The Weekend Round-Up: July 22-24

 

Happy Weekend!

Quick links to posts with loads of ideas for local fun:
* Off-the-Beaten-Path Museums
* Swim Spots
* On the Water
* Best Outdoors in the DC Area
* Local Hikes with Kids
* Bike Rides
* The Great Indoors
* Peaceful Places

Stay Cool at the Pool
Where: Select Public Pools in DC
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Free
With a heat wave on the way, Mayor Bowser and DC DPR are extending hours at some of the District’s public pools, one in every ward. The pools will be open from 10am – 8pm all weekend. See the locations where you can swim into the evening here.

The Great Indoors
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
This list of over 100 ideas for adventures around the area that take place indoors is always a good one to keep handy in the summer (or any time of year, really), but especially this weekend as temps soar. Many are well known attractions, but sometimes we need reminders about even the most obvious spots. You’ll likely find lots of nice surprises listed, too!

Friday Night Fishing
Where: Diamond Teague Docks | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Friday, 5-8pm
Admission: Free
Join Anacostia Riverkeeper for their summer Friday fishing program — all ages are welcome! All essentials are provided: rods, reels, bait, and lessons for first time fishers. Staff are there to answer any questions and help with casting, tips, and tricks. Be sure to register and fill out a waiver if you plan to go. When you’re done, head right down the boardwalk to Yards Park for the Friday Night Concert or get a bite to eat at one of the many nearby restaurants.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in Concert
Where: Wolf TRap | Vienna, VA
When: Friday, 8pm
Admission: $37-67
Relive the magic of year six in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in concert. With this film, based on the sixth installment of J.K. Rowling’s classic saga, fans of all ages can now experience the thrilling tale of Harry’s obsession with a mysterious potions book accompanied by the music of a live symphony orchestra as Harry soars across the big screen in HD!

Free Theatre: Much Ado About Nothing
Where: Olney Theatre | Olney, MD
When: Friday & Saturday, 7:30pm
Admission: Free
Enjoy a PG-rated free performances of Much Ado About Nothing on Olney THeatre’s Root Family Stage… War has ended and soldiers return home to forget their sorrows. It looks like love is in the air, except between Beatrice and Benedick, who are determined not to fall in love and get married. Their friends Hero and Claudio along with others conspire to set them up whether they like it or not, but ill intentions may threaten to break up more than one couple in this play. Tricks, mistaken identity, and a clueless night watchman are on the horizon in this “will they/won’t they” comedy that features one of Shakespeare’s wittiest couples. Reserve free tickets here.

Alethia Tanner Day
Where: Alethia Tanner Park | NoMa, DC
When: Saturday, 11am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate NoMa’s beautiful new(ish) Alethia Tanner Park and the remarkable legacy of the park’s namesake.Alethia Tanner was enslaved woman who purchased her freedom and dozens of other’s with money she earned by selling produce at outdoor markets. She continued to help the Black community and became a champion of education for Blacks in the District. This day-long event will honor Alethia’s spirit of entrepreneurialism with the inclusion of a pop-up outdoor market, Neighbors DC, featuring all women of color-vendors and makers. Other festivities include a DJ and live music, Double Dutch lessons and demos, a poetry writing workshop, vegetable planting activities Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

Seize the Summer Days
Where: Around the DC area
When: Throughout weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Summer is zooming by, so seize the season while you can with activities that only occur this time of year. From outdoor concerts and movies to water-inspired fun to special exhibits to tasty feasts, there are so many ways to enjoy the season.  Get details about all of these summer diversions and even more in the 2022 Summer Guide.

Swim in Nature
Where: Around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
If you want enjoy the outdoors, but still stay cool, head to a swimming spot in nature instead of the pool. This round-up of places to swim around the area inclues beaches on the Bay (and even Atlantic), lakes and rivers, and swimming holes and creeks — all that welcome the public to take a dip.

Lotus and Water Lily Festival
Where: Kenilworth Aquatic Garden | Northeast DC
When: Daily, 8am – 4pm
Admission: Free
The  lotus flower and water lily bloom is peaking at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, and I can assure you it is spectacular.  Along with the flowers, there will be activities to celebrate the bloom, including garden tours, ranger talks, a live animal show, reptile adventures, and mariachi music.   See scenes from a past bloom here and learn about a great way to combine a visit with another activity here.   And this post has more general info and background on Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.

Sea of Sunflowers
Where: McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area | Poolesville, MD
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
Get your cameras ready for one eye-popping bloom! The sunflowers at McKee-Beshers are reaching their peak, and visitors are welcome to take in the happy scene. Nine fields showcase 30 acres of flowers — and they should be blooming for at least couple of weeks. Read more about it and see pics from a previous bloom here and view some from last year’s here.  Sunscreen, hat, bug repellent, and water highly recommended. KFDC Tip: If you plan to go, pair it with a PYO blackberries outing at Homestead Farms, which is just minutes away. Or stop by Rocklands Farm Winery, also nearby.

Music & Water Play
Where: Yards Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Friday, 7-9pm
Admission: Free
There are only two more chances to enjoy live music by the river at The Yards Friday night concert series.  Broad Sound, a local pop/rock/RnB band will be providing the entertainment. Plan for dinner there — food and drinks will be available for purchase, there are lots of dining options nearby, or you can BYO picnic.  Go early to let the kids play in the water features (and dip your feet to stay cool, too) or let them splash around while the music plays — you can still hear it from that part of the park!

Insectival
Where: Annmarie Sculpture Garden | Lusby, MD
When: Saturday, 9am – 1pm
Admission: $8
Buzz on down to Calvert County as Annmarie Sculpture Garden celebrates and investigates insects through educational and artsy activities, crafts, demos, challenges, and fun photo ops. Be sure to explore the rest of the gardens and art center while you’re there — artistic delights and play abound! Read more about Annmarie here and view scenes from a visit here.

Montgomery County Farm Tour
Where: Area Farms | Montgomery County, MD
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: Free
Learn about agricultural heritage, see local farms, and indulge in seasonally fresh food as Montgomery County celebrates its Farm Tour and Harvest Sale. Activities will vary from farm to farm, but fruit, veggies, and flower picking;  animals to visit; farm made brews and cider to purchase are just some that will be offered. There are 19 participating farms, but not all will be open both days, so be sure to check the brochure for schedules before you go.

The Outdoors Inside
Where: US Botanic Garden | Capitol Area, DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
Going to the US Botanic Garden during extreme heat is kind of like pulling a fast one on the weather gods — you can experience the outdoors without breaking a sweat.  Explore the different plant collections as you walk amid woodland flora, desert areas, and tropical rainforest (one of the the most stunning spaces in DC). And the current Cultivate: Growing Food in a Changing World exhibit has interesting interactive elements that all ages will enjoy. Read more about the  USBG here and here.

Nature Calling
Where: Nature centers around the DC area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
For another way to get a dose of the outside world in the cool comfort of the indoors, head to a nature center. There are several great ones around the area that offer engaging exhibits, including live creatures. Rock Creek Nature Center in DC,  Buddie Ford in Alexandria (Saturday only), Watkins in Upper Marlboro, Potomac Overlook in Arlington, Long Branch in Arlington, and Brookside in Silver Spring all make for a great outing.

The Playhouse
Where: National Building Museum
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: $10/adult, $7/age 3-17
The Building Museum’s annual Summer Block Party features The Playhouse , an Elizabethan-inspired festival stage in the cool comfort of the museum’s Great Hall. Along with marveling at the installation (and the rest of the museum), you can enjoy Shakespearean activities like stage combat demos and hands-on fun during the day, and in the evenings, there will be performances of the enchanting A Midsummer Night’s Dream from the Folger Shakespeare Theatre (look for a discount on tickets for the play). And PS: If you think Shakespeare and kids don’t mix, think again! Read about some of our experiences with it here and here.

Time for a Tour
Where: Old Post Office Tower | Downtown DC
When: Daily, 9am – 4pm
Admission: Free
See the city from a new vantage point at the Old Post Office Tower. Located within the Waldorf Astoria at 12th & Pennsylvania, NW, it’s free to visit and go up to the observation deck of one of the tallest structures in DC. This new post about a recent visit has info for visiting, and be sure to read it for details on accessing the entrance.

Super, Awesome, & Amazing Fun
Where: The St. James | Springfield, VA
When: Saturday & Sunday (see hours below)
Admission: See below
If the kids have a lot of energy to burn, but you don’t want to endure the heat, take them to play at the St. James. The Super, Awesome, and Amazing (that’s the actual name of it) activity center is filled with all kinds of climbing structures, trampolines, and obstacle courses. Kids can don harnesses and clip onto wires to climb, rappel, navigate walkways 20 feet above the ground, plus bounce, flip, swing, and execute acrobatic moves. There’s also an indoor waterpark where they can splash and slide and play out of the sun — and it’s just as super awesome. The activity center is open 9am – 8pm, admission is $15/hour, $27/two hours. The waterpark is open 10am – 6pm, admission is $20/two hours.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Where: Synetic Theater | Crystal City, VA
When:  Through July 24
Tickets: $20-60
This weekend is the last chance to catch this show at Synetic Theater, the home of American Physical Theater…  This playful adaptation of Shakespeare’s timeless comedy — a 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!

UniverSoul Circus
Where: National Harbor | Oxon Hill, MD
When: Through July 24
Admission: $27.50+ (look for discount)
Only a few more days to  experience this  world-class, live entertainment attraction  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!

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.

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 
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.

Cinderella
Where: The Puppet Co.
When: Through August 28
Tickets: $15 (look for discount)
Rod puppets convey the classic tale of rags to riches, love at first sight (twice!), and getting what we all deserve. Don’t miss this fan favorite production, or your magical midnight curfew! Recommended for ages 5+. Run time is approximately 45 minutes.

Six
Where: National Theatre | Downtown DC
When: Through September 4
Tickets: $65-150 (look for discount)
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.

Vamos United!
Where: Audi Field | Southwest DC
When: Saturday, 8pm
Admission: Tickets start at $29
DC United is home this weekend with a match against Montreal — and it’s in the evening, so it won’t be under the blazing sun. I recommend taking public transportation as parking can be difficult. Or park in the Navy Yard neighborhood and plan to walk from there. You can even grab dinner first — El Bebe, All Purpose Pizza, The Salt Line, and Dacha are very convenient and my top recs for family-friendly spots to eat there. Purchase match tickets here.

Kidz Bop Live 2022
Where: Jiffy Lube Live | Bristow, VA
When: Sunday, 4pm
Tickets: $25 (look for discount)
Kidz Bop Live 2022 is back and bigger than ever! The ultimate pop concert for kids (and grown ups, too!) is coming, and it’s all new for 2022. Sing and dance along with the Kidz Bop Kids as they perform today’s biggest hits, live on stage, including “Good 4 U” and “Dance Monkey.”

***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* Tips for staying cool and safe in a heat wave.
* These no cook recipes will help, too.
* Tickets are still available for Hamilton, coming to the Kennedy Center in August — and you might be able to find a discount for them.
* In case you missed the hearing Thursday.  (Watch the whole thing here.)
* Family travel experiences that cater to kids’ obsessions.
* Talking to teens about birth control.
*A funny Countdown.