BACK TO COOL

Before you get back into the rhythm of carpools, sports practice, music lessons, and play dates, take a moment to enjoy the dog days of summer, savor the setting sun, and soak up the the season with these ideas for summer hangouts, creative date nights and family fun.

Rockville Town Square

Salsa on the Square at Rockville Town Square
Thursdays, June 6 – September 26
6:00pm – 9:00pm

Get into the groove on Thursday evenings with free salsa dance classes hosted by All Out Danza, the creators behind Muévete Mondays at VisArts, at Rockville Town Square. Grab your dance partner (all levels are welcome and encouraged!) for DJ music and Latin salsa lessons led by Victor Maysonet to learn the foundations of salsa and pick up a dance combination during the first hour. Then put your skills to the test with open social dancing for all from 7-9pm. Whether you’re a pro or just looking for a date night, you’ll be sure to get lost in the music and have fun on your feet.

Image result for rei camping workshop

Beginner’s Camping Workshop at REI
August 8
6:30-8:30PM

‘Tis the season for campfires, s’mores and sleeping in nature. So whether you’re planning a weekend-long excursion with your favorite friends camping in the Appalachian Mountains, or you just want to show your kids you can pitch a tent in the backyard for a family sleepover, REI’s hands-on workshop will get you there. You’ll practice setting up a tent and learn everything you need for inside, get help selecting the perfect sleeping bag, and have all the latest and greatest tools for campfire cooking – those marshmallows can’t roast themselves! — right at your fingertips for just $15 for REI Members ($35 for Non-Members).

Follain Wellness Speaker Series: CBD with Carlene Thomas
August 14
5:30-7:30PM

There’s a lot of buzz on CBD – no pun intended – the legal and active ingredient derived from hemp plants is popping up everywhere in beauty, skincare, body and wellness products. But what exactly is cannabidiol, what does it do, and how does it actually help you? Grab a girlfriend and hear from health food blogger, Carlene Thomas, at Follain’s next speaker series focused on the buzzy ingredient, learn which products might be best suited for you and your needs, and discover how to incorporate CBD into your daily routine. Ask questions, shop products, and meet fellow clean-beauty addicts, then hit Bethesda Row for dinner and drinks.

Wags n’ Whiskers at Village at Shirlington
Saturday, August 24

10am-4pm

Treat your four-legged friends to the pet event of the summer at Wags n’ Whiskers Pet Festival in Arlington’s Village at Shirlington. More than 70 exhibitors ranging from pet services like vets and grooming to pet accessories including locally made dog collars, pet beds, and leashes will line the Village’s main street, Campbell Avenue, for a day filled with live music, family-friendly entertainment, food, pet photos, and more. And, if you’re in search of bringing a new furry companion home yourself, you’ll meet plenty of adoptable pets available from rescues including Lucky Dog and Humane Rescue Alliance.