Solstice Weekend at the Smithsonian
(DC) (Smithsonian) Stay out late with the Smithsonian! Celebrate the official start of summer throughout the weekend as museums across the National Mall and beyond hold special events and stay open until 11 pm.
11 events found.
Events for June 19, 2026
All Day
Wild Things: The Art of Kusamono
(DC) (National Arboretum) This three-day weekend event is devoted to the Japanese botanical art of kusamono. Discover how wild grasses, wildflowers, and other small native plants may be artistically arranged to suggest miniature representations of natural habitats. Often displayed alongside bonsai as an accent, kusamono stands on its own as a complete expression, emphasizing simplicity, seasonality, and a sense of place. ...
Garden Break at the Haubt
(DC) (Smithsonian Gardens) Drop in for hands-on activities in the Haupt Garden. Games, crafts, and garden exploration are designed for preschoolers through adults. Have a little more time? Take a moment to slow down, use your senses, and explore the Enid A. Haupt Garden through nature journaling. Bring your own journal or decorate one for your garden observations. And be ...
Hillwood Japanese-style Garden Tour
(DC) (Hillwood) Experience the serenity and beauty of the Japanese-style garden, just as Marjorie Post and so many of her guests did. Join Michael Rollinson, gardener, as he shares a behind-the-scenes look at the intricately manicured, yet “naturally wild,” Japanese-style garden. Tickets are distributed at the Ellen MacNeille Charles Visitor Center upon opening each day. This thirty-minute tour is limited ...
Pollinator Garden Tour at NMNH
(DC) (Smithsonian Gardens) Discover how the gardens around the National Museum of Natural History create habitats that support birds, insects, and even people! Meet one of our knowledgeable volunteers outside the Constitution Avenue entrance to the National Museum of Natural History.
Cutting Garden Tour at Hillwood
(DC) (Hillwood) Marjorie Merriweather Post loved displaying fresh cut flowers throughout her home. This tradition continues today as the cutting garden produces nearly one thousand stems a week during the height of summer. From sunflowers and zinnias to eucalyptus and lisianthus, a weekly harvest supplies a bounty of flowers which are used in arrangements throughout the property. Tour the garden ...
Science & Art of Nature Journaling
(DC) (US Botanic Garden) Interested in learning about the connection between science and art? Drop by the Garden Court to talk with Dr. Jennifer Riehl, Forest Molecular Geneticist, and learn how drawing, writing stories, and close observation can be gateways to understanding the natural world and each other. Explore the beauty and diversity of plant forms and learn how to create ...
Touch and Hear the Universe
(DC) (Smithsonian) Experience the universe like never before with the premiere of NASA's Chandra Interactive Sonification Wall, a multisensory exhibit that transforms space data into a symphony of light, sound, and touch. Using spectacular imagery from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, James Webb and Hubble Space Telescopes, this installation allows you to "play" the stars.
Sunset in the Gardens
(VA) (NOVA Parks) Savor the beauty of Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in the soft glow of twilight. During these special extended hours, the gardens remain open until 8:45 PM, offering a peaceful and picturesque setting to unwind, take an evening stroll, or simply enjoy the changing light as day turns to dusk.
Summer Solstice Forest Bathing
(VA) (NOVA Parks) Welcome the Summer Solstice as the sun sets over the serene Meadowlark Botanical Gardens with an evening of deep relaxation, an immersive sound journey, and nature therapy (forest bathing). This restorative experience blends nature therapy to reconnect with nature and awaken your senses, along with immersive sound meditation to quiet the mind and attune to the rhythms ...
$80
Jazz in the Garden
(DC) (National Gallery of Art) Travel across the country through music, exploring our many traditions—from Appalachian and Americana to Creole jazz, Hill Country blues, contemporary jazz, and more for the nation’s 250th anniversary. Every Friday through August 14 (except June 5 and July 3). Pre-show dance classes on May 22 and 29, June 12, and July 24. Event registration through ...