Take me out to the opera? If hearing “Figaro, Figaro, Figaro” from free open air seats while chomping a hot dog sounds fun to you, then mark your calendars for the 2nd annual Washington National Opera Simulcast at Nationals Park on Saturday September 12 at 7 pm (gates open at 5:30pm.)

General Director Plácido Domingo’s Opening Night of The Barber of Seville at the Kennedy Center will be simulcast live at Nats Park on the jumbo tron screens. Seating is on a first come, first served basis, but you can also reserve a spot in the VIP section by clicking here. VIP guests do not need to RSVP together in order to sit together. (Of course, if you want the fancy Kennedy Center experience, you can also attend the live performance by purchasing tickets to the Washington National Opera.)

And that same Saturday September 12 from 12-4pm is the Kennedy Center Annual Open House Arts Festival and Multicultural Children’s Book Festival (now that’s a mouthful.) This fun, free family day will feature an instrument petting zoo, puppet shows, ballet dances by the Dance Theatre of Harlem Residency, performances by the National Symphony Orchestra, acrobats, vikings and pirates and more! There will also be also be tons of children’s authors on hand performing readings for the kids as part of the Multicultural Children’s Book Festival.

Of special interest at the Open House is the Washinton National Opera’s special children’s opera storytime. WNO Teaching Artists will introduce The Barber of Seville to kids on their level through a 20 minute program with live excerpts of the opera, costumes and hands-on participation. The program is totally free and no reservations are required – the storytime will repeat every half hour from 12-4pm.