NSO

Weekend Picks in and around Washington, DC

May 18, 2018

Art + Play: A Community Weekend at the National Gallery of Art on May 19 and 20 from 11:00am to 5:00pm. Kick off summer with a festive weekend at the Gallery! Dance to Heart Stück Bernie, Batalá Washington, and DJ 2-Tones Jones. Create with local artist Rose Jaffe. Strike a pose in a GIF photo booth. Play classic board and parlor games with an artistic twist.

Dragons Love Tacos and other stories at Olney Theatre May 19 & 20. Dragons love all sorts of tacos – except spicy ones! When a boy throws his new dragon friends a spicy salsa taco party, red-hot trouble ensues. Best for Kindergarten-Grade 5.

Serbian Food Festival is back all weekend long. The 8th Annual Spring Food Festival is also dishing out delicious food this weekend at The St. Mary Armenian Church.

A few Parent’s Night Out events happening this weekend.

Have you entered our current giveaways? A free month of classes at MOCO Movement? Tickets to see In the Clouds at Arts on the Horizon? Movie passes to see Adrift?

Saturday

10:00am-6:00pm: Gaithersburg Book Festival
The Gaithersburg Book Festival is a celebration of the written word and its power to enrich the human experience. Our mission is to foster an interest in reading, writing and literary conversation. Complete with a Children’s Village. In the GBF Children’s Village, you will also find a literary sea of activities, workshops and performances brought to us by multiple sponsors. They are designed to engage and stimulate your child’s book curiosity and interest in reading and writing.

10:00am: 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 our review here.

10:30am and 1:00pm: NSO Music for Young Audiences: Brass of Peace
Comprised of 13 D.C.-area high school students, one of the city’s finest young brass ensembles joins retired NSO hornist Sylvia Alimena to teach audiences all about how this family of instruments makes music out of metal and wind. Age 3+. Brass instruments make a BIG sound! But when Brass of Peace takes the stage, children might be surprised to see that these musicians behind this powerful playing aren’t much bigger than they are. Comprised of 13 D.C.-area high school students, this ensemble plays a selection of pieces that just might blow the roof off the Kennedy Center. Retired NSO hornist Sylvia Alimena conducts these concerts that bring together the city’s finest young brass musicians to teach audiences all about how this family of instruments makes music out of metal and wind. 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.

11:00am-5:00pm: Powell Elementary School Carnival
We are excited to announce the Powell Padres 4th annual Spring Carnival! We’re looking forward to a Saturday filled with fun activities for kids and adults. Come out for music, food, and fun! All proceeds go toward supporting Powell Bilingual Elementary student activities.

Sunday

9:00am-10:30am: Breakfast with Bears at the National Zoo
Bring your young animal lover to the Zoo during the break in the rain this Sunday for “Breakfast with the Bears,” a preschool classes for 2-3 year olds and their adult buddy! Learn about the favorite foods of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo’s three species of bears, and then join us for outdoor snack time outside one of the bear exhibits! Please note that this class does not include any behind-the-scenes access or animal contact. Pre-registration is required. $28/child for FONZ members. $35/child for non-members. Registration fee covers one child with adult.

9:30am-10:30am: American Girl Tyson’s Corner Book Club
Calling all bookworms! If she likes to read, she’ll love our book club. We’ll discuss the second book of our 2018 Girl of the Year™, Luciana: Braving the Deep. Then we’ll talk about other American Girl books she is interested in. Afterward, girls will participate in a fun craft. Each girl will receive a goody bag, book, and magazine. This event is free but space is limited. Reservations required, For girls ages 8 and up.

10:00am-2:00pm: May Fair at Friendship “Turtle” Park
An amazing day of fun for the whole family, featuring giant inflatables, a racetrack, ponies, face painting, balloons, carnival games, cotton candy, snow cones, food trucks and more!

11:00am-5:00pm: Feria de Sevilla at Strathmore
The Centro Español de Washington, DC, is bringing a taste of Spain to Strathmore. Join for this free flamenco festival where you will feel like you’re at the fairgrounds of Sevilla. Listen to live flamenco beats, watch the intricate foot and arm work of passionate flamenco dancers, and taste a variety of Spanish tapas.Thanks to the event’s amazing sponsors, there will be performers on stage throughout the day and a variety of food tents. Outdoor Backyard Theater Stage and Mansion Parking Lot.

12:00pm-6:00pm: Ballston Give’s 31st Annual Taste of Arlington
The largest food+beer+music+kids+dog festival showcasing the diversity of Arlington’s food scene and attracting nearly 25,000 people.The exciting and highly anticipated festival transforms downtown Ballston into a family-friendly street festival with dining, music and entertainment for all ages. Taste of Arlington is located along Wilson Boulevard from N. Randolph Street to N. Lincoln Street.

5:00pm-7:00pm: Laser Tag at Rosedale Conservancy
Laser Tag is an exciting combination of tag and hide & seek. Players compete in teams to find and tag their opponents using high-tech laser blasters. Participants will have the chance to play in two or more 15-minute games. This event is perfect for adults and kids 8 years old and up. The game is best enjoyed by those who understand the concept and can play along. Pizza will be served.

Looking ahead:

Discounted rate on below sleepovers through May 25

Night Out at the Museum:
National Museum of Natural History Sleepovers

Sleepover guests will experience the museum through an interactive exploration of exhibit halls consisting of games, puzzles and challenges; exhibit-based craft projects; and sleeping under the museum’s giant North American right whale, Phoenix. Sleepovers at the National Museum of Natural History will be heldMay 18, June 1, June 29, July 6, Aug. 24 and Aug. 31.

National Museum of American History Sleepovers

Participants will solve a mystery of historic proportions during an interactive exploration of exhibit halls. When the devious diva Miss Rose steals six valuable objects from the museum, kids must discover what is missing before the evening’s end. Using their detective skills, they will collect clues to guide them to the crime scene. Along the way, they will take part in games, experiments and craft projects—and even become a presidential candidate. Sleepovers at the National Museum of American History will be held May 11, May 25, June 15 and Aug. 10.

National Air and Space Museum’s Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center Sleepovers

Kids and their chaperones will explore the whole world of flight, from its pioneering days through the era of commercial aviation to the excitement of today’s space program. After they grab a flight checklist, they will take off for a night that includes plenty of games, art activities and close-up looks at some of the most historic and fascinating craft ever to take to the skies. Udvar-Hazy Center staff will be on hand to offer information and insights about the aviation treasures on view. Sleepovers at the Udvar-Hazy Center will be held July 14, July 28 and Aug. 18.

Weekend Picks in and around Washington, DC

April 20, 2018

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+.

Weekend Picks in and around Washington, DC

March 2, 2018

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!

Weekend Picks in and around Washington, DC

January 5, 2018

Many programs rev back up next week, like Songs at Imagination Stage, Saturday Mornings at National Theatre, Art Investigators at NGA and Saturdays at Hirshhorn (to name a few!). This weekend you may need to visit the Indoor fun Guide for ideas. There are also fun suggestions on our Surviving Daylight Savings post, even though the days are getting longer now!

Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (SEEC) has classes this weekend for Infant Investigators (Saturday, January 6 at 10am and Sunday, January 7 at 10am). The class is called “CAN Touch This”: Infants love touching and exploring different textures! We will utilize this universal truth while going on a tactile tour in the National Museum of Natural History’s Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, & Minerals. Twos Travelers also has a class this weekend (Saturday, January 6 at 10am and Sunday, January 7 at 10am). “Yellow Submarine”: 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. See our review of the program here.

NSO In Your Neighborhood is an initiative that provides free performances and educational activities by the National Symphony Orchestra in neighborhoods throughout the Washington DC area. Over the course of one week, events include full orchestra concerts, in-school visits, chamber performances, artistic exchange, instrument petting zoos, and a range of classes, presented in schools, churches, community centers, night clubs and performing arts venues that reflect the makeup of a participating neighborhood. Through this community engagement program, the NSO strives to build deeper connections with audiences of all ages, to inspire learning, and to create excitement and foster appreciation for live classical music. See schedule and don’t miss this opportunity– lasts through Monday.

Saturday, January 6, 2018

9:00am-12:00pm: Home Depot Kids Workshop
The first Saturday of each month. Kids workshops provide a lively environment mixing skill-building, creativity, and safety for future DIYers. Get organized for 2018 in our hands-on Workshop where you and your child can assemble a wooden block calendar to kick off the new year. Useful year-round, the block calendar is perfect for a tabletop display.

9:45am-12:45pm: Summer camp sampler at Imagination Stage
Try a sample camp on us! Get an up-close-and-personal taste of what camp is like at Imagination Stage for children ages 4-Grade 12. We promise you’ll have a blast! Parents are encouraged to join the sample classes for children in grade 2 or younger. Parents of campers in grade 3 or older are welcome to observe the sampler, but not required. Parents are required to stay in the building while their child is attending a sampler. Register for a spot online.

10:00am-1:00pm: Carnival of Animals hosted by Montgomery Blair High School
The festival’s main event will be a performance of Carnival of the Animals, by Camille Saint-Saëns. We will also feature an “Instrument Petting Zoo,” a marching band, instrument making, face painting, raffle prizes, and more. Member of Blair Bands and Orchestras will be on hand with their instruments so kids can see them, learn a bit about them and can try them out. We expect to have a full compliment of band and orchestra instruments, as well as pianos on hand. This is something the National Symphony Orchestra does, but it costs way more and is all the way downtown!

2:00pm: NSO in your Neighborhood Family Concert at National Portrait Gallery
This NSO Family Concert, titled “Bernstein, Inside the Music,” is part of a year-long celebration of Leonard Bernstein. The program honors the creator of Young People’s Concerts by featuring his music and the idea that orchestral music can be accessible to everyone. The performance will take place in the Kogod Courtyard. A musical instrument “petting zoo” will take place before and after the performance in the McEvoy Auditorium. Free and open to the public.

Sunday, January 7, 2018

11:00am: Sunday Singalong with Bear Song at Upshur Street Books
Join us for a singalong with Bearsong – D.C.’s leading children’s entertainer. John Ray is a traveling songmaster, bringing music and joy to young children all over Washington, D.C. Join us for this session of classic children’s songs. And look for other dates with John at Upshur Street Books. He sings with us four times each month – every Sunday at 11am. The session is FREE and perfect for young children. All children’s books are discounted 10% during the singalong.

1:30pm: Gustafer Yellowgold at Jammin Java
Taylor’s funny and touching multimedia presentation about a little guy from the Sun who landed in the Minnesota woods has loads of adult crossover appeal, making Gustafer Yellowgold’s show a truly all-ages experience. Fresh from his appearance at WILCO’s revered Solid Sound festival, Taylor will be featuring material from his new album “Brighter Side” alongside classic fan favorites.

3:00pm: NSO in your Neighborhood at The International Spy Museum
This family-friendly event features an NSO string quartet — Marissa Regni and Glenn Donnellan violins; Eric deWaardt, viola; and Eugena Chang, cello — performing espionage-themed music. Free for museum attendees. Audiences for this performance will receive $5 discounts to visit the Museum.

Theatre:

Encore Stage and Studio presents Sherlock Holmes, running shows Friday-Sunday and then again next weekend. Join the mystery, action and laughter in this thrilling adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective story. Moriarty is after a set of mysterious letters and so is Sherlock Holmes. The game’s afoot! Before long, Moriarty’s minions have London in a dangerous grip. Sherlock is willing to put his life on the line to stop it. Recommended for ages 6 and older.

Charlotte’s Web is sticking around for two more weekends at Imagination Stage. In this beloved classic (now infused with live music!), Fern, a soft-hearted farm girl, forms an unlikely bond with Wilbur, a charismatic pig. At the Zuckerman Farm, Wilbur meets a silly goose, a moody sheep, a selfish rat, and Charlotte, a clever spider. In an effort to save her friend, Charlotte weaves flattering messages about him into her web that cause a sensation in the small town. Fall in love with your favorite characters all over again as they bring this “radiant” tale from page to stage this holiday season! Recommended ages 5 and older.

Plan ahead for some events for this winter here.

Weekend Picks

January 8, 2016

This week flew by! The weather is all over the place, so remember to check out where you can play Indoors or grab tickets to a show! Also, National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) in your Neighborhood runs Jan. 5-11, be sure to carve some time out to go listen to them or stop by one of the “petting zoos”, it’s sure to be a magical time for your Bambinos.

Saturday-

9:45am-12:45am: Camp Sampler at Imagination Stage
(4908 Auburn Avenue Bethesda, Maryland 20814)
Try a sample camp on us! Get an up-close-and-personal taste of what camp is like at Imagination Stage. We promise you’ll have a blast! Sample camps are about 20 minutes in length, except for our Musical Production Camp Sampler and Filmmaking Sampler. Our Musical Production Camp Samplers run for 45 minutes, while our Filmmaking Sampler is structured as an “open house” where students and parents can drop-in over the course of an hour. Ages 4-Grade 12. Register online!

10:30am: Gustafer Yellowgold at Jammin Java
(227 Maple Ave E Vienna, VA)
Since his creation by Morgan Taylor in 2005, Gustafer Yellowgold has become an international phenomenon, acclaimed by The New York Times, which described Gustafer as “A cross between ‘Yellow Submarine’ and Dr. Seuss.” Entertainment Weekly praised “…The most infectious original songs. It’s like tapping into some pleasure center in the brain- both adult and kid…absurdly appealing.

[Read more…]

Weekend Picks: CD Releases and Truck Touch

May 29, 2015

It’s summer, which means lots of fun things to do outdoors, including free movies under the stars. Check out this list!

Saturday-

9:30am-11:30am: Truck Touch at Grace Episcopal Day School
(9411 Connecticut Ave Kensington, MD 20895)
Climb on, hop in, and interact with a variety of trucks for free! Food, beverages, face painting, bouncy house and a bake sale.

10:00am-11:00pm: Capital Wheel turns 1!
(116 Waterfront Street National Harbor, MD 20745)
We’ll be throwing a Capital Wheel Birthday Party, complete with live music on the pier and amazing giveaways! Plus, the first 500 riders on May 30th will receive Buzz Bakery cupcakes!

10:00am-8:00pm: Discover Madagascar at Vienna Community Center
(120 Cherry St SE, Vienna, VA 22180)
Learn about the world’s 4th largest island. Market space, vendors, live music, folkloric dances, arts and crafts, Malagasy food and more. All tickets include a plate of food.

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Weekend Picks are back!

January 9, 2015

TGIF!! Here’s a quick Weekend Picks post as I’m able to write a few words while my 7 week old naps and 3 1/2 year old is at school. Thanks for sticking with Beltway Bambinos as I’ve had to take some time off with my newborn. Hoping to be able to publish more posts very soon as our routine is starting to form. Have a great weekend! As always let me know if you know of any fun we should add to our posts.

There are many great live productions to see this weekend, including the final show of 101 Dalmations as well as The Addams Family. Check our Theater Roundup page!

Saturday-

10:00am-10:45am: Sunday Funday at Imagination Stage
(4908 Auburn Avenue 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 completed craft, as well as a Parent Pack to extend the experience at home. These popular workshops are themed around beloved children’s books. Best for ages 1-3. Featured story: Goodnight Gorilla.

10:30am: GIGS & Kindiemusicdc present The Grandsons Jr at FNDTN Liveroom
(3762 Howard Ave – Kensington, MD)
The Grandsons, Jr., is the kids band version of DC-area roots rock superstars, The Grandsons. Kids and their parents will dig the upbeat mix of rock, swing, New Orleans R&B, country, latin music we call Americana. Over the past 25 years performing asThe Grandsons, the band has noticed that many of their songs resonate with the younger crowd. As the grandsons, Jr., they combine new material learned especially for the younger set, with Grandsons tunes that have always been popular with the kids. Jiggle to the “Juicebox Rhythm” and get your little “Potato Chip” on the dance floor with the grandson’s Jr.—Wild Music for Wild Kids! $6 advance/$8 at door.

11:30am-3:00pm: Winter Festival at American Art Museum
(Kogod Courtyard)
Don’t fly south for the winter, flock to the museum! Join us for feathery fun as the whole family enjoys crafting for the birds to celebrate The Singing and the Silence: Birds in Contemporary Art, including a printmaking workshop with Lily Press, origami with Smithsonian Gardens, “Take-out Library” with DC Public Libraries, music by Magpie, and live birds on site courtesy of Virginia Raptor Conservancy!

Saturday & Sunday-

NSO in your Neighborhood
This year’s NSO In Your Neighborhood program heads to the vibrant Brookland and NoMa (North of Massachusetts Avenue) areas of Washington, D.C.—bringing a week’s worth of free chamber music, orchestral concerts, educational events for the entire family, and much more!

Want some more ways to spend time inside with your Bambino? Check out the Indoor Guide to fun in the DC area.