The Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival is a performing arts festival that presents work that impacts our society, culture, and world by informing, inspiring, educating, and entertaining. INTERSECTIONS is about presenting excellent art that inspires a connected community, engaged artists and audiences alike, and creates a vibrant neighborhood, city, and world. The Festival ends on Sunday. View a list of all of the performances here. 

Big Apple Circus is in town at the National Harbor through March 24 and my kids can’t stop talking about it! Read more about the show here. 

We have included 6 additional weekend events exclusively on our Instagram stories, be sure to follow us to learn what they are. 

Saturday 

9:00am-12:00pm: Home Depot Kids Workshop: Clock Tray
Spark a conversation about one of the oldest inventions—hands down—in our hands-on workshop. Together you and your timekeeper can build a freestanding clock with easy-to-read numbers, movable hands and a storage tray to house reminders or important trinkets. Use as a learning clock to make telling time fun or as a tool to encourage the value of time. Once your clock is built, your child can customize it with paint and stickers. All Kids Workshop attendees must be accompanied by a parent or adult at all times. All kids get to keep their craft, receive a FREE certificate of achievement, a Workshop Apron, and a commemorative pin while supplies last. Children must be present at the store to participate in the workshop and receive the kit, apron and pin.

9:30am AND 11:00am: Saturday Morning at The National: Bright Star Theatre: George Washington Carver
One of the most remarkable scientists of all-time, George Washington Carver, led an incredible and interesting life. See him come to life and meet some of the other incredible scientists and groundbreakers from Black History – including Madame CJ Walker, Jackie Robinson, and more!

10:00am: Animal Adventures: You and Me Song Circle with Imagination Stage at Avalon Theatre
You and your child are invited to monkey around to music with Imagination Stage in this fun, interactive workshop. An Early Childhood Teaching Artist accompanied by a live percussionist will guide you through a musical exploration of a classic children’s book all about animals.  Together we will celebrate with our mightiest roars and dancing shoes as we bring the story to life through song, movement, and instrument play. Best for ages 1-5, but all are welcome! Tickets: $9.00 / $7.00 for Avalon members.

10:15am: Saturday Family Jam Sessions at Strathmore present Odetta, Queen of Folk
Odetta Holmes’ music and commitment to civil rights influenced many artists who came after her. Kids learn the music of Odetta and explore the role that music plays in major social justice movements. This performance is sensory-friendly. Learn more or download the Performance Guide to get ready for the show. Junior music aficionados spend Saturday mornings singing, playing, and preparing for a lifetime of music appreciation. Strathmore’s fun, creative, kid-friendly series features renowned jazz singer Rochelle Rice and multi-instrumentalist Seth Kibel. Recommended for ages 3–8. All sessions take place at 10:15am in the Mansion.

10:30am-11:15am: Saturday Song Circle at Imagination Stage
You and your child are invited to a fun, interactive musical experience! An Early Childhood teaching artist explores a popular children’s book; Old MacDonald had a Woodshop with your family through song, musical instruments, and movement. Plus, you receive a list of all the songs to practice at home.

12:30pm: Alexandria St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Visitors and residents are invited to don their green and line King Street in Old Town Alexandria, VA to kick off the region’s St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at the 38^th Annual Alexandria St. Patrick’s Day Parade, presented by the Ballyshaners, a nonprofit organization that aims to promote and preserve Irish heritage. More than 2,000 participants will march in the parade, including dog rescue groups, pipe and drum bands, the Notre Dame Alumni Band, historical re-enactors, Shriners and Kena cars, and Irish dancers. Parade-goers come early for the Fun Dog Show on Market Square, which benefits the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. More than 30 costumed dogs will compete in a range of categories, including Best Human/Canine Look-Alike, Most Talented and Most St. Paddy’s Spirit. The dogs will then kick off the parade at 12:30 p.m. Parade starts at 12:30 p.m. and ends at 2 p.m.; the Fun Dog Show is from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

1:30 pm: Discovery Stage presents  Silly Goose & Val at Port Disocvery
Features a musician awarded with multiple Parent’s Choice Awards. Performances will encourage children to sing and dance along, and will provide opportunities for children to be active participants. Admission to Discovery Stage Series performances is free with entry into Port Discovery’s Construction Zone, which is $5.00 for individuals two and up. Members and children under two enter free. The Construction Zone is located in the Atrium at Port Discovery (directly next door to the main Museum).

2:00pm-6:00pm: Mardi Gras at The Wharf
Can’t go to New Orleans? We’re celebrating Mardi Gras with a community-wide extravaganza featuring a spirited parade down Wharf Street, a dance party with live music from Junkyard Saints on District Pier, and a fireworks finale. The parade will be set to the sounds of Batalá drumming and the Eastern High School Marching Band. Feast your eyes on custom-designed floats from our Wharf friends, restaurants, and retailers—including a float featuring the Washington Nationals and its president—along with dancers, mascots, hoopers, and stilt walkers. Get special treats at your favorite neighborhood restaurants. We’ll also have activities and crafts for kids. And don’t forget to stop by Camp Wharf for Mardi Gras décor. So brush up on your bead-catching skills and get ready to party at the waterfront! Fireworks at 5:45!

Sunday

11:00am: Sunday Funday at Imagination Stage
Explore popular children’s book, Little Blue Truck, through music, movement and visual art.

2:00 pm: Discovery Stage presents Story Tapestries featuring Arianna Ross at Port Discovery
Enjoy an immersive learning experience with Story Tapestries with Arianna Ross, who uses dance, storytelling, music and art to entertain and enrich audiences’ knowledge of the world. Admission to Discovery Stage Series performances is free with entry into Port Discovery’s Construction Zone, which is $5.00 for individuals two and up. Members and children under two enter free. The Construction Zone is located in the Atrium at Port Discovery (directly next door to the main Museum).

2:00pm AND 6:30pm: American Girl Live at Strathmore
In American Girl Live, a new, original musical that celebrates the power of girls and strength of friendship, audiences join five spunky campers and their fearless counselor at Camp American Girl, an overnight camp in the North Woods. Overcoming fears and obstacles along the way to having the summer of their lives, these brave campers rely on wisdom and advice delivered by Rebecca, Maryellen, Julie, Nanea, Luciana, and Melody—the beloved American Girl dolls they’ve brought along to camp—who inspire audiences in surprising and delightful-musical numbers, each reflecting their historical eras. Empowered by the stories and conviction of their American Girls, the campers learn that they can overcome anything and achieve their dreams, so long as they stay true to themselves and support one another!

 

Win 4 tickets to Day Out with Thomas & Friends at B & O Railroad Museum

Related Posts:

Story Pirates– March 17

Summer Camps for 2019

New Pajama Jams at AMP by Strathmore:
Summer vacation may not start for months but playtime is year-round at AMP, and we’re bringing back our Pajama Jam series to prove it! Sing, dance, and strike a few (yoga) poses with Gina Chavez on April 7 and Yogapalooza on April 28.

Homemade love is in the air at the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum’s annual Valentine’s Day Card Workshop! Perfect for visitors of all ages, this open-house event will be held from 10:00am– 4:00pm on Saturday. The museum provides a bountiful spread of patterned papers, postage and rubber stamps, gems and other 3-D embellishments, special cut-out scissors, washi tape, stickers, markers of every color (with a surplus of hearts, red and pink!), and more! Following their own creative instincts, kids can choose whichever supplies they would like to design one-of-a-kind Valentine greetings. Once finished, cards can then be placed in envelopes, addressed, and adorned. In keeping with educating children about the postal service and how mail works, kids can pop their own cards in an official USPS mailbox in our adjacent Dorothy Height post office. Of course, visitors are also welcome to explore the whole museum and everything else it has to offer!

Sticking with the love theme, head to Freer|Sackler for an Open Studio: Love in Every Language event Saturday and Sunday from 12:00pm-4:00pm.  Enjoy a digital slideshow of images of love in Asian art, create Valentine’s Day cards using woodblock prints that say “love” in more than a dozen Asian languages, and fold heart-shaped origami. For all ages and adult companions.

Imagination Stage is the place to be this weekend and well all of February. Anatole: Mouse Magnifique begins this weekend while Wake Up, Brother Bear wraps up near the later part of the month and right when you think you’ve seen it all, Dickens’s Davy Copperfield makes its debut!

Friday

7:00pm: Huckleberry Finn’s Big River premieres at Adventure Theatre
Twain’s timeless classic sweeps us down the mighty Mississippi as the irrepressible Huck Finn helps his friend Jim, a slave, escape to freedom at the mouth of the Ohio River. Touching and timeless, this tale of friendship against all odds is recreated for young audiences as two best friends demonstrate the power of changing the world. This show will stay at Adventure Theatre through March 10. Tickets available for Saturday’s 11am, 2pm and 7pm showtimes as well as Sunday’s 11am show.

Saturday

10:00am: National Pizza Day = Kids Pizza Party at various Matchbox Pizza locations
A hands-on pizza making classes will please any small chef. 🍕 You’ll enjoy: a chef hat, crayons, and coloring page, a tour of the kitchen and pizza ovens, a pizza class where each child will make a customized personal pizza, a round of complimentary mimosas for the adults. Just $32 per child inclusive of tax and gratuity. Come have a blast with us!  Recommended for ages 5-12.

10:00am-3:00pm: KC Chinese New Year Family Day: Year of the Pig
All ages are welcome to this fun-filled day of activities and entertainment! Family Day is part of the Kennedy Center’s annual Lunar New Year festivities, this year celebrating the Year of the Pig with three days of festivities, including special events showcasing the arts and culture of China’s Guangdong Province. The region is home to the “best mooncakes in China” and famous for the Lion Dance.

10:00am-5:00pm: Crêpe Day: Celebrate La Chandeleur at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Garden
La Chandeleur, also known as Crêpe Day, marks the halfway point between winter and spring.  In France, families celebrate by eating crêpes, which are round and golden like the springtime sun. Families are invited to celebrate this holiday in festive French fashion amidst Hillwood’s magnificent setting and exquisite French treasures. Snack on a tasty treat of sweet or savory crêpes (2 per person). Hear classic French tales inspired by scenes from La Fontaine fables that are pictured on tapestries covering chairs from France displayed in the mansion. Explore Hillwood’s French treasures through docent-led, family-friendly gallery talks and a printed treasure hunt. Decorate a plate with fanciful designs and flourishes inspired by Hillwood’s French Sèvres porcelain.

10:00am: Princess Bride at The Avalon
In celebration of the esteemed writer William Goldman, we’re hosting a special presentation of one of his most beloved films, The Princess Bride. See the wit and romance of this classic, magical storybook fairytale, as we bring the adventure to our historic theatre for one show only.

10:00am: Uncle Devin at The Children’s Hour
A free, children’s show on the second Saturday of every month that is open to the public. Each month, they feature a different entertainer.

2:00pm-3:00pm: Valentine’s Day Card Making at Washington Printmakers Gallery
Kids, Print Your Own Valentine Cards. Join artist Nina Muys for this fun event. Adults must be present. – $5 materials fee for ages 3-12. Limited space so register

Sunday

11:00am: Sunday Funday at Imagination Stage
Explore popular children’s book, My Heart is Like a Zoo, through music, movement and visual art.

2:00pm: Chinese New Year Parade
The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) is holding its biggest and most diverse parade ever to ring in the 4717 Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Pig! Route Start: 6th and Eye St. NW & Route End: 6th and H St. NW

Plan Ahead:

Mid-winter break for DCPS

Nerf Night at Badlands– February 15

Story Pirates– March 17

Summer Camp 2019

Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center is thrilled to be back open and offering many events for Bambinos ages 0 to grade 3.

My First Imagination Stage: The My First Imagination Stage theatre series offers intimate, interactive theatre performances designed for the very young in our Reeve Studio Theatre. Learn more below about their early childhood classes and weekend workshops for ages 1-5. Wake Up, Brother Bear is on stage now from January 11- February 13, 2019. The show is about Sister Bear and Brother Bear are back from hibernation to take your little ones on an interactive journey through the seasons. Meet a curious butterfly, play in a rushing waterfall, and catch lightning bugs as the bears frolic through the forest in this unforgettable live theatre experience. Reimagined for this 10th anniversary performance, this audience favorite is sure to delight and inspire.

KID Museum has a packed weekend planned! Visitors can “invent the future”, experience the new “hands-on, brains-on!”, woodshop explorers, tinkerers and makers will have open build time and so much more!

Saturday

8:30am: Groundhog Day in Dupont Circle
Potomac Phil, the National Groundhog, will make an appearance and offer weather and political predictions. 

9:00am-12:00pm: Kids Workshop at Home Depot: Heart Candy Box
Celebrate love and kindness with a personalized candy heart box. In this workshop, you and your child can build a heart shaped box for Valentine’s Day perfect as a gift for someone you love or to stash all your super sweet Valentine’s Day goodies and keepsakes. Once the heart is built, your child can customize it with paint and stickers. All Kids Workshop attendees must be accompanied by a parent or adult at all times. All kids get to keep their craft, receive a FREE certificate of achievement, a Workshop Apron, and a commemorative pin while supplies last.

9:30am AND 11:00am: Brian Curry Magic Show at National Theatre
Water vanishes in midair moments before drenching a hapless volunteer, bottles appear out of nowhere, and the world’s most difficult card trick happens in a flash! Magician Brian Curry keeps even the most skeptical of audiences laughing with befuddlement in a morning filled with mystery. 

10:00am-2:00pm: Welcome Back Celebration at Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum
The staff of the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum would like to welcome our visitors back to our galleries. We will be providing extra activities and programs on our first Saturday after re-opening. Among the many fun programs  we have planned are: tours, craft activities, hands-on gallery demonstrations, scavenger hunts with prizes, movies, story time & exclusive curator and conservator talks & demonstrations. Suitable for all ages and free, as always.

10:00am-12:00pm: Michael’s Kids Club Classes
For ages 3+.

10:00am: The Great Zucchini at The Avalon
When The Great Zucchini is in the house, you can count on one thing: guaranteed laughs in an interactive performance that makes every child a star. Known for his comedic magic shows, The Great Zucchini returns with more of the colorful surprises that define his performances. Join us for a memorable morning of laughs and wonder with this comedic magician who has been amazing audiences for over 20 years. Tickets: $10.00 / $8.00 for Avalon members

10:00am AND 11:00am: Folger Shakespeare Library Family Program: Comedy with Cupid
Shake Up Your Saturdays is a free program that takes place on the first Saturday of every month. Family members of all ages are welcome to join the fun! Learn the art of over-acting with Shakespearean confessions of love.10-11AM: Recommended Ages 4-7 and 11-12PM: Recommended Ages 7-11. Foulke Conference Room; Register to attend.

10:30am-11:15am: Saturday Song Circle at Imagination Stage
You and your child are invited to a fun, interactive musical experience! An Early Childhood Teaching Artist explores a popular children’s book with your family through song and musical instruments, and you will receive a list of all the songs to practice at home. Toot Toot Beep Beep is the featured story.

10:30am-12:30pm: Creativity Workshop at Phillips Collection
Let your creativity fly in our art-making stations—it’s an art materials “petting zoo” for the whole family! Comes with Artful Wellness Kit for parents and caregivers. Geared for families with children ages 2 to 8. $18 for 1 adult and 1 child; $15 for 1 member and 1 child; $5 per additional person. Reservations required. Advance purchase recommended as this popular event tends to sell out.

1:00pm-3:00pm: Michael’s MAKE break Kids Class
There’s snow chance of this little guy melting! Make a charming snowman with a pom pom hat to add to your winter décor. Buy the jar, and the supplies to decorate it will be provided.

Sunday

Smithsonian Museums are back open. Spend a day inside, exploring. 

9:30am-12:00pm: Valentine’s Day HeARTstravaganza at Red Panda Art Studio
Each workshop includes a variety of art and sensory activities related to the day’s theme. Drop-off welcome.

2:00pm-4:00pm: Artful Afternoons at SEEC
Join us for an afternoon of fun and creativity. Families are welcome to drop by our art studio Sunday afternoons where they can choose from any of our four maker stations. Each station presents a challenge or question based on the afternoon’s theme.

Giveaways: 

Enter to win 4 VIP tickets to the Big Apple Circus

Enter to win 4 tickets to Disney on Ice!

Plan Ahead:

Mid-winter break for DCPS

Nerf Night at Badlands– February 15

Story Pirates– March 17

Summer Camp 2019

Monster Jam is in town and crushing cars Saturday & Sunday at Capital One Arena. 

KID Museum is open all weekend and has lots of fun hands-on workshops from Hummingbird Robotics to Fab Lab! 

Wake Up, Brother Bear at Imagination Stage is theatre for the youngest audience. Meet Brother and Sister Bear, play in a rushing waterfall, and catch lightning bugs in this interactive 10th anniversary performance Saturday & Sunday at 10am & 11:15am. 

Saturday 

9:30am AND 11:00am: Saturday Morning at The National presents Synetic Theatre: Magic Balloon
A series of hilarious pantomime sketches incorporates music, ballet, clowning, and audience participation. Families will discover the art of acting without words, opening the door to their imaginations. Expressed through body and facial masks, pantomime illusions, and unique choreography, ‘Balloon’ tells a wonderful story of a traveling actor and his magical trunk of tricks and toys.

11:00am: An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly at Arena Stage
Join APO favorite, Hilary Morrow (known most recently for her role as Detective Fix in APO’s Around the World in 80 Days), in a madcap retelling of this classic children’s story. Watch as this old woman’s appetite for strange objects transforms her quiet afternoon into a wildly spectacular tale!

11:45am: Story time in our Explore! Family Space at National Portrait Gallery
space immerses you in tales of artists, presidents, inventors, athletes, and more! Before or after story time, enjoy our family space where you can play and learn about portraiture. 11:45am Tuesday-Sunday. All ages welcome. No reservation required.

1:00pm-4:00pm: Discovery Kit at National Portrait Gallery
Portrait Discovery Kits are an interactive and imaginative way for visitors to learn more about people who are in the National Portrait Gallery and their contributions to American history. The kits offer a self-guided tour, “Seek and Find” cards, “Portrait Detective” and “Historian Guides,” and a “Compare and Contrast” activity using a doll. Visitors can check out kits just outside of the National Portrait Gallery’s education center, room E151 on the first floor. Kits must be returned prior to 4 p.m. This program is sponsored in part by the Reinsch Family Education Endowment.

1:00pm, 2:15pm & 4:00pm: Angelina Ballerina at BlackRock
ANGELINA BALLERINA brings to life the beloved storybook about a fictional mouse training to become a ballerina. Angelina and her friends perform a variety of dance styles, including hip-hop, modern, Irish jig, and ballet to show off their skills to their famous visitor.

4:00pm: Jane Franklin Dance presents Mouse in House
Adapted from the book by Elizabeth Spires, Mouse in House is about a friendship between a lively mouse and reclusive 19th-century poet Emily Dickinson.  Moved by Emily’s evocative words, the mouse becomes determined to be a poet herself.

Sunday

11:00am: Sunday Funday at Imagination Stage
Explore popular children’s book The Mitten through music, movement and visual art.

11:00am-5:00pm: Chocolate Festival at McLean Community Center
Taste the specialties of area chocolaties and enjoy fun for the whole family. There will be live entertainment and a children’s game room! Admission is $2, kids under 3 are free.

11:45am: Story time in our Explore! Family Space at National Portrait Gallery
space immerses you in tales of artists, presidents, inventors, athletes, and more! Before or after story time, enjoy our family space where you can play and learn about portraiture. 11:45am Tuesday-Sunday. All ages welcome. No reservation required.

1:00pm-4:00pm: Discovery Kit at National Portrait Gallery
Portrait Discovery Kits are an interactive and imaginative way for visitors to learn more about people who are in the National Portrait Gallery and their contributions to American history. The kits offer a self-guided tour, “Seek and Find” cards, “Portrait Detective” and “Historian Guides,” and a “Compare and Contrast” activity using a doll. Visitors can check out kits just outside of the National Portrait Gallery’s education center, room E151 on the first floor. Kits must be returned prior to 4 p.m. This program is sponsored in part by the Reinsch Family Education Endowment.

3:00pm-5:00pm: The Noyes Fairy Tale Ball
The Noyes Children’s Library Foundation will host a family dance party celebrating imagination, fun and books. Kensington Town Hall will be transformed into a fairy-tale palace, with children invited to a Royal Procession before joining our fabulous A-Squad DJ on the dance floor. We’ll have crafts, photo opps, and a special Royal Reading Room with stories and songs. Costumes are encouraged for children and parents alike! We’ll  see you at The Ball, with imaginations soaring!

New indoor spots to check out:

Summit Ropes

The St. James: Super, Awesome & Amazing

Related Posts:

2019 Summer camp guide

Be sure to share and like our various social media pages to receive even more updates that don’t get shared as blog posts- Facebook, Instagram &Twitter. 

My First Imagination Stage: The My First Imagination Stage theatre series offers intimate, interactive theatre performances designed for the very young in our Reeve Studio Theatre. Learn more below about their early childhood classes and weekend workshops for ages 1-5. Wake Up, Brother Bear is on stage now from January 11- February 13, 2019. The show is about Sister Bear and Brother Bear are back from hibernation to take your little ones on an interactive journey through the seasons. Meet a curious butterfly, play in a rushing waterfall, and catch lightning bugs as the bears frolic through the forest in this unforgettable live theatre experience. Reimagined for this 10th anniversary performance, this audience favorite is sure to delight and inspire.

The Enchanted Bookshop is at Encore Theatre and Stage one final weekend. During the day, A Likely Story looks like any other bookshop, but at night the characters inside the books come alive. Classic characters — including Dorothy Gale, Pollyanna, Heidi, Tom Sawyer and more — long to help Margie, the scatterbrained owner, save her struggling store. When a pair of smugglers come looking for a stolen necklace hidden inside one of the books, the characters must find a way to rescue the bookshop without being seen. Join the magical mission to celebrate the enchantment and joy of reading. Show is recommended for ages 4 and older. 

Saturday

11:00am: Rocknoceros plays at Dangerously Delicious Pies 
Pie meets catchy tunes!! 

12:00 AND 2:00: Painting for Peace Weekend at Art Jamz
In honor of MLK Day ArtJamz is donating $5.00 per canvas order to local charity DC Central Kitchen. During Painting for Peace Weekend we encourage the creation of original art under the guidance of local artists and with inspiration from our jamming social art studio and lounge. There will be plenty of images and quotes inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. not to mention some stencils to help you create a unique masterpiece.

1:00pm-4:00pm: Portrait Story Days: MLK, Jr at National Portrait Gallery
Listen to a story and create art inspired by someone in the Portrait Gallery’s collection.

2:30pm-4:30pm: Opera Workshop for Kids: Radamisto
Spend an afternoon with your child or grandchildren, niece or nephew and immerse yourselves in the arts of opera! Learn the story of Radamisto, a drama about the taming of a powerful and ambitious king. Sing in Italian with a soprano! Stage a battle with our armory props! See and design costumes. Hear and touch an oboe. (Did you know the word “Oboe” comes from a French Word Hautbois, that translates to “High-Wood” or “Loud-Wood?”) Come enjoy a free afternoon of opera playtime. Stop by for a few minutes or join us for a full afternoon of fun. Families with children 8 – 12 years of age, but all are welcome

Sunday

10:00am-12:00pm AND 4:00pm-6:00pm: Slime Sunday at Red Panda Art Studio
Join us Sunday for our slime workshop. In this extended (2 hour!!) slime session, kids will get to make at least 3 different types of slime. We will experiment with different slime mix-ins, mix up some of our own colors to make our slime truly unique, and create names for our slimes. Cost is $30/child Sign up here.

12:00 AND 2:00: Painting for Peace Weekend at Art Jamz
In honor of MLK Day ArtJamz is donating $5.00 per canvas order to local charity DC Central Kitchen. During Painting for Peace Weekend we encourage the creation of original art under the guidance of local artists and with inspiration from our jamming social art studio and lounge. There will be plenty of images and quotes inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. not to mention some stencils to help you create a unique masterpiece.

1:00pm-4:00pm: Portrait Story Days: MLK, Jr at National Portrait Gallery
Listen to a story and create art inspired by someone in the Portrait Gallery’s collection.

5:00pm: Step Afrika! at Strathmore
Step Afrika!, the first professional company dedicated to the tradition of stepping, launches its 25th anniversary season at Strathmore with a retrospective performance of the company’s best-loved works including Wade, Passing 25, and Nxt/Stp: Hip Hop. Featuring the critically acclaimed artists of Step Afrika!, the company celebrates 25 years of stepping while paying homage to the company’s deep connections to South African dance, music, and culture.  

Did you hear? Snow may be headed our way! We are working on a great ski post for you snow lovers which will hit inboxes this afternoon or tomorrow morning. In case you still need a sled for the impending weather, head to your local hardware store or grab a lunch tray from your kids school cafeteria. If you’re in need of some snow gear, head to one of these consignment stores I shared with Stefanie Harrington’s readers a few years ago to see if they’ve got any left. Note: Wiggle Room and Kensington Caboose on that list have closed however. 

My First Imagination Stage: The My First Imagination Stage theatre series offers intimate, interactive theatre performances designed for the very young in our Reeve Studio Theatre. Learn more below about their early childhood classes and weekend workshops for ages 1-5. Wake Up, Brother Bear is on stage now from January 11- February 13, 2019. The show is about Sister Bear and Brother Bear are back from hibernation to take your little ones on an interactive journey through the seasons. Meet a curious butterfly, play in a rushing waterfall, and catch lightning bugs as the bears frolic through the forest in this unforgettable live theatre experience. Reimagined for this 10th anniversary performance, this audience favorite is sure to delight and inspire.

The Enchanted Bookshop hits the stage tonight at Encore Theatre and Stage and lasts through January 20. During the day, A Likely Story looks like any other bookshop, but at night the characters inside the books come alive. Classic characters — including Dorothy Gale, Pollyanna, Heidi, Tom Sawyer and more — long to help Margie, the scatterbrained owner, save her struggling store. When a pair of smugglers come looking for a stolen necklace hidden inside one of the books, the characters must find a way to rescue the bookshop without being seen. Join the magical mission to celebrate the enchantment and joy of reading. Show is recommended for ages 4 and older. 

Head to Baltimore for the day or weekend with our top eleven things to do, you won’t run out of things to do! Plus, The Construction Zone in The Atrium at Port Discovery sponsored by M&T Bank opens on Saturday. Another special event is the Harbor Point Ice Festival. Central Plaza in Harbor Point will come alive for the Harbor Point Ice Festival from 2:00pm-8:00pm. The plaza will be transformed into a magical winter wonderland with twinkling lights, ice sculptures lining the walkways, live music, food & drink, kids crafts, and more! Watch the excitement as award-winning ice sculptors use chainsaws and chisels to create spectacular ice sculptures, and vote on your favorite! Admission to the event is FREE! NEW this year is a VIP Experience. Click HERE for more details and tickets. 

Saturday

10:00am: 1, 2, 3 Andrés at Miracle Theatre 
Corre y salta over to the Miracle Theater to see Latin Grammy winner 123 Andres! This special, high energy performance is sure to get you and your little one singing and dancing. Tickets are $10 and benefit DC Diaper Bank.

10:00am-2:00pm: National Building Museum Family Afternoon: Capturing Light with Stained Glass
Illuminate your built world with the playful colors of faux stained glass. Draw inspiration from the Museum’s collection of historic drawings from the Washington National Cathedral to create your own acrylic square “stained glass” to take home. Free, drop-in. All ages.

10:00am-2:00pm: Arena Stage Camp Open House
Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will host its second annual Camp Arena Stage Open House. The Open House will feature sample activities and classes taught by camp staff and provides an opportunity for prospective campers and parents to experience a taste of Camp Arena Stage and have all their camp questions answered. The event is FREE and children ages 8-15 are welcome to participate in sample workshops and classes focusing on theater, musical theater, visual art, singing and dance. Children of all ages can participate in face painting and craft projects throughout the day at the Station for All Ages.

10:00am-11:00am:NSO Family-Friendly Performance at Mt. Pleasant Library
Bassist Paul DeNola and violinist Heather LeDoux Green take a break from the NSO to introduce young audiences to some of the greatest music ever written. You’ll never hear a word out of them during the concert, but with instruments in hand and a trunk full of gags, this “silent” comedic tag-team presents a hilarious program of music and mayhem. Stay after the program for a musical instrument “petting zoo”.

10:00am-12:00pm: Michael’s Kids Club Classes
Snowman Canvas for ages 3+.

11:00am-2:00pm: Paint, Build, Create
At this FREE, drop-in program you will explore a variety of fun and creative science, technology, art, engineering, and math (S.T.E.A.M) activities for all ages and ability levels. No registration required!

11:30am: Circle Yoga at Kennedy Center
Linda Feldman from Circle Yoga is offering a free Family Yoga class (ages 5 and up). This series of free workshops designed for families with children under the age of 8* explores the power of the arts to promote wellness of the mind and body. Every second Saturday of the month, local arts organizations offer two 45-minute workshops.

1:00pm-3:00pm: Michael’s Make Breaks
Snowman Slime- Kids (and kids at heart!) will have a (snow)ball making a snowman out of slime and decorative mix-ins. We’ll provide the supplies, including the pre-made slime.