The Silver Spring Penguin

I’m ducking out of Dodge early to enjoy a relaxing summer staycation by the pool. With any luck, the boss won’t even notice.

You might want to duck out, too. Just about nothing is happening in Silver Spring:

Wednesday

11:00 a.m. Hit The District for the Smithsonian Institution’s annual folklife festival. This year’s themes: life in the Himalayan country Bhutan, the party circuit in Texas, and a celebration of NASA’s 50th anniversary. The free daytime exhibits roll on the National Mall until 5:30 p.m.

6:00 p.m. Stay in The District for more folklife stuff. The festival presents “Music and Dance From the Land of the Thunder Dragon” (aka Bhutan). The free gig hits the Tsechu Stage on the National Mall.

6:00 p.m. Continue to get your folklife on at the Texas blues and zydeco dance party. The free hoedown rocks the Dancehall tent on the National Mall.

7:00 p.m. Get a preview of this year’s Capital Fringe Festival at Regional Food and Drink (810 7th St NW, The District). The sneak peek is free. The beer in your mug, and the Red Line ride to Chinatown, will cost you.

Thursday

Sometime. The annual Fourth of July concert has its dress rehearsal on the US Capitol’s west lawn. The gig is usually less crowded and arguably less entertaining than the real thing. Still, it’s free.

11:00 a.m. The Smithsonian Folklife Festival keeps rolling on the National Mall. The free daytime events cut out at 5:30 p.m.

6:00 p.m. A Texas mariachi band hooks up with Buddhist monks from Bhutan for “Viva El Paso: Building Connections With Bhutan”. It’s intriguing. It’s free. It’s on the National Mall’s Opry House tent for the folklife festival.

7:00 p.m. The oldies band The Fabulous Bel Airs performs a free concert on Ellsworth Drive near Georgia Avenue. This event is part of the Silver Spring Swings weekly concert series and is open to the public.

Friday

10:00 a.m. The People’s Republic of Takoma Park unleashes its annual Fourth of July parade. Plant yourself along Maple or Carroll avenues for free, full-frontal action.

11:00 a.m. The Downtown Silver Spring shopping center holds a Fourth of July block party on Ellsworth Drive, with live music, a moon bounce and strolling entertainment (read: window shopping). The free event rolls until 7:00 p.m.

11:00 a.m. The Smithsonian Folklife Festival keeps rolling on the National Mall. The free daytime events cut out at 5:30 p.m.

5:00 p.m. Capitol Hill hosts its annual Fourth of July concert (the real deal) on the west lawn. This year’s performers: Huey Lewis and the News, “American Idol” winner Taylor Hicks, rock ‘n’ roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis, Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell, classical performers Hayley Westenra and Harolyn Blackwell, and the National Symphony Orchestra kicking out the 1812 overture.

The entire gig — and the full body-cavity search that gets you in — is free. Don’t like the feel of latex in your rectum? Stay at home and catch it on TV starting at 8:00 p.m.

5:00 p.m. John Phillip Sousa not your thing? Hit the Gallery restaurant in South Silver Spring (1115 East-West Hwy) for Loda, a multimedia event featuring electronic joints. Ten bucks and convincing ID get you through the door.

9:10 p.m. The National Mall has its free fireworks display by the Lincoln Memorial. Arrive early to claim your spot, and don’t even think about driving there.

9:30 p.m. Takoma Park does the free fireworks thang at the Takoma Park Middle School (7611 Piney Branch Rd). The parking situation sucks, so plan accordingly. In case of rain, the show drops on the first clear evening.

Saturday

9:00 a.m. Freshfarm holds its weekly farmers market on Ellsworth Drive, between Fenton Street and Georgia Avenue. There is no admission fee.

11:00 a.m. Folklife festival. Hit it. You know where.

6:00 p.m. Slip on your cowboy boots and strap on those ass-less chaps. The folklife festival holds a free Lone Star dance party inside the Dancehall tent on the National Mall.

6:30 p.m. The funk and soul band Groove Killers performs a free concert on Ellsworth Drive near Georgia Avenue. This event is part of Downtown Silver Spring’s weekly concert series and is open to the public.

Sunday

11:00 a.m. It’s the folklife festival’s last day, so do it now. You know where.

Lead photo courtesy of Flickr user Kiri D. Embedded images courtesy of the Takoma Park Independence Day Committee and Flickr user David AG Wilson.