Join a special Discover Summer day at The Rubell Museum
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
USDA Farmers Market Kid’s Takeover
Where: 14th St & Independence Ave SW | National Mall, DC
When: Friday, 10am – 12pm.
Admission: Free
The USDA’s Friday market is all about kids this week. There will be many activities across the market especially for children. Fun games and activities will be available, kindie band Marsha and the Positrons will be performing, and there will be horses provided by USPP to celebrate National Meet a Horse Day!
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.
Friday in the Park Jazz
Where: Congressional Cemetery | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Friday, 6:30 pm
Admission: $15, free for age 4 &under
Congressional Cemetery is excited to welcome the DC Strings Workshop for live orchestral music and jazz under the stars. Come out to enjoy summer in the cemetery!Limited seating in chairs is available on a first come, first served basis. You are welcome to bring a picnic, blanket and low chairs of your own. Cold beer, wine and soft drinks will be available at the bar. Sorry, but dogs are not allowed. Gates open at 6pm.
Freaky Friday
Where: Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre | Arlington, VA
When: Throughout the weekend
Tickets: $15/adults, $12/child
Start the weekend with Freaky Friday (or enjoy it Saturday or Sunday)! Encore Stage & Studio presents by kids for kids theatre with their new musical based on the beloved 1972 novel by Mary Rodgers and the hit Disney films about a mother and daughter who magically swap bodies and have one freaky Friday to get back to normal. Performances are on Friday at 7:30pm, Saturday at 2pm & 7:30pm, and Sunday, at 2pm.
World Cup Watch Parties
Where: Around the DC area
When: Friday evening
Admission: Free
The Women’s World Cup is about to begin, and the USNWT first match airs on Friday evening. The Washington Spirit will be hosting watch parties at the Bullpen in the Navy Yard and a few other places around the area for the game against Vietnam and the next one on July 26 against the Netherlands. RSVP for the Bullpen parties here.
Discover Summer with DC Library
Where: The Rubell Museum | Southwest DC
When: Saturday, 11am – 2pm
Admission: Free
The DC Public Library welcomes families to join this session of their summer series at The Rubell Museum, a new(ish) contemporary art museum in DC’s Southwest community. They’ll host a special storytime for families, share library resources, and more! Enjoy the collection, What’s Going On, as well as Sylvia Snowden: SHELL; GLIMPSES. It’s a small, but neat museum with interesting and some provocative art.
SAAM Arcade
Where: Smithsonian American Art Museum | Penn Quarter, DCa
When: Saturday, 11:30am – 7pm
Admission: Free
The annual SAAM Arcade is on Saturday. This is a great event for families, especially if your kids (or you!) are into gaming. The exploration of video games and art showcases games from indie developers and classic arcade games, and this year’s show will highlight music and sound design in video games. Test out some new games, replay some of the beloved older ones, and get some fresh perspectives on the gaming world. A special Art Quest that connects video games and SAAM’s collections will also be available. See more about the American Art Museum in this KFDC post.
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 peaking, 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. 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.
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 through Saturday, but you can still see the flowers after that. View 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.
DC Teen Scene
Where: Around the DC area
When: Ongoing
Admission: Varies by activity
Got teens? There’s a brand new post about activities with teens — written by one of my own! From museums to outdoor recreation to live entertainment to a neighborhoos with lots of things to do, it’s full of recommendations for hanging out with older kids.
Show Time
Where: Around the DC area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by show
There’s all kinds of entertainment on local stages this weekend. Here’s what and where you can catch it (and you can find show details and any discount links here):
* Nate the Great at Imagination Stage
* Beauty and the Beast at The Puppet Co.
* Cambodian Rock Band at Arena Stage
* The Play That Goes Wrong at The Kennedy Center
* The Fisherman and His Wife at Adventure Theatre
* Disney’s The Lion King at the Kennedy Center
* Seussical: The Musical at Keegan Theatre
* UniverSoul Circus at National Harbor
* Cyrano de Bergerac at Synetic Theater
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 2023 Summer Guide.
Summer Sounds
Where: Town Square | Chevy Chase Lake, MD
When: Friday, 6pm
Admission: Free
Chevy Chase Lake, a thoughtfully designed neighborhood in the heart of Chevy Chase, is proud to present Summer Sounds at Chevy Chase Lake, which will take place in the neighborhood’s new Town Square July through September. Guests of all ages can enjoy live performances by local artists, along with free giveaways from Chevy Chase’s newest vendor, The Charmery. For each concert, Chevy Chase Lake will be making a donation to Hope for Henry, a non-profit that is reinventing how hospitals care for children and their families, with a chapter at Children’s National Hospital in Chevy Chase. The Chevy Chase Lake Town Square is loctatd at 8525 Chevy Chase Lake Terrace.
Happy Birthday, Mei Xiang!
Where: National Zoo | Woodley Park, DC
When: Saturday, 9am
Admission: Free, but timed tickets required
This is really just an excuse to visit the Zoo, since there’s not a big event for visitors, but it’s always fun to see the pandas. One of them, Mei Xiang, is celebrating a birthday on Saturday and you can watch her receive some special treats for the big day. Visit Asia Trail at 9am for the little celebration (or go later and stop by to wish her well). Of course, plan to visit more of the Zoo while you’re there — ead more about it in this KFDC post.
Insectival
Where: Annmarie Sculpture Garden | Lusby, MD
When: Saturday, 9am – 1pm
Admission: $8/advance, $10/at gate
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.
Family Fun at the Freer
Where: National Museum of Asian Art | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 2pm
Admission: Free
Join museum docents in the Peacock Room and in the Japanese art exhibition Rinpa Screens (Freer gallery 5) for engaging and collaborative hands-on activities that are geared toward families with children ages 5 and up. Exciting stories, scavenger hunts, sketching, and other activities will bring the whole family together to imagine, create, and learn.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Where: Reston Town Center | Reston, VA
When: Saturday, 7:30
Admission: Free
Swing into Saturday! Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, the renowned swing band from southern California, will is performing as part of the summer-long Reston Concerts on the Town series. The free, all-ages show will take place rain or shine, at the Reston Town Center Pavilion. Both the band and the concert series are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year.
Nats vs Giants
Where: Nationals Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Tickets start at $16
The Nats are hosting the Marlins all weekend. Catch a game on Friday at 7:05pm, Saturday at 7:05pm, or Sunday at 1:35pm. There will be a CJ Abrams bobblehead giveaway on Saturday, and a kids water bottle on Sunday, plus they can run the bases after the game. Be sure to check out these KFDC tips on how to do a Nats game without breaking the bank.
Nature Calling
Where: Nature centers around the DC area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
Get a dose of the outside world in the cool comfort of the indoors at 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.
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.
***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* Where to watch the Women’s World Cup around DC.
* Have you checked out National Landing yet? There’s a lot going on there this summer.
* Rock Creek Park will be presenting all kinds of free programming with Summer in the Parks on Thursdays in August.
* Pet people, check out these amazing ideas for pet-friendly home design.
* Adidas has big shoe sale going on. (How cute are these?)
* As the caption on this IG post says, manifesting the same energy!
