On behalf of Owney the Dog, our famed four-legged friend, the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum cordially invites you to the Dog Days of Summer Family Festival. The program activities will take place throughout the museum on Saturday, July 28th and Sunday, July 29th from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Make an Owney puppet, go on a scavenger hunt throughout the entire museum, locating objects relating to dogs and other animals, planes, trains, automobiles, and more, see if you are up for the challenge by trying our agility course which simulates the mule mail route, story time occurs every half-hour, railway post office training school; experience what was it like to work at a post office on a moving train, and end your day with complimentary ice pops.
Who’s New at the Zoo? Preschool Class. Get to know the new faces, flippers, paws and claws at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, featuring our baby golden lion tamarin and our infant gorilla, Moke! Friends of the National Zoo preschool classes are designed for children ages 2-3 and 3-5 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. Saturday and Sunday sessions are available. Saturday & Sunday classes 9:00am-10:30am. $28/child for FONZ members. $35/child for non-members. Registration fee covers one child with adult.
Celebrate Summer at the Gaylord National Resort! This summer the Capital Region’s premier waterfront resort, Gaylord National, will celebrate its 10 year anniversary by offering iconic American-themed summertime activities with SummerFest featuring an All-American Celebration. From outdoor events and great music to ghost tours, scavenger hunts, seasonal cocktails and more, there is something for everyone. Whether you are visiting the Washington, DC area to sightsee, a family looking for a getaway or a great night out with friends, you will find everything you need to make your summer getaway memorable.
Friday
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.
Jazz in the Sculpture Garden
The Jazz in the Garden Series begins its 18th season in May. The free concert series features jazz artists performing a wide variety of styles—Traditional New Orleans jazz, blues, swing, Ska, Funk, Pan-Caribbean salsa, boogaloo, Go-go, and more—every Friday evening from 5:00pm to 8:30pm 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).
Friday Night Live Concert Series
Kick off your weekend with live entertainment, great company, and fantastic food, wine and beer from the restaurants at Rockville Town Square from 6:00pm-9:00pm
on The Square in Rockville Town Square. Music ranges from 80’s and 90’s cover bands, funk and soul, roots rock blues and southern rock.
Saturday
10:00am-2:00pm: Japanese Star Festival at Hillwood Estate & Museum
Explore the enchanting Japanese-style garden. Listen to fascinating tales by storyteller Tara McGowan, who brings Japan’s famous Tanabata legend to life through story, song, and visual arts. Listen to delightful music, performed by the Washington Toho Koto Society. Write poems and special wishes on colorful strips of paper, called tanzaku, to hang on bamboo, following the traditional Japanese custom to celebrate Tanabata. Decorate a paper lantern, make paper ornaments, try your hand at Japanese calligraphy, and more.
10:00am-1:00pm: Art Explorers at Glen Echo
Activities change weekly. Drop in for a 1/2 hour art project. No pre-registration; $5 per parent/child pair, or $8 for two children with adult. Parent/Child Drop-in Art Activities. (Most activities take approximately 30 minutes). Best for kids under age 10.
(Various times) Art Investigators: Constant Troyon
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. Each program is approximately 60 minutes.
5:00pm-7:00pm: Concert & Picnic at Forest Hills Playground
The Friends of Forest Hills Playground + The Erich Cabe Team will bring you another fun, all-ages concert featuring a duo who has shared the stage with Joe Cocker, John Mayer and Aimee Mann, among others, Naked Blue. Get there around 5:00pm to grab the perfect spot and buy pizza from the Armand’s food truck. Pizza preorders are now open, reserve your whole pies and salads here. The music starts at 5:30pm and the show will wrap up by 7pm.
Sunday
(Various times) Art Investigators: Constant Troyon
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. Each program is approximately 60 minutes.
10:00am-5:00pm: KID Museum
KID Museum offers unique, interactive experiences for elementary and middle school-aged children that integrate hands-on science, technology, engineering, art and math learning with an exploration of world cultures and global citizenship. Each week there are different activities– check the website for updates. KID Museum’s site at Davis Library in Bethesda, Maryland offers the community exciting programs and workshops. It is a first step toward the museum’s broader vision of a larger, permanent museum home in Montgomery County, focused on empowering the next generation to invent the future with imagination, resourcefulness, and compassion.
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: Dragons Love Tacos. Get your tickets!
6:00pm: Movies on the Potomac at National Harbor: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
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! . They also feature Date Night Movies on Thursdays at 7:00pm.
Check out our NEWEST guide:
Outdoor fun
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Ice Cream!