Washington, DC

The Odyssey and the Spirit of Washington are offering special excursions to see the Washington DC 4th of July fireworks while cruising down the Potomac River. Enjoy an afternoon or evening full of live entertainment along with some of the best views of the fireworks. The Odyssey's July 4th Fireworks Dinner Cruise boards at 6:00 p.m. and sails from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Tickets begin at $199.90 per person. Guests must be 21 + with valid ID. The Spirit of Washington's Independence Day Lunch Cruise boards at 11:30 a.m. and sails from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. Tickets are from $43.90 per adult and $26.95 per child ages 3-12. The Spirit of Washington's Fireworks Dinner Cruise boards at 6:30 p.m. and sails from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Tickets begin at $149.90 per person. Guests must be 21+ with valid ID. Read more about Washington DC Cruises.

Photo © Spirit of Washington

More About the 4th of July

Fourth of July Fireworks in Washington DC

Fireworks in Maryland

Fireworks in Northern Virginia

Independence Day Parades in DC, MD and Northern VA

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On June 22, 2013, thousands of people across the nation will join the Great American Backyard Campout, an annual event created to encourage families and friends to enjoy their connection to the natural world. Looking to spend a few days camping out in the woods this summer? Within a short drive from the Washington, DC area you can find a wide selection of campgrounds. Whether your idea of camping means taking the amenities of home with you in an RV, sleeping in a cozy tent, or enjoying the comfort of a rustic cabin, there are plenty of options to meet your needs. Here is a guide to the campgrounds in Maryland and Virginia.

_{Shenandoah National Park, Photo © ARAMARK}

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival begins this week and runs from June 26-30 and July 3-7, 2013. The special event is sponsored each June-July by the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage celebrating cultural traditions around the world. Visitors enjoy daily and evening music and dance performances, crafts and cooking demonstrations, storytelling and discussions of cultural issues. This year's programs include:

• Hungarian Heritage: Roots to Revival
  
• One World, Many Voices: Endangered Languages and Cultural Heritage
  
• Will to Adorn: African American Identity and the Aesthetics of Dress

Read More About the 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival

_{Photo © Smithsonian Folklife Festival}

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Fourth of July in Washington, DC

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A Guide to All of the Smithsonian Museums

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From June 22 through August 17, 2013, Strathmore presents a campus-wide festival, Puppets Take Strathmore, demonstrating contemporary puppet culture through performance, workshops and an art exhibition. From award-winning Broadway shows like War Horse and Disney's The Lion King to astonishing new stagings of opera and dance, puppets have transformed the arts in America. Puppets Take Strathmore invites artists and experts such as Cashore Marionettes, Blue Sky Puppet Theatre, Nana Projects and the Blair Thomas & Company to share the stage with their creations and explore this amazing medium. Read more about Strathmore Music Center and Mansion.

Photo © Jonathan Timmes

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Strathmore Backyard Theatre for Children

Strathmore Free Outdoor Concerts

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The National Children's Museum and MGM Resorts International will present the fourth annual CycleFest on Saturday, June 22, 2013, 12-4 p.m. The event offers family-friendly activities inspiring children to gear up for a safe and active summer of outdoor riding. This block party-style event will include bicycle rodeos, safety gear sizing and giveaways, bicycle maintenance workshops, arts and crafts, raffles, live entertainment and much more. The event is free, and children who complete the bicycle rodeo will receive a coupon for $2 off admission to the Museum.

CycleFest will take place at National Harbor directly outside the National Children's Museum on American Way (between St. George Boulevard and Fleet Street). Visitors are encouraged to bring their own bicycles or tricycles and ride to National Harbor via the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Trail.

Related

15 Best Places to Go with Kids in Washington DC

8 Things to Do at National Harbor

A Guide to Bicycling in the Washington DC Area

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See a guide to the top events going on this weekend in the Washington, DC area, including Maryland and Northern Virginia. If you are looking for a different date, please visit my homepage at dc.about.com.

• Father's Day - June 16, 2013. Find a variety of ways to spend some family time with Dad on Father's Day in Washington, DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia.
  
  
• DC Jazz Festival - Through June 16, 2013. Enjoy more than 100 jazz performances at concert venues and clubs throughout Washington, DC.
  
  
• Taste of Reston - June 14-15, 2013. Reston Town Center. Enjoy a variety of food from the region's finest eateries, live music, activities and games. Admission and parking are free. Tastings start at $1.
  
  
• Summer Theater in Washington DC -With dozens of performances around the region, here is the schedule of the top shows for the 2013 season.
  
  
• The Source Theater Festival - Through June 30, 2013. Source Theatre, 1835 14th Street, NW Washington, DC. See a variety of performances including three full-length plays, 18 10-minute plays and three Artistic Blind Dates.
  
  
• Washington Soap Box Derby - June 15, 2013. Watch racers ages 8-17 compete in an All American Soap Box Derby on Capitol Hill.
  
  
• Manassas Wine and Jazz Festival - June 16, 2013. Enjoy an afternoon of wine and live jazz in Old Town Manassas, Virginia.
  
  
• Crystal City Car Festival - June 16, 2013, 2-6 p.m. Crystal City, VA. The festival will showcase innovative electric vehicles, area sports car auto clubs, classic muscle cars, and more.
  
  
• Truck Touch and Summer Kick Off Event - June 15, 2013, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. RFK Stadium Festival Grounds, Lot 7. DC government agencies will demonstrate and explain the vehicles used to clean and repair streets, change traffic lights, fix potholes, clear snow, provide emergency services, and more. Families can enjoy live music, skating, basketball hoop contests, Segway rides, electric and hybrid vehicle test drives, and much, much more.
  
  
• Reel Water Film Festival - June 15, 2013. Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club, Bethesda, MD. The festival is aimed to inspire and inform our community about global and local water issues and innovative solutions. The event includes a day of short films, an evening feature of the award winning documentary Chasing Ice, expert presentations, and local non-profit partner exhibits.

More Upcoming Washington, DC Events

June Festivals and Events in Washington DC

July Festivals and Events in Washington DC

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Have you always wanted to know more about the Chesapeake Bay? Did you know that it is the largest estuary in the United States, with a watershed area that is 64,000 square miles and encompasses parts of six states? Known for its historic towns and beautiful scenery, the region along the Chesapeake Bay is fun to explore and offers a wide range of recreational activities such as boating, swimming, fishing, bird watching, biking and golf. The towns along the Bay have a variety of accommodations, restaurants, museums, attractions for kids, shopping venues and nightlife options. Read more:

• Things to Know About the Chesapeake Bay
  
• Exploring the Cities and Towns Along the Chesapeake Bay
  
• Map of the Chesapeake Bay
  
• What You Need to Know About the Chesapeake Bay Bridge
  
• Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel

Photo © Maryland Office of Tourism

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Just in time for the 50th anniversary of The Beatles' first album that started Beatlemania, Madame Tussauds Washington DC has unveiled wax figures of George Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. As part of the exhibit, rare Beatles memorabilia from O Street Museum, which is housed in The Mansion on O Street, will be on display, including one of the rarest jukeboxes of all time - a Rock-Ola Yellow Submarine Jukebox, 1960s Beatles Bobble heads and the first set of colored Beatles cards uncut.

Photo © Madame Tussauds

See More Photos of Madame Tussauds Wax Figures

Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ) will host Brew at the Zoo on July 11, 2013, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, DC. This year, Brew at the Zoo will bring together more than 40 of the nation's finest microbreweries for beer sampling. Proceeds from the event support animal care, conservation science, education, and sustainability at the National Zoo. While sampling beverages from a wide variety of breweries, attendees will be treated to live music performed by Washington DC's premier party band, Gonzo's Nose.

Tickets are on sale now-$50 for FONZ members and $65 for nonmembers. Sober driver tickets will be available for $30. Admission includes live music, all beer samples and a commemorative mug. Food may be purchased from restaurant concessions. To purchase tickets, visit the Brew at the Zoo page.

This is an adults only event and you must be 21-years-old to attend. A valid ID is required for admission. Babies and children will not be admitted. Brew at the Zoo takes place rain or shine. Read More About Visiting the National Zoo

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Here's something different to do with Dad on Father's Day. The Crystal City Business Improvement District (BID) in partnership with Vornado/Charles E. Smith, the 23rd Street Business Association, and the Washington Wine Academy, is launching the first annual Father's Day Car Festival on Sunday, June 16, 2013, 2-6 p.m. The festival will showcase innovative electric vehicles, area sports car auto clubs, classic muscle cars, and more. Vornado/Charles E. Smith's will participate by showing off their new charging stations and Chevrolet Volt fleet. The Washington Wine Academy will host a beer garden to further enhance the experience and celebrate Father's Day in style. The car festival will be held in the courtyard at 2121 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA including the parking lot at 220 20th Street S., Arlington, VA, and the parking lot behind Freddie's Beach Bar & Restaurant at 555 23rd Street S., Arlington, VA. See a map of Crystal City.

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Top 10 Things to Do in Arlington, Virginia

Father's Day in Washington DC

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