Catching sprays from the fountain outside of the National Gallery of Art
Music outdoors, story time with the Redskins, a time trip to colonial days, cultural festivities, live entertainment, fun opportunities to support local non-profits, and much more. These are just some of the ways you can spend some QT with the kids over the next few days. Read on for even more. Happy Weekend!
Jazz it Up
Where: National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden | National Mall, DC
When: Friday, 5–8:30pm
Admission: Free
Start the weekend with live entertainment under in the fresh air. The free, outdoor summer music series kicks off this weekend with Brazlian Buegrass band Matuto. Spread out a blanket, pack a picnic dinner or purchase food and drinks there, and enjoy the tunes and the “summer” vibe. Note: BYO alcohol is not permitted, but adult drinks are available from the pavilion.
Go Fish!
Where: Constitution Gardens | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – pm
Admission: Free
Get the kids hooked on nature at this fishing event. All ages are invited to an action-packed day of fishing instruction and fun at the Department of Energy and Environment’s 9th Annual Family & Youth Casting Call. Training and gear will be provided for participants to catch a fish. Activities aren’t limited to casting a line — guests can learn to tie knots, do some fish art, enjoy games, and learn about the Potomac watershed and the wildlife that is such an exciting part of it. And PBS Kids’ Nature Cat will be there accompanied by Buddy Bison from the National Park Trust to celebrate Kids to Parks Day. Constitution Garden is located at 17th and Constitution Avenue NW (near the Vietnam Memorial).
Acton Children’s Business Fair
Where: 3400 Connecticut Ave | Cleveland Park
When: Saturday, 10am – 1pm
Admission: Free
Experience the power of young entrepreneurs! Shop the Acton Children’s Business Fair of Washington, DC, an outdoor market where children ages 6-14 become entrepreneurs for a day. Over 100 young entrepreneurs will be selling everything from animal books to poems, tomato plants and wiggly worms, homemade bread, iPhone screen repairs, and more. This event is free and open to the public. Most businesses will accept cash only, so plan accordingly.
Redskins Read Bookfair
Where: Barnes & Noble stores throughout the DMV
When: Saturday,
Admission: Free
Stop by your local Barnes & Noble store for the Redskins Read Bookfair for a day of fun and a chance to meet Redskins celebrity readers, cheerleaders, and guest authors! A percentage of each purchase that day will benefit youth literacy programs in our community. Fans are encouraged to mention the Redskins Read Bookfair at checkout to participate. The voucher code (12118170) can also be used online at www.bn.com on the day of the event.
Gaithersburg Book Festival
Where: Gaithersburg City Hall | Gaithersburg, MD
When: Saturday, 10am – 6pm
Admission: Free
The City of Gaithersburg welcomes you to their 7th annual literary event! Festivities will include the chance to see and meet some of the world’s best writers, from best-sellers to acclaimed up-and-comers; join in literary workshops; and a full day of fun at the Children’s Village. The Gaithersburg City Hall is located at 31 South Summit Avenue.
Playdate with a Purpose
Where: Vienna Town Green | Vienna, VA
When: Saturday, 8:30-11:30am
Admission: $24/family
Want to have a morning of fun and support a great local organization? Join DC Diaper Bank at Playdate with a Purpose this Saturday, 8:30-11:30am, at Vienna Town Green! Enjoy performances by the Great Zucchini and Rainbow Rock, do some kid-friendly yoga, participate in the 1st Annual Diaper Bank Olympics, and learn about how DC Diaper Bank fights family poverty and how you can help.
2nd Annual Family Fun Festival
Where: Sibley Memorial Hospital | Palisades, DC
When: Saturday, 9am – 12pm
Admission: Free
Sibley is hosting its 2nd Annual Family Fun Festival with games, health screenings, live music, snacks, Zumba, giveaways, and more! Bring diapers for the diaper drive to support families in need. And anyone who was born at Sibley can join others for a Sibley Baby Reunion! This will all take place in Parking Lot 2, across from Building A.
Spring Colonial Market Fair
Where: Claude Moore Colonial Farm | McLean, VA
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: $8/adult, $4/child, free for under 3
Celebrate spring at the first Colonial Market Fair of the season at this local living history working farm and National Park. The Spring Colonial Market Fair takes place on Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21 from 11 am until 4:30 pm. Play games, listen to music and interact with staff and volunteers in 18th century costume and character. Watch a children’s puppet theater and make your own corn husk doll. See spinning and candle making. Enjoy the heritage breed animals on site including Ossabow pigs, chickens, geese and turkeys. Herbs and flowering plants available for sale as well as soaps, candles, 18th century clothing and jewelry. Affordable, fun and educational event. Great family outing
SerbFest
Where: Saint Luke Serbian Orthodox Church | Potomac, MD
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Free
Celebrate Serbian culture and enjoy some family time at this three-day festival. There‘s something for everyone, including traditional Serbian cuisine, dance and music performances, gifts and boutique items, and lots of family-friendly activities. Saint Luke’s is located at 10660 River Road in Potomac, MD.
Kids Tree Climb
Where: National Arboretum | Northeast DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Kids have a chance to reach new heights and climb a tree like a professional arborist! While they might not rescue an eaglet, they will definitely have a great time. This invites youth ages 4–14 years to experience the thrill of ascending into a mature tree under the direct supervision of a professional, seasoned tree care worker (arborist)! They will be fully secured with a rope, saddle and safety gear.
Birds & Presidents at Rock Creek Park
Where: Rock Creek Nature Center | Rock Creek Park, DC
When: Saturday, 7am -3pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day at the Nature Center on Saturday. Activities include bird walks, invasive plant removal, hands-on activities for kids of all ages, exhibits, information booths, a talk about Presidents in Rock Creek Park (1pm), and food.
McLean Day
Where: Lewinsville Park | McLean, VA
When: Saturday, 11am – 5pm
Admission: Free
McLean’s annual festival to celebrate the city has something for everyone in the fam. Enjoy carnival rides, food trucks, live entertainment, a petting zoo, exhibitor booths, free field games, a tennis clinic, Bubble Ball, laser tag, balloon animals, and more that will delight all ages.
Show Time
Where: Local Theatres | Throughout the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by show
* Head to Glen Echo Park to see Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp at Adventure Theatre
* Journey to Wonderland and catch a performance of Momentum Dance Theatre’s production of Alice featuring both company dancers and their students
* Delight little ones with Midsummer Magic at the Atlas Performing Arts Center
* Go wild for The Jungle Book at Imagination Stage
* The Kennedy Center presents the NSO Family Concert Peter and the Wolf in Hollywood on Sunday
* Cinderella is on the Main Stage at The Puppet Co.
* And Old MacDonald’s Farm is this week’s featured Tiny Tots show there
* Ragtime is still running at Ford’s Theatre, a historic DC etertainment venue
* Make it a date night at Shakespeare Theatre’s Macbeth (look for a discount)
* Synetic Theatre’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame would also make for a good KidFree night
* See The Secret Garden performed by Fauquier Community Theatre
Saturday Family Jazz Sessions
Where: Strathmore | Bethesda, MD
When: Saturday, 11am
Tickets: $10/advance, $12/at door
Junior jazz aficionados can spend Saturday morning singing, playing, and preparing for a lifetime of music appreciation. This fun, creative, kid-friendly series features music by a different performer each session. Improvisation is the theme this week, and Seth Kibel will lead the group in a class about makin’ it up as you go along.
Dragon Boat Fest
Where: Thompson Boathouse
When: Saturday & Sunday, 8:30am – 3:30pm
Admission: Free
The Washington, DC Dragon Boat Festival is a two day celebration held along the Potomac River complete with cultural exhibitions, craft demonstrations, and of course… dragon boat racing. The event is sponsored by the Taiwan-U.S. Cultural Association to promote Taiwanese culture in the DC area through the sport of dragon boat racing.
Catch the Ultimate Breeze
Where: Gallaudet University | Northeast, DC
When: Saturday, 6:30pm
Admission: $10/advance, $12.50/day of, free for 12 and under
Bring the kids out for fun, fresh air, and Pro Ultimate Frisbee! Not only will you get to see exciting Frisbee action as local team DC Breeze take on the Montreal Royal, kids can join a free youth clinic (for ages 6-17) before the game at 5pm (FYI: they offer this at every home game.) And while your kids are learning Ultimate out on the field, you can enjoy food and drink specials and listen to a live band to get ready for the game.
Date Night: Smart People
Where: Arena Stage | Southwest DC
When: Through May 21
Admission Tickets start at $41
Oh, this is good! The Arena Stage production is clever and captivating as it deals with race and what shapes our belief systems. The topic is explored through four smart, strong characters, their approaches to their professions, and interactions with each other. While it covers serious subject matter, the show is loaded with laugh-out-loud moments, bringing comic relief to tense situations. In the end, though, it leaves you thinking… and also wistful for a time when we thought, perhaps, we’d crossed some of those bridges.
Civil War Day
Where: Cherry Hill Park and Farmhouse | Falls Church, VA
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: Free
Take a time trip at this family-friendly, living-history event depicting the Falls Church home front during the Civil War. Presentations with Civil War soldiers and civilian re-enactments will be among the festivities along with children’s activities, Civil War dancing, displays and relic exhibits, live music, tours, and more.
Zora & Amelia Pop-Up Shop
Where: Colony Club | Columbia Heights, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 1pm
Admission: Free
Shop a curated selection of items that have empowerment of girls and women in mind. Zora & Amelia is a new online store founded by a local mom after she joined the Women’s March with her daughter. This Saturday, you can browse in person products from established companies and budding entrepreneurs who want to show the world what a feminist looks like. This Pop-Up Shop is in partnership with playwelldc, a new local, women-owned business that provides prenatal, early childhood classes, and workshops for parents and caregivers.
Armed Forces Day
Where: National Cryptologic Museum | Annapolis MD
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Honor and celebrate the men and women serving in our nation’s Armed Forces at the National Cryptologic Museum on Saturday. The event promises to be a day of fun and education for the whole family. Indoor and outdoor activities will include a chance to talk by ham radio, K-9 Unit demos, knot tying workshops with the U.S. Naval Sea Cadets, special tours and photo ops, kids gamesto earn SNO cones, music, and more. Service members will be serving hot grilled food and drinks, and ice cream will be available for a sweet treat. Rain or shine.
Powell Elementary Spring Community Carnival
Where: Roosevelt High School | Petworth, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission:
Support a local elementary school and have fun at Powell Elementary’s 3rd annual Spring Community Carnival. Activities will include a dunk tank, climbing wall, moon bounces, carnival games and prizes for kids, food & treats, live performances, and more. Proceeds help fund field trips, classroom technology, classroom supplies, and other school-support activities. This will all take place on the Roosevelt football field located at 4301 13th St NW.
Celebrate Hawai`i: The Ahupua`a
Where: National Museum of the American Indian | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10:30am – 5pm
Admission: Free
Explore Hawai’i’s unique land management system, the ahupua`a. This traditional environmental system managed the lands and the waters and extended into the air and out into the ocean. Learn the mele (songs) that went with each area of the ahupua`a and the stories that have been passed down.
Capitol Hill Classic
Where: Stanton Park | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Sunday,
Admission: $10-40
Get some exercise and support DC public school at this annual race, one of my personal favorites, through the beautiful Capitol Hill neighborhood. It’s fun and family-friendly with a couple of distances — 10k or 3k — including a fun run around Stanton Park for little ones.
Leveling the Playing Field Fundraiser
Where: Pyle Middle School | Bethesda, MD
When: Sunday, 1-5pm
Admission: $25
Join Leveling the Playing Field for a day full of fun activities and competitions with all proceeds going towards providing free sporting equipment to students in need in the DC area. Both kids and adults will be put on teams to compete against one another for some amazing prizes (sports tickets, memorabilia, and more!). Stations will include everything from relay and 3-legged races to water balloon and frisbee toss! All day you will be joined by some of the very kids who have benefited from Leveling the Playing Field’s equipment program and hear from a few of them about what sports mean to them. This event will take place in two shifts – 1-3pm & 3-5pm. Snacks and refreshments will be provided.
Strawberry Festival
Where: Oatlands Historic House and Gardens | Leesburg, VA
When: Sunday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: $10 or $20/family
The Third Annual Oatlands Strawberry Festival promises an exciting day of fun for the entire family. Enjoy u-pick strawberries, hayrides, crafts, games, tours, more!
Taste of Arlington
Where: Ballston neighborhood of Arlington, VA
When: Sunday, 12-6pm
Admission: Free, but pay for tasting tickets
The 30th annual Taste of Arlington transforms Wilson Boulevard and neighboring streets into a family-friendly street festival with dining, music, and entertainment for all ages. This annual event features the cuisine of more than 50 Arlington restaurants, two concert stages with live music, an expanded Beer and Wine Garden with Deschutes Brewery’s Street Pub, a 5k race benefiting Girls on the Run, BarkPark, and a KidZone with a rock climbing wall and carnival games. This will all take place on Wilson Blvd. from Glebe Rd. to N. Quincy St.
4-H FUNdraiser
Where: Northern Virginia 4-H Conference Center | Front Royal, VA
When: Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
This family-friendly FUNdraising event is a great opportunity to visit the Northern Virginia 4-H Educational and Conference Center and explore this beautiful piece of Front Royal. Free activities include face painting, performances from local artists, and making s’mores in the campfire circle. Pay-to-play fun will add to the thrill of the day — whiz down a ride on a 275-feet-long zip line or take a dip in theJunior Olympic size pool! A portion of the proceeds will benefit the 4-H Center, to include 10% of all food and beverage sales and select activity fees. Preregistration preferred, but tickets not required for admission on the day of.
Food Festival of the Americas
Where: Organization of American States | Downtown DC
When: Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Admission: Free
Get a taste of Latin American culture at the Organization of the Women of the Americas’ fundraising event to collect funds for nonprofits in Latin America and the US helping women and children from vulnerable communities. The Festival will showcase cuisines, music, dance, and more cultural traditions from the countries of Latin America, the Caribbean, and Observer members of the OAS. There will also be activities for children, including a piñata workshop, pasta jewelry making, and pizza decorating. While admission is free, you need to purchase tickets for food, drinks, and a raffle.
***More Good Stuff to Know***
* If you haven’t yet bookmarked the 2017 KFDC Guide to the Best of Summer in DC, go do it now. It has all you need to make the most of the warm season — which has already unofficially begun!
* Looking for a fun, active summer camp for kids? Check out DC Way Soccer — I can tell you from my kids’ experiences, it’s a fantastic program!
* Get some great dinner ideas from Not-So-SAHM’s 30 Days of Dinners, a list of her family’s evening meals for the past month with links to recipes. She doesn’t cook at home every night (because… who does?!), but the meals she makes always sound deeelish. And the ones I have made always are.
* It’s a great time to PYO strawberries! Find out some of the best places to reap the fruits here.
* If you want to shop for wonderful & whimsical art, mark your calendar for June 17. It’s the only day this summer that artist Jonathan Blum will be selling his paintings in DC at Eastern Market. His portraits are very distinct — and poignant in their own way. You’ve likely seen some of them around town, as they are beloved by Washingtonians. (We have an Ernie — you know, Bert’s friend — hanging in our kitchen!)
