Beltway Bambinos

(re) discover Washington DC through the eyes of your children

DC Family Weekend Fun Guide

Saturday Crafternoon at Red Panda Art Studio

Looks like a fairly dry weekend, thankfully. Time to get out and enjoy some spring activities. The Flower Mart’s are a family favorite of ours; both have children’s areas with rides and games.

All weekend long

Azalea Festival at Landon
Friday: 10am – 5pm & Saturday & Sunday: 10am – 5pm
You don’t want to miss this! There is no cost to enter and parking is free. Funland wristbands are $50/day, for purchase at Funland Ticket Booths. Outside food and beverages are not permitted. Funland Friday hours: Noon – 4 p.m.

Flower Mart at the National Cathedral
Friday: 10am – 6pm & Saturday: 10am – 5pm
All Hallows Guild has hosted Flower Mart since 1939. Purchase flowers, shop at booths, ride the carousel, and take the kids to the Children’s Area with a huge array of games and carnival rides. There is also free entertainment throughout the days.

Revolutionary War Weekend at Mount Vernon
Saturday: 9:00am – 5:00pm & Sunday: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Step back in time at Mount Vernon’s Revolutionary War Weekend.

Friday

6:30pm-11:30pm: Drive-in at Union Market: The Karate Kid
Let’s roll down the windows, feel that warm breeze and turn up the radio because the 11th Annual Drive-In at Union Market is back. A DC “must-do,” the series of eight movies launches April 7, and will continue on the first and third Friday of every month through July 21st.

Saturday

10:00am-12:30pm: Acton Children’s Business Fair
Head to the outdoor market with over 80 young entrepreneurs ages 6 to 14! Shop rainbow bookmarks, chocolate art, colorful quicksand, origami earrings, handmade cards, and more! Fun for the whole family and free to attend! Location: 1521 20th Street NW in Dupont Circle. Rain date Saturday, May 13

10:00am-4:30pm: Around the World Embassy Tour
Participants can travel the world as they experience the food, art, dance, fashion and music of different countries. In the past, visitors have been treated to karate demonstrations, sari wrapping lessons, dance performances and more!

10:00am-3:00pm: Spring Farm Day Frying Pan Farm
Family fun on the farm!  See what life is like on the farm with real sheep shearing and antique farm equipment demonstrations. Get hands-on and try milking cows and goats. Enjoy crafts, games, and get an up-close introduction to the baby farm animals. One wagon ride included with each paid admission. Cost is $10 per person age 2 and older before May 6th. Walk-ins welcome, $12 at the door on the day of the event.

11:00am: Family Fun at House of Sweden
Get creative and join us for drop-in workshops in arts & crafts. Our weekend guides will lead children ages 2-10 in expressing themselves through art! Attendees are set up with everything they need to participate free of charge. No registration is required.

2:00pm-5:00pm: Running of the Chihuahas
This free event features the iconic Chihuahua races, Pacifico Beer Garden, pet photo booth, adoptable pet parade, all-breed dog costume contest, and more!

3:00pm-7:00pm: NMAA × SAMASAMA Art Market
NMAA is celebrating its 100th anniversary and honoring Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage/History Month with an outdoor market curated by SAMASAMA. The market will be on the plaza and will feature local AANHPI artists and friends. Meet and shop with the creators and learn about their processes that contribute to the beautiful multicultural landscape of our diaspora community. Artworks will be available for purchase. Come and support the talented artists of Washington, DC.

3:30pm-5:30pm: Saturday Crafternoon at Red Panda Art Studio: Cookie Decorating!
May is a month of celebrations! Join us to try out a different form of cookie decorating: cookie painting! Participants paint a half-dozen custom flower cookies using food gel and edible glitter to make one-of-a-kind cookie masterpieces to gift to all the special people in their lives! Cookies provided by Maribeth’s Bakery. Participants make custom cookie boxes and cards to go along with their edible creations! Workshop is designed for ages 5+. Drop-off encouraged.

Sunday

9:30am-5:00pm: International Family Equality Day at the Zoo
Celebrate the beauty and importance of family diversity with the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Visitors will have the chance to attend keeper talks and see animal demonstrations. This event is free. Entry passes to the Zoo are required.

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Spring bucket list

DC Family Weekend Fun Guide

We’ve got a great list of 16+ ways to spend Spring Break. If you are staying local and need some ideas check out this post.

All weekend
Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival

The Dr. Seuss Experience

RiverRun Festival

Washington Nationals

Friday
4:30pm-8:00pm: Geoff the Magician at The Lane
What better way to spend a Friday night then having the kiddos watch a great magician and get tired on the bounce house, while you enjoy one of the last nice weekends before winter with an adult beverage.

Saturday
10:00am-12:00pm: Cherry Blossom Festival Parade
The Nation’s Springtime Parade is returning to Constitution Avenue. Grand colorful helium balloons, elaborate floats, marching bands from across the country, celebrity entertainers, and performers burst down the Parade route in a spectacle of music and showmanship celebrating spring in Washington, DC.

10:00am-2:00pm: Soar Together at Air and Space On Site Family Day: All About Rockets
How do rockets work? What are they used for? Why are they designed the way they are? Get the answer to all of these questions as we explore rockets and the important role they play in spaceflight and exploration. Join a hands-on day of fun for all ages during this Family Day at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.

10:00am-3:00pm: Horse Expo at Frying Pan Farm Park
Come to the first-ever horse expo at Frying Pan Farm Park! This event is for experienced riders as well as people who are new to the world of horses. There will be food trucks, speakers, demonstrations, and businesses that sell horse-related products and services.

11:00am-2:00pm: Herring Heroes Obstacle Course at Pierce Mill
The herring are back, and so is this fun family event! Each spring, these mighty fish travel upstream from the Chesapeake Bay to Rock Creek, where they lay their eggs. Come learn about the spring herring migration, and see if you’re as strong as a fish! Can you swim up imaginary rapids and find your way on a Rock Creek balance beam? Go up the fish ladder, and carry an egg on a spoon? After you’ve completed the obstacle course, look for herring swimming past Peirce Mill! This outdoor event is FREE, no registration required. Rain date: April 16

1:00pm-3:00pm: Georgetown Scavenger Hunt
Explore some of Georgetown’s most cherished wonders and overlooked gems by solving clever clues during a fun scavenger hunt adventure!

2:00pm-9:00pm: Celebrate 2023 DC Emancipation Day
Join Mayor Bowser for a celebration of DC Emancipation Day with a parade, a DC Statehood Foodtruck-palooza, a concert, and fireworks!

Sunday
9:30am-11:00am: Earth-day inspired workshop at Red Panda Art Studio
Join for a special weekend workshop designed specifically for ages 18 months to 5! Class includes sensory stations, a group story, and a guided project inspired by our wonderful Planet, Earth! There will be a focus on using natural and recyclable materials. Please feel free to bring along any extra bottle caps or paper towel roll tubes you may have around. Drop-off optional for ages 3.5+. Caregivers welcome to stay!

11:30am-1:30pm: Open studio at Red Panda Art Studio
Join for an open studio experience! There will be a few selected inspiration idea stations set-up and you can use your imagination to fill in the rest! Workshop is designed for ages 5+. Drop-off recommended. Workshop includes a pizza lunch.

Plan ahead:
Aladdin Family Night at The National : April 26 only
Your wish is granted with special activities including Aladdin’s Wall of Wishes and coloring take home fun packs. The theatre will be opening one hour earlier than other performances for special activities exclusive to April 26 beginning at 5:30.

 
 

DC Family Weekend Fun Guide

Happy holidays to those who celebrate; it’s a busy weekend with Passover & Easter! Easter egg hunts and festivals can be found here for those looking for more hunts.

We’ve got a great list of 16+ ways to spend Spring Break. If you are staying local and need some ideas check out this post.

Friday
6:30pm-11:30pm: Drive in at Union Market: Wall-E
Let’s roll down the windows, feel that warm breeze and turn up the radio because the 11th Annual Drive-In at Union Market is back. A DC “must-do,” the series of eight movies launches April 7, and will continue on the first and third Friday of every month through July 21st.

Saturday
10:30am-12:30pm: Bunny Hop Parade
Put on your spring bonnet or bunny ears and join us to gather eggs, make crafts, play games, do yoga with Kaydee Dahlin, take selfies with the Bunny, and enjoy treats at Stead Park, 1625 P Street NW, Washington, DC 20036.

12:00pm-8:00pm: DC Beer Fest
DC’s largest beer festival, featuring over 80 breweries, food trucks, bands, dueling pianos, and much more, throughout Nats Park.

1:00 to 3:00pm: Free the Trees in Westmoreland Park
Join Little Falls Watershed Alliance this Saturday to help save trees!  You will be removing non-native invasives vines, shrubs and ground covers that are crowding out the native plants that our native birds and butterflies need to survive.  This is a great activity for kids ages 8 and up as well as for adults. Kids under 14 must be accompanied by a supervising adult.

1:00pm-9:00pm: Petalpalooza at Capitol Riverfront at The Yards
The National Cherry Blossom Festival is taking over 400,000 square feet of the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood with a full day of live music and engaging activities! This day-long, all-ages celebration brings art, music, and play to multiple outdoor stages, interactive art installations, a cashless beverage garden, family-friendly hands-on activities, roaming entertainers, and more, all along the banks of the Anacostia River. The evening is capped by the dazzling choreographed Official National Cherry Blossom Festival Fireworks Show set to music from 8:30 – 8:45 PM. The fireworks display may be viewed from all locations throughout the event as well as from Anacostia Park across the River.

1:00pm & 4:00pm: Hula-Hoopin Queen at Imagination Stage
Kameeka is confident that today she will finally beat her rival, Jamara, and become the Hula-Hoopin’ Queen of 139th Street in Harlem. But she has to prepare for Miz Adeline’s birthday party, and almost ruins the day. Until Miz Adeline confesses that she’s also got the itch–the hula-hoopin’ itch! Her fingers start snappin’. Her hips start swingin’. Soon everyone’s hips are swinging as the party spills out onto the street.

Sunday
River Island and RiverRun are two exhibits and festivals happening at The Kennedy Center. River Island is an immersive environment created by award-winning author and illustrator Edwin Fontánez, visitors can enter the lush landscapes of Puerto Rico, an island with more than 220 rivers. River Island features a bilingual play space for children and a fanciful recreation of a traditional dwelling perfect for a photo op.RiverRun will carve an artistic path through the stages, grand halls, and terraces of the Kennedy Center as well as the studios and green spaces of the REACH—which links the Center to its own river, the Potomac.

Weekend picks in and around Washington, DC

Easter is coming up and that means lots of egg hunts and festivities!

There are many places to see cherry blossoms still but time is dwindling so check out our favorite spots.

Baseball season has begun and our Washington Nationals are home this weekend!!

Saturday & Sunday

White House Garden Tour
Timed tickets are required to take the White House Garden Tour. Tickets are free and distributed same day. The tickets specify a time on the hour or half hour to enter the grounds for your tour. Free timed tickets will be distributed from a tent outside the White House Visitor Center at 8:30am each day. All attendees, regardless of age, must have a ticket

The Hula-Hoopin Queen is at Imagination Stage until April 8 and you wont’ want to miss it. It is a darling show and will leave you wanting to brush off your hula-hoop and give it a twirl.

Saturday

9:00am-1:00pm: Pink in the Pool
Join this free, pink-themed splash at the Long Bridge Park Aquatics and Fitness Center. Throw around a beach ball with your kids, enjoy face painting and craft making activities, and share a tasty treat from Kona Ica. There’s no better place to bring your family to kick off the Spring season. Later in the day, parents can continue the fun at Pink in the Park, a pink-themed festival with exciting music and entertainment, an assortment of beer and wine, and a range of food truck options.

10:00am-5:00pm: Weekend of Word Play at Planet Word
Join Planet Word as we celebrate a Weekend of Wordplay in conjunction with the North American School Scrabble Championship. Visitors will be invited to drop-in for a day of activities in Lexicon Lane. There will be Scrabble tactics and demonstrations throughout the day and hands-on wordplay game exploration with our friends from Labyrinth Games & Puzzles. Join Stefan Fatsis, author of Word Freak, in the Friedman Family Auditorium for “A Brief History of Scrabble” and a book reading with Q&A. If you feel inspired to bring home your own wordplay games that day, our gift shop, Present Perfect, will feature a Hasbro Game Display.

10:00am-3:00pm: Japanese Culture Day at the Library of Congress
Celebrate Japanese Culture Day at the Library of Congress! Children of all ages, families and teachers can learn about Japanese culture through reading, writing and craft-making with Japanese cultural and linguistic professionals during the Library’s Japanese Culture Day. Collection items related to cherry blossoms and Japanese culture will also be on display.

10:30-4:00pm: First Saturday program at the National Gallery of Art
This new monthly program takes a lot of the popular elements of National Gallery Nights and offers them in a daytime setting. A daylong festival of artmaking, kids’ films, a pop-up library, PLUS a lecture and book signing with Hilton Carter and film and discussion with director Jem Cohen

12:00pm-8:00pm: The Lane turns 1!
Join the celebration for live entertainment from Geoff the Magician, bumper-car fun with our friends at WOW Wheels, fun treats by Simply Pleasures & more!

2:00pm-9:00pm: Bloomaroo at the Wharf
The free spring extravaganza features a full day of cherry blossom-themed art, music, fireworks, and family-friendly fun along the waterfront! Enjoy beer gardens on District pier, s’mores at our firepit, and live music. We’ll cap it all off with our blossom fireworks finale.

2:00pm & 4:00pm: This is the Rope 
The Kennedy Center will welcome beloved Education Artist-in-Residence Jacqueline Woodson with the National Symphony Orchestra for the world premiere of This is the Rope. Jackie will narrate her book on stage as the NSO plays new music to accompany the story and the book’s illustrations project overhead. Jackie tells the story of the Great Migration through the lens of her own family’s history. It’s heartwarming and nostalgic, but still so relatable for younger audiences. The Kennedy Center is offering a Family Four Pack (buy two tickets, get two free) for This is Rope; discount will be applied at checkout automatically.

Sunday

10:00am-5:30pm: Cherokee Days Festival
The three federally recognized Cherokee tribes—Cherokee Nation, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians—showcase the shared history and cultural lifeways of the Cherokee people through storytelling, traditional flute music, weaponry, woodcarving, beadwork, traditional games, basket weaving, pottery demonstrations, and music and dance performances. 

11:00am-7:00pm: Sakura Sunday
There will be a wide array of free cultural activities including an artisanal Japanese marketplace, cultural performances, culinary delights, a sake and beer garden and more!

11:00am-3:00pm: NoMa in Bloom Festival Day
In collaboration with the National Cherry Blossom Festival, and in partnership with Lyft, The NoMa BID will host a day filled with kite flying and kite making, local DJ Mathias Broohm, face-painting and delicious food! Chalk Riot will be creating a unique blossom-themed chalk mural , and Neighbors DC will be back this year, curating a pop-up market, comprised of local artisans, sponsored generously by Lyft. PLUS be sure to stop by Eckington Hall (just around the corner from Alethia Tanner Park) 11am-7pm to check out En Flor; a co-produced exhibit celebrating the work of Latinx artists in the DMV!

12:00pm-4:00pm: STEM Expo
Geared toward 5th through 12th grade students, this free event inspires and empowers students interested in science, technology, engineering and math careers. Students and parents are invited to enjoy interactive STEM workshops, hands-on demonstrations, STEM career information, networking opportunities and more.

Plan ahead
The Yards’ Cherry Blossom Bash is this coming Wednesday! Guests can enjoy unique cherry blossom themed pop-ups and interactive experiences all around The Yards, including watercoloring, Japanese whiskey tasting, and ice cream sundae making.

Weekend picks in and around Washington, DC

Our annual summer camp guide was published this week and although it is February camps are filling up!

Before long, the ice rinks will close, so head to the rink this weekend.

We will post a separate President’s Day/DCPS mid-February break post tomorrow!

There are several events to celebrate Mardi Gras in DC, if you aren’t in New Orleans!

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 which lasts from February 18-March 26. INTERSECTIONS is about presenting excellent art that inspires a connected community, engages artists and audiences alike, and creates a vibrant neighborhood, city, and world. We are interested in unique perspectives and art that connect us to the many facets of our humanity. The Atlas Intersections Festival presents artists that look to explore the ideas and issues of our time through their work.

Mardi Gras Weekend on Barracks Row 8th Street has a Sidewalk Parade, Friday, Feb 17th at 6:00 pm and Saturday, Feb 18th at 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm. Enjoy spirited sidewalk parades featuring live music, beads and fun.

Weekend of Love Pop-Up takes place on Saturday, February 18, 12 pm to 8 pm and Sunday, February 19, 12 pm to 6 pm at The Shops at Wisconsin Place. 15+ artisans and makers will converge at The Shops at Wisconsin Place for a weekend in February. Bring your friends, your date, your “galentine,” your daughter, or your lover, and pop in for a fun-filled afternoon of browsing, mingling, eating, and drinking. Complimentary wine; food for purchase. The event is free, and all are welcome. 

The Hula-Hoopin’ Queen hits the stage this weekend at Imagination Stage. Kameeka is confident that today she will finally beat her rival, Jamara, and become the Hula-Hoopin’ Queen of 139th Street in Harlem. But she has to prepare for Miz Adeline’s birthday party, and almost ruins the day. Until Miz Adeline confesses that she’s also got the itch–the hula-hoopin’ itch! Her fingers start snappin’. Her hips start swingin’. Soon everyone’s hips are swinging as the party spills out onto the street.

Saturday

10:00am: Back to the Future at the Avalon
Enjoy a weekend family matinee!

10:00am-1:00pm: Black History Family Day at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park
Bring the whole family for a self-guided exploration of Montgomery County’s Black history at Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park. Drop by the Visitor Center to pick up take-home activities (for ages 5-12) and trail maps to explore the Underground Railroad Experience Trail on their own. Free and family friendly; check in at the Visitor Center. Take-home activities available while supplies last. No advanced registration required.

12:00pm-5:00pm: Family Day at the DAR Museum
Join us for a Presidents Day weekend activities at the DAR Museum. There will be coloring and other activities suitable for kids of all ages!

2:00pm-4:00pm: WOW Wheelz at The Lane
The ultimate kids driving experience. Featuring Go-Karts, Trucks, and Bumper Cars.

3:00pm-7:00pm: Mardi Gras at The Wharf
The Wharf celebrates Mardi Gras with a free community-wide extravaganza featuring a lively parade down Wharf Street, a dance party with live music on District Pier, and a special fireworks finale.

Sunday

11:00am AND 3:00pm: Laurie Berkner Band
The “Queen of Kids’ Music” returns to the Gordon stage for an unforgettable experience that will inspire a lifelong love of music and create lasting memories with the whole FAMILY! Laurie’s instinctive understanding of children’s natural rhythms and energy keeps kids enraptured and brings parents and caregivers happily along for the ride.

Date Night
New Jack City at National Theatre

Weekend picks in and around Washington, DC

This is a big weekend; Super Bowl and then Valentine’s Day! You may see some people running around in their undies for a good cause on Saturday.

Visit the National Children’s Museum’s newest exhibit: XOXO An Exhibit about Love & Forgiveness. Explore the complex emotions of love and forgiveness through words, movement, artmaking, performance, and play! Complete hands-on activities together to develop an understanding and appreciation of the power of love, kindness, and forgiveness.

Moonshot Studio is open again at the Kennedy Centers REACH. The Moonshot Studio at the REACH celebrates creativity and the artist in everyone through hands-on art-making for all ages. Drop-In anytime from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays & Sundays to explore our projects.

It’s the final weekend of the Winter Lantern Festival. They have transformed Lerner Town Square into a dazzling world of light with over 1000 Chinese lanterns; all handmade by artisans with decades of experience. The lanterns and bright displays will light the night and bring warmth this holiday season!

123 Andres at the Kennedy Center

Saturday
10:00am-11:00am: Collage My Heart at The Kreeger Museum
Join a pre-Valentines day for a fun and joyful activity centered around connecting to the things we love, enjoy and are inspired by! Teaching artist Jeneen Piccuirro will guide a collage process that is interactive and engaging as we focus on our “hearts desire” as represented visually. Young artists will cut, glue and paste images from magazines and tell am multi-dimensional visual story about themselves in the process. The final product can be used as Valentine’s “gift” or treasured for yourself! No experience necessary. This workshop is recommended for ages 6 and up.

10:00am-1:00pm: Maker Morning at Hirshhorn
Color your February with love. Try out Valentine’s Day activities including writing a love letter inspired by artist Barbara Kruger, or layering lines of love inspired by Mark Bradford.

11:00am-12:30pm: Cupcake Decorating Class
Join celebrity chef Mr. Bake for a special family-friendly Valentine’s Day cupcake decorating class in partnership with Le Fantome! Each apprentice baker will walk away with four decorated cupcakes, a certificate of completion, and specialized baking tips and knowledge from Mr. Bake himself. Parents are invited to join the fun and accompany their baker, as well as enjoy food and drinks (including a special kid’s menu) for breakfast or lunch following their session. Kids ages 5-11can join the first hour-long session at from 11am-12:30pm, while bakers 12-16 are invited to Mr. Bake’s second hour-long session from 1pm-2:30pm. Parents must accompany children ages 5-11 to the first session. Tickets start at $40, so get yours before they’re gone!

11:00am & 1:30pm: 123 Andres at the Kennedy Center
The Latin Grammy®-winning music duo is back by popular demand! Join Andrés and Christina on an exciting cultural exploration of Latin America through an introduction of language, music, and dance.

11:30am-1:30pm OR 2:30pm-4:30pm: The Phillips Plays With Color, Shape, And Sound
Join to investigate materials, methods, and ideas in art. During this two-hour workshop, we will look, wonder, and learn with a museum educator in the exhibition Linling Lu: Soundwaves. Part of the Phillips’s Intersections contemporary art series, Soundwaves responds to the compositions of Philip Glass; Lu translates music to color and shape, considering each painting to be an instrument, “a source of sound that materializes the poetic quality of music.” Following the gallery experience, a teaching artist will guide participants to create original artwork in the studio. Families will work together to make percussion instruments, embellishing them with colors and patterns sparked by Lu’s work.

2:00pm-6:00pm: Rock the Rink at the Wharf
Join fellow hockey fans at The Wharf to show your Caps pride. From 2pm-6pm, skate at The Wharf Ice Rink with a DJ, Caps gear giveaways, and more. At 3:30pm, we’ll also broadcast the Capitals’ away game against the Boston Bruins on a jumbotron located on the Transit Pier floating stage. Throughout the day, fans wearing Capitals gear receive $5 off admission to The Wharf Ice Rink.

2:00pm: Native Cinema Showcase Screening: Encanto
Encanto tells the tale of an extraordinary family, the Madrigals, who live hidden in a magical house in a vibrant town in the mountains of Colombia. The magic of this wondrous, charmed Encanto has blessed every child in the family with a unique gift, from super strength to the power to heal—every child that is except one, Mirabel (voice of Stephanie Beatriz). But when she discovers that the magic surrounding Encanto is in danger, Mirabel decides that she might just be her exceptional family’s last hope.

2:00pm-4:00pm: WOW Wheelz at The Lane
The ultimate kids driving experience. Featuring Go-Karts, Trucks, and Bumper Cars.

Sunday
3:00pm-5:00pm: Sunday Movie Matinee: Little Giants
Join for the weekly Sunday matinee movie series in our warm and enclosed spaces! They’ll have adult beverages for the parents and kid-friendly offerings for kids.

Monday
National Landing BID’s upcoming Galentine’s Day celebration on Monday, February 13 with Lily’s Flower Truck.  With the help of Lily, an adorable Labrador Retriever, guests can arrange DIY flower bouquets at National Landing’s Gateway Green. PLUS, the first 50 guests to show proof of purchase from an eligible National Landing coffee shop, including Commonwealth Joe, Beauty Champagne and Sugar Boutique, Crush Coffee, Mah-Ze-Dahr, and The Freshman will receive a free bouquet (while supplies last). The festivities will benefit the animal community, with part of the proceeds going toward local shelters.

***Treats for Valentine’s Day available in-store and online at Milk Bar!

  • Mini Black & White Cake: A love letter to your taste buds, straight from the Big Apple. We turned the iconic Black & White cookie into a shareable cake for two. We alternate layers of chocolate and vanilla cake are sandwiched between cookies and cream frosting, shortbread crumbs and is decorated with the iconic black & white cookie pattern.
    • Available online in the bundle: The Match Made in (Dessert) Heaven: This Valentine’s Day, dig into a dozen assorted Cake Truffles in a brand new giftable box alongside a limited-edition 4” Mini Black & White Cake.
  • Red Velvet Cheesecake Cake: Our Red Velvet Cheesecake Cake ups the ante on decadence with layers of double chocolate red velvet cake and frosting, cheesecake filling, and red velvet crumbs. 
  • Red Velvet Cheesecake Truffles: Each over-the-top bite of our Red Velvet Cheesecake Cake Truffles is filled with chocolate cake, chocolate chips, cream cheese, and coated in barely-there chocolate shell and rolled in red velvet crumbs.

Weekend picks in and around Washington, DC

NSO Music for Young Audiences: Beauty and the Beat
See NSO principal second violinist Marissa Regni and NSO assistant principal timpanist/percussionist Scott Christian in an exciting program exploring the magic created when the violin and percussion join forces.

Fairfax City Chocolate Lover’s Festival
The Chocolate Lovers Festival, an annual three-day festival held on the first full weekend of February, features activities for all to enjoy. In 2023, the festival will be held Friday, February 3 from 6pm – 8pm, Saturday, February 4 from 10am-4pm, and Sunday, February 5 from 12-4pm. Click here for the schedule of events.

Washington, DC Travel Show at the Washington Convention Center
Get ready to pack your bags and make the first stop on your next vacation the Washington DC Travel & Adventure Show! You’ll discover thousands of vacation options from the top destinations, tour operators and travel providers from around the globe, and meet with travel experts who are on-hand to help you plan and book your trip. With 4 on-floor theaters you’ll receive the most up to date travel tips and advice, with the chance to meet your favorite travel celebrities. Plus, you’ll have access to show-only travel savings, trip giveaways and show-only deals, right at your fingertips! Click below to learn more and buy tickets, and we’ll see you at the Washington DC Travel & Adventure Show.

Saturday
9:00am-12:00pm: Jeni’s Ice Cream for breakfast
Join for Jeni’s annual Ice Cream for Breakfast Day celebration. Maple Soaked Pancakes returns for a limited time. The first 50 Splendid Rewards members in line get a free limited-edition mug. And 10 lucky folks who wear their PJs to a scoop will win ice cream for a year. The fun doesn’t stop there check out the link above for more info.

10:30am-12:00pm: Celebrating Black Stories at the National Gallery of Art
Black stories take the spotlight in these films that share the joy, determination, resilience, and complexity of being Black and young. Explore a range of genres and styles in a program that spans the globe.

11:00am-3:00pm: Drop-in art making at National Gallery of Art
Drop-in art making is a great way to try your hand at creating art in an informal, relaxed environment. A different art activity will be offered each month, inspired by works of art on view. Art-making activities are designed for all ages and abilities. All ages welcome; children must be accompanied by an adult.

11:30am-3:00pm: National Portrait Gallery Weekend Workshop
Calling all artists! Get creative during our drop-in workshops for all ages. Learn about artists and changemakers and create art inspired by their stories.

1:00pm-4:00pm: RTC Ice-travaganza
Join for ice sculptures featuring a live demonstration, hot chocolate, s’mores, live dj, photo booth, and ice skating performances at the RTC Ice Rink, and more!

Plan Ahead:
Family Movie Matinees at the Avalon Theatre
Collage My Heart at the Kreeger Museum
25th Anniversary of the Lion King at National Museum of African American History and Culture
The Hula-Hoopin Queen at Imagination Stage

Valentine’s Day treats from MilkBar:

  • Mini Black & White Cake: A love letter to your taste buds, straight from the Big Apple. We turned the iconic Black & White cookie into a shareable cake for two. We alternate layers of chocolate and vanilla cake are sandwiched between cookies and cream frosting, shortbread crumbs and is decorated with the iconic black & white cookie pattern.
    • Available online in the bundle: The Match Made in (Dessert) Heaven: This Valentine’s Day, dig into a dozen assorted Cake Truffles in a brand new giftable box alongside a limited-edition 4” Mini Black & White Cake.
  • Red Velvet Cheesecake Cake: Our Red Velvet Cheesecake Cake ups the ante on decadence with layers of double chocolate red velvet cake and frosting, cheesecake filling, and red velvet crumbs. 
  • Red Velvet Cheesecake Truffles: Each over-the-top bite of our Red Velvet Cheesecake Cake Truffles is filled with chocolate cake, chocolate chips, cream cheese, and coated in barely-there chocolate shell and rolled in red velvet crumbs.

Weekend picks in and around Washington, DC

The countdown is on for holiday fun! There are several festive events and activities you can still do, from holiday shows, ballets and concerts, tree lightings and holiday markets, and gift guides to purchase from (you still have time).

Be sure to click the above links as there are plenty of events happening this weekend that are included in those above posts.

Holiday events our family hopes to do still this season: Light Yards, Georgetown Glow, US Botanic Garden and the light exhibit at Brookside Gardens.

Winter Lantern Festival comes to the Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia area for its FIRST immersive DMV Winter Lantern Festival! From New York with 150,000 annual guests, 3 years in a row, this is an experience you don’t want to miss! Starting Dec. 16 to Feb. 12, Lerner Town Square at Tysons II will be transformed into a dazzling world of light with over 1000 Chinese lanterns; all handmade by artisans with decades of experience. Our lanterns and bright displays will light the night and bring warmth this holiday season!

Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience! Walk into the depths of a dark forest and discover fantastic beasts and iconic wizarding world moments illuminated like never before. Follow a trail through a mysterious and magical forest full of interactive moments, mesmerizing lights, and theatrical illusions. Come face-to-face with magical creatures from the Harry Potter™ and the Fantastic Beasts™ films, such as Hippogriffs, Centaurs, Unicorns, Nifflers, and more.

Greenberg’s Great Train & Toy Show at the Dulles Expo Center is in town Saturday & Sunday from 10am-4:00pm. There will be 250+tables of trains for sale, 60+ exhibitors from across the country, huge operating model train displays, free workshops and demonstrations, free test track – test run your trains at the show, free door prize giveaways and more.

Saturday

11:00am-2:00pm: Rudolph’s Rockin’ Reindeer Games at Boro Park
Get your groove on with friends, families and neighbors at this holiday-themed dance party featuring a live DJ. Move and sing to your favorite seasonal tunes while sipping hot cocoa, doing arts and crafts and capturing memories (with Santa photo ops!) for your holiday card. Take part in a special scavenger hunt and compete in reindeer games like freeze dance, red light green light and limbo! Santa photo opportunity will be from 11:30am-1:30pm. Rudolph’s Rockin’ Reindeer Games is FREE and open to the public. Registration is encouraged, but not required through Eventbrite. 

1:00pm-4:00pm: JoAnn Hill at Steadfast Supply
We just had our first post by JoAnn and we are thrilled to welcome her back soon. You can meet her and purchase her amazing books on Saturday!! Perfect for gifts (hint, hint).

1:00pm AND 4:00pm: Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed at Imagination Stage
A new, high-energy musical to rock the holiday season! When clothing suddenly falls from the sky, Wilbur J. Mole Rat stuns the colony with his decision to get dressed! In a community where baring is caring and skin is in, can Wilbur find the courage to rock to the rhythm of his own electric guitar? Based on Mo Willem’s beloved picture book, the show explores what can happen when we have the courage to be ourselves. Best for ages 4-10.

Sunday

1:00pm: Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed at Imagination Stage– ASL Interpreted Show
A new, high-energy musical to rock the holiday season! When clothing suddenly falls from the sky, Wilbur J. Mole Rat stuns the colony with his decision to get dressed! In a community where baring is caring and skin is in, can Wilbur find the courage to rock to the rhythm of his own electric guitar? Based on Mo Willem’s beloved picture book, the show explores what can happen when we have the courage to be ourselves. Best for ages 4-10.

3:45pm-5:15pm: National Menorah Lighting
Musical performances, special guest and the lighting will occur on the Ellipse. Register to attend at link above.

4:00pm: Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed at Imagination Stage
A new, high-energy musical to rock the holiday season! When clothing suddenly falls from the sky, Wilbur J. Mole Rat stuns the colony with his decision to get dressed! In a community where baring is caring and skin is in, can Wilbur find the courage to rock to the rhythm of his own electric guitar? Based on Mo Willem’s beloved picture book, the show explores what can happen when we have the courage to be ourselves. Best for ages 4-10.

5:30pm: Northern VA Night of Lights
Join a family-oriented, community-wide candle lighting event featuring holiday-themed activities, including latkes, dreidel playing, doughnuts, kids crafts, music, a photo booth and more!

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