Last weekend with this guy before college drop off… 🥺
Happy Weekend!
Find loads of ideas for ongoing fun:
* Best Outdoors in the DC Area
* Local Hikes with Kids
* Swim Spots
* Off-the-Beaten-Path Museums
* The Great Indoors
* 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 (one of mine, anyway). 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. The Guide to Summer in DC has all the inspo you need to eke the most out of the season.
All’s Fair…
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.
The Sound of Music Sing-A-Long
Where: Wolf Trap | Vienna, VA
When: Friday, 7pm (doors open 5:30pm)
Admission: $29
It’s Wolf Trap’s annual The Sound of Music Sing-A-Long! Before the Oscar-winning family favorite film begins, you’ll be led through a vocal warm-up, gifted an interactive fun pack, and the audience will judge if your costume really is “Something Good!” Join in on what is sure to be a marvelous time for all.
Little Critters: Nature Play (World Elephant Day)
Where: National Zoo | Woodley Park, DC
When: Saturday, 9:30am – 1:30pm
Admission: Free
Drop in with kids ages 0-5 to celebrate World Elephant Day with the National Zoo! Learn about what makes elephants such amazing animals! Is it their flexible trunks that help them sense the world around them? Could it be their tusks that help them dig for water and roots? Or is it the way they stomp and march? Discover more about the adaptable and creative animal. And plan to explore more of the Zoo while you’re there — read about it in this KFDC post.
Mini Treehouse Workshop
Where: Lowes locations around the area
When: Saturday, 10am – 1pm
Admission: Free
Join Lowes for a day of building, bonding, and making memories that will last a lifetime along the leaves and branches! In this Mini-Treehouse Workshop guided by expert instructors, mini-DIYer’s imagination will soar as they learn basic carpentry skills and construct a tiny abode — perhaps a cozy fairy hideaway, a secret clubhouse for their collection, or a lookout tower for Mr. Mouse.
Sneaker Con
Where: Washington Convention Center | Mt. Vernon Square, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, 12-7pm
Admission: Starts at $30
People who are really into their kicks will want to check out this event dedicated to all things sneakers. “The Greatest Sneaker Show on Earth” will feature over 400 vendors offering the largest showcase of everything from the most sought-after kicks to the latest releases. This will be more than a marketplace; it’s our celebration of sneakers in the capital. Connect with some of your favorite content creators, participate in panels, and explore an entertaining and educational array of brands. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a newcomer, The Greatest Sneaker Show on Earth in the entertainment capital of the world will be a movie.
Back to School Bash
Where: Fort Totten Metro Station | Northeast DC
When: Saturday, 11am – 3pm
Admission: Free
The Metro Transit Police Department is hosting a fun-filled day for kids to kick off the new school year in style. Metro employees from across DC, Maryland, and Virginia have collected school supplies and put together a great event for students of all ages. This bash has something for everyone from elementary school newbies to high school veterans — haircuts & glam station makeovers, a DJ and music, games and fun, complimentary food and treats, a petting zoo, and miniature train rides.
Big Dig Potato Harvest
Where: Great Country Farms | Bluemont, VA
When: Saturday & Sunday, 9am – 6pm
Admission: $12/child or $14/adult
Head to Great Country for potato digging! Take a wagon ride out to the fields to dig up your own potato treasures. 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! PYO peaches, sunflowers, and honey crisps will also be available this weekend.
Founding Family Day
Where: Dumbarton House | Georgetown, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Join a day of family fun and historical exploration at Dumbarton House Museum’s Founding Family Day! Step back in time and enjoy various engaging activities that celebrate the spirit and history of the Federal period. Festivities include craft stations to interactive storytelling, Federal period children’s games, complimentary popcorn, and food for purchase. It’s also a great time to plan a visit to Dumbarton Oaks Gardens right next door.
Sunflower Festival
Where: Summer Farms | Middletown,MD
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: $19.50/age 3+
Escape to Summers Farm for their 5th Annual Sunflower Festival and enjoy the beauty of the 8-acre field glowing with thousands of blooms! Over 35 different varieties and colors make for very Instaworthy photos. Walk through, pick your own, take stunning pictures, sip a local drink in their spacious tent, and relax at the farm.
Gabby’s Dollhouse “Party with Marty the Party Cat” Tour
Where: Springfield Town Center | Springfield, VA
When: Saturday, 12-7pm & Sunday, 12-6pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate the10th season of Gabby’s Dollhouse with the Gabby’s Dollhouse “Party with Marty the Party Cat” tour that will stop in the DC area this weekend. Gabby invites families to meet the ultimate cool cat, Marty the Party Cat, inside Gabby’s Dollhouse for a sneak peek into various character-themed rooms, including the new cat-tastic party room. With party supplies, a dance party with DJ Catnip, and a special photo with Gabby, party guests will turn stars of their own celebration.
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.
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale
Where: Adventure Theater | Glen Echo Park, MD
When: Through Sunday
Admission: $25
This is the final weekend for Adventure Theatre’s summer show… Toddler Trixie and her father bustle through the streets of New York City down the block, through the park, past the school, to the Laundromat. But returning home, Knuffle Bunny is gone, and Trixie cannot tell her father what is wrong. Recommended for all ages.
DinoRock presents Dinosaur Babies
Where: The Puppet Co. | Glen Echo, MD
When: Through August 27
Admission: $15
DinoRock is back at the Puppet Co. with the production they first graced the stage with in 1998! Bring the kids to see their life-sized, colorful prehistoric friends, the creations on the beloved puppet stage. Recommended for ages 5+. Recommended ages 5+. Run time approximately 45 minutes.
Mamma Mia!
Where: Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: Through September 1
Admission: $49-199
A mother. A daughter. Three possible dads. And a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget! Set on a Greek island paradise where the sun always shines, a tale of love, friendship, and identity is beautifully told through the timeless hits of ABBA. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the father she’s never known brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they last visited decades ago. Mamma Mia! is the ultimate feel-good show.
MJ the Musical
Where: National Theatre | Downtown DC
When: Through September 8
Admission: $59-169
He is one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Now, Michael Jackson’s unique and unparalleled artistry comes to DC as MJ, the multi Tony Award-winning new musical centered around the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour, begins a tour of its own. MJ goes beyond the singular moves and signature sound of the star, offering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Michael Jackson into legendary status.
International Spirit of Soccer
Where: Audi Field | Southwest DC
When: Sunday, 2pm
Admission: Ticket prices vary
See some soccer from across the pond as the Washington Spirit hosts the first of two International Friendlies, this match agaist historic English club Arsenal. There’s fun to enjoy beyond the pitch, too: A hair braider will be part of the concourse experience, giving fans the chance to replicate Spirit star and Olympic Gold Medalist Trinity Rodman’s signature hairstyle. On the Spirit Stage just inside Gate A, DJ Kidd Fresh will accompany a performance from a group of soccer freestylers. And on the East Concourse, Spiritville returns with a soft play area for kids, meet-and-greet opportunities with PK, EAFC stations, face painters, caricature artists, and more! Regular tickets are sold out, but you can find third party tickets here.
Get Crabby
Where: Around the DC area (mostly MD)
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Depends on how much you order!
We just enjoyed this last weekend (above pic from nearby), so it’s on my mind to recommend now. 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.
Beachy Keen: Sand, Surf, & Fossils
Where: Around the area
When: Daily
Admission: Varies by beach
Summer calls for beach time, and there are several places within day trip-distance from DC that are nice for sand and surf — and maybe a little fossil hunting. Head out to Calvert Cliffs State Park or Flag Ponds Nature Park. Or go east to Sandy Point State Park. Play paleontologist and look for prehistoric fragments along the Potomac at the Purse Area in Charles County, MD (be sure to check the tide table). You can also make a bigger trip out to Westmoreland State Park, about a two-hour drive away in Montross, VA, where you can hike, beach, fossil hunt, and even camp.
Peace Out
Where: Around DC
When: Ongoing
Admission: Free
Sometimes you just want to go someplace that’s pretty and quiet, where you can chill out and think (or not), and enjoy your serene surroundings. This post has a round-up of of those very places, where you can find peace and calm, all of them right here in the city.
***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* Alexandria Restaurant Week is on from now through August 25.
* There’s a new giveaway for a chance to win a back-to-school package from International School of music that includes free registration, a music lesson, and more!
* The Back-to-School prep is strong right now, so check out these suggestions to help get the kids geared up.
* 52 Unexpected Places to Go in the USA.
* We snuck this little gift into Owen’s bag before he traveled to Europe, so he had a sweet surprise when arrived there. It would make a great gift for kids going off to college or, really, anyone with pets. Get one custom made here.
* Things like this cute pullover and this light jacket (and the great sale going on) make me excited for fall.
* This fall sale, too!
* New season of Emily in Paris is now out! Such a fun binge.
* Taking notes. 😭
