This statue is going to get wet. (Photo: Joshua Yospyn)

In D.C., where people forget how to drive in rainy weather and flee their buildings when there's a little earthquake, it's only natural we're freaking out over Hurricane Irene. The Category 2 hurricane, the strongest storm to hit the East Coast in seven years is scheduled to barrel into town late Saturday — it's already terrifying astronauts.

The Full Democracy and Freedom march will have to wait, along with a slew of other events.

Sunday's MLK Memorial dedication ceremony on the National Mall is postponed until a later date in September or October — this monument's debut is just not going as planned.

The Silopanna Music Festival at Anne Arundel Fairgrounds on Saturday, with headliners Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Matt & Kim, and Fitz and the Tantrum, is canceled indefinitely over concerns of strong winds posing a danger to the stage.

Columbia Heights Day at Harriet Tubman Elementary Field on Saturday, where organizers were determined to brace the storm, is now canceled. A release said, "[I]t saddens us to say, due to circumstances beyond our control, the 5th Annual Columbia Heights Day Festival is canceled. Many of the companies and services that we rely on to present the festival are unable to perform their contracted duties for us, due to the potential of extreme weather." UPDATE 2:53 P.M.: Several vendors of comestibles in Columbia Heights -- Meridian Pint, Red Rocks, Room 11, and Wonderland -- will offer drink specials from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday. Columbia Heights Day T-shirts will be available.

The posh invite-only MLK Gala Dinner, originally to be held in the National Building Museum is now moved to the Washington Convention Center, after the building sustained damage from Tuesday's earthquake (the Lego buildings there took some hits, too!). The Hip Hop Caucus show at 9:30 will continue as well (UPDATE 3:23 P.M.: No it won't, it's been canceled), as will "MLK: A Monumental Life" at Constitution Hall.

Parrotheads furious about Jiffy Lube's new no-tailgating policy will be left to fantasize about how the Man was going to confiscate their booze in 70 mph winds at this weekend's Jimmy Buffett concert? Sadly, the event's now postponed until Sept. 1.

UPDATE: 3:15 P.M. Busboys and Poets has canceled Saturday's event "Music in the Movement: A Soulful Evening with Ayanna Gregory." The singer (and daughter of activist Dick Gregory) was supposed to perform at the 14th and V, NW location; the venue said the show will be rescheduled.

UPDATE 3:18 P.M.: The Joe Pernice show at Jammin' Java has been canceled, apparently.

UPDATE 3:50 P.M. The Morehouse College tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr., scheduled to take place at the Kennedy Center on Sunday, has been postponed. ALSO: The Corcoran Gallery of Art will close at 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 28, and reopen on Wednesday, August 31, according to a press release. Don't freak out, though—the gallery is normally closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

UPDATE 4:21: Artisphere will be closed this weekend.

UPDATE 5:28: Rams Head Group has canceled most of its weekend offerings: Tonight's Larry Graham show at Rams Head On Stage, tomorrow's John Prine concert at Pier Six Pavilion and N’Dambi show at Rams Head On Stage, and Sunday's Jessica Lea Mayfield concert at Rams Head On Stage have all been postponed.

Some events you might end up floating home from this weekend

Since you probably won't have power or water , grab your boots and an umbrella and brave the city. A little water and wind never hurt anyone — learning how to swim might come in handy as well, since we can no longer count on the Washington Monument to act as a floodwall. A couple things you might wade off to:

• BYT's Capitol Skyline Pool Party with DJ Ghost and a free burger with admission!

• Dancing in the Streets in Eastern Market in the middle of a torrential downpour — life goal #45 complete.

• The Mount Pleasant Farmers' Market on Saturday is on rain or shine! Organizers write, "Remember that dumb 'Hurricane' Hanna in 2008 that just ended up being a tropical storm? 98 of you awesome market devotees came out anyway and made the vendors’ day! It’s really fun to be out in the warm rain with just a slicker and shorts. Or a vintage umbrella and bathing suit."

• Irvine Contemporary will close for good this weekend with a Tribute Exhibitions Closing and Grand Finale Block Party. DJ's Yoko K and Will Eastman perform with brews from Flying Dog Brewery.

• If all of that is too much excitement, there's Michael Jackson's Birthday Party at 9:30, the Kids in America new-wave dance party at Dahlak, Town Tavern's Flip Flop Farewell Bash, and 24 Hours in Berlin at Goethe-Institut.