community.