DC Thrifty Mom’s
Things To Do (FREE & Cheap) in the
Washington DC Metro Area:
This Weekend - July 12 & 13, 2014
Always call or check the event website before heading out;
Event information is subject to change.
Saturday Morning at the National - Arianna Ross: The Magic of the Sea
The National Theatre
Saturday ∙ 9:30 am & 11:00 am ∙ FREE!
Discover the many magical mysteries of life above and below the sea through song, story, and dance. Become a manta ray and a shark as you listen and participate in folk tales and true stories from Indonesia.
SATURDAY FREE FUN with the Chevy Chase Library
10:00am – Story Time at the Police Station
Enjoy books and songs about police and safety with the Chevy Chase Children’s Librarians. Visit the police station, meet a police officer, and sit inside a police car. You can even check out library books! All ages are welcome.
Metropolitan Police Department, Second District
3320 Idaho Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016
1:00 pm – The Uncle Devin Show
Musician Uncle Devin will introduce children to the world of percussion and a brief history of various percussion instruments. Children will also learn rhymes that are easy to memorize. Ages 5-12
FEATURED CREATURE - BEAR AWARENESS DAY
National Zoo - Asia Trail and Andean Bears
Saturday ∙ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Become more Bear Aware at our free family-friendly event celebrating bears of all kinds. This event offers educational and fun activities for children, keeper talks and animal demonstrations. Learn how to bear-proof a camp site, compare bears from around the world and take the Bear Awareness pledge!
3rd Annual Day of Archaeology Festival
Fort Circle Park, NE in Washington DC
Saturday ∙ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm ∙ FREE!
The Day of Archaeology festival is a family and community event where we celebrate all things archaeology and local history. There will be a rock art wall, both authentic and 3D-printed artifacts, funny archaeologists telling thrilling stories about their work, live music, and food trucks (Brazilian BBQ/veggies, desserts!)
Stories in Art (4-7)
National Gallery of Art – West Building Rotunda
Signup Begins: Saturday 10:00am & Sunday 11:00 am [continues until all spaces are filled] ∙ FREE!
Travel along the canals of Venice and learn about the unique city that inspired Canaletto’s paintings.
Stories in Art introduces children ages 4 to 7 to artists through careful looking, storytelling, and hands-on experimentation. Led by museum educators, each program includes reading a children’s book, exploring one work of art in the galleries, and completing a simple hands-on activity. Each program is approximately 60 minutes.
Artful Conversations (Ages 8-11)
National Gallery of Art – West Building Rotunda
Signup Begins: Saturday 10:00am & Sunday 11:00 am [continues until all spaces are filled] ∙ FREE!
Artful Conversations uses observation and discussion to explore works of art in the collection. Led by museum educators, each conversation focuses on one work of art in the galleries. Designed for children and adults to participate in together, this program provides a model for families to explore works of art together. Each conversation is approximately 70 minutes.
The summer series features works of art in the West Building, while the winter series investigates modern art in the East Building.
These free drop-in programs are designed for individual families, and we cannot accommodate groups. Space is limited. There is no advance registration; participation is on a first-come, first-served basis. As a courtesy to the group, we will only accept sign-in for children in the age ranges listed.
French Festival
Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
Saturday ∙ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm ∙ $5-$18
Join partners, Alliance Française de Washington, to celebrate France’s national holiday, and Hillwood-founder Marjorie Post’s first collecting passion, the decorative arts of 18th century France.
Transport yourself to an era when ladies curtsied, men bowed, and courtship came alive in outdoor garden settings. This festival, timed to Bastille Day, celebrates Marjorie Post’s first collecting passion: eighteenth-century French decorative arts.
Alexandria Art Market
Nicholas A. Colasanto Park
Saturday ∙ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm ∙ FREE Admission!
Alexandria’s 5th season art market featuring amazing artwork and multicultural performances. The variety of original artwork from over 25+ artists will be displayed for sale including, but not limited to, painting, photography, pottery, jewelry, and glasswork.
The market is held on the 2nd Saturday of the month through October.
Arts in the Park
Fairfax County – various locations
Saturday 10:00 – 11:00 am ∙ FREE!
Arts in the Parks is a FREE family fun alternative to Saturday & Wednesday morning cartoons & video games. It serves to entertain children, teach them the importance of protecting our natural resources, introduce them to live entertainment in an informal kid friendly atmosphere, and forge a connection between kids and parks.
For most children, Arts in the Parks is their first exposure to live entertainment, and for practically all of the young watchers, it’s their first chance to join professionals on stage. So they remember and forever associate the delightful experiences with parks.
Today’s Arts in the Park schedule includes:
The YOJO Show * Burke Lake Park Amphitheater
The grandsons, jr. * E.C. Lawrence Park Amphitheater
Pointless Theatre * Lake Fairfax Park Amphitheater
The Great Zucchini * Mason District Park Amphitheater
Free Summer Saturdays: Sketching Workshop
Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art + Design
Saturday ∙ 10:30 am ∙ FREE
The Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art and Design’s Free Summer Saturdays series of programming includes gallery tours, workshops, demonstrations, and performances. Admission to the museum and to these special programs and workshops is free every Saturday between Memorial Day Weekend and Labor Day Weekend.
This week, participate in a Sketching Workshop from 10:30am-12:30pm.
Guided tours are available from 11am-3pm.
Summer of Life Block Party and Health Expo
Community Forklift
Saturday ∙ 11:00 am – 5:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Bring along your friends, your family, and your (friendly, leashed) pets for the Summer of Life Block Party and Health Expo (rain date July 13)! There will be live music, fresh veggies/fruit distribution, puppy petting, zumba, yoga, workshops, and more! (This event is a 5 minute drive from DC.)
Cookie Decorating with Spoons ‘N Smiles
National Children’s Museum
Saturday 11:30 am – 1:00 pm ∙ FREE with Admission!
Decorate sun- and sea-themed cookies with the Spoons ‘N Smiles in the green room. There will be three decorating sessions, each lasting 30 minutes, from 11:30-noon, noon-12:30 and 12:30-1:00. Visitors wishing to participate will receive a wristband for their requested time slot, while supplies last. While at NCM, visit the theatre for Saturday activities which include: Movers and Groovers ∙ Sid the Science Kid: Reused Robot ∙ Circus Tricks: Juggling, Balancing, and More!
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL - EDUCATE…MOTIVATE…ACTIVATE…EMPOWER!
Boulevard at the Capital Center
Saturday 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm & Sunday 12:00 pm – 9:00 pm ∙ FREE before 3:00 pm
International Festival 2014 is the region’s only annual empowerment and music event which brings together and showcases popular, new, and emerging artists from diverse genres of music, while focusing and measuring outcomes as it relates to health screenings, wellness education, foreclosure prevention, first time home buyer strategies, financial literacy, jobs and career sourcing, and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) education and outreach.
The Festival will include musical entertainment featuring a diverse mix of talented international, national, and local artists. Including: Theophilus London, Ludacris, Third World, Willie Colon, Miri Ben-Ari, Estelle, Byron Cage, Wayna, DJ Pavilion & MORE!
One Caribbean Carnival
Baltimore
Saturday 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm & Sunday 12:00 pm – 9:00 pm ∙ FREE Parade!
On Saturday July 12, 2014, the Parade starts at Noon at 900 E 33rd Street, travels along Alameda Street to St. Lo Drive. The Festival continues at Lake Clifton Park until 10:00 pm; $10 entrance fee.
On Sunday July 13, 2014 the Festival continues from Noon to 9:00 pm featuring entertainment, food and crafts. Admission: $15.00 per person.
Family Day — World War II
National Museum of the Marine Corps
Saturday ∙ 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Bring your children to learn about Marines in World War II and the contributions of the Navajo Code Talkers. Fun hands-on activities and crafts will focus on code breaking.
COMMUNITY BLOCK PARTY AND CONCERT
Central Union Mission
Saturday ∙ 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Free food, games, and FUN!
Battle of Fort Stevens 150th Anniversary Commemorative Activities
Historic Fort Stevens
Saturday ∙ 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm ∙ FREE!
The event will feature: Civil War living history ∙ 19th century crafts ∙ 19th century period music ∙ 19th century children’s activities ∙ Historic talks and walks ∙ Civil War soldiers’ encampments and military demonstrations.
This event is part of a broader set of events celebrating Fort Stevens.
ImaginAsia: London Nights with Whistler
Sackler Gallery [Sublevel 2]
Saturday & Sunday ∙ 2:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Explore the impact of gaslights and electricity on nightlife in the nineteenth century. Examine paintings and prints of London by Whistler for content, mood, and technique. In the classroom, use black paper backgrounds, foreground cutouts of people, oil and chalk pastels, and wax gilt to create nightscapes of your favorite outdoor nighttime activities. Free; walk-in.
ImaginAsia programs are for eight- to fourteen-year-olds and their adult companions. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Programs begin promptly at 2 pm with introductions and a question-and-answer session. Next, families use an activity book to explore an exhibition or theme at their own pace. They then return to the classroom for an art project related to the works viewed in the galleries. Art supplies are provided, and families are invited to take home their creations. FREE!
Filmfest DC: Belle
Presented by Filmfest DC
THEARC
Saturday ∙ 7:00 pm ∙ FREE!
The mixed-race daughter of a Captain in the Royal Navy is raised as an aristocrat, but finds her social standing unique and becomes instrumental in the campaign to end slavery in England. Winner of the Filmfest DC 2014 Audience Award.
The Sound of Music
Concert Pavilion – Gaithersburg
Saturday ∙ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Enjoy an evening of song, dance and theater as the Bel Cantanti Opera Company performs a fully staged musical performance of the American classic, “The Sound of Music.” Filled with favorite standards such as “Edelweiss” and “My Favorite Things,” this beloved musical based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp tells the story of a young governess, the seven children she cares for, and the widowed Naval Captain whose heart she captures. Bring a picnic and blanket or low-back chair for lawn seating. There will be a brief intermission.
Bel Cantanti Opera Company performers are from throughout the northeast, with the children coming from the Washington, DC area.
USA/Alexandria Birthday Celebration
Oronoco Bay Park
Saturday ∙ 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Celebrate Alexandria’s 265th birthday along the Potomac waterfront at Oronoco Bay Park.
Bring lawn chairs, blankets and a picnic and enjoy live music by the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra plus cannon firing, birthday cake, food trucks and a dazzling fireworks display at 9:30pm.
As George Washington’s hometown, Alexandria is a patriotic hotspot, filled with tours by bike, boat and foot, historic sites and art galleries, plus restaurants and boutiques to explore before heading to the waterfront for the grand celebration.
National Geographic Museum
Sunday 10:00 am - 6:00pm ∙ FREE Admission with soccer jersey!
World Cup Soccer Fans, wear your team jersey and enjoy this freebie – FREE Admission on Sunday, July 13 at the National Geographic Museum.
Astronomy Chat with Joleen Carlberg
Air and Space Museum - Phoebe Waterman Haas Public Observatory, South Terrace
Sunday ∙ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Chat with Joleen Carlberg, Vera Rubin Fellow at the Carnegie Institution. Ask questions about her research about stars that swallow their planets, what it’s like to be an astronomer, or anything else that interests you. Stay and Observe the Skies until 3:00pm!
In the event of inclement weather, the program may be moved or postponed; confirm at @SIObservatory or (202) 633-2517.
The BIG Draw!
Washington Studio School
Sunday ∙ 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm ∙ FREE!
WSS Annual BIG Draw for all is back! Immerse yourself in drawing from life models (clothed) and dynamic still lifes with supplies generously provided by Blick Art Materials. Open to all levels, from beginning to experienced artists.
10th Annual Happy Nappy Day / Poets in the Park 2014
Gwynn Oak Park – Baltimore
Sunday ∙ 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Spoken Word Event! We will be having a life taping of this years event because we will be doing a tribute to Derrick Jones aka Ooh of Brown first who passed away this year. Also come out and hear our very own local author Daphne Jones-Robinson of The Power of the Mind – Beauty, Health and Wealth” She will be gracing the stage to give us an intimate look inside her book. Books are available for purchased at her booth, $10.
Family Sundays
Baltimore Museum of Art
Sunday ∙ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm ∙ FREE!
The BMA is the place to be for free family fun! Every Sunday, enjoy different activities—sketching tours, hands-on workshops, gallery tours, and more—designed just for families. JULY’s Theme: Textures - July 13: Assemble a Wearable Sculpture
2014 FIFA World Cup Final: Argentina vs. Germany
American Art Museum - Kogod Courtyard
Sunday ∙ 3:00pm ∙ FREE!
Soccer fans in Washington, D.C., have the opportunity to watch a live broadcast of Argentina vs. Germany in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final from Rio de Janeiro at the National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum. The museums, together with the Embassy of Germany and the Embassy of Argentina, will host an official viewing party in the museums’ enclosed and air-conditioned Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard. The game will be broadcast live on a 21-foot LED video wall, provided by the Embassy of Germany. Additional support for the event has been provided by the Downtown DC Business Improvement District and D.C. United.
The museums’ Courtyard Café will be open for visitors to purchase food and beverages.
World Cup Finals
National Harbor
Sunday ∙ 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm ∙ FREE!
National Harbor will be broadcasting the Germany vs. Argentina game on the Plaza screen.
Snag a seat at one of their restaurant’s Plaza patios, pick up your favorite to-go options, or pack a picnic and join fans on the Plaza for the finals of the 2014 World Cup. Then stay at 6:00 pm for Movies on the Potomac – Musicals: The Wizard of Oz
Arts on the Waterfront
Bladensburg Waterfront Park
Sunday ∙ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm ∙ FREE!
Join us at the Waterfront with a great day of arts on the waterfront! There will be plenty of music and entertainment from jazz to rock–even a puppet show. Refreshments will be available for sale.
Visit the Calendar for more FREE & Cheap happenings.
Enjoy your weekend!
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