Tag Archives: Weekend Event in DC

The Weekend Round-Up: June 15-17

Celebrating this guy this weekend

 

We couldn’t ask for a better weekend to celebrate Dad! School is out, cranking relaxation mode into high gear. The weather gods clearly are in a glorious mood. And there are events going on that will surely make the old man’s day: Sailabration in Baltimore, Juneteenth in DC, big games at the ballpark, tons of summer activities, fun on the farm, trucks, and much more.  This round-up has all the details, and you can find even more great ways to seize the beautiful days in this post about outdoor recreation. (For indoor options, go here.)  Happy Weekend! And Happy Father’s Day to all the dads!

Star-Spangled Sailabration
Where: Baltimore Inner Harbor
When: All Weekend
Admission: Free
If there’s any main event this weekend, this is it. More than 40 tall ships and naval vessels are sailing into Baltimore to commemorate the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 and the Star-Spangled Banner.  The celebration will include free tours of the ships, waterside festivities, an airshow featuring the Blue Angels (see viewing locations here), and the world-premiere of “Overture for 2012,” composed by Philip Glass – for specifics, see the schedule here.  With a beautiful weekend in store, this is guaranteed to draw big crowds, so plan accordingly. For parking tips, see this guide from the Washington Post.

Juneteenth Family Day
Where: American Art Museum
When: Saturday, 11:30am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Join the American Art Museum, National Portrait Gallery, and Anacostia Community Museum as they mark the arrival of news of the abolition of slavery in the United States. Events include historical re-enactors, a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, storytelling, live music by Follow the Drinking Gourd, craft-making activities in the Kogod Courtyard.

Father’s Day at Mount Vernon
Where: Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens
When: Saturday & Sunday, 8am – 5pm
Admission: $15/adult, $7/ages 6-11, free for ages 5 and under
Spend the day with the Father of our Country! This weekend, the entrance fee for dads will include a meet-and-greet with “General Washington” as well as complimentary admission to George Washington’s Distillery & Gristmill, located three miles from the estate on Route 235 South.

Truck Touch
Where: RFK Stadium , Lot 7
When: Saturday, 9am – 2pm
Admission: Free
Kids love these events where they can explore some of the coolest wheels on the road. The District of Columbia Government invites the public to do just that at RFK Stadium, Lot 7. A host of DC government agencies will present and demonstrate nearly 30 vehicles used to clean and repair streets, change traffic lights, collect refuse, clear snow, provide emergency services, administer mobile health care and more. Kids can climb aboard, work the gears, honk the horn, and have a blast.

Summer Fun
Where: All around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Get your summer on this weekend with a host of activities exclusive to this time of year — outdoor swimming, spray ground play, concerts under the stars, movies al fresco. Go here for the full scoop on these joys of summer.

Become a Pilot Family Day
Where: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free, but parking is $15
Visit the Dulles branch of the Air & Space Museum for the eighth annual Become a Pilot Day at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. See 50 visiting vintage, recreational, military, and homebuilt aircraft, on display outside the Center for one day only. Talk to pilots and find out what skills are needed to fly. Inside the Center, test your piloting skills in flight simulators, talk to aviation experts, and enjoy story time and hands-on activities with the kids.

Savage Gardens Family Festival
Where: U.S. Botanic Garden
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate the wild and wonderful world of carnivorous plants during this fun family festival! Stroll along the Terrace and explore. Make your own wearable bog, learn about Darwin and his experiments with carnivorous plants, help with a bug release and craft your own Venus flytrap. Do all this and more while investigating the amazing world of plants that need to “eat” bugs to survive. Read a KFDC review of the exhibit here.

Nats vs. Yankees
Where: Nationals Park
When: Friday 7:05pm, Saturday 1:05pm, Sunday 1:35pm
Admission: Tickets start at $10
The Nats are hosting the Yankees this weekend, with an evening game tonight and afternoon match-ups Saturday and Sunday. Take Dad out to the ballgame on Sunday,and stay after for Kids Run the Bases when children ages 4-12 can loop the in field after the final out.

Seeing the Sea Family Workshop
Where: Corcoran Gallery
When: Saturday, 10:30am – 12pm
Admission: $8/members, $10/non-members
Discover how artists have strived to capture the beauty, mystery, and danger of the ocean throughout history. In the galleries, guests can see what goes into an ocean scene and then sketch the elements they like best. In the studio, families will create their own seascapes.

Artomatic Kids Workshops
Where: 1851 S. Bell Street, Crystal City
When: Sunday, various times
Admission:
The month-long art event featuring work by more than 1300 artists, performers, musicians, filmmakers, fashion designers, and creatives of all kinds has some Kids Workshops happening this weekend. On Sunday, they can enjoy international storytelling with Abdul Rahim 12-1:30pm, Fun with Nature: Science Illustrations with Virginia Selz 2-3pm, and Color Theory & Abstract Art with Ja’Ski 3-5pm. Go here to reserve spots in the workshops.

Wheat Harvest
Where: Claude Moore Colonial Farm
When: Saturday, 10am – 4:30pm
Admission: $3/adults, $2/child, free for ages 3 and under
Planted in early fall, the wheat and rye are finally ready for harvest at the farm straight out of the 18th century. And you can watch the farmer and his neighbors cut the grain, then join them to bind and stack the crop. Find out why more and more of the farmer’s neighbors are growing wheat as a cash crop in addition to tobacco. At the Farm house, lend a hand churning butter, and learn how the farm wife bakes wheat bread.

Family Fun Day
Where: Arcadia Farms
When: Saturday, 1-5pm
Admission: $5
Take the family to an end-of-spring celebration on farm that’s part of the Woodlawn Estate for a day full of fun, hands-on activities. Meet the chickens, play farm-based games, and enjoy face painting, arts & crafts, and demos by professional chefs, and more. Produce will be available for purchase produce from Arcadia’s Mobile Market.

Show Time
Where: Local Theatres
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies be venue
Beauty and the Beast, the smash Broadway hit, is the big show this weekend, on stage at the National Theatre. At the same venue, catch this week’s Saturday Morning at the National show, The Recycling Pirate presented by the Goodlife Theater Company. Goldilocks! and Tiny Tots shows are at The Puppet Co.  Follow the links for more details and tickets.

Father’s Day Putt Putt & Fish-a-Rama Competition
Where: Great Country Farms
When: Saturday & Sunday, 9am – 6pm
Admission: $10/child, $12/adult
Treat Dad to a fun filled weekend with BBQ, Putt-Putt, and catch and release fishing at the Bluemont, Virginia far, While you’re out there, kids can have a blast in the five-acre play area. The Roosteraunt will also be serving up ice cold drinks and featuring our all- natural BBQ sandwiches with classic coleslaw, burgers and hot dogs.

DC Solare Flare
Where: H. D. Woodson High School
When: Saturday, 9am – 4:30pm
Admission: Free
DC Solar United Neighborhoods and the Ward 7 Solar Cooperative present this expo featuring sustainable energy and green living exhibitors; science activities for kids; solar and clean energy workshops and speakers; films; EV demonstrations; a solar homes tour; and projects with Woodson High Science, Technology, Engineering and Math classes — including a solarized exhibit tent, solar cooking and a solar-powered WiFi network.

 

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The Weekend Round-Up: June 8-10

Ready to ride into summer

 

A quick glance at the forecast shows a very sunshiny weekend, albeit a tad hot.  But the blue skies and dry days will make a great backdrop for the many exciting events happening outdoors — a county carnival, bike races, a food truck fest, a neighborhood celebration, and scores of “summer” fun.  If you can’t take the heat, there are museum programs, performances for kids, even a pop-up candy store to help you keep your cool. This list has all the special goings-on, and you can find even more ideas for recreation on the new Everyday Play page. Happy Weekend!

Celebrate Fairfax
Where: Fairfax County Government Center
When: Fri 6pm -12am, Sat 10am – 12am, Sun 11am – 7pm
Admission: $12/adult, $5/youth, free for kids under 2.
Bust a move to Northern Virginia’s largest community festival this weekend. There will be tons for event-goers to enjoy, including live music (Young MC and Pat Benetar among the performers!) carnival rides, children’s activities, art and food vendors, and much more to keep guests entertained throughout the weekend. For more details, along with the full musical line-up, see the Celebrate Fairfax website.

Summer Fun
Where: All around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Free concerts, outdoor swimming, movies under the stars, sprayground fun. Activities exclusive to this time of year can all be enjoyed all weekend long. This post has the full scoop on summer in the city.

Truckeroo
Where: Corner of Half and M Streets SE
When: Friday, 11am – 11pm
Admission: Free
The monthly festival held May thru October is hosting its June event today! Showcasing food trucks from the DC area, Truckeroo brings together just about all of the cuisine on wheels that cruise around the city. Take the kids for lunch or grab dinner before the free weekly concert at the Yards Park.

Air Force Cycling Classic
Where: Clarendon & Crystal City
When: Saturday, 11:30am & Sunday, 11:15am
Admission: Free
The official race is for adults, but kids ages 9 and under can get in on the cycling, too – there will be special races just for them along with the main event. The Saturday kids races will take place in Clarendon at 11:30am, and Sunday’s will be held in Crystal City at 11:15am. Multiple heats for different age groups will vary in distance; the older the kids, the further they ride. Participants must bring their own helmets and bikes, and trikes are welcome, too. For details and to register online, visit the Air Force Cycling Classic website. You can also print out the form and bring it day of the race.

CycleFest
Where: National Harbor
When: Saturday, 12-4pm
Admission: Free
Kids can get their bikes and trikes ready for summer and enjoy an afternoon of cycle-related fun with the National Children’s Museum at National Harbor! Activities will include safety-gear sizing and giveaways, bicycle rodeos, maintenance workshops, arts and crafts, raffles, live music and more. CycleFest will be held on the surface lot at Waterfront Street and National Plaza, and additional activities will take place at the NCM Launch Zone.

A Sweet Pop-Up Event
Where: The tabular rasa
When: Saturday 11am – 7pm, Sunday 12-6pm
Admission: Free
Sugar & Ice – and everything nice! Join the gourmet candy gift boutique for an irresistibly cool, uniquely sweet rush. They are putting a modern twist on the classic candy shop with a pop-up event this weekend at The Tabula Rasa on Capitol Hill (731 8th Street SE). Browse an amazing array of candy from nostalgic treats to popular favorites and plenty of scrumptious delights in between. Pop in for candy shopping, plus $2 snow cones and free balloons!

World Oceans Day
Where: DC National Aquarium
When: Saturday, 12-4pm
Admission: $9.95/adult, $8.95/seniors, $4.95/ages 3-11,ages 2 and under are free
If you can’t actually get to an ocean, then what better place to celebrate World Oceans Day in DC than at the National Aquarium (yes, there is one right here in the city)! Renowned children’s author Debbie Dadey will be onsite to read from her new book series, Mermaid Tales, which focuses on friendship and ocean education — story times and book signings will take place at 12pm, 1pm, and 3pm. Guests can also have their picture taken with a very special mermaid, participate in ocean-related arts and crafts, and learn from Aquarium experts about the ocean’s inhabitants.

Make it Mount Pleasant
Where: Throughout Mount Pleasant
When: Sunday, 12-6pm
Admission: Free
Mount Pleasant will come alive this weekend with a Handmade Craft and Vintage Market, sidewalk sales & specials, and local bands and DJs. Organized by the Mount Pleasant Business Association, Make it Mount Pleasant will bring together local restaurants, shops, community groups, artists, artisans, and musicians for a day of special events. The pop-up market will be located in the parking lot of McCormick Paints at Mount Pleasant and Kenyon Streets NW. Live music and spinning DJ’s will be at Lamont Park. And sidewalk sales will take place out front of many local businesses.

Show Time
Where: Theatres around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by performance
Goldilocks!, is opening at The Puppet Co. (get half-price tickets through Goldstar here). The Boogie Babes are hosting a Saturday morning show at The Atlas. This week’s Saturday Morning at the National  is a Solar System Show from the Pointless Theatre Company. It’s the final weekend to catch Encore Stage & Studio’s production of Charlotte’s Web. And Grandsons, Jr. is performing at Jammin’ Java. Just click through all the links for details and tickets.

Sculptures and Stories
Where: National Building Museum
When: Saturday, 10:30am – 12pm
Admission: $10/members, $15/non-members
Children ages 4-8 and accompanying adults are invited to participate in this family workshop that takes explores some of the art in the area. Guests will see three sculptures in the Museum’s neighborhood, and touch and learn about the materials. Back at the NBM, they’ll listen to a story and then create a sculpture to take home. Admission fees are for children only; adults attend free. Prepaid registration is required.

The Magic of Spying
Where: International Spy Museum
When: Saturday, 10:30-11:30am
Admission: $12.50
Briefing: In the real-life world of espionage, spies often call upon the art of magic and illusion to distract the enemy, make evidence disappear and escape unnoticed. Kids ages 7 and up are invited to join professional magician, Peter Wood, as he demonstrates the art of misdirection and sleight of hand used by skilled spies. Attendees will also receive free general admission into the Spy Museum.

Women’s History in Postage Stamps
Where: National Postal Museum
When: Sunday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Drop in at this Family Workshop to discover fascinating figures in Women’s History through postage stamps. Design your own stamp honoring an important woman and start your own stamp collection to take home.

Super Science Saturday
Where: Udvar-Hazy Center
When: Saturday, 10am -3pm
Admission: Free, but parking is $15
It’s a Super Science Saturday at the Dulles arm of the Air & Space Museum. Through demonstrations and hands-on activities, visitors of all ages will become immersed in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics topics related to aviation and space exploration. This month’s program will focus on Energy.

National Get Outdoors Day
Where: Various locations
When: Saturday
Admission: Free
It’s National Get Outdoors Day on Saturday, and all around the country there will be events celebrating the occasion with a day full of activities that encourage healthy, active outdoor fun. A few area parks in Virginia will be hosting festivities – go here to find out where they are.

Of course, you don’t need an official event to enjoy the outdoors.  For more ideas, see this post listing the best places in the DC area to hang outside with the kids.  And if you want to take shelter from the sun, check out this post with suggestions for indoor recreation.

 

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The Weekend Round-Up: June 1-3

 

Hit the trail - and celebrate it - this weekend

 

Museum programs and exhibits, check. Outdoor recreation, check. Neighborhood festivals, check. Music and theatre, check. Activities in the city, check. Fun on the farm, check. Sports, check. Animals, check. Tiddlywinks, check…  Whatever your preference for family fun, there’s a good chance you’ll find it among these recommendations. Happy Weekend!

Walk the Museum Walk
Where: Dupont-Kalorama neighborhood
When: Saturday 10am – 4pm, Sunday 1-5pm
Admission: Free
Get off the Mall and explore the many museums in the Dupont-Kalorama neighborhood during its annual Museum Walk Weekend. See the exhibits and enjoy special programs for free at nine diverse museums, including the Textile Museum, Phillips Collection, National Geographic Museum, and Woodrow Wilson House. If you don’t want to use the shoe leather express, there will be a free shuttle running between sites. And note that not all museums will be open both days – see the schedule here.

National Trails Day
Where: Nationwide
When: Saturday
Admission: Varies by locale
The first Saturday of every June is National Trails Day. Celebrate it this weekend by taking a family hike. For some ideas on where to go, see this post about good walks in the woods with the kids. And one more suggestion that’s in the photo above but not on the list is a hike in Fountainhead Regional Park.

Imagination Bethesda
Where: Auburn & Norfolk Avenues
When: Saturday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Join the Bethesda Urban Partnership to celebrate children, art, and all things fun at the 17th annual Imagination Bethesda. Where Woodmont Avenue meets Elm Street, activity tents will line the streets, face painters will bring butterflies and pirates to life, and a stage of live entertainment will have the whole street dancing. Activity details, the entertainment line-up, and a video about the event are available on the Imagination Bethesda website.

Saturday at the National
Where: National Theatre
When: Saturday, 9:30am & 11am
Admission: Free
The National Theatre’s series of free Saturday morning performances for children is back for a summer run! The program kicks off this weekend with Michael Rosman: Amazing Feats of Comedy. The whirlwind of mystery and madness includes audience participation, magic, and no-stop chaotic klutizness. While shows are free, tickets required and distributed 30 minutes prior to performance on a first come-first seated. You must be in line to receive a ticket.

Celebration of Textiles
Where: Textile Museum
When: Saturday & Sunday,
Admission: Free
Join the Textile Museum for their 34th annual Celebration of Textiles! This free festival welcomes visitors of all ages to explore the textile arts and cultures of the world through hands-on activities and artist demonstrations in the museum’s gardens, historic buildings, and galleries. Guests can do embroidery activities, beading, weave bookmarks, do fish printing onto fabric, enjoy live entertainment, and more. See the full schedule on the museum’s website.

“Summer” Fun
Where: Throughout the area
When: All Weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Outdoor concerts, water fun, movies under the stars, and more ongoing seasonal fun has begun in DC. From Jazz in the Garden on Friday evenings to Sunday night family movies at the National Harbor to open swim at local pools, this post has the scoop on where and when you can experience the joys of summer.

Nats vs. Braves
Where: Nationals Park
When: Friday 7:05pm, Saturday 4:05pm, Sunday 1:35pm
Admission: Tickets start at $10
The Nats are hosting the Braves this weekend, and there are promos that families in particular will enjoy for the afternoon games. Harris Teeter Family Fun Packs are available for for both games. And on Sunday, the first 10,000 fans ages 12 and under to arrive will receive a Ryan Zimmerman jersey, kids ages 4-12 can run the bases after the final out, and two Nats players will sign autographs beginning at 12:25pm before the game.

Washington Folk Festival
Where: Glen Echo Park
When: Saturday & Sunday, 12-7pm
Admission: Free
Get folksy at Glen Echo Park this weekend, as the Washington Folk Festival showcases the diversity of traditional music in Washington. All of the artists hail from the DC area, but cultures from around the nation, as well as the world, will be represented through music, dance, crafts, and stories. The public is invited to enjoy the festival that is renown in the folk community.

World Environment Day
Where: Woodrow Wilson High School
When: Sunday, 10am – 6pm
Admission: Free
The United Nations Environment Programme, Earth’s Natural Force, and the District Department of the Environment are hosting the World Environment Day Fair & Environmental Expo—an educational, sustainability-themed event showcasing “green” technology and innovation—at Woodrow Wilson High School in Tenleytown. DC-area residents are invited to explore more than 100 exhibitor booths with demonstrations, giveaways, and activities for all ages. Exhibits will include a solar shed were visitors can generate their own electricity, along with displays featuring recycled art, smart cars, electric cars and Segways. Additional attractions include live falcons and hawks, exercise demos and health screenings, a baseball clinic, races and a hula-hoop contest, a kids’ slide, cell phone recycling and “Touch a Truck” featuring a DPW street sweeper/compactor and a local fire truck.

Exhibit A… and B,C, D, & E
Where: Various venues
When: All Weekend
Admission: Free
There are several exhibits to see right now that kids will find interesting, entertaining, and downright fun. It’s your last chance to catch MathAlive! at the Ripley Center – the exhibit that makes math look as cool as the X Games closes on June 3. For an uber cool art experience, check out Suprasensorial at the Hirshhorn. The Titanic exhibit at the National Geographic Museum is fascinating (and free during the Museum Walk weekend). Science + You, on display right next to the Yards Park invites curious kids to be “scientists for a day.” And the U.S. Botanic Garden recently opened Savage Gardens, an inside look (literally, in some ways) at carnivorous plants.

Show Time
Where: Stages around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by performance
This weekend is the last chance to see Pinocchio at The Puppet Co. – tickets are still available for shows on Saturday and Sunday. Curtains are also about to close on Five Little Monkeys at Adventure Theatre. Rocknoceros is playing a Friday Happy Family Hour show at Jammin’ Java tonight to benefit the American Cancer Society. Encore Stage & Studio, the company that presents “theatre for kids, by kids” kicks off their 10-day run of Charlotte’s Web tonight. The Gainesvile Ballet School presents A Children’s Coppélia and Class Demonstration on Saturday at 2pm. And the Boogie Babes are hosting their first of many Saturday shows at the Atlas where Groovy Nate will perform for little ones at 10:30am.

Strawberry Fields
Where: Throughout the area
When: All weekend
Admission: Varies by farm
Strawberry fields may not be forever on DC-area farms, but they’re still yielding fruit for now. Go harvest your own — this list includes farms with pick-your-own opportunities. And many of the locales offer farm fun beyond that.

Great Tastes
Where: Georgetown & Del Ray
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: Varies
Sample the eats of two different neighborhoods this weekend. The Taste of Georgetown in on Saturday from 11am – 4pm at Wisconsin & M Streets. Thirty restaurants will be offering their fare to try, and Blues Alley will present jazz performances as well. Admission is free, and tickets are $5 for one tasting, $20 for five tastings. The annual Taste of Del Ray will be held on Sunday from 1-3pm in the lot behind the Virginia Commerce Bank at 2401 Mt. Vernon & E. Oxford Avenues. The event will feature over a dozen neighborhood restaurants as well as celebrity chef Rock Harper. Tickets are $10/adults, $5/children under 12.

Tiddlywinks Fun Day
Where: Labyrinth Game Shop
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
The North American Tiddlywinks Association will be holding a demonstration and fun game day for all ages at the Capitol Hill store. Larry Kahn, the U.S. National Champion of Tiddlywinks (he is also currently ranked second in the world), who happens to live in the DC area, will be there along with some of his friends have to teach customers the highly strategic game of Tiddlywinks.

Zebra Day
Where: National Zoo
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Join the volunteer African Wildlife Ambassadors as they celebrate the National Zoo’s “other” black and white animal—our Grevy’s zebras! Festivities, which will take place at the Cheetah Conservation Station, include special animal demos and keeper talks, hands-on activities, zebra education, and more family fun.

And if all that’s not enough, find even more ideas for things to do in this post about places to enjoy the outdoors and this one about indoor activities around DC.

 

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Filed under All ages, Animals, Annual, Art, DC, Eats, Educational, Exhibit, Farm, Festival, Free, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Museums, Music, Ongoing, Outdoor, Park, Seasonal, Sports, Spring, Summer, Theatre, Virginia, Weekend