Happy Weekend!
Quick links for activities galore around the area:
* Best Outdoors in the DC Area
* Off-the-Beaten-Path Museums
* The Great Indoors
* Local Hikes with Kids
* Bike Rides
* Stunning Spaces
* Peaceful Places
* Baltimore with Kids
Awesome Con
Where: Washington Convention Center | Mount Vernon Square, DC
Whne: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Starts at $18/child, $45/adult online | $27/child, $60/adult at the door
The mid-Atlantic’s premier pop culture convention brings a three-day celebration of television, movies, comic books, science, technology and more to DC. With hundreds of hours of programming, an impressive lineup of special guests, and exciting activities for fans of all ages, this is one fun event. We’ve been and have had a blast checking out games, toys, comics, art, tv and movie memorabilia, and more. And the cosplay is fantastic. Costumes encouraged.
Stop & Smell
Where: US Botanic Garden | Capitol Grounds Area, DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
Stop and smell the stinky plant at the U.S. Botanic Garden. The corpse flower on display in the conservatory is now blooming (ie, open and letting off its stench). Word is the odor is at its strongest in the first hours after it opens, but the bloom is said to be spectacular. While you’re there, be sure to tour the rest of the USBG’s lovely collections and make time for play in the Children’s Garden.
Ballet on The Plaza
Where: CityCenter | Downtown DC
When: Friday & Saturday, 6-7pm
Admission: Free
Enjoy some delightful entertainment amid the downtown bustle. City Center is teaming up with The Washington Ballet to bring joy to DC with free live ballet performances in The Plaza on Friday and Saturday evenings. Head to the area next to Penn Quarter to eat, drink, shop, and relish the joy of dance.
Cinematery — ET: The Extra Terrestrial
Where: Congressional Cemetery | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Friday, 7:30-10:30pm
Admission: $10
The first installment of Congressional Cemetery’s monthly summer movie series features the 80s classic, ET. Bring the whole fam (and your own chairs, blankets, food, and drinks — alcohol okay, too) to watch the film among the tombstones. Gates open an hour before sunset and the movie begins at sunset, around 8:30. The Cemetery is a great place to enjoy during the day, too — it’s one of my favorite neighborhood places. Read more about it here. And check out Teddy the pup enjoying it here.
Bear Square Book Sale
Where: The Station | Riverdale, MD
When: Friday, 11am – 7pm
Admission: Free
Looking for the next great summer read? Head to The Station’s book sale — all profits from the event will benefit Turning the Page, a local organization that supports literacy and family programs in public schools. Towards the end of the book sale, guests can also enjoy a free concert from 5-7pm as part of the Bear Square Summer Concert Series.
Seize the Season
Where: Around the DC Area
When: All weekend long
Admission: Varies by activity
Enjoy summer fun with a host of activities that only occur this time of year. Catch an open-air concert at one of several series in the area. Stay cool at an outdoor pool, sprayground, or water park. See a movie under the stars. Check out a seasonal exhibit. Go berry picking. Ride mini-trains and carousels at local parks. And much, much more! See the 2022 Summer Guide for details on all of these great pursuits.
Sound Scene 2022
Where: Hirshhorn Museum | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: Free
The region’s largest interactive audio art is back. Sound Scene is a free, all-ages celebration of sonic and sensory arts featuring artists from DC and around the world. Join the museum for fun and interesting ways to explore the theme of trust through sound. Sculpt sound in your hands, dismantle social biases with your ears, listen to stories through your elbows, craft music boxes using your voice, and more! There’s even Make Morning for little ones. View the full schedule here.
Washington Folk Festival
Where: Glen Echo Park | Glen Echo, MD
When: Saturday & Sunday, 12-7pm
Admission: Free
Get folksy at Glen Echo Park this weekend, as the 40th annual Washington Folk Festival showcases the diversity of traditional music in Washington. All of the artists hail from the DC area, but cultures from around the nation, as well as the world, will be represented through music, dance, crafts, and stories. Children and adults can hear tall tales at the Storytelling Stage and then take a ride on the Park’s 101-year-old carousel ($2/ride). Bring a picnic or enjoy Praline at Glen Echo Park’s delicious variety of food and treats.
Birds in Flight
Where: National Zoo | Woodley Park, DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
Get an up-close look at exotic birds soaring overhead in this free, limited-run avian spectacular at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. Join renowned bird behaviorist Phung Luu for a dazzling display of natural behaviors by his flock of exotic birds — from owls and falcons to macaws, ravens and cockatoos — performing six days a week. Birds in Flight takes place on the Great Meadow, adjacent to Gibbon Ridge and the Great Ape House, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. daily (except Tuesdays), May 28 through Sept. 5. This event is free and open to the public and will be held rain or shine. For more information, visit the Zoo’s website.
Pride Family Day
Where: Smithsonian American Art Museum | Penn Quarter, DC
When: Saturday, 11:30am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate Pride with your chosen family at SAAM! Join the museum on the F Street plaza and march to the beat of DC’s Different Drummers. Enjoy a dance party with DJ Rosie followed by a kid-friendly drag show featuring some of DC’s finest drag performers, including Ruth Allen Ginsburg, Desiree, Emerald Star, and Molasses. Take your creativity to go with step-by-step Pride crafts. Choose from Pride flag-inspired jewelry (ages 8+), a multi-colored weaving (ages 5+), or a cloud and rainbow streamer craft (ages 3+). When you’re ready to cool off, head inside the museum with a scavenger hunt for all ages. Read more about the museum here.
Family Day: Indian Textiles: 1000
Where: GWU & Textile Museum | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate the art and culture of India at the museum with music, dance and activities for all ages. We welcome families and friends to experience the many textures of Indian culture with music and dance performances from the Natyabhoomi School of Dance and the India School. Join us for storytime or a gallery tour and scavenger hunt. Visitors can also try block printing and embroidery inspired by the textiles on view in the exhibition Indian Textiles: 1000 Years of Art and Design. End the day by joining us in a guided meditation session with the Gandhi Memorial Center.
Open Swim
Where: Around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
This round-up of places to swim around the area will also come in handy this weekend to enjoy the warm sunny days. Find beaches on the Bay (and even Atlantic), lakes and rivers, and swimming holes and creeks — all that welcome the public to take a dip!
Go with the Flow
Where: Waterways around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies
Row, row, row your boat or kayak or canoe! Paddle season is flowing on, and the weather this weekend will be perfect to enjoy some time out on the water . Boating in DC has several locations in the District and a few NoVa Parks offer it, too. This post about places to go with the flow has more details.
Blue’s Clues & You
Where: National Children’s Museum | Downtown DC
When: Saturday, 9:30am – 4:30pm
Admission: $15.95
Blue’s Clues is coming to the Museum! Gather the whole family and join a day featuring characters from Nickelodeon’s iconic children’s series. Get pictures taken with Blue, enjoy a special story time, and discover your favorite characters and related activities — try on Blue and Magenta’s ears, make your own guitar to strum, and grab an easel to doodle! Plan to explore the rest of the STEAM inspired exhibits while you’re there. Read more about them all here.
Walk the Museum Walk
Where: Dupont-Kalorama Neighborhoods, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Get off the Mall and explore the many museums in the Dupont-Kalorama neighborhood during the annual Museum Walk Weekend — back after a two-year hiatus. See the exhibits and enjoy special programs for free at several diverse museums, including The Phillips Collection, Dumbarton House, the National Museum of American Jewish Military History, Anderson House, Dupont Underground, and the President Woodrow Wilson House.
Reap the Fruits (& Veggies)
Where: Around the DC Area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by place
Strawberries, cherries, even spinach are ripe and ready for harvest, and many area farms welcome guests to come PYO. It’s always a good idea to check websites or call ahead to confirm availability the day you plan to go. Sunscreen and hat also recommended.
Glover Park Day
Where: Guy Mason Rec Center | Glover Park, DC
When: Saturday, 11am – 5pm
Admission: Free
All are welcome to the annual outdoor festival celebrates the Glover Park neighborhood. Started over 30 years ago, the event has grown over the years to offer the neighborhood a chance to enjoy the outdoors together, spend time with family and friends, listen to good music, and enjoy our local businesses and restaurants. Kids’ activities and treats include face painting, a moon bounce, story time, and Sno Cones. Have your pet try out the Dog Obstacle Course, enter a raffle to win prizes, and more!
Drumfolk
Where: Arena Stage | Southwest DC
When: Through June 26
Tickets: $36-75
Electrifying percussive dance fused with contemporary art forms fuels StepAfrika!’s latest production, Drumfolk, inspired by the Stono Rebellion of 1739 in South Carolina. As a result, state laws mandated that enslaved Africans could not assemble or use their drums which were used to signal the uprising. They took away the drums, but they could not stop the beat. This is the rich and “inspiring” (The New York Times) story of a movement that could not be stopped and transformed African American culture from then to the present day.
Little Red Riding Hood & the 3 Little Pigs
Where: The Puppet Co.
When: Friday, 10:30am | Saturday & Sunday, 11:30am & 1pm
Tickets: $15 (look for discount)
We all think we know the Big Bad Wolf from the classic fairytales, but what if it’s the same Wolf in both stories? What if there’s been a big mistake? What if the Wolf isn’t so big or so bad? Recommended for ages 4+. Run time is approximately 45 minutes. Read a KFDC review of the show from a bunch of years back.
Tiny Tots: Tree Songs
Where: The Puppet Co.
When: Saturday, 10am
Tickets: $8 (look for discount)
The series presents puppet shows designed for the youngest theater patrons (ages 0-4). They are shorter, the lights stay on, and the doors stay open. In this marionette show, a woman lives in the countryside with her lively dog, her shy cat and her cuddly sheep. She decides to plant an apple tree so she can make a pie for her birthday. She is surprised by an unexpected little helper. Warm colors and beautiful singing bring special magic to this 30-minute show.
A Monster Calls
Where: Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: Throughout the weekend, 8pm
Tickets: $35-139
A play for kids age 10+… Patrick Ness’s piercing novel A Monster Calls is brought to the stage in a powerful new adaptation by visionary director Sally Cookson. Thirteen-year-old Conor and his mum have managed just fine since his dad moved to America. But now his mum’s very sick and she’s not getting any better. His grandmother won’t stop interfering and the kids at school won’t look him in the eye. Then, one night, at seven minutes past midnight, Conor is woken by something at his window. A monster has come walking. It’s come to tell Conor tales from when it walked before. And when it’s finished, Conor must tell his own story and face his deepest fears.
River Fest & Crafts Show
Where: Downtown Historic Occoquan, VA
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: Free
Get ready for a weekend full of art, crafts, entertainment, and family fun. at this annual crafts festival. Along with the creative items for sale by more than 200 contemporary and country crafters, there will be live entertainment and food, plus, 35 local businesses participating and we scores of emerging artists with eco-friendly materials and/or processes.
Capital Cup: CD Aguila vs. Club Xelaju
Where: Audi Field | Southwest DC
When: Saturday, 7:30pm
Admission: Tickets start at $20
DC United and Audi Field are hosting the second annual Capital Cup, with one of the matches played on Saturday evening. Read more about the tournament here. While the United aren’t playing this weekend, you can see who they might be up against later — and, of course, watch some exciting soccer action!
World Heritage Festival
Where: Veterans Plaza | Silver Spring, MD
When: Sunday, 1-7pm
Admission: Free
Explore cultures across the globe at the World Heritage Festival. Taste delicious ethnic food, while getting refreshed with a scoop of ice cream, shaved ice, or even a fresh smoothie. Enjoy a beautiful cultural performance and shop from more than 60 vendors displaying everything from fine art to jewelry, ceramics to crafts, and every creative item in between. Other vendors include area nonprofit organizations, entrepreneurs, and local businesses. A kids zone will have activities and games throughout the day.
Planet Bethesda
Where: Elm Street Urban Park | Bethesda, MD
When: Sunday, 12-6pm
Admission: Free
Join this family-fun event that brings together the best of Bethesda’s restaurants and eateries serving up small dishes of cutting-edge and creative plant-based cuisine! With a multicultural array of food choices, there will be something for everyone. Along with the tasty fun, there will be a Kids’ Korner, complete with a Mad Science show (REGISTER here), Henna character art, face painting, and environmental DIY crafts; there will be a pie-eating contest, Canine Courtyard, Bier Garten, Giveaways, music & more.
French Open Watch Party
Where: City Ridge | northwest DC
When: Sunday, 2-5pm
Admission: Free
City Ridge, the highly-anticipated new neighborhood in Northwest DC, welcomes tennis fans to celebrate the 2022 French Open men’s singles finals for the ultimate watch party. All guests need is a picnic blanket to pop-up on City Ridge’s expansive Great Lawn and cheer on their favorite players on the big screen. Plan to grab a bite from local food trucks and play life-size lawn games and enter the French Open Trivia Contest to win a Wegmans gift card. Later in the day, keep the party going with an evening under the stars for City Ridge’s showing of “An American in Paris” at 6:30pm, complete with a FREE pop-up candy bar.
Shavuot Ice Cream Factory
Where: Lincoln Park | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Sunday, 5pm
Admission: Free
Shavuot is the day that the Jewish nation received the Torah. Bring the Shavuot excitement to kids by joining Chabad East DC’s awesome ICE CREAM FACTORY! The kids will make ice cream from scratch, then choose from an array of toppings! Adults and kids alike can enjoy the cheesecake bar, non-dairy options available as well! After, gather to hear the 10 commandments read from a Torah scroll, continuing the tradition of thousands of years. A special game and souvenirs for all children will follow. Sign up in advance.
***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* Save your seats with the just-posted round-up of live entertainment around the DC area this summer.
* A very difficult, but very impactful read.
* Tees for Pride Month.
* This looks like a yummy summer salad.
* The 30 Best Movies for Kids on Netflix.
* That’s a Tough Age 😉
