Happy Weekend!
Link up to all kinds of ideas for local fun:
* Best Outdoors in the DC Area
* Off-the-Beaten-Path Museums
* Swim Spots
* On the Water
* Local Hikes with Kids
* Bike Rides
* The Great Indoors
* Peaceful Places
Summer Time
Where: Throughout the DMV
When: All weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Summer is whizzing by, so enjoy the season while you can with activities that only occur this time of year. Start off the weekend with a free outdoor concert, then continue the fun on Saturday and Sunday with water play at a pool, sprayground, or waterpark. Or take it indoors at a special exhibit. Wind it all up with crab feast or a movie under the stars. Get details about all of these summer diversions and even more in the 2022 Summer Guide.
Rock Out on the Riverfront
Where: Yards Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Friday, 6:30-8:30pm
Admission: Free
Take a little time trip back twenty years at the Yards Park’s Friday Night Concert series — So Fetch, a 2000’s tribute band will be performing. Stake out a spot in the grass to enjoy the show (or dance on the boardwalk) and plan for dinner there, too — food and drinks will also be available for purchase or you can BYO picnic. Go early to let the kids play in the water features and run around in the grassy areas. It’s a fun time for the whole fam!
Keep on Truckin’
Where: RFK Lot 8 | Northeast DC
When: Saturday, 8am – 1pm
Admission: Free
This Truck Touch event easily takes the title as Mac Daddy of them all. Back for the first time since Covid, DC Department of Public Works welcomes guests to climb aboard, honk the horn, work the gears, and explore all kinds of neat vehicles that serve our city. There also may be opportunities to test ride Segways, spec out a helicopter, and sit atop police horses (there have been in the past). Along with the vehicular fun, enjoy tennis, basketball and fitness activities. Get an idea of what to expect and see images from a past Truck Touch here (and be sure to note that it was posted several years ago, so the dates don’t confuse you).
Fiesta Asia Street Fair
Where: Pennsylvania Ave. 3rd – 6th Streets, NW DC
When: Saturday, 11am – 7pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate Asian heritage at the annual street fair presented by the Asia Heritage Foundation and Passport DC. This showcase of Asian art and culture will include music and dance performances, martial arts demos, a parade, yummy food, a marketplace, hands-on activities, and more. While admission is free, be prepared to spend on food and in the marketplace.
Jolly Shows Carnival
Where: Montgomery Mall | Bethesda, MD
When: Through July 17
Admission: Varies — see ticket info here
A carnival has rolled into town! Through this weekend, the parking lot of Montgomery Mall is full of rides and games and more amusement for all ages.
May the Force Be with the Nats
Where: Nationals Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Ticket prices vary
How about some Star Wars with your baseball? You might run into Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Storm Troopers, or Princess Leia at the ballpark on Saturday. Along with roving characters, the game will feature lots of Star Wars themed fun. FYI: Fans are encouraged to dress in Star Wars garb! Get there early — 10,000 fans will receive a Juan “Solo” STAR WARS bobblehead. If you can’t make it to Star Wars Saturday, you can catch the Nats Friday (7:05pm) or Sunday (1:35pm), when you can take little ones for a pre-game read-along with Sean Doolittle in the Kennedy and Roosevelt Rooms (12:15-1:15pm), and kids can run the bases after the game. See what other promos are happening here. And be sure to check this post for tips to save on a Nats game.
Baysox Star Wars Saturday
Where: Prince George’s Stadium | Bowie, MD
When: Saturday, 6:35pm
Admission: Ticket prices vary
The Force will be also with the Bowie Baysox this weekend when the team hosts Star Wars Night on Saturday, as the Baysox take on the Akron RubberDucks. The event will feature characters in costumes, light saber battles on the field, and more themed fun. A fireworks extravaganza will light up the sky after the game. Fans are welcome to dress for the occasion, too. There are also games on Friday and Sunday. Read more about Baysox games in this KFDC post.
Take Your Pick
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Blackberries, raspberries, and more fruits and veggies 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.
High Wheelin’
Where: Frederick, MD
When: Saturday, 12-3pm
Admission: Free
Penny farthing, anyone? 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. Watch the fun along the .4 mile route and plan to enjoy more time in the Frederick — the downtown area is great to stroll, eat, and shop!
Mr. Poppers Penguins
Where: Imagination Stage
When: Through August 7
Tickets: $14
Mr. Popper’s Penguins have waddled onto Imagination Stage, delighting audiences as only these loveable creatures can. The whimsical tale about dreaming as big as an Antarctic adventure, even in bleak times, sends a timely message to kids and adults alike. Recommended for ages 3-10. Read a full review of the show here.
Fantastagirl and the Math Monster
Where: Adventure Theatre | Glen Echo, MD
When: Through August 21
Tickets: $25 (look for discount)
On stage at Adventure Theatre…. Fantastagirl, a second-grade superhero who uses words to save the day, comes face to face with her worst nightmare: the Math Monster! When confronted with problems too big for words alone to solve, Fantastagirl must accept help from her friendly, furry, fraction-loving foe. While Fantastagirl and Math Monster use words and numbers to help her friends and scientist moms, something far more sinister than Math brews on the horizon.
Little Red Riding Hood & the 3 Little Pigs
Where: The Puppet Co. | Glen Echo, MD
When: Throughout the weekend
Tickets: $15 (look for discount)
It’s the final weekend to see this show on string at The Puppet Co… 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.
UniverSoul Circus
Where: National Harbor | Oxon Hill, MD
When: Through July 24
Admission: $27.50+ (look for discount)
Now running! The world-class, live entertainment attraction is back at National Harbor . The production celebrates the unique and familiar aspects of global cultures and ethnicities, blending circus arts, theater, and music — a fresh, cool, and hip approach to live family entertainment!
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Where: Synetic Theatre | Crystal City, VA
When: Through July 24
Tickets: $20-60
Synetic Theater, the home of American Physical Theater, presents this playful adaptation of Shakespeare’s timeless comedy. This fantastical, darkly playful game of love, mistaken identity, and the supernatural was honored with nine Helen Hayes Award Nominations when it was first produced in 2010, taking home the award for Outstanding Ensemble and Outstanding Resident Play. Side note: I’m excited to see this — Synetic’s shows are always wonderful!
Six
Where: National Theatre | Downtown DC
When: Through September 4
Tickets: $65-150
From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the mic to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an exuberant celebration of 21st century girl power! This new original musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over.
Shakespeare in the Park
Where: Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park | Ellicott City, MD
When: Through July 24
Admission: $54/adult, $27/age 19-25, free/kids
See a Shakespeare play in the park! The Chesapeake Shakespeare Company is bringing back its annual Shakespeare in the Ruins at the picturesque Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park. This summer, see Much Ado About Nothing under the stars. Note that one kid is free with every adult. Bring along a picnic to enjoy as you watch the play — there are no food vendors, but you can BYO fare, beer, and wine.
Star-Spangled Centennial
Where: The Anthem | Southwest DC
When: Saturday, 5pm, 6pm, 8-10pm
Admission: Free
The U.S. Army Band is celebrating their centennial year and performing a free live concert at The Anthem. Join for an evening of music, storytelling, and a celebration of service featuring classical, jazz, pop/rock, and country music. Before the free concert, watch the The U.S. Army Drill and Fife & Drum Corps perform for free at 5pm and 6pm on District Pier.
Spirit in the City
Where: Audi Field | Southwest DC
When: Sunday, 5pm
Admission: Ticket prices vary
Cheer on our local women’s pro soccer team, Washington Spirit, as they host Orlando Pride at Audi Field on Sunday. Enjoy some amazing soccer play while supporting women in sports! Purchase tickets here.
Exhibit This
Where: Museums & venues around the DC Area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by exhibit
There are some extraordinary installations and delightful annual exhibits at our museums and galleries right now. Go to The Playhouse at the Building Museum, explore Ase: Afro Frequencies at ARTECHOUSE, see Fairies in the Garden, immerse in the work of Yayoi Kusama, make a wish, explore King Tut’s tomb at Nat Geo, or take the kids to play at the Botanic Garden.
Word Up
Where: Planet Word | Downtown DC
When: Throughout the weekend, 10am – 5pm
Admission: Free
Passes are still available for this weekend to visit Planet Word, the outstanding museum all about language. It’s full of fun and interesting exhibits, most of them interactive, with something for all ages to enjoy — including wonderful bits of magic. Our whole family loves it! Admission is free, but you need to reserve timed-entry passes. Be sure to read a KFDC write-up about it before you go!
Nature & Recreation in Annapolis
Where: Quiet Waters Park
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: $6/car
Head east to explore a new park. We recently discovered Quiet Waters, kind of by accident, and it made for a fantastic outdoorsy Mother’s Day. Hike in the woods under a leafy canopy, paddle the South River, take in scenic vistas, and even view some art. Read more the locale in this new post.
Charm City Fun, Hon!
Where: Around Baltimore, MD
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Not only is it nice to get a change of metro area scenery sometimes, Baltimore, our sister city just a 45-minute drive away, is full of fantastic, family-friendly things to do. This post has info about all of them, including big attractions, suggestions for places to eat, and neighborhoods to explore.
***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* The National Gallery of Art is bringing back in-person Storytime for children. The first one will be this coming Monday, July 18, at 10am.
* Even though Prime Day has passed, you still may want to check out these recs for Amazon items to snag.
* The Library of Congress has announced the author lineup for this year’s National Book Festival, and as always, it is excellent!
* The Greater DC Diaper Bank just launched a WIPEOUT SUMMER campaign with a goal of collecting $5,000 worth of baby wipes. See how you can contribute.
* Have you heard about the 4,000 beagles being rescued in VA? Learn more and find out how you can help.
* Very important: Cornhole Tips
* For your next picnic, how about a Snacklebox?
* Teenage Pro Tips
