Beach day at Flag Ponds Nature Park
Happy Weekend!
Fairfax County 4-H Fair & Carnival
Where: Frying Pan Farm Park | Herndon, VA
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Depends on activities (details below)
Head on down to the 4-H fair! Through Sunday, enjoy carnival rides, amusements, treats, farm animals and rabbits, rides and displays, horse and dog shows, the tractor pull, kids crafts and face painting, plus plenty of good food, drinks and live music. Held at Frying Pan Farm Park, hours for the many activities vary by day, so be sure to check the website before you go. Carnival ride tickets are $1 or 24 for $20 (most rides take 3-5). Unlimited carnival ride tickets are $25.
Tennis, Anyone?
Where: Rock Creek Park Tennis Center | Rock Creek, DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Ticket prices vary
Enjoy the on-court excitement along with other fun activities as the Citi Open Tennis Tournament wraps up. With the quarterfinals on Friday, the semis on Saturday, and the championship matches on Sunday, the event is sure to serve up some excellent tennis.
Black Panther at the Drive-In
Where: Union Market | Northeast DC
When: Friday, 8:45pm (lot opens at 6pm)
Admission: $10/car, free for walk-ups
Black Panther is this month’s featured film at Union Market’s outdoor movie series. See T’Challa, the King of Wakanda, in action on the big screen from the comfort of your car in the UM parking lot. Get there as early as 6pm and have a bite to eat in the Market or bring food back to your car. The lot closes at 8:15pm, and the film begins at 8:30pm. Advance purchase is recommended.
‘Tis the Season
Where: Throughout the DMV
When: All weekend long
Admission: Varies by activity
Make the most of quintessential summer activities around DC! Hit the beach. Enjoy an open air concert at one of the many series in the area. See a movie under the stars. Enjoy a special museum program. Get wet at an outdoor pool, sprayground, or water park. Feast on crabs. Ride mini-trains and carousels at local parks. And so much more…
Art Investigators
Where: National Gallery of Art | National Mall, DC
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Free
This weekend’s sessions of Art Investigators, the National Gallery of Art’s drop-in program for kids ages 4-7, will explore works by Edgar Degas. Young art museum-goers will learn about his art, then use that as inspiration to create a work of their own. Sign-in takes place in the West Building Rotunda, starting at 10am on Friday and Saturday, and 11am on Sunday. Be aware that you may not get an early time slot and will have time to fill before your session, so plan accordingly. Read a KFDC review of the series back when it was called Stories in Art (it’s an older post, but still relevant, as the program is very much the same).
BrickFair ’18
Where: Dulles Expo Center | Chantilly, VA
When: Saturday, 10am – 5pm & Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: $17, free for ages 3 and under
The nation’s largest LEGO Fan Festival will be enthralling guests of all ages this weekend. BrickFair brings together LEGO enthusiasts from across the country to showcase their amazing brick constructions, from tiny intricate works to elaborate, towering creations. Over 800 exhibitors will be there to display their designs, along with vendors selling all things LEGO — T-shirts, hats, mini figures, models, and more. And guests can use it all as inspiration to do some building there themselves!
Nats vs. Reds
Where: Nationals Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Thursday – Sunday
Admission: Ticket prices vary
The Nats are hosting the Reds all weekend with games Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoon, and there are a couple of special promotions to enjoy along with the baseball action of the field. Friday is an Anthony Rendon bobblehead giveaway, and fans can get a Nationals radio lanyard on Sunday as well as run the bases after the game (ages 4-12). And before you plan your ballpark outing, checkout these KFDC tips on how to do a Nats game without breaking the bank.
Peach Daze Fuzztival
Where: Great Country Farms | Bluemont, VA
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: $10/child & $12/Adult
Celebrate peak peach picking season with Great Country Farms, Bluemont Vineyard, and Dirt Farm Brewing! Along with tons of fun activities, you can also learn how the peaches are grown and used in food and drink and enjoy the results as well. Kick off each morning with a Peach pancake breakfast, then later on get the whole family involved in peach eating and peach pit spitting contests and family water games. All the fun farm attractions will be open, and there will also be live music to entertain the crowd. And across the way at Bluemont Vineyard, enjoy special peach drinks and wine.
Show Time
Where: Venues around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by show
* Tinker Bell is lighting up the stage at Adventure Theatre
* Follow the yellow brick road to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz at Synetic Theatre
* Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players are the final performance of Wolf Trap’s Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods on Saturday
* The Olney Theatre presents HMS Pinafore and families are encouraged to go!
* You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown is on the Imagination Stage
* It’s the final weekend for Snow White and the 7 Dwarves at The Puppet Co.
* And Snow Show is the featured Tiny Tots show at the puppet theater.
* Teen ages and up will enjoy Second City’s Generation Gap at the Kennedy Center
Dave on Stage
Where: Arena Stage | Southwest DC
When: Through
Admission: Tickets start at
Remember the movie, Dave, about the President’s doppelgänger who fills in as POTUS when he suffers a stroke? It’s now a world premiere musical at Arena Stage! With modern day updates, references to the current political climate, Arena’s signature “DC” vibe, and ops for spontaneous audience interaction, it’s a pretty fantastic show. Recommended for ages 13+.
Root for the Baysox
Where: Prince George’s Stadium | Landover, MD
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Ticket prices vary
The Nats aren’t the only baseball team in town. The Bowie Baysox, one of the local minor league teams, are hosting the Reading Fightin Phils all weekend, and there’s extra fun and special promos to enjoy, too — Daddy Daughter Night, Pirates & Princesses Night, a U.S. Naval Academy celebration, beachy fun, fireworks, and more. Plus, there are always fun and games especially for kids. Read more about Baysox games in this KFDC post.
World’s Fair
Where: DAR Museum | Downtown DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Experience the excitement, innovation, and wonder of a c.1900 World s Fair. Do you know what foods debuted at these fairs? Or what games children played? Learn about inventions that thrilled fairgoers and taste the snacks made popular by these grand events. Celebrate cultures around the world by exploring the booths of local embassies and cultural centers. Fun for children and adults alike, this event is not one to miss!
Friendship Firehouse Fest
Where: Friendship Firehouse | Alexandria, VA
When: Saturday, 9am – 2pm
Admission: Free
This annual family event hosted by the Friendship Veterans Fire Engine Association invites the public to enjoy the history of the fire department at the historic Friendship Firehouse. The popular event features antique fire apparatus, craft booths, displays by Alexandria merchants, and live music. In addition to the day’s outdoor events, festival participants will enjoy visiting the Friendship Firehouse Museum, originally built as a firehouse in 1855.
Howard County Fair
Where: Howard County Fairgrounds | West Friendship, MD
When: Through August 11
Admission: $5/ages 10 and up, $2/seniors, free for under 10
The 73rd annual fair begins this coming weekend, and you have through next Saturday to enjoy rides, magic shows, musical entertainment in the evenings, pig races and pony rides, the Kids & Critters barn, Demolition Derby, a pro rodeo, and more. Most of the rides cost extra, and packages are available, so be sure to check out the website to see what’s available if you plan to go. And for details on the rest of the county fairs coming up around the area soon, see this new KFDC post.
Global Big Latch On
WHere: Breastfeeding Center | Downtown DC
When: Saturday, 10am-12pm
Admission: Free
Join The Breastfeeding Center for Greater Washingtonfor food, fun, and community to celebrate World Breastfeeding Week. Events include the latch on at 10:30am and a panel discussion at 11:30am. There will also be raffle prizes and some light refreshments. Register here.
Beachy Keen
Where: Flag Ponds Nature Park | Lusby, MD
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: $8/vehicle
Do something quintessential summer and hit the beach! And you don’t have to go all the way to the ocean — there is sand and surf and shark tooth hunting within day trip distance from DC! Flag Ponds Nature Park in Calvert county is one of our favorite spots for a beach fix. In fact, we just spent a great day there!
Ice Cream Making at the Mill
Where: Peirce Mill | Rock Creek, DC
When: Saturday, 10:30am & 1pm
Admission: Free
Lean how to make hand-cranked ice cream the old fashioned way! This demonstration will show you how ice and salt creates a brine that reduces the temperature below freezing, and cranking the handle for 30 minutes can whip this frozen treat made famous by Dolly Madison after her return from France. A historic recipe will be distributed to those in attendance. Peirce Mill is located in Rock Creek Park at 2401 Tilden Street, NW, at the intersection of Beach Drive and Tilden Street, NW (Park Road if approaching from the east). Read more about Peirce Mill here.
Tinker Bell’s Fairy Festival
Where: Adventure Theatre | Glen Echo, MD
When: Sunday,
Admission: $75 or $250/4-pack
Enjoy a day full enchantment for kids as they are transported to a magical fairy world. This special event at the beloved children’s theatre includes a performance of Tinker Bell, a handmade Tinker Bell costume (or make your own pirate hat and bandanna for those who don’t like fairy dresses), refreshments, and a painted fairy face mask by La Jolie Faces. Guests can also make their own Butterfly Fairy Crowns and Fairy Wands, as well as mix their own magic Fairy Dust with a written recipe card. And once kids’ fairy transformations are complete, they can enjoy a special photo op with Tinker Bell!
Walks in the Woods
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Looks like it’s going to be great weather to hit the trail with the fam! See flowers in bloom, tramp in places with scenic views, hike and explore history at interesting locales, and enjoy a day of active fun. This post, started in the early KFDC days and updated several times since, has a a bunch of recommendations for good walks in the woods with the kids.
***MORE GOOD STUFF TO KNOW***
* It’s county fair season, and there’s a new post with the scoop on where and when they’re all taking place around the DMV!
* KidFriendly DC has partnered with Thrively to curate Activity Boards with seasonal picks for family fun, starting with Summer Indoor Picks and Summer Outdoor Picks.
* This sounds like a fun, new read.
* Tickets are on sale for Zoo Uncorked, a wild after hours wine tasting (for adults, obvi) at the National Zoo on on September 13.
