Weekend picks for families in and around Washington, DC

Celebrate Fairfax takes place all weekend! Included in this kick-off to summer is a carnival and plenty of kid rides as well as live music. Inova Children’s Hospital Avenue, located at the heart of the Celebrate Fairfax! Festival, is a playground of interactive activities for the youngest of our guests.  With a primary focus for those 12 and under, Inova Children’s Hospital Avenue is a not-to-miss destination for all young families. This area is full of fun FREE interactive and educational programs guaranteed to make kids of all ages move, groove, and sing-along. From fun, creative and informative activities to festival necessities like baby changing stations, this mini festival within our festival offers families an escape from the crowds. They saved the best for last; Sunday Brew is a pop-up beer festival will feature 13 local and regional breweries, each with up to 4 types of craft beer on-tap!

It’s going to be a DINO-MITE summer in Washington, DC. The much anticipated dinosaur exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History opening this weekend and is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Skip the opening weekend ceremonies and head to the Smithsonian National Zoo to see the Dinosaur Zoo Live Show. Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live guides families on a breathtaking tour that begins in pre-historic Australia, where they can observe, meet and interact with an eye-popping collection of lifelike dinosaurs and other creatures. This 30-minute theatrical performance will thrill and entertain kids while stimulating their imaginations in ways that will forever connect them to their world.

Saturday

9:30am and 11:30am:Sound Health: Second Saturdays
A series of free workshops designed for families with children under the age of 5* explores the power of the arts to promote wellness of the mind and body. Every second Saturday of the month, local arts organizations offer two 45-minute workshops in the Kennedy Center Grand Foyer. Local arts organizations offer two 45-minute workshops that will take place at 9:30am and 11:30am See below for a more complete schedule.

10:00am: Rocknoceros Concert
Sponsored by the House of the Temple Historic Preservation Foundation, Inc., the Children’s Hour is a free, children’s show on the second Saturday of every month that is open to the public. Each month, featuring a different entertainer.

10:00am-11:30am: Civil War Tour of Ft. Reno
Join the Civil War Defenses of Washington and the Tenleytown Historical Society for a tour of Fort Reno Park on Saturday, June 8th from 10:00-11:30 a.m. This program will explore the historic landscape where the largest fortification north of the Potomac River once stood during the Civil War. The tour will also include a discussion of the post-war Reno City community, urban development, and the establishment of Fort Reno Park. The program is free and open to the public.

10:15am: Ribbon cutting ceremony & opening at the NEW Deep Time exhibit
Someone say dinosaurs??! The much anticipated Dinosaur exhibit aka David H. Koch Hall of Fossils- Deep Time, is finally reopening at the Natural History Museum and it is Dino-mite! 

11:30am-3:00pm: Votes for Women Family Day at National Portrait Gallery
Enjoy music and art activities in the courtyard, plus tours of “Votes for Women: A Portrait of Persistence” and suffragist story time with the DC Public Library.

2:00pm-9:00pm: Pride on the Pier
Pride on the Pier extends the city’s annual celebration of LGBTQ visibility to the bustling Southwest waterfront with an exciting array of activities and entertainment. The District Pier will offer a DJ, dancing and other entertainment. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase for those 21 and older.

Sunday

11:00am-2:00pm: Rumpus Room at Black Cat
Rumpus Room is a family-friendly daytime dance party created by Marc Meistro & Steven Faith, DJs who wanted to share the nightclub experience with their children. Rumpus Room transforms the club environment (think disco balls, lights, and of course music) into safe family-friendly fun. Prepare for a dance floor filled with little ones, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and caregivers. The soundtrack for Rumpus Room is always a family-friendly mix of popular dance hits, classics, children’s songs and more, all at a kid-friendly volume. Rumpus Room is designed for kids 10 and under, but older siblings are welcome! Maximum 3 children per adult. Infants/crawling children enter free!

12:00pm-10:00am: Capital Pride Festival
Join the LGBTQ+ community, on America’s Mainstreet, historic Pennsylvania Avenue, for the Capital Pride Festival in the Nation’s Capital, presented by Live! Casino & Hotel. Enjoy a full day of entertainment, music, food, drink, education, and celebration. The Pride Festival includes three stages of national and local talent, and will host 300 exhibitors including local community groups and businesses, food vendors, and organizations looking to promote their products and services to our community. Engage, learn, and celebrate with the many diverse organizations that represent…us.*This family friendly event is FREE and open to the public.

1:00pm-5:00pm: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Birthday Party & Picnic
Celebrate world-renowned American architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s birthday. Visit the only Frank Lloyd Wright House open to visitors in the D.C. region – the small but magnificent Pope-Leighey House. Enjoy an afternoon of al fresco fun on the lawn of Pope-Leighey while you enjoy a local jazz group and take open house tours of this hidden architectural gem. Sip a drink, snap some photos of the house, and enjoy a picnic in mid-century modern style! And make sure you’ve got the Wright stuff to win our themed trivia game.

6:00pm: Movies on the Potomac at National Harbor: Matilda
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 the delicious dining establishments, and meet at the Plaza’s big screen for a FREE evening of fun for all ages! They also feature Date Night Movies on Thursdays at 7:00pm.