All weekend

Fiesta DC is a family friendly celebration of Latino culture. The full-day festival includes a wide range of entertainment and great food from a wide variety of Latino cultures. The festival grounds are located on Pennsylvania Avenue between 9th and 14th Streets beginning at the U.S. Navy Memorial Plaza and extending to Freedom Plaza.

Mark the beginning of the Kennedy Center’s 50th anniversary with a weekend pointing us towards the future. Various performances are planned Thursday-Saturday.

HUEPHORIA is at Merriweather District Experience an immersive and interactive art exhibition in the Merriweather District through Sunday. Four Artists. Four Days. One Exhibition. Bolder, brighter, and better than ever. Merriweather District’s Artist-in-Residence program presents HUEPHORIA: a fully immersive art exhibition fusing sound, culture, and performance.

Returning for its sixth year, the international mural festival, formerly known as POW! WOW! is convening local, national and international artists under its new name, D.C. Walls from September 8th – 18th, 2021. The 10-day outdoor festival launched originally in 2016, and is the local chapter of the worldwide POW! WOW! collective, based in Hawai’i. Click above link for locations!

Corn Maze & Apple Harvest at Great Country Farms lasts through Sept. 30 and is open 9am-6pm daily. Pick apples, listen to live music, and learn how cider was made back in the day on an antique cider press with an antique 1865 cider pressing demos. Sample freshly pressed cider and see how it used to be produced! You must have registered prior to going. Head up to Dirt Farm Brewery afterwards for a breathtaking view & some hops.

Saturday

10:00am-4:00pm: Falls Church Festival
The festival features The Taste of Falls Church, a beer garden, live music, children’s entertainment, and booths from local crafters, businesses, and civic organizations. 

10:00am-12:00pm: Clean the creek with Little Falls Watershed Alliance
Saturday promises wonderful fall weather, Perfect for cleaning the creek! Meet at the gravel parking lot at the intersection of Little Falls and
Mass Avenue in Bethesda to clean the Little Falls Parkway and Creek. There will be boots and grabbers to lend as well as gloves, safety vests and
bags. The event is pre-approved for MCPS SSL hours.  Kids under 14 years must be accompanied by an adult supervisor. Registration and more information is here.  

10:00am-7:00pm: Maryland Renaissance Fair
Take a time machine back to medieval times. With plenty of entertainment, including music, joisting, puppetry, pony rides and so much more. Dates are: September 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26; October 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24

11:00am: Adams Morgan Day is back with some in-person events! Music, dancing, a kids zone with some clinics and vendors are a few.

12:00pm-4:00pm: Doggie Swim
With the end of the *human* outdoor swimming season, this annual event provides *dogs* with a one-day opportunity to jump in the pools, enjoy a swim and play fun aquatics games. Register above and read the guidelines for dogs to be eligible to join the fun.

• Upshur Pool (4300 Arkansas Ave., NW)
• Randall Pool (25 I Street, SW)
• Francis Pool (2435 N Street, NW)

3:00pm-4:00pm: NSO In Your Neighborhood: La Coop Coffee Company, Outdoor Chamber Performance
With deep roots in the Guatamalan coffee industry, La Coop Coffee Company is a family-owned and operated business from the beginning of the value chain in Union Cantinil, Huehuetenango, Guatemala, to the end in Washington, D.C. La Coop Coffee prides themselves on using the business to foster community in this uptown neighborhood of Brightwood Park. Join members of the NSO for an outdoor concert in the backyard of this home-style coffee shop. Bringing your own blankets and chairs are encouraged.

6:00pm-7:00pm: NSO In Your Neighborhood: The Parks at Walter Reed, Outdoor Chamber Performance
The Parks at Walter Reed is a vibrant community of mixed-use development spaces on 66 acres of land, formerly known as the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. This NSO string quartet performance will take place on the Great Lawn, prior to a screening of Disney Pixar’s Soul. Bringing your own blankets and chairs are encouraged.

7:00pm-8:00pm: NSO In Your Neighborhood: Takoma Station Tavern. Outdoor Chamber Performance
Takoma Station Tavern is a well-established and historic DC venue, known for supporting local musicians, particularly jazz musicians and soul singers. This chamber concert will take place outdoors across the street from the venue. In the event of rain, this event will be held indoors at Takoma Station Tavern. Come enjoy live music along with local food trucks and family friendly activities.

Sunday

10:00am-7:00pm: Maryland Renaissance Fair
Take a time machine back to medieval times. With plenty of entertainment, including music, joisting, puppetry, pony rides and so much more. Dates are: September 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26; October 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24

12:00pm-1:00pm: NSO In Your Neighborhood: AFI Silver Theater and Cultural Center, Chamber Performance
The AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in downtown Silver Spring is a historic landmark dedicated to preserving the art of the moving image, and concentrates on presenting film and video generally unavailable elsewhere. This chamber performance will take place against the backdrop of 1938 art deco details, in the historic Theater 1. FREE event; tickets required! RSVP here, then pick up your tickets at the theater on Sun, Sept. 12, starting at 11:30 a.m. RSVP is strongly recommended. Walk-up admissions on Sept. 12 will be accepted on the basis of availability, but are not guaranteed.
AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center will require proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test result from within the past 72 hours for entry. Read the full policy here.

12:00pm-1:00pm: NSO In Your Neighborhood: Rock Creek Nature Center, Outdoor Chamber Performance
Rock Creek Nature Park consists of 1,754 acres of lush greenery. The Nature Park Center serves as the hub, where park ranger-led programs meet and numerous trails begin. This chamber concert will take place outdoors in front of the center, accompanied by the quiet bustling sounds of nature.

Think ahead:

September 26,  for the very popular Creek Critters Day, a family oriented workshop where you are invited into the creek to hunt for macro-invertebrates.  Creek Critters is free, but registration
is required as space is limited.  Register here. 

All weekend:

Field Day: A Three Day Festival for Emerging Voices
44:21 and Shout Mouse Press team up to celebrate emerging storytellers! Events include a short film festival featuring the work of young filmmakers, a reading featuring teen authors around the DMV, a writing workshop, and a community open mic. You’ll also get to enjoy live music, buy art from local artists, and buy books from local authors. Field Day: A Three Day Festival for Emerging Voices is part of the Kennedy Center’s 2021 Millennium Stage Summer Series, celebrating societal emergence from the pandemic and the return of live performance.

Washington Nationals host the New York Mets Friday-Sunday with 5 games. Be the one of the first 15k fans to get a Ryan Zimmerman Bobblehead on Friday, Saturday afternoon the first 5k kids can get a Screech travel pillow and on Saturday night you can see fireworks.

The curtain is closing on Fairy Tales in the Sun at Adventure Theatre this weekend. One show, two plays! While the production will be outside, in the grassy field next to ATMTC and the Irish Inn, strict COVID protocols will still be followed.

DC Jazz Festival is entertaining audiences through September 5, with 20+ concerts, interviews and exclusive events featuring international superstars and homegrown talent. The signature event, DC JazzFest at The Wharf will take place September 4-5, over Labor Day Weekend, as a hybrid of in-person and livestream performances to a worldwide audience.

The Big Bounce is in Washington, DC this weekend and next. The World’s Biggest Bounce House is now supersized to over 13,000 square feet and is joined by three amazing attractions for you all to explore: The Giant, America’s Largest Inflatable Obstacle Course, airSPACE and a brand new sports themed inflatable, Sport Slam!

Friday

6:15pm: NSO In Your Neighborhood: Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center
Taking place across three weeks in September, the NSO is pleased to bring In Your Neighborhood to new neighborhoods in Ward 4 and Silver Spring. Collaborating with neighborhood partners to safely offer people the opportunity to connect through the power of live music. Friday’s events include- Music and Mandala Making Workshop: 6:15–7 p.m & Full Orchestra Concert: 7:30 p.m.

Saturday

10:00am-7:00pm: Maryland Renaissance Fair
Take a time machine back to medieval times. With plenty of entertainment, including music, joisting, puppetry, pony rides and so much more. Dates are: September 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26; October 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24

1:30pm-7:30pm: SummerFest at Olney Outdoors
SummerFest is the grand finale of our Olney Outdoors programming with FREE events and performances happening all day starting at 1:30 pm. From food trucks to outdoor activities, backstage tours, and so much more,  we are so excited to celebrate coming together around the arts again after over a year and a half.

Sunday

10:00am-7:00pm: Maryland Renaissance Fair
Take a time machine back to medieval times. With plenty of entertainment, including music, joisting, puppetry, pony rides and so much more. Dates are: September 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26; October 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24

8:00pm: NSO Labor Day Concert
The NSO’s annual Labor Day weekend concert returns, relocated this year from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol to the REACH Plaza! Join for a FREE performance conducted by Larry Loh with special guests NSO Artistic Advisor Ben Folds and saxophonist Charlie Young. This special concert features music from Duke Ellington, new Kennedy Center Composer-in-Residence Carlos Simon, Jessie Montgomery, and Michael Abels. The performance is FREE to attend, no tickets required. Seating is first-come, first serve.

Monday

11:00am-3:00pm: Kensington Labor Day Festival
Armory Avenue will be filled with food and drink vendors, live music, bounce houses, and lots of family fun.

Looking ahead:
HUEPHORIA Sept 9-12
Experience an immersive and interactive art exhibition in the Merriweather District. Four Artists. Four Days. One Exhibition.

Synetic is bringing FREE theater to Lubber Run Amphitheater this September 10th & 11th! Reserve your seats today by visiting the link above!

Anne Arundel County Fair Sept. 15-19

It’s time to celebrate Christmas in July! Single tickets are now on sale for DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! THE MUSICAL at D.C.’s National Theatre, located on Pennsylvania Avenue just steps from the White House. The production will open the 2021/2022 Broadway at The National season as the first live performance in the venue since March of 2020. THE GRINCH will play for two weeks only, from November 23 through December 5, 2021, with multiple performances available on Black Friday.

More:
As summer comes to an end, we have certainly done our share of checking off places to go on our bucket list!

Sunflower fields to visit near Washington, DC

The summer tab on our site has everything you need to make the hot days fun. Splash parks, pools, our bucket list, movies and music are a few to check out. Head there before summer is over!

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Horseback riding & lessons
Educational toys & games

Friday

6:00pm-9:00pm: After Hours at The Station
Grab your blankets, chairs and dinner at one of The Station’s restaurants and meet us on The Village Green. Celebrate summer every Friday night with: Live DJ sets, Outdoor games, Nine-hole miniature golf, A photo scavenger hunt, Giveaways, prizes and more! This event is free and open to the public. Dogs are welcome!

7:00pm: Friday Night Concert Series at The Yards– The 19th Street Band 
The free Capitol Riverfront Friday Night Concert Series is back for its 11th 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.

Sundown: DPR movie night at Ft. Lincoln– Lion King
Movie nights will begin at dusk on various dates at DPR Recreation Centers all over the District. Enjoy new and classic films, snacks and more. No need to RSVP, just show up for an evening of fun! 

9:00pm: Moonlight Movies: Flashback Fridays – Cool Runnings
Prince George’s County Moonlit Movies are back! Outdoor movies have been a tradition in Greenbelt since 2014, and they continue this summer as a safe, fun way to get back to the movies! “Moonlit Movies: Flashback Fridays” feature nostalgic favorites on Braden Field, behind the Youth Center. Attendance is capped at 100 people. Each attendee requires a ticket. Please, no pets. New this summer: $5 snack packs! Pre-order your favorites here. Recreation and OGT staff will be at the entrance—behind home plate—to check you in. Masks use is suggested when you are not seated. Water-resistant picnic blankets are preferred to provide everyone with the best view. Chairs are allowed, the lower the better—circles will be spaced to give everyone the best view possible.

Saturday

10:00am AND 12:00pm: Theatre for Young Audiences at Olney Outdoors– Disney Sing-a-long
The Root Family Stage is an open-air stage for families this summer. 

10:00: Marsha and the Positrons at Fairfax County Arts in the Parks
Head to this free show guaranteed to get you moving and singing along.  Here’s the whole lineup for the series!  

11:00am, 2:00pm AND 4:30pm: Fairytales in the Sun at Adventure Theatre
The performance will be outdoors, so bring your lawn chairs or picnic blankets, and your facial covering, for a theater experience that will be fun for the whole family! 

11:00am: Dan + Claudia Zanes with Friends at Wolf Trap
Grammy Award-winner Dan Zanes (The Del Fuegos) and Haitian-American jazz vocalist and music therapist Claudia Zanes perform a mix of old and new songs from near and far. The selections are drawn from Dan’s House Party songbook and their upcoming release. During this highly interactive show, the audience is invited to dance and sing along. See all of the children’s performances happening this summer at Wolf Trap here.

Sundown: DPR movie night at Kalorama Rec Center– Lion King
Movie nights will begin at dusk on various dates at DPR Recreation Centers all over the District. Enjoy new and classic films, snacks and more. No need to RSVP, just show up for an evening of fun! 

6:00pm: National Cathedral hosts Washington Ballet
Pack a summer picnic and blanket and get ready to be inspired by the ballet company in and of the nation’s capital! Enjoy a free outdoor performance by The Washington Ballet on the front lawn of the iconic Washington National Cathedral. Be the first to see brand new original choreography by the professional company dancers along with well-known classical ballet works. A performance by The Washington School of Ballet’s Professional Training Division will kick off the evening. While this event is free, RSVPs are required. Please consider supporting free Washington Ballet events like these with a donation.

Sunday

10:00am: Theatre for Young Audiences at Olney Outdoors– Stories of Nature & Faith through the Hindu Pantheon
The Root Family Stage is an open-air stage for families this summer. 

11:00am, 2:00pm AND 4:30pm: Fairytales in the Sun at Adventure Theatre
The performance will be outdoors, so bring your lawn chairs or picnic blankets, and your facial covering, for a theater experience that will be fun for the whole family! 

3:00pm: Digital reading from Adventure Theatre
Plan for a digital reading of an original work entitled The Truth About Krampus by Charlotte La Nasa. Adventure Theatre MTC’s digital productions are Sundays at 3PM ET (note new time) free on Facebook-Live.

More:
Sunflower fields to visit near Washington, DC

The Washington Nats are in Baltimore this weekend. A quick trip up 95 and you are there in under an hour. We have a guide to Baltimore if you plan to be there for the game, there is plenty more to do.

The summer tab on our site has everything you need to make the hot days fun. Splash parks, pools, our bucket list, movies and music are a few to check out.

A new mural is coming to Union Market this weekend; Amanda Gorman mural in Dupont Circle. The mural depicts the 23-year-old reciting her poem “The Hill We Climb.”  

Think ahead:
It’s time to celebrate Christmas in July! Single tickets are now on sale for DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! THE MUSICAL at D.C.’s National Theatre, located on Pennsylvania Avenue just steps from the White House. The production will open the 2021/2022 Broadway at The National season as the first live performance in the venue since March of 2020. THE GRINCH will play for two weeks only, from November 23 through December 5, 2021, with multiple performances available on Black Friday.

Get tickets for The Big Bounce, coming to Washington, DC Sept. 3-12. The Big Bounce America is back, bigger and better than ever for 2021! The World’s Biggest Bounce House is now supersized to over 13,000 square feet and is joined by three amazing attractions for you all to explore: The Giant, America’s Largest Inflatable Obstacle Course, airSPACE and our brand new sports themed inflatable, Sport Slam!

Cheers to the weekend and summertime!!! If you are looking to escape the city for a bit, we have a few posts worth bookmarking for the summer. Beach & State Parks, Overnight Trips & Outdoor destinations less than 2 hours from DC to name a few!

We have 20 rental codes to giveaway for you to watch Spirit Untamed at home, on-demand!

A few summer camps still have openings! Confetti in Tenleytown has a fun summer planned, with themed weeks of camp and lots of great activities planned. CityDance has plans for a safe summer too and offers a combination of online and in-person summer programs. The International School of Music is offering virtual and in-person music classes this summer, teaching all instruments and voice.

After a 15-month closure, The Avalon Theatre is beyond thrilled to announce that they are open to the public. They’re taking a cautious, conservative approach when it comes to health and safety measures, including limited capacity, reserved seating, and mask requirements. More can be learned about these measures here. They will also continue the popular Virtual Cinema program, with many films being available both in theaters and online. 

Washington, DC has so many great options when it comes to summertime movies and music! Check out both as there are many weekend options that include movies + music.

Saturday

Block Party at National Building Museum
In previous years, the Museum’s popular Summer Block Party has showcased massive, immersive, crowd-inducing installations in the Great Hall. Begins today and lasts through Labor Day. This year’s iteration, however, features a handful of smaller projects and public programs both within the Museum and on the West Lawn that are better suited to the early post-pandemic era of smaller gatherings and social distancing, including a wooden maze filled with books, a hand-built cathedral truss, public programs, and, thanks to a partnership with the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID), interactive lawn art and outdoor movies. Opening this Saturday is “Maze of Knowledge”, a winding 26-foot-square installation inside the Great Hall by @foonsham, a D.C.-area sculptor.

10:00am: Illumination presents Saturday Morning Minions
Join Illumination every Saturday for the next 40 Saturdays for its first original digital series. To watch, follow Illumination on Facebook & Instagram and turn on post notifications to catch every episode.

5:00pm-7:00pm: Pizza on the Farm
Head to Calleva for pizza, drinks, dessert and ziplines on Fridays and Saturdays through October. This is a great opportunity to wander the farm. Families are welcome.

Opening night of the Heist Summer Summer Series on the rooftop of the Kennedy Center! Conceived as a joyous return to DC life after more than a year of isolation, the HEIST Summer Series elevates Washington nightlife by bringing the unique aesthetic of the famed Dupont Circle nightclub HEIST outdoors for a season of memorable experiences, bottle service offerings and live DJs, every Saturday night for eight weeks. The sprawling terrace lounge will play home to 60 VIP tables boasting unparalleled views of the Potomac River, Georgetown waterfront, and more. Reservations are required and it’s pricey.

Sunday

2:00pm: Fairy Tales in the Sun at Adventure Theatre
Adventure Theatre will preview its upcoming summer show, Fairy Tales in the Sun, during its weekly digital production webcast. Artistic Director Chil Kong will present clips from rehearsals as well as background on the plays’ development and the interaction with the playwrights. Fairy Tales in the Sun features two short, in-person plays: The Flood in the Future and From Cinders to Ella. 

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