CALENDAR
three of Wolf Trap’s stages. Join her and the
band for a musical journey through South
Asia and around the globe, celebrating the
diverse instruments, languages, sights and
humanity of the world. 10:30 a.m., $12, Wolf
Trap National Park, Vienna, Va., wolftrap.org.

WEDNESDAY 24
The Ballad of Mu Lan
When China is forced to war with the
invading Xi Xia, each family must send one
man into battle. In her quest to protect her
baba, our young heroine proves girls can
do anything — including saving a nation.

This performance is full of music, pageantry
and humor. 10:30 a.m., $15-$25, Imagination
Stage, Bethesda, Md., imaginationstage.org.

THURSDAY 25
Backyard Theater for Kids:
Bee Parks & The Hornets
Welcome to the beehive! Bee Parks and the
Hornets create an interactive experience
full of original indie pop-rock songs and
puppets ― perfect for boosting your
Thursday morning. Promoting kindness,
self-confidence, social justice and
environmental awareness, creator and lead
singer Brittany Parker and her Hornets’
infectious energy can’t be missed. 9:30 a.m.,
$8-$10, Strathmore, North Bethesda, Md.,
strathmore.org. FREE Behind the Scenes with
American Girl Doll Luciana
Get to know Luciana, the 2018 American
Girl Doll of the Year, and her author, Erin
Teagan. See her story from behind the
scenes and discover the three things that
surprised the author most while writing
the books. 10:30 a.m., Chinn Park Regional
Library, Prince William, Va., pwcgov.org.

FRIDAY 26
FREE Summer Art Workshop
Summer is cool at NSLM! Summer Art
Workshops offer free art activities for kids
aged 5 and up. Learn more color theory,
shape, proportion and more while having
fun and getting messy! 10 a.m., National
Sporting Library & Museum, Middleburg, Va.

Main Street Theater Productions
Camp: Once on This Island, JR.

Young campers aged 12 to 18 years from
MSTP welcome you to the Caribbean
flavored original adaptation of Once
on This Island. This 60-minute show is
non-stop song and dance, a quest that
will test the strength of love. 7 p.m., $10,
Franklin Park Arts Center, Purcellville, Va.,
mainstreettheaterproductions.org. SATURDAY 27
FREE Summer Block Party
Enjoy some Saturday summer fun in
Manassas! Activities include face painting,
a bounce house, live music, raffles, prizes,
vendors, food and more! 10 a.m., Manassas
Museum Lawn, Va.

The Cat in the Hat
From the moment his tall, red-and-white-
striped hat appears around the door, Sally
and her brother know that the cat in the hat
is the funniest, most mischievous cat they
have ever met. With the trickiest of tricks
and craziest of ideas, he is certainly fun to
play with. And he turns a rainy afternoon
into an amazing adventure. But what will
Mom find when she gets home ... ? 11 a.m., 2
p.m. and 4:30 p.m., $20, Adventure Theatre,
Glen Echo, Md., adventuretheatre-mtc.org.

Disney Pixars
Coco: In Concert
Live to Film
This is a family-friendly, live-to-picture
concert event featuring Michael Giacchino’s
beautiful musical score. Produced by Pixar
Animation Studios and released by Walt
Disney Pictures, audience members will
follow the story of a 12-year-old boy named
Miguel who travels to the Land of the Dead,
where he seeks the help of his deceased
musician great-great-grandfather to return
him to his family. Film will be projected in
HD onto big screens in-house and on the
lawn. 8:30 p.m., $40-$65, Filene Center at
Wolf Trap, Vienna, Va., wolftrap.org.

SUNDAY 28
Preschool Pioneers:
Dark Side of the Moon
Have you ever looked up at the moon at
night and wondered why it changes shape?
Through interactive demonstrations, song,
stories and art, children will explore the
Earth, Sun, Moon relationship, and go on
a hunt for moon shapes in the Hirshhorn
Sculpture Garden. 2 p.m., $43, Smithsonian
Early Enrichment Center, Washington, D.C.,
si.edu/seec. MONDAY 29
FREE Preschool Story Time
Story times are more than just books!
They’re interactive experiences that
engage children with short stories, action
rhymes, songs and fingerplays. This story
time focuses on pre-reading skills that all
children need to become good readers,
and it helps parents practice these skills
at home. 10:30 a.m., Potomac Community
Library, Woodbridge, Va., pwcgov.org.

TUESDAY 30
Aaron Nigel Smith
Join this reggae rocker for some of his best-
known children’s songs. The island rhythms
will inspire you to get up to sing, dance and
play together. This event is a part of the
Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods season
at Wolf Trap! 10:30 a.m., $12, Wolf Trap
National Park, Vienna, Va., wolftrap.org.

WEDNESDAY 31
FREE Sterling Library
Reptiles Alive! Show
Find out why reptiles ROCK at this fun and
educational Reptiles Alive show! Meet a
colorful variety of live reptiles presented
by a fun and engaging Wildlife Educator
who will tell fun animal stories and amazing
animal facts. 4 p.m., Sterling Library,
Sterling, Va., library.loudoun.gov. ■
Opening Day
May 25t
h! @ cbw
aterpark _
beachcomber speed
25% OFF
Admission Tickets
Use Promo Code 25Washington
(Up to 4 tickets,
Monday-Friday only)
www.chesapeakebeach waterpark.com
lazy river
“The most satisfying and subversive
musical ever to come out of Britain. ”
waterfalls lap pool
character days
slides grille
– The New York Times
JUNE 21 -
JULY 21
birthday parties
4079 Gordon Stinnett Ave
Chesapeake Beach, MD
10 WashingtonFAMILY JULY 2019
olneytheatre.org 301.924.3400



STAR-SPANGLED FUN
10 THINGS TO DO IN THE
DMV for the Fourth of July
BY WF STAFF
When it comes to Independence Day
celebrations, our area’s got it covered. Classic
fireworks displays, patriotic parades, live
performances … there are so many ways to
enjoy this beloved summer holiday. So grab the
family, don some red, white and blue and head out to
one of these awesome local events below.

1 Fourth of July Fireworks
on the National Mall: JULY 4, 9 P.M.

post-game fireworks show. Go tousometro.org/
NatsBenefit19 for discounted tickets in prime
seating, including $10 food vouchers. Nationals
Park, Washington, D.C.

Is there any better place to watch a patriotic
fireworks display than in our nation’s capital?
Head out to the National Mall for the grandest
Fourth of July Musical
display of fireworks, set amongst a true
Salute: July 4, Noon
backdrop of American pride. National Mall,
near the Washington Monument and Reflecting It’s going to be a true star-spangled day at
The Wharf. Throughout the day, there will be
Pool, Washington, D.C.

live music on Pearl Street, Fish Market and
Transit Pier Stages. While you’re there, enjoy
National Independence Day
an afternoon lunch at one of The Wharf’s many
Parade: July 4, 11:45 a.m.-2 p.m.

restaurants and stay to watch the fireworks
The National Independence Day Parade is a
show! The Wharf, 760 Maine Ave., S.W.,
true spectacle! Marching bands, fife and drum
Washington, D.C.

corps, floats, military units, giant balloons,
equestrian, drill teams and more celebrate
Red, White & Blue
Independence Day in this patriotic, flag-waving,
Reptiles Alive!:
red, white and blue celebration of America’s
July 4, 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.

birthday. Constitution Avenue N.W. from 7th
Street N.W. to 17th Street N.W., Washington, D.C. A variety of colorful live reptiles — ones with
red scales and white tails and some with blue
tongues — will be featured during this fun and
Barracks Row Fourth of July
patriotic-inspired animal show! A kid-friendly
Parade: July 4, 10 a.m.

wildlife educator will educate and entertain
This annual patriotic event brings in a crowd of
guests with animal stories and facts. Enjoy a
nearly 5,000 people! The parade includes floats,
meet and greet as well from 1-2 p.m. Claude
marching groups, little red wagons and more in
Moore Park, Sterling, Va.

celebration of our nation’s birthday. So if you’re
looking for a great Fourth of July parade, head
Fairfax City’s 53rd Annual
out to Barracks Row. Barracks Row, 8th St., S.E.,
Independence Day Parade:
Washington, D.C.

5 2
6 3
7 4
2019 Washington Nationals
USO-Metro Beneficiary Games:
July 3, 6:05 p.m.

Before you spend July 4th watching parades
and cooking out, why not celebrate our nation
a day early by watching one of America’s
greatest treasures — baseball. Head out to
Nationals Park on July 3rd to see the Nats play
the Miami Marlins on “Family Night.” There
will be patriotic gear, themed giveaways and a
ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUS/ELINALEE
July 4, 10 a.m.

This annual Fairfax City Independence Day
Parade is always a hit! This year, nine high
school marching bands will be performing
along with many large inflatable parade
balloons, floats and clowns. After the parade,
stick around for the evening show starting
at 6:30 p.m., which includes music, on-stage
entertainment, dancing, face painting and a
glorious fireworks display. The parade starts at
4100 Chain Bridge Rd., Fairfax, Va.

8 Celebrate America!:
July 4, 3 p.m.

9 Annapolis Fourth of July
Parade: July 4, 6:30 p.m.

Head to Manassas for one of Northern
Virginia’s largest fireworks displays! The fun
starts early, beginning at 3 p.m. with great rides
for kids, food concessions, novelty vendors, live
entertainment and more. The fireworks display
starts at 9:15 p.m., so don’t forget to bring
along your lawn chairs and blankets. Manassas
Museum Lawn and Historic Manassas, Va.

Celebrate our nation’s birthday in lovely
Annapolis! Enjoy watching a glorious parade
full of marching bands, fire engines old and
new, cars and vans, service clubs and scouts,
music and more. Enjoy tons of food and
drinks along the parade route as well. And, of
course, stick around for a gorgeous fireworks
display over Annapolis Harbor. Downtown
Annapolis, Md.

10 Takoma Park Independence
Day Celebration: July 4,
parade at 10 a.m., evening
program at 7 p.m.

Enjoy a wonderful Fourth of July at one of our
area’s oldest Independence Day celebrations!
This Takoma Park event includes a lively
morning parade and a full day of entertainment,
including children’s activities, vendors, live
music, a WAU Acro-Airs tumbling performance
and food trucks. The Takoma Park Community
Band will perform a patriotic selection of
classical and popular show tunes and an
ultra-fun Motown-themed band will close
out the night. Begins at the intersection
of Carroll and Ethan Allen avenues, Takoma
Park, Md. ■
WashingtonFAMILY.com 11