Sometimes it feels like you can’t leave the house without spending a ton of money. But if you’re looking for free and cheap things to do in the Washington area, this weekend has a lot of good news for you.
The National Book Festival invites you to performances by top authors and child-friendly activities at the Washington Convention Center on Saturday.
Other free activities include Opera in the Outfield at Nats Park, the WOW Indonesia! Festival and Bowie’s Fairwood Music Festival. Plus, kids can get free tickets to the first weekend of the Maryland Renaissance Festival. Hooray!
On Monday, National Dog Day, you can take your dog for a ride on the Capital Wheel at National Harbor. Dogs ride free with an adult ticket.
And there are also some food specials for Restaurant Week.
Alexandria Restaurant Week continues through Sunday, with discounted prix fixe menus still available at many DC and Maryland restaurants, including Bresca, Ambar, The Daily Dish, Immigrant Food, MI VIDA, Succotash Prime, Bistro Du Jour, Gatsby, The Grill and Seven Reasons.
Highlights of the weekend
Free for children this weekend
Maryland Renaissance Festival
Weekends through October 20, plus Labor Day, Annapolis, $14-$26 (before September 8)
🔗 Details
Now in its 48th year, the Maryland Renaissance Festival features jousting, giant turkey legs and plenty of costumed revelers near Annapolis.
On opening weekend, one child under 15 may attend when accompanied by an adult who has purchased a ticket (children under 7 are always admitted free). On Labor Day, seniors age 62 and older are admitted free.
With more than 200 professional artists on 10 stages, the program offers something for everyone. Look forward to short Shakespeare plays, daring stunt shows, story times and bards performing music and comedy.
- Pro tips: Buy tickets in advance as they sell out quickly. Bring plenty of cash for food and drinks. Get there early to avoid crowds, traffic and heat. We have more pro tips here.
- Curious about the costume? Dressing up is one of our favorite parts of the fair! Raid your closet for a puffy shirt and a Seinfeld-style flower crown, or come early to rent one. Rentals start at $10 for kids and $20 for adults.
Free choice
National Book Festival
Sat., 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Walter E. Washington Convention Center
🔗 Details
The National Book Festival returns to downtown DC this weekend, bringing top authors to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
The free, all-day festival of books has something for bookworms of all ages.
- Sandra Cisneros celebrates 40 years since the release of “The House on Mango Street”
- One hundred years after James Baldwin’s birth, Ayana Mathis, Viet Thanh Nguyen and Eric Deggans discuss the lasting influence of his work on writers (Make a day of it and stop by the Baldwin exhibition at the Portrait Gallery!)
- James Patterson talks about “The Secret Lives of Booksellers and Librarians”
- A Literature to Life performance of Erika L. Sánchez’s novel “I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter”
- Given the increasing popularity of the Romantasy genre, Rebecca Yarros will speak about her books on the main stage
Click here to see the full program. Doors open at 8:30am.
Free choice
Opera in the outfield
Sat., admission 4:30 p.m., admission free
🔗 Details
Watch a broadcast of Puccini’s “Turnadot” on the lawn or bleachers of Nationals Park. The Washington National Opera’s production, which sold out in May, will be sung in Italian, but there will be English subtitles on the screen.
Doors open at 4:30 p.m. and the concert begins at 6:00 p.m. Outfield wristbands will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and can be picked up in the family picnic area to the left of Center Field Plaza.
Before the show, enjoy live dancing and music, including a performance by Step Afrika!, as well as photo opportunities for families and the chance to win prizes.
Please remember that Nats Park has a strict bag policy.
Concerts this weekend
50th Anniversary of Big Stars “Radio City”, Saturday 7pm, Union Stage, $25
An all-star lineup – Mike Mills (REM), Jon Auer (The Posies), Pat Sansone (Wilco) and Chris Stamey (The dB’s) – joins drummer Jody Stephens, the last surviving member of Big Star, to pay tribute to the power pop forefathers’ second album, “Radio City.” These guys are used to playing Big Star’s songs together, having worked together as “Big Star’s Third” on several tours supporting the iconic band’s third album. And it’s always a great show. Details.
Santigold, Saturday 8 p.m., Fillmore Silver Spring, $53
Singer-songwriter with punk ethic blends pop, hip-hop, new wave and dub. Known for his energetic, retro-style live performances. Details.
Things to do in DC
DCBX16: “The Super Bowl of Latin Dance Festivals in the USA”: Thurs. to Mon., Westin DC Hotel, from $40
Embassy Row Rooftop Night in Havana under the stars with Latin Band: Fri., 7-10pm, The Ven at Embassy Row, $25-35
Oh, He’s Dead: Fri., The Atlantis, $25
WWE Smackdown: Fri., Capital One Arena
DC United: United Night Out: Sat., Audi Field, from $27
National Book Festival: Sat., Walter E. Washington Convention Center, free
Dance class “Joy of African Movement”: Sat., 9–10 a.m., National Museum of African Art, free
Hi Lawns Caribbean Festival: Sat., Hi-Lawn at Union Market, $10
WOW Indonesia! Festival: Sun., 10am to 6pm, 3rd-7th Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, free
Washington Spirit: International friendlies, double matchday
Spirit vs Kansas City Current at noon
Chelsea FC vs Arsenal FC at 4pm
Audi Field, $64–125
Women’s Equality Day Power-Up Concert: Sun., 6:30 p.m., Kennedy Center, $50-150
Things to do in Maryland
Maryland Renaissance Festival: Weekends through October 20, plus Labor Day, Annapolis, $14-$26 (before September 8)
- FYI: Children have free entry on August 24th and 25th. “For every purchase of an adult ticket, one child between the ages of 7 and 15 gets free entry. Children under 6 always get free entry,” it says on the festival grounds.
- Seniors age 62 and older are admitted free on Labor Day. No ticket is required.
Maryland State Fair: August 22 to September 8, 200 York Road, Lutherville-Timonium, admission $8.25 (ages 6-11) or $13.25 (ages 12 and up) if purchased in advance
Foodie Fridays – Taste the Land: Fri., 6:30-8:30 p.m., Josiah Henson Museum and Park in Bethesda, $15
Kensington Community Block Party: Sat., 2-4pm, Kensington House lawn, free
Fairwood Music Festival: Sun., 1-6pm, Fairwood Community Park in Bowie, free
Hand Dance Social: Sun., 6:00 p.m.–8:30 p.m., Roosevelt Center in Greenbelt, free
Classes from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., followed by open dance
Free dog rides on the Capital Wheel for National Dog Day: Mon., National Harbor, free
Things to do in Virginia
Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge: Sat. and Sun., Filene Center at Wolf Trap, $55
Around the World Food Festival: Sat., 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Oronoco Bay Park in Alexandria, admission free
Blues, Brews & BBQ with The Nighthawks: Saturday, 6-9 p.m., Dirt Farm Brewing in Bluemont, Virginia, $20
Lake Accotink Park Celebration Day: Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Springfield, free
Free boat rentals, nature activities and entertainment
Starlight Drive-in Cinema, double screening of “Migration” and “Elemental”: Sat., doors 6pm, Sully Historic Site, free
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