Blacklight Slide is sliding to Maryland this July and giving Washingtonians a chance to spend two nights getting drenched in glowing neon water. Two 200-foot inflatable slides carrying riders up to 35 miles per hour with a 45-foot drop will be stationed in Fort Washington on July 29 and July 30.
This nighttime attraction is in such high demand that the first Washington show sold out after reaching its capacity of 7,000 participants, according to Justin Muir, a spokesperson for slide operator U Run LLC.
All of the rides are lit by black light, including the two slip-and-slides on the outsides of the giant inflatable slides. Trips down all of the slides are unlimited, but wait times can be as long as 45 minutes. Toward the end of the night riders may have the opportunity to enjoy more trips with shorter line times, Muir advises.
Proceeds from the event are donated to charity. This year the focused charity is Miracle Flights, a nonprofit that provides financial assistance to children who need airfare for doctor’s visits and medical care but can’t afford the travel costs.
Tickets are $20 through Friday, and they go up to $50 after that.
Briana A. Thomas is a local journalist, historian, and tour guide who specializes in the research of D.C. history and culture. She is the author of the Black history book, Black Broadway in Washington, D.C., a story that was first published in Washingtonian in 2016.
