Beltway Bambinos

Can’t make the trek to Legoland? No problem! A LEGO Discovery Center just opened in Springfield, VA. This indoor center focuses on building with legos perfect for kids ages 3-11.

Celebrate the last weekend of peach picking at Great Country Farm is having the final weekend of Peach Fuzztival!  Enjoy peaches in great food and drink at this full collaboration between Bluemont Vineyard, Dirt Farm Brewing, Henway Hard Cider, and Great Country Farms, all located in Bluemont, VA.

Friday

7:00pm-11:00pm: Smithsonian Nighttime Adventures at the Natural History Museum
The crowds are gone, and the doors have closed. Finally, one of the world’s most popular museums is your playground until nearly midnight! Join fellow adventurers at one of the world’s most visited museum as the doors close, the lights dim, and the crowds shuffle out for the day. Wander through the Fossil Hall, where dinosaurs cast giant shadows. Learn about Earth’s past, discover the ocean’s aquatic wonders, blast off to the moon, visit pollinators, and walk softly past mysterious mammals. Participate in games and challenges, immerse yourself in hand-on crafts and even learn how to eat like a T-rex while playing The Game of Survival. This program is for children ages 8 to 14 years old, accompanied by their adult chaperones (21 or older).

7:00pm: Planet Word JokeFest! An Open Mic Night Moderated by Pros
Prepare to be entertained and delighted as Planet Word presents our First Annual JokeFest Open Mic Night. Get ready to witness an uproarious celebration of language, wit, and jokes like never before! Our talented lineup of professional comedians will have you engaged with their clever wordplay, hilarious anecdotes, and side-splitting punchlines. Don’t forget, this is an open mic event, so if you’ve always wanted to try your hand at stand-up comedy, now is your chance. Share your jokes, tickle our funny bones, and bring the house down with your unique comedic stylings.

7:00pm: Friday Night Concert Series
The free Capitol Riverfront Friday Night Concert Series is back on the Yards Park boardwalk! 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.

Saturday

9:00am-8:00pm: National Book Festival
The event is free and open to the public. A selection of programs will be livestreamed online and videos of all programs will be available shortly after the Festival. Attendees may expect enhanced safety and security measures when entering the Convention Center.

10:00am-11:30am: Train Your Brain Project: Saturday Academy Col-Laboratory!
Train Your Brain Project presents…Saturday Academy Col-Laboratory. We are the passport to FUN for the weekend! Jumpstart your child’s day for amazing, snaps, crackles, and pops! The Collaboratory promotes a joyful environment for a diverse group of learners ages 3.5 – 10.

10:30am-11:30am: Summer Saturdays: Nature Detectives at Tudor Place
Intrepid explorers will create their own Nature Detective field journal and venture into the Tudor Place garden with a magnifying glass to uncover it’s secrets. Summer Saturdays is best enjoyed by young learners ages four to eight and their adults. This is not a drop-off program.

11:00am-12:00pm: Ice Cream Making Demonstration at Pierce Mill
Come learn about making old-fashioned ice cream, made famous by Dolly Madison, Quaker friend of Betsy Peirce. Watch the ingredients being poured into the dasher, learn about the brine that freezes the cream, and take a turn cranking the handle to make old fashioned ice cream. A historic recipe by Thomas Jefferson with modern adaptation will be available to take away. After the demonstration, we’ll have free ice cream treats for the kids!

11:00am-11:00pm: National Museum of African American History & Culture Hip-Hop Block Party
This year’s celebration will honor 50 years of hip-hop’s artistry, innovation and global transcendence — recognizing the culture and music that has been originated and shaped by Black America for decades.

11:30am-1:30pm (ages 5-8) OR 2:30pm-4:30pm (ages 9-12): The Phillips Plays with Photography: Creating Mood
Join to investigate materials, methods, and ideas in art. Families will explore the special exhibition, noting how Frank Stewart creates mood in his photographs. In the studio, families will play with light and shadow in digital photography to tell a moody story. $16, free for Phillips members and children. Reservations required, includes general admission.

County & Agriculture Fairs: Howard County, Montgomery County, Prince William County

Cool down at some splash parks– a few are listed below:
The Wharf: 999 7th St SW, Washington, DC 20024
Color Burst Park: 6000 Merriweather Dr, Columbia, MD 21044
The Yards: 355 Water St SE, Washington, DC 20003

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Treats worth the hype — What’s new from Milk Bar – Summer 2023:

• Strawberry Corn Cake (available online and at bakeries until 9/18): They slather buttery, sweet corn cake – think the best cornbread you’ve ever had – with layers of bright strawberry jam and crunchy bits of corn crumb. We top these flavored-filled layers off with a coating of strawberry speckled buttermilk frosting and more corn crumbs to give one last wink of flavor.  Also available in bite-sized truffle form! 

• Toasted Marshmallow Sundae (at bakeries only until 9/18): In this textural trifecta we celebrate the best part of a s’more, starting with a base of classic, lightly vanilla marshmallow flavor and caramelizing it for a richer, more deeply summer vibe. We top that with a thick drizzle of marshmallow goo and a ring of tiny toasted marshmallows for campfire crunch.

• What’s new in grocery stores: Strawberry Pie Ice Cream pints, packed with strawberry-flavored ice cream with pie crust and strawberry swirls are available starting this month for a limited time on GoPuff and at local grocery stores near you.