The season of the sun is here and the DowntownDC BID is ready to turn up the heat with an array of signature summer events! Dive into our lineup of activities, family outings, and fun that will fill up your photo album with unforgettable memories. From outdoor happy hours and classic movies to the return of fun-fill child’s play at Franklin Park.
Experience the highlights of summer in Downtown D.C.!
🎤 DowntownDC Live: Happy Hour Edition
The free music series returns with an added twist. What used to be your lunchtime jam is now your new happy hour vibe, where music, good conversations, and cool evening air lead the way. Every Wednesday in June starting June 4, from 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., swing by Franklin Park and let the sounds of soul, jazz, and pop music wash away your post-work tiredness. All are welcome for golden hour fun.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
- June 5 | Frenchie Davis
- June 12 | Dana Nearing & Friends
- June 19 | Desmond Thompson and JChris
- June 26 | Be Steadwell
🍿 DowntownDC Summer Flicks
With Franklin Park transformed into a rainbow-filled, the annual DowntownDC Summer Flicks kicks off with a bold lineup of movie selections. Happening on the same days as DowntownDC Live, from 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., travel into the world of your favorite characters with our signature outdoor movie series. Whether you’re looking for a golden classic like “Mama Mia”, reliving your childhood with “The Little Mermaid” or catching up with global buzz like “Wicked”, there’s a night for everyone at DowntownDC Summer Flicks. Grab a blanket, bring your buddies, and cozy up as the sun sets for a cinema under the stars.
MOVIE SCHEDULE
- June 5
- To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995)
- Mama Mia! (2008)
- June 12
- Loving (2016)
- The Birdcage (1996)
- June 19
- Mufasa: The Lion King (2024)
- Wicked (2024)
- June 26
- The Little Mermaid (2023)
- Barbie (2023)
🧘♀️ Wellness in the Park: June Yoga Series
We know summer in Downtown D.C. is heating up so take a moment to pause, breathe, and reset with our free Wellness in the Park: Yoga Series in partnership with Eaton DC. Every Wednesday morning in June from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m., kick off your day with intention, fresh air, and feel-good energy. It’s more than just a stretch—it’s a space to connect with neighbors, welcome new faces, and move together as a community. Bring your mat, maybe a friend, and meet us at Franklin Park.
🧸 Kids World
Our beloved Francis and Francesca bears are expected to make a return for Kids World. Join us on July 26 – 27 from 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. for a summer weekend outing filled with hands-on activities that spark imagination and play. Families are invited dive into two fun-packed days of literacy, performing arts, health & fitness, creativity, science, nature, entrepreneurship, and so much more. Whether you’re a kid or kid at heart, let your fun, creativity and imagination go limitless at Kids World 2025.
Check out the list below for a sneak peek of this year’s activations:
- 🧘♀️ Baby Yoga: Gentle stretches, sweet giggles, and feel-good bonding time. It’s the perfect moment for parents and little ones to connect.
- 🖍️ Coloring Corner: Grab a crayon and get ready as we’re rolling out a 6-foot collaborative coloring wall for nonstop fun, imagination, and color-filled moments.
- 🦎 Grand Safari: Reptiles? You heard that right! Step into a wild world where scaly friends, hands-on discovery, and safari vibes come to life.
- 📔 Storyland: Kids World’s little magic shop will be back, ready to whisk you away with tales, giggles, and wide-eyed wonder.
- 🧸 Make Your Own Bear: Stuff, fluff, and creature your very own fuzzy friend to take home!
- 🍭 Food and Beverage: Refresh with tasty bites, cool sips, and sweet treats the whole fam will love.
And the list keeps extending. More exciting activations are on the way. Stay tuned!
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- DowntownDC Live 2025
- DowntownDC Summer Flicks 2025
- Wellness in the Park: June Yoga Series
- Kids World 2025 (more information coming soon)