I love this time of year with all of the flower marts and pick-your-own farms opening. This weekend you can visit the Garden Fair & Plant Sale at The National Arboretum. The annual Garden Fair & Plant Sale features new, rare, and hard-to-find plants, garden supply vendors, books, children’s activities, refreshments, entertainment, and more. Bring your garden questions to National Arboretum staff members for expert advice. Sponsored by the Friends of the National Arboretum.
April 28, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm; Friends of the National Arboretum members only
April 28, 1:00 – 4:00 pm; Open to the public
April 29, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm; Open to the public

This weekend (and next) is the long-awaited Day Out with Thomas at B&O Railroad.  Little Engineers won’t believe their eyes–or their ears! Thomas the Tank Engine will be able to talk to his fans when he returns to the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore! Take a 25 minute train ride behind Thomas the Tank Engine, meet Sir Topham Hatt, and enjoy a full day of live entertainment, activities, and family fun! Tickets are needed for ages 2 and up available.

Saturday-

8:30am-9:30am: Capoeira for Kids Ages 3.5-7 at Bloombars
(3222 11th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001)
Capoeira provides physical fitness for children, ages 4 and up. It is intended to be a no- to low-contact martial art that helps children with gross motor planning and gross motor skills. Children will also learn maculele (a dance done hitting sticks against your partner’s sticks), samba, capoeira instruments, and Portuguese through this fun, interactive class. Classes are $15 each or $120 for a series of ten classes.

9:30am AND 10:30am: Harambe with Baba Ras D at Bloombars
(3222 11th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001)
Think of it as your little one’s first opportunity to express his or her voice (into a microphone), dance, play a drum or percussion instrument, shout, or sing-along to songs that build character, confidence and community.With more than 10 years of experience in youth development, education and conflict resolution, program instructor Baba Ras D’s “Harambe” is a morning jolt of inspiration for parents, caregivers and children. Recommended for ages 0 to 7 years.  $7 per child $3 per adult suggested donation.

10:00am-11:30am: Rock City Art Workshop at New Community ArtSpace
(614 S Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 (basement))
We are going to have fun recreating and decorating a city using broken sidewalk and other rock from construction sites in the neighborhood. Children are welcome to bring things they find in nature to help accompany their mini city.  Paula Lantz paints using the energy of intense color and collage combined, the abstracted figures reflect mysteries in our personal, emotional and spiritual life.  Ann Gordon‘s  work reflects strains of classical American Realism through her passions of water, light, shadow, reflections, transparency, and translucence.  She works in watercolor, oil paints, stained glass.Workshops for children ages 4-8. Caregivers are welcome to stay or drop off. Siblings of all ages are welcome (caregivers are asked to stay if child is younger than 4).  Just inform us of their ages so we can tailor the project. Each workshop is $10/child. Consider signing up for all workshops for just $20/child.

10:30am: Saturday Song Circle at Imagination Stage
(4908 Auburn Ave Bethesda, MD 20814)
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 of the songs to practice at home for ages 1-5. Register online. Featured: Take Me Out To The Ballgame

11:00am-4:00pm: Carousel Day at Glen Echo
(7300 MacArthur Blvd Glen Echo, MD. 20812)
Our fun-filled annual event gets a new name this year. As many of you know, this festival used to be called Family Day, but Carousel Day better represents what the day is all about — celebrating our beautifully-renovated, historic Dentzel carousel and all the wonderful arts programs in the Park. The carousel will open for its 97th season in Glen Echo Park on Carousel Day!  The event also offers a full day (11:00 am to 4:00 pm) of FREE activities for throughout Glen Echo Park, including live music & other performances, face painting, storytelling, and carousel themed crafts. The carousel operates from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., $1.25 per ride. Free performances from Storyteller Arianna Ross, Artivate’s Karim Nagi & Mark H Rooney, Culkin School of Irish Dancing, Ballet Petite and Columbia Big Band.

11:30am-1:00pm: Nibble + Squeak Brunch at Joselito
(660 Pennsylvania Avenue SE)
Proprietor (and Dad), Javier Candon, debuted Joselito to Capitol Hill this January as a homage to his parents who showed him that some of the best memories in life are created with family and friends over leisurely meals. We’re bringing the whole family to the table on April 29th for a Spanish style brunch to be remembered. Thanks to MommyNearest, kids eat from the same menu for free!  Nibbles for the littles provided by Plum Organics!

1:00pm-4:00pm: Taste of 8th
Each Taste is a small sample size, similar to a tapas portion. Most people purchase a pack of 5 tasting tickets so they can sample their favorite 8th Street restaurants. Buy now to purchase at our advance purchase price of $20 for 5 tasting tickets. Day-of tickets will be $25 for 5 tasting tickets. Barracks Row restaurants will serve appetizer sized samples of their best-known or newest dishes. Watch over the coming weeks as we announce the participants in the 2017 Taste of 8th! This year’s participants include Ambar, Banana Cafe, Betsy, The Brig, Capital Teas, Cava, Cafe Kimchi, Chat’s Liquor, DCanter, District Donut, EatBar, Las Placitas, Lavagna, Matchbox, Medium Rare, Nooshi, Springmill Bread, Souk, The Sweet Lobby, The Ugly Mug, Trattoria Alberto, and Yes! Organic.

Sunday-

11:00am: Sunday Fun-Day at Imagination Stage(4908 Auburn Ave Bethesda, MD 20814)
We invite you and your child to bring your favorite stories to life through dramatic play activities, movement, music, and visual art. Each session, you leave with a special take-home item we used or created that day, as well as a Parent Pack to extend the experience at home for ages 1-5. Register online. Featured: The Tiny Seed

Plan ahead—

Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp has several shows this weekend at Adventure Theatre

The Jungle Book is now playing at Imagination Stage

Peppa Pig Live at Strathmore May, 2, 2017 7:00pm