1. There are a lot road closures to be aware of this week and coming weekend for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix taking place on the streets around the National Mall.  This WTOP article lists all the closures and parking restrictions.  Access to a few Smithsonian museums on the National Mall wil l also be modified August 21-23 — see details here. This is a good time to check out some of the off-the-beaten-path museums in DC and others in Maryland and Virginia.  Continue reading Five Things: August 18, 2026 at KidFriendly DC. ...read more read less