The Weekend Round-Up: July 11-13

A mud run, museum programs, celebrations of French and Irish cultures, archaeology appreciation, live entertainment, and plenty of summertime fun make the recs in this round-up. And the Everyday Play list, full of mainstay DC ideas, is always a good one to keep handy. Happy Weekend!

Merrell Down & Dirty Mud Run
Where: Prince George’s Stadium
When: Sunday
Admission: $85/adult, $30/ages 7-13, $20/ages 4-6
If you’re up fun and muddy physical challenge, the Merrell Down & Dirty Obstacle Race is making its seventh stop across the nation on the series’ tour when it comes to the DC area on Sunday. And one of the best things about it is that kids can get in on the fun, too. For children ages 4-13, there’s the Adventure Kids series, featuring tike-size obstacles for a 100 yard dash or 1 mile course. For the grown-up crowd, the exhilarating racing series features 5K and 10K off-road courses filled with military-style obstacles, commanding cargo climbs, wild water crossings, and of course, tons of mud. Get a glimpse of Owen and his buddies in last year’s race here.

Stories in Art
Where: National Gallery of Art
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: Free
One of my favorite museum programs for kids begins this weekend! Children ages 4-7 can pack their imaginations and travel to the National Gallery of Art. They’ll be introduced to Italian artists, investigate paintings and sculptures from Italy, and make a souvenir to document each adventure. This weekend’s sessions will focus on artist Canaletto’s Venetian views. There are several time slots available each day. Sign-in for Stories in Art will take place in the West Building Rotunda, beginning at 10am on Friday and Saturday and at 11:00am on Sunday, and will continue until all spaces are filled. And they do often fill up, so plan to get there early to register. For more about the program, see this past post about one of our Stories in Art experiences.

Artful Conversations
Where: National Gallery of Art
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: Free
The National Gallery of Art is also kicking off the summer series of its Artful Conversations program for kids ages 8-11. Guests will observe a work of art, participate in a discussion about it, then sketch their own masterpiece. Sessions are on Saturday at 11am and 1pm, and Sunday at 12pm and 2pm. Sign-in takes place in the West Building Rotunda beginning at 10am on Saturday and 11am on Sunday and will continue until all spaces are filled.

Fun on the Farm
Where: Ticonderoga Farm
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Admission: $10.95
Remember what it was like to run through the sprinklers, have little pools, and not have to wait in line to get wet? Ticonderoga Farm’s Duck Duck Splash event this weekend has just that, and it’s a fun, relaxing time for kids and parents. Bring a picnic and enjoy the great outdoors, the pillow bounce, hayride, swinging bridge, and many other activities for that all ages will love.

Bastille Day Open House
Where: Alliance Française
When: Friday, 3-8pm
Admission: Free
The Alliance will open its doors to all for a Bastille Day Themed Open House featuring mini classes, placement tests, wine and cheese, and a DJ. This is a great opportunity to get to know the AFDC community of friends, teachers and students. From 3pm-5pm is the Kids Open House, and an Adults Open House will take place 5:30-8pm.

French Festival
Where: Hillwood Estate & Gardens
When: Saturday, 10am – 5pm
Admission: $18/adult ($12/members), $5/ages 6-18, free for 5 and under
With exquisite French 18th-century interiors, collections, and gardens as a backdrop, and the gems of French jeweler, Cartier, sparkling in a special exhibition, Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens celebrates France’s national holiday, Bastille Day. Throughout the day, games, lively theatrics, dance, pantomime, and music bring the life of the French court to the lush gardens at Hillwood. The estate remaining open until 7 p.m. for leisurely enjoyment of the gardens, the Mansion, and the special exhibition, Cartier: Marjorie Merriweather Post’s Dazzling Gems.

Lovin’ Summer
Where: Throughout the area
When: All weekend long
Admission: Varies by activity
See a free outdoor concert tonight at Yards Park out the Sculpture Garden , swimming under the sun at one of many public pools, catch a movies under the stars at National Harbor on Sunday, enjoy some sprayground fun in Georgetown, Arlington, or the Capitol Riverfront… Activities exclusive to the season can be enjoyed all weekend long. Get the full scoop on all of these summer staples.

Nat Geo Honors Futbol
Where: National Geographic Museum
When: Sunday
Admission Free
In honor of the World Cup, the National Geographic Museum is offering free admission on Sunday to visitors wearing a soccer jersey. Don your favorite team’s shirt and check out the Peruvian Gold or New Age of Exploration exhibit. Or see a the Wildest Weather in the Solar System 3D ($7 but admission to the museum is waived).

Balloon Plays
Where: Fort Fringe – The Shop
When: Saturday, 12:45pm
Admission:
If you want to check out the Capital Fringe Festival with the kiddos, this is your best bet. A show for both children (ages 5 and up) and children-at-heart. It’s fantastical enough for Fringe, whimsical enough for adults – intended for all audiences. Balloons fill the stage and become puppets, scenery, musical instruments, games, and more under the lighthearted touch of three talented clown performers. “Three clowns find themselves in a world of balloons. Each wants to tell their own story within the magical landscape. Come to play, come to pop. Balloons can be anything.” Fort Fringe – The Shop is located at 607 New York Avenue NW.

Annapolis Irish Festival
Where: Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds
When: Friday, 4-10pm & Saturday 11am – 10pm
Admission: $20/adult, free for kids 12 and under
Celebrate magical Celtic traditions and music at the 4th Annual Annapolis Irish Festival. Along with a lively lineup of Celtic music acts, there will be over 90 vendors selling everything from food to art to clothes and accessories. Little Leprechaun Land, an area especially for kids, will offer pony rides, face painting, balloon art, cultural activities, bouncy fun, music and magic shows, and Irish dancing – and it’s all part of admission.

Show Time
Where: Local Theatres
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
* Be hugely entertained by The BFG at Imagination Stage (look for discount tickets)
* Younger audiences will love Mouse on the Move, also at Imagination Stage
* Enjoy Disney’s the Lion King at the Kennedy Center
* Catch a colorful show as Pinkalicious is on stage at Adventure Theatre
* The Wizard of Oz is on the Main Stage, and Baby Bear’s Birthday is the featured Tiny Tots shows at The Puppet Co.
* See Dino Rock amid the trees at Wolf Trap’s Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods
* Groove with Rainbow Rock on Saturday morning at Jammin’ Java

Bear Awareness Day
Where: National Zoo
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: Free
Become more Bear Aware at the Zoo’s free family-friendly event celebrating bears of all kinds. This event offers educational and fun activities for children, keeper talks and animal demonstrations. Learn how to bear-proof a camp site, compare bears from around the world, and take the Bear Awareness pledge.

Celebrate the Potomac
Where: Piscataway Park
When: Saturday, 11am – 5pm
Admission: $10/ages 11+, free for 10 and under
Returning for its second year at Piscataway Park, Celebrating the Potomac is a Celebrate Potomac River heritage as the Potomac River Heritage Tourism Alliance commemorates the bicentennial of the War of 1812. Admission to the event includes Pride of Baltimore II deck tours where you’ll learn about the critical role that these topsail schooner privateers played in the war, music from the era performed by Jennifer Cutting’s OCEAN, theatrical performances, Piscataway Park hayrides, and shore side Captain talks. Be adventurous and book a War of 1812 kayak tour with Atlantic Kayak Company; additional fee required. Picnics are welcome, but food will also be available for purchase.

Day of Archaeology Festival
Where: Fort Totten/ Fort Circle Park
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Part of a worldwide celebration of archaeology, the DC festival will be hosted by Archaeology in the Community with archaeological organizations from DC, Maryland, and Virginia presenting a variety of festivities. The public will be able to talk to archaeologists in person and learn about the science and art of archaeology. There will be engaging activities for children, including mock‐excavations, hands‐on artifact displays, crafts, and demonstrations. The archaeology of local prehistoric and historic inhabitants will also be featured. Enjoy live music, face painting, and visits from some of DC’s best food trucks! Fort Totten/Fort Circle Park is located at the Corner of Gallatin St. and South Dakota Ave. NE.

London Nights with Whistler
Where: Sackler Gallery
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: Free
Explore the impact of gaslights and electricity on nightlife in the nineteenth century. Examine paintings and prints of London by Whistler for content, mood, and technique. In the classroom, use black paper backgrounds, foreground cutouts of people, oil and chalk pastels, and wax gilt to create nightscapes of your favorite outdoor nighttime activities. Recommended for ages 8-14.

Walk in the Woods
Where: Around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
How about hitting the trail? This go-to KFDC post has a bunch of recommendations for good places to hike with kids (though I heard Greenbelt Park has been having a tick problem recently). Find more details on the Riverbend to Great Falls trail here. And a few that aren’t on the list, but great for family tramping: Turkey Run Park, just off the GW Parkway and Scott’s Run Nature Preserve near Great Falls.