Monday – Go peach picking at a local farm! The fuzzy fruits are ripe this time of year and ready for picking at just about all of the farms listed in this post from last summer. However, it’s always a good idea to check websites or call ahead to confirm availability the day you plan to go.
Tuesday – Drop in for play date at the National Children’s Museum Launch Zone. Kids can experience a fantastic day of playing and building with foam blocks and other loose parts in the Imagination Playground. Hours are 11am – 4pm, and admission is free. For afternoon entertainment, head to the National Portrait Gallery for Portraits Alive!, a theatrical tour of the museum’s collections performed by teens from DC’s Summer Youth Employment Program. Everyday through August 3, visitors can join the group on a journey that explores a variety of works as the students become the portraits — performing original, student written play, they will portray the people represented in the photos, paintings, drawings, sculptures, and prints displayed in the museum. Sessions begin at 2:15pm, and admission is free.
Wednesday – Celebrate Peruvian culture at the National Museum of the American Indian as the 2nd annual Kaypi Perú Festival kicks off for six days of performances, hands-on activities, animal exhibitions, and traditional food. Be sure to stop by the imagiNATIONS family activity center on the third floor for programs especially for kids. The festival runs daily through July 30. Museum hours are 10am – 5:30pm, and admission is free.
Thursday – See The Puppet Co.’s latest production, Snow White and the 7 Dwarves, a fun, sideways view of the classic fairytale. Showtimes are 10am & 11:30am (Thursdays and Fridays). Tickets are $10.
Friday – Take the kids to play amid the lovely wooded setting of Cabin John Regional Park. They can climb, swing, jump, slide, and run on the sprawling Adventure Playland. And don’t miss a ride through the woods on the Miniature Train, just $1.75 per passenger.
The centerpiece of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
I hope everyone weathered the storm okay and the natural disasters are behind us for awhile. We have a week full of nice, sunny days ahead, and these ideas for kids activities urge you to take advantage of them. Have a great week!
Thursday – Enjoy the fruits of your labor at a pick-your-own farm. Peaches are still available at most of the places listed in this post about berry picking, but it’s always a good idea to call ahead to see what’s available.
Friday – Visit the enchanting Clark’s Elioak Farm,complete with hayrides, cow train rides, pony rides, farm animals to pet, a playground, and recovered installations from an old storybook park that will delight all ages. Open 10am – 4pm. Admission is $5, rides are extra.
It’s the final weekend of the summer break. For us, anyway. DC Public School students head back to the classroom on Monday, my Kindergartner-to-be Owen among them. And while I’m brimming with excitement and pride about this new beginning for him, I’m also going to miss the casual days of the last couple of months…and his pre-“big kid” school youth. Needless to say, I’m greeting these next few days with a little extra gusto. Whether your break is also winding down or you’re still savoring the season, here’s where you can enjoy summer with the kids this Friday through Sunday. Happy Weekend!
Fair Play – The county fair fun continues for two more days at the Montgomery and Prince Willima County Fairs. Find info on both in this post from last week.
Back-to-School Blast Off – Get a jump start on the new school year at Pump It Up in Lanham today from 5:30 – 7pm and on Saturday from 11:30 – 1pm. The Mecca of bounce is hosting special open play sessions that include an hour of jump time plus a slice of pizza and a drink for $10/person. You can also enjoy Sundaes on Sunday from 12 – 2pm, where guests can jump then create their own ice cream treats for $10/child, $3.50/adult.
The Old Ball Game – The Phillies are in town for a three-game series against the Nationals, with games at 7:05pm on Friday and Saturday evenings. If you’re thinking about taking the kids, plan to bring them on Sunday when the first 10,000 fans ages 12 and under will receive a Nats duffel bag. It’s also a Signature Sunday when select players are available for autographs at 12:15pm. Kids can also run the bases after the game. Be sure to check out the Family Fun Pack if you plan to go that day.
Peachy Keen – The pickings are still good at most local farms, so if the weather cooperates, head to a peach orchard to stock up on the fruits. Use this list of farms from a post about berry picking as a guide; most of them have peaches or other pick-your-own delights now, though it never hurts to give them a call to confirm.
The DC Scoop – Ice Creeeeam! Union Market, at 6th Street and Florida Avenue NE, will be the site of a sweet event on Saturday that the whole family will love — if you love ice cream, that is. Seventeen of the area’s best ice cream, gelato, and custard vendors are having a taste-off to determine the best scoop in the city. Enjoy live music, face painting, a glitter artist, and of course, ice cream tasting all for free!
Yellow & Blue Make Green – The Textile Museum is hosting its monthly Arts for Families event on Saturday from 2-4pm. Experiment with color mixing while making your own nature print on fabric. Explore and create within Museum’s beautiful garden, featuring the installation Garden Lace by artist Michelle Brody. The event is free, and no reservations are required.
See Stars at Rock Creek – On Saturday and Sunday at 1pm, the Rock Creek Planetarium (the only one in the National Park system) invites kids ages 5 and older to view the season’s brightest starts, planets, and constellations and learn their stories. Like all Rock Creek ranger-led programs, this one is free.
Cloudy with a Chance of… Documents? – As random as it may sound, the National Archives is hosting a screening of the hit kids’ movie “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” on Saturday at 12pm. See the film for free in the William G. McGowan Theater.
Rock out at Artisphere – It’s always a dance party when the Rocknoceros trio takes the stage, and this Saturday is sure to be no exception at Artisphere’s Dome Theatre. The show/fun starts at 11:30am; tickets are $12/adults and $8/kids and available for purchase online.
Family Fest on the Potomac– On Saturdays through September 10, families can enjoy water rides, live entertainment, food, and vendors at the National Harbor. In addition, Family Fest will present the Harbor Star Stage featuring local and national artists throughout the day. Gates are opn from 1-7:30pm. Admission is $10, food and drinks are sold separately.
Movies on the Potomac – The National Harbor hosts another family event on Sunday evenings when it shows free films starting just after sunset. This week’s feature is the “Chronicles of Narnia.”
Be sure to check out even more ideas in these popular posts:
Is it me, or is summer just zooming by? There are merely weeks left to hang with the kids on the weekdays before they head back to school and to enjoy many activities that only have a seasonal run. Gotta get out there and savor the rest summer!
Here are some suggestions for where to do just that this week, August 1-5:
Monday – Stay cool at an IMAX movie. Several films are playing at the Smithsonian’s two theaters, the Samuel C. Johnson at the Natural History Museum and the Lockheed Martin at the Air & Space. Born to Be Wild 3D, To Fly!, Grand Canyon Adventure, Legends of Flight, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 2 are all on the really big screen now. Check the schedules for showtimes.
Tuesday – It’s the final workshop of the Stories in Art summer program at the National Gallery of Art (there is one on Monday as well). This week’s theme is Everyday Life: Join a Party in the series that explores Dutch life through art. See this post for more details on the program and info on signing up.
Wednesday – Take advantage of the Newseum’s Summer Fun Deal, where kids get in free with a paid adult admission. This post has more about the deal and recommended exhibits for younger visitors.
Thursday – Go peach picking at a local farm. Many of the farms listed in this post have pick-your-own peaches, but it’s always a good idea to check the website or call ahead to see what’s available.
Friday – Take a day trip to a swimming spot out in nature. Get ideas for places to go from The Natural Capital blog.
The title of this post might seem obvious, but the distinction makes sense from my vacationing perspective. I must note that we’re missing out on some fun stuff while we’re out of town. Hope those of you at home enjoy it. Happy Weekend!
Swim in Nature’s Midst – Add some adventure to your next swimming experience by seeking out a natural spot to submerge. The Natural Capital blog has a fantastic list of places where you can take a dip and enjoy the great outdoors in one fell swoop.
The Wizard of Oz x 2 – You can catch two different productions of the classic show this weekend. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are the last chances to see the play performed by the talented young cast of the Act III Theatre Company. And The Puppet Co. presents their own fun version through September 4 with several show times over the weekend. Tickets are still available for all of performances. Read the KFDC review of both productions.
Shark Weekend – On Saturday and Sunday from 10am – 4pm, celebrate Shark Weekend at DC’s National Aquarium by getting up-close and personal with several shark species. Learn from leading experts on the history, lives, and habits of one of the world’s most fascinating ocean dwellers. Visitors can participate in a scavenger hunt, touch an actual shark tooth and other artifacts, make arts and crafts, and more. Admission to the Aquarium is $9.95/ages 11 and up, $4.95/ages 3-11, free for children 2 and under. There is no fee beyond that for the event.
Gonna Eat a Lot of Peaches – It’s peach picking time at many local farms; the summer fruits are at their ripest from late July to early August. If you want to get them at their peak, check out this list of local farms that offer pick-your-owns. (Note: the post is about blueberry picking, but many of the same places are harvesting peaches now. But it’s always a good idea to check the website for updates.)
Classic Tennis – See some exciting sports action served up atthe Legg Mason Tennis Classic. The annual tournament begins on Saturday at 10am , and continues through August 7. Tickets for the first round of matches this weekend are still available ranging from $10-45.
Art for Families: Design a Button Bracelet – Be your own jewelry designer at the Textile Museum on Saturday while recycling grandma’s buttons into something fashionably hip. Participants will create a bracelet with buttons of all sizes, colors and textures and walk away wearing their new work of art. The free activity takes place from 2-4pm.
Family Fest at the Postal Museum – Hop on board for a rail-riding good time with Owney the dog, the subject of one of the Postal Museum’s most popular exhibits. This celebration includes such fun activities as designing an Owney tag, sorting mail in the Railway Post Office, making a stamp collection, and more. Enjoy the free event on Friday and Saturday from 12-3pm.
Livin’ Large Kids Art – On Saturday from 11am – 1pm, children are invited to render their own abstractions influenced by artist Tory Cowles’ work, which is currently on exhibit at the Torpedo Factory. With inspiration her imagery, kids have an opportunity to experience the same thrill from the act of painting that Cowles’ herself does and has portrayed in her own bold canvases.
Jump on the Park Wagon – I’ve recommended Riverbend Park in Fairfax as a great place to spend a day outdoors with the kids, and now there’s one more reason why: Visitors can board a tractor-pulled wagon for a naturalist-led tour of the park. Rides are offered every Saturday and Sunday at 12:30pm, 2pm, and 3:30pm. Cost is $4/person, children 2 and under ride free. Rides run approximately 30-45 minutes.
Get Up and Go! – On Friday and Saturday at 11am, the National Children’s Museum Launch Zone invites families to discover fun summer activities to make them healthy and strong. Activities like spoon and “egg” relays, freeze dancing, Simon Says, and jumping jack contests will take place throughout the day. And, weather permitting, guests can also enjoy a Hippity Hop Course. This free event runs from 11am – 6pm.
For even more ideas for fun with the kids, check out these popular KFDC posts:
