This Weekend with Kids in DC

Smithsonian Solstice: Museums Until 11 PM

For the first time ever, Smithsonian museums stay open until 11 PM on Friday and Saturday. Special programs, DJ sets, and roller skating. This is a 3-day event running through Sunday, so you can go both days this weekend.

💡 Parent tip: Go early in the afternoon while crowds are light, take a dinner break, then come back for the evening programs. Air and Space and Natural History are the two that kids will want to see at night.

17th Street Block Party (Pride)

Dupont Circle's biggest street party. Food vendors, live entertainment, community vibes. Great for families during the daytime hours before it gets busy at night.

💡 Parent tip: Go before 3 PM with younger kids. The energy picks up in the evening and becomes more adult-oriented. Dupont Circle Metro drops you right there.

Capital Pride Parade + Family Fun Festival

Family Fun Festival at Stead Park with crafts, glitter tattoos, inflatable obstacle course, and story time. Parade at 3 PM on Saturday. Sunday festival with Maren Morris.

💡 Parent tip: The Family Fun Festival at Stead Park is specifically designed for kids. It runs separately from the main festival and is a calmer, friendlier environment for little ones.

Fête de la Musique in Georgetown

French music festival takes over Georgetown with free outdoor concerts from 4-8 PM. Live bands, French food, and a fun international vibe the whole family will enjoy.

💡 Parent tip: Walk along M Street and Wisconsin Avenue to catch different stages. Georgetown Waterfront Park is nearby if the kids need to run around between sets.

Home Rule Music Festival

Free all-day outdoor music at Walter Reed. Chuck Brown Band, Trouble Funk, and Sun Ra Arkestra. Kids Zone, vinyl record fair, food trucks, and live mural painting.

💡 Parent tip: The Kids Zone is the draw for families. Bring sunscreen and water. The vinyl fair is a fun browse for music-loving parents while the kids play.

Littles Bike Ride at Eastern Market

Tiny cyclists ages 3-6 ride through Capitol Hill with a police escort. Balance bikes and trikes welcome. Live band, Woom Bikes giveaways. Register on Eventbrite.

💡 Parent tip: Register ahead on Eventbrite since spots fill up. Bring your own bike or balance bike. Eastern Market Metro is two blocks away.

Manassas Bee Festival

Bounce house, wagon rides, farm animals, and a pollinator costume parade for kids. Bluegrass band, food trucks, and a free tractor wagon shuttle from downtown Manassas.

💡 Parent tip: Take the free tractor shuttle from downtown. The pollinator costume parade is a highlight for younger kids, so bring a bee or butterfly costume if you have one.

Science Solstice Sunday at the National Zoo

First day of summer at the zoo. Scavenger hunt with animal clues and prizes, animal demos, and hands-on STEM stations run by Smithsonian scientists. Free with timed pass.

💡 Parent tip: Book your free timed pass online before you go. Morning slots are cooler and less crowded. The scavenger hunt keeps kids moving through the whole zoo.

Capital Pride Festival (Sunday)

Capital Pride continues with Sunday's main festival on Pennsylvania Avenue. Maren Morris headlines. Vendors, food, and community organizations. The Family Fun Festival at Stead Park also runs Sunday.

💡 Parent tip: Head to the Stead Park Family Fun area if you have younger kids. It's set apart from the main festival with its own programming.

Smithsonian Solstice Sunday

Last day of the Smithsonian Solstice weekend. Regular hours on Sunday, but special programming continues throughout the day at museums along the Mall.