1. Great news: The water features at Yards Park in the Capitol Riverfront are finally running again after being closed for repairs! Take the kids to play in the wade pool and splash around in the fountains. You can also hang out in the grassy areas, stroll the boardwalk, take in the scenic views, and have a picnic by the water or go for lunch at one of the many nearby eateries. Access to all of it is free! (Note that the link above is to a very old post about Yards Park, like from the first day it opened, but descriptions of the water features are still accurate. Find more about the area here.)
2. Happening today: Pick up some new reads for the kids and enjoy a fun day out at the Children’s Book Festival. From 10am – 5pm on the Woodrow Wilson Plaza of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, there will be opportunities to meet authors, book readings, and hands-on activities led by the National Children’s Museum and Planet Word. You can also shop thousands of gently-used books (for all ages) on sale for $6 or less provided by Carpe Librum, benefitting Turning the Page, an education-based nonprofit.. Admission is free, The Plaza is located at 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.
3. Little ones can get creative at an art museum! Tomorrow, June 30, the Hirshhorn’s Art Cart, which offers young artists a hands-on maker experience during their visit, will share a project from 10am – 12pm inspired by Laurie Anderson’s 2011 tribute to Lola, her terrier, now on view. And the Hirshhorn is once again offering regular in-person programming for kids — check out the full calendar here.
4. New Smithsonian Nighttime Adventures will offer kids opportunities to explore the National Museum of Natural History after hours! When the crowds are gone, and the doors have closed, one of the world’s most popular museums will become their playground until nearly midnight. Children ages 8-14 and their adult chaperones can join other night owls in this unique experience held Fridays: July 15, July 22, July 29, August 5, and August 12 from 7-11pm. Participants will wander through the museum’s galleries to explore the Earth’s past, discover the wonders of the ocean, and more as they are guided by the fun and challenging “Adaptation Game” filled with activities to complete. Tickets are $85 for general admission and $70 for Smithsonian Associates members, and advance registration is required.Cost includes exclusive access and activities in the museum, interactive exploration, and a pre-packaged individually wrapped snack.
5. Bravo to my friend Jody on her raw, thought-provoking, impeccably-written piece in the Washington Post that brings to light yet another potential consequence of the Roe v. Wade overturning.
Bonus: July 4th sales are beginning! Some good ones: Anthro, REI, Target, West Elm, Lowes, GAP.