Check out locally made arts and ales at this weekend’s Downtown Hyattsville Arts Festival.
Fall is my absolute favorite time of year around Hyattsville. The swampy air gives way to cool temperatures, and residents begin to emerge from their air conditioned cocoons. This weekend will likely be our first (mostly) cool weekend, so get out and enjoy it.
On Friday, stop by PARK(ing) day to see some mini pop-up parks, celebrate the start of Hispanic Heritage Month at the Hyattsville Library, or take in the last Hyattsville Summer Jam. On Saturday, learn something new at Smithsonian Museum Day or Riversdale House’s Echoes of the Enslaved Celebration, or enjoy some music and brews at the Downtown Hyattsville Arts Festival or the Greenbelt Blues Festival. And on Sunday, help with a park cleanup or take in one of the last movies under the stars of the season.
FRIDAY
PARK(ing) Day (all ages)
PARK(ing) Day is an annual, international event where citizens, artists and businesses collaborate to temporarily transform metered parking spaces into PARK(ing) spaces: pop-up public places. You’ll find several of these pop-up mini parks around Hyattsville. The spaces will be created by community members, businesses, and nonprofits in the community and will feature fun food and activities.
When: Various times
Where: Various locations throughout Hyattsville – see the map for details
Cost: FREE!
Hyattsville Library Ready 2 Read Storytime (ages 3-5)
Bring your preschooler and enjoy stories, songs, fingerplays, and more at the Hyattsville Library.
When: 10:30-11 am
Where: Hyattsville Library
Cost: FREE!
Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff: Bibliobop and Chalk the Steps (all ages)
Celebrate the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month by decorating the stairs in front of the library, taking inspiration from Latinx art and culture, and enjoying music and games.
When: 4-5 pm
Where: Hyattsville Library
Cost: FREE but register in advance
Cheverly Public Safety Day (all ages)
Come meet members of the Cheverly Police and enjoy music, crafts and goodies, and food and drinks.
When: 4:30-7:30 pm
Where: Cheverly Town Park
Cost: FREE!
Bear Square Fall Concert Series (all ages)
Temperatures are dropping, so the splash pad will likely be off for the season, but you can still enjoy live music at Bear Square. Be sure to grab some takeout from one of the local restaurants. My kids vote for sushi from the area’s newest eatery, Le Fantome.
When: 5 pm
Where: Bear Square, Riverdale Park
Cost: FREE!
Hyattsville Summer Jam (all ages)
The last Hyattsville Summer Jam of the year is this weekend. There will be live music, food vendors, a beer and wine garden, and children’s activities.
When: 5-8 pm
Where: Hyatt Park, Hyattsville
Cost: FREE!
Movies in the Park at Watkins (all ages)
Bring the whole family for a free movie under the stars on the big screen! Bring snacks or a picnic dinner if you like. Don’t forget your blanket and lawn chairs as the event is on the grass! This week’s movie will be King Richard.
When: 7 pm
Where: Watkins Regional Park on the green next to the Nature Center, Upper Marlboro
Cost: FREE!
Bowie Family and “Happy Feet” Movie (all ages)
Dance your energy out with a family-friendly Zumba session followed by an outdoor screening of Happy Feet. Light refreshments will be provided. Bring towels, blankets, or lawn chairs to sit on during the movie.
When: 7 pm
Where: Allen Pond Park, Bowie
Cost: FREE!
SATURDAY
Smithsonian Museum Day (all ages)
Once a year, museums and cultural institutions around the country waive their entry fees so that visitors can explore free of charge. The College Park Aviation Museum is one of the many in our area offering free admission, so it’s a great chance to check it out!
When: All day
Where: Various museums around the Route One area
Cost: FREE!
Hyattsville Library Spanish-English Ready 2 Read Storytime (ages 3-5)
Bring your preschooler and enjoy stories, songs, fingerplays in Spanish and English at the Hyattsville Library.
When: 10:30-11 am
Where: Hyattsville Library
Cost: FREE!
Greenbelt Blues Festival (all ages)
New Deal Cafe in Greenbelt has put together an all-day lineup of great blues bands. Bring your chairs and tips for each band and grab some food from New Deal Cafe or Greenbelt Co-Op Supermarket to enjoy while you listen.
When: 11:30 am to 11:30 pm
Where: New Deal Cafe and Roosevelt Center Stage, Greenbelt
Cost: FREE!
Downtown Hyattsville Arts Festival (all ages)
After a two-year hiatus, the Downtown Hyattsville Arts Festival is back in the heart of downtown Hyattsville. The festival is the largest arts festivals in Prince George’s County and features over 100 jury-selected artist and artisans as well as craft breweries, food vendors, live music performances, and children’s activities. There’s something for everyone at this event. Ales are sold by the glass for ages 21+.
When: 12-6 pm
Where: Farragut and Gallatin Streets, Hyattsville
Cost: FREE!
Riversdale House Echoes of the Enslaved Family Celebration (all ages)
Each year, PG Parks partners with The Slave Dwelling Project to address the lasting legacy of chattel slavery in Prince George’s County. Stop by Riversdale for a festival-like event that will include a performance by the DC Revels Jubilee Voices singing group, cooking demonstrations that will highlight healthy, traditional African American dishes, a hands-on archaeological dig in the Riversdale gardens, and a talk by Joe McGill of the Slave Dwelling Project about his work with descendants.
When: 12-4 pm
Where: Riversdale House Museum, Riverdale
Cost: FREE!
Fighting Destiny: The Untold Story of Montpelier’s Enslaved Population (ages 10+)
On this outdoor tour, you will hear what research has uncovered about the enslaved people at Montpelier, including many names, how some may have been brought to Maryland, and what we know about their lives before and after emancipation. Participants will learn about the individuals who built Prince George’s County, and how they resisted the inhumanity of slavery. While the tour doesn’t list an age requirement, it is probably best for older children, teens, and adults.
When: 1:30-3 pm
Where: Montpelier Museum, Laurel
Cost: FREE for residents of Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties
Spirit of Summer Series: Kundalika (all ages)
Joe’s Movement Emporium will welcome Kundalika to the outdoor stage. Kundalika is a unique cross-cultural musical conversation called global jugalbandi, a traditional Indian classical musical style with lively improvised dialogue between musicians. Bring chairs, snacks and drinks!
When: 7 pm
Where: Joe’s Movement Emporium, Mt. Rainier
Cost: $20/adults; $15/children and seniors
SUNDAY
University Hills Duck Pond Park Clean-Up Day (all ages)
If you and your kids love this local park as much as we do, consider stopping by to help clean it up this weekend. Hyattsville City Council members are organizing a clean-up and all community members are welcome. Cleaning supplies will be provided – just bring sunscreen and plenty of energy!
When: 3 pm
Where: University Hills Duck Pond, Hyattsville
Cost: FREE!
Movies on the Potomac at National Harbor (all ages)
Pack your chairs, grab food to go from one of the delicious restaurants at National Harbor, and meet at The Plaza’s big screen for a free screening of American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story. National Harbor will be featuring family movies every Sunday through September, plus date night movies for grown-ups on Thursdays.
When: 6 pm
Where: The Plaza at National Harbor
Cost: FREE!
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