Weekend picks in and around Washington, DC

A new exhibit at Smithsonian National Zoo opened today: Claws and Paws Pathway exhibit. Visitors will encounter four species, including a North American porcupine, bobcats and the Zoo’s newest residents—binturongs and Pallas’s cats. While walking along the Claws and Paws Pathway, visitors can sniff out the unusual odors associated with these animals and look for their shared fascinating traits—paws and claws. The renovated area is located behind the prairie dog exhibit, adjacent to the Zoo’s Police Station and Mane Grille restaurant.

All weekend

Show Way The Musical at the Kennedy Center has shows all weekend. The award-winning book from Education Artist-in-Residence Jacqueline Woodson becomes a world premiere stage adaptation with new music. Soonie’s great-grandma was just seven years old when she was sold to a big plantation without her ma and pa, with only some fabric and needles to call her own. She began to stitch a Show Way, a quilt with secret meanings to show enslaved people the way to freedom. As each generation passes, the Show Way shines a light on the past and paves a road to the future, stitching together possibility and promise.

Escape the city for a lovely day among nature at Ticonderoga and National Botanic Garden for the Art, Flowers & Flavors Festival. Meet art exhibitors, sample wine and beer, enjoy food, chocolates, and explore our gardens.

Rolling to Remember has events on Friday and Saturday.

Saturday

9:00am-4:00pm: Flowers of Remembrance Day at Arlington National Cemetery
Flowers of Remembrance Day pays homage to the first official Decoration Day, now known as Memorial Day, which originally took place in Arlington National Cemetery in 1868 as a way to honor the sacrifices of those who fought and died in the Civil War. This first Decoration Day featured a procession from Arlington House to the Tomb of the Civil War Unknowns and further into the cemetery, where people decorated the graves with flowers.  This became an annual tradition and established Arlington as the site of the nation’s official, annual Decoration Day observance. Flowers will be provided or members of the public may bring any long-stemmed flower to place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. 

9:00am-10:00pm: FUTURES Field Day
What if the future of sports could be an equal playing field? What would a sports world look like where everyone has the opportunity to join in? Come outside and play at AIB for FUTURES Field Day to find out! We invite ALL play enthusiasts to join us for a Saturday of fun activities that will get your body moving while exploring an inclusive, uplifting, and intentional future of sports.  We’re creating the Field Day we dreamed of as kids, where wellness and community matter as much as physical conditioning, a place with lower barriers to entry and access to a quality athletic experience, where gender is not a pre-determining factor to what sport you can play, or how successful where you can be. FUTURES Field Day is a where joy and uplifting each other is an essential part of your athletic journey.  

10:00am-1:00pm: Maker Morning at Hirshhorn
In Spanish, RevelArte means to reveal. Reveal your inner artist in this special celebration and bonus Maker Morning program! The Hirshhorn is partnering with DC Public Library and three local artists (Nicoletta de la Brown, Veronica Melendez, Carlos Carmonamedina) to explore places that are important to us. Materials will be available in both English and Spanish. Meet on the Hirshhorn’s covered outdoor Plaza. Click link above to see schedule.

3:30pm: Jazz at The Kreeger | Dominique Bianco & Alex Brown
In collaboration with Elijah Jamal Balbed, The Kreeger Museum is honored and thrilled to present, Jazz at The Kreeger, a new series that furthers our mission to share music across the city. Now in its second year, this series supports and spotlights the wealth of musical talent in our metropolitan area.

Sunday

12:15pm: Summer Reading Sunday at Nationals Park
All of these, which are FREE to attend with a ticket to that day’s game, feature a read-along with a Nationals player plus other fun activities. This Sunday, Sean Doolittle will be reading to the group, and among the featured games is one of my personal favorites, Mad-Libs. Additionally, each child who attends will receive up to THREE FREE BOOKS to take home.

Monday

10:00am-1:30pm: Memorial Day Tours of the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery 2022
This free event will include a wreath laying ceremony at the John Logan Mausoleum by distinguished military veterans from the Armed Forces Retirement Home followed by guided tours of the cemetery highlighting the notable people buried within.

10:00am-4:30pm: Main Reading Room Holiday Opening at the Library of Congress
For the federal Memorial Day holiday, the Library will open to the public, including a rare opportunity to walk through the magnificent Main Reading Room. Please note: Every Library of Congress visitor must reserve timed-entry passes in order to maintain safe capacity levels in the Thomas Jefferson Building.

2:00pm: National Memorial Day Parade
The National Memorial Day Parade returns LIVE in 2022! For the first time since 2019, the parade returns to Constitution Avenue in Washington, DC, in the nation’s largest Memorial Day salute to the men and women who have sacrificed for our country. Join in Washington, DC this Memorial Day afternoon at 1:00 PM for a very special pre-parade program, including a special performance from Eli Young Band at the corner of Constitution Avenue and 7th St., NW. Then, stay for the 2022 National Memorial Day Parade kicking off at 2:00 PM sharp!

Fruit & Vegetable Picking
Beach & State Parks
Overnight trips
Water parks, splash pads and pools
Pirate Adventures on the Chesapeake