Weekend Picks: August 4-6, 2017

Howard County Fair begins today and runs through August 12 and is open from 8:00am-11:00pm. Admission is $5 for ages 10 and up, $2 for seniors and is FREE for kids under 10. Rides and games are extra. See the schedule for fun events throughout the week. Your family will have the opportunity to enjoy rides, watch a Demolition Derby or Rodeo, taste fair food and win prizes. Don’t miss the magic show and talent show,  pony rides or the kids and critters barn. The fair address is 2210 Fairground Road, West Friendship, MD.

Smithsonian American Art Museum Arcade is an annual event hosted by the Smithsonian American Art Museum and its partners. The event, which is free and open to the public, is August 5 and 6, 2017 at the museum’s main building in Washington, D.C. from 11:30am-7:00pm. This year, the museum will be filled to the brim with video games. One hundred fifty independent developers have submitted their games to be shown at SAAM Arcade while additional arcade cabinets and consoles will be provided by MagFest, Death by Audio Arcade, Arcades4Home, and CrabTowne USA. Game building workshops will be presented in the MacMillan Education Center by Boolean Girl and the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, while the Triforce Quartet and Bit Brigade perform in McEvoy Auditorium. In addition, Events DC presents the Boys and Girls Club Youth eSports League Championship on the 3rd floor.

BrickFair LEGO is Saturday and Sunday at the Dulles Expo Center from 10:00am-5:00pm. Lego enthusiasts this is for you!

Peach Daze Fuzztival is Saturday and Sunday from 9:00am-6:00pm. Celebrate Peak Peach Picking season!  Enjoy the fruit in great food and drink at this full collaboration between Bluemont Vineyard, Dirt Farm Brewing and Great Country Farms, all located in Bluemont, VA.

69th Annual Fairfax County 4-H Fair and Carnival at Frying Pan Farm Park is also going on through August 6. Carnival rides, wagon and carousel rides, food trucks, live entertainment and more. 

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.

Lot opens 6:00pm & closes at 8:00pm, Film begins 8:30pm:  Union Market Drive-In: Chef (Rated R)
(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? Rent one on Getaround for the night and get $25 off your first rental. For more information and tickets click here.

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-

10:30am & 1:00pm: Ice cream making at Peirce Mill
(2539 Tilden St NW Washington, D.C. 20008)
The dog days of summer are upon us, and what better way to escape than a demonstration of homemade ice cream. Come learn about making this hand cranked frozen treat brought over from France by Dolly Madison, watch the ingredients being poured into the dasher, and learn about the brine that froze the cream.  A historic recipe by Thomas Jefferson with modern adaptation will be available to take away. This event is free.

11:00am-1:00pm: Explore! Summer Family Festival by Children’s Museum of Washington DC
(Mission Mobile Launch Pad: 5234 4th Street NE Washington, DC 20011)
The final festival of the Summer is here! Come learn about Explore! Children’s Museum, create something new with Imagination Stage and play with members of your DC community and local teaching artists – all at the site of the future Children’s Museum! They will be providing free books again from local author Tom Noll and coloring books from Color with Luna! Learn to play different instruments at the Percussion Playground from The Uncle Devin Show! There will be a Mad Science show from 11:30 – 12:15 p.m. – Don’t Miss it! Light snacks and water will be available.

Sunday-

12:30pm-2:30pm: The Great Zucchini at Maggiano’s
(5333 Wisconsin Avenue NW Washington, DC 20015)
Proceeds from each ticket purchased will be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Price includes Maggiano’s Lunch Buffet, Magic Show & Cookie Decorating.

5:00pm: Big Bang Boom Concert
(McLean Central Park Gazebo, 1468 Dolley Madison Blvd., McLean, Va. 22101)
Big Bang Boom’s live show is high-energy, and both parents and children find it hard to stay in their seats (video)! From calling the kids on stage for the “Spongebob Chorus” to the “Parents vs. Kids Hokey-Pokey Challenge,” Big Bang Boom has made certain that there is no sitting down at their fun and energetic show.

6:00pm: Movies on the Potomac at National Harbor: Space Jam
(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!

Theatre for this weekend:
Alice’s Rock and Roll Adventure at Imagination Stage has shows on Saturday and Sunday. 
Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook at Adventure Theatre has shows on Saturday and Sunday.
Circus! at Puppet Co. has shows on Saturday and Sunday with a Tiny Tots: Sing Along show on Saturday morning