(re) discover Washington DC through the eyes of your children
If you don’t see an image click here to be redirected to our summer bucket list.
Quick links:
National Building Museum’s SummerBlock Party Late Night: July 27
Nationals Schedule + Salt Line + Atlas Brewery
Dutch Wonderland
Breweries
Outdoor movies
Live music
Friday night fishing
Jazz in the Sculpture Garden
DC Jazz Fest: Aug. 30-Sept 3
Renaissance Festival: Weekends Aug. 26-Oct. 22
Montgomery County Agricultural Fair: Aug. 11-19
The weather has cooled and it’s the perfect time to pick that pumpkin or grab those last few apples from the trees.
Plan ahead for your tricks and treats this Halloween as many festivals and celebrations take place on weekends!
Have you entered to win tickets to see Story Pirates in November? It’s not too late!
Saturday
9:30am-11:30am: Open House at The Children’s House of Washington (CHOW)
Read more about the Montessori school here.
10:00am-12:00pm: Michael’s BOO-tiful Crafts
They craft, you shop! Kids 3 and up can enjoy a quick project. Sign up in store or online, or just drop in. $2 per project, ages 3+, supplies included. Parent or guardian must remain on premises during the event.
10:00am-4:00pm: The Big Build at The National Building Museum
Join us for a day filled with hands-on family fun. Discover what it’s like to be a builder and meet plumbers, ironworkers, landscape architects, woodworkers, and experts in many other fields. A special feature this year is author Joshua David Stein who will lead stroy time with activities around his new book Brick: Who Found Herself in Architecture. Participate in over 30 activities including: Cement mixing, Virtual reality, augmented reality, and other technologies, Decorative arts for the home, Woodworking, Truck petting zoo, Storm water management, Spackling and Much more! All Museum exhibitions are open and free to the public during the Big Build.
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: Good Night, Good Night, Construction Site
12:00pm-4:00pm: Murch Elementary Fall Fair
Games and Prizes, The Famous Used Book Sale, Balloon Artist, Design-your-own Keychain, Ice Cream, Popcorn and Chips, Potomac Pizza, Hot dogs, Hair Coloring and Body Art, College Hunks Dunk Tank and More!
12:00pm-4:00pm: Art Safari at Torpedo Factory
An Alexandria tradition for more than two decades, Art Safari returns for a day of hands-on activities for kids and families. Dozens of artists lead budding arts enthusiasts in hands-on projects throughout the building. Children should wear clothing that can get a little dirty. Most activities are appropriate for ages 5 – 11. Some parental participation may be required. This year, scientists affiliated with the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) will work alongside artists to help participants understand and appreciate the interplay of art and Earth-system science. Art Safari takes place on the eve of AGI’s Earth Science Week, which runs October 14–20. This year’s theme is “Earth as Inspiration.” Earth Science Week reaches more than 50 million people worldwide, offering free education resources, information, and activities on earth science and art.
12:00pm-7:00pm: H Street Festival
H Street Festival is one of the most anticipated and highly attended single day festivals in Washington D.C. The festival is 11 blocks long and has 14 staging areas that are diversely themed and programmed to target the different segments of audiences. The staging areas feature music of different genres, dance, youth based performances, interactive children’s program, fashion, heritage arts, poetry and many more.
3:00pm-5:00pm: Jazz & Lily Pads Concert at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
You are invited to our final Jazz & Lily Pads concert of the season where we can celebrate YOU, our visitors, generous supporters, volunteers, and partners for all that you do to support Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens! There is live music, a photo exhibition featuring winners and honorable mentions from our 2018 annual photo contest, and a special evening park tour at 4pm. There will also be free hot dogs and apple cider, as well as a variety of activity stations (facepainting, pumpkin painting, live birds of prey and more)!Please bring a chair, blanket, picnic, and all your family and friends. This event is FREE and open to the public.
4:30pm-11:00pm:OPUS Merriweather
A multi-sensory art and music festival taking place in Columbia, Maryland. Imagine what it would be like to stand inside a 75-foot laser cathedral, to jam to DJs on a grass lawn, to experience a 16-foot tall animated owl communicating in film quotes, and to let loose during a meditative dance party. This is OPUS: the boundary-breaking festival that invites families to explore and indulge in discovery. For one night only, OPUS will bring together 25 groundbreaking artists and musicians from all over the world, merging art, music and technology for an enchanting evening in the forest. In addition, OPUS will feature a culinary village with some of the DMV’s best food trucks + restaurants featuring glow in the dark cotton candy by Fluffness and gelato from Dolci Gelati. Best part? OPUS Merriweather is FREE!
Sunday
See all of the fun Halloween events happening
10:00am-3:00pm: 11th Annual Harbor Harvest Children’s Festival
The annual Harbor Harvest Children’s Festival brings the country to Baltimore City. This event features an urban pumpkin patch, a petting zoo, a hay maze, face painting, pumpkin decorating, pony rides, live music, food trucks, stilt walkers, and other fall festivities without having to leave the Waterfront. The festival is free to attend but pony rides, the trackless train, and Kid’s Pass including pumpkin patch, are additional fees.
Saturdays and Sundays only– 10:00am-6:00pm-: Eye Spy Train at Wheaton
All aboard the Wheaton Eye Spy Halloween Train! NO LONGER HAUNTED! This “not so scary” train ride is fun for the whole family – it’s all about fun, not fright! Each child will receive an Eye Spy card before boarding the train. As you ride through the woods of Wheaton Regional Park, look all around to find Halloween friends hiding, and mark them off the Eye Spy card. They’ll have fun Halloween activities in the Train Station Party Room, where snacks will also be available for purchase. Costumes are encouraged! Please bring a canned food donation for your neighbors in need – they’ll donate them to Mid-County United Ministries in Wheaton. [Read more…]
The Montgomery County Fair begins Aug. 10 and lasts through Aug. 18. Tickets are $10.00 for adults & children 11 & under are free. See event calendar for Monster Truck and Demolition Derby dates! Click for more info on kidzone activities, free entertainment and ride info.
Friday
4:30pm-6:00pm: Tie dye party at My Gym Potomac
1.5 hours of fun games, tie dye and pizza for the family. Bring something white to tie dye – we provide the rest. Ages – All ages welcome. Cost – $20 members, $25 non-members, Sibling Discount
5:30pm-8:30pm: Jazz in the Sculpture Garden
The Jazz in the Garden Series begins its 18th season in May. The free concert series features jazz artists performing a wide variety of styles—Traditional New Orleans jazz, blues, swing, Ska, Funk, Pan-Caribbean salsa, boogaloo, Go-go, and more—every Friday evenings in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. You can purchase food and adult beverages or bring your own picnic (but no adult bevs are allowed in).
6:00pm-9:00pm: Friday Night Live Concert Series
Kick off your weekend with live entertainment, great company, and fantastic food, wine and beer from the restaurants at Rockville Town Square
on The Square in Rockville Town Square. Music ranges from 80’s and 90’s cover bands, funk and soul, roots rock blues and southern rock.
7:00pm-9:00pm: The Yards Park Friday Night Concert Series
The free Capitol Riverfront Friday Night Concert Series is back for its 8th Season. Every Friday night this summer, come to Yards Park to relax and enjoy the river view, fantastic bands, food and beverage, and a large variety of great restaurants within a few minutes walk from the park. Family-friendly lyrics and grassy open space make this an enjoyable event for adults and kids alike.
Saturday
9:30am-10:30am: Action Montessori Pop In & Play
Pop In & Play is a free playdate for parents and children ages 2, 3, and 4. Parents and children will join Acton Montessori teacher, Caitlin Spencer, to explore fun Montessori activities and learn more about how Montessori fosters independence and a love of learning in children.
10:00am: Peter & The Wolf at The National Theatre
Recently named Children’s Entertainer of the Year by Young Audiences of Virginia, Rainbow Puppets presents the tale of “Peter and the Wolf.” Peter lives in a small meadow surrounded by a dark forest. He enjoys the day observing his friend the song bird, his sneaky cat, and the duck who swims in the nearby pond. Grandfather warns Peter to beware of the Wolf who roams in the woods–but Peter has no fear of wolves. Until one fateful day when he and the wolf come face to face. Come see Rainbow Puppet’s version of this beloved classic in which Peter and all his friends, including the duck and the wolf survive the day’s adventure.
10:00am-1:00pm: Art Explorers at Glen Echo
Activities change weekly. Drop in for a 1/2 hour art project. No pre-registration; $5 per parent/child pair, or $8 for two children with adult. Parent/Child Drop-in Art Activities. (Most activities take approximately 30 minutes). Best for kids under age 10.
11:00am: Air Mail Centennial Celebration at College Park Aviation Museum and College Park Airport
Family Day will take place throughout the campus. Participate in engaging hands-on activities for all ages led by numerous museums, community members, and aviation partners. Get an up close and personal look at the Curtiss Jenny and other historic planes flying in for the weekend. Chat with pilots and mingle with fellow aviation buffs. Bring an envelope or postcard for a special Airmail cancellation. View our new exhibit Delivering America: Airmail to Email. Discover the art of rib making. See Antique and Collector Cars on special display. Entertainment and food trucks will be onsite with food and beverages for purchase.
1:30pm-3:00pm: Family Dig Day at Shutter’s Hill at the Masonic Memorial
Assist Alexandria Archaeology at a public dig! The dig day includes an introduction to the history and archaeology of the Shuter’s Hill Site, a site tour, and the opportunity to sift through excavated soil and assist with artifact processing. $10 per person. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Fee is non-refundable. Space is limited and reservations are required.
6:30pm-10:30pm: Parents Night Out at Silver Stars in Silver Spring
Open Gym Play, Moon Bounce, Movies, Pizza, Games & No Parents!
Sunday
6:45am–10:00am: U.S. Airmail Flight Reenactment, Fly-in & Pancake Breakfast
Savor the mysterious sense of place and join us to watch the early morning departure of the Curtiss Jenny as it takes off on a reenactment of the historic flight one hundred years ago. Enjoy a pancake breakfast with all the fixings, meet pilots who have flown in for the day and learn more about the operational challenges of an airport so close to our Nation’s capital.
10:00am-12:00pm: Red Panda Art Studio “Heart Art”
Workshops will include open art exploration, sensory stations, a related story, and a guided project. Each workshop is $30/child.
3:30pm-4:15pm: Sunday Funday at Imagination Stage
You and your child (ages 1-5) are invited 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: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Get your tickets!
5:00pm: Gustafer Yellowgold at McLean Central Park Gazebo
Two-time Grammy® Nominee, Morgan Taylor and his band will play perennial favorites and dig deep into the wild and hip back catalogue for this rare, non-video version of his nationally heralded Gustafer Yellowgold show. Tasteful, smart and FUN songs for everyone!
Ongoing activities:
Fun House at National Building Museum
Wings of Fancy at Brookside Gardens
Tinkerbell at Adventure Theatre
You’re a good man, Charlie Brown at Imagination Stage
Saturday & Sunday The Kennedy Center presents NSO Music for Young Audiences: String Thing. A “silent” comedic tag-team—bassist Paul DeNola and violinist Heather LeDoux Green—takes a break from the NSO to introduce young audiences to some of the greatest music ever written in a hilarious program of music and mayhem. Most enjoyed by age 3 and up. All patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket. Most enjoyed by kids ages 3+. Come early for a Musical Instrument “Petting Zoo” -Starting one hour before the concert, hands-on activities let children get up close with the instruments they’ll see played on the stage.
Judy Moody & Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt premieres at Adventure Theatre on Friday and plays through June 3, 2018. Third grade has put Judy Moody in a mood. She’s got to figure out what to include in her “Me” collage, and her know-it-all little brother Stink keeps getting in the way. When the Moody family drops anchor on “Artichoke” Island, they meet Cap’n Weevil with a secret treasure map, launching them on a mad dash across the island in search of gold. But they’re not the only salty dogs lookin’ for loot! Can Judy Moody and Stink outwit their competition in time? Will Judy finish her project? Come aboard as we launch this world premiere and find out!
FYI: The {amazing} Beauvoir School playground will be closed all day this Sunday.
Friday
6:00pm-9:00pm: Parents Night Out at My Gym Potomac
Drop your kids off for three hours of nonstop action at My Gym including fitness games, active play, pizza and fun! Kids have their own party here at My Gym while grown-ups enjoy 3 hours to themselves. My Gym is the best babysitting around! Space is limited-Reserve your spot here! Reservations required. Potty Independent please.
Saturday
9:30am AND 11:00am: Christina Drapkin: Bob Goes the Weasel- Jazz for Kids at National Theatre
Sing, clap your hands, snap your fingers, and swing in this musical morning filled with variations on popular children’s tunes. Everyone is part of the action whether singing about Goldilocks and The Three Bears, Old MacDonald’s band, riding on Route 66, or Swinging on a Star. FREE
10:00am-11:00am: Tudor Tots: Welcome, Spring
Stimulate your toddler’s senses at Tudor Tots. Read, sing, and play as we celebrate spring in the picturesque gardens. Tots will take home a craft they’ve made themselves. Click link above to purchase tickets.
10:00am-2:00pm: Earth Optimism Day at the National Zoo
Celebrate conservation success stories at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in honor Earth Day. This year’s event features family friendly activities, hands-on learning opportunities and interactive demonstrations—all in the name of conservation. Hear first-hand from Zoo experts about some of the innovative solutions being used in the fight to save species, and learn how you can take action to help protect the planet at this free event!
11:00am-2:00pm: Spring in the Valley
Car seat safety check with Safe Kids DC, Spring Valley Pediatrics, Stork Childbirth Education, moon-bounces, face paint and so much more.
11:00am: Saturday Family Jazz Session at Strathmore
Junior jazz 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.
11:00am-3:00pm: Designing for Our Changing World with Discover-E at the National Building Museum
Construct the perfect city for our changing world out of recyclables and display it in the Great Hall. Learn from the 2018 National Future City Competition winning team from Edlin, Virgina as they present their award winning designs and share how they learned to consider the needs of all citizens, including our oldest residents. This event does not require an RSVP.
1:00pm-4:00pm: Taste of DuPont
Dupont Circle restaurants will open their doors to showcase their signature appetizers, entrées, drinks, and desserts for the 11 annual Taste of Dupont. This progressive lunch encourages patrons to walk from restaurant to tavern with a master ticket to discover new places to try. Purchase ticket at above link.
1:00pm AND 4:30pm: The Wild Kratts at DAR Constitution Hall
WILD KRATTS – LIVE! is a theatrical stage show based on the #1 animated television series Wild Kratts. Martin and Chris Kratt, stars of the Emmy-nominated Wild Kratts step out LIVE ON STAGE to engage the audience in a classic Wild Kratts story. Experience, live-on-stage, the astounding “creature” fundamentals, and the infectious excitement and inspiring quest of the Kratt Brothers that make the hit television series Wild Kratts so popular with kids and their families.
5:00pm-8:00pm: Off the Wall at George Mason
A benefit hosted by Mason’s School of Art, and programs in Computer Game Design and Film and Video Studies to celebrate and support the visual arts at Mason. Create a mural. Star in a film. Play a virtual game. Enjoy the music, silent auction, food, and drinks – it’s a great party!
Sunday
9:00am-10:30am: Splish, Splash Sea Lion at the National Zoo
Bring your young animal lover to the Zoo this weekend for “Splish, Splash Sea Lion,”. Friends of the National Zoo preschool classes are designed for children ages 3-5 to discover a whole new view of the 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. Pre-registration is required. $28/child for FONZ members. $35/child for non-members. Registration fee covers one child with adult.
9:00am-4:00pm: Earth Day Festival at Brookside Gardens
Brookside Gardens to celebrate Earth Day and learn ways to keep it healthy.This festival offers something for everyone: a green craft fair, a plant sale featuring natives, environmental action area, family activities, interactive drum circles and more. This year we’ll have family activities and educational vendors that will help you discover how small changes in your everyday habits can make a big impact on improving our environment!
12:00pm-4:00pm: Earth Day Plant Sale & Picnic at Tudor Place
The annual Plant Sale will feature heirloom and native sun to shade perennials for your garden, as well as tropical and house plants. New this year: herbs and other edible plants. Your Plant Sale purchases support conservation and education at Tudor Place. Bring your own picnic and blanket. See you rain or shine!
12:00pm: Shakespeare’s Birthday at Folger Shakespeare Library
Join the Folger for this beloved annual tradition, as we celebrate the birthday of the Bard with a day full of festivities. From Shakespeare performances to stage combat demonstrations to Elizabethan crafts, there’s something for everyone—including birthday cake!
1:00pm: Kite Day at Strathmore
Grab your kites and head to Strathmore for a day of fun and spectacle! Fly your own kite and watch amazing demonstrations, including outdoor choreographed team flying and indoor flying set to live music. Picnic, toss a frisbee, and enjoy the afternoon with family, then join us for an amazing performance of Air Play in the Concert Hall (tickets to Air Play can be purchased here). Guests may fly their own kites, visit the exhibition in the Mansion, picnic, and enjoy throughout the day! Click above for a schedule of demonstrations and other events.
2:00pm AND 4:00pm: Good Night, Good Night, Construction Site at Hylton Performing Arts Center
Bedtime is approaching, and this team of construction vehicles needs to get their rest. But Crane Truck is getting cranky, Cement Mixer takes too long with bath time, and Dump Truck just isn’t sleepy! Excavator and Bulldozer find that preparing for bed is a job in itself! Will they ever get some shut-eye before tomorrow’s day of work? A world premiere musical based upon the New York Times best-selling picture book about construction vehicles by author Sherri Duskey Rinker and illustrator Tom Lichtenheld demonstrates the importance of teamwork, follow-through, hard work, and bedtime rituals. Founded in 2004, the Bay Area Children’s Theatre works to enrich children’s lives, inspire their imagination, and introduce them to lifelong enjoyment of theater. Recommended for ages 3–8; Pre-K–Grade 3.
4:00pm: Air Play at Strathmore
Ride the wind and dream with Air Play, a modern spectacle that brings to life the very air we breathe. Perfect for families, Air Play’s flying umbrellas, larger-than-life balloons, giant kites, and the biggest snow globe you’ve ever seen will make you gasp in wonder and laugh until it hurts. This circus-style adventure tells the story of two siblings journeying through a surreal land of air, transforming the ordinary into objects of uncommon beauty. Fabrics dance in the wind, balloons have a mind of their own, confetti become the night sky, and an enormous canopy of hovering silk forever alters their future. Recommended ages 5+.
Badlands has launched Weekend Programs. Prices include 1 hour of play and a 1 hour workshop. This weekend your child can learn about lava and volcanoes and magnetic slime, age dependent.
The Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival is back– February 22 – March 11, 2018 and is about presenting excellent art in all its forms that inspires a community to connect and create a vibrant neighborhood, city, and world. Now in its 9th season, INTERSECTIONS is a key layer in DC’s dynamic arts scene. New this year, a workshop series and an expanded Youth Summit – a full day of performances by young people followed by a youth-led summit. Here are a few free family fun days to check out.
Saturday-
9:00am-12:00pm: Home Depot Kids Workshop: Periscope
Hone your powers of observation in our hands-on workshop. Just like an above-water viewfinder or historical trench optical instrument, you and your child can construct a periscope to expand your view. Once the periscope is built, 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.
9:00am-11:30am: The Children’s House of Washington Montessori School Open House
Special Guest Patti Harburger, CHOW Founding Director, will speak about the importance of mathematics and language in a Montessori education.
9:30am AND 11:00am: Traveling Lantern: Pinocchio at National Theatre
A little wooden marionette is lovingly created by a master craftsmen…but what a bad little puppet he turns out to be! He’s selfish and greedy, and he lies. He doesn’t listen to the good counsel of anyone: his father Gepetto, a philospher Cricket, or a Blue Fairy. After many hair raising adventures, Pinocchio finally learns what it takes to become human…kindness, compassion, loyalty, hard work, and selflessness. Free
10:00am: Rainbow Rock Live at Avalon Theatre
Are you ready to rock the rainbow? Join the Rainbow Rock Band as they entertain your little dudes with tunes, laughs and more! Winners of a Parents’ Choice Fun Stuff Award for their debut CD, “Meet the Rainbow,” an absolute mix of musical genres from folk, pop rock to rockabilly, all the while being educational and fun. Your child will learn about shapes, colors, movement, and more! The Rainbow Rock Band encourages all rainbow rockers to participate in the show either on the microphone or at their seat. Either way your little one is sure to have fun! $8 / $6.50 (Children under 2 are free)
10:00am-2:00pm: Hirshhorn: Art Pop-Up + Library Program
Check it out! Find our cart in the galleries and check out a fun kit full of our favorite finds for kids. Each kit is an art meets reading adventure, with a special theme, children’s book, suggested artworks for viewing, and hands-on art making materials.
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. Barnyard Dance is the featured story.
Sunday-
9:30am-11:00am AND 2:30pm-4:00pm: Model Airplane Construction at National Building Museum
Are you an aspiring aviator or a pilot with potential? Want to learn what keeps a plane in the air? Construct your own rubber-band-propelled model airplane and learn about aeronautics with the D.C. Maxecuters, then try a test flight in the National Building Museum’s Great Hall. Cost per plane/child: $15 Member | $20 Non-member. Ages 8 and up, adult assistance required. Adults do not need to purchase a separate ticket, unless they would like to make their own plane.
10:00am-12:00pm: Purim Carnival at DCJCC
When was the last time you dressed up like a queen or king? Now is your chance – the EDCJCC’s Purim Carnival is the perfect time for children and adults to dress up and celebrate this festive annual holiday! Join us for carnival games, arts & crafts, hamantaschen (yummy Purim treats), songs and a Purim play! Don’t forget your costume! Please bring an unexpired, unopened food item in a cardboard box (like macaroni and cheese or couscous) to decorate as a grogger to use during the Purim play. We will then donate them to those in need in our community. Price per family: $23
11:00am-11:45am: Sunday Funday at Imagination Stage
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. These popular workshops are themed around beloved children’s books. Little Blue Truck is the featured story.
10:30am-11:30am: Sensory-Friendly Purim Celebration at Washington Hebrew Congregation
Does your child cover their ears in a crowd? Do they avoid loud noises? We will minimize the noise and other sensory input but maximize the fun! Join us for crafts, an interactive reading of the Purim story (megillah), a mitzvah (good deed) project and treats to take home. Costumes encouraged but not required.$5 per family, plus bring a canned good to donate. Best for 4-8 year olds. Please pre-register as space is limited. This program is a collaboration of PJ Library in Greater Washington, Washington Hebrew Congregation and The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.
11:00am-2:00pm: The Rumpus Room: A Family Dance Party at U Street Music Hall
Welcome to the Rumpus Room, a daytime dance party for families, with sounds provided by DC’s top club DJs (who all happen to be parents themselves). Created by DJs who wanted to share the nightclub experience with their kids, the Rumpus Room adapts the club environment (think disco ball, lights, and of course music) into safe family-friendly fun. Get ready for a dance floor filled with little ones, parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles. The soundtrack will be a family-friendly mix of dance hits and classics, all at a kid-friendly volume. We provide the shakers, hula-hoops, beach balls and other props. You come to dance. Rumpus Room is designed for kids 8 and under and their caregivers, but older siblings are welcome.
1:30pm AND 4:00pm: National Symphony Orchestra Music for Young Audiences: Two Divas and a Bear at The Kennedy Center
What happens when you bring together a concert violinist, an opera singer, and everyone’s favorite stuffed animal? You get Two Divas and a Bear! Join NSO violinist Marissa Regni and soprano Kari Paludan as they explore the human voice. As it turns out, the violin has a voice, too! As you listen to Schubert’s The Trout, Rachmaninoff’s Vocalise, and Rossini’s Two Cats, you’ll discover that the strings of the violin are very similar to our very own vocal cords. Most enjoyed by age 3 and up. All patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket. Come early for a Musical Instrument “Petting Zoo.” Starting one hour before the concert, hands-on activities let children get up close with the instruments they’ll see played on the stage.
2:00pm: Doktor Kaboom by McLean Community Center at the Old Firehouse
Doktor Kaboom is an over-the-top German physicist with a passion for science that knows no bounds. Sporting chrome goggles, orange lab coat, motorcycle boots and wicked cool hair, Doktor Kaboom travels the world, thrilling adults and children alike with his explosive comedic style of science experiments designed to involve, excite, educate and entertain! For ages 7+
Weekend Theatre-
Feb 9 – March 31: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day at Adventure Theatre
Feb 10 – March 18: The Princess & The Pauper: A Bollywood Tale at Imagination Stage
March 2 -24: Circulo/Circle at Encore Stage & Studio
March 3 – 4: Pinkalicious at Blackrock Center
March 3 – 17: VolcanO: Tales from El Salvador at GALA Theater
Chick rental is live at Rocklands Farm! The Chick Rental service is an educational opportunity for families, friends, school groups to take care of a pair adorable chicks for one week. Each rental includes everything you need for the week; their little home, feed, feeding and watering dishes, and care instructions. Link to reserve your chicks here. We are looking forward to seeing everyone out again this year!
This is one of those weekends that I wish I could be in more than one place at a time. There are so many great events going on. In addition to the weekend events there are new performances starting so be sure and grab some tickets and support our local theatre while instilling a love of theatre in your Bambinos.
Have you entered to win 4 tickets to Disney on Ice presents Frozen yet? Winner will be announced February 6, 2018!
Saturday-
9:30am AND 11:00am: Rocknoceros at National Theatre
Get ready to twist, shake, rattle, and roll as Rocknoceros gets the family on their feet dancing to upbeat tunes. Coach Cotton, Williebob, and Boogie Woogie Bennie have been making award-winning music for the whole family since 2005. Not only are they one of DC’s most well-loved bands, but they have also gained recognition in Austin and Chicago. FREE
10:00am: Toddler Trailblazers: Up, Up and Away
Our workshops offer a variety of hands-on experiences that introduce young children to concepts in engaging ways. Each class includes playful activities that are intentionally chosen to support your child’s development. Our learning extends beyond the classroom and into the museum and community where children and parents are encouraged to wonder and explore together as a family. Come take a pretend hot air balloon ride with us! The class will imagine floating up, up, and away before visiting the National Air and Space Museum to further explore hot air balloons.
10:00am-12:00pm: Kids Club at Michaels: Pony Bead Snowflakes
They make, you shop! Kids 3 and up and can enjoy making snowflakes with chenille stems and pony beads. All supplies provided. Parent or guardian must remain on the premises. $2 fee
10:00am: Twos Travelers: Yellow Submarine
Our workshops offer a variety of hands-on experiences that introduce young children to concepts in engaging ways. Each class includes playful activities that are intentionally chosen to support your child’s development. Our learning extends beyond the classroom and into the museum and community where children and parents are encouraged to wonder and explore together as a family. Dive deep into the Ocean Hall at the National Museum of Natural History and learn about the type of transportation we would need to travel below the surface of the water. Along the way we will explore the different ocean zones and the creatures that inhabit them.
10:30am-2:30pm: A Library + Art Pop-Up At Hirshhorn
Check it out! Find our cart in the galleries and check out a fun kit full of our favorite finds for kids. Each kit is an art meets reading adventure, with a special theme, children’s book, suggested artworks for viewing, and hands-on art making materials.
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. Baby Beluga is the featured story.
10:30am: Mr. Jon & Friends at Jammin Java
Mr. Jon & Friends is Parents’ Choice Award winning music for kids and their families. This energetic family music is all about fun, movement, and laughter!
11:00am-2:00pm: Family Afternoon: Pop Up Tents at National Building Museum
Construct an awe-inspiring fort from newspapers. Find out how a triangle’s strong shape can brace your structure and keep your fort standing longer. Create tetrahedral caverns small enough for one or big enough for your entire clan. Little ones can explore how to build forts all year round, even in the cold winter months, during a story time with local Megan Wagner Lloyd. Enjoy a reading of her children’s book, Fort Building Time, and then pick up your very own copy in the Museum Shop.
11:00am-1:00pm: Children’s Workshop: Will It Be a Bonsai or a Big Tree? at National Arboretum
Every tree seedling has its fate, and in this workshop, you can learn how that fate is determined. One adult and one child will have a special day together as they work as lab partners, using their “scientist eyes” to observe details and make comparisons. We’ll learn about plant physiology, ecosystems and bonsai history, too. At the close of class, each research team will receive a seedling whose fate they will decide. Will your tree go through the rigorous training to become a bonsai or will you plant it outdoors in spring to grow up wild, big and free? Be sure to bring warm coats since we will be in an open exhibit area for part of the workshop. This activity is not recommended for participants under the age of 8, and is geared to children in the third and fourth grades. Due to limited classroom space, strollers can’t be accommodated. Fee: $25 per child-adult pair ($22 FONA/NBF) Registration required.
1:00pm-3:00pm: KidzJam
Kids ages 2-4 are in an exciting stage of life where their imaginations are dynamic and almost anything can be a game. During KIDZJAM, they get structured play time with other kiddos, which is an opportunity for them to develop social skills. Books, toys, puzzles, dolls, trucks, art, and games will keep them busy and entertained. Through interactive stations, energetic team games, and silly GoNoodle songs, kids in grades K-5 will develop their teamwork skills. Most kids love a challenge, especially when they are cheered on and encouraged by our friendly leaders. We want your kids to walk away from this experience knowing how to respectfully cooperate with others, even when they have different ideas or opinions. $10 per session (dates in February, March and April also)
Sunday-
11:00am AND 3:00pm: Laurie Berkner at The Gordon Center for Performing Arts
Children’s music icon Laurie Berkner brings her signature blend of whimsical lyrics and indie folk pop melodies to the Gordon Center in a solo show. Laurie’s hit songs like “We Are the Dinosaurs” and “Victor Vito” are featured on children’s networks Nick Jr. and Sprout, in Off-Broadway children’s musicals, and in children’s books. Be sure to catch the artist People magazine calls “the queen of children’s music” and the New York Times has dubbed “the Adele of the preschool crowd.”
11:00am-11:45am: Sunday Funday at Imagination Stage
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. These popular workshops are themed around beloved children’s books. Featured story: The Snowy Day.
3:00pm-5:00pm: Jumpin’ January Dance Party at Kensington Town Hall
The event will include crafts, a reading room, and dancing led by A-Squad Entertainment. Admission is $5 per person ($20 max per family). Please RSVP above.
5:00pm: Step Afrika! Step Xplosion at Strathmore
Step Afrika!’s fourth annual showcase at Strathmore is going to be big! Percussive dance styles historically practiced by African American fraternities and sororities plus African traditional dance and art forms from around the world come together as Step Afrika! integrates songs, storytelling, and humor into a highly entertaining, interactive show. Watch as the top step teams from across the country showcase the kind of technique and agility that inspires audiences everywhere, and see how Step Afrika! promotes stepping as an educational tool for young people, promoting teamwork, academic achievement, and cross-cultural understanding.
Join Nats Winterfest, returning December 16 and 17 to the Washington Convention Center. Winterfest will again feature two days of fun! Activities include:
Bring your young animal lover to the Zoo this weekend for “Meerkat Mania,” or “Monkey See, Monkey Do,” preschool classes for 2-3 and 3-5 year olds! Friends of the National Zoo preschool classes are designed for children ages 2-3 and 3-5 to discover a whole new view of the 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. Pre-registration is required. “Meerkat Mania” will run on Saturday, December 16 from 10:00am-11:30am “Monkey See, Monkey Do” will run on Sunday, December 17 from 10:00am-11:30am $28/child for FONZ members. $35/child for non-members. Registration fee covers one child with adult.
This weekend Greenberg’s Train & Toy Show is at the Dulles Expo Center. It is the largest and longest-running model train and collectible toy show in the country. The show is geared towards the general public and towards modelers and hobbyists, featuring hundreds of tables of trains and accessories for sale, huge operating exhibits, activities for kids, and more. All aboard!
Saturday-
9:30am AND 11:00am: Bright Star Theatre: Holiday Songs: Music Around the World at National Theatre
Songs and stories come together for a truly magical wintertime show. Audiences will travel from Africa to Mexico and everywhere in between, while hearing a range of songs from “I Have A Little Dreidel” and “Auld Lang Syne” to “Away in a Manger,” “Sankta Lucia” and so much more.
11:00am-1:00 pm: Holiday Edition Art Making at Treehouse Atelier
Bring your school-age kids and take some time off your busy schedules to craft alongside your child during this special time of year. What a better gift than to create some holiday cheer with your children? Projects include: Gingerbread Wintery Mural (art), Make your own Ornament (craft), Create a Candy/Winter Wonderland world (craft) and Create a Nutcracker collage (art). Please note this Open Studio is geared towards school-age kids 4 and older. $25 per child with sibling discounts. Please register here.
1:00pm-4:00pm: From Our Happy Home Holiday Craft Program at National Portrait Gallery
Step into the 19th century world of Louisa May Alcott in this craft program for the entire family. Construct paper house lanterns and handmade books as you explore some of the ways people have created feelings of comfort and warmth in the cold winter months. Join Little Women story time to hear how Alcott’s heroines the March sisters celebrated the holidays, bringing literature and music together to light their home. This drop-in program will take place Saturday, December 16 in the National Portrait Gallery’s Education Center, E151, and Explore! children’s space. Reservations are appreciated but not required. Designed in collaboration with the National Building Museum; a variation of this program will take place on Sunday, December 17 at the National Building Museum. Visit their website for more information.
4:00pm: Family Yoga at LemonTree
Come enjoy an all-levels vinyasa yoga practice with your little one(s). Mamas (and papas) with kiddos are welcome to join us for this fun, interactive flow. Grown-ups and older children will move through poses while littler yogis sleep, play and/or explore in a child-friendly (and safe) environment. No prior experience is required. Please bring your mats and a playful attitude.
Sunday-
1:00pm-4:00pm: Family Afternoon: From Our Happy Home at National Building Museum
Construct paper house lanterns and handmade books as you explore some of the ways people in the past and today create feelings of home in the cold winter months. Investigate objects from the Museum’s House & Home exhibition for examples of interior lighting. Step into the 19thcentury world of author Louisa May Alcott and discover how music and literature were brought together to light her homes during the winter season. Designed in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery; a variation of this program will take place on Saturday, December 16 at the National Portrait Gallery. Visit their website for more information. Free, drop in. All ages.
3:30-5:00 pm: Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas at Hooray for Books
Come meet Pamela Ehrenberg, author of the new PJ Library® book, Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas. We will have a book reading and signing, followed by crafts and vegetarian Indian snacks from Namaste King Street. You’ll get a signed, hardcover copy of the book!$25 for up to 3 people – includes signed book and Indian snacks; $5 for every additional person. Best for ages 3 and up. Brought to you by PJ Library Greater Washington, Federation’s Jewish Food Experience, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington andHooray For Books.
Holidays in Washington, DC