Hoai-Tran Bui, special to wtop.com
WASHINGTON – Nothing welcomes the warm weather season like an outdoor festival. Whether it’s a county fair, a parade or an art festival, open air celebrations offer something for everyone, young and old.
The D.C. area offers a whole host of activities this summer. Here’s a preview of what’s on tap in the District, Maryland and Virginia — so you can mark your calendars.
The 10th Annual Georgetown French Market
When: Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: Wisconsin Avenue NW between P Street and Reservoir Road
Can’t make it to France this season but still want to feel Parisian? The Georgetown French Market features items from over 35 Georgetown boutiques and cafes, as well as mimes, musicians, arts and crafts and a live art demonstration.
National Asian Heritage Festival, Fiesta Asia
When: May 18, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Where: Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 3rd and 6th Street, Washington, D.C.
D.C. kicks off Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with the Fiesta Asia street festival on Pennsylvania Avenue. The event will feature everything from martial arts demonstrations, musical acts, theatrical performances, Pan-Asian cuisine and a lion dance demonstration.
Fiesta Asia will have over 800 participants and over 70 performing groups. Visitors can also crowd the multicultural marketplace, which will serve all sorts of cultural trinkets. The event is free of charge.
Capital Pride Parade and Street Festival
When: June 8-June 9; Parade: Saturday, June 8, 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m., Street Festival: Sunday, June 9, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Where: The parade begins at 23rd and P Street NW, Washington, D.C. See a full map of the route online. The street festival will take place on Pennsylvania Avenue between 3rd and 7th Street NW.
The District gets decked out in color for Capital Pride, an annual event celebrating LGBT communities in the D.C. area. National and local LGBT organizations will participate in more than 50 diverse, educational and entertainment events.
When: June 1, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Wisconsin Avenue NW, south of M Street NW, Washington, D.C.
Taste of Georgetown is the food-centric festival where popular locally-based restaurants serve sample portions of their signature dishes.
The event includes live jazz provided by Blues Alley and children’s activities, such as caricature artists, balloon makers and jugglers. Each tasting costs $5, but proceeds go to the homeless outreach providing psychiatrist care, shelter and meals through the Georgetown Ministry Center.
Vintage Virginia Wine Festival
When: June 1, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and June 2, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: Bull Run Regional Park
The annual Vintage Virginia Wine Festival is one of the largest and longest- running wine events on the East Coast. More than 50 wineries from the Virginia area — and 250 award-winning Virginia wines — are offered to guests to sample. There are also educational seminars on food pairing, fine art exhibits, children’s activities and live entertainment.
When: June 26-30 and July 3-7. Open daily 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Evening events begin at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Between 7th and 14th Street NW, Washington, D.C.
A staple of the hot and muggy D.C. summers, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival is an annual event that celebrates cultural traditions around the world. Sponsored by the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, each year the festival is based around a different theme. The event showcases different music and dance performances, art and cooking demonstrations, storytelling and discussions of cultural issues.
This year’s themes are “Hungarian Heritage: Roots to Revival,” “One World, Many Voices: Endangered Languages and Cultural Heritage” and “Will to Adorn: African American Identity and the Aesthetics of Dress.” Admission is free.
Wolf Trap’s Children’s Theatre-in-the- Woods
When: Late July-August, Tuesdays-Saturdays at 10:30 am.
Where: Wolf Trap National Park
If you’re looking to entertain the kiddos, try Wolf Trap’s Children’s Theatre- in- the-Woods, a series of family-friendly shows including kindie rock, Latin, Afro- Caribbean, country, folk, jazz, bluegrass, and pop-rock music, as well as Irish dance, ballet, puppetry and musical theatre.
The shows are performed in an outdoor setting on the lawn. The series features one performance per day and tickets range from $8 to $10 — although children under two are free.
Where: The National Mall, between 7th and 12th Street NW, Washington, D.C.
When: Various dates July-August, 8:30 p.m.
Those mourning for the lost days of the drive-in movie theater are in luck. D.C.’s summer staple Screen on the Green may not require a car, but it lets viewers cuddle up on a picnic blanket on the National Mall.
Screen on the Green shows classic films on a gigantic movie screen located on the National Mall. No films have been announced yet, but last year’s series featured classics like “Psycho” and “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” Films are shown on Monday evenings beginning at dusk, around 8:30-9:00 p.m. Movies play except in extreme weather.
When: July 11-28.
Where: Between Penn Quarter and Mount Vernon Square, Washington, D.C.
The Capital Fringe Festival, or the DC Fringe Festival, is an annual performing arts event that features more than 130 edgy and exciting live performances of theater, dance, music, poetry and puppetry. Performances take place in both indoor and outdoor venues. Visitors can also enjoy food, drinks and entertainment at the Fort Fringe under the Baldacchino Gypsy Tent Bar. Tickets are available for $17, plus the Fringe admission button.
When: August 9-17, Friday, 3 p.m.-midnight; Saturday-Saturday, 10 a.m.- midnight
Where: Montgomery County Fairgrounds, Gaithersburg, Md.
Those itching to get out of the busy city life can head over to the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair — the largest county fair in the state. The week-long celebration is a family-friendly event. It offers old-fashioned carnival rides, live animals, entertainment, food and activities. Expect to see monster trucks, a demolition derby and the “Fair’s Idol” competition. Visitors can also purchase quilting, clothing, canned goods, baked goods and vegetables from local farmers. Art exhibits will also be on display from local students.
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