Let's hear it for the weekend!
Hey all! We've got some fun stuff heading your way this weekend in the DMV, from summer carnivals and concerts to the foodie paradise that is Baltimore Restaurant Week.
Here's your weekend roundup for Friday, August 2, to Sunday, August 4.
D.C.
Water Lantern Festival | National Harbor | Saturday
Spend a relaxing evening with family and friends at this meditative event! Enjoy delicious food, live music, and the releasing of your lanterns on the water. Tickets are $35-$40 and include the materials to make your lantern. Buy them here!
Truckeroo | Half Street Fairgrounds, Southwest & The Wharf | Friday
The Bullpen's monthly food truck festival is one you won't want to miss! From 4 to 11 p.m., explore exciting new food vendors and kick back with drinks, games, and other fun in the hip Wharf neighborhood. Admission is free. Check it out here!
Smithsonian Sleepovers at the Natural History Museum | National Museum of Natural History | Friday
Grab a toothbrush and your PJ's for a night at the museum! Kids from 8 to 14 can explore the museum after-hours with interactive activities, games, and a peaceful slumber under the museum's guardian, Phoenix the whale. Tickets are $125-$135 and can be reserved over the phone. Find out more here!
World's Fair at the DAR Museum | DAR Museum, Downtown | Saturday
Ever wondered what the original World's Fair was like? Now the DAR Museum will let you see for yourself! Explore the wild inventions and games that thrilled past fair-goers and check out booths from cultural groups and embassies. Admission is free. Find out more here!
All American Beer Festival at Navy Yard | The Fairgrounds, Southwest Waterfront | Saturday
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of a delicious beer! Gather at Navy Yard for an all-American celebration. Drink unlimited samples of American beer while enjoying live entertainment, food trucks, games, and more! Tickets are $25-$40. Read about it here!
Voices of Carmen | Kennedy Center | Saturday
Watch an updated version of the opera Carmen on the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage. Enjoy hip-hop versions of the rousing songs that made this play so famous. Admission is free – you can just show up! Check it out here.
Khalid Free Spirit World Tour | Capital One Arena | Saturday
Join the young artist on his first-ever arena tour at Capital One! Groove to tracks from 2019's Free Spirit, including the single "Talk" and the John Mayer-penned "Outta My Head." Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and tickets start at $39. Find out more here!
Maryland
Frederick Women's Distance Festival | Frederick Community College | Saturday
An event for women, by women! Race in an empowering 5K that starts and ends at Frederick Community College Student Center and speak to amazing organizations at the Race Day Expo. Part of the proceeds benefits the Women's Giving Circle of Frederick County. Registration is $30 through the month of July and $40 the day of the race. Click here for more information!
3rd Annual Havre de Grace Arts, Wine, & Jazz Festival | Susquehanna Lock House Museum | Saturday
Three of our favorite things all in one event! Savor wines and live jazz with an amazing view of the Susquehanna River from 2 to 7 p.m. Proceeds go towards restoring the Havre de Grace Colored School. Admission is $35-$40 and includes unlimited drink samples and a special event glass. View more about it here!
Baltimore Restaurant Week Summer | Locations Vary | Multi-day Event
Foodies, rejoice! From August 2 to 11, check out deliciously great deals from over 100 participating restaurants in the city of Baltimore. Savor amazing cuisine at hard-to-beat prices – two-course brunch and lunch between $12-$20 and three-course dinners under $50? Date night plans confirmed. Check out the full list of restaurants here.
Moonlight Movies at the Mansion | Kentlands Mansion Front Lawn, Gaithersburg | Friday
Gather on the front lawn of the lovely Kentlands Mansion for a free movie night! This week's pick is Spaceballs, so grab a blanket and prepare for some laughs! There will be free popcorn and other concessions that can be purchased with cash. Find out more here!
Summer Spirit Festival | Merriweather Post Pavilion | Saturday
This festival lives up to its name! Shake and groove to hip-hop, r&b, and jazz at Merriweather Post Pavilion, and experience an incredible lineup of artists – Anthony Hamilton, Raphael Saadiq, DVSN, PJ Morton, and more will bring down the house! Doors open at 1 p.m., and tickets start at $60. Check it out here!
Frederick Wine Festival | Carroll Creek Park, Frederick | Saturday
Cheer to Maryland's wine culture with a celebratory festival! From 1 to 5 p.m., get your pick of the finest local wines and enjoy delicious food, live music, and outdoor games in historic Frederick! General admission is $35-$45, and VIP tickets are available. Click here for more information!
Baltimore Improv Festival | Station North Arts & Entertainment District, Baltimore | Multi-day Event
Need your comedy fix? This festival showcases the best of comedy around the East Coast! From July 29 to August 4, witness hilarious improv shows from local comedy troupes in D.C., Philadephia, New York, and Baltimore. Amateur comedians can hone their craft at exclusive workshops offered through the week. Tickets start at $10. Find out more here!
Virginia
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial in Concert with NSO | Wolf Trap | Friday
Grab some Reese's Pieces and head to Wolf Trap for a special screening of ET! Watch the magical film on the big screen as the National Symphony Orchestra plays John Williams's iconic score. You won't want to "phone home"! Gates open at 7 p.m., and tickets start at $40. Get them here!
Fairfax County 4-H Fair and Carnival | Frying Pan Farm Park, Herndon | Multi-Day Event
Take a spin on carnival rides, eat yummy fair food, watch livestock exhibits and other entertainment at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon. Four days of action-packed fun await you! Did we mention admission is free? Read more about it here!
Annual Manassas African-American Heritage Festival | Grace E. Metz Middle School, Manassas | Saturday
This celebration of African-American culture is unparalleled in its scope and range! Between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., explore over 100 booths featuring arts and crafts, food, and jewelry, and enjoy live music playing all day long. Bobby G & Friends, Blues Band will rock your socks off! Admission is free. Check it out here!
Tavern Day | Gadsby's Tavern Museum, Alexandria | Saturday
Delight in a free open house at this historic tavern in Alexandria. Allow the museum's Junior docents to take you on a tour through the premises and take part in colonial-era games and activities. Enjoy a refreshing rum punch for some authentic flair! Find out more here.
Community Camp Out | Algonkian Regional Park, Sterling | Saturday-Sunday
Miss out on summer camp? This overnight camp sesh will more than make up for it with a guided hike, rock-climbing wall, and plenty of lazing around the river before hitting the lights. Camping is $10 per person and visitors will need to bring their own supplies. Check it out here!
As the oldest fair in the United States, Fredericksburg knows how to put on an event. From July 26 to August 4, go on midway rides and enjoy an array of entertainment from magic shows to pony rides at the petting zoo. There's no shortage of fun to be had! Admission is $6-$10 (free for kids under 3). You can find out more here!
Sarah McLachlan with NSO | Wolf Trap | Saturday
Wolf Trap is really killing it with summer concerts! Hear the Grammy Award-winning vocalist Sarah McLachlan belt it out this Saturday with accompaniment from the National Symphony Orchestra. Gates open at 6:30 PM, with tickets starting at $40. Buy them here!
Doing anything fun this weekend? Hit us up in the comments and tell us your plans!
