Happy Weekend!
Link up to go-to KFDC posts:
* Off-the-Beaten-Path Museums
* Swim Spots
* The Great Indoors
* Best Outdoors in the DC Area
* Local Hikes with Kids
* Baltimore with Kids
* Bike Rides
* Paddling Options
* Stunning Spaces
* Peaceful Places
Fairfax County 4-H Fair & Carnival
Where: Frying Pan Farm Park | Herndon, VA
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: $10 parking + tickets for rides, etc.
Head on down to the 4-H fair! Through Sunday, enjoy carnival rides, amusements, treats, farm animals and rabbits, rides and displays, horse and dog shows, the tractor pull, kids crafts and face painting, plus plenty of good food, drinks and live music. Held at Frying Pan Farm Park, hours for the many activities vary by day, so be sure to check the website before you go.
Otakon
Where: Washington Convention Center | Downtown DC
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Starts at $40/adult, free/ages 8 & under
This weekend-long convention is a celebration of Asian pop culture — think anime, mange, video games, etc. — and its fandom. There are tons of fun opportunities for all ages. Pore over all kinds of manga, see some amazing costumes (and wear one yourself), play video games, check out other kinds of games and battles, join a dance party, bring little ones to the Ota-chan area where there are activities just for them…and so much more!
Cinematery: The Haunted Mansion
Where: Congressional Cemetery | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Friday, 7-10:30pm
Admission: $10/adult, $5/under 12
This month’s installment of Congressional Cemetery’s summer movie series goes back to 2003 for Eddie Murphy’s comedy-horror classic. Bring the whole fam (and your own low-lying chairs, blankets, food, and drinks.. also for sale) to watch among the gravestones. The Cemetery is a great place to enjoy during the day, too — one of my favorite neighborhood places! Read more about it here. And check out Teddy as a pup enjoying it here.
Kids Workshop: Whiteboard
Where: Home Depot locations around the DC area
When: Saturday, 9am – 12pm
Admission: Free – be sure to register in advance!
Home Depot’s free monthly workshop for kids invites young DIYers to make their own whiteboard. All supplies are provided, including a little apron, and kids get to keep their craft along with a certificate of achievement and collectible pin. All attendees must be accompanied by a parent or adult at all times. Register in advance!
Friendship Firehouse Festival
Where: Friendship Firehouse | Alexandria, VA
When: Saturday, 9am – 2pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate the historic Friendship Firehouse’s 250th year at this annual family event. Learn about fire safety today, and yesterday, and see Alexandria Fire Department equipment up close. There will be booths by the Alexandria Police Department and Sheriff’s Office, music performances, face painting, displays by community organizations, local vendors, and food and bevies for sales. Join in water play and please-touch artifact activities. Children will receive free toy Friendship firefighting helmets.
Go with the Flow
Where: Waterways around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies
Paddling a vessel on local waters is a great way to enjoy the season and some active recreation. There are a bunch of places around the are to rent kayaks, canoes, SUPs, and pedal boats. Boating in DC has several locations in the District, and a few parks in NoVa and MD offer it, too. This post about places to go with the flow has more details.
First Saturday
Where: National Gallery of Art | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Get creative and celebrate the season at the National Gallery of Art’s monthly series. Enjoy a special day-long affair with multiple free programs for all ages. Listen to a story about everyone’s favorite summer insect, color in a summer scene, stop by the sketching lab for inspired drawing ideas, or become a work of art at a face painting station.
Fabric Flowers
Where: DAR Museum | Downtown DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: Free
Join the DAR Museum for a fun-filled time of creativity and crafting. In this hands-on activity, kids will learn how to make a project to take home, based on the exhibition Sewn in America: Making – Meaning – Memory. Educators will guide kids through the process, providing all the materials needed to create a fabric flower. This is a great opportunity for kids to express their creativity and have a blast while doing it! Recommended for ages 7 and up. Registration equested.
BrickFair
Where: Dulles Expo Center | Chantilly, VA
When: Saturday, 10am – 5pm & Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: $9-21/advance, $25/at door
The nation’s largest LEGO Fan Festival will be enthralling guests of all ages this weekend. BrickFair brings together LEGO enthusiasts from across the country to showcase their amazing brick constructions, from tiny intricate works to elaborate, towering creations. Hundreds of exhibitors will be there to display their designs, along with vendors selling all things LEGO — T-shirts, hats, mini figures, models, and more. And guests can use it all as inspiration to do some building there themselves, plus enjoy all kinds of fun hands-on activities.
Howard County Fair
Where: Howard County Fairgrounds | West Friendship, MD
When: Begins Saturday through August 10
Admission: $10/ages 13+, $5/seniors, free for under 10
County Fair season is starting around the area with the 78th annual Howard County Fair, and you have through next Saturday to enjoy rides, magic shows, musical entertainment in the evenings, pig races and pony rides, the Kids & Critters barn, Demolition Derby, a pro rodeo, and more. Most of the rides cost extra, and packages are available, so be sure to check out the website to see what’s available if you plan to go.
Youth Poetry Workshop
Where: Folger Shakespeare Library | Capitol Hill, Dc
When: Saturday, 9-11am
Admission: Free
Poets of all ages can learn the basics of various poetic forms in this interactive, drop-in workshop. Rotate through different stations where teaching artists will explore haiku, poetry in motion, nature poems, and more! You can also join us in the theatre for story times throughout the morning. Register in advance. After the program, stay and enjoy the exhibition halls. Read more about the recently reopened Folger in this KFDC post. And FYI: Every other Saturday is all about family fun — Folger Family Takeovers include hands-on activities, dance, poetry, and lots of energy.
Guided Hike: Underground Raiload Experience Trail
Where: Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park | Sandy Spring, MD
When: Saturday 10-11:30am
Admission: $8/age 6+, free/5 & under
Learn about the experience of 19th century freedom seekers and Montgomery County residents in a guided hike of the Underground Railroad Experience Trail. Discover techniques used for navigation, eluding detection, and finding food/shelter on the perilous journey. The hike covers two miles on a natural surface hiking trail, and the content is appropriate for ages 7 and up. Admission to the Woodlawn Museum is included. Read more about the hike and trail in this KFDC post.
Tennis, Anyone?
Where: Rock Creek Park Tennis Center | Rock Creek, DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Ticket prices vary
There’s more on-court excitement as the Mubadala Citi Open Tennis Tournament wraps up this weekend. With the quarterfinals on Friday, the semis on Saturday, and the championship matches on Sunday, the event is sure to serve up some excellent tennis.
Peach Fuzzitval
Where: Great Country Farm | Bluemont, VA
When: Saturday & Sunday, 9am – 5pm
Admission: $10/child, $12/adult
Celebrate peak peach picking season at Great Country Farms! Along with tons of fun activities, you can also learn how the peaches are grown and used in food and drink and enjoy the results as well. Kick off each morning with a peach pancake breakfast, then later on get the whole family involved in peach eating and peach pit spitting contests and family water games. All the fun farm attractions will be open, and there will also be live music to entertain the crowd. And across the way at Bluemont Vineyard, enjoy special peach drinks and wine.
The Time is Ripe
Where: Farms around the DC area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Along with peaches, blueberries, blackberries, and a few more fruits and veggies are among the produce that’s ripe right now. And most area farms have something ready for harvest and welcome guests to come pick ’em themselves. It’s always a good idea to check websites or call ahead to confirm availability the day you plan to go. Sunscreen, hat, and water also recommended.
Family Workshop: Preserving Chinese Paintings
Where: National Museum of Asian Art | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 11am & 1:30pm
Admission: Free
In this hands-on workshop, kids ages 6–11 can learn about and practice repairing artwork using reinforcement strips, a traditional mending technique. Get inspired by touring the Chinese art galleries, make your own art, and apply reinforcement strips so your artwork can safely make the journey home. Register in advance.
Stripes of All Types
Where: Anacostia Community Museum | Anacostia, DC
When: Saturday, 12-2pm
Admission: Free
The Anaocistia community Museum is teaming up with the National Zoo for this book talk and art workshop for families. Enjoy a presentation by children’s book author/illustrator Susan Stockdale, of her picture book, Stripes of All Types along with a talk with the Zoo’s Great Cats Keeper, Craig Saffoe, and hands on, play-based activities from the from the Little Critters: Nature Play program. Reserve a spot in advance.
Harry Potter Day at the Ballpark
Where: Nationals Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Saturday, 4:05pm (Games Friday & Sunday, too)
Admission: Ticket start at
Find out if you’re Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff at the Nats game on Saturday. It’s Harry Potter Day at Nationals Park, and the first 10,000 fans to arrive can get a mystery house jersey giveaway! If you’d rather see dogs at the ballpark, Friday (6:45pm) is Pups in the Park, when four-legged fans are welcome. And Sunday (1:35pm) there is a shoe charm giveaway, and kids can run the bases after the game. And in case you didn’t know, Kids Eat Free all season long!
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 where you can catch it (and you can find show details and any discount links here):
* Back to the Future: The Musical at theKennedy Center
* Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale at Adventure Theatre
* Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods at Wolf Trap (final weekend!)
* Miss Nelson is Missing at Imagination Stage
* The Wizard of Oz at the The Puppet Co. (final weekend!)
Indoor Farm Tour
Where: Area 2 Farms | Arlington, VA
When: Sunday, 1-2pm
Admission: Free
A local mom let me know about this… Area 2 Farms is an indoor organic farm that wants to connect the community to the farm and part of that is through tours they offer on the first and third Sundays every month. Not only can you see the farming methods and food they grow, you can get a taste of it, too! Be sure to sign up in advance.
Indoor Stargazing
Where: Rock Creek Nature Center | Rock Creek Park, DC
When: Saturday, 4pm & Sunday, 2pm &
Admission: Free
Get a good look at the night sky at the Rock Creek Planetarium, the only one at a national park in the whole country! Special programs take place at 4pm on Saturdays and 2pm on Sundays. And be sure to explore the rest of the nature center, a great indoor place to go with kids, and take a hike on nearby trails. Read more about Rock Creek Park here.
Free Parking
Where: National Parks
When: Sunday
Admission: Free
It’s a free entrance day at national parks in celebration of the Great American Outdoors Act anniversary, so there’s no admission fee to parks that usually charge for it. Take advantage locally and hit the trail at Great Falls, Shenandoah, Prince William Forest, Harpers Ferry, or head up to Baltimore to explore Fort McHenry. Find even more parks to visit here.
Joys of Summer
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Summer fun around the area continues! Keep the seasonal pursuits going with a variety of options: Catch an outdoor movie or concert. Enjoy some water fun, either at an outdoor pool, sprayground, or water park. Feast on crabs. See a seasonal exhibition like Fairies in the Garden at Annmarie Sculpture Garden. And so much more. This post has all the details you need on all these summer joys.
Fun at Fairfax Parks
Where: Parks throughout Fairfax County, VA
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
The Fairfax County Park Authority hosts all kinds of events on weekends for guests of all ages. Take a night hike at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park Location. Look for and learn about bats at Lake Accotink. Learn to make natural dyes (and do some dye-ing) at Lake Fairfax. And there are even more interesting adventures! Details and registration for activities this weekend and beyond are available here.
***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* Are you into mountain biking? See a round-up of places to go around the area.
* The National Postal Museum has another virtual session of its Guest Artist Program coming up on Thursday, August 8, at 7pm.
* The Washington Post picks the 10 best breakfast sandwiches in the DC area.
* REI has some good deals right now, like this Patagonia hip pack, these kids hiking shoes, this hammock, and these Vuori pants.
* Just ordered this for Owen’s dorm room, but it would come in handy for so many situations.
* Most stunning photos from the Olympics (so far).
* Love these nostalgic T’s for kids.
* The new cool kicks, according to Sasha (I think hers look cool, too).
* How impressive is this kid?!
* Too relatable. 😂
