asian tour events

Asian Tour makes first stop in England with new series

DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) — With all the attention on the debut (and the field) for the LIV Golf Invitational outside London next week, the Asian Tour heads to England for its second “International Series” event at Slaley Hall west of Newcastle.

That’s part of the $300 million infusion from LIV Golf Investments run by Greg Norman, separate from the eight-tournament schedule of 48-man fields he is assembling that will play for $25 million purses.

The field at the Asian Tour event includes a pair of PGA Tour members, former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell and former U.S. Amateur champion Peter Uihlein, along with former U.S. Amateur champion Andy Ogletree, the low amateur at the 2000 Masters.

Also playing is former U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell, who has played just 23 times since 2014.

Neither McDowell nor Uihlein was eligible for the Memorial, and the Asian Tour event offers a $2 million purse, compared with a $750,000 purse on the Korn Ferry Tour in North Carolina or the $1.9 million (1.75 million euros) on the European tour in Germany.

Because the Asian Tour is not being shown in North America, the players were not required to get releases from the other tours to play.

Among European tour members in the field is Wade Ormsby of Australia.

GOLF COURSE MEMORIES

Lydia Ko wants her swing to be in good shape for the U.S. Women’s Open. She finds it equally important to spend time on Pine Needles to make sure she knows the golf course.

It can be a lot to take in. She knows this from experience, winning in San Francisco as a teenager.

“I played Lake Merced once and I got a painting for winning, and then I didn’t even realize there was a bunker on one hole,” Ko said Tuesday. “I remember calling the tournament director and said, ‘I think they drew an extra bunker that doesn’t exist.’

"He’s like, ‘No, it’s there.’ The next year I went and I was like, ‘Oh my God, there’s a bunker.’ I feel like when you’re in the zone you sometimes don’t see it. All you see is the fairway or your target. When you see it, then you can’t get it out of your mind.”

THE BIG PICTURE

Jordan Spieth was the FedEx Cup champion and set a PGA Tour season money record when he was 22. He captured the third leg of the career Grand Slam four days before he turned 24. He also has only two victories since the summer of 2017.

So in his 10th year on the PGA Tour, he prefers to look at the big picture of 16 worldwide wins, three majors and more than $50 million in career money.

“I guess that’s all perspective,” Spieth said last week at Colonial. “I think if I was sitting here in 2013 having not won on the PGA Tour, just getting my status, and you told me in 10 years you’d be sitting here with this on your resume, I’d obviously be pleased.

“Then if it was 2017 or 2018, ‘This is where you are in five years,’ I’d probably be a little disappointed. I think it just depends on what lens you look at it from what timetable you have.”

All he knows is that he feels good about his game and where it’s headed and believes the next run could be more exciting than before.

“If I could duplicate the last 10 years the next 10 years,” he said, “I think that would be something I’d be really proud of.”

IRISH EYES ARE CRYING

Rory McIlroy is embarking on four straight weeks in North America, starting with the Memorial and ending before his national open.

McIlroy says he’ll be skipping the Irish Open, which has a new title sponsor (Horizon) and nearly double the prize fund to $6 million when it is played the first weekend in July at the Jack Nicklaus-designed Mount Juliet.

McIlroy played the Irish Open the first 10 years of his professional career, missing for the first time in 2019 and 2020. He returned last year and tied for 59th. His lone victory was in 2016 at The K Club during the time he served as tournament host.

McIlroy defends his title next week at the Canadian Open, followed by the U.S. Open. He then chose to play the Travelers Championship, where he has yet to finish in the top 10 in three previous appearances.

“I’ll play these next four weeks and then it’s two weeks off from competitive golf,” McIlroy said, adding that he would play the J.P. McManus Pro-Am at Adare Manor the week after the Irish Open. “Then just probably be around the area that week, play some links golf and head to St. Andrews maybe the weekend before to get some prep work done.”

POINTS RACE

The developmental circuit for the LPGA Tour is the latest to go with a points race.

The Epson Tour and Ascensus have a three-year deal for the “Ascensus Race for the Card.” Starting this year, the top 10 players in the race will earn full LPGA Tour cards for the following year.

It’s the first sports-related sponsorship for Ascensus, a financial services company based in Pennsylvania.

Sam Burns at Colonial was the fourth player this year to rally from at least five shots behind to win on the final day. The others were Justin Thomas at the PGA Championship (7), Sepp Straka at the Honda Classic (5) and Luke List at Torrey Pines (5). ... Since the U.S. Women's Open was last played at Pine Needles, 11 of the 14 winners have come from Asia. ... The Barracuda Championship, held July 14-17 in Kentucky the same week as the British Open, will be the first PGA Tour event to accept cryptocurrency payments for tickets. ... Stanford senior Aline Krauter has been awarded the Dinah Shore Trophy for her work on the course and in the classroom. She received an exemption to play the Dana Open in Ohio the first week in September. ... The Asia-Pacific Amateur will be played this year at Amata Spring Country Club in Thailand (Oct. 27-30). Amata Spring last hosted the tournament in 2012, when 14-year-old Guan Tianlang won and went on to become the youngest player to make the cut in the Masters. ... The Curtis Cup keeps going to elite courses in America. Next week it is at Merion. The 2026 matches will be at Bel-Air in Los Angeles, and the 2030 matches go to National Golf Links in New York. ... Byeong Hun An is the latest player to reach the Korn Ferry Tour points level that assures he will be among the top 25 to earn a PGA Tour card for next season.

STAT OF THE WEEK

The winner of the U.S. Women's Open will make more money ($1.8 million) than the entire purse of 14 tournaments on the LPGA Tour schedule this year.

“Play good golf.” — Defending champion Yuka Saso on the key to winning the U.S. Women's Open.

More AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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Asian Tour begins its International Series with a strong LIV contingent

Captain Joaquín Niemann, of Torque GC, first place individual champion, celebrates with the trophy after winning in a four-hole playoff during the final round of LIV Golf Mayakoba at El Camaleón Golf Course, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Montana Pritchard/LIV Golf via AP)

Mackenzie Hughes, of Canada, hits from the third fairway during the final round of the Genesis Invitational golf tournament at Riviera Country Club, Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in the Pacific Palisades area of, Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Dean Burmester, of Stinger GC, hits from the first tee during the final round of LIV Golf Mayakoba at El Camaleón Golf Course, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. (Chris Trotman/LIV Golf via AP)

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Joaquin Niemann, Matthew Wolff and Louis Oosthuizen will give the Asian Tour field in Oman a familiar look. Missing will be the uniforms and team scores.

They are among 21 players from Saudi-funded LIV Golf who are playing the first International Series events on the Asian Tour. The series is funded by LIV Golf and features a $2 million purse, and this one comes a week before LIV goes to Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong.

Some LIV players are under contract to play in occasional International Series events. For others, it’s a rare chance to earn world ranking points. The Official World Golf Ranking doesn’t award points to the league that has the same 53 players for the entire season (13 four-man teams and Hudson Swafford as a singles player).

It’s still not enough to get any of them — particularly Lucas Herbert (No. 80) or Niemann (No. 81) — into the top 50 for the Masters. But the PGA Championship has a history of trying to get as many from the top 100 in the world ranking.

As for the other majors, David Puig earned a spot in the British Open last week when he won the Malaysian Open, part of the International Final Qualifying series. He is the third player to qualify for Royal Troon this summer through the series, following Niemann (Australian Open) and Dean Burmester (Joburg Open).

Puig and Sam Horsfield were the only players in Malaysia. Puig also is in Oman this week, meaning four straight weeks of playing. That’s not unusual for players on any circuit, so it raises questions about why more LIV golfers did not seize on the opportunity. That was their best option for those who are not European tour members. Otherwise, it’s final qualifying in the United Kingdom on July 2.

The U.S. Open typically takes the top 60 in the world toward the end of May, and that will make the Masters and PGA Championship critical for Adrian Meronk (No. 49 and falling), along with Niemann and Burmester, along with however they fare in Oman.

RETURN OF CABRERA

The 78-man field at PGA Tour Champions event doesn’t change much from tournament to tournament, though one name stood out for the Trophy Hassan II this week in Morocco. Angel Cabrera plays for the first time since getting released from prison.

Cabrera was imprisoned for two years for threats and harassment of his partner, a case that was joined by another former partner. He was released on parole in August and has been playing in Argentina.

The PGA Tour notified Cabrera his suspension has been lifted, though he is required to comply with terms of his prison release. The 54-year-old Argentine also is welcome at the Masters as a past champion, provided he can get a visa to travel. That’s been a problem.

Morocco is one of only two PGA Tour Champions events held outside North America. The other is the Senior British Open.

BROADCAST NEWS

It’s safe to say two developments in golf’s TV world span generations.

CBS announced that Verne Lindquist will be at the Masters for the final time in April. Lundquist, 83, has had a long and distinguished career that includes being the radio voice of the Dallas Cowboys and the lead announcer for SEC football.

He is best known for two calls at the Masters. “Yes, sir!” he proclaimed when Jack Nicklaus pulled ahead with a birdie on the 17th hole on his way to winning in 1986. And when Tiger Woods hit that pitch on the 16th green that rolled down the hill and hung on the cup before falling, Lundquist said, “In your life have you seen anything like that?”

Meanwhile, NBC is bringing in a new voice for the Mexico Open at Vidanta. Golfweek reports longtime caddie Jim “Bones” Mackay will be the lead analyst for the final three rounds. He will be the first caddie to serve in that role.

Mackay and John Woods have both worked as on-course reporters. Mackay still likes his day job — he caddies for Justin Thomas — and this is not a step toward a new career. NBC has been trying out analysts since parting ways with Paul Azinger. In the last three months, NBC has used Paul McGinley, Kevin Kisner (twice), Curt Byrum and Brandel Chamblee.

NBC has the next seven PGA Tour events until CBS does the Masters. Back to you, Verne.

AUGUSTA CHANGES

Augusta National has lengthened the course again — this time by a whopping 10 yards.

The club released its media guide for the 2024 Masters on Monday, and the only change to the course was a tee box on the par-5 second hole that is 10 yards back and to the left.

The hole now plays 585 yards. It ranked as the easiest hole last year, and cumulatively has been ranked the second-easiest hole behind the par-5 13th.

WALK AND TALK

The networks have gone to a “walk and talk” with players on the weekend dating to last year, and Jim Nantz at CBS knew which button to push when he got Mackenzie Hughes of Canada signed up for the chat on Saturday at Riviera.

Hughes delivered one of the most reasoned interviews of the year at Kapalua when he talked about how much golf has emphasized money. He also spoke during Pebble Beach at a private function, which prompted Nantz to ask Hughes to share his views:

“I just think that it’s kind of unfortunate where we are in the game right now, where it seems that it’s just all about the money, it’s all about, ‘How much money can I make?’ Kind of lost the spirit of the game in the process,” Hughes said. “The reason I play the PGA Tour wasn’t because I wanted to make a million dollars. I wanted to compete against the best players in the world, make an impact on the communities that we play. That’s been the dream since I was a kid. It seems that some guys have lost a little sight of that.

“Now we’re in a place where I think fans are just generally a little bit kind of fed up with it, to be honest. Those are the people that drive our sport. So I’d love to appeal to the masses a lot more and certainly the way we’re going right now to me isn’t quite it.”

MONEY MATTERS

The lucrative new PGA Tour already has had three $20 million tournaments and the other four tournaments have had an average purse of $8.6 million.

That translates into 12 players already at $2 million or more before the PGA Tour even gets to the Florida swing, and seven of them haven’t won yet. Through seven tournaments, 30 players already have cleared the $1 million mark.

Twenty-five years ago, only nine players surpassed $2 million for the entire season.

Past champions Anna Davis and Tsubasa Kajitani are the among the top 43 amateurs in the world who are confirmed for the 72-player field at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur this year. The field represents 18 countries and all six continents on which golf is played. ... Ford has become a title sponsor of the Arizona tournament on the LPGA Tour. The Ford Championship is March 28-31 at Seville Golf and Country Club southeast of Phoenix. Ford previously was the title sponsor of the PGA Tour event at Doral in 2006. ... With one tournament left before the Florida swing, the Masters has added three winners to the field through seven tournaments, and only one player in the top 50 of the world ranking (Byeong Hun An at No. 43) is not already eligible. The field currently is at 80 players.

STAT OF THE WEEK

Seven of the last 11 winners at Riviera are Masters champions.

“You watch sports for an escape from other nonsense, but I think golf has brought a lot of nonsense onto its plate. And now you don’t get just golf, you get a lot of other stuff going on. It’s a bit of a circus.” — Mackenzie Hughes.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

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Asian Tour announces new details for International Series with increased investment

Series will feature 10 marquee events around the world and forms part of the 2022/23 season schedule.

The Asian Tour is set for a major expansion in the 2022/23 season with the launch of the International Series. AFP

The Asian Tour has provided fresh details of its 10-tournament series in partnership with Liv Golf Investments, with the Saudi-backed company increasing its investment to $300 million.

The International Series, announced in November, will feature 10 marquee events around the world and forms part of the 2022/23 season schedule. The collection of tournaments will begin in Thailand next March, followed by stops in England, South Korea, Vietnam, the Middle East, China, Singapore and Hong Kong. Prize funds will range from $1.5m to $2million per event.

Confirmed on Tuesday in the build-up to the tour’s new flagship event, the Saudi International at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, Asian Tour commissioner and CEO Cho Minn Thant said: “We are on the threshold of a new era for Asian golf. The International Series is a new upper-tier of elite events, the likes of which the region has not seen before, that will mark the start of a phenomenal period of growth for the Asian Tour. It also signifies the beginning of our relationship with our new strategic partner LIV Golf Investments and its CEO Greg Norman.

“Importantly, The International Series will add to the Asian Tour’s backbone of established events to comprise a 25-event season, expected to represent a record-breaking combined prize-fund. Each of the 10 events will be broadcast live across the globe, with plans to attract an international field of headline talent.”

The Saudi International, which begins on Thursday, sits outside The International Series. In October, two-time major champion and former world No 1 Norman was installed as CEO of Liv Golf, a newly formed enterprise backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Wealth Fund. Liv Golf had already guaranteed a $200m investment in the Asian Tour across the next 10 years.

“We are setting the Asian Tour up as a powerful new force on the world golf stage,” Norman said. “In my 40 years as a professional golfer, I’ve seen many parts of the world that have benefitted tremendously from golf and its growth and development. We now have the opportunity to do that in the Asia Pacific region and the Middle East with this incredible investment platform.

“Everyone benefits – professional players, amateurs, grassroots golf, fans, economies, communities, stakeholders. I’ve never been so optimistic about the future of the sport.”

The series will commence at Black Mountain Golf Club in Hua Hin, Thailand from March 3-6, with London staging the next event at Centurion Club from June 9-12. Organisers say the schedule for the remainder of the series will be released “in due course”.

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Asian Tour announces major investment with addition of 10 new marquee events

The new events will be played annually across Asia, the Middle East and Europe and will join established Asian Tour tournaments to comprise a 25-event season from 2022; Greg Norman appointed CEO of LIV Golf Investments as announcement is made

Friday 29 October 2021 16:47, UK

The Asian Tour schedule is set for a major revamp next year with the addition of a series of 10 new marquee events.

The new tournaments will be staged annually over the next 10 years with a commitment of over $200m (£145.4m) to support playing opportunities and prize funds from a newly-formed company, LIV Golf Investments, backed by the Private Investment Fund which operates on behalf of the government of Saudi Arabia.

The events will be played across Asia, the Middle East and Europe and will join established Asian Tour tournaments to comprise a 25-event season from 2022.

There are plans to attract an international field of headline talent to the new events through an open eligibility category regardless of Tour affiliation so opportunities are available to the broadest cross section of players.

Former world No 1 Greg Norman has been appointed as CEO of LIV Golf Investments and he said: "This is only the beginning.

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"LIV Golf Investments has secured a major capital commitment that will be used to create additive new opportunities across worldwide professional golf. We will be a cooperative and respectful supporter of the game at every level, and today's announcement alongside the Asian Tour is the first example of that.

"I have been a staunch supporter and believer in playing and developing golf in Asia for more than four decades. The Asian Tour is a sleeping giant and we share ambition to grow the series and unlock what we believe is significant untapped potential.

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Here's that good news you've all been waiting for! 🤩 A ground-breaking series of 10 new marquee events will be staged annually on the Asian Tour over the next 10 years, representing a total commitment of over US$200million to support playing opportunities and prize funds. 🏌️‍♂️⛳ — Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) October 29, 2021

"We see our promotion of these new events as a vital first step in supporting emerging markets, creating a new platform, rich with playing opportunities that create valuable player pathways."

Cho Minn Thant, commissioner and chief executive officer of the Asian Tour, added: "This is the single biggest development in the history of the Asian Tour and a major milestone for professional golf.

"The opportunity will secure unprecedented new playing opportunities, establish new player pathways, allow us to compete commercially with other sports, and enhance our social agenda."

The announcement follows a recent 10-year partnership between the Asian Tour and Golf Saudi, which runs the Saudi International, an event formerly part of the European Tour.

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FOUR INTERNATIONAL SERIES EVENTS PART OF ASIAN TOUR'S EARLY 2023 SCHEDULE

Four International Series tournaments, including debut events in the Middle East and trips to Thailand and Vietnam, are included in the early portion of the  2023 Asian Tour schedule released Friday .

The 2023 season will mark the second year of the LIV Golf-supported International Series, the ground-breaking set of elevated events on the Asian Tour that recognizes and develops next-generation stars while providing playing opportunities for LIV Golf members. LIV Golf has made a sizable commitment to the International Series, with prize purses of $2 million or more for each tournament to help invigorate the game in Asia and the Middle East.

The International Series also offers a pathway to playing privileges at LIV Golf events. Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent won the International Series Order of Merit in 2022 and  received an exemption to play in the upcoming 2023 LIV Golf League . Vincent and several others also played a full LIV schedule in 2022 thanks to their success in last year’s International Series events.

The 2023 Asian Tour season will open with its flagship event, the $5 million PIF Saudi International powered by Softbank Investment Advisers on Feb. 2-5. Royal Greens Golf and Country Club, site of the last regular-season event during the inaugural 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Series, is the tournament venue for the fifth consecutive year. The defending champion is current LIV Golf member Harold Varner III, who won in dramatic fashion with a 92-foot eagle putt on the final hole to beat Bubba Watson; the two eventually became teammates on Niblicks GC, with Watson the non-playing captain while recovering from knee surgery.

The first International Series tournament takes place the following week, Feb. 9-12 in Oman. The $2 million event will be held in Muscat at Al Mouj Golf, Oman’s first links-style course set along more than a mile of coastline along the Indian Ocean. The layout, designed by LIV Golf CEO and Commissioner Greg Norman, is considered the second-best course in the region, according to the Top 100 Golf Courses rankings. It will be the first International Series event ever held in the Middle East.

The International Series will remain in the Middle East for the event in Qatar, Feb. 16-19. The host course for the $2.5 million tournament is Doha Golf Club, among the oldest golf destinations in the region. Current LIV members Branden Grace, Sergio Garcia and Henrik Stenson have won professional events at Doha, which first hosted the Qatar Masters in 1998.

International Series Thailand will return to Black Mountain Golf Club on March 9-12. Located in the foothills outside the royal town of Hua Hin, Black Mountain has been voted as Thailand’s top course seven times and hosted its first professional event in 2009. Last year, it was the venue for the first of seven International Series events, with Sihwan Kim winning the title that helped lead to several LIV Golf starts.

A month later, International Series Vietnam will be played at KN Golf Links in Cam Ranh on April 13-16. The Norman-designed signature course, a links-style layout with views of the South China Sea, ranks among the best in Asia. It will be the first time in seven years that the Asian Tour has played in Vietnam.

A total of 10 International Series events will be part of the full 2023 Asian Tour schedule, with the remaining six in the series to be included in future announcements.

“The Asian Tour is absolutely thrilled with how the schedule looks,” Asian Tour Commissioner and CEO Cho Minn Thant said in Friday's news release. “It reaches a wide range of exciting destinations, offers extremely lucrative purses, world-class venues and a great balance of established and new events.”

2023 INTERNATIONAL SERIES SCHEDULE

Note: Remainder of the 10-tournament International Series schedule will be announced at a later date.  Click here for first half of the 2023 Asian Tour schedule .

Korean idol Kim Soo-hyun is coming to Hong Kong and mainland Chinese fans are already gearing up for visit

• Queen of Tears actor is set to meet fans on August 10 at AsiaWorld-Expo on the Hong Kong leg of his Asian tour
• Posts are appearing on social media platform Xiaohongshu with information on the event, even though ticketing details have yet to be announced officially

A visit by popular South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun to Hong Kong later this year is expected to bring in fans from across mainland China, with the city remaining a cultural middleman amid years-long geopolitical tensions between Beijing and Seoul.

It emerged last week that the star was set to meet fans on August 10 at AsiaWorld-Expo on the Hong Kong leg of his Asian tour, following trips to Thailand , Japan , the Philippines and Taiwan in June and July.

A number of posts have already appeared on popular mainland social media platform Xiaohongshu with information on the event, even though ticketing details have yet to be announced officially.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge , our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

Advice ranged from which local websites to keep an eye on for tickets, including HK Ticketing, Urbtix and Cityline, to detailed maps of the venue for the best seats in the house.

Tips on applying for passes to Hong Kong with local immigration authorities, transport and the amount of cash to bring were also provided.

Others gave recommendations on accommodation, although most suggested same-day visits. Some urged people from further away to book a room in neighbouring Shenzhen, a move considered "more cost efficient" than staying in Hong Kong.

"Heading to Hong Kong should be the most convenient for most of us, so the tickets will be hard to get," one post said.

"But please do not miss this opportunity. The last time [Kim] did an Asian tour was almost 10 years ago!"

A comment under another post asked: "Would anyone else from Hangzhou like to go as a group?"

One comment asked: "Why isn't he coming to Shanghai? Why are there no mainland cities at all?" An internet user replied: "It's because of the restrictions we have on Korean stars."

A de facto ban on Korean cultural exports has been in place on the mainland since 2016, following simmering geopolitical tensions between Beijing and Seoul as a result of the latter's decision to install a US-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system (THAAD) in northern Seongju county.

While Beijing has never officially acknowledged the ban, South Korean acts have since avoided appearing on the mainland, but have still performed in Hong Kong and Macau.

Gary Ng Cheuk-yan, a senior economist with Natixis Corporate and Investment Bank, said Hong Kong's role in this scenario was fitting as a connection between the nation and other countries.

"[Hong Kong's] geographical proximity and regulatory flexibility give the city the unique advantage," he said.

"Still, it ultimately depends on how the Hong Kong government can draw a fine line between the economy and politics."

Last year, Suga from K-pop boy band BTS made headlines for making a rare reference to the measure during a live stream with fans.

When asked whether he would go to mainland China during his solo tour, Suga replied: "How could I tour in China when we can't perform there?"

The parameters of the ban remain vague, with some pointing to signs of relaxation in recent years, such as Korean films slowly returning to major streaming websites like Tencent Video.

Celebrities also seem to be allowed to enter the mainland for smaller events, such as Kim's 2019 Shanghai appearance for a skincare brand launch.

However, others insisted Beijing had doubled down on the ban as recently as 2023, when it completely suspended the approval reviews of Korean dramas throughout the first half of the year.

Kim, widely believed to be the highest-paid actor in South Korea, is riding on a recent wave of new popularity thanks to his latest drama Queen of Tears , which aired its last episode on April 28, and was made available to global audiences through streaming platform Netflix.

On the mainland, the drama is available unofficially on video sites such as Bilibili.

The show consistently ranked among Netflix's weekly global top 10 list during its run.

In its home country, the show's finale also scored a 24.9 per cent viewership rating, according to Nielsen Korea, surpassing the last episode of Crash Landing on You in 2020.

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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.

Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

8 best things to do with kids in the D.C. area this weekend

Music, festivals, farm tours and more.

Looking for something fun to do with kids in the D.C. area this weekend? Here are our top picks.

Greek Festival at St. Sophia’s Cathedral

For fans of roast lamb and homemade spanakopita and loukoumades, it doesn’t get much better than this annual festival at St. Sophia’s Cathedral near Woodley Park, which features three days of food, music and dancing. Greek bands perform at 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, while folk dancers, DJs and children’s groups are featured throughout the weekend. There are long lines for gyros and souvlaki cooked over coals (smell them and you’ll understand why), while the “Taverna” serves Greek beer and wine. A bazaar features Byzantine icons, jewelry, CDs and Greek soccer scarves, while a moon bounce and games keep the kids busy. If you’ve never visited St. Sophia’s before, tours are offered on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Friday from 4 to 10 p.m., Saturday from noon to 10 p.m., Sunday from noon to 7 p.m. Free.

Music in the Meadow at the National Arboretum

Bring a picnic to enjoy while watching the concert in the Arboretum’s Ellipse Meadow, featuring local neo-cumbian band Cumbia Heights. This event, supported by the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, is pay-what-you-can. Note that ticketing is only for concert access; the grounds won’t be open during the show. Friday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. $25 recommended ticket price.

Fiesta Asia

The annual Fiesta Asia shuts down Pennsylvania Avenue between Third and Sixth streets NW to showcase more than 20 Asian cultures in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Look for live music and dance performances representing multiple countries, a karaoke stage, a cosplay contest, martial arts demonstrations, hands-on games and crafts for kids, a large vendor area, and a “food alley” featuring local and New York City restaurants that is apparently 50 percent larger than last year’s. Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free .

Loudoun Farm Tour

The Loudoun Farm Tour is a way to immerse city slickers — kids and adults alike — in the rural communities on the other side of Dulles Airport. The 38 farms open their doors for more than just talks about farm management or letting kids come face to face with barnyard friends such as pigs, donkeys and llamas. Over two days, taste raw honey straight from an apiary or try a scoop of all-natural ice cream on a dairy farm. Learn how craft beer goes from the field to the bottle or tour farms dedicated to mushrooms, garlic or tea leaves. This year, the tour includes shuttle buses running on loops between farms, leaving from four locations, including the Ashburn Metro station. Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free; farms may charge for tours and activities .

Africa on the Avenue at Bruce Monroe Park

Washington’s African heritage and community are celebrated during Africa on the Avenue, held in Park View’s Bruce Monroe Park on Saturday. There’s music from a variety of DJs and artists, including the Ethiopian fusion of the Feedel Band, the Grammy-nominated songs of Malian griot Cheick Hamala Diabate, and the Farafina Kan drummers and dancers. For families, there’s a foam party, double Dutch, hula hoops and interactive art projects. Vendors will be selling African coffee, head wraps, braiding, clothing, books and pepper sauces. Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free .

Bladensburg Waterfront Art Festival

Painting and pontoon boats meet at Bladensburg Waterfront Park’s outdoor arts party, which features a market of local artists, hands-on community art projects, demonstrations and activities for kids. Adults can sip beer or wine, and all ages can enjoy live music and free boat tours on the Anacostia River. Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. Free .

Lincoln Strawberry Festival

Supermarket strawberries have nothing on a freshly picked red berry, which you’ll find in abundance at the inaugural Lincoln Strawberry Festival in Loudoun County. This two-day fundraiser from Wegmeyer Farms begins Saturday morning with a strawberry pancake smorgasbord (buy a separate breakfast ticket in advance) and continues with musical performances, a strawberry baby fashion show, tractor rides, and eating competitions for strawberry pie and strawberry ice cream. Sunday’s schedule is similar, swapping in 4-H animal presentations in the morning instead of pancakes. Each day, you’ll be able to pick your own strawberries for purchase while supplies last. Proceeds benefit a variety of local causes. Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. $15; free for kids age 2 and under .

The Running of the Chihuahuas at the Wharf

The Wharf’s quirky combination of the Kentucky Derby and Cinco de Mayo is back for the 12th year on Sunday, after rain on May 4 postponed the original event. The annual Running of the Chihuahuas involves more than 100 of these tiny dogs sprinting in groups of eight on a 60-foot “racetrack.” One Chihuahua eventually emerges as the fastest of the pack, winning $100 cash and swag during this bracket-style tournament. Only Chihuahuas can race, but dogs of all types can enter an all-breed dog costume contest, while human spectators enjoy the Pacifico Beer Garden, a DJ, a pet photo booth and an adoptable-dog parade. This event is very popular: Arrive early for the best views of the track, or watch on a giant video projection screen. Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. Free admission. All spots for racing Chihuahuas are filled.

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Out of the Centre

Savvino-storozhevsky monastery and museum.

Zvenigorod's most famous sight is the Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery, which was founded in 1398 by the monk Savva from the Troitse-Sergieva Lavra, at the invitation and with the support of Prince Yury Dmitrievich of Zvenigorod. Savva was later canonised as St Sabbas (Savva) of Storozhev. The monastery late flourished under the reign of Tsar Alexis, who chose the monastery as his family church and often went on pilgrimage there and made lots of donations to it. Most of the monastery’s buildings date from this time. The monastery is heavily fortified with thick walls and six towers, the most impressive of which is the Krasny Tower which also serves as the eastern entrance. The monastery was closed in 1918 and only reopened in 1995. In 1998 Patriarch Alexius II took part in a service to return the relics of St Sabbas to the monastery. Today the monastery has the status of a stauropegic monastery, which is second in status to a lavra. In addition to being a working monastery, it also holds the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum.

Belfry and Neighbouring Churches

Located near the main entrance is the monastery's belfry which is perhaps the calling card of the monastery due to its uniqueness. It was built in the 1650s and the St Sergius of Radonezh’s Church was opened on the middle tier in the mid-17th century, although it was originally dedicated to the Trinity. The belfry's 35-tonne Great Bladgovestny Bell fell in 1941 and was only restored and returned in 2003. Attached to the belfry is a large refectory and the Transfiguration Church, both of which were built on the orders of Tsar Alexis in the 1650s.  

To the left of the belfry is another, smaller, refectory which is attached to the Trinity Gate-Church, which was also constructed in the 1650s on the orders of Tsar Alexis who made it his own family church. The church is elaborately decorated with colourful trims and underneath the archway is a beautiful 19th century fresco.

Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is the oldest building in the monastery and among the oldest buildings in the Moscow Region. It was built between 1404 and 1405 during the lifetime of St Sabbas and using the funds of Prince Yury of Zvenigorod. The white-stone cathedral is a standard four-pillar design with a single golden dome. After the death of St Sabbas he was interred in the cathedral and a new altar dedicated to him was added.

Under the reign of Tsar Alexis the cathedral was decorated with frescoes by Stepan Ryazanets, some of which remain today. Tsar Alexis also presented the cathedral with a five-tier iconostasis, the top row of icons have been preserved.

Tsaritsa's Chambers

The Nativity of Virgin Mary Cathedral is located between the Tsaritsa's Chambers of the left and the Palace of Tsar Alexis on the right. The Tsaritsa's Chambers were built in the mid-17th century for the wife of Tsar Alexey - Tsaritsa Maria Ilinichna Miloskavskaya. The design of the building is influenced by the ancient Russian architectural style. Is prettier than the Tsar's chambers opposite, being red in colour with elaborately decorated window frames and entrance.

At present the Tsaritsa's Chambers houses the Zvenigorod Historical, Architectural and Art Museum. Among its displays is an accurate recreation of the interior of a noble lady's chambers including furniture, decorations and a decorated tiled oven, and an exhibition on the history of Zvenigorod and the monastery.

Palace of Tsar Alexis

The Palace of Tsar Alexis was built in the 1650s and is now one of the best surviving examples of non-religious architecture of that era. It was built especially for Tsar Alexis who often visited the monastery on religious pilgrimages. Its most striking feature is its pretty row of nine chimney spouts which resemble towers.

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