by Peggy Robin
Rock Creek Park "Day" is actually FOUR days. The first two days were last weekend, Sept 20 & 21. If you missed it, you still have two more days of free, fun, family-oriented activities ahead.
Here's the info from the Rock Creek Park Day website:
Rock Creek Park Day
Join us for our annual Rock Creek Park Day - this year over four days - on September 20-21 and 27-28, 2025.
This event celebrates the founding of our national park. Established by Congress on September 27, 1890, Rock Creek Park turns 135 this year!
For the 135th Anniversary, we're having a one-of-a-kind celebration: Punk Rocks!
For the 135th Anniversary, we're having a one-of-a-kind celebration: Punk Rocks!
Schedule of Events
Below is a list of activities to enjoy and participate in throughout the coming weekend. The schedule is organized by location and date and it is subject to change. Please check back often and especially closer to the event date for the most accurate schedule. If you have any questions about the event, please reach out via email or call us at 202-895-6070. Saturday, September 27, 2025: Time: 9 - 10:30 am Rock the Flock: Beginner Birders Hike  The hike is approximately 1 mile and will be on a mix of dirt and asphalt trails. Terrain can be uneven or slippery depending on weather from previous days. Wear appropriate clothing, comfortable hiking shoes, and bring water. Location: Meets out front of the Nature Center ~~~~~~ Time: 10 am - 2 pm Battle Jacket Project Description: Unleash your inner punk at our hands-on Battle Jacket Workshop! Customize your own jacket with patches, pins, and bold designs that reflect your personality and what you believe in. No experience needed—just bring your own jacket, your imagination, and get ready to create something totally original! Location: This activity will be set up outside of the Nature Center ~~~~~~ Time: 10 am - 2 pm Pin It Punk! Buttons and Zines at Rock Creek Description: Zines and buttons share the same spirit—they’re DIY creations born from rebels who used art to speak up and stand out. Explore Rock Creek Park’s punk roots at our pop-up, then grab some supplies and press your own punk-inspired button. These small pieces of wearable art carry big statements—perfect for your jacket, battle vest, or bag. While you’re here, don’t forget to fill out our Nature Meets Punk mini-zine booklet to celebrate the wild side of Rock Creek Park! Location: This activity will be set up outside of the Nature Center ~~~~~~ Time: 10 am - 2 pm Rock Creek at 135: A Visual Journey Through Time Description: Celebrate 135 years of Rock Creek Park with a visual journey through time! From stone bridges and Civil War forts to Peirce Mill and the Carter Barron Amphitheater, discover how nature, history, and community have shaped this urban oasis for more than a century. Join us as we reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and look ahead to the future of this beloved urban oasis. Location: This will take place inside of the Nature Center ~~~~~~ Time: 10 am - 2 pm Chat with a Scientist: Astronomer and Geologist Edition Description: Curious about what’s beneath your feet—or what’s beyond the stars? Join scientists from the Carnegie Institution for Science's Earth and Planets Laboratory for hands-on pop-up activities exploring geology and planetary science! Examine real rocks and minerals and learn how scientists study how the Earth, including the land beneath our feet here, were formed. Blast off with an astronomer to discover how scientists explore planets in our solar system and exoplanets around other stars. Create your own scale model of the solar system or hand-held spectrometer (rainbow maker) to take home. Perfect for kids, teens, and curious adults—no lab coat or space suit needed! Don’t miss the chance to chat with a scientist at 11:15 am and 1:15 pm. Location: This will take place inside of the Nature Center ~~~~~~ Time: 10 am - 2 pm Punk Rock Selfie Station and Exhibit Description: Step into the spotlight and snap a pic at our colorful, creativity-packed Rock Creek Park Day selfie station! Whether you're rocking a battle jacket, park merch, or your brightest smile, it's the perfect place to show your wild side and share the magic with #RockCreekParkDay. Don't miss our pop-up exhibit nearby - it's packed with punk flair and park stories waiting to be discovered! Location: This activity will be setup outside of the Nature Center ~~~~~~ Time: 10:30 am - 1:30 pm Punk Rocks Hike to Boulder Bridge and Pulpit Rock Description: Take a walk on the wild side of Rock Creek! Our Punk Rocks Hike starts at Boulder Bridge, cranking up the volume on history and style. Built in 1902, this stone arch is Rock Creek’s ultimate stage piece—rugged, loud, and impossible to ignore. After exploring the bridge, the hike continues to Pulpit Rock, a natural stone outcrop that has been a landmark and gathering spot for generations. You’ll see how stone has rocked the park’s story, then join our “Bridge Through the Lens” photo challenge. Snap your own raw, creative shots of Boulder Bridge first and Pulpit Rock next—find the bold angles and show us these stone icons like only a rebel photographer can! Tag us on social media @RockCreekNPS and use hashtags #RockCreekPark #BoulderBridge #PulpitRock #HikeAndSnap #StoneStories The hike is approximately 4.5 miles and will be on a mix of dirt and asphalt trails. Terrain can be uneven or slippery depending on weather from previous days. Wear appropriate clothing, comfortable hiking shoes, and bring water. Location: Meets out front of the Nature Center ~~~~~~ Time: 10:30 am and 12:30 pm Planetarium Film - One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure  This program runs 25 minutes and is appropriate for families with young children. Seating in the planetarium is limited. We will give out free place holder tickets 30 minutes in advance of each showing. Location: Rock Creek Park Planetarium ~~~~~~ Time: 11:30 am and 3:30 pm Planetarium Film - Audio Universe: Tour of the Solar System Description: Experience the Solar System like never before - by traveling on a spacecraft that can turn the objects in space into sound! The audience of this stunning 35-minute show are transported inside a special spacecraft that takes them to the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (VLT) to view the stars in the night sky, before lifting them off into space to visit the Earth, Moon, Sun, and all the planets of the Solar System. Unlike traditional planetarium shows, the soundtrack takes the lead role. Each of the objects in space are represented with sounds as well as being presented with the incredible 4K resolution visuals. The audience will listen to the stars appear and hear the planets orbit around their heads. This means that this show is an immersive experience that can be enjoyed irrespective of level of vision. Seating in the planetarium is limited. Seating in the planetarium is limited. We will give out free place holder tickets 30 minutes in advance of each showing. Location: Rock Creek Park Planetarium ~~~~~~ Time: 12 - 12:30 pm and 1:30 - 2 pm Music Performances by Truth or Dare Description: Truth or Dare is a five-piece punk band from Washington, DC, raised on feedback, fury, and feral energy. They make loud, messy, soul-splitting songs about being human, being animal, and clawing through the chaos in between - like a raccoon flipping off your picnic and stealing your chips. Catch them on Rock Creek Park Day. They'll be the ones making noise and making friends with raccoons. Sometimes you'll scream with us. Sometimes you'll scream at us. Sometimes you'll just scream into the trees and we'll scream back. Location: This will take place outside of the Nature Center ~~~~~~ Time: 2 pm Stellar Star Show Description: Come and enjoy a ranger-led program in the only planetarium in the National Park Service! The Stellar Star Show will be a 30 minute, ranger-led program about the planets and the night sky. Recommended for ages 5 and up. Arrive 30 minutes early to pick up a free place holder ticket for the show. Bonus Activity: Families can grab a Junior Ranger Night Explorer activity booklet and keep the space adventure going at home! Location: Rock Creek Park Planetarium ~~~~~~ Time: 4 - 7 pm Peirce Mill Picnic at the Park  Carly draws on her Native American heritage to craft a powerful blend of traditional jazz scat and indigenous vocals. Backed by her dynamic band, she'll perform a mix of 20th century jazz standards and contemporary favorites - bringing history, culture, and rhythm to life. So pack a picnic, bring a blanket, and join us at Peirce Mill in Rock Creek Park for a free concert under the late summer sky. It's the perfect way to celebrate the season and the stories that shape us. Free public programs at Peirce Mill are supported by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. Location: The lawn around Peirce Mill, located at 2401 Tilden Street NW ~~~~~~ Sunday, September 28, 2025: Time: 10 am - 1 pm B.A.R.K. Ranger Paws and Punk Edition Description: Get ready to rock 'n' roll, fur-parents! Bring your four-legged friends to the wildest, most paw-some event of the year—Paws and Punk: The Ultimate Doggie Rock Party! Whether your dog’s got a mohawk or a leather jacket, this is the event where pups and punk lovers unite. Join us for a high-energy, tail-wagging celebration complete with punk music, a selfie photo booth, and more! Pup-friendly activities will include:
So, what are you waiting for? Grab your dog, your best punk rock outfit, and get ready to let loose. We’re turning up the volume, leashing the pups, and throwing the ultimate punk rock party—one bark at a time! Mark your calendars—it’s gonna be ruff in the best way possible. Location: This event will take place outside of the Nature Center ------------------ National Park Service - Rock Creek Park Mailing Address: 5200 Glover Rd, NW Washington, DC 20015 Phone: 202-895-6000 - Rock Creek Park's main phone line. On the weekends when the administrative offices are closed, call 202-895-6070 to reach the Nature Center. ------------------ The "Get Out!" event of the week is posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Thursdays |
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