What to Know
- Saturday will be mostly to partly sunny with a 30% chance of storms during the afternoon and evening
- Sunday is looking mostly to partly sunny and highs are expected to be around 90 degrees
August already? We're aghast. Let's make the most of long days, good friends and sunshine this weekend.
All Weekend
Citi Open
Through Aug. 4
Rock Creek Park Tennis Center, 5220 16th St. NW
Citi Open was one of the first open professional tennis tournaments held in the U.S., and has been part of some of the most innovative changes in the sport. It continues this weekend at the Rock Creek Park Tennis Center at 16th & Kennedy Streets NW. In addition to a series of tennis matches, the Citi Open hosts food vendors like Duke’s Grocery, Dolcezza Gelato and Compass Coffee. Tickets vary in price, but prices start at $15, and you can get them here.
Fairfax County 4-H Fair and Carnival
Through Aug. 4
Frying Pan Farm Park, 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon, Virginia
If you're craving carnival food and fun rides with a side of farm animals, then the Fairfax County 4-H Fair is the place to be this weekend. The Herndon, Virginia, carnival will include rides, games and live entertainment along with farm animal competitions, produce competitions, pie eating competition and watermelon seed spitting contests.
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Bonus: this could be your chance to try milking a cow or goat.
Admission to the fair is free, but there is a $10 per car parking fee on Saturday and Sunday. Visitors on Thursday and Friday can get free parking and discount passes for unlimited rides between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., for $25 per person. Learn more here.
Free Pick
SAAM Arcade
Aug. 3 - 4
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and F streets NW
For the fifth year in a row, the Smithsonian American Art Museum will host the SAAM Arcade, which invites gamers of all levels and ages to test out new games and play some classics. There will be arcade cabinets, console games, and indie games centered around the theme "breaking barriers." The focus this year is on diversity in the gaming audience and industry. Admission is free, so find a player two (or three, or four) and check it out.
Howard County Fair
Aug. 3—10
Howard County Fairgrounds, 2210 Fairgrounds Rd., West Friendship, Maryland
This is the 74th annual Howard County Fair, and there will be amusement rides, games, farm animals, pony races, a bingo hall and more. Tickets to satisfy all your funnel cake and farm animal needs vary in price depending on the day, weekend and evening time (5-11 p.m.) tickets cost $7 and senior tickets cost $3. This Saturday, anyone with a valid military ID gets in free (and that includes spouses and children under 18). Learn more here.
Free Pick
MidCity Dog Days Sidewalk Sale
Kickoff party on Aug. 2 from 6-8 p.m.; sale on Aug. 3 and 4
14th St. between Thomas Circle and Florida Ave; U St. from 7th St. to 17th St.
For the 20th year, the Dog Days sidewalk festival will be taking over 14th and U Streets, bringing more than 20,000 visitors to the neighborhood. There will be local vendors selling everything from produce to pets to clothing, and plenty of food and drink to go around. The kickoff party is on Friday evening, but the sale continues for the rest of the weekend.
Top 10 Beaches Near the DC Area
Friday
Truckeroo Food Truck Festival
Aug. 2, 4-11 p.m.
The Bullpen at Nats Park, 1201 Half St. SE
Truckeroo is a monthly festival that takes place until September at the Bullpen near Nationals Park, and showcases the best food trucks in the D.C. area. It is a family-friendly event with live music, drinks, games and more. Learn more here.
The Drive-In at Union Market
Aug. 2, Lot opening at 5:30 p.m.; Movie starts at 8:15 p.m.
Union Market, 1309 5th St. NE
This drive-in at Union Market is in its seventh season, and the movies are playing the first Friday of every month into October. This Friday is the first in August, and visitors can celebrate by watching "Jaws" under the stars. The lot opens at 5:30 p.m., closes at 7:45 p.m., and the movie begins at 8:15 p.m. A parking spot is $15 per car, but walk-ups are free.
George Lopez at MGM National Harbor
Aug. 2, 8 p.m.
The Theater at MGM National Harbor, 101 MGM National Ave., Oxon Hill, Maryland
George Lopez is on tour, and he's coming to MGM National Harbor this weekend. Tickets are still available for the show, and prices start at $48. Buy them here.
UPDATE: The Golden Triangle: Golden Cinema Series, which had its last date scheduled for Aug. 2, was postponed due to weather. A rain date is scheduled for Aug. 9.
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Saturday
Backpacks 4 Kids Family Day With National Law Enforcement Museum
Aug. 3, noon to 5 p.m.
The Plaza at Tysons Corner Center
Shiny new school supplies are one of the best parts of back to school season — but many families can't afford them. Help every kid in the D.C. area get excited for school by donating to NBC4 and Telemundo 44's Backpacks for Kids Campaign.
It's easy to donate funds online or by mail, but you can make it an extra good time by joining NBC4 and Telemundo 44 at The Plaza on Tysons Corner Center for a family fun day with the National Law Enforcement Museum.
Backpacks 4 Kids is looking for new backpacks, pencils, composition notebooks, three ring binders and more. Here's a list.
All American Beer Fest
The Fairgrounds, 1299 Half Street SE, Washington, D.C.
1-4 p.m. and 7-10 p.m. for general admission ticketholders
Down unlimited samples of beer, nom on food truck goodies, play giant-sized games and enjoy live entertainment at this beer festival in Navy Yard. You can choose from two sessions. General admission tickets cost $35 and come with three hours of samples plus a tasting glass. VIP tickets get you in an hour earlier and cost $50.
Pizzeria Paradiso in the Park Beer Festival
Aug. 3, 12-8 p.m.
Old Town Waterfront Park, 1a Prince St., Alexandria, Virginia
Pizzeria Paradiso is hosting a Paradiso in the Park Beer Festival for the first time ever this weekend. It will include 30 Virginia craft breweries, a pop-up pizza oven, games and music, and there is no entry fee. Tickets for food are $5, and a 12-ounce pour (or two six-ounce pours) costs $6. Learn more here.
Free Pick
Salute the Sunset Concert Series feat. the 257th Army Band
Aug. 3, 7-8 p.m.
The Plaza, 165 Waterfront St., National Harbor, Maryland
This free show by the 257th Army Band takes place every Saturday night through Sept. 7, so catch it while you can. The Army Band is a unit of the District of Columbia Army National Guard, and they've played at President Obama's inauguration and in countries around the world.
One World Lantern Festival
Aug. 3, around sunset
Southpointe Event Area, 701 National Harbor Blv., Oxon Hill, Maryland
The Water Lantern Festival brings together individuals of all ages to launch paper lanterns onto the water at sunset. There will be local food trucks, music, local vendors and lantern decorating activities, and participants are encouraged to bring camp chairs to watch the lanterns drift into the harbor. Parking is limited, so it's a good idea to plan to use Uber, Lyft, taxis or Water Taxi if possible. Tickets start at $30, and you can get them here.
Free Pick
Movie Night at the Wine Bin
Aug. 3, 9 p.m.
The Wine Bin parking lot, 8390 Main St., Ellicott City, Maryland
The Wine Bin hosts outdoor movies in their parking lot every Saturday night, and this Saturday they're playing "Star Wars: The Last Jedi." The movie starts at 9 p.m., and you can drink in the parking lot, as classy people do, while it plays.
Sunday
Unique Markets Pop-Up Shopping
Aug. 4, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Dock 5 at Union Market, 1309 5th St. NE
Free ice cream alert! Shop local designers, artists and brands at Union Market Sunday and pick up some free Jeni's ice cream, a Shake Shack gift card and coffee and juices from Califia Farms and Revive Kombucha. General admisison is $5, and kids under $12 get in for free. Buy your tickets here.
Free Pick
National Museum of Women in the Arts - Free Community Day
Aug. 4, 12-5 p.m.
National Museum of Women in the Arts
Enjoy free admission at the stunning National Museum of Women in the Arts and explore the "Fierce Women" tour, featuring trailblazers in art, activism and innovation. Also on display is a sculpture installation from the New York Avenue Sculpture Project and "More is More: Multiples," a collection of identical objects.
Wonderland's Quinceañera
Aug. 4, 4 p.m.-1:30 a.m.
The Wonderland Ballroom, 1101 Kenyon St. NW
Wonderland Ballroom, self-described as "the bane of refined District society," turns 15 this Sunday. There will be a free pupusa bar starting at 4 p.m. and a Mariachi Band from 7 to 8 p.m. Stick around for piñatas and an ice luge.
Free Pick
Family Movie on the Potomac: "How to Train Your Dragon: the Hidden World"
Aug. 4, 6-8 p.m.
The Plaza, National Harbor
Summertime views plus "How to Train Your Dragon"... an unbeatable combo. Bring your family and watch Toothless and his friends for free at National Harbor on Sunday. National Harbor says the times could vary and the event is weather-dependent. Updates will be posted on social media.
Weekend Scene is edited by Sophia Barnes
CORRECTION (Aug. 2, 2019, 10:28 a.m.): An earlier version of this story listed the advance purchase price of unlimited rides at the Fairfax County 4-H Fair and Carnival, rather than the day-of price.
