Enjoy a hike and the views at Great Falls
Happy Weekend!
Get ideas for ongoing DC fun in these posts:
* Best Outdoors in the DC Area
* Local Hikes with Kids
* The Great Indoors
* Swim Spots
* Off-the-Beaten-Path Museums
* Baltimore with Kids
* Bike Rides
* Paddling Options
* Stunning Spaces
* Peaceful Places
Joys of Summer
Where: Around the DC area
When: All weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Summer break is starting its wind-down as kids begin heading back to school on Monday (mine, anyway… locally and back to college). But plenty is still going on to enjoy the season — spraygrounds, special exhibits, music and movies in the open air, beach fun, crab feasts, mini golf and carousel rides, and more. The Guide to Summer in DC has all the inspo you need to eke the most out of the season.
Fair Play
Where: Arlington, Montgomery, and PW Counties | VA & MD
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
County fair season continues as Arlington’s annual fest is underway, and Montgomery and Prince William counties host their final days. All are chock full of amusement for everyone, with carnival rides and games, farm animals, live entertainment, pony rides, the junk food gamut, pig races, and so much more. This post has the whole scoop on all of the county fun.
Nats vs Phillies (+ Sam Hunt Concert)
Where: Nationals Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Ticket start at $19
Nats games include some extra fun and entertainment this weekend. Catch them on Friday at 6:45pm), Saturday 4:05pm, and Sunday 11:35am. Friday’s game is part of the Nats Summer Concerts series, and all ticket holders can stay after to see Sam Hunt perform. Saturday is Cat-urday with cat-themed fun, plus a Jacob Young Bobblehead giveaway. Sunday is Filipino Heritage Day, and kids can run the bases after the game.
The Lightening Thief
Where: Adventure Theatre | Glen Echo, MD
When: Fri, 7pm | Sat & Sun, 11am & 2pm
Tickets: $27
This weekend is the last chance to see this dynamic musical adaptation of Rick Riordan’s bestselling book… When teenager Percy Jackson discovers he’s a demigod, he and his friends embark on an epic journey to find Zeus’ missing lightning bolt and prevent a war among the gods.
Hike & Hang
Where: Around the DC area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by place
Go for a hike and then some… it’s always nice to have a “reward” at the end of an active outing. You can extend (and elevate) your day on the trail with some some bites and sips after — there are some awesome combos for that around the area. Here are details for good walks in the woods + great hangs when you’re done.
Little Critters: Nature Play
Where: National Zoo | Woodley Park, DC
When: Saturday, 9:30am – 1:30pm
Admission: Free
Drop in with kids ages 0-5 to celebrate the seasons and all of the beautiful plants that grow in gardens year-round. Join staff at the Zoo to play in dirt, plant a beautiful vegetable garden in their sensory bin, and make your own greenhouse to grow bean plants from seed. And plan to explore more of the Zoo while you’re there — read about it in this KFDC post.
STAR Fest
Where: MLK Library | Penn Quarter, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: Free
DC Public Library’s Books from Birth program, which gives all DC children a free book a month from birth to age 5, presents this free family festival at the wonderful MLK Memorial Library. The event features sing stations, imaginative play experiences, story times, interactive writing/scribbling activities, a petting zoo, face painting, and more. Read more about Books from Birth here and MLK Library here.
Big Dig Potato Harvest
Where: Great Country Farms | Bluemont, VA
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: $12/child or $14/adult
Grab your shovels and join Great Country Farms in the fields for our their annual potato harvest. Kids and adults alike love the thrill of uncovering their own potato treasures from the soil. Learn where your food comes from and enjoy the unbeatable taste of freshly-dug potatoes — a world apart from grocery store spuds! After digging, play all day in the five-acre play area, with attractions including mini golf, an obstacle course, mazes, swings, slides, animals to visit and feed, and so much more!
Kids DIY Workshop: Pet Station
Where: Lowes locations around the area
When: Saturday, 10am – 1pm
Admission: Free
Kids can create the perfect Pet Station with Lowe’s at this monthly workshop! Mini Builders will make a custom organizer to store pet supplies to help keep their furry friends’ space neat and tidy. This family-friendly project teaches kids basic construction skills, organization, responsibility and lets them celebrate their pets.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Where: National Theatre | Downtown DC
When: Fri, 7pm | Sat & Sun, 1pm & 7pm
Tickets: Start at $49
Experience the wizarding world like never before at this record-breaking hit and winner of six Tony Awards. When Harry Potter’s head-strong son Albus befriends the son of his fiercest rival, Draco Malfoy, it sparks an unbelievable new journey for them all—with the power to change the past and future forever. Prepare for a mind-blowing race through time, spectacular spells, and an epic battle, all brought to life with the most astonishing theatrical magic ever seen on stage.
Sesame Street the Musical
Where: Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: Sat & Sun, 9:30am, 12:30pm, & 3:30pm
Tickets: $40+ (find discount)
Elmo, Cookie Monster, Abby Cadabby, and your favorite Sesame Street friends are bringing the TV show’s iconic songs and stories to the Kennedy Center stage. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enjoy the Muppets from Sesame Street in an intimate, joyous theatrical setting. Don’t miss sing-alongs of the classic songs you know and love, music that will have you dancing in your seat, and lots of furry fun. Recommended for ages 2+
Zip & Paint with Rain Young
Where: Anacostia Community Museum | Anacostia, DC
When: Saturday, 12-2pm
Admission: Free
Join artist Rain Young in a fun workshop that allows artists to express their creativity on wearable art. This class will teach various techniques for painting on denim, including fabric paint application, color blending, and design transfer. Learn how to create a design and mix primary colors to create a one of kind piece of art ready for wear or display. Painting supplies, stencils, etc. will be provided.Participants should bring their own jeans or jean jackets, patches, or any other fabric design items they would like to apply.
Chuck Brown Day
Where: Fort Dupont Park | Anacostia, DC
When: Saturday, 2-7pm
Admission: Free
It’s that special time of the year when DPR celebrates the music and history of DC culture. This year they are are excited to bring the largest celebration of Go-Go back to the historic Summer Stage at Fort Dupont. The Chuck Brown Band and several other acts will perform, so bring lawn chairs and blankets to hang out and watch them. There will also be a kids activities area and food trucks on site.
We’ve Got Spirit, Yes We Do
Where: Audi Field | Southwest DC
When: Saturday, 8pm
Admission: Tickets start at $10
Cheer on our local women’s pro soccer team on Saturday evening as the Washington Spirit host Racing Louisville FC. Enjoy some amazing soccer play while supporting our home team and women in sports. Plan for a pre-match meal nearby — see some recs for family-friendly spots to eat in that area.
Films at the Stone: Wicked
Where: 1964 Independence Avenue SW | MLK Memorial, DC
When: Saturday, 8pm
Admission: Free
Catch a free film at the MLK Memorial. Wicked will be shown at this month’s installment of the Films at the Stone summer series. It will be screened on the lawn adjacent to the bookstore at the memorial.
Open House
Peirce Mill | Rock Creek Park, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Explore the historic Peirce Mill, Rock Creek Park’s only remaining grist mill. Stop in to see and hear what life in the mill was like during the 1800s. Talk to a ranger, learn about local history, and get tips for suggested hikes in the surrounding area — maybe even hit the trail to the Nature Center, where you can explore exhibits and catch a planetarium show. See more about Peirce Mill in this KFDC post.
The Butterfly Experience
Where: Brookside Gardens | Wheaton, MD
When: Throughout the weekend, 10am – 4pm
Admission: $14/age 13+, $9/age 3-13, free/2 & under
Head to Brookside to experience this exhibition featuring numerous species of live butterflies and caterpillars from North America, Costa Rica, Africa, and Asia. They are not just be on display, but flitting about the conservatory filled with plants and flowers — and it’s such a delight! Get a glimpse at what to expect in this KFDC post and this one about a couple of our past visits there. And see more about the wonderful Brookside Gardens here.
Get Crabby
Where: Around the DC area (mostly MD)
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Depends on how much you order!
Feasting on steamed Old Bay-spiced blue crabs is a local treat, and doing so at a waterfront crab house by the water is a bonus. There are a bunch of great places to go for it around the area, mostly in Maryland, and this section of the summer guide has more about them all.
Go with the Flow
Where: Waterways around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies
Row, row, row your boat or kayak or canoe or SUP! Paddle season is flowing on, and the weather this weekend looks like it 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.
Go for Seconds
Where: Secondhand shops around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free, but plan to spend thriftily
How about an activity that’s good for the environment, good for your wallet, and a fun activity with kids (mostly tweens and teens), especially as they plan their ‘fits for the school year? Secondhand shopping is all of those things, and there’s a brand new round-up of thrift stores and consignment shops around the DC area to get you started.
***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* If you’d prefer to do your secondhand shopping online, here are six great ways to do that.
* There’s a giveaway going on right now for a chance to win a free music lesson and more with International Schoo of Music!
* Started a little something new here.
* The Lumineers are playing Nationals Park on September 6… regular tickets are mostly sold out, but you can still score resale seats.
* Pro tip: Skip the in-person chaos, and have your school upplies delivered.
* Summer salads.
* Ideas for family movie night.
