Upcoming family events in Van Ness/Forest Hills: Neighborhood social and performances

Edited to add Peirce Mill’s Children’s Day. Lots of fun stuff!

UDC Neighborhood Social: UDC is inviting the neighbors over for the Van Ness Neighborhood Social on Saturday, August 19th. From 11 to 3 p.m., the UDC Student Center (4200 Connecticut) is hosting what looks to be a fun event for families, with free food, activities and games – including a dunk tank, face painting and a petting zoo.

Bluegrass at the park: Friends of Forest Hills Playground’s August 25th concert will feature the third annual performance of Big Hillbilly Bluegrass. Armand’s Pizza will sell pizza beginning at 5:30 p.m., with some proceeds going toward paying the performers. Whole pizzas are available by preorder here. Friends of Forest Hills Playground needs volunteers to make this event happen. Please consider signing up here. Teens needing community service hours are welcome. The event runs from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and the park is at 32nd and Chesapeake Streets. More information on the Friends group’s Facebook page.

The Big Hillbilly Bluegrass Band, seen in this July 2015 photo, will return to Forest Hills Park for the August 25th concert.

Music at the Market: Enjoy the sounds of Hawaii when Moe Nelson and Friends performs at the UDC farmers market on Saturday, August 26th. And on September 9th, join vocalist-guitarist-trumpeter Alan MacEwen for a fun family performance. The musicians set up in front of the David A. Clarke School of Law at 4340 Connecticut Avenue between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thanks go to Van Ness Main Street for starting the Music at the Market program!

Children’s Day at Peirce Mill: August 26th is also Children’s Day at the 200-year-old mill at 2539 Tilden Street. Games, activities and special hands-on tours are geared for ages 3 and up. Like all of the events listed here, it is free, and the festivities last from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More information here.

At a 2014 Peirce Mill event, a National Park Service ranger demonstrates simple machines and explains how they relate to the larger equipment in the mill.