The DC Lineup for this weekend: U.S. history, a national park and lawn games

Following the Fourth of July, opportunities abound to continue patriotic celebrations throughout the weekend, July 5 to 7 — the continuation of a four-day weekend for some. Clean up a national park, see a replica of Neil Armstrong’s iconic spacesuit at Nationals Park, watch a play that chronicles the history of the United States or join a watch party as the U.S. women’s national soccer team plays for the World Cup. For those looking just to relax, embrace summertime with a seasonal family gathering at Tudor Place or an exhibit that transforms part of the National Building Museum into a lawn. An international choral fest, a book fair, chocolate tastings and a community event to counter gun violence are other ways to connect with the District.

The weather report calls for clouds on Friday and scattered thunderstorms on Saturday and Sunday, with temperatures ranging from 73 to 91 degrees.

1. Local Parks: Extend your patriotism past Independence Day by volunteering to clean up one of our national parks — Rock Creek Park. The Rock Creek Conservancy and the National Park Service are hosting the event, which is free to attend. This is part of a 2019 cleanup plan that targets restoration of five “mini-oases” throughout the nature reserve. Rock Creek Park holds the distinction of being the third green space officially named a national park by the federal government, earning its designation in 1890. Volunteers will gather on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. on Trail #9 at Park Grove #2, near Broad Branch Road and Beach Drive NW. Registration is required online. Participants are encouraged to bring water and snacks; they should also wear a hat, solid footwear, and long pants and sleeves to protect skin from poison ivy. Tools and gloves will be provided.

2. Sports: The 50th anniversary of the first moon landing is coming up on July 19. Celebrate this milestone at Nationals Park, where a full-size replica of Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit was recently unveiled. The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum and the Washington Nationals present Apollo at the Park on Friday at the stadium, 1500 South Capitol St. SE. The event coincides with the Nationals game against the Kansas City Royals at 7:05 p.m. Tickets to the special event are $40 for outfield seats, which includes a $15 concession credit, and $24 for scoreboard pavilion seats, which includes a $10 concession credit.

3. Local Social Causes: Moms Demand Action DC is hosting a Community Cookout on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. at Kenilworth Recreation Center, 4321 Ord St. NE. The first 100 youth 15 and younger will receive free food from Chick-fil-A. This is the launch of the 1 Community Initiative, which brings together the Eastland Gardens, Mayfair, Kenilworth, Parkside and Paradise neighborhoods with events and activities for youth and families to unite against gun violence. The DC chief medical examiner is hosting the cookout — outside of his professional duties — as a personal gesture of support.

4. Local Art: The third annual DC Art Book Fair takes place this Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave. NW. Over 40 mostly local artists — curated from the rosters of independent and small presses — will be on site to sell their work, including zines, books, comics and prints. The DC Art Book Collective organizes the once-a-year event. In conjunction with the museum’s monthly Free Community Day, admission to this year’s fair is free, along with entry to all of the museum’s collection and exhibit galleries that day.

5. Theater: The Capital Fringe Festival begins this weekend. The first show is Mike Daisey’s “A People’s History,” and the first performance is on Friday at 8 p.m. in the Kogod Cradle at Arena Stage, 1101 6th St. SW. The show is about the history of the United States, drawn from two distinct sources: Howard Zinn’s book A People’s History of the United States and the American history textbook used in the high school Daisey attended 25 years ago in rural Maine. The play is a collection of 18 monologues that together last over 30 hours, so it is broken up into 90-minute chapters. Performances continue  through July 21. Tickets cost $35, but patrons who want to see more can see a later installment for $20. Throughout the Fourth of July weekend, there is a special deal to get a second ticket free.

6. Food & Drink: Celebrate International Chocolate Day on Sunday with a special program at the U.S. Botanic Garden,100 Maryland Ave. SW. From noon to 4 p.m., a local chocolatier will be on site to provide chocolate tastings while visitors learn about the Theobroma cacao tree from an arborist. The event takes place in the Conservatory Garden Court and is free to attend. No registration is needed.

7. Music: The ninth annual Serenade! Washington, DC Choral Festival is this weekend, including five shows in the District that showcase artists from around the world. The first, sold-out performance is on Friday from 6:45 to 8:30 p.m. at the Mexican Cultural Institute, 2829 16th St. NW. The Mexican musical group Túumben Paax will be featured. Choir Cedemusica, based in Ambato, Ecuador, will open the show. On Saturday, there is a free show at 6 p.m. at the Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW, on the Millennium Stage featuring Barbara Furtuna from France and the Crystal Children’s Choir, based in Cupertino, California. The festivities continue at Millennium Stage on Sunday at 6 p.m., with a free performance by Calmus from Germany, the Toronto Beaches Children’s and Youth Chorus from Canada, and Choir Cedemusica. Another free Sunday performance takes place at 7:30 p.m. at the Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G St. NW, with Calmus, Furtuna and Sedaa from Iran. The grand finale is on Monday at 6 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, featuring a variety of artists from the festival. Additional performances outside of the District are also scheduled throughout the weekend.

8. Family Fun: For those looking to wind down from the Fourth of July festivities earlier this week, Tudor Place Historic House and Garden offers its low-key family event Summer Cool-Off. The outdoor event is from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday and includes hands-on science activities, iced tea and crafts. Mist and ice painting are also a part of the program to offer relief from the heat, and Maracas Ice Pops — made in Georgetown — will be for sale. Tickets cost $10 for children of Tudor Place members, $15 for children of non-members and $5 for adult chaperones. Tudor Place is located at 1644 31st St. NW.

9. Sports: Soccer fans are congregating at sports bars and other venues around the city to watch the U.S. women’s national team take on the Netherlands in the Women’s World Cup final on Sunday. The local chapter of American Outlaws, which brings together soccer fans across the District, is gathering at Mackey’s Public House, 1306 G St. NW, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. … Federal Triangles Soccer Club, which unites the LGBT+ soccer community in DC, will be at Nellie’s Sports Bar, 900 U St. NW, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. … The Avalon Theatre, 5612 Connecticut Ave. NW, is also hosting a free screening of the game. No reservations are needed. Doors open at 9:30 a.m., and the match starts at 11 a.m. Food and drink will be available for purchase.

10. Museums: This is the first weekend to catch Lawn as part of the 2019 Summer Block Party at the National Building Museum, 401 F St. NW. This installation piece — which took three weeks to set up — covers the museum’s Great Hall with green space, lounging areas, hammocks and games like croquet, bocce ball and dominoes. The LAB at Rockwell Group produced the exhibit, which includes a soundscape created with sound design studio Yessian Music that mimics summertime outdoors with audio elements of crickets, bees and a lawnmower. An augmented reality game lets visitors chase fireflies. Special programs throughout the summer will include yoga classes, movie nights and “ward days” with free admission for DC residents with proof of residency. Admission is free for museum members. Tickets for the general public are $16 for adults; $13 for ages 3 through 17; and $10 for AARP members with ID and Blue Star military families. The National Building Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Lawn continues through Labor Day.