WASHINGTON — The Smithsonian will mark the official start of summer this Saturday with “Solstice Saturday” events.
The celebration, in collaboration with the Hofstra University Department of Physics and Astronomy, will take place on the National Mall from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. in front of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.
The event will also include daytime events and activities with the museums.
This is the sixth annual “Solstice Saturday” and will highlight the Smithsonian’s “Cosmic Journey” campaign, which celebrates space exploration and the 25th anniversary of the Chandra X-ray Observatory.
Some of the activities include:
- Sound Scene: Invites audience to engage with the Solstice with interactive audio art installations, small group workshops, and live performances. This is a free event.
- Art Cart: Offers young artists a craft with reflective materials based on art by artist Olafur Eliasson. This is a free event.
- Making Black Freedom: Includes late night visits to exhibitions in the African American History and Culture Museum, featured conversations, and after-hours dance parties. This is a free event with registration required.
- Science Solstice Saturday: Visitors can engage with scientists, researchers, and animal experts at the National Zoo to learn about how science is shaping wildlife conservation. This is a free event included with a normal zoo entry ticket.
- Live Art Series: Includes musical performances from the African Art’s Live Series ‘The Earth Still Shakes’. This is a free event
- Hands-on activities: Located at the American History Museum. This is a free event.
- Fenómeno Latino Family Festival: A daytime family festival with live music, dance lessons, a drum circle, and story time about the rise of Latin Music in the United States. This is a free event.
- Asian Art Museum Family Fun: Create sun-themed crafts such as a hanging mobile or hand-printed note cards with sun and star stamps. This is a free event.
- State of Arts Night x Sound Scene: Features performances from artists across the European Union, interactive projects, and conversation. This is a free event.
- Asia After Dark: Enjoy the art of Adele Kenworthy, listen to storytelling, poetry, and future telling. This is a free event.
- Fenómeno Latino Evening Festival: Features Reggaetón, urban underground, and global mainstream live music from DJs. This is a free event.
- Sally’s Night at Solstice Saturday: Includes planetarium shows, trivia challenges, scavenger hunts, and hands-on science activities. This is a free event but with timed-entry passes.
- Cosmic Arcade Party: Includes arcade and table games. This is a free event.
These museums will also be open late for the celebration. Here are the hours for Saturday:
- Open until 8 p.m.: National Museum of the American Indian
- Open until 10 p.m.: National Museum of African American History and Culture, National Museum of American History, National Museum of Natural History
- Open until 11 p.m.: Arts and Industries Building, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, National Air and Space Museum
- Open until midnight: National Museum of African Art, National Museum of Asian Art
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