Happy Weekend!
Quick links to ongoing and seasonal activities for all ages and interests:
* Best Outdoors in the DC Area
* Off-the-Beaten-Path Museums
* Swim Spots
* On the Water
* Local Hikes with Kids
* Peaceful Places
* Bike Rides
* Baltimore with Kids
Celebrate Capital Pride
Where: Throughout DC
When: Saturday, 3-7:30pm & Sunday, 12-7pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate Capital Pride at several events around the city this weekend! The annual parade that always draws thousands of spectators is a modified route this year that will acknowledge the evolution of the LGBTQ+ neighborhoods in DC. Starting near 17th & T NW at 3pm and ending at 21st & P, it’s sure to be a spectacular extravaganza of ornate floats, street performers, music and dancing, glitter and beads, and plenty of reveling. And you can head to the Pride Block Party after. There will also be a Family Fun Area at Stead Park playground from 3-7pm. Sunday’s family-friendly festival, on Pennsylvania Avenue from 3rd to 7th Streets NW, will feature multiple stages of live entertainment and host loads of exhibitors, including local and community groups, national sponsors, local businesses, food vendors, restaurants, and businesses looking to promote their services. It’s all a fun and fabulous opportunity to show support for the LGBTQ+ community and join the celebration!
Joys of Summer
Where: Throughout the DMV
When: All weekend long
Admission: Varies by activity
Free concerts in the open air, outdoor swimming, movies under the stars, sprayground fun, crab feasts, and SO much more! Activities exclusive to the season can be enjoyed this weekend, and the 2022 KFDC Guide to Summer Around the DC Area has the whole scoop on all of them.
Family Day: UFOs: Fact or Fiction?
Where: Udvar-Hazy Museum | Chantilly, VA
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: Free (but parking is $15)
Soar Together @ Air and Space on Saturday! For years, people have looked to the skies and been fascinated by the topic of unidentified flying objects, also known as UFOs. During this Family Day, you’ll get to explore what the aviation world considers a UFO, and learn how and why they are studied. You’ll also discover how the possibilities of UFOs have inspired creativity and the imagination through movies, stories and songs. Activities include: A Live Chat at 1:00 pm about the history of UFOs and IFOs as well as the report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena from the office of the Director of National Intelligence, free showing of the movie, The Iron Giant (2pm), Music and collaborative song writing sessions with Dr. Jim Thorne, hands-on activities, and demonstrations.
March for Our Lives
Where: Washington Monument | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 12pm
Admission: Free
After the recent tragic mass shootings (and countless more in the past four years) March For Our Lives is marching once again. As the organizers say, “it’s time to take back to the streets and march for our lives. We marched in 2018 after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas in Parkland, FL, and now we’re headed back to DC.” All are welcome to join here and in locations across the country.
Pride Family Day
Where: Glen Echo Park | Glen Echo, MD
When: Saturday, 11m – 2pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate Pride with Glen Echo Park on Saturday, where there will be festivities for the whole family. Check out an interactive chalk maze designed by Chalk Riot. Ride the carousel for free (while comp tickets last; otherwise $2/ride or $5/all day). Pick up a carousel-themed craft activity bag for all ages (while supplies last). Enjoy snacks and specialty Glen Echo Park Root Beer. Plan to see a show while you’re there — The Puppet Co. is offering discounted tickets to performances of Little Red Riding Hood and the 3 Little Pigs with the coupon code PRIDE22 (use when purchasing tickets online). The playground, picnic area, Glen Echo Park Aquarium (book tickets in advance), and a variety of art galleries throughout the park will be open, too!
Pride on the Pier
Where: The Wharf | Southwest DC
When: Saturday, 2pm – 9pm
Admission: Free
Pride on the Pier extends the city’s annual celebration of the LGBTQ community to the Wharf with an exciting array of free activities and entertainment. District Pier will offer DJs, dancing, and other entertainment, including a Family Zone with activities for kids. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those 21 and older. And don’t miss the Pride Fireworks display at 9pm! While you’re there, take advantage of even more that The Wharf has to offer, like a splash pad, paddling rentals, swings, scenic views, and more — read about it all in this KFDC post.
Play Ball
Where: Walker Mill Regional Park | Capitol Heights, MD
When: Saturday,
Admission: Free
Play Ball with the Nats this weekend! At this special event, there will be several baseball and softball activities led by Prince George’s County Parks and Recreation as well as a book reading with a Nats player Josiah Gray. Attendees will also be able to sign up for the library’s “Summer Prince George’s” summer reading program if they are Prince George’s County residents. No experience or equipment necessary (but feel free to BYO glove if you have one). Simply dress comfortably in athletic clothing, bring your water bottle, and come prepared to have a good time. Register in advance through the website!
Nats vs. Brewers
Where: Nationals Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Ticket prices vary
The Nats are hosting theMilwaukee Brewers all weekend, and there are a bunch of special activities and promos to enjoy along with the baseball action on the field. Friday is a Value Day when you can save 30% on tickets, concessions, and more. Saturday is Josh Bell superhero bobblehead giveaway, and Sunday celebrates astronaut Sally Ride and women in STEM, plus kids can run the bases after the game. Before you plan your ballpark outing, check out these KFDC tips on how to do a Nats game without breaking the bank.
Soccer Spirit!
Where: Sagra Field | Leesburg, VA
When: Sunday, 7pm
Admission: Ticket prices vary
Cheer on our local women’s pro soccer team, Washington Spirit, as they host NC Courage on Saturday. Enjoy some amazing soccer play while supporting women in sports, and celebrate Pride Night — the match will include special team captain armband in Pride colors, Pride-themed corner flags, limited edition Pride-themed Spirit merchandise, and a Spirit Pride sticker giveaway upon entry to stadium. Purchase tickets here.
Splash & Swim
Where: Around the DC area
When: Starting Saturday
Admission: Free
‘Tis the season for water! And you can enjoy it at a bunch of places, in a bunch of ways around the area. Spray parks, outdoor pools, and waterparks are open and welcoming guests to splash around and cool off. The 2022 KFDC Summer Guide has details on where to go for water play — see info for sprays here, outdoor pools here, and waterparks here.
Dinosaurs Rock
Where: Westfield Mall | Wheaton, MD
When: Saturday, 11am – 1pm
Admission: Free
Bring budding paleontologists to this special exhibit and fossil dig! The one-of-a-kind prehistoric experience will include an on-site museum with more than 25 life-size and genuine fossils and specimens. Kids can see skulls, footprints, and dinosaur eggs; explore a “touch table;” and enjoy “tours” about various specimens and fossils led by an expert. They can also create take-home art in the form of a fossil, and the first 250 children can participate in a Fossil Dig to excavate and take home one REAL fossil. AMC Theatres, who will premiere Jurassic World: Dominion this weekend, will also host a one hour popup with games, giveaways and more during the event.
See an Exhibit (or a Few)
Where: Museums around DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
Check out an exhibit at one of the museums! The whole family will be fascinated by FUTURES at the Arts & Industries Building. At the Hirshhorn, Yayoi Kusama’s One with Eternity will delight all ages and Laurie Anderson: The Weather is a great one for tween ages and up. Take kids 12 and up to see the many exhibits at Glenstone — they’re guaranteed admission even without tickets (and so are you with them). Planet Word is full of interesting exhibits all about language. Kids can Play Work Build at the National Building Museum and see several other exhibts. Take littles to the new Design Zone at the National Children’s Museum. Or Explore the new Kid Museum in Bethesda.
Little Red Riding Hood & the 3 Little Pigs
Where: The Puppet Co.
When: Friday, 10:30am | Saturday & Sunday, 11:30am & 1pm
Tickets: $15 (look for discount)
We all think we know the Big Bad Wolf from the classic fairytales, but what if it’s the same Wolf in both stories? What if there’s been a big mistake? What if the Wolf isn’t so big or so bad? Recommended for ages 4+. Run time is approximately 45 minutes. Read a KFDC review of the show from a bunch of years back.
Birds of a Feather
Where: Leonadus K. Plenty Amphitheater | Alexandria, VA
When: June 8-26
Tickets: $10
Arts on the Horizon presents this show especially for little ones… It’s a beautiful summer day when Fiddle, a camper, and Beeker, a birdwatcher, meet in a national park. One is adventurous and the other is a bit more reserved, but they quickly discover how to share the outdoor space. With Fiddle’s knowledge of the great outdoors and Beeker’s bird expertise, they work together to build a home for a bird… but will any birds come to visit? This whimsical outdoor adventure celebrates the joy of making new friends and the wonders of nature. Join us and discover what amazing things can be accomplished through friendship and collaboration! Recommended for ages 3-6.
Drumfolk
Where: Arena Stage | Southwest DC
When: Through June 26
Tickets: $36-75
Electrifying percussive dance fused with contemporary art forms fuels StepAfrika!’s latest production, Drumfolk, inspired by the Stono Rebellion of 1739 in South Carolina. As a result, state laws mandated that enslaved Africans could not assemble or use their drums which were used to signal the uprising. They took away the drums, but they could not stop the beat. This is the rich and “inspiring” (The New York Times) story of a movement that could not be stopped and transformed African American culture from then to the present day.
Family Day
Where: National Academy of Sciences | 2101 Constitution Ave NW, DC
When: Saturday, 1-4pm
Admission: Free
Join Cultural Programs of the National Academy of Sciences (CPNAS) and the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (SEEC) for an afternoon of family fun. Visitors will have an opportunity to explore Mathemalchemy, an installation celebrating the beauty and creativity of mathematics, and meet its makers. Participate in a variety of hands-on and storytelling activities based upon the installation. Go on a self-guided polyhedra treasure hunt, try your hand at sonobe unit origami, make a dodecahedral beacon net, explore infinity through a fun storytelling activity, and more!
Ride On
Where: Around the DC area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
There’s a quick link to bike routes above, but this is a stronger recommendation to get out for a family ride — it should be great weather for it! And you’ve got your pick of good rides around the area. Take in the summer scenery, get some exercise, and enjoy some QT together. This post has a bunch of pedal-worthy recs, with something for riders of all levels, and this route is particularly ideal with kids.
Bike+
Where: Around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
Add some extra adventure to a bike ride and go mountain biking. There are several MTB trails to ride around the area, a few miles even right here in the District at Fort Dupont Park in Anacostia — a good place for newer mountain bikers. Cosco Regional Park in PG County and Schaffer Farms in Gaithersburg are also great for those just starting. And for even more recs, the post about biking around the DC area includes a list of places to hit the mountain biking trails (scroll down). [Note: This activity is better for older kids with more experience riding.]
National Gun Violence Memorial
Where: 15th & Constitution | National Mall, DC
When: Through Saturday
Admission: Free
A sobering sight on the National Mall, the National Gun Violence Memorial 2022 remembers victims of gun violence with over 45,000 flowers — one for every American who has died from gun violence in a single year — in thousands of vases lining the grounds. Created by Giffords, Gabby Giffords’ organization dedicated to saving lives from gun violence, the installation includes signs with facts about gun violence in America and messages urging people to act. View it here.
Civics Fest
Where: National Archives | National Mall, DC
When: Sunday, 10m – 1pm
Admission: Free
Join the National Archives in Sunday as they kick off Civic Season 2022. It’ll take place outside the Archives with trivia, art projects, live music, a Sign the Declaration activity (a fan favorite!), and of course, the chance to see history up close! Civic Season is the time to put what is learned in history class into action. And what better place to learn about our shared history than the National Archives, home of America’s founding documents?
Take Your Pick
Where: Around the DC Area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Strawberries, cherries, even spinach are ripe and ready for harvest, and many area farms welcome guests to come PYO. It’s always a good idea to check websites or call ahead to confirm availability the day you plan to go. Sunscreen and hat also recommended.
Out in DC
Where: Around the DC Area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Capital Pride isn’t the only thing bringing peops out this weekend. The area is full of great places to enjoy being outside. You can read about them in The Best Places in the DC Area to Enjoy a Beautiful Day Outdoors with the Kids. (But if weather has you seeking shelter, check out The Great Indoors post instead.)
***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* In case you weren’t aware, Smithsonian Museums are once again open seven days a week!
* SAY:DC is offering a FREE Summer Art Camp for kids and teens who stutter.
* DC’s 15 essential ice cream shops from Eater DC.
* Some Father’s Day gift ideas: These, this, these, this, and this.
* The Six Forces that Fuel Friendship
* The latest Humans of NY story is so good (as always) – start here.
Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on one and make a purchase, I may get a small commission. This helps me continue to bring you KFDC. Thanks so much for the support!
