Saturday is National Trails Day…take a hike!
Special events and activities over the next few days span the recreation and entertainment spectrum. Discover the night sky, get folksy or jazz it up, browse an arts & crafts show, enjoy a community festival, immerse in digital art, catch an Ultimate game, shop for locally made pottery, drink wine… and there are many more possibilities for good times. Details on all of the above are below. Happy Weekend!
Astronomy Night on the Mall
Where: 15th & Constitution NW | National Mall, DC
When: Friday, 6-11pm
Admission: Free
Get an eyeful of the night sky and a chance to mingle with astronomers at the 8th Annual Astronomy Festival on the Mall. This free public stargazing event features solar, optical, and radio telescope observations of the Sun, Moon, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn. You can also enjoy hands-on activities, demonstrations, hand-outs, posters, banners, and videos. There will also be planetarium show with a portable blow-up dome and speakers from scientific and educational organizations.
Seize the Season
Where: Throughout the DMV
When: All weekend long
Admission: Varies by activity
Enjoy summer fun with a host of activities that only occur this time of year. Catch an open-air concert at one of several series in the area. Stay cool at an outdoor pool, sprayground, or water park. See a movie under the stars. Check out a seasonal exhibit. Go berry picking. Ride mini-trains and carousels at local parks. And much, much more. Check the Summer 2017 Guide for details on all of these great pursuits.
Imagination Bethesda
Where: Woodmont & Elm Street | Bethesda, MD
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free
The 23rd annual Imagination Bethesda is back on Saturday. Musical performances and professional children’s entertainers will light up the stage, while hands-on art & craft activities will line the streets along Elm St. and Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. Face painters bring butterflies and pirates to life and live entertainment will have the whole gang dancing, and more.
Washington Folk Festival
Where: Glen Echo Park | Glen Echo, MD
When: Saturday & Sunday, 12-7pm
Admission: Free
Get folksy at Glen Echo Park this weekend, as the 37th annual Washington Folk Festival showcases the diversity of traditional music in Washington. All of the artists hail from the DC area, but cultures from around the nation, as well as the world, will be represented through music, dance, crafts, and stories.
Occoquan Arts & Crafts Show
Where: Downtown Historic Occoquan, VA
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: Free
Get ready for a weekend full of art, crafts, entertainment, and family fun. Over 10,000 people are expected to attend the Town of Occoquan’s 48th Annual Arts and Crafts Show. Along with the creative items for sale by more than 300 contemporary and country crafters, there will be live entertainment, a DJ, food, and a Kidz Corner.
Jazz ‘n’ Families Fun Days
Where: The Phillips Collection | Dupont Circle, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 5pm & Sunday, 12-7pm
Admission: Free
Leading up to the DC Jazz Festival starting next week and part of The Phillips Collection’s Museum Walk events, there will be special performances and activities for guests, especially young ones. Enjoy both the art and live jazz throughout the museum, including musicians improvising to paintings in the galleries. Kids enjoy storytime, meet some of the artists, visit an instrument petting zoo, create their own masterpieces to take home, and view the permanent collection, too. Read more about the event and museum in this post about one of our experiences there.
Immerse in Art & Technology
Where: ARTECHOUSE | Southwest, DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: $15/adult, $10/child ($25/evening adults only)
The debut exhibit from ARTECHOUSE, a brand new digital art space, is a must-experience for all ages. Consisting of 10 interactive and immersive installations, XYZT: Abstract Landscapes is a virtual playground of technology and light. And you’ll have a blast experiencing it. Read more about the exhibit in this new KFDC review.
Walk the Museum Walk
Where: Dupont-Kalorama Neighborhoods, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Get off the Mall and explore the many museums in the Dupont-Kalorama neighborhood during its 33rd annual Museum Walk Weekend. (You can also check out the Obama’s future neighborhood!) See the exhibits and enjoy special programs for free at seven diverse museums, including The Phillips Collection, Dumbarton House, Anderson House, and Woodrow Wilson House. If you don’t want to use the shoe leather express, there will be a free shuttle running between sites.
Vintage Virginia Wine & Food Festival
Where: Bull Run Park | Centreville, VA
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: $30/adults, $10/kids
A wine fest might sound like a grown-ups-only event, but this one offers plenty of fun for kids, too. Chef demos, food truck fare, live music, and a whole family area with activities especially for children are among the festivities. Of course, there will be plenty of opportunity for wine tasting, too!
Strawberry Festival
Where: Sandy Spring Museum | Sandy Spring, MD
When: Saturday, 10am – 5pm
Admission:
The Sandy Spring Museum is hosting its 36th Annual Strawberry Festival. Taking place throughout the Museum’s 7 acres along Route 108, the event will feature live music and entertainment, food trucks, a beer garden, and activities for children of all ages, including games, crafts, pony rides, strawberry shortcake, and much more!
Red Rover: Mission to Mars
Where: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center | Chantilly, VA
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free, but parking is $15
Join the Air & Space Museum in Chantilly for Making STEM Magic, a weekly program that introduces young visitors to engineering in a fun and creative way. On Saturdays this month Red Rover: Mission to Mars is the theme, and guests will learn more about NASA’s mobile labs and construct their own rolling rovers in the June design challenge.
Happy Trails
Where: Throughout the DMV
When: Saturday
Admission: Free
Saturday is National Trails Day, and you can celebrate by taking part in one of many special events around the area. Take a hike, do some volunteer trail maintenance, go bird watching, and more. Find an event for your family on the National Trails Day website. Or if you just want to hit the trail for a hike, check out this post about great walks in the woods with kids.
Trails Celebration
Where: Anacostia Park | Anacostia, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: Free
In celebration of National Trails Day, skate, bike, run, or hike your way into Anacostia Park along the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. Start your excursion at the Anacostia Park Skating Pavilion or at Bladensburg Waterfront Park in Bladensburg, MD, and enjoy “pit stops” along the way! With about 20 miles of scenic trail between both starting points, visitors that can make it to both ends and collect stamps or stickers from each pit stop win a prize! Pit stops will also offer interactive activities such as a scenic boat ride on the Anacostia River leaving from the Anacostia Aquatic Center at 10am, 11am, 12pm, and 1pm; experience close encounters with various aquatic wildlife that live in the Anacostia River; learn to fish with guided lessons; get bike tune-ups; feel the pelts of animals you may see on the trail; receive health screenings; participate in outdoor stretching and exercising lessons; and much more! Read more about Anacostia Park in this KFDC post.
Weekend Walk-in
Where: American Visionary Art Museum | Baltimore, MD
When: Saturday, 1-4pm
Admission: $5
Join the AVAM, one of the most wonderful, wacky museums around for a hands-on, drop-in art-making workshop! The education staff will help you explore new creative territory and make a project inspired by one of their beloved visionary artists. Supplies and boundless inspiration are provided!
Shows on Strings
Where: The Puppet Co. | Glen Echo, MD
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: $12/Cinderella, $6/Tiny Tots
Cinderella is the Main Stage production at the Glen Echo puppet theatre with performances on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Clowning Around is the featured Tiny Tots show on Saturday at 10am
A Jumpin’ June Festival
Where: The Explore! Mission Mobile Pad | Northeast, DC
When: Saturday, 11am – 1pm
Admission: Free
Explore!, the Children’s Museum program currently hosted at the National Portrait Gallery, welcomes you to a free backyard festival, where they are celebrating movement. Go get the wiggles out and enjoy family-friendly activities, meet new neighbors, and learn what Explore! has in store for the summer. There will be space-relate activities, hip-hop dance demos, arts & crafts, hola hoops and jump ropes, and more. Families and children of all ages welcome; dress for outdoor weather. Light snacks and drinks will be provided
SCOUT Bags Pop-Up
Where: Scout Headquarters | Georgetown, DC
When: Friday & Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Join SCOUT for their first pop-up shop at the national headquarters in Georgetown. Shop the entire collection of locally designed bags and accessories perfect for the pool, beach, BBQ, and beyond! Each day will feature special promotions, plus attendees will be entered in a raffle to win prizes from SCOUT and other local businesses. The SCOUT headquarters are located at 1027 33rd Street NW in Georgetown.
Noyes Storybook Parade
Where: Kensington Town Hall | Kensington, MD
When: Saturday, 9:30-10:30am
Admission: Free
The Noyes Children’s Library Foundation invites families to be part of the Storybook Parade in support of the Noyes Children’s Library in Kensington. Children and adults are encouraged to dress as their favorite storybook character and bring musical instruments (including drums, triangles and cymbals) to march in the parade. Classic characters, such as The Cat in the Hat, Winnie the Pooh, and Dorothy and Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz, will also be participating. Lemonade and cookies will follow the parade. Rain date June 4.
National Gun Violence Awareness Day
Where: Btwn 14th and 15th Street NW | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 10:30am
Admission: Free
Join Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America for a morning on the Mall to gather together, hear speakers, and build and paint orange kites to help raise awareness about gun violence both on the June 3 and throughout the summer. Wear orange and meet on the grassy knoll between 14th and 15th Streets.
Local Pottery Pop-Up
Where: Hollow Work Ceramics Studio | Near Northeast, DC
When: Sunday, 11am – 5pm
Admission: Free
Over 20 ceramicists from DC, Maryland, and Virginia will be displaying and selling their work at this unique one day event. This Pop Up will have a spectacular selection of handmade pottery available in a broad spectrum of styles, surfaces and colors, both functional and decorative. This will be an enormous gathering of local artists. If you are a pottery fan, this is not to be missed. And if you’re not, you will be! Hollow Work Ceramics Studio is located at at 803 7th street (rear alley) NE, just off of H Street.
Catch the Ultimate Breeze
Where: Gallaudet University | Northeast, DC
When: Sunday, 5:30pm
Admission: $14, free for 12 and under
Bring the kids out for fun, fresh air, and Pro Ultimate Frisbee! Not only will you get to see exciting Frisbee action as local team DC Breeze take on the New York Empire, kids can join a free youth clinic (for ages 6-17) before the game at 5pm (FYI: they offer this at every home game.) And while your kids are learning Ultimate out on the field, you can enjoy food and drink specials and listen to a live band to get ready for the game.
***More Good Stuff to Know***
* You have through Friday, June 2, to enter for a chance to win a week of half-day soccer camp with DC Way. Enter here!
* You can also try to win tickets to see Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook on stage at Adventure Theatre June 23 – August 14.
* Suburban Snapshots is accepting submissions of photos that capture the struggle to coexist with other living beings. (Check out her examples…so funny and relatable.)
* City Golf Adventures will be hosting a mini golf course pop up at Canal Park this coming week, June 7-10.
* If you haven’t had a riverside meal or margarita(s) at Cantina Marina on the Southwest Waterfront, make a plan to go — sans kids.
