DC Thrifty Mom’s
Things To Do (99% FREE!) in the
Washington DC Metro Area:
This Weekend - July 19 & 20, 2014
Always call or check the event website before heading out;
Event information is subject to change.
Animals in the Sky
The National Zoo
Saturday ∙ 9:00 am – 2:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Take a journey to the stars without leaving the Zoo!
The Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum’s mobile planetarium is coming to the Zoo’s Visitor Center for an out-of-this-world event. Enter the inflatable dome for a 15 – 20 minute narrated presentation that will guide guests through animal themed constellations. Then, embark on a scavenger hunt through the Zoo to find animals found in popular constellations. View additional activities.
Saturday Morning at the National - Mark Lohr: Classic Comedy
The National Theatre
Saturday ∙ 9:30 am & 11:00 am ∙ FREE!
Come watch Mr. Jones as he battle with furniture, juggles, spins plates, and improvs with the audience. This shows is a fun-filled roller coaster ride full of side splitting laughs complete with “ooos” and “awws”. Mr. Jones is guaranteed to tickle your funny bone! See how Mark Lohr will entertain the crowd here.
Lotus & Water Lily Cultural Festival 2014
Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens
Saturday ∙ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Come experience your National Park with FREE activities for the whole family. See a spectacular display of lotus and water lilies in full bloom! Enjoy gardening workshops & traditional Asian & African dancing performances! Hands-on activities including face painting, lotus tea tasting, and painting demonstrations! Visit educational and cultural exhibitors (Includes Mandela Day and South Africa Independence Festival) and much more!
Free Summer Saturdays: Mark Tribe: Plein Air opens
Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art + Design
Saturday, July 19 ∙ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm ∙ FREE!
The Ultimate Urban Safari
10 a.m.-12 noon, North Atrium, Galleries, Education Workshop
Join us for a wild summer day dedicated to the animal kingdom! Spurred on by the American Metal: The Art of Albert Paley exhibition, discover how creatures big and small can inspire through workshop activities, book readings, and a live performance. Participate in an animal welfare community service project and make a difference. All ages welcome!
“Art + ___” Trivia Series
3-5 p.m., North Atrium
Beat the heat and geek out with trivia and happy hour! On this afternoon, test your knowledge of Art + Movies.
11 a.m., 12 noon, 1:30 p.m., and 3 p.m.: Guided Tours
Artful Conversations (Ages 8-11) - See–Wonder–Sketch
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 ages 8 to 11 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. As a courtesy to the group, we will only accept sign-in for children in the age ranges listed.
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 Great Zucchini * Burke Lake Park Amphitheater
Mr. Gabe * E.C. Lawrence Park Amphitheater
The grandsons, jr. * Lake Fairfax Park Amphitheater
Pointless Theatre * Mason District Park Amphitheater
Living Earth Festival 2014
American Indian Museum
Saturday 10:30 am – 6:00 pm & Sunday 11:00 am – 3:00 pm ∙ FREE Admission!
Join the museum as we celebrate the 5th annual Living Earth Festival with live music and dance performances by the Southern Ute Bear Dancers and the Pokagon Drum and Dance Troupe (all of their performances will be webcast live on Sat. only), watch Native chefs, Arlie Doxtator (Oneida) and Neftali Duran (Oaxacan) (live webcast on Sunday), compete in an Iron Chef-style cook off, help staff release ladybugs into the landscape, buy freshly roasted green chile, enjoy an outdoor farmers market featuring local produce and a basket weaving demonstration. Hands-on family activities include trying traditional Native games or making your own ti leaf or kukui nut lei. The festival also includes an exclusive concert Saturday evening with blues father-and-son duo Twice as Good with opening act,Missy Knott. On Sunday, Oneida chef Arlie Doxtator will compete in an Iron Chef-style competition against Oaxacan chef Neftali Duran in preparing two appetizers, entrees and desserts that incorporate cranberries, a fruit indigenous to North America. Mitsitam Cafe executive chef Richard Hetzler will emcee the event, and three local chefs will serve as judges. Chef Sue McWilliams, Culinary instructor at Paint Branch High School Culinary Arts Program; Chef Brian Patterson, instructor, L’Academie de Cuisine; and Chef Pedro Matamoros from The Golden Flame Restaurant, Silver Spring, MD. Full Event Schedule.
Artscape
Baltimore, Maryland
Saturday 11:00 am – 9:00 pm & Sunday 11:00 am – 8:00 pm ∙ FREE Admission!
Artscape is America’s largest free arts festival, attracting 350,000+ attendees over three days. Artscape features 150+ fine artists, fashion designers and craftspeople; visual art exhibits on and off-site, including exhibitions, outdoor sculpture, art cars, photography and the Janet & Walter Sondheim Prize; incredible live concerts on outdoor stages; a full schedule of performing arts including dance, opera, theater, film, experimental music and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; family events such as hands-on projects, demonstrations, competitions, children’s entertainers and street theater; and a delicious, international menu of food and beverages that is available throughout the festival site.
BASEBALL ANYONE -
Washington Nationals Players at DCPL! ∙ SATURDAY∙ Denard Span and three of his Washington Nationals teammates will be visiting four DCPL neighborhood libraries. Swing by the Anacostia Library (Noon), Deanwood Library (11am), Mount Pleasant Library (Noon) or Tenley-Friendship Library (11am – Manager Matt Williams) for the chance to meet a Nats player! One player will visit each location. NOTE: The Washington Nationals are sponsoring Summer Reading 2014. Every child who completes the required reading will receive two free tickets to a Washington Nationals Game. FREE
Baseball Family Festival at American Art Museum, Portrait Gallery - Kogod Courtyard ∙ SATURDAY∙ 11:30am – 3pm. Play Ball with the American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery! Tour the galleries to find some of the best names in the game, baseball-themed crafts, a book signing of Becoming Babe Ruth by author Matt Tavares, and appearances by local team mascots! FREE
Celebrate Sunday with the Nationals ∙ WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. Milwaukee Brewers at Nationals Park ∙ Sunday ∙ Game begins at 1:35 pm
Celebrate Sunday with the Nationals and enjoy the Family Fun Promos: SIGNATURE SUNDAYS PRESENTED BY NEW ERA [fans must obtain a free voucher to participate in autograph sessions], KIDS RUN THE BASES [ages 4 - 12], JR. NATIONALS KIDS CLUB, and game promotion: Denard Span Bobblehead, presented by PNC Bank to the first 25,000 attendees. DISCOUNT CODE: THRIFTY14
REMINDER – Children Two and under are admitted FREE! GO NATS!!!
The DC Scoop
Union Market
Saturday ∙ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm ∙ FREE Admission & Tasting!
DC’s sweetest event is back! Ice Cream enthusiasts from near and far will gather at Union Market to celebrate summer’s sweet treat. The event will be held in the indoor event space above the market, Dock 5 and the alley behind it. There will be ice cream available to taste and buy from local artisans and Ice Cream makers from other markets as well. There will be a wide array of products including gelato, ice cream sandwiches, popsicles and of course, good old-fashioned ice cream!
Fort Dupont Summer Theater Concerts
Saturday ∙ Gates open at 5:30 pm – Concert starts at 7 pm ∙ FREE!
Maimouna Youssef with Nappy Riddem, Christylez Bacon & featuring DJ Jahsonic
Cinema Del Ray: Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2
Mount Vernon Rec Center
Saturday 7:00 pm [fun starts at 7 pm and the movie at dusk] ∙ FREE!
FREE open air showing of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2. Read the film review from Common Sense Media.
Comcast Film Fest
Alexandria’s Waterfront Park
Saturday ∙ movie starts at 8:30 pm ∙ FREE!
FREE open air showing of Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Read the film review from Common Sense Media.
Exploring the Sky
Rock Creek Park - Intersection of Military and Glover Roads NW, near the Nature Center
Saturday ∙ 9:00 pm ∙ FREE!
An informal program that for over sixty years has offered monthly opportunities for anyone in the Washington area to see the stars and planets through telescopes. Tonight: Summer Triangle; Mars has just passed Spica. Exploring the Sky is a presentation of the National Park Service and National Capital Astronomers.
Family Nature Time
Black Hill Visitors Center
Sunday ∙ 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Mom and Dad, grab the kids and come out to play! We’ll have nature-y activities that families can do together. Drop in any time during program hours on the first and third Sundays of the month. Free! No registration required.
Uno, Dos, Tres con Andrés!
DC Public Library - Cleveland Park Branch
Sunday ∙ 2:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Sing, shake, and sound out rhythms while trying regional Latin dances and practicing Spanish words. Dance to La Bamba, discover the colors in Spanish, and meet friends of all kinds, including an iguana named Juana! View other DC Public Library kid’s events here.
Sunday Concerts: Reverb
National Building Museum
Sunday ∙ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ∙ FREE – Drop in program!
Enjoy the melodic sounds of Reverb as they take you on an a cappella musical journey! Presented in collaboration with Washington Performing Arts. Visit THE BIG MAZE, there is a fee for this event.
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 20: Explore the Textures of Water
Summer Concert Series 2014: FAMILY JAZZ DAY
Glen Echo Park – Bumper Car Pavilion
Sunday ∙ 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Blues Alley and the Glen Echo Park Partnership are proud to host an afternoon Family Jazz Dayconcert, featuring youth Jazz Ensembles and the U.S. Army Blues. A different band will play each hour starting at 3 pm. Please check back for a complete schedule of bands and performance times as the date nears.
Families are welcome to bring a picnic or visit our Ballroom Cafe. Concerts will be held rain or shine.
Movies on the Potomac – Musicals: Willy Wonka
National Harbor
Sunday ∙ movies start at 6:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Meet us at the Plaza’s big screen for a FREE evening of ocean breezes and all-ages fun! Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the show!
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.
Summer Movies at Stonebridge
Potomac Town Center
Sunday 7:00 pm ∙ FREE!
Summer Movie Nights at Stonebridge every Sunday at 7 pm through August on the Jumbo Tron! Tonight’s Feature: The Blind Side
Visit the Calendar for more FREE & Cheap happenings.
Enjoy your weekend!
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