Friday & Saturday evening, Mount Vernon is celebrating Independence Day. Enjoy a patriotic evening filled with dazzling fireworks, Mansion tours, musical performances, and games on George Washington’s beloved estate! Fireworks begin at approximately 9:30pm.

Smithsonian Folklife Festival established in 1967, honors contemporary living cultural traditions and celebrates those who practice and sustain them. Produced annually by the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, the Festival has featured participants from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. The free Festival takes place for two weeks every summer, overlapping the Fourth of July holiday. It is an educational, research-based presentation that features master artisans and other tradition bearers.Visitors are invited to sing and dance along, try craft and game workshops, learn traditional recipes, ask questions, and take part in this unique cultural exchange.

Breakfast with the Bears at the National Zoo will run on Saturday, June 29 and Sunday, July 1 from 9-10:30am. This is a class you can surely sink your teeth into. Learn about the favorite foods of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s three species of bears, and then join us for outdoor snack time outside one of the bear exhibits! Friends of the National Zoo preschool classes are designed for children ages 2-3 to discover a whole new view of the National Zoo. “Adult-and-me” format classes use interactive learning stations, hands-on activities and crafts, Nature Play, and exciting Zoo Walks to engage your child’s sense of wonder and curiosity about wildlife and the natural world. Pre-registration is required.

Friday

5:00pm-8:30pm: Jazz in the Sculpture Garden
The free concert series features jazz artists performing a wide variety of styles—Traditional New Orleans jazz, blues, swing, Ska, Funk, Blues, Pan-Caribbean salsa, boogaloo, Go-go, and more. During jazz concerts, the Pavilion Café offers a special menu of creative American cuisine and refreshments. Alcoholic beverages may not be brought into the Sculpture Garden but may be purchased at the café. (Picture above)

7:00pm-9:00pm: 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.

Saturday

8:00am-1:00pm: 11th Annual City-Wide Truck Touch
This event will feature a variety of free activities for kids and adults. 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 healthcare, and more. Free boxed lunches will be provided to kids age 18 and under.

10:15am: Children’s Art Talk & Tour at Strathmore
Young art lovers can get behind the brushstrokes and into the head, heart, and history of the artists with these kid-friendly Saturday tours. Children take part in an educational guided tour of the current exhibitions followed by a hands-on art activity. Ages 7 & up. Accompanying adults are free. Reservations required.

10:30am: The Wizard of Oz at Wolf Trap Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods
Rediscover the joy of following the yellow brick road with Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tinman, and the Cowardly Lion as they travel through a reimagined world of Oz!

11:00am:  A Day at the Beach at Little Falls Library
Meet some animals that leave at the seashore! Under the Sea presents “A Day at the Beach,” a virtual tour of a beach on the Atlantic coast. You’ll learn about beach features like sand, waves, tides, dunes, and jetties. Children will meet some of the animals that call beaches home and learn about beach food chains during this lively and educational presentation by a marine scientist. This program is generously sponsored by the Friends of the Library, Montgomery County Inc and is appropriate for the entire family, but especially ages four and up. Space is limited; free tickets will be handed out 30 minutes before the program begins.

Sunday

(Photo: Red Panda Art Studio)

10:00am-5:00pm: KID Museum
KID Museum is an innovative learning space unlike any other in the DC region. The museum provides hands-on learning that incorporates STEM, art, and culture with 21st century skills like creativity and critical thinking. Click above link for the day’s events.

3:30pm-4:15pm: Sunday Funday at Imagination Stage
You and your child (ages 1-5) are invited to bring your favorite stories to life through dramatic play activities, music, movement, and visual art. Each session you leave with a special take-home item we used or created that day, as well as a Parent Pack to extend the experience at home. Featured story: Elephant & Piggie. Get your tickets!

4:00pm-5:30pm: Red Panda Art Studio Pop-in Drop-in
Red Panda Art Studio will be opening a Summer Pop-Up location to fulfill all of your creative needs during the month of July at the WAS Gallery in the Westwood II Shopping Center in Bethesda. Come check out the new studio space and celebrate their opening with a selection of their favorite sensory activities and projects, geared towards ages 3 to 8. Drop-off welcome. $25/child.

Other articles you may be interested in: 

Kids Eat Free in DC

Summer Camp Guide

Local Theatre Performances