The DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) is excited to announce an immersive celebration of youth and learning: Kids World debuts at Franklin Park for three fun-filled days: Friday, July 28, through Sunday, July 30. This action-packed weekend will be free and open to all and will feature a variety of creative pop-ups, hands-on activities, playful installations, and more to entertain and educate young visitors and their families. Attendees can expect to dive into the worlds of literacy, health and fitness, creativity, science and nature, and entrepreneurship.
“Franklin Park is a favorite downtown destination for locals and visitors of all ages, and we love seeing families and kids reveling in downtown’s largest green space. With Kids World, the park will be filled with a variety of engaging activities, curated by some of downtown’s most kid-friendly partners, that appeal to all of the senses and make space for kids to gather, learn, and have fun,” said BID President and CEO Gerren Price. “This will be an unforgettable weekend, and one that shouldn’t be missed.”
The dynamic programming of Kids World is being developed by the BID and partners, including event sponsors the DC Public Library Foundation, Beyond the Book, and Events DC, plus the DC Department of Parks and Recreation, Planet Word, Turning the Page, and others. Franklin Park will be filled with interactive exhibits, play spaces, and learning opportunities. Activities will be focused on young people ages 3 to 15, but there will be plenty of options to keep attendees of all ages active and engaged. The full schedule of programming is available online at downtowndc.org/event/kids-
Highlights include:
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Storyland story time with special guest appearances
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Pop-up children’s bookstore
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Hands-on science, nature, art, and craft projects
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Teatime with Paddington Bear
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Stuff-your-own-bear station
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Meet and learn from kid entrepreneurs
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Superhero workouts with Black Panther, Wonder Woman, and Spiderman
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Rock out with youth bands, singers, dancers, and other performers
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Dance party with DJ Princess Christiona
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Trackless train rides
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and much more!
All Kids World spaces and activities are free and open to the public. Select events have limited capacity and require pre-registration — visit eventbrite.com/e/kids-world-
Grab your popcorn and relax on the lawn at Met Park for a weekly outdoor movies series, produced by the National Landing BID.
Come anytime after 6 PM to pick up occasional swag and grab a bite to eat at one of the participating food trucks or pack a picnic. Movies will begin at 7 PM.
WHEN: Every Friday this summer at 7:00 PM
WHERE: Met Park (South Fern Street, Arlington, VA 22202)
Friday, July 28, 10 a.m.
Friday, August 11, 10 a.m.
Friday, August 25, 10 a.m.
Gardens at the National Museum of the American Indian
How do we protect the museum’s croplands from natural pests? Convergent lady beetles, better known as ladybugs, are a natural pesticide used by our groundskeepers to maintain the health of our gardens. Join experts from Smithsonian Gardens outside our museum on the National Mall to learn how to identify a ladybug and other fun insect and garden facts. Then place a few ladybugs on plants yourself.
This program is for visitors of all ages. Children should be accompanied by adult caregivers. Program subject to cancellation in case of inclement weather.
Grab your popcorn and relax on the lawn at Met Park for a weekly outdoor movies series, produced by the National Landing BID.
Come anytime after 6 PM to pick up occasional swag and grab a bite to eat at one of the participating food trucks or pack a picnic. Movies will begin at 7 PM.
WHEN: Every Friday this summer at 7:00 PM
WHERE: Met Park (South Fern Street, Arlington, VA 22202)
Grab your popcorn and relax on the lawn at Met Park for a weekly outdoor movies series, produced by the National Landing BID.
Come anytime after 6 PM to pick up occasional swag and grab a bite to eat at one of the participating food trucks or pack a picnic. Movies will begin at 7 PM.
WHEN: Every Friday this summer at 7:00 PM
WHERE: Met Park (South Fern Street, Arlington, VA 22202)
Friday, July 28, 10 a.m.
Friday, August 11, 10 a.m.
Friday, August 25, 10 a.m.
Gardens at the National Museum of the American Indian
How do we protect the museum’s croplands from natural pests? Convergent lady beetles, better known as ladybugs, are a natural pesticide used by our groundskeepers to maintain the health of our gardens. Join experts from Smithsonian Gardens outside our museum on the National Mall to learn how to identify a ladybug and other fun insect and garden facts. Then place a few ladybugs on plants yourself.
This program is for visitors of all ages. Children should be accompanied by adult caregivers. Program subject to cancellation in case of inclement weather.
Tysons Corner Center invites you to a special CELEBRATE VIRGINIA day on Saturday, September 16th on The Plaza from 11am – 4pm, rain or shine. Bring the family and have some fun outdoors celebrating the talent of Virginia as you enjoy live music & entertainment, shop local artisans’ wares, indulge in Virginia Beer Tasting, VIP Wine Tasting, mural painting, giveaways, and more! Celebrate Virginia is offered in partnership with Visit Fairfax and Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC).
GENERAL ADMISSION: Shop the Made in Fairfax local Artisan Market, enjoy live music from three Virginia based musicians, sample beer from five state breweries, and take part in painting a community mural with Loudon-based artist Kevin Bednarz. Participants will also get a chance to Spin the Tysons Wheel for limited edition “Virginia is for Shopping Lovers” custom merchandise including t-shirts, picnic blankets, beanie hats and more! The event is open to the public and FREE to attend.
“We are excited to bring the community together at our inaugural Celebrate Virginia event, which highlights everything that makes our home state special,” says Jesse Benites, Director of Property Management. “We will be showcasing small Virginia-based businesses, artists, and talent and are thrilled with the support and collaboration from our public officials and community partners.”
“Virginia’s artisan, craft beer, and wine industries have become important drivers of Virginia’s tourism economy, making the Commonwealth an ideal destination for travelers who are seeking authentic, experiential attractions. This event will provide an excellent locally made experience of everything Virginia has to offer firsthand,” said Andrew Cothern, Director of Communications for VTC.
“Fairfax County is home to so many talented artisans, makers and musicians and Visit Fairfax is thrilled to be a part of celebrating them all, as well as the great Commonwealth of Virginia, at Tysons Corner Center’s exciting new event. We hope residents and visitors alike will come out to see what this amazing destination is all about and even take home a unique piece of Virginia.” – Barry Biggar, President & CEO of Visit Fairfax.
Saturday, September 16th on The Plaza from 11am-4pm, rain or shine.
The Boro invites the whole family to get festive at its annual Oktoberfest celebration!
Fuel up with specialty German food from local food trucks and sip back and relax at The Boro’s biergarten, located at The Sandlot Tysons, featuring a variety of brews including Oktoberfest, pumpkin and weissbier styles.
Show off your strength during our beer stein-holding competition! Winners get bragging rights and a gift certificate to a Boro retailer. Get grooving to a live polka band that promises classic tunes with a modern twist!
Little ones will enjoy glitter tattoos, face painting, crafts, giveaways and more at our kids’ celebration area. The first 150 people to arrive will receive a custom-branded beer mug.
September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and The Boro is proud to host a local chapter of Alex’s Lemonade Stand during Oktoberfest to raise funds and awareness.
WHEN: Saturday, September 23 from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (Rain date: Saturday, September 30)
WHERE: The Boro Tysons (8350 Broad Street, Tysons, VA 22102)
HOW:
The event is free and fun for all ages but registration is encouraged. Registration info can be found at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/
Taking over the National Mall Friday, September 29 through Sunday, October 1, the 2023 World Culture Festival is expected to be the largest gathering in the nation’s capital this year, featuring the largest stage area ever built on the historic National Park property.
Over 250,000 visitors from every corner of the globe are expected to travel to Washington, D.C. to be a part of the World Culture Festival. Today, organizers already report 184,513 registered attendees who will join in-person along with an estimated broadcast audience of over one billion worldwide. Registrants to date represent:
- 60% from the capital region
- 91% from the United States representing all 50 states
- 4% from India
- 5% from 121 other countries, including Canada, United Kingdom, Argentina, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Thailand and South Africa.
Free registration and full Festival information can be found at https://wcf.artofliving.org.
Program Schedule
*All schedules are subject to change
Friday, September 29
12:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Festival Village
- A one-mile stretch between 7th St and 14th St NW, featuring over 75 cultural pavilions, activities including fashion showcases, and 80+ food trucks serving international cuisines.
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Main Stage World Culture Festival Showcase
Saturday, September 30
12:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Festival Village
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Main Stage World Culture Festival Showcase
Sunday, October 1
8:00 am – 9:00 am: Yoga Festival
10:00 am – 2:00 pm: Festival Village
10:00 am – 1:00 pm: Main Stage World Culture Festival Showcase
Performances
An initial lineup was announced today including over 8,000 individual stage performers representing an array of human cultural art forms from around the globe. The program features all U.S.-based artists presenting music, dance, and performance art from diverse Native American and American immigrant cultures. Among them:
LOCAL
- The acclaimed Showtime Band from Howard University
- A melody performance from the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC
- Pulsating beats and infectious energy of Washington’s iconic go-go bands including Junkyard Band, DJ Cool and Bela Dona Band.
- Traditional Gospel Choir with 1,000 singers – a performance by musicians from church and university choirs of 1KVoiceChoir
- Native American dance by 100 artists representing various tribes from the region perform to the powerful beats of live drums and other traditional instruments
- Traditional Mongolian Dance & Music with 100 Dancers – A vibrant and energetic dance highlighting the heritage and nomadic traditions of Mongolia
- Indonesian Dance by 100 Artists – A “wonderland dance of Indonesia” representing the country’s five main islands
- Irish Step Dance with 100 Dancers – Lively Irish dancers in traditional dress showcasing the rich traditions of the Emerald Isle
- Bolivian Folk Dance with 200 Dancers – Vibrant folk dancers of Bolivia present 4 kinds of traditional dances
- Nepalese dance with 150 artists in vibrant costumes, representing the spiritual traditions of Nepal
NATIONAL
- Global Guitar Ensemble with 1,000 guitarists playing popular sing-along classics with renowned lead guitarists, including Grammy-award winner Micki Free.
- Rhythms of reggae with Skip Marley, grandson of the legendary Bob Marley, and dancers representing the cultures of the Caribbean islands.
- One World Family Invocation – A 200-artists choir with Grammy nominated artist Chandrika Tandon
- Pop influencer Jini June performing alongside 200 children, spreading a message of harmony in song
- Amadou Kouyate and his djembe and kora orchestra, accompanied by 200 African dancers
- Kurtis Blow and other hip hop legends accompanied by 200 breakdancers, MCs, DJs and graffiti artists
- 10,000 Garba Dancers – representing a traditional folk dance of western India circle the National Mall in a spirit of celebration.
- Traditional Afghan Music & Sufi Whirling with 150 Artists – 130 musicians playing traditional instruments and singing captivating melodies along with 20 whirling dervishes
- Indian Classical Dance & Classical Symphony with 1000 Artists – Symphony of 300 instrumentalists including sitar, veena, tabla, mridangam, flute, ghatam and violin, plus 700 dancers performing a variety of classical Indian dance styles
- Latin American Dance Fusion with 200 Artists – Vibrant folk dancers representing the unique traditions of Colombia, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela
- Chinese Cultural Choir & Dance with 1,000 Artists – Chinese classical choir, classical dancers, dragons, & kung-fu in a fusion of music & movement
- Bulgarian Folk Dance by 300 Artists – 300 artists dance to the soul-stirring melodies of Bulgarian singers
- Ukrainian Dance by 200 Dancers and Choir – Exhilarating acrobatics and vibrant footwork of the hopak, a traditional Ukrainian dance
Activations
- The largest ever yoga event to take place on the National Mall, with over 2,000 instructors from various schools of yoga demonstrating a flow to more than 25,000 yoga enthusiasts. The event will be followed by a meditation led by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
- Over 80 food trucks will serve culturally expressive food and beverages from around the world. Some of the cuisines include Middle Eastern (Koshary Corner), French (Taste of Montreal), Latin-American (Arepa Zone), South Asian (Rangoli), Vegan/Plant Based (Soultarian), Indonesian (Sambal), Caribbean (Patty Party), West African (Kuks Tribute), Italian (Ciao Roma), Mexican (Mexicocina), Thai (Thai Pinto), British (Salt Pot Kitchen).
Taking over the National Mall Friday, September 29 through Sunday, October 1, the 2023 World Culture Festival is expected to be the largest gathering in the nation’s capital this year, featuring the largest stage area ever built on the historic National Park property.
Over 250,000 visitors from every corner of the globe are expected to travel to Washington, D.C. to be a part of the World Culture Festival. Today, organizers already report 184,513 registered attendees who will join in-person along with an estimated broadcast audience of over one billion worldwide. Registrants to date represent:
- 60% from the capital region
- 91% from the United States representing all 50 states
- 4% from India
- 5% from 121 other countries, including Canada, United Kingdom, Argentina, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Thailand and South Africa.
Free registration and full Festival information can be found at https://wcf.artofliving.org.
Program Schedule
*All schedules are subject to change
Friday, September 29
12:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Festival Village
- A one-mile stretch between 7th St and 14th St NW, featuring over 75 cultural pavilions, activities including fashion showcases, and 80+ food trucks serving international cuisines.
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Main Stage World Culture Festival Showcase
Saturday, September 30
12:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Festival Village
5:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Main Stage World Culture Festival Showcase
Sunday, October 1
8:00 am – 9:00 am: Yoga Festival
10:00 am – 2:00 pm: Festival Village
10:00 am – 1:00 pm: Main Stage World Culture Festival Showcase
Performances
An initial lineup was announced today including over 8,000 individual stage performers representing an array of human cultural art forms from around the globe. The program features all U.S.-based artists presenting music, dance, and performance art from diverse Native American and American immigrant cultures. Among them:
LOCAL
- The acclaimed Showtime Band from Howard University
- A melody performance from the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC
- Pulsating beats and infectious energy of Washington’s iconic go-go bands including Junkyard Band, DJ Cool and Bela Dona Band.
- Traditional Gospel Choir with 1,000 singers – a performance by musicians from church and university choirs of 1KVoiceChoir
- Native American dance by 100 artists representing various tribes from the region perform to the powerful beats of live drums and other traditional instruments
- Traditional Mongolian Dance & Music with 100 Dancers – A vibrant and energetic dance highlighting the heritage and nomadic traditions of Mongolia
- Indonesian Dance by 100 Artists – A “wonderland dance of Indonesia” representing the country’s five main islands
- Irish Step Dance with 100 Dancers – Lively Irish dancers in traditional dress showcasing the rich traditions of the Emerald Isle
- Bolivian Folk Dance with 200 Dancers – Vibrant folk dancers of Bolivia present 4 kinds of traditional dances
- Nepalese dance with 150 artists in vibrant costumes, representing the spiritual traditions of Nepal
NATIONAL
- Global Guitar Ensemble with 1,000 guitarists playing popular sing-along classics with renowned lead guitarists, including Grammy-award winner Micki Free.
- Rhythms of reggae with Skip Marley, grandson of the legendary Bob Marley, and dancers representing the cultures of the Caribbean islands.
- One World Family Invocation – A 200-artists choir with Grammy nominated artist Chandrika Tandon
- Pop influencer Jini June performing alongside 200 children, spreading a message of harmony in song
- Amadou Kouyate and his djembe and kora orchestra, accompanied by 200 African dancers
- Kurtis Blow and other hip hop legends accompanied by 200 breakdancers, MCs, DJs and graffiti artists
- 10,000 Garba Dancers – representing a traditional folk dance of western India circle the National Mall in a spirit of celebration.
- Traditional Afghan Music & Sufi Whirling with 150 Artists – 130 musicians playing traditional instruments and singing captivating melodies along with 20 whirling dervishes
- Indian Classical Dance & Classical Symphony with 1000 Artists – Symphony of 300 instrumentalists including sitar, veena, tabla, mridangam, flute, ghatam and violin, plus 700 dancers performing a variety of classical Indian dance styles
- Latin American Dance Fusion with 200 Artists – Vibrant folk dancers representing the unique traditions of Colombia, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela
- Chinese Cultural Choir & Dance with 1,000 Artists – Chinese classical choir, classical dancers, dragons, & kung-fu in a fusion of music & movement
- Bulgarian Folk Dance by 300 Artists – 300 artists dance to the soul-stirring melodies of Bulgarian singers
- Ukrainian Dance by 200 Dancers and Choir – Exhilarating acrobatics and vibrant footwork of the hopak, a traditional Ukrainian dance
Activations
- The largest ever yoga event to take place on the National Mall, with over 2,000 instructors from various schools of yoga demonstrating a flow to more than 25,000 yoga enthusiasts. The event will be followed by a meditation led by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
- Over 80 food trucks will serve culturally expressive food and beverages from around the world. Some of the cuisines include Middle Eastern (Koshary Corner), French (Taste of Montreal), Latin-American (Arepa Zone), South Asian (Rangoli), Vegan/Plant Based (Soultarian), Indonesian (Sambal), Caribbean (Patty Party), West African (Kuks Tribute), Italian (Ciao Roma), Mexican (Mexicocina), Thai (Thai Pinto), British (Salt Pot Kitchen).
