This Saturday, from 12pm to 5pm, the Friends of the Old Soldiers Home and the Armed Forces Retirement Home will be hosting their 4th Annual Spring Fling. Music, dancing, kids events, food and beer -- sounds great! Here's the day's schedule:

Don't fear the weather! Rains will be ending in time for friends and neighbors to gather with distinguished veterans at the Armed Forces Retirement Home. The forecast is cloudy skies and 74-degree temperatures on the beautiful green expanse of the driving range, where we will gather on the Home’s beautiful 250-acre campus. (Enter Rock Creek Church Road and Randolph Streets.)

Leading off at 12:30 will be the superb jazz vocalist Cecily, back for her second Fling. She promises she will perform her new cover, “Been to the Moon."

At 1:30, geologist Philip Blair will lead a nature walk and point out fascinating features of the grounds that many people never realize are there. Phil’s walk-and-talk is always a popular feature of the Fling.

Herb Spice will pick up his saxophone at 1:30 and, along with the Cinnamonstix, fill the driving range with the sounds of smooth jazz. Please come on out on the dance floor under the big tent where Herb will play, and take a twirl!

Late arrivers don’t panic — Cecily and Herb will perform additional sets at 2:15 and 3:30, respectively.

Meanwhile, FOSH has a special treat at 3pm. Balance: The GW Ballet Group, will make a first appearance at the Fling. These dancers from George Washington University are making a special trip to the Soldiers Home, and we couldn’t be more thrilled that they will be performing a 20-minute routine.

Bring your appetites with you. Food offerings will have a little bit of everything, as Captain Cookie returns for his fourth consecutive Fling with his famous ice cream sandwiched between home-made cookies. Joining Captain Cookie will be main-course food trucks that include DC Slices, Nom Nom Gourmet and RockSalt. There will be a variety of beer choices, and Soldiers Home residents will operate a water stand.

Kids will have fun running on the vast open space of the driving range. But, there are organized activities as well, including kickball at 1pm, relay races at 2:15pm and capture the flag and soccer at 3:30pm.

We will have face painting throughout the event. President Lincoln’s Cottage (located on campus) will be on the driving range with a craft table for kids, and Christian Family Montessori School (located on the grounds of St. Paul’s Rock Creek Church Cemetery across the street from the Home) will be at the Fling to host a corn hole toss game.

Bring a lawn chair and a blanket and make yourselves comfortable. The festival is free if you walk or bicycle in. If you drive and park, there is a $10 donation for FOSH per carload. Leave your pets at home.

If you would like to spend 90 minutes of your day volunteering while you enjoy the Fling, please sign up!