Labor Day Weekend Fun

It has been a summer of cool weather and frequent thunderstorms but that didn’t stop anyone from enjoying the pool and grilling up some great meals. With long days and warm nights Northern Virginia is a great place to enjoy the beautiful summer.

With the pools closing and kids going back to school, the last “Hooray!” of summer will be Labor Day Weekend. Labor Day Weekend is a great chance to get together with family and friends and enjoy a long weekend away from the rigorous work week. If you are looking for new and fun things to do this weekend in the DC Metro area, we have some exciting ideas for you and your family.

Whether you stay at home and BBQ with the family or go out and enjoy one of the many activities that the DC area has to offer, we hope you enjoy your Labor Day Weekend!

National Book Festival

Saturday, August 30, 2014. Washington Convention Center (new location and earlier than previous years). Visit with more than 100 award-winning authors, illustrators and poets who will talk about and sign their books.

Labor Day Concert

Sunday, August 31, 2014, 8 p.m. East Capitol and First Streets, Washington, DC (202) 225-6827. Enjoy a free concert by the National Symphony Orchestra.

Kennedy Center Page to Stage Festival

August 30-September 1, 2014. The Kennedy Center hosts more than 40 local theater companies in a series of free readings and open rehearsals of plays and musicals. This three-day event gives audiences a look at new works being prepared for Washington premieres in the upcoming theater season.

DC Blues Festival

Saturday, August 30, 2014, 1-7 p.m. Carter Barron Amphitheater. Washington, DC. This free annual festival features live blues by outstanding local and national acts. Bring the family for a day of soulful and electrifying blues, music workshops, Musical Instrument Petting Zoo and other child-friendly activities.

Lake Anne Jazz and Blues Festival – Reston, VA

Saturday, August 30, 2014, 1-8 p.m. Reston, VA. The free, family friendly event will showcase a variety of talented local emerging artists and national jazz performers.

Maryland Renaissance Festival

Weekends August 23 through October 19, 2014. Crownsville, MD. The whole family will marvel over the 16th century English village with crafts, food, live performances, games and lots more.

Glen Echo Park Art Show and Irish Festivities

August 30-September 1, 2014. MacArthur Boulevard, Glen Echo, MD. (301) 634-2222. Visit the Labor Day Art Show in the Spanish Ballroom 12 – 6 p. m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Artwork for sale representing more than 150 regional artists including sculpture, paintings, ceramics, glass and jewelry. The event will include a wide variety of Irish musicians and dancers performing toe-tapping Irish dancing to beautiful Irish folk songs in Glen Echo Park’s Bumper Car Pavilion.

Old Town Gaithersburg Labor Day Parade

Monday, September 1, 2014, 1 p.m. Summit and Diamond Avenues, Gaithersburg, MD (301) 258-6350. Join in the fun at Gaithersburg’s Annual Labor Day Parade. Watch fire engines, high school marching bands, clowns, horses and giant balloons fill the streets of Olde Town Gaithersburg.

Greenbelt Labor Day Festival

August 29-September 1, 2014. Greenbelt Community Center, 15 Crescent Rd., Greenbelt, MD (301) 397-2208. Bring the kids to a festival with carnival rides, games, a petting zoo, art exhibits, athletic tournaments, the Miss Greenbelt pageant and live entertainment. The carnival hours will be from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, noon to 11 p.m. Sunday and noon to 7 p.m. Monday.

Kensington Labor Day Parade

Monday, September 1, 2014. (301)942-9254. Celebrate Labor Day with a Parade and Festival. Kensington, MD. Parade begins at St. Paul’s St and Plyers Mill. Festival located along Howard and Armory Avenues. Enjoy a day of family entertainment with a parade, live music, arts and crafts, food and kids activities.

Herndon Labor Day Festival

Monday, September 1, 2014, 12-6 p.m. Town Green, 777 Lynn Street Herndon, Virginia. Enjoy wine tastings and musical entertainment by regional and national jazz performers.

Virginia Scottish Games

August 30-31, 2014. Celebrate Alexandria’s Scottish Heritage and enjoy piping & drumming, highland dancing, and fiddling competitions sheep-herding demonstrations, an antique car show, children’s activities, and much more.

Epicurience Virginia: A Wine and Food Festival in Loudoun

August 29-September 1, 2014. The event highlights the region’s culinary offerings showcased in scenic and historic settings stretching from stylish equestrian farms to the misty Blue Ridge Mountains. Attendees taste the finest in Virginia wines, meet top tastemakers and master winemakers, and sample cuisine prepared by celebrated chefs from around the country.

National Hard Crab Derby

August 28-31, 2014. Crisfield, Maryland. This unique event attracts a crowd from the across the region to the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Enjoy crab races and contests, carnival rides, crafts, live entertainment, beauty pageants, parade, and fireworks.

War of 1812 Alexandria Signature Event

Sunday, August 31, 2014, Noon-5 p.m. Alexandria, VA. After nearly a year of special activities, the celebration of Alexandria’s involvement in the War of 1812 closes with a signature event along the waterfront. The event will include interactive historical exhibits, boating activities and food trucks. To restore honor after Alexandria’s 1814 surrender to British troops, Alexandria has challenged the British Embassy to a good-spirited rematch, featuring a tug-of-war, cricket match and yacht race.

To see the full list of activities click here.