Via The Smile Project’s Instagram
The carnival at RFK is back next weekend! Now under the auspices of Broccoli City, the immensely successful event and community organizers who brought us the Broccoli City Festival back in April, the carnival, officially called The Smile Project: Carnival & Concert, will take over the post-apocalyptic parking lots of RFK for four glorious days: May 31 to June 3.
My favorite thing about this whole thing: Why is it called The Smile Project, you ask? Answer:
THE WHY BEHIND “THE SMILE PROJECT”
The important mission of the Smile Carnival is underscored by recent studies which show that smiling is as important to our physical and mental health as getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising. In fact, smiling has been found to reduce stress, increase health, and help lower blood pressure. Yet, somewhere between childhood and adulthood, many of us stop playing and exchange play for work and responsibilities.
I can get behind any event that wants me to be a kid.
From their Facebook page and official website (both of which you can visit via the hyperlinks), the relevant information is below. By the way, buy tickets, here. Unsure why the service charge is so very expensive: for four tickets on Thursday, the service charge is $17.52! The tickets are otherwise very reasonably priced. I’ve reached out to the organizers asking about the service charge and will update the post when I hear more.
Update: Brian Ellsworth, one of the owners of the Smile Project, reached out to us regarding the service charges. He says, “In the past for the $5 – $10 tickets the fees were a dollar or two. We trusted that…Events DC would do the same fees on the smaller tickets as in the past.” For now, you can only buy the tickets to the adult carnival through their website. You can buy tickets at the carnival directly. The service charge at the door will be only $1. Thank you for that update, Brian! (And poorly done, Events DC.)
THURSDAY, MAY 31
May 31st – Family Carnival with $5 admission and heavily discounted ride passes! (Children ages 0-4 = Free Admission)
All Day Carnival Passes = $15!!! (Single Ride Tickets are available daily as well if looking to ride just a couple rides!)
FRIDAY, JUNE 1
June 1st – Family Carnival with some of DC’s best local DJ’s and artists
Children 0-12 = Free Admission
All Day Carnival Passes = $25 (Single Ride Tickets are available daily as well if looking to ride just a couple rides!)
ADULT CARNIVAL SATURDAY, JUNE 2
June 2nd – ADULT CARNIVAL – All rides and concerts are included with your Admission Ticket. Tickets for Saturday are $25/ $35 in advance and $50 at the door! This is a limited quantity event!
– FAMILY CARNIVAL will be a from 12p – 5p. Admission will be $5 for anyone over the age of 13. Ages 0-12 are free.
– ADULT CARNIVAL will be 5:30pm – Midnight
SUNDAY JUNE 3RD
June 3rd – Family Carnival + LATINO CELEBRATION. We will be hosting Fulanito and local Salsa bands for a fun filled day of Celebration!
(Children 0-12 = Free Admission)