(Now through 24): Enjoy a free movie at the Comcast Outdoor Film Festival at Strathmore Hall! The annual free summer movie fest screens recent hits, classics and family favorites. Pre-movie kid-friendly activities. Of course, WASH-FM will be there, too.
http://www.strathmore.org/eventstickets/calendar.asp(August 24 – September 1): It’s The Maryland State Fair! This summer favorite offers agricultural and livestock shows, home arts, farm and garden demonstrations, 4-H exhibits, midway rides and more!
http://www.marylandstatefair.com(August 23 – 24): Check out the Thai Festival! Apart from an exhibition on the history of Thailand, the event will also feature staged cultural and music performances, a parade, Thai cuisine, handicraft, Thai massage, Thai kick boxing and much more.
http://www2.thaiembdc.org/Activities/thaifest/default.html(August 23 – October 19): It’s the long celebrated Maryland Renaissance Festival! Celebrate the days of yore and re-create the reign of Henry VIII with jousting matches, magicians, musicians, crafts and more!
http://www.rennfest.com/(August 24 & September 28): Take part in Free Outdoor Yoga in Rock Creek Park. This series of free outdoor yoga classes is taught by experienced teachers representing local studios. Will take place in Rock Creek Park — Connecticut Ave/Cathedral Exit Off of Calvert Street, NW, 10:30 until 11:30 am.
http://www.evenkeelyoga.com/classes/index.html(August 24): Enjoy free music at Ben's Chili Bowl Concert! Funk, hip-hop and go-go performers rock the stage in this free concert honoring the Chili Bowl's 50th anniversary.
http://www.benschilibowl.com/50th_anniversary.html (August 23): The Celebrate Life Foundation presents the DC Survivor Pageant! This is an event to celebrate the strength and beauty of women who have survived Cancer in the DC area. At the DC Convention Center, 6pm, $25 donations requested.
http://www.celebratelifefoundation.net/mendinghearts.html (Now through September 7): The National Gallery of Art presents Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul. This exhibit showcases Ancient treasures from Afghanistan.
http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2008/afghanistan/ (August 22 - 24): The Virginia Wine & Gourmet Showcase comes to the DC Expo Center! Enjoy unlimited tasting of over 300 of Virginia's award-winning artisan wines. Get the best tips on tasting, storing, serving and pairing wines in continuous seminars hosted by the Washington Wine Academy for both the novice and the connoisseur. Shop 'til you drop for the finer things in life, including artisan wines, gourmet accessories, fancy foods and fine arts.
http://www.vawineshowcase.org/(Now through Aug 24): Be sure to see “Muppets, Music & Magic: Jim Henson’s Legacy,” a mini film festival presented at Silver Spring’s AFI Cultural center. Other events include showings of rarely seen archival footage, movies and TV shows by Jim Henson.
http://www.afi.com/silver/new/default.aspx(Now through August 24): It’s a Summer Concert Series at the Baker Park Bandshell! Enjoy free concerts every Sunday evening, with genres represented running the spectrum from rock to reggae to hip-hop to bluegrass.
http://www.celebratefrederick.com/Events/(Now through September 6): The Library of Congress presents Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: 50 Years as Cultural Ambassador to the World. The exhibition of photographs, films, correspondence and other material commemorates the troupe's golden anniversary. In the James Madison Building.
http://www.alvinailey.org/page.php?p=arti&v=307(Now through October 11): The Monthly Ballston Arts and Crafts Festival! Expect quirky cards, hipster jewelry and funky t-shirts at this monthly fest. Taking place on the second Saturday of the month from May through October, this festival will also feature local musicians and kid-friendly bands.
http://www.ballstonarts-craftsmarket.blogspot.com/(September 4 – 7): It’s the Prince George’s County Fair! Maryland's oldest fair celebrates with music, agriculture and festivities.
http://www.countyfair.org/(September 10 – 14): The Charles County Fair is coming to town! Charles County celebrates its agriculture and livestock. Enjoy rides, displays, demonstrations, and food!
http://www.charlescountyfair.com/(September 12 – 20): The Great Frederick Fair ends the fair season with a flourish with entertainment including former "American Idol" finalist Kellie Pickler and master song man Mel Tillis.
http://www.thegreatfrederickfair.com/(September 18 – 21): It’s the St. Mary’s County Fair! The fair will feature traditional fair events, such as pig races, magic shows, tractor pulls and agriculture.
http://smcfair.somd.com/Home.html(September 24 – 28): Come celebrate the Calvert County Fair! One of Maryland's oldest county fairs continues the tradition of agriculture, country music and good times.
http://www.calvertcountyfair.com/(September 25 – October 5): Experience the grand Virginia State Fair!
An event for the kid in you! It's the Big Red Barn, Racing Pigs, the State Fair Animal Nursery, the famous State Fair Duck Slide and more!
http://www.statefairva.org/(September 13 - 14): Wolf Trap hosts the International Children's Festival! The 2008 Festival will showcase young musicians, dancers, and martial artists from China, Finland, Ghana and Jordan and will feature the Canadian percussionists ScrapArtsMusic, whose performances have exciting rhythms, raw energy and athletic choreography.
www.internationalchildrensfestival.org(September 19 - 20): The McLean Branch of the American Association of University Women 39th Used Book Sale on Friday September 19 9 am to 7pm, on Saturday September 20 10 am to 6 pm and on Sunday September 21 12:00pm to 4 pm at McLean Community Center. Call (703) 448-9195 or
www.mcleanaauw.org
(Now through October 13): The U.S. National Arboretum presents Power Plants, a walk-through garden showcasing a variety of plants offering an array of alternative energy possibilities. Visitors will learn about sustainable agriculture-based renewable energy sources.
(Now through September 21): The Annual Wings of Fancy Live Butterfly Exhibit continues at Montgomery County’s Brookside Gardens in Wheaton. At this beautiful 50 acre display garden, you’ll discover a butterfly's lifecycle … Find out where they live and which species of plants they love to inhabit. Learn how to plant your own garden that will attract and host wild butterflies.
http://www.mc-mncppc.org/parks/brookside(Saturday and Sunday, August 30 & 31): 28th Annual Koi & Wine Festival at Lily Pons Water Gardens in Urbana. Wine Tasting with Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard, Festival Foods, Arts & Crafts Vendors and Live Entertainment by The Star Spangled Big Band. Later Gardening Lectures at 12:00 both days, with Richard Koogle, resident author and nationally renowned water gardening expert with nearly 30 years experience. Enhanced Selection of Koi Chesapeake Dock Dog Competition.
http://www.lilypons.com/products.asp?dept=145 Every Sunday until September 7th you can learn some fancy footwork at the First Sunday Ballroom Dances at the Candy Factory in Old Town Manassas. Each session includes a half-hour dance lesson with instructors teaching styles including the cha-cha, salsa, rumba, tango, samba, waltz, foxtrot and swing, followed by an open dance session. From 4 to 6 PM, don’t miss out on this fun! 703.330.2787
http://www.virginia.org/site/description.asp?AttrID=49707&Sort=&MGrp=3&MCat=11&MItm=0&Rgn=14000&Page=1&Dir=&ESM=3&ESD=18&ESY=2008&EEM=5&EED=17&EEY=2008 (Every Sunday) Come for some gender-bending entertainment at Perry’s Drag Queen Brunch, every Sunday at 10:30 am. It’s quite the happening spot, so come early if you want to get in!
http://www.perrysadamsmorgan.com/
(First Saturdays through September 6, 2008): Reel in some family fun from at the Kids’ Fishing Tournaments at Leesylvania State Park every 1st Saturday of the month. Children ages 5-15 (no fishing license required) can learn proper fishing techniques. Tournament winners in each age group will receive trophies. Some supplies are available, but participants are encouraged to bring their own. Meet in the grassy area by the Breakwater Marina. Free. 703.583.6904
(Every Saturday through November 1, 2008): Learn about the life and personalities of the City of Fairfax in this hour-long walk through history. See 200 years of architectural styles - including beautiful antebellum houses. Marvel at the raising shapes and skylines of the City today. Listen to the legends and tales of Civil War soldiers and spies! 800.545.7950
www.visitfairfax.com(August 27): Join the National Museum of the American Indian (on the above Friday’s only) for the release of thousands of ladybugs into the Museum’s gardens. Ladybugs are a natural pest controls are an eco-friendly and fun way to control pests in the landscape.
http://americanindian.si.edu/subpage.cfm?subpage=events&second=dc
© 2008