DC family guide

DC Family Weekend Fun Guide

May 5, 2023

**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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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

April 7, 2023

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.