After I posted my “Weekend and beyond” travel tips, several people wrote in to say I should mention the national gathering of Girls Scouts scheduled for the Washington Monument grounds Saturday. So let’s look at that, along with some new street closing announcements for other weekend events.
Girl Scouts Rock the Mall
cbdc7 wrote: “People riding Metro getting around downtown may also want to know that the Girl Scouts’ 100th Anniversary celebration (Rock the Mall) is happening this Saturday.”
Sponsors expect as many as 200,000 to attend the day-long event on the Washington Monument grounds Saturday. The activities are scheduled to start at 9 a.m. at the Sylvan Stage near 15th Street NW and continue from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the event’s main stage nearer the Tidal Basin. See a map on the event’s Web site.
Everyone heading downtown Saturday should anticipate crowding on the streets and sidewalks near the Mall and on Metro trains.
For those attending the event, parking in that area — including parking for charter buses — is extremely limited, and people would be best off taking Metrorail, despite Metro’s schedule of weekend track work, which will cause delays.
The nearest Metro station is Smithsonian, on the Blue and Orange lines. But Smithsonian is easily overwhelmed by a big crowd. So it’s a good idea to consider other stations. Also, be sure to have enough value on your SmarTrip card or paper fare card so you don’t have to wait in a long line at the vending machines after the event.
Coming in from the suburbs? Parking is free on weekends at the Metro lots and garages.
These are some other stations within walking distance of the Washington Monument: Federal Triangle, McPherson Square and Farragut West on the Blue and Orange lines; Farragut North on the Red Line, and Metro Center on the Blue, Orange and Red lines.
The weather for Rock the Mall and the other weekend events listed below should be sunny and very warm, our Capital Weather Gang says.
National Press Club 5K Race
The race is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. Saturday and end about 10 a.m. No parking will be allowed on these streets from 4 a.m. to noon Saturday, and they will be closed to traffic from 5 to 11 a.m.: F Street NW from 13th to 14th streets; 13th Street NW from Pennsylvania to G Street; Pennsylvania Avenue NW from 14th to Third streets; Constitution Avenue from Seventh Street to Louisiana Avenue NW; Louisiana Avenue from Constitution Avenue to D Street NW; D Street NW from Louisiana to First Street NW.
Lawyers Have a Heart 10K Race
The charity race is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, but some street closings will begin at 5:30 and continue till about 11 a.m.
These streets close at 5:30 a.m.: Canal Road NW from Reservoir Road to Foxhall Road, K Street from Wisconsin Avenue to 27th Street NW, Whitehurst Freeway from K Street to Canal Road NW
This is the route of the race: The start is under the Whitehurst Freeway at 31st and K streets NW. The runners go east on K Street NW to 27th Street NW, make a U-turn and continue west on the Whitehurst Freeway, merge west on Canal Road NW, continue on Canal Road to Reservoir Road NW, make a U-turn and continue east on Canal Road NW, merge east onto the Whitehurst Freeway, make a U-turn and continue west on K Street NW to the finish line.
Capital Pride Parade
The annual parade will begin at 4:30 p.m. Saturday and ends about 8:30 p.m. The street closures will remain in effect until 9:30 p.m., D.C. police said.
This is the route: East on P Street from 23rd St NW, clockwise around Dupont Circle, north on New Hampshire Avenue, east on R Street, south on 17th Street, east on P Street, south on 14th Street to N Street, north of Thomas Circle.
Other street closings: 25th Street NW between M and N streets, 24th Street NW between M and N streets, 23rd Street NW between M and P streets, N Street NW between 22nd and 25th streets, M Street NW between 22nd and 25th streets.
Capital Pride Festival
The festival is Sunday, starting at 11 a.m., but these streets will be closed starting at 7 p.m. Saturday and continuing till Sunday evening: At Third Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, no westbound traffic; at Third Street and Constitution Avenue NW, no westbound traffic; at Fourth Street and Madison Drive NW, no northbound traffic; at Seventh Street and Constitution Avenue NW, no eastbound traffic; at Seventh Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW, no eastbound traffic; at Sixth and C streets, no southbound traffic.