Happy Weekend!
Go-to posts full of ideas for activities around the area:
* Swim Spots
* On the Water
* Indoor Outings
* Best Outdoors in the DC Area
* Local Hikes with Kids
* Peaceful Places
* Bike Rides
* Baltimore with Kids
‘Tis the Season
Where: Throughout the DMV
When: All weekend long
Admission: Varies by activity
Make the most of quintessential summer activities around the DC area! Hit the beach. Enjoy an open air concert. See a movie under the stars. Experience a special exhibit. Get wet at an outdoor pool, sprayground, or waterpark. Feast on crabs. Ride mini-trains and carousels at local parks. And so much more…
Explore Air & Space
Where: National Air & Space Museum | National Mall, DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
One of the most long-awaited museum reopenings is finally happening! The National Air & Space Museum will begin welcoming visitors again starting Friday. Timed-entry tickets are not required, so be aware that it’s likely going to draw crowds, which means there probably will be a wait to get in. If you plan to go, have a Plan B to visit one of the other nearby reopened museums. With the exception of the African American Museum, you can walk right in to all of them. (Note that the Air & Space will be open Thursday – Sunday, 10:30am – 5pm.)
Ice Cream Social
Where: The Yards | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
The Yards is celebrating National Ice Cream Day with a larger-than-life retro ice cream experience! From Friday through Sunday, The Yards’ Sun Deck will be transformed with a 16-foot instagrammable Ice Cream Social installation for guests to enjoy a scoop in style and capture fun snaps with different backdrops including a human-sized ice cream cone and retro ice cream parlor! Even better, Ice Cream Jubilee and Jenis Ice Creams will provide a free scoop of their delicious ice cream to the first 100 guests on Saturday, July 31 and Sunday, August 1 who post a photo of the ice cream-themed installation at Yards Park. To receive a free ice cream, guests must tag @TheYardsDC in their tasty pic and show it off to event staff. After posting, grab your ice cream and enjoy the last weekend of National Ice Cream Month at #TheYardsDC!
See the Sunflowers
Where: McKee Beshers Wildlife Management Area | Poolesville, MD
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
Get your cameras ready for one eye-popping bloom! The sunflowers at McKee Beshers are at their peak, and visitors are welcome to take in the brilliant scene. Nine fields showcase 30 acres of flowers — and they should be blooming for at least couple of weeks. Read more about it and see pics from a previous bloom here and view some from last year’s here. KFDC Tip: If you plan to go, pair it with a PYO blackberries outing at Homestead Farms, which is just minutes away or go to nearby Rocklands Farm Winery. (PS: You can also see sunflowers at Burnside Farms in Nokesville — admission is $10/child, $14/adult + you can pick flowers for an extra fee.)
World Children’s Festival
Where: Across from Capitol | National Mall, DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
Head to the National Mall for this annual event that celebrates creativity, diversity, and unity with all kinds of programming for kids from Friday through Sunday. There will performances, art activities, workshops, speakers, and more fun for all. Visit the website to see the full schedule. Register for free here.
Nats vs. Cubs
Where: Nationals Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Ticket prices Vary
The Nats are back home and hostingthe Cubs this weekend. Catch them on Friday and Saturday evenings (7:05pm) and Sunday afternoon (1:05pm). There’s a new Kids Eat Free summer promo, and kids can run the bases after the Sunday game. Before you go, get some KFDC tips on doing Nats game without breaking the bank. The first 25,000 fans can get a Victor Robles Bobblehead on Friday, and the playground is open for kid play all weekend.
After Hours at the Station
Where: The Station at Riverdale Park, MD
When: Friday, 6-9pm
Admission: Free
Head to the Station at Riverdale Park for their Friday evening summer series. All are welcome to enjoy family- and dog-friendly programming on The Village Green, including live DJ sets, outdoor games, nine-hole miniature golf, a photo scavenger hunt, plus giveaways, prizes, and more.
Peach Fuzzitval
Where: Great Country Farm | Bluemont, VA
When: Saturday, 9am – 5pm
Admission: $14/child & $16/Adult
Celebrate peak peach picking season with Great Country Farms, Bluemont Vineyard, and Dirt Farm Brewing! 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. (Note: The festival will also run August 1, 7, & 8.)
Take Your Pick
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: William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Center | Rock Creek, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, gates open at 9am
Admission: Ticket prices vary
Enjoy the on-court excitement along with some special events as the annual Citi Open Tennis Tournament returns to DC and swings into action this weekend. Saturday is the first day of qualifying rounds, and they’ll continue on Sunday. Tickets are very limited.
A Brief Shakespeare Festival
Where: Veterans Amphitheater | Fairfax, VA
When: Friday & Saturday, 6pm
Admission: $25
Join the City of Fairfax Theatre company for a dinner theatre whirlwind of Shakespeare performances from and for all ages. The Brief Shakespeare Festival consists of three groups of student actors performing some of Shakespeare’s greatest works. Each group will perform two, 15-minute versions of different plays while playing several characters each. Each production will be bookended with monologues, sonnets or scenes performed by adults. There will be music, food, laughs, tears, magic, love, and more.
BrickFair
Where: Dulles Expo Center | Chantilly, VA
When: Saturday, 10am – 5pm & Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: $15+, free for ages 3 and under
The nation’s largest LEGO Fan Festival is back this summer and 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 activities. Hand sanitizer will be available at the many hands-on stations, and masks are recommended for unvaccinated guests. Note that strollers are not permitted.
Fashion + FUN
Where: Georgetown Park | Georgetown, DC
When: Friday, 5-9pm | Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 9pm
Admission: $28/adult, $19/age 4-15
Go “Inside the Wardrobe” at this new art installation/fashion funhouse in Georgetown. The 20,000 square foot space contains more than 20 exhibits/spaces, all them wildly creative, fashion-inspired, interactive, even kind of trippy. You can try on paper doll cutouts, play with size in a fun house, get a close look at beautiful handiwork, take pics in whimsical and delightful settings, strut the catwalk, and much more. Read more about it and see some snaps from a visit there in this KFDC post!
Circus Vasquez
Where: Tysons III | Tysons, VA
When: Saturday, 7:30pm
Admission: $25
Enjoy some thrilling family entertainment at this circus that I learn about on Goldstar. Here’s their description: “Circo Hermanos Vazquez will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this year! Delivering their best show yet with a turbo-charged take on the traditional circus that’s sure to thrill audiences of all ages. From graceful dancers and daring trapeze artists to a hilarious clown. This gasp-inducing performance gathers tons of amazing world known talent under the big top for a huge dose of family fun.” Note: Reviews of it mentioned the show is mostly in Spanish.
Fairytales in the Sun
Where: Adventure Theatre | Glen Echo, MD
When: Saturday, 11am, 2pm, & 4:30pm | Sunday, 11am & 2pm
Admission: $20.50 (look for a discount)
Adventure Theatre is presenting live, in-person family entertainment again! Two one-act plays, The Flood in the Future by Lyra Yang and From Cinders to Ella by Michelle Lynch, will be performed outside in the grassy field next to ATMTC and the Irish Inn. Covid protocols will be followed. BYO blanket or chair.
UniverSoul Circus
Where: National Harbor | Oxon Hill, MD
When: Throughout the weekend
Tickets: $27+
The world-class, live entertainment attraction that has captured the hearts and imaginations of a new generation of families is celebrating its 23rd year of FUN. UniverSoul connects with progressive, upwardly mobile, urban pop cultures from around the world, embracing and celebrating the unique and familiar aspects of global cultures and ethnicities into a stellar production that blends circus arts, theater and music. A fresh, cool, and hip approach to live family entertainment!
Free Community Day (& Week)
Where: National Museum of Women in the Arts | Downtown, DC
When: Sunday, 12-5pm
Admission: Free
The first Sunday of every month is a great opportunity explore the National Museum of Women in the Arts when admission is FREE! Even better to go now as the museum will be closing for renovations after August 8 (and entry is free until then). Works span the centuries, from the 16th to the present in a variety of mediums, highlighting women artists all over the world.
#OptOutside
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
There are tons of options around the DC-Metro for a great al fresco adventure. Take a hike, explore a garden, visit animals, or see what else there is to do under the blue (or gray) skies in this round-up with tons of ideas for outdoor fun.
***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* Mask up!
* We’ve spent the past week in Asheville, NC, a great family vacay destination from DC — see more here!
* The National Children’s Chorus is holding auditions soon for its Fall 2021 season.
* Highlighting some recent posts/great area places to visit: Kreeger Museum and Adventure Park at Sandy Spring.
* This fun game has been in our rotation this week.
* Tom Sietsema’s 7 favorite places to eat right now.
* Toddler…or ghost?