Stay up for the first official Saturday of summer at the Smithsonian’s Solstice Saturday celebrations on June 21. To mark the summer solstice, museums at the National Mall will be offering free events throughout the day and night with extended hours.
This year, the official summer solstice (the longest day of the year) is Friday, June 20. The following day, the Smithsonian’s special events will celebrate the occasion and mark the astronomical start of summer. This is the seventh annual Solstice Saturday event.
Special Events
The National Museum of Asian Art is offering Asia After Dark. Visitors can join the fun with disco, house, and funky music by DJ Fish House Funk from 6 to 9 p.m. with a bar open from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Inside the museum, visitors can expect curator tours of the exhibitions throughout the evening, and the museum store will stay open until 10 p.m. for late-night shopping. The event is free with advance registration recommended.
The National Air and Space Museum is hosting Sally’s Night to celebrate Sally Ride’s anniversary of becoming the first woman in space. The museum will host a variety of activities including postcard writing, mission patch design, Lego displays, and a scavenger hunt. Visitors will also be able to speak with historians and scientists about their research. Sally’s Night will offer guided planetarium shows, live trivia games, and laser light shows set with pop music by women artists. Free passes are required to attend the main event inside; passes are not required for outdoor stargazing.
The National Museum of African Art is embracing the annual holiday by creating art and using cultural expression through free offerings. In the museum, there will be a basket weaving activity, music from Burundi drummers, with coffee and snacks. The museum plans to close out the night with a live arts finale from 9:30 to midnight.
Additional solstice celebrations will take place at the National Museum of the American Indian and the National Zoo.
Extended Hours
Other Smithsonian museums on Solstice Saturday with extended hours are listed below.
Open until 10 p.m.:
- Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
- National Museum of Asian Art
- National Museum of the American Indian
- National Museum of African American History and Culture
- National Museum of Natural History
Open until 11 p.m.:
- Arts and Industries Building
- National Museum of American History
- National Air and Space Museum
Open until midnight:
- National Museum of African Art
Feature image courtesy Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
