The Montgomery County Fair begins this weekend!
Happy Weekend!
All’s Fair
Where: Montgomery, Prince William, & Howard Counties | MD & VA
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
County fair season continues as Montgomery and Prince William kick off their annual fests that are chock full of amusement for everyone in the fam. Carnival rides and games, farm animals, live entertainment, pony rides, the junk food gamut, pig races, and so much more. You can also find it in Howard County, where the fair is on for its final couple of days. This post has the scoop on all of the county fun.
Kids in the Castle
Where: Heurich House Museum | Dupont Circle, DC
When: Saturday, 11am – 2pm
Admission: Free
A suit of of armor, woodcarvings of animals & magical beasts, towering ceilings… for children, the Heurich mansion is a magical castle to explore. Held every few months, Kids in the Castle encourages children and their families to wander through the house at their own pace, complete photo scavenger hunts to win prizes, and take a more detailed self-guided tour if they desire. During the warmer months, families can also relax and play games in the Castle Garden. Register for free tickets; only a limited number will be available at the door.
Summer Fun
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
The summer break from school may be starting to wind down, but summer fun around the area continues. Catch a concert outdoors to start the weekend on a musical note — Jazz in the Garden on the National Mall and the Friday Night Concert series at Yards Park are local faves. Keep the seasonal pursuits going with a variety of options: Head to a farm for peach picking. Enjoy some water fun, either at an outdoor pool or a spray park. Feast on crabs. Take advantage of free admission for kids at the Newseum or see seasonal exhibit like Wings of Fancy at Brookside Gardens, Fairy Houses at Annmarie Garden, or FunHouse at the Building Museum. This post has all the details you need on all these summer joys.
Down by the Riverside
Where: The District Wharf | Southwest DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
There’s no special event going on there this weekend, but The District Wharf is a great place to spend a day with the fam, especially if the weather is nice. Play in sprays, rock on swinging benches, rent a kayak, grab a bite to eat by the water, people watch, and more. This new post has the scoop on all there is to do at the southwest waterfront locale.
Pirates & Wenches Fantasy Weekend
Where: Rock Hall, MD
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Free
Buccaneers and landlubbers of all ages! Head out to the Eastern Shore for a fun, unique experience. This town-wide family-friendly event will be loaded with kids activities, shows, and costume contests. Check out the website for details and schedules. Pirate attire is highly encouraged!
English Learners’ Back to School Fair
Where: Columbia Heights Education Campus | Columbia Heights, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 2:30pm at (3101 16th St. NW).
Admission: Free
DC Public Schools, in collaboration with several DC agencies, will be hosting this fair that targets linguistically and culturally diverse families and English Learner students with the goal of connecting them to academic and community resources. The event will feature dozens of local organizations that provide a wide range of services, and there will be workshops for caregivers interested in learning about tips and tools to help their children succeed in school. There will also be free backpacks, school supplies, food, face painting, and even children’s haircuts!
Otakun
Where: Washington Convention Center, Downtown DC
When: Friday – Sunday
Admission: $100
This weekend long convention is a celebration of Asian pop culture and it’s fandom. There will be loads to experience — anime, manga, music, movies, video games, and more. Visitthe website for the schedule and more details about the exhibitions.
Anatomy of Sports
Where: National Museum of Health & Medicine | Silver Spring, MD
When: Saturday, 10am – 12pm
Admission: Free
Bones and muscles need to work together for optimal performance. Athletes of all ages should know how their bodies work in order to compete and stay healthy. During Anatomy of Sports, athletes will demonstrate their sport while medical illustrators and physical therapists reveal how muscles and bones work together. This session is perfect for families with children playing sports, the recreational athlete ,or the practiced sports enthusiast. Read more about the museum in this KFDC post from a few years back.
Family Mindfulness
Where: Freer|Sackler Gallery | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10:30am-12pm & 1-2:30pm
Admission: Free, but registration is required
Beat the heat with little ones during this summer meditation series! Take a moment to pause and reflect in front of lush landscapes and other storied artworks in our permanent collection. Then, admire the natural beauty in the Freer courtyard with a series of facilitated activities to help deepen self-awareness. Finally, slow things down and experience guided breathing, storytelling, and other beginner-friendly mindfulness techniques led by instructors from Yoga District. Come ready to move in comfy clothes. Mats are provided. For ages 4+ with adult companions.
Show Time
Where: Venues around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by show
* Tinker Bell is lighting up the stage at Adventure Theatre
* Follow the yellow brick road to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz at Synetic Theatre
* The Olney Theatre presents HMS Pinafore and families are encouraged to go!
* You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown is on the Imagination Stage
* It’s opening weekend for Peter and the Wolf at The Puppet Co.
* And Jellybean Circus is the featured Tiny Tots show at the puppet theater.
* Teen ages and up can see Second City’s Generation Gap at the Kennedy Center
* Enjoy the music of Gustafer Yellowgold at the McLean Central Park Gazebo on Sunday.
Reels on the Ramp
Where: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center | Chantilly, VA
When: Saturday, 8pm
Admission: Free, but parking is $15
Bring the family for a movie night under the stars on the Udvar-Hazy Center’s outdoor airplane ramp. Don’t forget your chairs, blankets, and insect repellent! Food is allowed, but alcohol and glass bottles or containers are prohibited. Doors open at 8pm and the movie will begin at dusk. Planes, a spin-off of the Cars franchise, follows Dusty Crophopper, a crop duster plane who practices aerobatic maneuvers in his free time and dreams of becoming a racer.
Dave on Stage
Where: Arena Stage | Southwest DC
When: Through
Admission: Tickets start at
Remember the movie, Dave, about the President’s doppelgänger who fills in as POTUS when he suffers a stroke? It’s now a world premiere musical at Arena Stage! With modern day updates, references to the current political climate, Arena’s signature “DC” vibe, and opps for spontaneous audience interaction, it’s one pretty fantastic show. Recommended for ages 13+.
High Wheelin’
Where: Frederick, MD
When: Saturday, 1-5pm
Admission: Free
Get a curbside seat to America’s only high wheel race in historic downtown Frederick, MD. The National Clustered Spires High Wheel Race is a unique event that celebrates the history of bikes with an antique bike display and more festivities throughout the day at the Best Fest — live music, face painting, bouncy fun, beer garden, and more.
Tall Tales on the Big Screen
Where: National Gallery of Art | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 10:30am & Sunday, 11:30am
Admission: Free
Enjoy some highly unlikely stories, from a greedy rat and a sailor cat to some flying dinosaurs and a lonely bear! The children’s short films program includes The Highway Rat, How Dinosaurs Learned to Fly, Bear Story, and The Gallant Captain. Recommended for ages 6+, runs approximately 60 minutes.
Tour the Fun House
Where: National Building Museum | Judiciary Square, DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: $16/adult, $13/age 3-17, free/members
There are only a few weeks left to jump into fun at the Building Museum’s annual Summer Block Party. This year’s exhibition, Fun House, was created by Snarkitecture, the same group that brought us The Beach a few years ago. It’s full of clever details and neat features that welcome all ages to engage and enjoy. It even comes with a big backyard pool, and visitors are invited to take a dip!
Art Museum Morning
Where: Hirshhorn Museum | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 12pm
Admission: Free
Fun for little ones at the Hirshhorn! Enjoy the Library + Art Pop-Up and find a cart in the galleries and check out a fun kit full of favorite finds for kids. And be sure to stop in the Sculpture Garden outside and add a wish to Yoko Ono’s Wish Tree for Washington!
Go with the Flow
Where: Waterways around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by boathouse
Enjoy the weekend on the water, where you can paddle and explore. A bunch of places around the area rent kayaks, canoes, stand up paddleboards, rowboats, and pontoons. Fletcher’s Boathouse is a popular place to go, and you can also paddle from nearby Thompson Boathouse and Ballpark Boathouse next to Yards Park. Bladensburg Waterfront Park also has vessels for rent along with free pontoon boat tours on weekends from 5-5:45. If you’re up for a bigger excursion, you can rent your own pontoon at Solomons Island. And you can see where else you can explore by water in this round-up of great places to go with the flow.
Farmers Market at the Ballpark
Where: Nationals Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Sunday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: Free
The Nats may be on the road this weekend, but there’s still something happening at he ballpark! The Nationals, along with Kaiser Permanente, present the first annual Farmers Market at Nationals Park. Located in Center Field Plaza, fans and neighbors will have access to locally sourced produce, meats, dairy products and more. Fun games will also be set up for everyone to enjoy, and Screech and the Racing Presidents will be in attendance! Visit the website for the full vendor list. Garage C will be open with free parking.
DC, Inside & Out
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
The weather seems to be all over the place lately, so these go-to posts are good to keep on hand: The Great Indoors post has 100 ideas for things to do. And if you’re aiming to get outdoors, check out this robust round-up of the best outdoor adventures in the DC area.
***MORE GOOD STUFF TO KNOW***
* Starting this Sunday through next Saturday, it’s Tax-Free Week in Maryland. All qualifying apparel and footwear $100 or less, per item, are exempt from the state sales tax.
* The Shakespeare Theatre Company’s annual Free For All program featuring Romeo and Juliet this year begins on August 21 and runs through September 2.
* The most wonderful time of the year, REN FEST, begins in just two weeks. Huzzah!
* The Library of Congress National Book Festival is coming up soon, too, on September 1 with another great lineup of presenting authors.
