Happy Weekend!
Link up to these go-to posts full of ideas for local fun:
* Best Outdoors in the DC Area
* Off-the-Beaten-Path Museums
* The Great Indoors
* Swim Spots
* On the Water
* Local Hikes with Kids
* Baltimore with Kids
* Bike Rides
* Peaceful Places
Free Parking
Where: National Parks
When: Friday
Admission: Free
It’s a fee free day at national parks in celebration of the Great American Outdoors Act anniversary, so there’s no entrance fee to parks that usually charge admission. 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.
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.
Friendship Firehouse Festival
Where: Friendship Firehouse | Alexandria, VA
When: Saturday, 9am – 2pm
Admission: Free
This annual family event hosted by the Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association invites the public to enjoy the history of the fire department at the historic Friendship Firehouse. The popular event features antique fire apparatus including an 1858 hose-reel carriage, craft booths, displays by Alexandria merchants, and live music. Kids will receive free toy Friendship firefighting helmets
Summer at the Reach
Where: The Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
Enjoy free programming all weekend at the The REACH at the Kennedy Center. On Friday evening, see a screening of Moana at sundown. On Saturday, enjoy performances and activities at the River Pavilion from 1-5pm, then a “Bee-Hive” Beyonce themed happy hour with DJs, dancing, and lawn games from 6-11pm. And the Moonshot Studio will be open with artsy fun for all on Saturday and Sunday, 11am – 4:30pm.
First Saturday
Where: National Gallery of Art | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Join the National Gallery of Art for their monthly First Saturday, a special day-long affair with multiple free programs for kids of all ages! Enjoy a book reading in Spanish and English along with some play at the bilingual Storytime. Become a work of art at a face painting station. And drop in to make your own art inspired by the museum’s collection.
Kids Workshop: Treasure Chest
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 treasure chests. 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!
Howard County Fair
Where: Howard County Fairgrounds | West Friendship, MD
When: Begins Saturday
Admission: $10/ages 13+, $5/seniors, free for under 10
County Fair season is starting around the area with the 77th 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.
Peach Fuzzitval
Where: Great Country Farm | Bluemont, VA
When: Saturday, 9am – 5pm
Admission: $14/child & $16/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.
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.
BrickFair
Where: Dulles Expo Center | Chantilly, VA
When: Saturday, 10am – 5pm & Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: $8-20, depending on when you go
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.
Culture Queen Kids House
Where: Anacostia Community Museum | Anacostia, DC
When: Saturday, 12-1pm
Admission: Free
During this session of Culture Queen Kids Hour, the Grammy-nominated teaching artist cordially invites your little royals to a Children’s Recycle Prom and Fashion Show. The program celebrates the people, milestones, and things that matter most to kids through fun, interactive, and engaging music, movement, storytelling, and craft activities. Register in advance!
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 what and where you can catch it (and you can find show details and any discount links here):
* Nate the Great at Imagination Stage
* Children’s Theater in the Woods at Wolf Trap
* Beauty and the Beast at The Puppet Co.
* Cambodian Rock Band at Arena Stage
* Moulin rouge: The Musical at the Kennedy Center
* The Play That Goes Wrong at The Kennedy Center
* The Fisherman and His Wife at Adventure Theatre
* UniverSoul Circus at National Harbor
* Cyrano de Bergerac at Synetic Theater
Entertainment in NoVa Parks
Where: Fairfax Parks | Fairfax, VA
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
Enjoy music and more live performances in Northern Virginia parks! The Fairfax County Park Authority’s Summer Entertainment Series has a bunch of shows happening this weekend at parks all around the county. Bring a picnic dinner, blankets, and lawn chairs to enjoy the best local and regional entertainers. See what’s on the schedule 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 or Look Here at the National Building Museum. And so much more. This post has all the details you need on all these summer joys.
***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* Have you explored Baltimore with the kids? This KFDC guide will help you plan a day or even overnight(s) there.
* The new Capital Jewish Museum presents Story Time at CJM for children the second Thursday of every month — the next one will be August 10.
* 8 DC celebs share their perfect summer day.
* Barack Obama’s summer reading list.
* Backcountry is having a big sale — and this referral link gets you $20 off your first order of $100.
* Remember when…? 🙂
