The fountain at Georgetown Waterfront Park, one of our favorite summer staples
Rain or shine, there’s plenty going on to keep the whole gang entertained for the next few days. Happy Weekend!
Stories in Art
Where: National Gallery of Art
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Free
One of my favorite museum programs for kids begins this weekend! This summer, children ages 4-7 can pack their imaginations and travel to the National Gallery of Art. This summer session will explore the nation’s coasts, forests, farms, and mountains through works of art. After investigating paintings to learn about American artists, make a souvenir to document each adventure. This weekend’s sessions will focus on the art of Winslow Homer. There are several time slots available each day. Sign-in for Stories in Art will take place in the West Building Rotunda, beginning at 10am on Friday and Saturday and at 11:00amon Sunday, and will continue until all spaces are filled. And they do often fill up, so plan to get there early to register.
Kids on the Fringe
Where: Several locations
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by performance
I have been asked before whether or not the Capital Fringe Festival has kid-friendly performances, and I am happy to say that this year they do, and there are several you can see this weekend. Kids in Space takes the audience on a tour of the solar system. Join Prince Parsley on a family-friendly Fringe adventure in The Shirt of Happiness. Mark Twain’s Riverboat Extravaganza is a puppet-packed vaudeville spectacular for all ages. The Yellow Boat explores the up and downs of life. The Crayon King, or Learning to Share is a family-friendly show about Kindergartners and their crayons. Big River presents ballet with a twist. Those are just a few with the all-ages tag, plus there are free street performances, to boot. More details and ticket sales are on the Capital Fringe Festival website.
Children’s Chorus of Washington Performance
Where: Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church
When: Friday, 7pm
Admission: Free
The Children’s Chorus of Washington will launch its 2013 China tour with a special performance in Washington, DC. CCW’s choristers, led by Founder and Artistic Director Joan Gregory, will perform an enchanting program, including the world premiere of “Wonderful Day Out With Nature,” commissioned by CCW and composed by Emmy Award-winning Chinese-American composer Nathan Wang. No tickets required for the free performance. The Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church is located at 3401 Nebraska Avenue NW.
Patio Party
Where: Maryland Science Center
When: Friday, 5-8pm
Admission: $8
The Maryland Science Center will liven up its harbor terrace with tunes and treats at its all-new Patio Party series starting this evening, featuring rockin’ surf band Garage Sale. They’ll occur on select Fridays alongside the discounted admission for Fridays After Five in July and August. Science Center admission is not required to participate in the party. These summertime celebrations feature live, family-friendly music, good food, beer, wine and soft drinks – available for purchase at happy hour prices! And it all happens right in Baltimore’s historic Inner Harbor on the Science Center’s outdoor patio.
Lotus and Water Lily Festival
Where: Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
When: Saturday, 10:30am – 4:30pm
Admission: Free
The lotus and water lilies in full bloom at the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is such a ravishing sight it calls for a celebration, and the public is invited to join in. The 2013 Lotus & Water Lily Festival will feature activities for all ages — traditional Asian and African dancing and drumming, gardening workshops, park tours, arts & crafts, face painting, and other family-friendly pursuits. If you haven’t visited the Gardens yet, this is the best time to do so; the blossoming flowers really are spectacular.
Annapolis Irish Festival
Where: Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds
When: Friday, 4-10pm & Saturday 11am – 10pm
Admission: $20/adult, free for kids 12 and under
Celebrate magical Celtic traditions and music at the 3rd Annual Annapolis Irish Festival. Along with a lively lineup of Celtic music acts, there will be over 90 vendors selling everything from food to art to clothes and accessories. Little Leprechaun Land, an area especially for kids, will offer pony rides, face painting, balloon art, cultural activities, bouncy fun, music and magic shows, and Irish dancing – and it’s all free!
Summer Staples
Where: Throughout the area
When: All weekend long
Admission: Varies by activity
Free concerts, outdoor swimming, movies under the stars, sprayground fun. Activities exclusive to the season can all be enjoyed this weekend. The Summer 2013 guide has the whole scoop on all of them.
Artful Conversations
Where: National Gallery of Art
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: Free
The National Gallery of Art is also kicking off the summer series of its Artful Conversations program for kids ages 8-11. Guests will observe a work of art, participate in a discussion about it, then sketch their own masterpiece. Sessions are on Saturday at 11am and 1pm, and Sunday at 12pm and 2pm. Sign-in takes place in the West Building Rotunda beginning at 10am on Saturday and 11am on Sunday and will continue until all spaces are filled.
Photo Family Day
Where: Smithsonian American Art Museum
When: Saturday, 11:30am – 3pm
Admission: Free
It’s a focus on photography at the American Art Museum’s special program for families. Tour the Democracy of Images and Landscapes in Passing exhibitions, take a photo quiz, and make a cyanotype of your own. Guests can also snap photos of the Kogod Courtyard and text them to the museum to have your shots added to a digital mosaic that you can download at home
Best in Shows
Where: Local Theatres
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
See Peter Pan and Wendy or Mouse on the Move at Imagination Stage Catch a performance of Dr. Seuss’s A Cat in the Hat at Adventure Theatre. Dinosaur Babies are entertaining young audiences at The Puppet Co. You can also head to the venue early on Saturday & Sunday for Tiny Tots, puppet show performances especially for little ones. See Instant Opera! at Wolf Trap’s Children’s-Theatre-in-the-Woods on Saturday at 10:30am. Wolf Trap also presents Video Games Live: Bonus Round! on Saturday evening. And Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights will play a CD release show at Jammin’ Java on Saturday morning.
Take ’em out to the Minors
Where: Bethesda & Bowie
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Ticket prices vary
Just because the Nats aren’t in town, that doesn’t mean you can’t catch some good baseball action. Minor league teams Bethesda Big Train and Bowie Baysox are both playing locally this weekend, and there’s some extra fun in it for fans, too. It’s Superhero night in Bethesda on Saturday, which means you could see Spiderman and friends lurking about (fans can dress up, too!). And Sunday is 80’s Night, so you can hear hits from the past live on the concourse. Over in Bowie, they’ll be hosting the Richmond Flying Squirrels all weekend. For game times and tickets, visit the Bethesda Big Train website and Bowie Baysox website.
Arts for Families
Where: Textile Museum
When: Saturday, 2-4pm
Admission: Free
Drop in for the Textile Museum’s free monthly program for families. Batik is the Indonesian term for the wax-resist dyeing process. During this Arts for Families session, watch how crayons and watercolor paints interact as you color and paint your own batik-inspired postcard—perfect for sending a summer note to someone you love.
Creature Feature: Reptiles & Amphibians
Where: National Zoo
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: Free
Reptile Discovery Center
Meet scientists at the Reptile Discovery Center to learn about conservation issues facing reptiles and amphibians in the wild and what the National Zoo and other organizations are doing to help these incredible animals. The event also offers educational and fun activities for children and adults, keeper talks, and animal demonstrations.
Row Your Boat
Where: Fletcher’s Cove
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Rentals start at $14/hour
Because it’s a great summer activity (and because I just posted about our experience), a jaunt on the Potomac is among this compilation of weekend recs. And if you’re looking for other fun outdoor pursuits, check out the list of best places to hang outdoors with the kids.
Super Science Saturday
Where: Udvar-Hazy Center
When: Saturday, 10am -3pm
Admission: Free, but parking is $15
It’s a Super Science Saturday at the Dulles arm of the Air & Space Museum. Through demonstrations and hands-on activities, visitors of all ages will become immersed in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics topics related to aviation and space exploration. This month’s program will focus on Weather.
Music on the Hill
Where: Capitol Hill
When: Saturday
Admission: Free
Capitol Hill is welcoming a new music shop this weekend — the grand opening is on Saturday! If you go on its first day in business, you can take advantage of some great promotional deals, including 25% off your first lesson, 50% off all start-up equipment, 10% off sheet music, and 60% savings on ukeleles. Music on the Hill is located at 1453 Pennsylvania Avenue SE.
