Quality time on the trail
There are some great reasons to celebrate — the school year is ending, summer break is beginning, it’s Father’s Day — and this round-up is full of great ways to do it. Happy Weekend! And Happy Father’s Day to all the dads!
Celebrate Dad
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
If you’re still in need of plans for dad’s big day, there are so many great ways to celebrate. There are activities and offerings especially for the occasion, special events that coincide with the date, and everyday outings that can be made special with a few extra touches and great company. See this post with a bunch of ideas to help plan your day.
Summer Fun
Where: Throughout the DMV
When: All weekend long
Admission: Varies by locale
The calendar may not yet say so, but it’s summer for all intents and purposes, so celebrate with one — or several — of the many activities exclusive to the season. Swim under the sky, catch a concert beneath the stars, see a special exhibit, play at a water park, and more. For the whole gamut of seasonal fun, check out the 2018 KFDC Summer Guide.
Tiny House Festival
Where: Prince William County Fairgrounds | Manassas, VA
When: Friday – Sunday,
Admission: Free – $25 (see below)
TINY Houses across America, a nationwide celebration of the Tiny Living Movement is bringing its one-of-a-kind, for-charity Tiny House Festival to the Nation’s Capital. There will be a large assortment of tiny houses and micro homes, work shops, presentations, LOTS of vendors, music entertainment, fire performers, children’s activities, and more. Friday from 9AM-2PM is FREE for students, their teachers, and immediate family — you must pre-register and download tickets here http://www.unitedtinyhouse.com/shop/. Otherwise, admission is $10/age 13+ at 12pm, and free for everyone at 5pm. Saturday & Sunday is $25/day.
World Cup Watch Party
Where: Central Place Plaza | Rosslyn, VA
When: Friday, 1-5pm
Admission: Free
It’s World Cup time! Join a watch party at Central Place Plaza by McDonald’s for the Portugal vs. Spain match. Rosslyn BID is partnering with DC United to bring fun activities, including a soccer kick game, a prize wheel, and a foosball set up. Adults can also grab a drink at the pop-up bar starting at 1pm.
Taste of Reston
Where: Reston Town Center | Reston, VA
When: Friday, 3-11pm & Saturday, 12-11pm
Admission: Free (purchase tickets for tastings)
The largest outdoor food festival in NoVA has also been named “Northern Virginia’s Best Food Festival” by Virginia Living magazine for several years. Reston Town Center will be bustling for two days with restaurants and community vendors, live entertainment on three stages, a Wine ‘n Dine area, and the Family Fun Zone featuring activities, interactive games, demonstrations, and arts & crafts for all ages.
Juneteenth Celebration
Where: Watkins Regional Park | Upper MArlboro, MD
When: Saturday, 12-5pm
Admission: Free
Bring the whole family to celebrate this historic date and enjoy free concerts, exhibits, and activities honoring African American culture. Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, marking the date that the last enslaved people learned of their freedom — the month of June and the nineteenth day were combined to form the name. Be sure to enjoy all of the wonderful offerings at Watkins while you’re there.
Innovations in Flight Family Day
Where: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center | Chantilly, VA
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Head to the Chantilly arm of the Air & Space Museum for a special Family Day and Outdoor Aviation Display. See military, recreational, and home-built aircraft as well as classic automobiles. Enjoy presentations, demonstrations, special tours, and hands-on activities for all ages.
Colonial Wheat Harvest
Where: Claude Moore Colonial Farm | McLean, VA
When: Saturday, 1-4pm
Admission: $5/adult, $3/child, free/under 3
Help the Claude Moore Colonial Farm family harvest their precious wheat crop. Learn how wheat became a vital cash crop in Colonial Virginia. Educational and fun. Great family outing. Read more about the 18th century living history farm here.
Shows on Strings
Where: The Puppet Co.
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: $10 & $6
Sleeping Beauty is the Main Stage production at the puppet theatre in Glen Echo. Told with rod puppets and wonderful special effects, the show is a real treat for princesses and princes, big and small. And little ones will enjoy Teddy Bear’s Picnic, this weekend’s featured Tiny Tots show on Sunday — the lights stay on, doors remain open, and performances are short for newbie theatre-goers.
Columbia Heights Day Festival
Where: 11th St NW btwn Park & Irving | Columbia Heights, DC
When: Saturday, 11am – 6pm
Admission: Free
Whether or not you live in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of DC, you’re invited to bring the fam out for a fun, free day of excitement and activities to help celebrate the community. In its 12th year, Columbia Heights Day brings together residents and businesses for all kinds of festivities. Enjoy local food vendors, live music and entertainment, a beer garden, and tents full of fun and unique vendors, and more.
Columbia Pike Blues Fest
Where: Columbia Pike & S. Walter Reed | Arlington, VA
When: Saturday, 1-8:30pm
Admission: Free
Enjoy food and beverages, arts and crafts vendors, and kids’ activities as you spend the day on Arlington’s oldest and newest Main Street—in one of its most diverse, vibrant communities—listening to quintessential American music that will make it impossible not to get up and dance. The Blues Festival covers three blocks at the intersection of Columbia Pike and Walter Reed Drive. So put on your dancing shoes, grab friends and family and head to the Pike for a day of great music, food, art and fun!
Bike to Market
Where: Markets in Fairfax, VA
When: Saturday (& thru June 22)
Admission: Free
Dust off your bikes, pump up your tires, and bike to your local farmers market! The Fairfax County Farmers Markets will be celebrating Bike to Market Week at select locations in collaboration with the Fairfax County Department of Transportation. Bring your family and friends along and you will receive a free bike map and giveaways.
Strawberry Fields in Petworth
Where: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church | Petworth, DC
When: Saturday, 4-8pm
Admission: Free
Okay, maybe not fields, but a Strawberry Festival is even better! St. Paul’s Episcopal Church welcomes all to the the 152nd Strawberry Festival to celebrate the season. Free family fun will include moon bouncing, pony rides, face painting, field games, crafts, rock climbing, music, and tours of Rock Creek Cemetery (where the church is located). There will be BBQ, strawberry shortcakes and other food items for sale — cash only! Located in Petworth DC, the main entrance to the grounds is on Rock Creek Church Road NW & Webster St NW.
Family Stroller Strides
Where: Yards Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Saturday, 10:30-11:130am
Admission: Free
Start the weekend with a free family fitness class! FIT4MOM Capitol Hill offers prenatal fitness, mommy & me fitness, and HIIT classes in Capitol Hill, NOMA, and Brookland, and you can try out a FREE family Stroller Strides class on Saturday morning. The stroller-based fitness program is a 60-minute, total body workout that incorporates cardio, strength, core, songs, and activities. Register here.
Sound of Music Sing-a-long
Where: Wolf Trap
When: Saturday, 7:15pm
Admission: $25-45
A few of your favorite things are back! A Wolf Trap tradition, the Oscar-winning movie will be shown on big screens in-house and on the lawn, accompanied by an audience sing-a-long. Be sure to dress in your Sound of Music best — the sing-a-long is paired with an unforgettable costume contest.
Dragon Boat Fest
Where: Thompson Boathouse | Georgetown, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, 8:30am – 3:30pm
Admission: Free
The Washington, DC Dragon Boat Festival is a two day celebration held along the Potomac River complete with cultural exhibitions, craft demonstrations, and of course… dragon boat racing. The event is sponsored by the Taiwan-U.S. Cultural Association to promote Taiwanese culture in the DC area through the sport of dragon boat racing.
Harry Potter Wizard School Scavenger Hunt
Where: National Gallery of Art | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 2-4pm
Admission: $17.50/ages 10-17, $19.50/adult
Join Watson Adventures on a unique Harry Potter-themed scavenger hunt that kids and adults will love! Follow in the footsteps of young wizards on a field trip to the National Gallery in search of art that echoes characters, places and enchanted objects in the famed Harry Potter books and movies. The hunt is not an addition to or variation on Harry’s adventures, but instead references to the books will provide a surprising bridge to many strange and wonderful works of art. This hunt is designed for kids and adults to do together (but all-adult teams are allowed to compete separately) Kids must be accompanied by an adult. Read about this super fun adventure in this KFDC post.
DC Way Soccer Festival
Where: Tyler Elementary | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Sunday,
Admission: Free
Join DC Way in a free day of family fun! It’s a great chance to introduce kids to the magnificent game of soccer, test your own skills, participate in fun competitions, and ask the DC Way coach questions regarding the game and sports in general. Festival programs will include multiple games and activities such as soccer tennis, a kids vs. parents game, sharpshooters game, 2v2 tournament, penalty and accuracy contests, and obstacle courses. Plus, there will be prizes like drawstring bags, water bottles, T-shirts, bracelets, soccer squeeze balls, and sunglasses, gift cards, and more. Parents and kids all ages welcome to participate in the fun.
Kids Pajama Party Jam
Where: AMP by Strathmore | North Bethesda, MD
When: Sunday, 5:30pm
Admission: $12
It’s time for a pj party! Slip into some slippers, zip your little ones into their favorite jammies, and get ready to dance, sing, and play. Grammy-winning funk and hip-hop artist Secret Agent 23 Skidoo brings the excitement and energy of hip-hop to children’s music in this special Father’s Day performance. 23 Skidoo will be joined by students from the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras for a performance of Mozartistic. Kick back and relax while your kids enjoy a fun afternoon of music that wraps up well before bedtime.
***MORE GOOD STUFF TO KNOW***
* The Library of Congress has announced the author line-up for the annual National Book Festival and, as usual, it’s pretty stellar!
* The next batch of free tickets for Carne Y Arena, the incredible virtual reality immigration experience for tween ages and up, will be released Friday, June 15, at 8am.
* Need name labels for all your kids’ camp gear? Mabel’s Labels has a great Flag Day Sale going on.
* If you haven’t watched every episode of A Cook’s Tour, No Reservations, or Parts Unknown, put them on your binge list. This is why I think you should.
