Beltway Bambinos

(re) discover Washington DC through the eyes of your children

Washington, DC summer bucket list

We hope this gives you fun ideas to get your family outdoors. We’d love to hear how you are spending your summer.

Quick links:
U.S. National Arboretum
Local beach trips or a weekend in Bethany Beach
Ice cream in the DMV
Root, root, root for the Nationals
Drive in’s and outdoor movies
Monuments
Restaurants & rooftops
Pick your own fruits & vegetables
Breweries
Lancaster County & Dutch Wonderland

Recent posts:
Indoor/Outdoor summer toys
Water toys that are a summer must have!
Device free road trips and flights
Outdoor music

Live outdoor summer music in and around Washington, DC

One of my favorite parts about summer in Washington, DC are the (mostly) free, outdoor concerts you can find. A few summers ago we took a sporadic drive to the Mall, walked around, played some ball by the reflecting pool with our then three year old and walked towards the Capitol where the U.S. Air Force Band was performing a free concert. A huge crowd was gathered on the steps and in chairs taking in the gorgeous evening and patriotic tunes. I had no idea they performed for free and for the public on random evenings. This post will help you take advantage of some great music that will help you relax after a long day and see a bit of our city while doing so. Also, included are family focused shows at some favorite venues. Get out and enjoy the lighter evenings, let your kids stay up a little longer and enjoy the music our city offers. 

The Yards Park Friday Night Concert Series
The free Capitol Riverfront Friday Night Concert Series is back for its 8th Season. Every Friday night this summer, come to Yards Park to relax and enjoy the river view, fantastic bands, food and beverage, and a large variety of great restaurants within a few minutes walk from the park. Family-friendly lyrics and grassy open space make this an enjoyable event for adults and kids alike. Also check out Kids in Canal: Making its second appearance in Capitol Riverfront, Kids in Canal is a 12-week series of kid-friendly entertainment every Wednesday 10:30 am – 11:30 am beginning June 6th!  Bring your little ones to the middle block of Canal Park to enjoy magic shows, kids tunes, science demonstrations, and puppet shows.  Top off your day with a refreshing splash in the Canal Park dancing water fountains.

RecessMonkeyStrathmore’s Backyard Theatre for Children
Enrich your little ones’ summer mornings with sunshine, music, and laughter at Strathmore’s Backyard Theater for Kids. This eclectic program is the perfect summer escape for busy families. Pack a picnic and enjoy live performances by highly esteemed and innovative family-friendly entertainers. From folk and jazz to the amazing sounds of the steelpan, Backyard Theater makes it easy to engage kids at every stage. We promise to keep both kids and parents entertained, so bring your family for a morning of inspiration and celebration!

LITTLE MISS ANN Thu, July 5
JOJO & THE PINECONES Thu, July 12
POSITIVE VIBRATIONS Thu, July 19
LUCKY DIAZ & THE FAMILY JAM BAND Thu, July 26

Also for kids!
ARTS ON THE HORIZON: TO THE CLOUDS Sat, July 28

[Read more…]

Outdoor movies this summer in Washington, DC

Bring your blankets or chairs (check websites for what they prefer), some snacks and cozy up to a summer movie outside. Disclaimer: This is a list of child friendly and a few adult friendly movies. As you will see some of these don’t begin until sunset so perhaps it’s a late summer evening for some kids or a date night for parents. Have fun watching some free movies this summer.

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Bethesda Outdoor Movies
(Woodmont Triangle, Corner of Norfolk & Auburn Avenues)

Enjoy five nights of blockbuster hits at downtown Bethesda’s 14th annual outdoor movie series! Show times begin at 9pm at the corner of Norfolk and Auburn Avenues.A limited number of chairs will be provided and attendees are invited to bring their own lawn chairs. Admission is FREE! Spend an enjoyable evening in Woodmont Triangle and have dinner at one of the neighborhood’s delicious and diverse restaurants before the show!

July 24: Remember the Titans
July 25: Casablanca
July 26: The Big Sick
July 27: Mean Girls
July 28: The Post

Union Market Drive-In
(1309 5th Street NE  Washington, District of Columbia 20002)

$10 parking fee per car. Advance purchase is highly recommended. Free for walk-ups. Excited for the drive-in but don’t have a car?

June 1: Clueless
A rich high school student tries to boost a new pupil’s popularity, but reckons without affairs of the heart getting in the way. 1h 37 min, rated PG-13
Lot opens at 6:00, Lot closes promptly at 8:30, Film begins 8:45; Film ends at 10:20

July 6: Like Water for Chocolate
When tradition prevents her from marrying the man she loves, a young woman discovers she has a unique talent for cooking. In Spanish with English subtitles. 1 h 45min, rated R
Lot opens at 6:00, Lot closes promptly at 8:30, Film begins 8:55; Film ends at 10:20

August 3: Black Panther
T’Challa, the King of Wakanda, rises to the throne in the isolated, technologically advanced African nation, but his claim is challenged by a vengeful outsider who was a childhood victim of T’Challa’s father’s mistake.
2h 15 min, rated PG-13
Lot opens 6:00, Lot closes promptly at 8:15, Film begins 8:45, Film ends at 11:00 

September 7: The Lion King
A Lion cub crown prince is tricked by a treacherous uncle into thinking he caused his father’s death and flees into exile in despair, only to learn in adulthood his identity and his responsibilities. 1h 28 min, rated G
Lot opens 6:00, Lot closes promptly at 7:30, Film begins 8:00, Film ends at 9:30 

October 5: Cool Runnings
When a Jamaican sprinter is disqualified from the Olympic Games, he enlists the help of a dishonored coach to start the first Jamaican Bobsled Team. 1h 38 min, rated PG
Lot opens 5:30, Lot closes promptly at 7:45, Film begins 8:15, Film ends at 9:55 

November 2: Hocus Pocus 
After three centuries, three witch sisters are resurrected in Salem, Massachusetts on Halloween night, and it is up to two teenagers, a young girl, and an immortal cat to put an end to their reign of terror once and for all. 1 h 36 min, rated PG
Lot opens 5:30, Lot closes promptly at 7:45, Film begins 8:00, Film ends at 9:50 

NoMa Family Film Night

(The Lot @ 1st & Pierce 1005 First Street, NE)

Bring your friends, family and neighbors for music, giveaways, food trucks, picnicking, and of course, great films under the stars. Movies start at sunset and are screened with subtitles. We encourage moviegoers to bring chairs, because the site is covered in asphalt. Bring blankets, frisbees, dogs on leases and picnic coolers when the doors open at 7:00 PM. Every movie is subtitled. NoMa Summer Screen has been ranked one of the Top 10 Best Outdoor Movie Theatres in America by Travel and Leisure Magazine and one of the top five outdoor movie series in the country by Travel Pulse.

June 6: Ten Things I Hate About You (PG-13) | 8:40 p.m.
June 13: Mulan (G) | 8:44 p.m.
June 20: Chicago (PG-13) | 8:46 p.m.
June 27:  Mad Max: Fury Road (R) | 8:47 p.m.
July 4: no movie on account of Independence Day!
July 11: Matilda (PG) | 8:44 p.m.
July 18: A League of Their Own (PG) | 8:40 p.m.
July 25: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (PG-13) | 8:35 p.m.
Aug 1: Pitch Perfect (PG-13) | 8:29 p.m.
Aug 8: Moana (PG) | 8:21 p.m.
Aug 15:Thelma & Louise (R) | 8:12 p.m.
Aug 22: Ghostbusters (2016) (PG-13) | 8:03 p.m.
Aug 29:Wonder Woman (PG-13) | 7:52 p.m.
Sept 5: rain date | 7:42 p.m.

Adam’s Morgan Movie Nights
(Walter Pierce Park is located at 2630 Adams Mill Rd. with an alternate entrance adjacent to Mama Ayesha’s near the foot of the Duke Ellington Bridge on Calvert Street)

Movies begin approximately 30 minutes after sunset. Kids are welcome, but please no pets or alcohol. Please check the Movie Nights Facebook Page for cancellation information in the event of bad weather. Important: No glass bottles, no alcohol, no smoking, and no pets.

May 22: The Big Lebowski
May 29: Hairspray
June 5: Jackie
June 12: Hidden Figures
June 19: Pixar Shorts 

Four Mile Summer Movie Festival at Four Mile Conservatory Building
(4109 Mt Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22305)

Bring your friends, family and neighbors for games, giveaways, popcorn, picnicking, and of course, great films under the stars. Movies start at dusk and are screened with Spanish subtitles. We encourage moviegoers to bring chairs, because this year’s location will be on asphalt. Bring blankets, outdoor games, and picnic coolers when the fun starts at 6:30 pm.

May 25: Coco 
June 29: Mary Poppins
July 27: Wonder
August 31: Space Jam

Movies on the Potomac at National Harborjumbotron1
(165 Waterfront St National Harbor, MD 20745)

Nothing says summer like an evening under the stars—and there’s no better way to enjoy the season than Movies on the Potomac at National Harbor. Pack your picnic blankets, grab food to go from one of our delicious dining establishments, and meet us at the Plaza’s big screen for a FREE evening of fun for all ages! Please note that movies will begin at 6:00pm and will be shown once, so end times may vary with each movie. A schedule of movies to be shown can be viewed below. They also feature Date Night Movies on Thursdays at 7:00pm.

May 20: Cars 3
May 27: The Lego Batman Movie
June 3: Matilda
June 10: Bolt (National Harbor 10 Year Anniversary Commemorative Giveaway for the first 100 people!)
June 17: Zookeeper
June 24: Charlotte’s Web (2006)
July 1: Enchanted
July 8: The Little Rascals
July 15: Alice Through the Looking Glass
July 22: Holes
July 29: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Aug 5: Maleficent
Aug 12: The Little Mermaid
Aug 19: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe
Aug 26: Annie (2014)
Sept 2: A Wrinkle in Time
Sept 9: The Wizard of Oz
Sept 16: The Wiz (1978)
Sept 23: Moana
Sept 30: The Lion King

Cinema Del Ray 10342502_769961849702431_3706484477222978982_n
(Mount Vernon Rec Center: 2017 Belle View Blvd, Alexandria, VA 22307) 

The fun begins at 7:00pm. Free open air movie showings sponsored by Jen Walker. Snacks are even available for purchase, bring blankets and cozy up. (No 4 legged friends)

May 19: The Lion Kind
June 16: The Lego Batman Movie
July 21: Toy Story 3
Aug 18: Cars 3
Sept 15: Coco

Comcast Xfinity Outdoor Film Festival
(10701 Rockville Pike N. Bethesda, MD 20852)

Outdoor movies return to Strathmore this summer! Join us on the lawn for 4 nights of free flicks benefiting the National Institutes of Health Children’s Charities. Come early to stake out your spot, enjoy pre-show activities, and grab dinner from Ridgewells’ summer grill. Films begin at dusk. Activities begin at 7:30pm. No tickets needed.

Aug 23 :Coco
Aug 24: Black Panther
Aug 25: The Lion King
Aug 26: Wonder Woman

Canal Park
(Canal Park, at 2nd and M St., SE- Navy Yard Metro)

See the stars beneath our stars! The Capitol Riverfront Outdoor Movie Series returns to Canal Park this year from June through August. Each movie in this year’s lineup, selected and inspired by public demand, will begin at sundown. We invite movie-goers to arrive at Canal Park as early as 7:00 pm, bring a picnic, and enjoy the show! Please note that all movies are captioned.

Splash around at The Yards Park, Capitol Waterfront

What: The Yards Park, Capitol Riverfront

The Yards Park, provides green space and water features for all to enjoy the outdoors along the Anacostia River. The Canal Basin and Waterwall pay homage to the historic canal that once ran from the Anacostia River to the U.S. Capitol Building. Visitors enjoy splashing, wading, and cooling off in the fresh water of this decorative water feature on hot summer days. The Great Lawn is a large open green space framed by shading trees, unique wooden benches, and a scenic pathway to the Riverwalk Trail Bridge, leading to Diamond Teague Park and Nationals Park. This lovely spot is ideal for quiet picnics, tossing a ball, and generally enjoying the outdoors. The sculptural bridge is the architectural icon of Yards Park, spanning the Canal Basin as it connects the Great Lawn and the Overlook. The bridge also serves as a landmark link on the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail, a scenic destination for runners, bikers, and strollers to enjoy our river. The Terraced Lawn Steps provide four levels of seating in the park leading down to the boardwalk. These green steps create a natural amphitheater-like space to read, people-watch, and enjoy the river view. If you have a dog, there is also a Dog Run. 

Cons:

  • Limited shade
  • Very slippery surfaces alongside the water (many, many people fell)
  • When we went on a weekend, kids had squirt guns spraying everyone and everything

Pros:

  • Less then 12 inches of water
  • Free
  • Located near Ice Cream Jubilee and many other places to grab a bite or drink
  • Dancing Fountains up above on a separate level (above the waterwall)
  • The water is DC city water and is chlorinated through the fountain pump and filtration system. The chlorine and pH levels are monitored daily.
  • Kids in Canal is a 12-week series of kid-friendly entertainment every Wednesday 10:30 am – 11:30 am beginning June 7th!

Keep in mind:

The park opens at sunrise and closes 2 hours after sunset.

Parking lots are located between Yards Park and Nationals Ballpark, managed by ABM Parking. Availability is first-come, first-served. The rate is $2 per hour for a maximum of 3 hours, then a daily rate charges apply. These prices rise to a flat fee of $35 or more during Washington Nationals home games or other special events.

Two public restrooms are located in the Lumber Shed building that houses restaurants Agua 301, Osteria Morini, Due South, and Ice Cream Jubilee. These restrooms can be accessed via a door on the west side of the building, between Agua 301 and Due South.

No cloth diapers – only swim diapers allowed.

There is no lifeguard on duty so use at your own risk.

This award-winning park is an ideal place for recreation, special events, and festivals throughout the year. Follow Yards Park on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. They offer workout classes, summer movies, festivals and children’s events throughout the year.

Where: 355 Water St SE, Washington, DC 20003

Weekend Picks: July 7-9, 2017

Highlight: Art Investigators at National Gallery of Art
How do you investigate a work of art? This program helps children make careful observations, analyze artists’ choices, ask questions, and use their imagination while exploring works of art. Led by museum educators, each program includes reading a children’s book, exploring one work of art in the galleries, and completing a simple hands-on activity. Children will receive a notebook to accompany the program. Each program is approximately 60 minutes. See dates and topics below. These free drop-in programs are designed for individual families on a  first-come, first-served basis. There is no advance registration and space is limited, so please plan accordingly. This weekend: Investigate: Helen Frankenthaler Friday, July 7 at 10:30 and 12:00, Saturday, July 8 at 10:30 and 12:00, Sunday, July 9 at 11:30 and 1:00 & Monday, July 10 at 10:30 and 12:00

Wrapping up:  The 2017 Smithsonian Folklife Festival is on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between Seventh and  Twelfth streets and in the Arts and Industries Building. The free festival wraps up on Sunday. Festival hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with evening dance parties at 5:30 and circus performances most nights at 7 p.m.

Friday-

5:00pm-8:30pm: Jazz in the Garden
(Constitution Avenue and Madison Drive entrances  at 9th Street, NW Washington, DC)
Jazz In The Garden at Pavilion Café in the National Gallery of Art features an eclectic mix of jazz is performed by top Washington-area artists. During jazz concerts, the Pavilion Café offers a special menu of creative American cuisine and refreshments, including a beer and wine menu.

6:30pm-8:30pm: Capitol Riverfront Friday Night Concert at Yards Park
(355 Water St SE)
The free Capitol Riverfront Friday Night Concert Series is back for its 7th Season, this year back on the Yards Park boardwalk! Every Friday night this summer, come to Yards Park to relax and enjoy the river view, fantastic bands, food and beverage, and a large variety of great restaurants within a few minutes walk from the park. Family-friendly lyrics and grassy open space make this an enjoyable event for adults and kids alike.

Saturday-

                                                                                             (Photo:Sound Scene X at Hirshorn Museum by Carpe Diem!)

10:00am-5:00pm: Sound Scene X at Hirshorn Museum
(700 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20560)
The sounds of our politically-driven town are often dissonant. Underneath the political noise, the audio culture of DC is rich and varied. Sound Scene X: “Dissonance” will showcase the sounds of our creative city through – interactive audio installations – headphone listening – live music and more. Audio features will be accessible to deaf as well as hearing audiences through full-body listening installations and new works to feature multi-sensory tools to enhance the listening experience for all guests. ASL interpreters will be on-site.

10:00am: Story time with Washington Nationals Player
Join DC Public Library for a special story time with Washington Nationals outfielder Adam Eaton at Tenleytown Library and pitcher, Matt Albers at Woodridge Library. Click here to learn more about Summer Reading or stop by your neighborhood library to sign up today.

10:00am-4:00pm: The “Write” Stuff Family Research & Literacy Day at National Archives
(Boeing Learning Center & William G. McGowan Theater Washington, DC)
Do you love reading, learning new things and writing? Do you want to learn more about what it is like to do research and write stories? This is the program for you! Bring the whole family and enjoy hands-on activities and engage with authors and illustrators Marty Rhodes Figley, Syl Sobel, John Hendrix, Janet Macreery, Diane Kidd & Dr. Margaret A. Weitekamp, Tim Grove, and Tonya Bolden. You will also get to watch a  live recording of the “Book Club for Kids” podcast with host Kitty Felde; celebrity guest reader, NPR special correspondent Susan Stamberg; and students from the Girlfriends Book Club Baltimore. Discover literacy and research organizations and their available resources, view DC National History Day project finalists, and more!

10:30am: Silk Road Dance Company: Shahnameh: Adventures from the Persian Book of Kings at Wolf Trap Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods
(1551 Trap Rd. Vienna, VA. 22182)
A magical bird, an evil dragon, a clever princess, and a valiant hero bring to life the Shahnameh, an ancient masterpiece written over a thousand years ago. With vivid choreography and ornate costumes, Silk Road Dance Company presents a fantastical tale from ancient Persia.

11:00am-10:00pm: Nextival
(Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds: 1450 Generals Hwy Crownsville, MD 21032)
The Nextival is a family Friendly Food Truck Music Festival with FAMILY, FOOD & FUN at the heart of our experience. We have 50 food trucks and vendors, 25 bands and performers, 10 Moon Bounces, 2 stages, 2 Helicopters for helicopter rides to downtown Annapolis and Back and 400 pounds of legos and duplos plus arts and crafts for the kids and fun outdoor games like Cornhole. Kids 12 and under are free, adults $15.

12:00pm: Silk Road Dance Company Workshop: Fly with the Simurgh! Dance with a Dragon! at Wolf Trap Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods
(1551 Trap Rd. Vienna, VA. 22182)
Two of the most memorable characters from the Shahnameh are the dragon and the Simurgh bird. Children will learn fun and “flighty” dances with scarves and veils, that are sure to conjure up the magical Simurgh! (Show tickets sold separately)

Sunday-

6:00pm: Annie (2014): Movies on the Potomac at National Harbor
(165 Waterfront St National Harbor, MD 20745)
Nothing says summer like an evening under the stars—and there’s no better way to enjoy the season than Movies on the Potomac at National Harbor. Pack your picnic blankets, grab food to go from one of our delicious dining establishments, and meet us at the Plaza’s big screen for a FREE evening of fun for all ages! Please note that movies will begin at 6:00pm and will be shown once, so end times may vary with each movie.

Theatre:

                                                               (Photo: Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook at Adventure Theatre by Bruce Douglas)

Wonderland: Alice’s Rock & Roll Adventure at Imagination Stage
Shows on Saturday & Sunday. Use code: GUITAR5 to receive $5 off tickets to this weekends show. Code expires at 11:59pm on July 7.

Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook at Adventure Theatre
Shows on Saturday & Sunday

 

Tinkergarten: Learning through outdoor play

tinkergarten2

Under an old oak tree on a late October morning, a four year old boy crouches down to add acorns to his collection of autumn leaves, seed pods, and a blue jay feather that he carries in a little metal pail. Across the park, a grandmother admires her two year old granddaughter’s persistence as she repeatedly picks up and drops small pebbles one at a time with big plastic tweezers into her pail. Not far away, several parents and caregivers discuss the book Blueberries for Sal while their children drop red spicebush berries into their pails: Kurplink, kurplank, kurplunk. Suddenly a duck call rings out and the children all go running through the short grass and autumn leaves to their “class room”, a blue tarp nestled into a patch of trees, where they excitedly show one another the “nature treasures” they just discovered. Once everyone is gathered, children, ages 0-8 (Explorers) and adults (Guides) form a circle and sing their welcome song. Then the Leader reads a Halloween book to the class, sets a large pot in the middle of the tarp, and they launch into the activity of the day: making witches brew! Taking turns stirring the pot, the cackling Explorers sprinkle in a little of this and dump in a little of that to the chorus of “oohs” and “ahhs” from the observing Guides.

This is Tinkergarten, a class that meets weekly in local parks where a trained leader facilitates expertly-designed, seasonally- themed curriculum for local families.

The mission of Tinkergarten is to teach caregivers how to share authentic outdoor learning experiences with their children, so those children may develop into curious, capable and well-balanced people. This happens through independent exploration and well-designed activities that encourage a host of important capabilities including self-reliance, compassion, creativity, leadership, and problem solving. With the support of vetted and trained local leaders (most of whom are parents themselves), parents and caregivers will learn how to support their children’s developmental stages in a communal setting while their kids get to explore, expend energy, and work together in nearby green spaces. Tinkergarten Leaders throughout the Beltway would love to share this awesome program with you and your child!

tinkergarten3

Below is a list of the fall classes currently offered in and near the DC Metro area. Please note that this list changes from season-to-season as local Leaders’ schedules change – check the website for more information including up-to-date schedules, free trial classes (usually offered at the beginning of each season), prices, and to sign up for free DIY activities. Some classes have begun for this session and if you sign-up the cost will be pro-rated. While you’re there, be sure to check out this video introduction to Tinkergarten.

Washington DC –

Capitol Hill, Tuesday morning and Wednesday afternoon

Maryland –

Baltimore, Saturday morning

Catonsville, Tuesday morning

Chevy Chase, Wednesday morning, Thursday afternoon, Thursday morning

Fredrick, Tuesday morning, Friday morning, Sunday afternoon

Silver Spring, Wednesday morning, Saturday morning

University Park, Tuesday morning, Saturday morning

Wheaton-Glenmont, Wednesday morning

In & near the Beltway in Virginia –

Arlington, Saturday morning

Bristow, Tuesday morning

Lorton, Saturday morning

Purcellville, Friday morning

Springfield, Saturday morning


This Guest Post was written by Elizabeth Auerbach, a Tinkergarten Leader in the DC area.

Outdoor fun in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia

We’ve pulled together some great outdoor options for you and your Bambinos in the Washington, DC area. This is not an exhaustive list of ALL places outdoors to play and visit. Instead, it’s a running (constantly being updated) list of out-of-the-box options to head to. Please add your suggestions to the comments below and we’ll keep building! Be sure and scroll all the way to the bottom for some already written content that includes outdoor fun.

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Washington, DC-

The Yards Park– (355 Water Street SE Washington DC 20003)
Come experience DC’s new waterfront destination and centerpiece of the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood! Located just south of Capitol Hill and to the east of Nationals Ballpark, this thoughtfully designed park is a place to be active or relax and enjoy the outdoors. At the Yards Park you’ll find open grassy areas and well-landscaped outdoor rooms, a waterfall and canal-like water feature, an elevated overlook, an iconic bridge and light sculpture, terraced performance venue, and a riverfront boardwalk.
[Read more…]

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