Kreeger Museum

DC Family Weekend Fun Guide

October 25, 2024

This weekend has much to offer those wanting to celebrate fall and Halloween! It is the final weekend of apple picking at Great Country Farms, pair it with the corn maze and fall harvest festival.

Saturday

10:00am-3:00pm: Kreeger Museum Open House
Join this family-friendly celebration of art, music, and architecture! This event is free and open to all with live jazz music and art-making activities. Food trucks will be selling refreshments for purchase. Entrance to the Museum will be free of charge and our permanent collection will be on view. Free parking is available at The Field School, located next door at 2301 Foxhall Road NW. Picnic blankets are welcome in the Sculpture Garden. Click link about to see schedule of events.

10:00am-12:00pm: Trick or Treat at Tudor Place
Wear your Halloween costume and search for treats (not tricks) in every corner of the garden. Enjoy crafts, activities and period games amid lovely autumn plant life. This outdoor event will take place rain or shine.

10:00am-3:00pm: Air & Scare at Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
Join us for our annual Halloween event at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center to explore the spooky side of air and space. This year, the event will take place both inside and outside at the Museum.

11:30am-3:00pm: Dia de Los Muertos at Smithsonian American Art Museum
Celebrate Día de los Muertos with the Smithsonian American Art Museum! Bring the whole family to see exciting live performances, including traditional Mexican folk dance by Corazon Folklorico, a mariachi performance by Mariachi Aguila DC, and a showcase of different Latin American music genres and dances with Sol y Rumba. Attendees ages 12 and younger can enjoy face painting throughout the day, while visitors of all ages can participate in hands-on craft activities. Round out the day by exploring the museum’s collection with our Día de los Muertos-themed scavenger hunt.

11:30am AND 1:00pm: Family Workshop: Something Wicked: Supernatural Shakespeare at Folger Shakespeare Library
Get spooky with Shakespeare’s ghosts and witches. Join the Folger on fun escapades as we explore the play’s hurly-burly elements! Costumes not required but welcomed!

12:30pm-3:00pm: Little Goblins Parade
All boys and ghouls are invited for the 13th edition of this beloved Halloween celebration! Parade from Ross Elementary down 17th Street, trick or treating at the stores along the way, and finish at Stead Park for a Halloween party! There will be music, candy, photo ops, games, giveaways, and more. Costumes encouraged. Free! RSVP to link above.

1:00pm-4:00pm: Glen Echo Fall Frolic
Join for some Halloween fun at Glen Echo Park! Activities include decorating a Trick-or-Treat bag and other crafts, a festive fall photo-op (say that 10 times!), a costume contest (will you win for “Most Spooky,” “Most Creative,” or “Best Group?”), and Trick-or-Treating at our resident art studios and galleries. We focus on the arts-y & crafts-y more than the scary, but we love to see all the costumes – even the scary ones!

1:00pm-4:00pm: Fall Festival & Bluegrass Jamboree
The event will be held in Dupont Circle Park. The Fall Festival & Bluegrass Jamboree will feature live bluegrass by Shannon Leigh and the Good Bygones, a pumpkin patch where participants can decorate their pumpkins, games such as cornhole in the grassy areas of the Circle, and a costume contest for pets, kids, and adults with prizes.

2:00pm-6:00pm: Trick or Treat at Mount Vernon
Celebrate Halloween with 18th-century entertainment and activities. Collect candy in your special Mount Vernon treat bag around the historic grounds. Watch Halloween-themed Punch & Judy shows at 3pm & 4:30pm. See an 18th-century bake oven demonstration with Half Crown Bakehouse on the 12-acre field. Sample a rusk (twice-baked bread pieces) with chocolate cream from a recipe dating back to the 1760s and using American Heritage Chocolate. And more!

Sunday

10:00am-5:00pm: Día de los Muertos at National Museum of the American Indian
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a time for commemorating our ancestors. Rather than a period of mourning, it is an occasion for celebrating with family—both living and dead—and honoring the cycle of life.

10:00am-2:00pm: Van Ness Spooktacular
Everyone’s favorite kid-friendly Halloween event is returning to Forest Hills Playground this year. Parents and kids of all ages are invited to dress in their favorite costumes and gather at Forest Hills Playground for spooky-inspired activities followed by Trick or Treating at small businesses along Connecticut Ave in Wakefield, Forest Hills and Van Ness from 12:30pm-2pm.

12:00pm-3:00pm: Halloween at the Harbor
Enjoy trick-or-treating, a pumpkin carving competition, pet pawrade and more. This family-friendly party is sure to be a wicked good time!

2:00pm AND 4:00pm: NSO Family Concert: Halloween Spooktacular
An annual tradition! The Concert Hall transforms into a ghostly sight when ghoulishly attired National Symphony Orchestra musicians celebrate Halloween with fa-boo-lous new works and spooky old classics.

2:00pm: 28th Annual Del Ray Halloween Parade
One of Del Ray’s favorite traditions takes place along Mount Vernon Avenue, beginning at E. Bellefonte Avenue. Children, pets, and decorated strollers are invited to march and show off their costumes! This parade ends with live music and an award presentation at the Mount Vernon Rec Center field. This hometown favorite event is a must-see!

Theatre

Winnie the Pooh at Imagination Stage through Oct. 27

Doktor Kaboom: Under Pressure! at the Kennedy Center through Nov. 3

She Persisted at Adventure Theatre through Nov. 3

Weekend Picks in and around Washington, DC

September 28, 2018

Many orchards are open and ready for you to pick fruit and grab your pumpkins.

Frederick’s Oktoberfest is Friday & Saturday. Friday for adults & Saturday for families! There will be a Kid’s Zone from 11:00am-6:00pm with some exciting entertainment; 2:30PM-3:15PM: Mr. Jon, 4:00PM: Root Beer Luge hosted by 106.9 The Eagle, 5:00PM-5:45PM: Mr. Jon.

Star Wars Under the Sky at Library of Congress will show “Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back” on Friday at 7:30pm and “Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi” on Saturday at 7:30pm.

Blueberries for Sal at Adventure Theatre: Run time- September 21-October 21, 2018Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk! Sal and her mother are picking delicious blueberries to can for the long winter months ahead to make delicious desserts. On the other side of Maine’s Blueberry Hill, a mama bear and baby bear are filling up for the long hibernation. But somehow Sal and a baby bear have a mixed up adventure and lose their mothers!

Saturday

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. Featured Story: Five Little Monkeys

11:00am-5:00pm: Barrack’s Row Fall Festival
A petting zoo, live music, truck touch, beer garden, magician, kids zone and the festival wraps up with a donkey procession.

11:00am-4:00pm: Leesburg Airshow
This event provides a wonderful opportunity to see a snapshot of the general aviation world. The static display area, located on the airport’s aircraft parking ramp, will feature many unique, experimental and antique aircraft. The airshow exhibitors will showcase the many facets of general aviation, such as flight training, corporate transportation and emergency rescue operations. In addition, there will be inflatables for the kids, and a variety of food vendors. The skies above Leesburg will come alive with skydiving and aerobatic performances.

11:00am-3:00pm: Family Day at Kreeger Museum
Join us to celebrate art, music, and nature. The day includes outdoor art activities for children, a djembe drum circle, performances by the Elijah Jamal Balbed Quartet, and Sculpture Garden and Gallery art talks. Picnic blankets welcome in the Sculpture Garden – Rocklands BBQ and Captain Cookie and the Milkman will be joining us to sell lunch and sweet treats! Free and open to the public.

7:00pm: Opera in the Outfield
Celebrate the 11th season of free opera broadcasts by joining Washington National Opera at Nationals Park for The Barber of Seville. Gates open at 5 p.m. for pre-opera activities, including a costume shop, instrument meet and greet, games, prizes, and more!

Sunday

9:00am-5:00pm: Fall Fest at Friends of the Soldiers Home
See flier to the left for schedule of events

10:00am-12:00pm: Workafrolic Open House
Ever wonder how you can work and bring your child along while actually being productive? Check out Workafrolic; they will have fun activities for kids 0-4 years old, mini music lessons, coffee, snacks, and door prizes and you can check out the space.

11:00am-11:45am: Sunday Funday at Imagination Stage
We invite you and your child to bring your favorite stories to life through dramatic play activities, music, movement, 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. Featured Story: Down by the Station

11:00am-4:00pm: Then & Wow at Glen Echo
This is the Glen Echo Park Partnership’s annual family festival celebrating the Park’s revitalization as an arts center and recalling its history, when the site was an amusement park. The event features kiddie rides and arcade games, as well as videos and an exhibition on the Park’s history. Admission to the park is free. Rides and some activities require tickets. The festival also celebrates the last day of the 2018 carousel season. The carousel will reopen in the spring of 2019. Festival hours are 11am – 4pm. The carousel operates from 11am – 5pm.

11:00am-7:00pm: Turkish Festival
(Pennsylvania Avenue between 12th and 14th Streets NW)
2018 DC Turkish Festival and Heritage Month will feature colors of Anatolia. Also known as Asia Minor, Anatolia is the western tip of the Asian continent that extends towards Europe. Anatolia’s vivid colors are a reflection of the many rich civilizations that have passed through this fertile land over thousands of years. Visitors will have a chance to get a glimpse of Ephesus at the Annual DC Turkish Festival. Dancing, singing, lots of delicious food, shopping and more!

6:00pm: Movies on the Potomac at National Harbor: The Lion King (final movie of the season)
Nothing says summer like an evening under the stars—and there’s no better way to enjoy the season than Movies on the Potomac at National Harbor. Pack your picnic blankets, grab food to go from one of our delicious dining establishments, and meet us at the Plaza’s big screen for a FREE evening of fun for all ages! Please note that movies will begin at 6:00pm and will be shown once, so end times may vary with each movie.

Weekend Picks in and around Washington, DC

May 4, 2018

Landon Azalea Fest lasts Friday-Sunday, 10am-5pm! Shopping, entertainment, auction, flowers, fun-land and more!

The National Cathedral’s Flower Mart is Friday & Saturday from 10am-6pm. An irresistible array of festival foods, children’s rides, artisanal and boutique gifts and, of course, herbs and flowers, once again fills the nave and grounds of the Cathedral at this year’s Flower Mart. Drawing locals and tourists alike since 1939, this festival of flowers and fun celebrates All Hallows’ Guild’s antique carousel—a fixture at Flower Mart for decades.

Saturday Song Circle & Sunday Funday at Imagination Stage can be found here.

Saturday:

10:00am-1:00pm: Truck Touch at Silver Spring Nursery School
This was my sons first ever truck touch (see above photo). The parking lot will be filled with vehicles of every kind that kids of all ages can explore, including: Police Cruiser, Rescue Vehicle, School Bus, Fire Truck and Ambulance, Animal Rescue Van, Moving Van, Dump Truck and more. Live music from Mr. Gabe & Rock Starts, food for purchase and silent auction. $5 per person, kids under age 2 free.

10:00am-4:00pm: Around the World Embassy Tour
Embassies will open their doors to DC visitors and residents Saturday, May 5, 2018. 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, dance performances, sari wrapping lessons, and henna demonstrations.

10:00am-11:00am: First Studio at The Kreeger Museum
Children are invited to use their imaginations as they explore the paintings, sculpture, and architecture of The Kreeger Museum. Each First Studio includes a gallery tour, a story, and a hands-on art-making experience. An adult companion is required and art-making attire is recommended. Read about our wonderful experience here.

4:05pm: May the Force Be With You at Nationals Stadium.
First 10,000 fans receive a Star Wars themed pair of socks. Dress in your favorite Star Wars gear. Take a look at my guys last year (see photo).

Sunday:

10:00am-7:00pm: Monkey Joe’s Customer Appreciation Day
Monkey Joe’s locations nationwide will celebrate Customer Appreciation Day by offering $7 admission. Monkey Joe’s is a children’s entertainment center filled with indoor jumps, slides and obstacle courses. A destination that caters to both children and parents, Monkey Joe’s provides wall-to-wall inflatables, including a main play center and separate Mini MonkeyZone for toddlers.

Shows:
Judy Moody at Adventure Theatre plays all weekend long with some extra treasures! Saturday & Sunday at 11am & 2pm. During our Sunday performances this weekend, enjoy a stunning display of silver crochet jewelry – a treasure of one’s own. Take a necklace or set of earrings home in a specialty bag for Mother’s Day!
Free Event at 1pm on Sunday; an exclusive reading of the first chapter of Judy Moody & Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt.
Enjoy a Talkback with the playwright, Allison Gregory after the 2pm Sunday show.

Robin Hood at Imagination Stage plays at 1:30pm & 4pm on Saturday & Sunday.

Looking Ahead

Parent’s Night Out

Weekend Picks in and around Washington, DC

February 2, 2018

From dinosaur bones to hidden memories, the world is filled with buried treasures just waiting to be uncovered at Digging up Dessa at The Kennedy Center. One 21st-century girl sets out to dig up some super-sized discoveries with help from a remarkable friend—the pioneering English paleontologist Mary Anning. Age 10+. Showing Feb. 3-18, 2018.

The Chocolate Lovers Festival, an annual two-day festival held on the first full weekend of February, features activities for all to enjoy. In 2018, the festival will be held Friday, February 2 for Liquid Chocolate only from 6pm-8pm, Saturday, February 3 from 10am to 7pm (see schedule of events for times and locations) and Sunday, February 4 from 12noon to 4pm. Join us for the Taste of Chocolate, the Chocolate Challenge, the ever-popular Kiwanis Chocolate Chip Pancake Breakfast, open houses at historic buildings and much more.

It’s bedtime! But instead of getting ready, two children use their imaginations to turn their room into a wonderland of mess! While playing dress-up, a glove becomes a dancing fish, a shirt becomes a fantastic creature, and a sock dance rocks the closet. In this interactive show, discover the joy of turning things inside out! Catch the show, Inside Out at Imagination Stage aimed for the smallest audience members- best for ages 1-5.

Applause Unlimited of Richmond, VA is back at the Glen Echo Playhouse for the next two weekends, presenting three of Beatrix Potter’s favorite tales: “Two Bad Mice,” “Jemima Puddle-Duck,” and “Jeremy Fisher.” Christopher Hudert brings these stories to life through the everyday activities of a young girl as she dreams and plays alone in her room. Best for ages 3-9, a 45 minute performance.

Saturday-

9:00am-12:00pm: Kids Workshop at Home Depot: Valentine’s bean bag toss
Score points with your loved ones and build a Valentine bean bag toss in this hands-on workshop. You and your child can construct a fun bean bag toss game for the whole family to love. Following the bean bag toss game board construction, your child can decorate 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. The first Saturday of every month, register for this free workshop.

9:30am AND 11:00am: ¡Uno, Dos, Tres, con Andrés! at National Theatre
What would you do if you received a mysterious letter? Join Andrés as he travels Latin America in search of Juana la Rana. You will sing and dance to new and classic Spanish songs and even learn español along the way! Don’t miss this unique and interactive performance. FREE show

10:00am: Marsha and the Positrons at The Avalon Theatre Family Series
Both playful and educational, Marsha and the Positrons shows get audiences singing along and dancing to songs that will inspire curiosity about science. The group also plays kid-appropriate pop covers, parodies, and traditional favorites. Marsha and the Positrons feature skilled and smooth bass player Wardell Howell; gifted and instinctive djembe drummer and vocalist, Kristen Arant; wonderful multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, Ayanna Gallant; and supremely talented guitar player, Ford Combs. Whether playing as a duo, trio, or full band, Marsha and the Positrons always bring their positive energy and playfulness to the stage! They will be kicking off the winter family concert series! And who doesn’t love hot coffee and fresh popcorn at 10:00am while cozy in a movie theatre singing and dancing?! Check out The Penguin Song music video here.

10:00am-11:00am: First Studio: An Art Exploration for 3-5 Year Olds at Kreeger Museum
Children and an adult companion are invited to use their imagination as they explore the paintings, sculpture, and architecture of The Kreeger Museum. Each program includes a gallery tour, analysis of works of art, a story and a hands-on art-making experience.Workshop fee $10/child. Pre-registration is required and payment due at time of registration. An adult must remain with the child throughout the program. Read our review of the program here.

10:00am-5:00pm: La Chandeleur Day at Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
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. Snack on a tasty treat of sweet crêpes. 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 interactive, docent-led, family-friendly gallery talks and a printed activity guide. Decorate a plate with fanciful designs and flourishes inspired by Hillwood’s French Sèvres porcelain.

1:30pm-3:30pm: Q, the Witch and the Magical Orb at Maryland Ensemble Theatre
Come see a FUN Company play – Q, the Witch and the Magical Orb! Afterwards we’ll have snacks and make art around the themes of the play, and play theatre games–all for free! Recommended for ages 3-7.

Sunday-

10:00am-11:30am: Lion Lessons preschool class at The National Zoo
Do you have what it takes to be part of the pride? Learn what it’s like to be a lion and test your skills with us and our wild role models! FONZ preschool classes are designed for children ages 2 to 3 to discover a whole new view of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. “Adult-and-me” format classes use interactive learning stations, hands-on activities and crafts, Nature Play, and exciting Zoo walks to engage your child’s sense of wonder and curiosity about wildlife and the natural world. Member cost: $28.00, Non-member cost:$35.00

11:00am-1:00pm: Tween Valentine Card Making Workshop at Paper Source
Grab your BFF and some glitter for a workshop that will give you heart eyes! Make 5 – 6 Valentines for your classmates, friends and family using your favorite stickers, stamps, washi and more! In this class, you will: Stamp, Heat Emboss, Doodle, Paint and Use Washi. This class is intended for ages 8 – 14

Looking Ahead:

Plan a Date Night to see Something Rotten playing at National Theatre Feb. 6-18, 2018

Indoor Picnic & Movie at The National Cathedral– Feb. 9, 2018

Shows at Imagination Stage & Adventure Theatre are beginning next weekend, grab tickets!

Weekend Picks

April 1, 2016

The pick this weekend is Light City Baltimore. Premiering in 2016, Light City Baltimore is the first large-scale, international light festival in the United States, homegrown right here in Baltimore. Light City will provide a backdrop for the celebration of ideas, ingenuity and creativity through art, music and innovation. Light City will shine a light on Baltimore’s abundance of creative, cutting-edge, multi-disciplinary talent, and we welcome participants from across the globe to join us. Light City’s innovation programming will generate an ecosystem of ideas and learning during the day – while lights, performances and live music re-imagine the Inner Harbor at night. Check out the schedules online for various events. This event is over on Sunday, April 3. To make a day trip out of it, see our Top Eleven: Bambinos in Baltimore post.
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The Kreeger Museum isn’t just for adults

July 14, 2015

We attended First Studio at the Kreeger Museum a few weeks ago where children and an adult companion are invited to use their imagination as they explore the paintings, sculptures, and architecture of The Kreeger Museum. Each program includes a gallery tour, analysis of works of art, a story and a hands-on art making experience. The workshop fee per child is $7 and adult companions are free. First Studio: An Art Exploration is intended for children ages 3-5. First Studio’s are held every 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month from 10:00am-11:00am.

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