Deets: We're celebrating the first Saturday of summer—Solstice Saturday—by staying open late and hosting parties, programs, and performances. Most Smithsonian museums will be open until midnight welcoming visitors to the free festivities.
Highlights include:
🎨 At the Arts and Industries Building, enjoy stunning large-scale art installations, bites by D.C.’s cuisine incubator Foodhini, and pop-up showcases featuring multi-platform performers. Start here to peek inside the soaring halls of the Smithsonian’s second-oldest building.
✍️🎤 Discover the power of artist manifestos in "Art x Agency" at Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and admire the talents of DC-area teen artists through a collision of live graffiti, DJ battles, hip-hop cypher challenges and musical performances.
💿 Get your #SmithsonianMusic groove on at National Museum of American History, where #AmericaNow brings together hip hop culture activities, live music and dance, DJ performances and an outdoor dance party.
🎧 Dance to an evening of live music at the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution and Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery in the beautiful Kogod Courtyard. D.C. native Christylez Bacon will MC the opening performances from Rare Essence, DJ Beauty and the Beatz, and the Out of Town Blues Band.
👑 Learn about the exhibition "Empresses of China’s Forbidden City, 1644–1912" at Smithsonian's Freer Sackler with fascinating curator talks, Chinese opera, food, and more. Enjoy Solstice Soundscapes by DJ Ayes Cold and Adiitu while you make your own royal portrait.
🌟 Create your own constellation and bob your head to African beats inspired by global rhythms at National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution.
🐝 At Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, investigate pollinators of the past, see the new Fossil Hall and learn about ancient ecosystems during Fossil Family Night. Film fans, walk through time with Matthew Carrano, Curator of Dinosauria, as he explores the history and special effects of dinosaurs in popular film.
🔭 Look up and enjoy solar, optical, and radio telescope observations, science speakers, and a chance to mingle with astronomers with Hofstra University's Astronomy Festival on the National Mall. Location: In front of the Smithonian Castle.
👑 In honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion, Big Freedia, celebrated Queen of Bounce, comes to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture to discuss her memoir "God Save the Queen Diva," with Karamo Brown, culture critic of Netflix's "Queer Eye" and author of "Karamo: My Story of Embracing Purpose, Healing and Hope." After the discussion, don't miss a brief bounce demonstration by Big Freedia and a dance party.
🐼 Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute kicks off the day with a kid-friendly dance party featuring a DJ, food trucks, free temporary tattoos and costume characters. In the evening, the focus shifts from kids to adults with more music, food trucks and a bar.
🌌 Discover how the solstice works at a free planetarium show at National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution, use a solar telescopes to observe the Sun if the sky is clear, and enjoy kid-friendly storytime.
🌞 At Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, dance along to Andean music and enjoy family friendly activities celebrating the Great Inka Road. In the evening, grab a glowstick and join a "comparsa Iluminada"—an illuminated procession.
☀️ All event details: si.edu/solsticesaturday 🌙