Summer 2023 at Discovery Theater

In-person performances are returning this summer! Plan a day at the Smithsonian for your campers that starts with a show at Discovery Theater. With different offerings every week, you can come back all summer long! Performances are held in the Ripley Center, located on the National Mall and within walking distance to most Smithsonian museums and monuments.

Our Summer 2023 Lineup is below. Click on the show title for more information. Groups of 10 children or more must reserve by phone, as the group discount is not available online. Please visit our Group Sales page for more information. Individual tickets can be purchased online; just click the show title below and then select the date/time you wish to purchase for. You will be redirected to a secure page on smithsonianassociates.org to checkout.

Tot Rock: Rainbow Rock Band
(for younger audiences, Ages 2-7)
Wed.-Fri., June 28 – 30, 2023

Behind the Music with Jastin Artis
(for upper elementary + beyond, Grade 2 and up)
Wed.-Fri., July 5 – 7, 2023

The REMIX with SOLE Defined
(for school-aged children + beyond, K and up)
Tues.-Fri., July 11 – 14, 2023

An Electromagnetic Adventure with the Science Guys of Baltimore
(for school-aged children, K to Grade 6)
Tues.-Fri., July 18 – 21, 2023

Taratibu!
(for school-aged children + beyond, K and up)
Tues.-Fri., July 25 – 28, 2023

Show Times & Length:
10:30 AM and 12:00 PM each day
Performances run 45-50 minutes in length

Cost:
Tickets are $7.00 per person for groups of 10 people or more. Please visit our Group Sales page to read how to make a reservation, along with our payment and cancelation policies.

Theater Capacity:
Our capacity is 200 (including adults). If your group is larger than that, you will need to split up into multiple performance times or come on separate days.

Note about Lunch:
We do not have a space for groups to eat inside our building. Campers are allowed to bring in backpacks, lunches, and/or water bottles, however, there is no eating or drinking allowed in the theater or in the building. Please make plans to eat outside on the Mall, on the bus, or back at Camp. Groups can also purchase lunch at any of the museums with a cafeteria, but no outside food is allowed in those cafeterias. Please see below for more information about purchasing lunch at Smithsonian.

Make the most of your day at the Smithsonian!

So much has changed at the Smithsonian! If you haven’t visited us in a while and are planning to take your campers to another museum after your show, we’ve provided some tips below that might be helpful. You may also visit www.si.edu for more information.

Plan your visit:
The Smithsonian Castle and Visitor’s Center closed in February for long-term renovations, but you can plan your Smithsonian visit at the Virtual Visitor’s Center. You can also talk with a volunteer via Zoom to help plan your day, check out the What’s On page to see current exhibitions, and view the calendar of events.

Note: Due to renovations, entrance to the Air & Space Museum requires free, timed-entry passes and the large cafeteria has closed.

Visiting with Groups:
Many museums offer group tours, which can be arranged by appointment only. See a list of these locations online at https://www.si.edu/visit/groups.

Smithsonian Places to Visit with Kids:
Smithsonian has something for young people of all ages - from tots to teens! Check out the Visiting with Kids page to see what else you should check out while you’re here.

Purchasing Lunch at Smithsonian:

One of the best places for a large groups to purchase lunch, with plenty of seating, is the Atrium Café located in the Natural History Museum
Groups can also purchase lunch and find ample seating at Eat at America’s Tale Café in the American History Museum
There is also Sweet Home Café, located in the African American History & Culture Museum, however, timed entry passes are required. Visitors may obtain a Dine and Shop pass to facilitate museum entry to dine in the Sweet Home Café or shop in the museum store.
Outside food/bagged lunches are not permitted inside any of these cafés

Other Options for Lunch:

Picnic on the Mall. There’s plenty of outdoor space, grass, gardens, and benches for groups to eat bagged lunches outside (there is no covered pavilion or structure on the Mall). We advise you have a backup plan in case of rain or extreme heat. And be sure to dispose of all trash properly.
During the summer, you’ll find lots of food trucks around the perimeter of the Mall. Just walk towards 7th Street, 14th Street, or Constitution Avenue, NW and then enjoy your lunch outdoors.
If you want to venture off the Mall, we recommend the Food Court at L’Enfant Plaza. A glass-enclosed entryway leads to this sleek, underground retail center with 40+ shops & eateries. This is about a 10-minute walk from Discovery Theater and has plenty of seating indoors, as well as some outdoor seating.

Smithsonian Folklife Festival, June 29-July 4 & July 6-9
A free, annual event, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival honors contemporary living cultural traditions and celebrates those who practice and sustain them. If you’re coming to see a Discovery Theater show in late June or early July, plan to spend the afternoon at the Festival! There will be performances, workshops, demonstrations, games, food to purchase, and much more.

USDA Farmer’s Market – Fridays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (June 2 – September 29)
The USDA Farmer’s Market is located outside USDA Headquarters, on the corner of Independence and 14th Street S.W. (just a couple blocks from Discovery Theater). The market hosts 20+ local vendors each week and offers plenty of breakfast and lunch options - as well as live entertainment, demonstrations, classes, and more! This is a great place to stop before or after your show, and you’ll also find picnic tables and grassy areas nearby for seating.