Tag Archives: Weekend July 2-3

July 1, 2016 · 7:42 am

The Weekend Round-Up: July 1-4

The holiday weekend gives us extra time for fun, and there so many ways to indulge. Live entertainment, summer activities, baseball, museums, even indoor “icebergs” among them. Happy Weekend! And have a safe and happy 4th of July!

Come Fourth!
Where: Around the area
When: Monday, July 4th!
Admission: Varies by activity
Our lovely city is one of the most exciting places to be this time of year, as people from all over the world come to celebrate America’s birthday. And from fireworks on the Mall and concerts at the Capitol to special events at George Washington’s house and the home of the Declaration of Independence to neighborhood parades and ballpark fun, they (and you!) won’t be let down. This post has details on the many ways to celebrate July 4th in DC.

Happy Birthday, Tudor Place!
Where: Tudor Place
When: Saturday, 1-4pm
Admission: $5, $3/member, free for military families
America’s Story Lives Here – now marking a rare American Bicentennial. Join Tudor Place to celebrate #TP200 and patriotism in a festive, one-time event for all ages in the historic gardens. Play traditional American outdoor games, take self-guided garden tours, make patriotic crafts, and enjoy a piece of the giant Tudor Place birthday cake from Dog Tag Bakery (while it lasts).

Summer Staples
Where: Around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Get your summer on this holiday weekend with a host of activities exclusive to this time of year. Kick it off with an outdoor concert or some free fishing, hit a public pool for some outdoor swimming, get in some good play at a spray ground, check out a special seasonal exhibit, and much more. Go here for the full scoop on these joys of summer, and keep in mind that some regular events might not be happening due to the holiday.

ICEBERGS
Where: National Building Museum
When: Opens Saturday! (Through September 5)
Admission: Varies, see below
Th Building Museum’s big summer exhibit opens this weekend. Floating sculptures, an environmental narrative, interactive features, and shaved ice treats make ICEBERGS pretty cool to experience. While you probably won’t stay and play for hours like you did at The BEACH last year, it’s definitely worth checking out. Plus, the admission fee gets you into all of the other NMB exhibits, too! Cost is $5/youth member, $10/adult member and $13/youth non-member, $16/adult non-member.

Nats vs. Reds
Where: Nationals Park
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Ticket prices vary
Cinncinatti comes to DC, as the Nats host the Reds all weekend. See Freedom Fireworks after the game on Friday (6:05pm), enjoy Rat Pack night on Saturday (7:05pm) and take advantage of the Herbert Hoover bobblehead promo on Sunday (1:35pm). There’s a Monday game, too, that you can read about here. Be sure to check out these tips for doing a Nats game for less as you plan.

Root for the Baysox
Where: Prince George’s Stadium
When: Friday, Saturday & Sunday
Admission: Ticket prices vary
See baseball on a smaller scale as minor league team Bowie Baysox takes on the Akron Rubberducks. Friday is a Community Heroes celebration, and Saturday will feature fireworks after the game. Sunday has even more special promos: Daniel Tiger visiting, Educator Appreciation Day, and Kids Eat Free! Read more about Baysox games in this KFDC post.

Jumanji
Where: Adventure Theatre
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: $19.50 (Get 15% off using code KFDC)
Adventure Theatre’s latest production is as funny as it is wild. Based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg, the show takes its characters — and the audience — on an incredible journey to claim Jumanji. Read a KFDC review and enter a ticket giveaway here.

Show Time
Where: Local theatres
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
* See Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods at Wolf Trap where Dinorock are playing a concert al fresco
* The UniverSoul Circus is wowing audiences at National Harbor
* The Little Mermaid is a collaboration between Imagination Stage and The Washington Ballet
* Catch a performance of Little Red Riding Hood and the 3 Little Pigs at The Puppet Co.
* And Jellybean Circus is their featured Tiny Tots show
* Enjoy a picnic and a play as Chesapeake Shakespeare presents The Three Musketeers at PFI Park in Ellicott City, MD (bonus: kids are FREE)
*Take your teen or make it a date night to see The Bridges of Madison County at the Kennedy Center
* MOXIE: a Happenstance Vaudeville is on stage at RoundHouse Theatre
* Little Ones will enjoy Inside Out, a performance geared toward ages 1-5, at Imagination Stage

Family Nature Walk
Where: Woodend Nature Sanctuary
When: Saturday, 9am
Admission: Free
Take a hike — and advantage of the Audubon Naturalist Society’s free monthly family program. On the first Saturday of each month from 9-10am, join Master Naturalists for a nature hike around Woodend Sanctuary. Each outing will have a unique and exciting natural history theme that’s appropriate for family members of all ages. Be prepared to hike in sneakers and don’t forget your water bottle. Meet at the amphitheater by the main house.

Kids Free – Summer Fun Deal
Where: Newseum
When: Begins Friday!
Admission: FREE for kids, $22.95/adult
Take advantage of the Newseum’s annual program that welcomes youth visitors for free during the summer, from July 1 through Labor Day. The Summer Fun Deal waives the regular $13.95 entrance fee for kids with one paid adult admission. The deal benefits kids ages 7 and up most, since children 6 and under always get in free, and much of the Newseum’s collection will be better appreciated by older children.

Arrrr, Mateys!
Where: Potomac River via Washington Harbour
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: $20 (get a deal here)
Explore the high Potomac “seas” on a Boomerang Family Treasure Hunt Cruise. During the pirate adventure, you’ll help recover stolen treasure from scallywags who pilfered the ship’s booty. Several sail times are available throughout the weekend. When you book on the site, be sure you are looking at Treasure Hunt Cruise times, and not the Party Boat Cruise. For more pirate voyages on local waters, see the Summer Guide.

Pint Sized Breakfast
Where: Brookland Pint
When: Saturday, 9-11am
Admission: Free
Take the little ones to a breakfast designed with them in mind, featuring a FREE breakfast buffet just for kids, storytime and crafts with Barnes & Noble, and an interactive performance by Only Make Believe. Open seating is first come, first serve. If the weather cooperates, head out to the patio!

July Makers Market
Where: Annmarie Sculpture Garden
When: Saturday, 9am – 2pm
Admission: Free
Find handmade, homemade, or homegrown products at Annmarie’s monthly market – this particular one will feature sea glass and beach crafts. Delight in the treasures made by local artists, then continue your art explorations through Annmarie’s gorgeous gardens, where you can the kids can look for fairy houses, play in the fairy lolly, and create some art of your own in the artLAB. (Admission to the market is free, but it’s $5/adult, $3/child for the rest.)

Wee Ones Storytime
Where: Hurray for Books
When: Saturday, 10:30am
Admission: Free
Enjoy a story time especially for babies and toddlers in Old Town Alexandria! Hurray for Books’ story time experts will read your young ones board and picture books, sing songs and perform, and teach some fingerplays. The weekly program is free and open to the public!

Sunday Funday at the Races
Where: Laurel Park
When: Sunday
Admission: Free
Have an exciting day at the races with the family! Starting this weekend, Sundays during the summer will include a FREE Kids Zone (1:30-4:30pm) with pony rides, a petting zoo, and crafts — each week will feature a new project for kids to enjoy. And for the adults, Laurel Park is offering a casual summer Sunday brunch 12-4pm ($22/adults, $11/ages 3-11).

The Ins and Outs of DC
Where: Around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by adventure
With extra time on the holiday weekend, you may want even more options for fun things to do with the kids. If you’re looking for activities outdoors or inside, depending on the weather or simply your preference, these posts are chock full of evergreen pursuits:
The Best Places in the DC Area to Enjoy a Beautiful Day Outdoors with the Kids
The Great Indoors

Smithonian Folklife Festival
Where: National Mall at 3rd-4th Streets
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
The annual Festival celebrating living cultural heritage and community traditions is underway. Visitors of all ages will have ample opportunity to discover and explore the culture of Basque Country through special exhibits, workshops, performances, exhibits, demos, and more, including plenty of activities especially children. California Sounds is also a highlight s more than 60 artists perform throughout the festival and many host special activities and demos for guests. For specifics, see the festival schedule. And it all takes place right on the National Mall where you can have plenty more fun at all the museums.

Come Fourth this Weekend

Owen and friends celebrate July 4th last year

Washington, DC, is one of the most exciting places to be this time of year, as people from all over the world come to our capital city to celebrate America’s birthday. Whether or not you think that’s a good thing is another story. Some relish the crowds and the big celebrations, while others prefer to keep the holiday low-key. The great thing about our little section of the Land of the Free is that, no matter what your preference, there are plenty of options for fun and recreation all weekend long. Here are events happening around town where you can embrace the spirit of the 4th, have a mellow holiday, or fall somewhere in between. Happy Weekend! And have a happy and safe Independence Day!

Smithsonian Folklife Festival – The annual celebration of living cultural heritage and community traditions around the globe will be happening on the Mall through July 4 (then again from July 7-11). This year’s festival spotlights the nature of Colombia, 50 years of the Peace Corps, and Rhythm & Blues music in the United States. Special exhibits and programs will offer guests all kinds of opportunities — workshops, performances, exhibits, demos, and more — to discover and explore all three genres, including plenty of activities especially children.

Tales of the Lincoln – Storyteller Jon Spelman takes to the Ford’s Theatre stage for a reprise of his popular one-man show. Explore the varied legends of Abraham Lincoln the man, parent, and president in a series of anecdotes. Tales of the Lincoln will be performed on Saturday and Sunday at 10:30am and 11:30am, and is recommended for ages 6 and older. The show is being offered as part of the Ford’s Theatre daytime programming schedule, so tickets can be obtained free of charge on the day of performance at the theatre box office. Advance reservations are also available through Ticketmaster, though a small service fee will be applied.

Have a Ball (Game) – The Nationals are playing at home all weekend, hosting the Pirates on Friday evening and Saturday and Sunday afternoons. You can also celebrate the 4^th at Nationals Park as they begin a four-game series against the Cubs. Tickets are available for all of the games – purchase in advance online or at the box office. And you can currently get half-price tickets for Sunday’s game with a special offer from Certifkid.

Fruits of Your Labor – Pick-your-own on the farm is recommended for yet another week, as many berries and even peaches are ready for harvest. This post lists local farms that offer opportunities to pick ‘em yourself.

Star-Spangled Spectacular – If you want to get out of dodge (ie, take a break from DC) for a bit, head north to Oregon Ridge Park in Cockeysville, MD, on Saturday or Sunday. There, you can spread out a blanket or set up chairs on the sloping green lawn amidst lovely scenery as the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performs their Star-Spangled Spectacular, culminating with a magnificent fireworks dispay. The starbursts in the sky as live classical musical plays is truly magical. The park opens at 5pm, and the show begins at 8pm both days. Tickets are $18/adult, $9/kids 12 and under.

National Independence Day Parade – Every good holiday has a parade in DC, and July 4th is no exception. Scores of spectators are expected to line the Constitution Avenue sidewalks to watch the procession celebrating Independence Day make its way from 7th to 17th Streets. Marching bands, floats, giant balloons, equestrian groups, drill teams, and military units will be among the pageantry. The festivities begin at 11:45am, but with the masses coming to watch, it’s best to get there early to get a good view. Free to the public.

Independence Day Celebration on National Mall – After the parade (even earlier for some), the National Mall will begin filling up for a day of July 4th festivities—picnics, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, concerts, and the spectacular fireworks display as the grand finale. The music begins at 6pm when the U.S. Navy band kicks off the concert at the Washington Monument grounds, followed by a performance by special guest artist Jo Dee Messina . Down at the opposite end of the Mall on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, A Capitol Fourth Concert, which airs live on PBS, will feature Josh Groban, Steve Martin, Jordin Sparks, Matthew Morrison, the National Symphony Orchestra, and more exciting performers. Gates open at 3pm for the 8pm show, and the public is invited to enjoy it for free. Finally, the sky over the Washington Monument will explode with color when the amazing fireworks show begins at 9:15pm.

Reading of the Declaration of Independence – Celebrate July 4th at the National Archives Building with a reading of the Declaration of Independence. There will also be historical guests and family activities starting at 8:30am. The full schedule of events is available on the National Archive’s website.

An American Celebration at Mount Vernon – The home of George Washington salutes the first commander-in-chief on Monday with a dazzling display of made-for-daytime fireworks during its annual Independence Day event. Visitors will be treated to spectacular smoke fireworks in patriotic colors fired over the Potomac River. The event also includes an inspirational naturalization ceremony for 100 new citizens, military reenactments, a special wreathlaying ceremony, and a visit from the “first” first couple, “General and Mrs. Washington.” See the full schedule of events on the Mount Vernon wesbite. Admission is $15/adults, $7/ages 6-11, free for ages 5 and under.

Posts to check out any time:

Joys of Summer – Outdoor concert series, pools and spray grounds, movie under the stars, and more fun happening over the hot months.

The Best Places in the DC Area to Enjoy a Beautiful Day Outdoors with the Kids – Need I say more?

Rainy Day Recreation (ie, Indoor Fun) – For when the weather doesn’t cooperate, or you want to get out of the sun.

Family Entertainment – See what’s on stages this season.

The 2011 Smithsonian Folklife Festival

The National Mall is going to be one happening spot for the next couple of weeks. The 2011 Smithsonian Folklife Festival is about to begin, celebrating living cultural heritage and community traditions around the globe. (Couple that with the big annual July 4th celebration and there will be lots of action on the green amid our museums around the holiday weekend.)

This year’s festival will celebrate the nature of Colombia, 50 years of the Peace Corps, and Rhythm & Blues music in the United States. Special exhibits and programs will offer guests all kinds of opportunities — workshops, performances, exhibits, demos, and more — to discover and explore all three genres, including plenty of activities especially children. For specifics, see the full festival schedule.

This will all take place along the National Mall from June 30 – July 5 and July 7 -11. Festival hours are 11am – 5:30pm with special performances taking place later most evenings. And in true Smithsonian spirit, all of it is free and open to the public.

So, here’s the scoop: The Mall will be crowded during this time. Besides the throngs of tourists that visit DC during the summer, the July 4th celebration draws even more crowds, especially in the days leading up to the event (on the day of, it’s jam-packed). That said, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival is definitely worth checking out. We go at some point every year — it’s a convenient stroll or Metro ride there — and always find exhibits and activities that are interesting for the whole family. Generally, I always recommend taking Metro to the Mall. The Smithsonian stop on the Blue/Orange line lets out right by the Festival, and the Federal Triangle (also Blue/Orange) and National Archives/Navy Memorial (Yellow/Green line) stops are also close by.