The Weekend Round-Up: June 8-9

Here are your weekly recommendations for fun with the kiddos over the next few days… Happy Weekend!

Celebrate Fairfax
Where: Fairfax County Government Center
When: Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Admission: $12/adult, $5/youth, free for 2 and under
Take a musical time trip back to the 90’s and have ton of family fun, too. The annual Celebrate Fairfax! Festival has something for everyone — live music (Spin Doctors, Live ,and the B-52’s are playing), carnival rides, children’s activities, art, food vendors, and much more to keep guests entertained throughout the weekend. For more details, along with the full musical line-up, see the Celebrate Fairfax website.

World Oceans Day
Where: National Aquarium in DC
When: Saturday
Admission: $9.95/adult, $4.95/ages 3-11, 2 and under are free
If you can’t actually get to an ocean, then what better way to celebrate World Oceans Day than at Washington’s National Aquarium (yes, there is one right here in the city). Guests will have the opportunity to celebrate oceans and raise awareness about the role oceans plays in our lives and how people can help protect them. Activities include ocean-themed games and prizes, arts and crafts, mermaid storytime, an ocean pledge, a photo opportunity with Coral the mermaid and a shark feeding.

“Summer” Fun
Where: Throughout the DC-Metro
When: All weekend long
Admission: Varies by locale & activity
Many of the pursuits are weather dependent, but if the elements cooperate, you’ve got your pick of “summer” activities this weekend. Outdoor swimming, sprayground play, concerts under the stars, and berry picking are just a few of them. Go here for the full scoop on the joys of summer.

Show Time
Where: Local Theatres
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
Several family shows will be at local theatres this weekend: Encore Stage & Studio debuts Sleeping Beauty this weekend. See the marionette version of Cinderella or a Tiny Tots show at The Puppet Co. At Jammin’ Java, the Diggity Dudes are playing the 10:30am performance on Saturday. And the Kennedy Center presents an NSO Teddy Bear Concert: Violins, and Trombones, and Bears, Oh, My!.

Capital Pride Parade
Where: Northwest DC
When: Saturday, 4:30pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate Capital Pride at the 38th annual parade that’s expected to draw 100,000 spectators. The procession steps off at 4:30pm at 22nd & P Streets NW and will wind its way through Dupont, Logan, and other areas of NW. It’s sure to be a spectacular extravaganza of ornate floats, street performers, music and dancing, glitter and beads, and plenty of reveling. And I realize some elements of the parade might not seem so kid-friendly (ie, nearly-naked people dancing on floats), but, hey, you can always do a little kiddie eye-covering during those parts for the opportunity to show support for the LGBTA community and join a fabulous celebration.

CHAW Art and Performance Festival
Where: Capitol Hill Arts Workshop
When: Saturday, 10am – 12pm
Admission: Free
The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop presents a day (and evening) of art, music, dance, and more at the CHAW Art and Performance Festival on Saturday. Violin, a capella, and choir concerts; ballet, jazz, and tap performances, art exhibits, and a ceramics sale will be part of the festivities. The full schedule is available on the CHAW website.

Thank you, NPG, thank you very much
Where: National Portrait Gallery
When: Sunday, 2-5pm
Admission: Free
Drop in at the National Portrait Gallery for their Portrait Story Days program. Guests can listen to a story about a person who has influenced American history and culture and to create a special piece of art. This weekend, Elvis Presley is the featured personality. Read about our experience checking out the program in this KFDC post.

Taste of Del Ray
Where: Virginia Commerce Bank
When: Sunday, 1-3pm
Admission: $10/adult, $5/child
Sample the flavors of the Alexandria community at their 3rd annual food fest. Along with tastes from more than 15 neighborhood restaurants, there will be live music and a chance to vote for your favorite fare. Plus, Carla Hall, a Top Chef favorite, will be one of the judges. The event actually takes place in the lot behind the bank, which is located at 2401 Mt. Vernon Avenue & E. Oxford Avenue.

Tinner Hill Blues Festival
Where: Various Falls Church locales
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Varies by day
The Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation and the City of Falls Church will present the 20th Annual Tinner Hill Blues Festival, featuring outstanding national and regional talent. Along with the music, there will be loads of other activities. Free ones include FIRSTfriday of Falls Church; Emily Sings Books at Mary Riley Styles Library; blues genre film screenings at the Falls Church Community Center; Call it the Blues Art Show at Art and Frame of Falls Church, and live music gratis all over town. See the website for details on all of it.

Super Science Saturday
Where: Udvar-Hazy Center
When: Saturday, 10am -3pm
Admission: Free, but parking is $15
It’s a Super Science Saturday at the Dulles arm of the Air & Space Museum. Through demonstrations and hands-on activities, visitors of all ages will become immersed in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics topics related to aviation and space exploration. This month’s program will focus on Energy.

Israel @ 65
Where: Union Market
When: Sunday, 12-5
Admission: Free
Spend a fun (and free!) day with your family to celebrate Israel’s 65th birthday. The Mama Doni Band and the Macaroons are just two of the many concerts to enjoy. There will also be food, exhibits, and a Family Zone with arts & crafts, games, face painting, henna designs and an “archaeological dig.” Visit PJ Library at the Book Nook and make a bookmark, enroll, or take a snuggly break with your child.

Book Signing & Storytime with Divya Srinivasan
Where: Little Loft
When: Sunday, 1pm
Admission: Free
Head to the art space on Capitol Hill to hear author, illustrator, and animator Divya Srinivasan read her new book Octopus Alone. Her first book, Little Owl’s Night, received rave reviews from children and critics alike. This new story takes readers into the bustling coral reef with an octopus who is looking for a place of her own. All ages are welcome to enjoy the event!

Carnival Science
Where: Maryland Science Center
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: $16.95/adult, $13.95/child, free for 3 and under
Visitors can run away and join the circus this weekend at Carnival Science, the Maryland Science Center’s annual fun-filled, three-ring-inspired extravaganza. Rhys Thomas is the star attraction, demonstrating fun physics at his Science Circus, a mix of science, stunts and comedy introducing Newton’s laws in a performance that features bowling ball juggling, yo-yo spinning, six-foot unicycle riding and glass bowl-balancing. Charm City Movement Arts will also be on-site with their own stunts, including juggling, plate spinning, and wire walking. Other Carnival Science activities will let visitors speed around in tiny clown bike races, exercise their accuracy at the bean bag toss, test their balance on the balance beam, and create their own spin art, juggling balls or pinwheels!

Central American Pottery Festival
Where: National Museum of the American Indian
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: Free
The American Indian Museum’s latest festival is inspired by the exhibit Ceramica de los Ancestros: Central America’s Past Revealed. The weekend will be full of activities for all ages: Learn more about Central America through food demonstrations by the museum’s Mitsitam Cafe. Take a closer look at the animals, flutes, and pottery in the museum’s latest exhibition and create a clay medallion based on designs found in the museum’s collection. Find out how various pottery flutes are played, including one filled with water. Enjoy a Maya pottery-dance performance by Aval. And while you’re there, be sure to stop by imagiNATIONS, the activities center for kids, on the third floor.

International Delivery: Postcard Making Workshops
Where: Transformer
When: Sunday, 10:30am
Admission: Free
Transformer invites DC children ages 5-10 to participate in International Delivery – Capital Sister Cities Children’s Postcard Exchange, a fun & creative workshop for children in Washington, DC, to work with local artists in making handmade postcards for children in Beijing. All materials will be provided, and the workshops are free-of-charge. If you and your family are interested in attending, RSVP to Stephanie Kwak at stephanie@transformerdc.org.