It’s sunflower season!
Happy Weekend!
Check out go-to posts filled with ideas for ongoing DC fun:
* The Great Indoors
* Swim Spots
* Off-the-Beaten-Path Museums
* Best Outdoors in the DC Area
* Local Hikes with Kids
* Baltimore with Kids
* Bike Rides
* Paddling Options
* Stunning Spaces
* Peaceful Places
Sunflowers Galore!
Where: McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area | Poolesville, MD
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
You can see sunflowers in bloom right now. At McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area, nine big fields showcase 30 acres of flowers, and visitors are welcome to take in the brilliant, happy scene. Read more about it and see pics from a previous bloom here. Sunscreen, hat, bug repellent, and water highly recommended. KFDC Tip: If you plan to go, pair it with a PYO blackberries outing at Homestead Farms, which is just minutes away. Or stop by Rocklands Farm Winery, also nearby.
Lotus and Water Lily Festival
Where: Kenilworth Aquatic Garden | Northeast DC
When: Friday – Sunday
Admission: Free
The lotus flower and water lilies are blooming at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, and you can celebrate them this weekend at the annual Lotus & Water Lily Festival from Friday – Sunday. Special activities include cultural performances, scavenger hunts, arts & crafts, music and dancing, ranger programs, and much more. Go here for the full schedule. Read more about Kenilworth in this KFDC post.
Footloose
Where: Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre | Arlington, VA
When: Fri, 7pm | Sat, 2pm & 7pm | Sun, 2pm
Tickets: $22/adult, $18/child
Encore Stage & Studio presents this theatre by kids for kids show… After moving from Chicago, newcomer Ren is in shock when he discovers the new town he calls home has banned dancing and rock music! As he struggles to fit in, he musters up the courage to challenge the status quo. Let loose with them in this big summer musical!
Friday Night Fishing
Where: Diamond Teague Docks | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Friday, 5-8pm
Admission: Free
Join Anacostia Riverkeeper for their summer Friday fishing program — all ages are welcome! All essentials are provided: rods, reels, bait, and lessons for first time fishers. Staff are there to answer any questions and help with casting, tips, and tricks. Be sure to register and fill out a waiver if you plan to go. When you’re done, head right down the boardwalk to Yards Park for the Friday Night Concert or get a bite to eat at one of the many nearby restaurants.
Nats vs Padres
Where: Nationals Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Tickets start at $16
The Nats are hosting the Padres all weekend with some extra college fun — all tickets purchased through specified links can get special college-branded hats. The Friday evening game is West Virginia University Day, the Saturday evening game is William & Mary (with a basketball jersey giveaway, too), and the Sunday afternoon game is Virginia Tech. Kids can also run the bases after the Sunday game.
Summer of Sunflowers
Where: Burnside Farms |
When: Through July 31
Admission: $16.29-$19.40
See sunflowers and enjoy more fun at Burnside Farms, where they plant over 30 varieties of “cutting” sunflowers and several varieties of oil sunflowers on more than 70 acres. Go see them in the morning or at sunset into the evening. On Friday and Saturday, arrive any time after 4pm to enjoy the flower fields, food, drink, roaming performers, and more. Foamy Friday includes bubble-fueled fun and a DJ, and on Saturday there will be an 80s cover band concert.
Serve Up Some Tennis Fun
Where: Rock Creek Tennis Center | 16th St Heights, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, gates open at 9am
Admission: Tickets start at $22
The annual Mubadala Citi DC Open Tennis Tournament swings into action this weekend. Among the many competing this year are Venus Williams, Taylor Fritz, Jessica Pegula, Nick Kygios, Frances Tafo, Naomi Osaka and more superstar players. Saturday is the first day of qualifying rounds, and they’ll continue on Sunday.
Insectival
Where: Annmarie Sculpture Garden | Lusby, MD
When: Saturday, 9am – 1pm
Admission: $8/advance, $11/at gate
Buzz on down to Calvert County to explore and get creative with the world of insects. Enjoy activities for all ages, meet community groups who love bugs, and have fun roaming the garden, galleries, and indoor classrooms as you explore and have fun with insects! Celebrate these invertebrates and all the wonderful wildlife that depends on them. Read more about the wonderful Annmarie Sculpture Garden here and view scenes from a visit here.
Family Day at the Library of Congress
Where: Library of Congress | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Saturday, 10:30am – 3:30pm
Admission: Free
At this month’s Family Day at the Library of Congress, discover the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. Do you listen to audiobooks? Have you ever wondered how to read braille? Do you or someone you know have dyslexia? Learn all about the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) and how it serves Library of Congress patrons and their families. Experience the Jefferson Building through the Visitor Engagement Office’s signature hands-on Touch History displays. Hear audiobook narrator demonstrations at 11am, 12:30pm, and 2pm.
More Show Time
Where: Theatres around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by show
There are a bunch of shows to catch on local stages… here’s what you can see this weekend:
* Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods at Wolf Trap
* Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at National Theatre
* The Lightening Thief at Adventure Theatre
* Duel Reality at Harman Hall (find discount)
* Sesame Street the Musical at the Kennedy Center (find discount)
* Dory Fantasmagory at Imagination Stage
* The Frog Prince at ThePuppet Co.
* A Wrinkle in Time at Arena Stage
* A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Olney Theatre (find discount)
* The Taming of the Shrew, Or, Petruchio is Kated at Klein Theatre
Archaeology Family Day
Where: Mount Vernon Estate | Mount Vernon, VA
When: Saturday & Sunday, 9am – 5pm
Admission: $28/age12+, $15/age 6-11, free/5 & under
Head to George Washington’s place and explore how archaeology has shaped what we know about the Washingtons, the lives of the enslaved people who lived at Mount Vernon, and the 18th century. Participate in hands-on activities — do your own miniature dig, put broken objects together, and make your own replicas out of clay. Mount Vernon archaeologists wil be there to discuss about their role at the estate and recent discoveries.
Open Studio: Let’s Get Away
Where: Hirshhorn Museum | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: Free
At this Saturday’s session of the Hirshhorn’s weekly program, take inspiration from summer beach vacations and André Masson’s assemblage artwork Caryatid. Assemble your own ocean-inspired artwork using colorful sand, seashells, and sea glass! While you’re there, be sure to see the fantastic Osgemeos: Endless Story exhibit that is only on view for another couple of weeks.
National Ice Cream Day
Where: Ice cream shops around the area
When: Sunday
Admission: Free (or the cost of your scoop)
Sunday is National Ice Cream Day and a bunch of places around the area are celebrating with specials, free scoops, and more fun. Follow this link to find out on where you can take advantage of the special day.
Another Sweet Celebration
Where: metrobar | Edgewood, DC
When: Sunday, 12-6pm
Admission: Free
metrobar is hosting a sweet celebration for the day with a variety of delicious ice cream from Here’s the Scoop!s. Enjoy some with the kids, and adults can also cool off with a cold beer, spritz or cocktail, paired well with one of the onsite food trucks.
Take a Hike
Where: Around the DC Area
When: Ongoing
Admission: Varies by locale
There’s a link up top for a round-up of local hikes, but specific recs are also helpful. Here are some good places to hit the trail this weekend: Roosevelt Island within the Potomac; Fountainhead Regional Park in Lorton, VA (paddling ops, too!); Riverbend Park in McLean, VA; Prince William Forest Park in Triangle, VA; and Patapsco Valley State Park near Baltimore, MD (+ swimming ops!).
Hike+
Where: Around the DC area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by place
If you want to hike, then extend (and elevate) your outing with some some snacks (or a whole meal) and sips after, there are some awesome combos for that around the area. This post has details for where to go for good walks in the woods… and great hangs after.
Reap the Fruits (& Veggies)
Where: Around the DC Area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by place
Blueberies, blackberries, peaches and more 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.
Go for a Spin…or Tee Up!
Where: Around the DC Area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by place
Summer brings some extra delights to several parks and other places around the area that are already great outdoor places to hang with the kids. Go for whirl on a mini train or carousel, take a swing at mini golf, or even ride a Ferris Wheel. The KFDC Summer Guide has details on where to go.
More 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 2025 KFDC Guide to Summer Around the DC Area has the whole scoop on all of them.
Inside Scoop
Where: Around the DC area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
If you’re seeking activities indoors, you have plenty of options. This post pulls together all the KFDC round-ups with ideas for inside fun. From museums and special programs for kids to play spaces and venues for indoor action to theaters presenting live entertainment and movies to stores where you can shop secondhand, you’ll find loads of ways to stay cool, dry, and sane. 🙂
***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* How about going mountain biking?
* BlackRock Center for the Arts just launched Scrap Happy Thrift, a pay-what-you-can treasure trove of donated art and craft supplies.
* Next Friday evening, join Common Good City Farm for their Garden Party fundraiser, a casual farm-to-table experience with live music! Tickets are $35-55, and the proceeds help support their pay-what-you-can farm market, youth education programs, and stocking the community food pantry and fridge.
* Christmas in July… Washington Ballet has a Buy One Get One FREE offer right now for tickets to The Nutcracker on select dates this holiday season.
* DC best sandwiches — picked by Washington Post readers. (I have such a beef with one of them — an so do many local friends — I might just do my own best sammies post! 😉)
* Whether for an upcoming beach trip or really anytime, these outdoor games always up the fun.
* My Prime Day recs included this jumpsuit, a dupe of a more expensive Free People style. I just received mine and can vouch that it’s fantastic — very comfy and cute and under $20!
* Sasha has been making the viral cucumber salad all summer, and it’s delicious!
* It’s extra 40 % off sale items at Anthro… there are so many great little gifty things — initial mugs, cute bottle openers, block print napkins, and a pickleball dish towel — it’s a good time to snag some to have on hand.
* Of course, the clothes are always worth a browse, especially the dresses, like this polo dress, a quintessential summer dress, another lovely one for the season, and a stunning satin floral maxi.
* Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast is so fun — I’ve loved all the interviews!
* The countdown is on! 😅
