This weekend, Rock Creek Park, one of the most iconic parks in the DMV area, is celebrating its 135th birthday with a full slate of festivities!
Rock Creek Park’s 135th birthday celebration
The birthday festivities for Rock Creek Park are set to take place this weekend at the Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium!
The full slate of activities planned for the occasion includes:
- A few fun, interactive, kid-friendly experiences
- Educational programs on astronomy and geology
- New planetarium films
- Punk rock pop-ups & musical performances
- A ‘Picnic at the Park’ event (evening of the 27th)
- A ‘Paws and Punk Edition’ of the B.A.R.K. Ranger program (on the 28th)
Full weekend schedule
Several events are planned for the weekend, some of which overlap with each other.
Here are the highlight events planned for the celebration:
Saturday, September 27th:
- 9 – 10:30 am — Rock the Flock: Beginner Birders Hike: a short 1-mile kid-friendly hike serving as an introductory bird-watching experience.
- 10 am – 2 pm — Battle Jacket Project: an arts and crafts activity that will let you decorate your own jacket with patches, pins, and more.
- 10 am – 2 pm — Rock Creek at 135: a visual journey through the park’s 135-year history, taking place inside the nature center.
- 10 am – 2 pm — Chat with a Scientist – Astronomer and Geologist Edition: an informational and entertaining discussion where curious kids, teens, or even adults can ask questions to a real scientist.
- 10:30 am – 1:30 pm — Hike to Boulder Bridge and Pulpit Rock: a 4.5-mile hike to one of Rock Creek Park’s most iconic landmarks, perfect for an outdoor adventure.
- 10:30 am & 12:30 pm — Planetarium Film – One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure: this free planetarium show features Sesame Street icons Big Bird and Elmo take a trip to the moon!
- 11:30 am & 3:30 pm — Planetarium Film – Audio Universe: Tour of the Solar System: a 35-minute experience that takes you through the solar system in a journey led by unique sounds and equally stunning visuals.
- 12 – 12:30 pm & 1:30 – 2 pm — Music Performances by Truth or Dare: a live performance from local punk rock band ‘Truth or Dare’.
Sunday, September 28th:
- 10 am – 1 pm — B.A.R.K. Ranger Paws and Punk Edition: a pup-friendly event complete with music, pop-up pet shops, a dog rescue adoption event, and of course, the opportunity to have your four-legged friend earn a ranger badge.
What makes Rock Creek Park so special
In addition to being one of the very first national parks established in the United States of America (Behind Yellowstone and Mackinac Island), Rock Creek Park is one of the largest hardwood forests in any major U.S. city!
Established as a national park in 1890 by Congress, Rock Creek Park is a total of 1,754 acres stretching from Silver Spring, MD, through D.C., where the stream flows into the Potomac River.
Being around twice the size of NYC’s Central Park (843 acres), it’s an often overlooked oasis just a few miles from the District’s downtown area!