Weekend picks for families in and around Washington, DC

The Lotus and Water Lilly Festival at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens

Friday

4:00pm-5:00pm: Open Studio: Family Mindfulness
Beat the heat with your little ones during our summer meditation series! Take a moment to pause and reflect in front of artworks in the Freer’s permanent collection. Then, admire nature’s beauty in the courtyard with a series of facilitated activities to help deepen self-awareness. Finally, we’ll slow things down and experience guided breathing, storytelling, and other beginner-friendly mindfulness techniques led by instructors. Come ready to move in comfortable clothes. For ages four and above with adult companions. No registration required. First-come, first-served.

5:00pm-8:30pm: Jazz in the Sculpture Garden
The Jazz in the Garden Series begins its 19th season in May. The free concert series features jazz artists performing a wide variety of styles—Brazilian Folk Jazz, Alternative Modern, Blues, Reggae, World Steam Punk, Afro Funk, African Fusion Jazz, Cuban Charanga, Django Guitar, New Orleans Jazz, and more—every Friday evening from 5:00 to 8:30 in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. You can purchase food and adult beverages or bring your own picnic (but no adult bevs are allowed in, purchase them there).

7:00pm-9:00pm: Friday Night Concert Series: Jah Works
The free Capitol Riverfront Friday Night Concert Series is back for its 9th Season. Every Friday night this summer, head 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

9:00am-10:30am: Poo at the Zoo Preschool Class at the National Zoo
Who poos at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo? ALL the animals do, that’s who! Zoo scientists can learn a lot from poo; come to this class and so will you. Friends of the National Zoo preschool classes are designed for children ages 4-6 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. Please note that classes do not include any behind-the-scenes access or animal contact. $28/child for FONZ members. $35/child for non-members. Registration fee covers one child with adult.

9:00am-10:00am: Mornings at the Museum
Mornings at the Museum is a sensory-friendly program for children, teenagers, and young adults with disabilities and their families. The program includes early entry into the museum, facilitated and thematic activities, a take-a-break space, and pre-visit materials like social narratives and sensory maps. Registration required.

9:30am AND 11:30am: Sound Health- Second Saturdays: New Beginnings Yoga
This 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 workshops in the Kennedy Center Grand Foyer. Join Angelyn Shapiro of New Beginnings Yoga for an energizing morning of movement and exploration! Kiddos and their grown-ups will move through an all-levels yoga practice designed to increase body awareness, coordination, and spacial relations using songs, rhymes, and games. Children will explore basic poses and simple breathing techniques through creative play. No prior experience is required.

9:30am AND 11:30am: Saturday Morning at The National presents 123 Andres
You and your children are invited to join us at The National on Saturday mornings for a series of free programs that engage and inspire the young mind. Play, laugh, learn, and discover through interactive performances, puppets, dance, and music that are designed to light up the imagination and celebrate a world of wonder.

10:00am-5:00pm: The Lotus and Water Lilly Festival at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
The TWO-DAY festival features performances from cultures around the world, family fun games, arts and crafts and the amazingly beautiful lotuses and water lilies in full bloom! Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is a one-of-a-kind experience within Anacostia Park.

10:00am-6:00pm: The French Festival at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
Indulge your inner Francophile with French amusements from the 1700s in celebration of Bastille Day and Hillwood’s French decorative arts collection. Add to the festive atmosphere by making and wearing a French bergère or Napoleon hat. Experience the festivities of French court come to life in a play by Happenstance Theater. Enjoy the best of baroque dance with New York Baroque Dance Company. Immerse yourself in music of the 1700s with Kevin Shannon’s baroque guitar. Explore Hillwood’s luscious gardens and of course, admire the exquisite collection of French decorative arts from the 1700s collected by Marjorie Merriweather Post.

10:00am-12:00pm: Clean the Little Falls Creek and Parkway
Meet at the gravel parking lot on Little Falls Parkway near the Mass
Ave intersection in Bethesda. We have boots, gloves to lend. Pre-approved for MCPS SSL hours. Under 14 must be accompanied by a supervising adult.

10:00am-4:00pm: Commemorate the 155th Anniversary of the Battle of Fort Stevens
Help commemorate the 155th anniversary of the battle (which occurred on July 11-12, 1864). It was the only Civil War battle that occurred in the Nation’s Capital and the only time in the nation’s history that a sitting President (Lincoln) has come under direct enemy fire.

10:00am: The Children’s Hour featuring Miss Mollie, “The Bubble Lady”
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, they feature a different entertainer.

10:30am, 11:30am & 12:30pm: Investigate American Art: Winslow Homer (11:30, 12:30 and 1:30pm on Sunday)
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 art activity. Each program is approximately 60 minutes.

10:30am-11:00am: Family Playdate at The Phillips Collection
Join us every Saturday for a family-friendly playdate. Guided by a professional art educator, explore one to two galleries through fun, hands-on activities. Geared for families with children ages 4 to 8.

12:00pm: Spinbledon Kids Day
The first-ever SPINBLEDON kids day! Bring the whole family to enjoy instructional lessons on our grass inspired center court, get access to our in house face painters and enjoy cocktails and mocktails so the whole family can participate. The event is absolutely free for all and we have teamed up with Kidz Bop to offer karaoke in the private room, kids activity sheets and even a chance to win tickets to a Kidz Bop concert!

1:00pm AND 6:00pm: Mo Willems & the Storytime All-Stars present: Don’t Let the Pigeon Do Storytime!
Join a Concert Hall Storytime like you’ve never experienced before, featuring your favorite performers from TV, movies, and stand-up. Presenting Mo Willems’s books as sketch comedy, these hilarious performers invite the audience to laugh, sing, and draw along! This hysterical concert variety show is an expanded, fancy-dress version of sold-out performances at the 2018 San Francisco Sketchfest, and not to be missed by fans of comedy, books, or pigeons desperate to do Storytime!

2:00pm-4:00pm: Bastille Day Celebration
Join Tenleytown Main Street and the Friends of Fessenden Park for an
afternoon of French-inspired fun. Savor crepes and profiteroles from Le Chat Noir and Matisse, Sip Perrier, or Orangina and enjoy a glass of wine at Le Chat Noir with your entry ticket. Learn to play the French lawn game Petanque, plant a sunflower to take home with you, participate in family-friendly French arts &craft projects, enjoy music as you relax at a cafe table. Tickets are just $20; one child ticket (aged 10 and under) included free with a paid adult. Additional child tickets, $5/child. Tickets include all food, beverages, and activities.

Sunday

11:30am, 12:30pm and 1:30pm: Investigate American Art: Winslow Homer
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 art activity. Each program is approximately 60 minutes.

6:00pm: Movies on the Potomac at National Harbor: Coco
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! Please note that movies will begin at 6:00pm and will be shown once. They also feature Date Night Movies on Thursdays at 7:00pm.

6:30pm: Tunes on Tenth
Join 10th Street Community Park (between L and M Streets) for Tunes on Tenth! Featuring jazz fusion with The UpBeets – Jazz with a New BEET! Bring a lawn blanket or camping chair to the park. The friends of the 10th Street Park will be providing light goodies or feel free to bring your own!

Other happenings:
National Building Museum Summer Block Party
The Cat in the Hat at Adventure Theatre
The Ballad of Mu Lan at Imagination Stage
Universoul Circus at National Harbor
Balloonacy at Imagination Stage
Global Children’s Film Series at Landmark Theatre West End
L’Homme Cirque: The One-Man Circus at Strathmore

**Visit our calendar to plan ahead and see what events your family won’t want to miss
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**Sign up for Parenting Without Power Struggles at Edlavitch DCJCC on Thursday, July 18 at 7:30pm