Celebrating this guy this weekend
We couldn’t ask for a better weekend to celebrate Dad! School is out, cranking relaxation mode into high gear. The weather gods clearly are in a glorious mood. And there are events going on that will surely make the old man’s day: Sailabration in Baltimore, Juneteenth in DC, big games at the ballpark, tons of summer activities, fun on the farm, trucks, and much more. This round-up has all the details, and you can find even more great ways to seize the beautiful days in this post about outdoor recreation. (For indoor options, go here.) Happy Weekend! And Happy Father’s Day to all the dads!
Star-Spangled Sailabration
Where: Baltimore Inner Harbor
When: All Weekend
Admission: Free
If there’s any main event this weekend, this is it. More than 40 tall ships and naval vessels are sailing into Baltimore to commemorate the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 and the Star-Spangled Banner. The celebration will include free tours of the ships, waterside festivities, an airshow featuring the Blue Angels (see viewing locations here), and the world-premiere of “Overture for 2012,” composed by Philip Glass – for specifics, see the schedule here. With a beautiful weekend in store, this is guaranteed to draw big crowds, so plan accordingly. For parking tips, see this guide from the Washington Post.
Juneteenth Family Day
Where: American Art Museum
When: Saturday, 11:30am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Join the American Art Museum, National Portrait Gallery, and Anacostia Community Museum as they mark the arrival of news of the abolition of slavery in the United States. Events include historical re-enactors, a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, storytelling, live music by Follow the Drinking Gourd, craft-making activities in the Kogod Courtyard.
Father’s Day at Mount Vernon
Where: Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens
When: Saturday & Sunday, 8am – 5pm
Admission: $15/adult, $7/ages 6-11, free for ages 5 and under
Spend the day with the Father of our Country! This weekend, the entrance fee for dads will include a meet-and-greet with “General Washington” as well as complimentary admission to George Washington’s Distillery & Gristmill, located three miles from the estate on Route 235 South.
Truck Touch
Where: RFK Stadium , Lot 7
When: Saturday, 9am – 2pm
Admission: Free
Kids love these events where they can explore some of the coolest wheels on the road. The District of Columbia Government invites the public to do just that at RFK Stadium, Lot 7. A host of DC government agencies will present and demonstrate nearly 30 vehicles used to clean and repair streets, change traffic lights, collect refuse, clear snow, provide emergency services, administer mobile health care and more. Kids can climb aboard, work the gears, honk the horn, and have a blast.
Summer Fun
Where: All around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Get your summer on this weekend with a host of activities exclusive to this time of year — outdoor swimming, spray ground play, concerts under the stars, movies al fresco. Go here for the full scoop on these joys of summer.
Become a Pilot Family Day
Where: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free, but parking is $15
Visit the Dulles branch of the Air & Space Museum for the eighth annual Become a Pilot Day at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. See 50 visiting vintage, recreational, military, and homebuilt aircraft, on display outside the Center for one day only. Talk to pilots and find out what skills are needed to fly. Inside the Center, test your piloting skills in flight simulators, talk to aviation experts, and enjoy story time and hands-on activities with the kids.
Savage Gardens Family Festival
Where: U.S. Botanic Garden
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate the wild and wonderful world of carnivorous plants during this fun family festival! Stroll along the Terrace and explore. Make your own wearable bog, learn about Darwin and his experiments with carnivorous plants, help with a bug release and craft your own Venus flytrap. Do all this and more while investigating the amazing world of plants that need to “eat” bugs to survive. Read a KFDC review of the exhibit here.
Nats vs. Yankees
Where: Nationals Park
When: Friday 7:05pm, Saturday 1:05pm, Sunday 1:35pm
Admission: Tickets start at $10
The Nats are hosting the Yankees this weekend, with an evening game tonight and afternoon match-ups Saturday and Sunday. Take Dad out to the ballgame on Sunday,and stay after for Kids Run the Bases when children ages 4-12 can loop the in field after the final out.
Seeing the Sea Family Workshop
Where: Corcoran Gallery
When: Saturday, 10:30am – 12pm
Admission: $8/members, $10/non-members
Discover how artists have strived to capture the beauty, mystery, and danger of the ocean throughout history. In the galleries, guests can see what goes into an ocean scene and then sketch the elements they like best. In the studio, families will create their own seascapes.
Artomatic Kids Workshops
Where: 1851 S. Bell Street, Crystal City
When: Sunday, various times
Admission:
The month-long art event featuring work by more than 1300 artists, performers, musicians, filmmakers, fashion designers, and creatives of all kinds has some Kids Workshops happening this weekend. On Sunday, they can enjoy international storytelling with Abdul Rahim 12-1:30pm, Fun with Nature: Science Illustrations with Virginia Selz 2-3pm, and Color Theory & Abstract Art with Ja’Ski 3-5pm. Go here to reserve spots in the workshops.
Wheat Harvest
Where: Claude Moore Colonial Farm
When: Saturday, 10am – 4:30pm
Admission: $3/adults, $2/child, free for ages 3 and under
Planted in early fall, the wheat and rye are finally ready for harvest at the farm straight out of the 18th century. And you can watch the farmer and his neighbors cut the grain, then join them to bind and stack the crop. Find out why more and more of the farmer’s neighbors are growing wheat as a cash crop in addition to tobacco. At the Farm house, lend a hand churning butter, and learn how the farm wife bakes wheat bread.
Family Fun Day
Where: Arcadia Farms
When: Saturday, 1-5pm
Admission: $5
Take the family to an end-of-spring celebration on farm that’s part of the Woodlawn Estate for a day full of fun, hands-on activities. Meet the chickens, play farm-based games, and enjoy face painting, arts & crafts, and demos by professional chefs, and more. Produce will be available for purchase produce from Arcadia’s Mobile Market.
Show Time
Where: Local Theatres
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies be venue
Beauty and the Beast, the smash Broadway hit, is the big show this weekend, on stage at the National Theatre. At the same venue, catch this week’s Saturday Morning at the National show, The Recycling Pirate presented by the Goodlife Theater Company. Goldilocks! and Tiny Tots shows are at The Puppet Co. Follow the links for more details and tickets.
Father’s Day Putt Putt & Fish-a-Rama Competition
Where: Great Country Farms
When: Saturday & Sunday, 9am – 6pm
Admission: $10/child, $12/adult
Treat Dad to a fun filled weekend with BBQ, Putt-Putt, and catch and release fishing at the Bluemont, Virginia far, While you’re out there, kids can have a blast in the five-acre play area. The Roosteraunt will also be serving up ice cold drinks and featuring our all- natural BBQ sandwiches with classic coleslaw, burgers and hot dogs.
DC Solare Flare
Where: H. D. Woodson High School
When: Saturday, 9am – 4:30pm
Admission: Free
DC Solar United Neighborhoods and the Ward 7 Solar Cooperative present this expo featuring sustainable energy and green living exhibitors; science activities for kids; solar and clean energy workshops and speakers; films; EV demonstrations; a solar homes tour; and projects with Woodson High Science, Technology, Engineering and Math classes — including a solarized exhibit tent, solar cooking and a solar-powered WiFi network.
The Saturday Nationals game is actually at 1:05 pm, not 4:05.
Thanks for pointing that out, Dave. Time correct now!