Tavern Night at Riversdale, NASA Model Rocket Launches and More in Prince George’s County this Weekend

Looking for some exciting things to do this weekend? Check out some of the fun things going on around town.

Each week, Patch puts together a list of local activities and events going on in your area this weekend.  Check back weekly and tell us in the comments if you know of any additional activities coming up. To submit an event in the Patch events calendar, click here. Tavern Night  DC Fire Hockey Charity Tournament DC GlassWorks and Sculpture Studios Spring Open House Sport4All spring programs Johnny Seaton performs at Greenbelt American Legion NASA Goddard Model Rocket Launches at Visitor Center Artful Afternoon: Puppets, Pottery & Printmaking Check back next week for more upcoming weekend events. 

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PHOTOS: A 19th Century Holiday at Riversdale

Photos from last Friday's holiday event at the Riversdale House Mansion.

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Riversdale Museum to Host Battle of Bladensburg Reenactment Saturday

Drop by to enjoy gunnery drills, children’s activities, camp displays, and more.

From Riversdale House Museum: In August 1814, a disheartened Rosalie Calvert, the mistress of Riversdale, described the Battle at Bladensburg: “You have heard the news of the battle of Bladensburg where the English defeated the American troops with [President James] Madison ‘not at their head, but at their rear.’” Flush with success, the British then burned Washington. Happily, events turned in Baltimore a few weeks later and the Star-Spangled Banner was born. On Saturday, August 11, from noon to 4 p.m., enjoy a day at Riversdale as costumed interpreters portraying both American and British War of 1812 troops allow us a peek into camp life on the eve of battle. Children, you might even get recruited for the American militia! There will …

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Jazz on the Lawn Returns to Riversdale Wednesday

Drop by for a free concert and refreshments from Calvert House Inn.

The jazz group Cheek to Cheek will be performing at Riversdale tonight (Wednesday, July 25) from 7 to 8 p.m.  "Jazz on the Lawn" occurs one Wednesday each month during the summer and features a free concert and refreshments for sale from Calvert House Inn.  Ann Wass, the history and museum specialst for the Riversdale Historical Society, says the event typically sees between 150 and 200 residents who come out with their children and families to enjoy the music and relax.  "It's a really nice community, neighborhood event," Wass told Patch.  For more information, call 301-864-0420 or visit Riversdale website. 

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Riversdale Summer Events: Jazz on the Lawn, Battle of Bladensburg

Check out some of the activities on offer this summer at Riverdale Park's own National Historic Landmark.

Riversdale House Museum is offering wide array of activities this summer for children and adults both. Find details on two of the season's major events below, or consult the museum's calendar for a full rundown. Annual Battle of Bladensburg Encampment at Riversdale In August 1814, a disheartened Rosalie Calvert, the mistress of Riversdale, described the Battle at Bladensburg: “You have heard the news of the battle of Bladensburg where the English defeated the American troops with [President James] Madison ‘not at their head, but at their rear.’” Flush with success, the British then burned Washington. Happily, events turned in Baltimore a few weeks later and the Star-Spangled Banner was born. On Saturday, August 11, from noon to 4 p.m., …

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Mother's Day Tours at Riversdale House Museum

Drop by from 12:15 to 3:15 p.m. and get one free tour per paid admission.

If you're looking for a way to celebrate mom this weekend beyond the classic brunch and flowers, why not take her for a tour of Riverdale Park's very own 200-year old estate? From 12:15 to 3:15 p.m., you can bring your mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, or other special lady to Riversdale House Museum and receive one free tour per paid admission. A national landmark, the Riversdale House was built in 1801 by a Flemish aristocrat, Henri Joseph Stier, who had fled from Europe. When Stier returned to Europe two years later, he gave the house to his daughter, Rosalie, and her husband, a member of Maryland's founding family, George Calvert, who completed construction of the house. For more information, visit the Riversdale House Museum website.

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Riversdale Mansion to Host Easter Egg Hunt Saturday

Drop by from 1 to 3 p.m. to collect eggs and visit with the Easter Bunny.

Today is Good Friday in most Christian denominations, widely considered the most solemn day on the liturgical calendar. But come Saturday, that seriousness will give way to celebration and bright colors as Riverdale Park holds its annual Easter Egg Hunt on the grounds of Riversdale Mansion (4811 Riverdale Rd.). The hunt is scheduled to run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Children should bring their own baskets to collect as many eggs as possible. Making a special guest appearance: the Easter bunny. Be sure to drop by and say hello—the weather's expected to be sunny with a high of 61°. If you or your children can't make it Saturday afternoon, Hyattsville and Greenbelt are both hosting Easter egg hunts in the morning, and the big bunny himself will be…

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Cafritz Property Sparks Historical Interest

Though not a registered historical site, some artifacts on the site could be of interest to Riverdale Park and local historians.

From US Route 1 in Riverdale Park, the Caftiz property seems a wooded oasis, marked off by "no trespassing" signs and a tall, locked gate. Beyond the sign, things look a little different. The ground within is littered with old appliances, broken televisions, and refuse of all kinds. Brambles and thickets threaten to ensnare anyone willing to pass the signs threatening prosecution—not to mention concrete slabs from the post-war Calvert Homes project and the ruins of the 1860s McAlpine Mansion. It’s that mansion—once owned by descendants of the Calverts of Riversdale—that has sparked the interest of local historians, including Riversdale House Museum Director Edward Day and Prince George’s Heritage Vice Chair Mike Arnold. The Ice House A …

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Riverdale Doll Club Celebrates Success With Tea At Riversdale Mansion

The doll club showed off their work earlier this month.

Dolls and doll-making have been part of society and culture since the beginning of time. Historians have traced the use of dolls as toys to 100 AD. They have played a role in religious and magic rituals from their earliest days and reflect the status of a generation. Locally, their history is rich and deep, and the growing interest in them was celebrated recently with a tea party at the Riversdale House Museum. Hosted by the Riverdale Park Arts Council’s Doll Club, the Oct. 15 event brought together nearly a dozen Riverdale Park children who have been enjoying weekly doll-making classes, and nine members of the Dollology Club of Washington, DC, a chapter of the United Federation of Doll Clubs. In fact, the Dollology Club, which aims to …

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M-NCPPC Debuts Restored Salon at Riversdale

Last week, special guests got the chance to see the salon after an 18-month restoration.

A group of invitation-only guests and some local officials got the opportunity to see the newly-restored salon at Riversdale House Museum last week. The 80 guests, including Jan Matthysen, the ambassador from Belgium to the United States, and Wallace Loh, president of the University of Maryland, were among the first to see The Grand Salon in all its glory. “The restored Grand Salon now ranks among the most beautiful examples of neo-classical design in the mid-Atlantic area”, said Patrick Gossett, President of the Riversdale Historical Society. Work on the restoration, performed by nationally known artisans Matthew Mosca and Brandon Thompson, took over 18 months, and was funded by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (…

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