On Saturday, June 7, Imagination Bethesda, a festival geared toward the 12-and-under crowd, takes over Woodmont Avenue. Festivities include face painters, balloon artists, clowns, and stilt walkers. On Inspiration Stage, high-school theater groups and professional dance companies will perform. Kid-friendly food includes Mamma Lucia’s pizza and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Free. Woodmont Ave. between Elm St. and Bethesda Ave.; 301-215-6660; bethesda.org.
If the admission fee discourages you from visiting the Phillips Collection, head there during its Jacob Lawrence Family Free Festival June 7 and 8. It’s a weekend of activities and entertainment topped off with free admission to the Phillips in celebration of “The Great American Epic: Jacob Lawrence’s Migration Series,” 60 panels by Lawrence illustrating the exodus of African-Americans from the South to the North. Family-friendly activities include an opportunity to record your family’s history for archiving at the Library of Congress, shadow puppetry by DC public-school students, and dance performances by Joy of Motion. 1600 21st St., NW; 202-387-2151; phillipscollection.org.
What started as a small annual picnic has grown into the Alexandria Waterfront Festival, a weekend of fun to benefit Alexandria’s chapter of the American Red Cross. June 14 and 15, Oronoco Bay Park in Old Town will fill with amusement rides, docked ships to tour, and tents for crafts such as Father’s Day card making. Entertainment both days include the popular band Virginia Coalition, whose three members met in high school in Alexandria. Admission $15; one child free with each paying adult; each additional child $5; under age three free. 701 N. Lee St., Alexandria; 703-549-8300; waterfrontfestival.org.
More than 40 restaurants will serve samples at Reston’s Taste of the Town Saturday, June 14. Organizers are planning for the biggest turnout in the event’s 20-year history and blocking off all of Market Street in Reston Town Center. Along with lots of food—from Busara Thai to organic-taco truck Chaboz Taqueria—there will be three stages with live music and a blocklong kids’ area. Taste tickets are $1 each. For details, call 703-707-9045 or visit restontaste.com.
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