Enjoy the Paris Olympics from DC!
Happy Weekend!
Quick links to all kinds of ideas for ongoing fun:
* Best Outdoors in the DC Area
* Swim Spots
* The Great Indoors
* Off-the-Beaten-Path Museums
* Local Hikes with Kids
* Baltimore with Kids
* Bike Rides
* Paddling Options
* Stunning Spaces
* Peaceful Places
Olympics Opening Cermony Watch Party
Where: Reservoir Run Park | Edgewood, DC
When: Friday, 1pm
Admission: Free
The Paris Summer Olympics begins this weekend, and DC Department of Parks & Rec is hosting an Opening Ceremony Viewing Party at the new Reservoir Run Park. A jumbo screen will be set up, so you spend the afternoon (remember Paris is six hours ahead) cheering on the athletes and see all the pomp along the Seine in Paris! It’s also a great opportunity to check out and enjoy the new park, which has a playground, two splash pads, an exercise trail, and a walking museum about the site’s past.
More Olympics Viewing
Where: Around the DC area
When: Friday & through August 11
Admission: Free
There are more special watch parties and places showing the Olympics throughout its run, including National Harbor, metrobar, and Bluejacket at The Yards. Washington Spirit will also be hosting a few watch parties throughout the Games. This NBC 4 article has a round-up of even more places to view them.
Serve Up Some Tennis Fun
Where: Rock Creek Tennis Center | 16th St Heights, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, gates open at 9am
Admission: Tickets start at $22
The annual Mubadala Citi DC Open Tennis Tournament swings into action this weekend. Among the many players competing this year are Aryna Sabalenka, Frances Tiafoe, Ben Shelton, Ons Jabeur, Grigor Dimitrov. Saturday is the first day of qualifying rounds, and they’ll continue on Sunday. The Kids Day event on Saturday morning is full, but you can join the waitlist in case spots open.
SAAM Arcade
Where: Smithsonian American Art Museum | Penn Quarter, DCa
When: Saturday, 11:30am – 7pm
Admission: Free
Adventure Awaits at SAAM Arcade 2024! Join the annual celebration of video games as a creative force using coding and design as a medium. This day-long event features video games that celebrate the theme of travel, exploration, and the exciting possibilities of visiting real and imagined new worlds. The popular Indie Showcase returns, with a selection of innovative games published by independent studios and presented by their developers. Classic games and cabinets featuring cars, travel, and new worlds will be there, too!
Virginia is for Cat Lovers
Where: Dulles Expo Center | Dulles, VA
When: Saturday & Sunday,
Admission: $20/adult, $15/seniors $10/age 5-12, free/under 5
Calling all cat people! See and celebrate some of the most beautiful cats in the world this weekend. Watch as 140 cats from over 30 cat breeds compete for the title of best cat. Some of the more athletic cats in the bunch will also take a turn in a timed agility ring. This family friendly event will also feature a stuffed animal contest for the kids, a dedicated education ring, cat rescues and adoptable kitties, and world-class vendors.
Montgomery County Farm Tour
Where: Area Farms | Montgomery County, MD
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: Free
Learn about agricultural heritage, see local farms, and indulge in seasonally fresh food as Montgomery County celebrates its Farm Tour and Harvest Sale. Activities will vary from farm to farm, but fruit, veggies, and flower picking; animals to visit; and farm made brews and cider to purchase are just some that will be offered. There are 24 participating farms, but not all will be open both days, so be sure to check the brochure for schedules before you go.
MINImals Playland
Where: Audacious Aleworks | Falls Church, VA
When: Saturday & Sunday, 9-11:30am
Admission: $15 ages 2+ (free under 2)
MINImals Playland is back again this weekend. This pop-up play adventure focuses on building and exploring different kinds of homes and shelters. Kids can choose and keep a MINImal stuffed animal then build a tent, decorate a house, build a castle, construct a bridge or tower, etc. for their MINImal to live and play in. The activities are designed to activate kids’ STEM skills while still engaging their imaginations and creativity.
Parks Playhouse Junior
Where: Cabin John Regional Park | Bethesda, MD
When: Saturday, 10-11am
Admission: Freeshow
Montgonmery Park’s entertainment series presents a puppet show performance by Glen Echo’s beloved The Puppet Co. Bring your sunny day gear and blankets or lawn chairs for viewing and make it a mid-morning picnic by bringing along your favorite snacks and treats to munch on while you enjoy the show or purchase a sweet treat from Clayboys Shave Ice. Children of all ages can enjoy the show. Plan to stay and play at the Cabin John playground.
Kids World
Where: Franklin Park | Downtown DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, 12-7pm
Admission: Free
Franklin Park will transform into a vibrant haven for the weekend, packed with activities designed for kids, teens, and families. The free event promises immersive fun, hands-on projects, special guests, and whimsical installations perfect for memorable photo ops.
‘Tis the Season
Where: Throughout the DMV
When: All weekend long
Admission: Varies by activity
Make the most of quintessential summer activities around DC! Enjoy an open air concert at one of the many series in the area. Hit the beach. See a movie under the stars. Enjoy a special museum program. Get wet at an outdoor pool, sprayground, or waterpark. Feast on crabs. Ride mini trains and carousels at local parks. And so much more. Info for all of these pursuits is in the KFDC Summer Guide.
Science Playtime
Where: The Craft Lab | Adams Morgan, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, 12-2pm
Admission: Free
You’re never too young to become a scientist at The Craft Lab! Parents can bring their tiny scientists ages 2-5 to play with simple experiments and activities set up with simple-to-follow instructions. Think coloring, color-based games, kinetic sand, and more. Science Playtime is free for all (adults with their kids are welcome to play!), and does not require advance registration — just stop by during activity hours.
Art Cart: Futuristic Forms
Where: Hirshhorn Museum |National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 1pm
Admission: Free
Drop in at the modern art museum for hands-on artsy fun. Can you imagine what the world might look like in the future? Join the museum for a close look at artist Giacomo Balla’s Futurist Flowers. Dream about the future, explore, and make futuristic forms of our own. Find the Art Cart on the Second Level to pick up your futuristic materials!
Story Time
Where: American Indian Museum | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 11:15-11:45am
Admission: Free
Join an interactive story time featuring a children’s book by a Native author, illustrator, or created in collaboration with an Indigenous community. Recommended for ages 5-9. Plan to stay and play in the imagiNATIONS activity center, too!
Back to the Future: The Musical
Where: Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: Through August 11
Tickets: $49-199 (find discount tix)
Great Scott! Back to the Future, the beloved, cinematic classic is now a Broadway musical with its destination set for Washington, D.C., in 2024. When Marty McFly finds himself transported back to 1955 in a time machine built by the eccentric scientist Doc Brown, he accidentally changes the course of history. Now he’s in a race against time to fix the present, escape the past, and send himself… back to the future. Recommended for ages 6+.
More Show Time
Where: Around the DC area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by show
There’s all kinds of entertainment on local stages this weekend. Here’s what and where you can catch it (and you can find show details and any discount links here):
* NSO at Wolf Trap: Ghostbusters in Concert at the Kennedy Center
* The Sound of Music byEncore Stage & Studio
* Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale at Adventure Theatre
* Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods at Wolf Trap
* Miss Nelson is Missing at Imagination Stage
* The Wizard of Oz at the The Puppet Co.
DMV Made Festival
Where: 14th St. & Jeffereson Dr. | National Nall, DC
When: Saturday, 1-7:30pm
Admission: Free
Words Beats & Life present this one-day celebration of the DC, Maryland, Virginia region and the ways we promote the intersections of arts & culture + health & wellness. The family-friendly festival will feature multiple stages of performers, a game zone, arts pavilions with hands-on workshops, poetry and storytelling, community info, and more.
All Ages Dueling Pianos
Where: Bobby McKey’s | National Harbor, MD
When: Saturday, 3:30-6pm (doors open at 2pm)
Admission: $25-29.75
The whole crew can enjoy an afternoon of music and fun at this dueling piano shows. The two hours of all-request live music paired with a lunch buffet is a great way to stay cool on a hot summer day. And this is a performance where kids are encouraged to wiggle in their seats, dance in the aisles, and sing along!
See the Sunflowers
Where: McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area | Poolesville, MD
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
You can still see the sunflower bloom at McKee-Beshers. Nine fields showcase 30 acres of flowers — and it’s a brilliant scene. Read more about it and see pics from a previous bloom here . Sunscreen, hat, bug repellent, and water highly recommended. KFDC Tip: If you plan to go, pair it with a PYO blackberries outing at Homestead Farms, which is just minutes away. Or stop by Rocklands Farm Winery, also nearby.
Family Feast
Where: All around DC
When: Ongoing
Admission: The cost of your meal
Sharing a fun meal out, is always a great (and tasty) family activity. The post sharing KFDC picks for kid-friendly eats in DC includes all kinds of places for it, from nicer sit-down restaurants to fast casual eateries to neighborhood grab-and-go spots. So, make plans — and, in some cases, reservations — and bon appétit!
***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* Find out if you’re Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff at the Nats game next Saturday. August 3 is Harry Potter Day at Nationals Park, and the first 10,000 fans to arrive can get a mystery house jersey giveaway!
* Finally tried Pupatella — new Capitol Hill location! — and the pizza is just as tasty as everyone says.
* Recently finished and loved this book.
* Start the BTS shopping… so many great kids pieces on sale from a fun brand. (Women’s and men’s on ale, too!)
* Gorgeous dress on sale + extra 40% off! Much more, too.
* Cute, inexpensive athletic shorts and they have zipper pockets.
* A wardrobe staple at a good price (and with stellar reviews).
* How about a family vacay in Japan?
* Kimchi potato salad sounds delicious.
* I’ll have what she’s having. Yeah.
