The Best Things to See and Do With Kids in Washington, D.C. This June

Imagination Bethesda Photo Courtesy of Bethesda Urban Partnership

The family-friendly summer events have arrived in Washington, D.C.! Get ready to have a blast this summer while eating all the frozen treats and spending your days soaking up the sun!

Now that school is out, your calendar might look a little empty without sports or after school activities, but luckily we have you covered with a whole list of fun events in our nation's capital. Explore D.C. in the sunlight and summer weather with activities like the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, a trip aboard a pirate ship and more! Your calendar will be filled up again before you know it, so be sure to save the date for these family-friendly events!

Make the most of your summer vacation with all these exciting local Washington, D.C. family festivals and activities!

Photo Courtesy of Bethesda Urban Partnership

Imagination Bethesda on Woodmont Avenue and Elm Street in Downtown Bethesda - FREE
Start your summer off at Imagination Bethesda, a children's street festival celebrating the arts on June 1st from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. This event is focused on all things kid-friendly and includes a bunch of fun activities like face painting, live entertainment, magicians, crafts and more! Celebrate imagination at this free family event!

Photo Courtesy of D.C. Jazz Festival

D.C. Jazz Festival: Jazz n’ Family Fun Day at The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C. - FREE
Attend the D.C. Jazz Festival on their family-friendly dates June 1st-2nd and enjoy free shows for all ages. The weekend event includes live jazz performances throughout the museum, musicians improvising to paintings in the galleries, art-making workshop with jazz-inspired activities, an instrument petting zoo, storytelling and more! The fun takes place from 10 a.m - 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 1st and noon to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 2nd. 

Photo Courtesy of Washington Folk Festival Programming Committee

Washington Folk Festival at Glen Echo Park in Glen Echo, Maryland - FREE
Visit Glen Echo Park June 1st-2nd for the 38th Annual Washington Folk Festival from noon to 7 p.m. both days. Listen to the diversity of traditional music from local D.C. artists with cultures from around the nation and world represented through music, dance, crafts, and stories. Get ready to sing and dance to Slavic singing, banjos, bluegrass and everything in between at this family-friendly event!

Mini-Mudder Race for Kids at Virginia Tough Mudder

Virginia Tough Mudder 5K for Adults and Mini-Mudder Race for Kids at Silver Lake Park in Haymarket, VA
Are you ready to put your endurance to the test? Sign up for the Virginia Tough Mudder 5K or Kids-Only Mini-Mudder Race at Silver Lake Park in Haymarket, VA on June 1st-2nd. The 5K is for ages 14+ with 13 obstacles throughout the three-mile race. The race is un-timed, so have fun and play in the mud! Kids ages 5-12 will be challenged with a 1/4 mile laps and ten obstacles. Mini-mudders are required to have a parent or guardian accompany them throughout the race. Save up to 31% off on Tough Mudder race entry!

Books in Bloom Festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion

3rd Annual Books in Bloom Festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland- FREE
The perfect summer event for bookworms young and old! Head to Merriweather Post Pavilion on Sunday, June 2nd for the 3rd Annual Books in Bloom Festival from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. There will be author readings, panel discussions, curated culinary offerings, a Rosé and Beer Garden, live music and a Busboys & Poets pop-up bookstore. This festival offers fun for the whole family with children’s activities, including face painting, puppet shows, glitter tattoos, story time and more! Click here to register for this event through CertifiKID.

Vintage Virginia Wine & Food Festival at Bull Run Park in Centreville, VA
Enjoy a weekend of family fun at the Vintage Virginia Wine & Food Festival on June 1st-2nd at Bull Run Park in Centreville, VA. The fun will take place from noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 1st and 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 2nd. There will be wine tasting, chef demos, food truck fare, live music, and a family-friendly area with kids activities and a moon bounce. And to give you an incentive to get out of bed early on Sunday, there will be a Sunday Funday Sparkling Wine and The Famous Donut Wall for the first 750 guests at the event. Click HERE to purchase tickets. If you can't make this wine festival, check out our article on 13 Kid-Friendly Wineries and Breweries in the Washington, D.C. Area.

An Invention Showcase at Maker Faire NoVa Photo Courtesy of Maker Faire NoVa

Maker Faire NoVa at George Mason University- Fairfax, Virginia
Head to Maker Faire NoVa to witness fascinating inventions and learn from their creators, engineers, artists, scientists, and crafters. This exciting family-friendly event allows creators showcase their projects and experiments which is why it is also called, the 'Greatest Show (&Tell) on Earth'. The Faire takes place on June 2nd from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Be prepared to get inspired and learn more about the future of innovation. Click HERE to purchase tickets.

Reopening of the David H. Koch Hall of Fossils - Deep Time Exhibit at National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.
Calling all dinosaur lovers! On June 8th, the National Museum of Natural History will reopen the David H. Koch Hall of Fossils-Deep Time exhibit! Explore the bones and skeletal specimens of the extinct reptiles. All ages will love the interactive aspect of this exhibit which gives visitors tools to interpret the past, present, and future. Learn how the choices you make today will live on, carrying through time.

Falsettos at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Witness the Tony Award®–winning musical in an-all new production. Falsettos is a show about the modern family and a reminder that love can tell a million stories. See Broadway's Nick Adams (La Cage aux Folles and Priscilla Queen of the Desert) as Whizzer, Eden Espinosa (Wicked, Brooklyn The Musical, and Rent) as Trina, and Max von Essen (An American in Paris, Tony Award® nominee; Evita and Les Misérables) as Marvin take the stage at The Kennedy Center. The show will take place from June 11th-23rd. Recommended for ages 12 and up. Save up to 20% off tickets for Falsettos.

Parent's Night Out at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. - FREE
Parents, the Kennedy Center is bringing you four free rooftop happy hours this summer! Make sure to book a babysitter for the Summer Rooftop Happy Hour Series, with the first event starting on June 13th from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Enjoy a night on the Roof Terrace, a beer from Port City Brewing Co. and live music featuring local contemporary performances -  all for FREE! 

Celebrate Dad this Month with these Father's Day Events
Father's Day is June 16th, a day to celebrate the funny, strong and supportive men in our lives. Make this Father's Day extra memorable with a concert or a day out fishing. 

• Fish-a-Rama at Great Country Farms in Bluemont, Virginia
  Celebrate Father’s Day on June 16th the old fashioned way with a day out fishing in Bluemont at Great Country Farms Fish-a-Rama event. There will be BBQ, catch-and-release fishing, contests, and prizes! Fish for catfish, bass, and bluegill at the ponds on Great Country Farms. Bring your own fishing gear. Children 2 years and under, Active Duty and Retired Military ID card holders are free. Save on daily admission to Great Country Farms with this CertifiKID offer.

• Father's Day Celebration at Gypsy Sally's, K Street NW
  Head to Gypsy Sally's on June 15th for a Father's Day Celebration with music by Grateful Dead performed by The Rock and Roll Playhouse band. This family-friendly concert event will include games, movements, and stories for kids. Dad will love jamming out to his favorite rock songs and his kids might finally appreciate his taste in music, too. The show begins at 3 p.m. and doors open at 2 p.m. Click HERE to purchase tickets.

The Wizard School Scavenger Hunt Photo by Mark A. King

The Wizard School Scavenger Hunt at National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
Grab your wizard wands, board your brooms and follow the magical scavenger hunt trail to the National Gallery of Art. On Sunday, June 16th at 2 p.m. you and a group of other wizards will be able to track down each artwork that holds a symbol, an enchanted object or a character similar to those found in J.K. Rowling's beloved series, Harry Potter. All participants, ages 10 and up, will be paired up into teams to search for clues and answer tricky questions for The Wizard School Scavenger Hunt. Join this exciting activity as a way to re-discover the National Gallery. For more information click HERE and to purchase tickets click HERE.

National Law Enforcement Museum

Science Saturday at National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, D.C.
Visit the Law Enforcement Museum on June 22nd at 1 p.m. for their Science Saturday event. This month learn how to extract and explore with DNA through fun activities using biology and mathematics. This event is open to all ages and is free with admission to the Museum. Save up to 28% off on admission to the National Law Enforcement Museum.

Mickey's Royal Breakfast With Friends at the District Wharf
Start your morning off with a song and a dance lead by your favorite Disney & Sesame Street friends at Mickey's Royal Breakfast With Friends. The event will take place on June 22nd from 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. with an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet overlooking the D.C. Wharf Marina. Enjoy your breakfast with Elmo, Cookie Monster, Minnie and Mickey, and fun activities, including face painting, balloon art, and more! Click HERE to purchase tickets.

Photo Courtesy of National Capital Barbecue Battle

National Capital Barbecue Battle on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C.
Head to the biggest summer barbecue of the summer on June 22nd-23rd at the National Capital Barbecue Battle. Watch as the nation's best barbecuers work their grill magic and compete for prizes. Best of all, you get to enjoy samples from the competitors! And if you're still hungry, the event will also include several barbecue vendors. There will be family fun activities including unique interactive exhibits, live music, the Giant Chill Zone, Oscar Mayer Wiener Mobile, Monumental Sports Area featuring the Capitals, Mystics, Valor, Wizards, and more! Click HERE to purchase tickets.

Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. - FREE
An annual summer tradition, celebrate the cultural heritage and community traditions at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on June 29th-30th on the National Mall. On June 29th from noon to 10 p.m., activities will include lessons on local music culture, zine-making, and archiving demonstrations at the D.C. Music Preservation Pop-Up. There will be food trucks and an evening concert featuring Ruby Ibarra and sets curated by Quetzal and GoldLink. Then on Sunday, June 30th from 10:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., sing along at the tribute to Pete Seeger with The Bright Siders, Sonia De Los Santos, Dan & Claudia Zanes, and Elizabeth Mitchell. There will also be instrument workshops and more! 

See the Washington Nationals Play at Nationals Park 

Head to the Ballpark to Catch the Washington Nationals in Action
Celebrate summer vacation at a Washington Nationals Game at Nationals Park. Cheer on the Nats as they play against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday, June 13th at 7:05 p.m. or watch them face off against the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, June 20th at 7:05 p.m. Get ready to sing "Take Me Out To The Ball Game"! Save up to 47% off tickets to the Washington Nationals this summer!

Family Adventure Cruise on the Urban Pirates Ship

Board a Pirate Ship on the Georgetown Waterfront or the National Harbor
Take a day to sail the ocean blue or the Georgetown Waterfront on the Boomerang Pirate Ship! On this family fun treasure hunt cruise, you will sing, dance, learn pirate lingo and enjoy an epic adventure. You will also be able to enjoy panoramic views of some of D.C.’s famous landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument. Save 39% off tickets for Boomerang Pirate Ship. Or, board the Urban Pirates Ship for a Family Adventure Cruise on the National Harbor! Prepare to transform the whole family into pirates with pirate attire, talk, songs, and games. Man the water cannon and splash enemies to protect the treasure on board. Save up to 40% off an Urban Pirates Family Adventure Cruise.

Photo Courtesy of the National Harbor

Watch an Outdoor Movie in Washington, D.C.
Watch a movie under the stars with the whole family this summer in D.C.! There are a bunch of family-friendly outdoor movie events throughout the area that feature kid-friendly movies like Disney classics, Marvel movies and more. Pack up some lawn chairs, a blanket and some popcorn, then sit back and enjoy the show! Check out this CertifiKID article for family-friendly outdoor movies in Washington, D.C. this summer.

Water Playground at Six Flags America Hurricane Harbor Waterpark

Spend the day at Six Flags America Theme Park and Waterpark in Upper Marlboro, Maryland
Cool off this summer at Six Flags America Hurricane Harbor Waterpark! Swim or float in the region's largest wave pool, relax on the lazy river and play at the water playground. If you grow tired of playing in the water, explore the main park with ten roller coasters and two play areas for kids. A day trip to the amusement park is the perfect cure for summer boredom! Save 33% off 'Any Day' Admission with this CertifiKID offer.

For more family-fun this month check out our Things to do in June with Kids in Baltimore post! 

CertifiKID was founded by a mom with a passion for helping parents provide the best experiences for their children on a budget. From outings to adventures, classes to camps, theater to sporting events, amusement parks to getaways, CertifiKID provides the best family-friendly experiences at unbeatable prices. Sign up for family-friendly deals in your area and start saving!