Tag Archives: Summer 2026

September 8, 2026 · 3:58 pm

Five Things: September 8, 2026

Relume will be hosting arts (& crafts) adventures during Art All Night

1. Get ready for Art All Night this weekend! The annual celebration of creativity, culture, and community takes place in all eight wards across DC starting in the afternoon both Friday and Saturday and going late into the night. There will be arts and activations for all ages — crafts, painting, music, dance, photography, sculpture, fashion, theater, yoga, and more. Enjoy live music, do some family arts & crafts, take kids to story times, sample food, view innovative art, dance your heart out, and so much more. Go here to check out schedules in each area and get details on where it’s all happening.

2. The National Air and Space Museum is hosting a Soar Together Family Day this Saturday, September 12, 10am – 2pm. Art in Air and Space is the theme, with activities that include hands-on artmaking, lively performances, and interactive experiences. Enjoy book readings about the painter Alma Thomas, dance and sing along to songs about the science and engineering of aviation, see a performance of Professor Wingnut Wants to Fly, and learn more about how artists have been inspired by flight, space exploration, and the wonder of the skies. Admission is free with timed tickets — reserve them here.

3. Theatre Week is returning from September 24 – October 11. Celebrating the start of the new theater season, this is when you can get discount tickets to more than 30 productions across the DMV, including shows for kids. There will also be some family-friendly activations around town, including a Theatre Week Concert at The Wharf on September 29 and at Eastern Market Metro station (date TBD). Tickets go on sale tomorrow, September 9!

4. Plan ahead for the Mid-Autumn Night Market on September 24. The Hi-Lawn rooftop at Union Market will transform into a lively Hong Kong night market that welcomes all ages, with family-friendly activities, lion dances and other cultural performances, food stalls from guest chefs, pop-up artisan shops, DJs, dumpling eating contest, baijiu + sake bars, mooncakes, and more! Tickets are just $7.56 and sell out every year — so get yours soon!

5. 10 Happy Things for September!

Five Things: September 1, 2026

Photo courtesy of DC Bike Ride

1. How about biking 20 miles along car-free streets of DC ? The DC Bike Ride, happening for its 10th year on September 12, offers the opportunity to ride around the city on a route without motor vehicles. The two-wheel recreation isn’t the only things to enjoy… there’ll be beautiful views of the iconic landmarks, great photo ops, live entertainment, and high-energy activations along the way. Riders of all ages (3+) and cycling levels are welcome! Ages 3-7 years old are free to ride, and kids 8-17 are always half price. Adult registration starts at $95 and various registration add-ons, including bike and helmet rentals, are available. Learn more and register here.

2. Opening at CAMP at Tysons Corner this week: Bluey x CAMP: Bluey’s House. The immersive experience welcomes guests to explore a life-sized version of Bluey’s house, complete with dancing, games, and a special meet-and-greet finale with Bluey and Bingo. Early access has begun, but the official opening is this Saturday, September 5. Timed-entry tickets start at $42, and can be purchased here.

3. A perfect way to wind down summer this weekend… go swimming! Jump in at an outdoor public pool in DC, Montgomery County, or Alexandria; splurge on a Resort Pass that lets you enjoy a day at a hotel pool; or rent a swimming pool by the hour through Swimply!

4. Eater has a round-up of the best affordable dining options in the DC area.

5. Glad to know I’m not the only one 😂

Five Things: August 25, 2026

1. The Maryland Renaissance Festival begins this Saturday, August 29, and this trip back to medieval times is full of merriment for everyone — jousting matches, kids shows, comedy acts, jugglers, puppetry, Celtic music… and that’s just some of the live entertainment. There’s also a pirate playground, giant slide, labyrinth, games, and fantastic people watching opportunities as you walk among knights, maidens, pirates, and wizards in a re-created 16th-century Tudor village. It all begins Saturday and will run every weekend through October 25. Note that there’s a waitlist for tickets for this coming Saturday and still some for Sunday — I recommend snagging them soon as they have been selling out in recent years.

2. Something fun to plan ahead for Labor Day weekend… DC JazzFest will be happening at The Wharf, and there’s going to be some extra fun for young festival-goers. On both Saturday and Sunday, kids can join a Scavenger Hunt that encourages them explore the festival, check out performances, interact with sponsors, and learn more about JazzFest. The hunt entails completing a series of activities in different areas of the event. Upon the completion of each activity — they can be done at any pace, in any order — attendees will collect a sticker, and once they’ve has collected at least eight of them, they can receive a free DC JazzFest legacy t-shirt. Participation is free for all ticket-holders. There is also a Jazz Bops concert especially for kids both days at 11am. Tickets for that are free.

3. Or if you’re considering a heading out of town for the long weekend coming up September 5-7, here are some ideas for driveable family getaways.

4. DC Restaurant Week, when you can enjoy multi-course, prix fixe menus at dining spots all around the city, began yesterday and runs through Sunday, August 30. If you’re planning to take advantage, check out Let’s Eat, DC, a free website that let’s you search and filter specific dishes, menus, restaurant vibe (eg, family-friendly), and deals.

5. The latest Smartless episode with Sandra Bullock is a such a good (and emotional) listen.