Activities in Washington, D.C. this Memorial Day weekend

Despite the rainy weather expected to hit the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area this weekend, there is plenty to do for fun with or without the family.

Memorial Day, which honors those who lost their lives defending the nation, is on Monday this year. Many Americans mark the long weekend as the beginning of summer.

Explore the Washington Examiner’s recommendations for an excellent long weekend in the Washington metropolitan area.

Friday

In Washington:

Seattle Mariners vs. Washington Nationals: Over the weekend, watch the Nationals take on the Mariners at home this weekend on Friday at 6:45 p.m., Saturday at 4:05 p.m., and Sunday at 1:35 p.m. at Nationals Park. Tickets start as low as $13. Friday is the Nationals’ Branch Appreciation Day for the Navy, and the first 20,000 fans on Saturday will receive a Lane “Train” Bobblehead.

Washington Spirit vs Seattle Reign: Watch women’s soccer at Audi Field at 7:30 p.m. Friday night as the Washington Spirit takes on the Seattle Reign. Tickets start at $15.

In Maryland:

Red Hot Blues & BBQ: From Friday to Monday, enjoy celebrating blues music and good barbecue in Glen Echo Park. Stacy Brooks, Carly Harvey, and headliner D.K. Harrell will play the dancing portion of the event, where you can dance freely or sign up for a beginner lesson. Tickets to the catered barbecue are already sold out, but guests can picnic for free, and tickets for the dances will be sold at the door. Tickets are $20-30, and the Friday event runs from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m.

In Virginia:

National Museum of the Army: From Friday to Sunday, the National Museum of the Army in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, will have multiple activities, including an outdoor flag display, an exhibit with equipment and uniforms used by service members, and a craft-making station for visitors to create their own red poppy, a symbol to honor fallen troops’ sacrifices. For those who come on Monday, there will be two moments of silence observed at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. The afternoon will also feature the documentary They Won’t Die Twice about the Normandy invasion.

Saturday

In Washington:

Pixar Putt: Pixar Putt is opening at the Wharf Saturday, with putt-putt holes inspired by the stories and characters from movies such as Toy Story and The Incredibles. Tickets start at $30. After 7 p.m., the green changes to Pixar Putt After Dark, and tee times are reserved for those 18 years and older.

In Virginia:

ViVa! Vienna! Festival: The 40th anniversary of the ViVa! Vienna! Festival, an annual community event sponsored by the Rotary Club of Vienna, is taking place Saturday and Sunday. There will be shuttle buses provided between the Vienna Metro stop and the festival grounds. Guests will enjoy amusement park rides, live entertainment, food vendors, and a BrewFest beer garden for those of age. Entry to the charity event supporting over 70 organizations is free, but tickets are required for rides, the raffle, and the beer garden.

In Maryland:

Maryland Plant Fest: Head to Silver Spring, Maryland, for a plant extravaganza. The event is free and will have various plant vendors, including Cultivate the City, Southern MD Tropicals, Floraesoterika, Gracie’s Tropicals, Foliage Fanatics, and Sandi Plants. There will also be food for purchase available from Little Minor Taco, Plant Burger, and Ben and Jerry’s. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Hometown Holidays Music Festival: On Saturday and Sunday, Rockville, Maryland, will host a free music family-friendly festival with two outdoor stages. A Taste of Rockville will also be present with different local food vendors. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days at RedGate Park.

Brew in the Zoo: Head to the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore for bottomless beer, wine, and seltzers while listening to live entertainment and roaming around the animals. You can watch scheduled enrichment programming, such as elephants smashing watermelons and leopards playing. An admission ticket with unlimited sampling is $70.

America’s biggest bounce house: The largest bounce house in the United States is back at Fort Washington, Maryland, this season, boasting a 16,000-square-foot custom-made inflatable. Crawl between the airSpace station, the Sport Slam, and the 900-foot-long obstacle course called the Giant. Don’t forget to pack your socks. Tickets range from $22-48.

Sunday

In Washington:

National Memorial Day Concert at the Capitol: Located on the Capitol’s West Lawn overlooking the National Mall, the National Symphony Orchestra will perform along with other musical guests, including Tony Award-winning singer Cynthia Erivo and Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts. Gates will open at 5 p.m., and the concert will begin at 8 p.m. The concert is free.

National Memorial Day Concert: Head to the Kennedy Center on Sunday at 2 p.m. for the 14th Annual Memorial Day Choral Festival. More than 200 singers will sing classic, American, patriotic tunes alongside the Air Force Band.

Rolling to Remember: For the 36th year, thousands of patriotic motorcyclists will rev their engines in honor of those who defend our country. A pancake breakfast at 6:30 a.m. will start the ceremony at the Patriot Harley-Davidson west of Fairfax Circle on Fairfax Boulevard. There will be a police-escorted motorcycle ride starting at 9 a.m. to the Pentagon before riding into Washington. The National Anthem will be played at 11:50 a.m., and the ride through the streets of Washington will begin at noon. The ride is an effort to raise awareness for the missing prisoners of war and those missing in action, as well as the mental health crisis among veterans. Following the ride, there will be free barbecue and drinks for active duty, veterans, and first responders with a valid ID.

In Maryland:

A Salute to Service: Honoring America’s Heroes: At the National Harbor Theater, the Air Force Band will play a “salute to service” featuring The War and Treaty. The event will be held from 7:30 to 9 p.m. and is free but requires registration.

In Virginia:

Flowers of Remembrance Day at Arlington National Cemetery: The Arlington Cemetery will allow visitors to lay flowers on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier this weekend. Typically, only guards and the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment are allowed to step foot on the plaza, but it is open to the public Sunday. Flowers will be provided, and visitors are asked to register in advance.

Monday

In Washington:

National Memorial Day Parade: The annual Memorial Day Parade is set to take place on Constitution Avenue between Seventh and 17th streets. This year, it will be led by World War II veterans in honor of the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The parade runs from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and is free to attend.

Tours of the Soldiers’ Home National Cemetery: Guided tours of the Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery are being held Monday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The tours are free to attend.

Memorial Day Wreath Laying: You can honor America’s service members at the Navy Memorial just north of the National Mall. The event is taking place from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and is free to attend.

In Virginia:

National Memorial Day of Observance: Starting at 11 a.m., the Arlington National Cemetery will lay the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. While that ceremony is private, there will be other activities such as a veterans parade, music, and remarks from dignitaries. The event is free and open to the public.

Falls Church Memorial Day Parade & Festival: On Monday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Falls Church, Virginia, will have a Memorial Day Parade and Festival all day on Park Avenue. Attendance is free.

Memorial Day Festival in McLean: Shipgarten is inviting families to see superhero characters on Monday from noon to 6 p.m. In addition to Wonder Woman, Superman, and Captain America hosting the event, there will be bouncy houses and face painting. Attendance is free.

In Maryland:

Annapolis Memorial Day Parade: Head to Maryland’s capital for a parade down Main Street. The parade starts at 10 a.m. and is open to the public.