Fun at The Wharf where DC JazzFest will present free entertainment this weekend
Happy Weekend! And a very Happy Father’s Day to all the dads!
Seasonal Treats
Where: Throughout the DMV
When: All weekend long
Admission: Varies by activity
It still may not be official on the calendar, but when it comes to local recreation, summer has arrived. Free concerts in the open air, outdoor swimming, movies under the stars, sprayground fun, and SO much more! Activities exclusive to the season can be enjoyed all around the area this weekend. Some are listed in this round-up, and the 2019 KFDC Guide to the Best of Summer in DC has the scoop on the rest.
Father’s Day Weekend Fun
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
It’s a special day for the dads this weekend, and there are a bunch of great ways for the whole fam to celebrate if you’re still looking for ideas, from made-for-the-day events to DIY pursuits. See a whole round-up of them in this post, some of which are included below.
Infinite Space
Where: ARTECHOUSE | Southwest DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: $16/adult, $8/age 2+
The newest exhibition at ARTECHOUSE, Infinite Space explores the concept of infinity and “invites visitors to open their senses to the endless transformation and infinite possibilities at the intersection of man and machine.” Six immersive installations will delight and amaze and some will make you feel like you’re floating in, well, Infinite Space. Family-friendly hours are 10am -5pm, and evening hours 5:30-11:30pm for ages 21+ when exhibit-themed cocktails are served make for a fun date night.
Rockin’ on the Riverfront
Where: Yards Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Friday, 6:30-8:30pm
Admission: Free
Kick off the weekend with some live music in the fresh air. The Friday Night Concert series at Yards Park is underway, and the Shane Gamble Band playing this installment of the summer staple. Enjoy the music along with food and drinks for purchase (or BYO picnic), let the kids play in the fountains and grassy spaces, and take in the scenic river views.
Chinatown Community Festival
Where: Chinatown, DC
When: Saturday, 11am -2pm
Admission: Free
Experience the tastes, sights, and sounds of Asian & Pacific Islander cultures! Free food samples, lively cultural performances, fitness demonstrations, face painting, henna design, K Make-up, Asian arts & crafts, free bike repair and much more. The event is free and open to the public, but RSVP is required.
Keep on Truckin’
Where: RFK Stadium, Lot 8 | Kingman Park, DC
When: Saturday, 8am – 1pm
Admission: Free
The Truck Touch event that easily takes the title as Mac Daddy of them all. This is the 12th year that the DC Department of Public Works welcomes guests to climb aboard, honk the horn, work the gears, and explore all kinds of neat vehicles that serve our city. There also are usually opportunities to test ride Segways, spec out a helicopter, and sit atop police horses. Read more about it and see images from a past Truck Touch here (and be sure to note that it was posted a few years ago, so the dates don’t confuse you).
Grand Re-Opening Weekend
Where: Port Discovery | Baltimore, MD
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: $17.95
After many months of renovations, Port Discovery and its BIG new exhibits will be fully open for play, learning, and family adventures. Celebrate and soar to new heights on a four-story SkyClimber. Set sail and explore the seas on a life-sized (and giant!) cargo ship. Enjoy new family seating, updated restrooms, and more! See the website for the schedule of activities each day. (KFDC Tip: Port Discovery is a good museum to consider for membership; just a couple of visits for a family of four makes it worth it!)
May the Force Be with the Nats
Where: Nationals Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Ticket prices vary
The Nats are hosting the Arizona Diamondbacks all weekend. Saturday is Star Wars Day at Nationals Park, when the stadium transforms into a galaxy far, far away. Characters from Star Wars will pose for photos with fans, stage live combats, and participate in the Presidents Race. Plus, there will be an Obi “Sean” Kenobi bobblehead for the first 10,000 fans. There will be post-game fireworks on Friday night. You can also plan to spend actual Father’s Day, Sunday, at the ball park as the Nats play the Arizona Diamondbacks. There won’t be any galactic extras, but straight-up baseball is always a good time.
Jazz it Up
Where: The Wharf | Southwest DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, 2-10pm
Admission: Free
DC JazzFest lands at The Wharf on Father’s Day Weekend for two days of world class jazz, music education, beer and wine gardens, and a diverse marketplace experience. Enjoy free concerts on District and Transit Piers starting at 2pm or make a weekend of it with VIP festival passes. On Friday and Saturday, the festival also includes ticketed shows at the Anthem — catch Snarky Puppy and Jose James on Friday or Jon Batiste & Stay Human on Saturday. Even more jazz performances will be presented at other venues around DC, see the schedule on the DC JazzFest website. And for more about The Wharf, see this KFDC post.
Juneteenth Celebration
Where: Watkins Regional Park | Upper MArlboro, MD
When: Saturday, 12-5pm
Admission: Free
Bring the whole family to celebrate this historic date and enjoy free concerts, exhibits, and activities honoring African American culture. Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, marking the date that the last enslaved people learned of their freedom — the month of June and the nineteenth day were combined to form the name. Be sure to enjoy all of the wonderful offerings at Watkins while you’re there.
Pop-Up Father’s Day Card Workshop
Where: National Postal Museum | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Saturday,
Admission: Free
Make a card for your father figure with the museum’s fun craft supplies! They’ll provide a bountiful spread of patterned papers and rubber stamps, 3-D embellishments, special cut-out scissors, washi tape, stickers and markers of every color. You just bring you own creative instincts to design a one-of-a-kind card. And I can tell you from lots of experience over the years that the card-making workshops at the NPM are always fun for all ages!
Movie at the Museum: Ponyo
Where: National Gallery of Art | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 10:15am & Sunday, 11:15am
Admission: Free
Families are invited to enjoy a film that will appeal to both young and adult audiences. Ponyo centers on the friendship between five-year-old Sosuke and a magical goldfish named Ponyo, the young daughter of a sorcerer father and a sea-goddess mother. After a chance encounter, Ponyo yearns to become a human so she can be with Sosuke. As to be expected with Miyazaki, the film is awash in pure unbridled imagination and visual wonder — but it is the tender love, humor, and devotion exhibited by Ponyo and Sosuke that form the emotional heart of the film. Recommended for ages 4+.
Shows on Strings
Where: The Puppet Co. | Glen Echo, MD
When: Throughout the weekend
Tickets: $12
See a puppet version of the fairytale classic, Cinderella, set in the elegance of 17th-century France that combines elaborate costumes of the Comédie-Française and Offenbach’s “Gaiety Parisian” to adorn the tale of the cinder girl who captures the heart of the handsome prince. Recommended for ages 5+. Really little ones will enjoy Panda-Monium, this week’s Tiny Tots show that keeps the lights on and doors open and makes it a gentle experience for the youngest theatre-goers.
By the People Festival
Where: Various locations around DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
This festival that launched last year brings visual art, performing art, and dialogue to all around DC. Completely free and open to the public, works interpret the festival’s founding themes of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Expect everything from large-scale installations to performances to speakers to augmented reality. By The People will always push the envelope, “creating new and thrilling ways for anyone to fan their creative spark by experiencing world-class art.” See the website for the schedule and locations.
Smokin’ Saturday
Where: Cox Farms | Chantilly, VA
When: Saturday, 11am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Head to the farm for their weekly gathering of food and fun! Visit friendly critters, play on the wooden climbing structures, enjoy pulled pork from the smoker and other tasty eats, listen to live music, take a ride to Foamhenge, and frolic around the grounds. Visit the website for timing and more details.
Shaw Open House
Where: Throughout the Shaw neighborhood, DC
When: Saturday,1-5pm
Admission: Free
Dozens of businesses in the Shaw neighborhood are opening their doors for free samples, discounts, and entertainment on Saturday, — and the first 100 people to sign in receive $25 in “Shawbucks” to spend at the participating businesses! Check in at Grand Cata to receive an Open House “Passport,” then embark on an afternoon of discounts, free treats like samples of Capital Burger’s Boozy Milkshakes, quiche and a sip from Convivial, coffee from Le Columbe, and much more in addition to a photo booth and other fun activities throughout the neighborhood. All passport holders will be entered into a drawing for gift cards and experiences from participating businesses, including an overnight stay at Marriott, gift cards for dining and shopping, gift baskets, artwork, and more.
Lily Ponds Live
Where: Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens | Northeast DC
When: Saturday, 3-5pm
Admission: Free
Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is hosting the first installment of the Lily Ponds Live! concert series at the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. This free concert will feature live jazz from the Kenny Rittenhouse Quartet, food trucks will be available. and there will be family activity stations sponsored by other local non-profits.
Pizza + Picasso Art Night
Where: Makeshift | H Street NE, DC
When: Saturday, 5-7pm
Admission: $24.50 (+ $45 with add-on)
Join Makeshift for Pizza + Picasso Art Night — all ages welcome. They’ll provide the dinner and art + craft supplies, you just bring the kids! There are two options for this event: 1) Stop by with your kid(s)! Each child ages 1+ requires a ticket. Adults join and eat free. 2) Turn art night into a date night! Makeshift has partnered with District Sitter to offer babysitting services throughout the event. The cost is $45 for 2 hours of dedicated babysitting services for up to 2 kids AT MAKESHIFT. Your children will be assigned a sitter who will help them participate in the pizza + art activities and watch them throughout the event, while you head out for a couple of hours! Be sure to select this optional Add-On at checkout. Minimum age for babysitting services is 6 months.
Father’s Day Fish-a-Rama
Where: Great Country Farms | Bluemont, VA
When: Sunday
Admission: $8/child, $10/adult
Treat Dad to a fun-filled weekend with BBQ and catch-and-release fishing. Guests can compete in the Fish-a-Rama contest, fishing for catfish, bass, and blue gill in the stocked ponds, and prizes are on the line for the largest fish hooked and the most fish caught during the power hour. Bring your own pole and gear to fish (no drag hooks). GCF has worms for purchase in the country store. The amusement continues on the five-acre farm-style playground featuring the Giant Jumping Pillow, Triple Threat slide, corn bin, animal barnyard and loads more fun for all.
LGBTQ+ Pride Flag Postcard Workshop
Where: National Postal Museum | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Sunday, 11am – 1pm
Admission: Free
It’s another opportunity to get creative at the Postal museum, this time to make rainbow pride flag postcards out of canceled stamps and participate in a scavenger hunt featuring famous LBGTQ+ figures on stamps. All ages are welcome to join this activity that takes place every Sunday in June. Plan to explore the rest of the museum while you’re there — read more about it in this KFDC post.
Women’s World Cup Watch
Where: Wheaton Sports Pavilion | Wheaton, MD
When: Sunday, 11:30am – 3pm
Admission: Varies
Join Montgomery Parks’ for free a watch party and open house during the FIFA Women’s World Cup match between USA and Chile. Doors open at 11:30am with kick-off slated for 12pm. The powerhouse matchup will be shown on a blow-up big-screen in a family-friendly atmosphere. Food trucks will be on-site offering refreshments for purchase. This WaPo article has suggestions for even more places to watch the big fútbol tourney, some of them family-friendly.
Family Scavenger Hunt Adventure
Where: National Gallery of Art | National Mall, DC
When: Sunday, 2pm
Admission: $19.50/adult, $17.50/child
The fun, unique activity for families has you on a mission competing against other teams to find art that echoes characters, places, and enchanted objects in the famed Harry Potter books and movies, with the help of clever Harry Potter-themed clues. And while the website says it’s for ages 10 and up, kids younger than that definitely can partake, too! This KFDC post has more about this awesome adventure.
Soccer Festival
Where: Tyler Elementary School | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Sunday, 3-5pm
Admission: Free
Kick it with DC Way on Father’s Day — the goal of this festival is to gather parents and children to play soccer, socialize, and have fun! Festival programs will include multiple games and activities, kids vs. parents games, and obstacle courses. Plus, participants will also get a special gift.
***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* The Best Places in the Dc Area to Enjoy a Beautiful Day Outdoors with the Kids is probably my favorite KFDC post and always a good one to keep handy.
* Currently at the National Archives, Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote highlights the relentless struggle of diverse activists throughout U.S. history to secure voting rights for all American women.
* See what’s coming to Arena Stage for 2019/20, it’s 70th anniversary season.
* Homewood Suites in the Navy Yard hosts a rooftop happy hour before Nats games and offers some great special Nationals packages for guests.
* I’ve been hearing good things about this book and just put it on my summer reading list.
* 13 Goals.
