Studying a large tree nymph butterfly at Brookside Garden's "Wings of Fancy" exhibit
Summer break is flying by quickly, but you’ve got some great options this weekend to savor it. And don’t forget to check the Everyday Play page for even more ongoing activities. Happy Weekend!
Fancy This
Where: Brookside Gardens
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: $6/adults, $4/ages 3-12, free for 2 and under
Experience the amazing “Wings of Fancy” butterfly garden, stroll the beautiful grounds, play in the Children’s Garden, see turtles in the pond, and enjoy a lovely day in an even lovelier place. I just wrote about our visit to Brookside yesterday, you can read all about our adventure here.
Show Time
Where: Local theatres
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
See a Tiny Tots shows for little ones or “Snow White and the 7 Dwarves” at The Puppet Co. and look for a discount on tickets here. “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” is on the Imagination Stage. Adventure Theatre presents “If You Give a Moose a Muffin.”And Cirque du Soleil’s “Totem” is wowing audiences at National Harbor — see an afternoon show with the kids or save it for a date night.
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.
Ice Cream at George’s Place
Where: Mount Vernon Estate
When: Saturday, 10am – 12pm
Admission: $15/adults, $7/ages 6-11, free for 5 and under
Get a glimpse of culinary life in the 18th century through chocolate-ice cream making demonstrations every Saturday in August at Mount Vernon. Visitors can watch as costumed staff make one of George Washington’s favorite desserts using reproduction period equipment to emulate ice cream-making process of the olden times. Guests will receive an adapted 18th-century recipe for ice cream that they can make at home using plastic bags. For those who don’t want to wait to indulge, ice cream is available for sale at Mount Vernon’s food court.
SunWise
Where: National Children’s Museum Launch Zone
When: Saturday, 11am – 6pm
Admission: Free
Head to Launch Zone at the National Harbor for a summer of sun safety! The National Children’s Museum, along with the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) SunWise program, have put together fantastic programs designed to encourage kids to be “sun wise” this summer. Learn about UVB rays and SPF through exciting activities, such as participating in an experiment involving a color-changing Frisbee and making your own UV color-changing bracelet. Visitors can also make sun visors and participate in a sun-sensitive paper activity.
County Fairs
Where: Montgomery and Prince William Counties
When: Friday & Saturday
Admission: Varies
You’ve got two more days to enjoy both the Montgomery and Prince William County Fairs. Enjoy carnival rides and games, 4-H exhibits, pig races, pony rides, fair food, and more. See this post about county fair season for details on both.
Rock Creek Recreation
Where: Rock Creek Park
When: Throughout the Weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Get a nature fix, visit and ride ponies, take a hike, or see a planetarium show. All of this is possible at Rock Creek Park on weekends. Kids ages 2.5 and up can take a 15-minute pony ride through the woods – I recommend calling ahead to book. The nature center is open 9am – 5pm, and today is Planetarium Movie Madness, so there will be a movie or planetarium presentation every hour from 10am – 4pm (all free!). Read more about all these activities this post from a few months back.
Youth Open Mic Poetry
Where: Busboys & Poets
When: Saturday, 5-7pm
Admission: $5
Join the Anacostia Community Museum and Bus Boys & Poets Restaurant for an evening of spoken word as young poets speak about their experiences, heart, and minds. This program takes place at the 5th & K Street NW location on the third Saturday of every month.
Big Time Rush
Where: Jiffy Lube Live/Nissan Pavilion
When: Sunday, 7pm
Admission: Tickets start at $25
The boy band from the Nickelodeon show is going to be playing on Sunday evening. I don’t know much about them, but we caught a performance during a big festival on the Ellipse last year, and the fans were going wild. Goldstar currently has a good discount on select seats.
Nats vs. Mets
Where: Nationals Park
When: Friday 7:05pm, Saturday 7:05pm, & Sunday 1:35pm
Admission: Tickets start at $10
The Nats are hosting the Mets this weekend, with evening games on Friday and Saturday and an afternoon game on Sunday. Take advantage of the Harris Teeter Family Pack promo and enjoy other extras on Sunday — the first 15,000 fans will receive a Michael Morse bobblehead, and you can stay after for Kids Run the Bases when children ages 4-12 can loop the in field after the final out.
Portrait Story Days
Where: National Portrait Gallery
When: Saturday, 1-4pm & Sunday, 2-5pm
Admission: Free
Drop in to listen to a story about a person who has influenced American history and culture and to create a special piece of art. This weekend, learn about African American painter Jacob Lawrence.
DC United vs. Philadelphia Union
Where: RFK Stadium
When: Sunday, 5pm
Admission: Tickets start at
Put a little sports action into your weekend at a soccer match on Saturday evening as the DC United takes on the Philadelphia Union. It’s a Dwayne De Rosario bobblehead night – the first 7,500 fans inside RFK will receive the freebie. Family Packs are also available for purchase until 5pm today.
Concert in the Great Hall
Where: National Building Museum
When: Sunday, 2pm
Admission: Free
The National Building Museum and the Washington Performing Arts Society (WPAS) have teamed up to present free concerts every Sunday at 2 pm this August. The concerts, featuring some of the best youth ensembles on the scene, will be held in the Museum’s majestic Great Hall. While you’re there, try to get in a round of Mini-Golf!
