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Weekend Picks in and around Washington, DC

March 9, 2018

Saturday-

10:00am: Blue Sky Puppet Theatre at Avalon Theatre
Blue Sky Puppet Theatre is back at the Avalon this winter! In “If Pigs Could Fly,” three 5th grade students join the school librarian for the 2nd grade story time. One 2nd grader, Rocky, says he doesn’t like books. The 5th graders proceed to show Rocky and his classmates how much fun reading can be by producing puppet shows from 4 world folktales books from the library. Tickets: $8.00 / $6.50 for Avalon members (Children under 2 are free).

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. Where The Wild Things Are is the featured story.

11:00am: Saturday Family Jazz Session at AMP by 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. This weekends show: Jump, Jive & Boogie-Woogie with Daryl Davis
Explore the elements of boogie woogie music, starting from its roots when it was performed by soloists. Then find out how it was incorporated into popular music in swing orchestras, and the birth of rock ‘n roll. Led by pianist and AIR mentor Daryl Davis.

11:00am-12:00pm: Little Red Riding Hood presented by Wheaton Family Theatre at Highland Elementary School
Seymour Barab’s funny and sprightly one-act opera delights youngsters as we follow Little Red Riding Hood’s merry jaunt through the woods to Grandmother’s house. Join us for InterAct Story Theatre and Victorian Lyric Opera Company’s fresh take on this classic children’s opera…and watch out for that sneaky Big Bad Wolf! Best for ages 4 and up for this free event.

1:00pm-2:00pm: All Ages Family Yoga at Washington Yoga Center
Join Rhiannon Landesberg for a fun-filled all-ages family class, where we will move, breathe, dance, stretch and play yoga! We will practice traditional poses with an imaginative flair, as well as partner and group poses to encourage connection and fun for the whole family, while improving strength, flexibility and mindfulness skills for children and adults alike! Workshop is $30.00 for two family members plus $10 for each additional member.

2:00pm-6:00pm: Ireland on the Wharf
The luck of the Irish is headed to the waterfront with an Ireland on The Wharf festival! Celebrate the beauty and tradition of the Emerald Isle with bagpipers, a beer garden, Irish dancers, live music, and plenty of family-friendly activities. And, of course, sip a pint of Guinness in honor of St. Patrick’s Day at Kirwan’s Irish Pub. Live music lineup:
2pm – 3pm: Aine O’Doherty Band (Donegal, Ireland)
3:15pm – 4:30pm: The Danny Burns Band
4:45pm – 6pm: The ShamRogues

Sunday-

10:00am, 12:00pm & 2:00pm: Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at Metropolitan Ballet Theatre
Want to meet the characters from MBT’s upcoming ballet, Alice in Wonderland, before the performance? You are cordially invited to join us at the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party! Please call or click for tickets. These will sell out quickly! Each child needs a ticket; parents are admitted free of charge. This event is age-appropriate for children ages 3-7. Meet Alice and other characters from the ballet! Enjoy a mini-performance and a craft. Enjoy a sweet treat.

11:00am-12:00pm: STORYTIME at Hirshhorn
Why am I me? Why are you you? In this storytime, we’ll look closely at the work Five Day Forecast by Lorna Simpson, and examine our unique features through a read-alound of Why am I me? by Paige Britt. Following the story, we’ll play with shapes, lines and colors to create our own self-portraits. STORYTIME explores contemporary art through stories and movement. Museum staff will read aloud a book, introduce children to an artist in the collection, and lead a hands-on activity.

12:00pm: 48th Annual St. Patrick’s Parade of Washington, DC
The parade will proceed down Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th Streets, N.W., in our Nation’s Capital. “Showcasing DC Irish Culture” was chosen as this year’s theme to celebrate local Irish-American leaders who have been instrumental in the promotion Irish culture throughout the DMV area and become leaders in showcasing Washington’s unique Irish heritage beyond the city.

3:30pm: Toddler & Me Yoga at Washington Yoga Center
Designed for crawlers to walkers up to around 24 months; come move, sing, and play with your tot to boost social and physical development, meet others families, and get out of the house between naptime and dinnertime… Grown-ups can expect lots of participation, some gentle adult yoga movement, an opportunity to bond, and a chance to learn from your natural little yogis; all loving adults are welcome (parents, grandparents, other caregivers).

Many local theatre performances on stage this weekend.

Paw Patrol? Bubble Guppies? Check out some popular shows coming to our area.

Egg hunts and Easter fun!

Spring Break Camps!

Plan ahead for Smithsonian Sleepovers (they sell out quickly!!)

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 held May 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

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: September 15-17, 2017

September 15, 2017

This weekend the 15th Annual Alexandria King Street Art Festival. Festival booths line King Street between Washington and Union streets, featuring over six blocks of artwork by more than 200 artists from the US and abroad.

The Great Frederick Fair with rides, agriculture, fair food, animals and more will be happening through September 23.

Saturday and Sunday from 10:00am-7:00pm Maryland Renaissance Festival will be joisting and serving up lots of turkey legs weekends through October 23. The festival is free to children 11 and under. Take a time machine back to medieval times. With plenty of entertainment, including music, joisting, puppetry, pony rides and so much more. Your children will see people dressed up in 16th century outfits. Dress like a knight and come participate!

The annual Colonial Market & Fair at Mount Vernon features dozens of America’s finest craftspeople and plenty of family fun Saturday & Sunday from 9:00am-5:00pm. Colonial-attired artisans demonstrate 18th-century crafts and sell traditional wares such as baskets, woodcarvings, tin and ironwork, leather-workings, weavings, furniture, and much more. Martha Washington will great guests on the piazza from 1:30-3:30pm, and General Washington will oversee the festivities: 18th-century entertainment including music, a balloon-launch, fire-eating, puppet and magic shows, plus hearty specialty food for sale on site.

Maryland Renaissance Festival will be jousting and serving up lots of turkey legs for opening weekend! The festival is free to children 15 and under this weekend only. Take a time machine back to medieval times. With plenty of entertainment, including music, jousting, mazes, puppetry, pony rides, a huge pirate playground and so much more. Your children will see people dressed up in 16th century outfits. Dress like a knight and come participate or just watch! The Festival ends October 22 and is open weekends only.

A few Fall Festivals begin this weekend.

****Follow our Instagram page to learn about more events, not included on the Weekend Picks!!!

Friday-

4:00pm-7:00pm: My Gym Bethesda & Potomac Open House
(5110 Ridgefield Rd. Bethesda, MD. 20816)
(11325 Seven Locks Rd, Potomac, MD 20854)
Check out NEW class offerings – Pre- Ballet, Ninja Training (formally Par-kid) & Mighty Mites/Whiz Kids PLUS. Meet the teachers, see the space, lots of fun and back to school discounts. View the complete schedule and enroll online HERE!

Saturday-

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

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

9:30am AND 11:00am: Blue Sky Puppet Theatre:If Pigs Could Fly at The National Theatre
(1321 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20004)
When Rocky announces that he doesn’t like to read, his classmates show him all of the great adventures can be found in books. Families will discover how much fun reading can be when Rocky’s classmates perform puppet shows from four world folktales.

10:00am-9:00pm: 2nd Annual Chesapeake Storytelling Festival
(Chesapeake College in Wye Mills, Maryland)
Come and spend a full day listening to national and local oral storytellers at inside venues of the Chesapeake College on Maryland’s beautiful Eastern Shore. Stories of adventure, history, and tall tales including a Children’s Tent. As you listen, you will be transported to places where memories and magic are captured and woven into tales that will make you laugh and cry. Come and live the imaginary!

10:30am-11:15am: Saturday Song Circle at Imagination Stage
(4908 Auburn Ave Bethesda, Maryland 20814)
You and your child are invited to a fun, interactive musical experience! An Early Childhood Teaching Artist explores a popular children’s book with your family through song and musical instruments, and you will receive a list of all the songs to practice at home. Activities in Saturday Song Circle are best for 1-3 year-olds but 4-5 year-old siblings and friends are also welcome to join in the fun. Featured book: Five Little Monkeys

11:00am-4:00pm: Children’s Day: Honey Harvest Festival at Brookside Gardens
(1800 Glenallan Avenue Wheaton, MD 20902)
We’ll be buzzing about pollinators all day long! Join Brookside Gardens, Brookside Nature Center, and the Maryland State Beekeepers Association to celebrate honey bees and other pollinators. Talk to beekeepers, watch honey being harvested, buy local honey and bee products and enjoy family-friendly activities and crafts. Get your groove on with Groovy Nate! A unique blend of music, puppet skits, interactive movement, and comedy into one groovy experience for the whole family. Performance times are 12:30 and 2:30 at Brookside Gardens.

11:00am-3:00pm: Monarch Fiesta Day at Black Hill Nature Center
(20926 Lake Ridge Dr Boyds, Maryland 20841)
Come celebrate the monarch butterfly’s inspiring metamorphosis and incredible journey. We’ll have exhibits, face painting, storytimes, crafts, movies, monarch tagging and more! All programs are free and first-come, first-served. No registration required.

2:00pm-4:00pm: Engineering 101 (Build ‘n Fly Helicopters) at College Park Aviation Museum
(1985 Cpl. Frank Scott Dr College Park, MD 20740)
What is an Engineer? Engineers are people who design and build things to solve specific problems. Learn the basics of engineering through an interactive, hands-on design challenge by creating your own design from drawing to prototype. $5 includes museum admission and supplies. Theme: Build ‘n Fly Helicopters

Sunday-

10:00am-10:45am: Sunday Fun-Day at Imagination Stage
(4908 Auburn Ave Bethesda, Maryland 20814)
We invite you and your child to bring your favorite stories to life through dramatic play activities, movement, music, and visual art. Each session, you leave with a special take-home item we used or created that day, as well as a Parent Pack to extend the experience at home. Activities in Sunday Fun-Day are most appropriate to 3-5 year-olds but 1-2 year-old siblings and friends are also welcome! Featured book:Where the Wild Things Are

6:00pm: Movies on the Potomac at National Harbor
(165 Waterfront St National Harbor, MD 20745)
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! Movie: Mulan

Weekend Picks: December 16-18

December 16, 2016

Sweet Spot Aerial Productions: Shine a Light! A Solstice Circus is on stage at Atlas Performing Arts Center at 1:00pm on Saturday and 4:00pm on Sunday. This holiday show is an uplifting, delightful spectacle that will amaze the whole family. Featuring acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, and other dazzling performances – the spirit is sure to be contagious! Start a new and unique holiday tradition by coming to the circus! Appropriate for all ages.

Chug along at College Park Aviation full of miniature trains, villages, tunnels, and depots spark the imagination as they bring history to life. The National Capital Trackers bring a fascinating, constantly moving, holiday-themed display of model railroads to the museum. FREE with museum admission
$5/adults, $4/65&up, $2/ages 2-18 FREE/1&under. Holiday Trains and Planes will be showcased until December 23.

Be sure and refer to our guide for getting outdoors this winter for options to see lights, ice skate, and more.

Saturday-

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

10:00am-3:00pm: Round and Round We Go: Innovation at Udvar-Hazy Center
(14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway Chantilly, Virginia 20151)
Learn about the Wright brothers and test your design skills in our December challenge as you design, create, and test your own paper copter. Making STEM Magic is a new program that introduces young visitors to engineering in a fun and creative way. Learn by doing. Design, build, and test a prototype that solves a given challenge. Every month we’ll explore a new theme and introduce a new problem to be solved, so come back each month to accept the challenge and learn to think like an engineer. Free to enter with parking $15.

10:30am: Marsha and the Positrons (with Wardell Howell on bass) at Chevy Chase Library
(5625 Connecticut Ave. NW Washington, DC 20015)
Sing and dance along! And then check out a book and sign up for Winter Reading.

11:00am AND 2:00pm (show begins at 11:00am): 10th Annual Rocknoceros Holiday Singalong
(227 Maple Ave Vienna, VA, 22180)
As every family with youngsters in the Washington, DC area knows, Rocknoceros is three guys: Coach, Williebob, and Boogie Bennie. They have been making award-winning music together since 2005 and are celebrating their 10th year together with a brand new album. $10.00

2:00pm: Christmas Pageant at National Cathedral
(3101 Wisconsin Avenue NW Washington DC 20016)
Oh, come let us adore him! Join us for this beloved family-friendly event, as Cathedral clergy, a profusion of angels, shepherds, Bethlehem townspeople and a menagerie of animals present a delightful retelling of the Nativity. Open to the public. All children are invited to participate.

4:00pm: A Candlelight Christmas with Washington Chorus at Kennedy Center
(2700 F St NW)
It’s not Christmas without The Washington Chorus! Featuring brass, organ, sing-alongs, and the resplendent Candlelight Processional, A Candlelight Christmas celebrates favorites such as The Dream Isaiah Saw, Hallelujah Chorus, and grand arrangements by our own Julian Wachner. Once again, special guests from our Side-by-Side youth program will join us to celebrate the season. A special B.Y.O.Baby event, offering additional considerations for families with small children. Purchase tickets here.

4:15pm:Tots & Tykes at Tranquil Space
(1632 17th St., NW Washington, DC 20009)
The class uses songs, rhymes, and games to introduce body awareness and movement concepts to kiddos from crawlers through age 4. No yoga mat or experience is required.

Sunday-

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10:00am:Boogie Babes presents a special pop-up show with Mr. Jon and Friends at Steadfast Supply
(1331 4th St. SE)Buy tickets at the door
Sing and dance along!

10:00am-12:00pm: Chanukah Celebration at the DCJCC
(1529 16th St NW)
Grab your socks and your yarmulke, it’s time to bounce for Chanukah! This year’s rockin’ Chanukah party will feature a moon bounce, games, crafts, treats and plenty of fun for the whole family. Register here.

11:00am-3:00pm: Brunch with Santa & Grinch
(901 9th Street NW Washington, DC 20001)
Enjoy some brunch favorites with Santa & drink some holiday cheer with the Grinch! Kid’s Eat Complimentary off the Kid’s Menu. And a special treat for adults, $6 Gluwien – A warm spice wine – a gift from the Grinch! It’s your last chance to make it on Santa’s Good List! Don’t miss it! *Reservations recommended

3:00pm-5:00pm: Winter Holiday Shadow Puppet Show & Workshop at Bloombars
(3222 11th St NW Washington, DC 20001)
Come join Kimberley Rose & Julie Rue at BloomBars, for an all-ages, Winter Holiday shadow puppet show! There will be special performances of classic holiday stories and songs and then your child will learn how to make shadow puppets and animate them to music! Materials will be provided, however, please bring child proof scissors for your child if you have them. Hope to see you there! $10 per child/adult team.

Weekend Picks: November 18-20

November 18, 2016

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Saturday-

9:30am AND 11:00am: Rainbow Puppets: The Really Big Dinosaur Show at National Theatre
(1321 Pennsylvania Ave NW)
Imagine that rare dinosaur fossils could talk . . . what amazing stories they could tell! Well there’s no need to imagine as Rainbow Puppets presents a musical romp through prehistoric times including a dinosaur beauty pageant, a dancing T-Rex and a long-necked dinosaur who measures sixteen feet from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail. It’s not called “The Really Big Dinosaur Show” for nothing!

10:00am: 19th Annual Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade
Parade units will consist of eight marching bands; glittering Thanksgiving and Christmas floats; a 12-foot inflatable turkey and penguin; the Montgomery County Recreation “T-Recs” 12-foot dinosaur; beauty queens; fire engines; and performing dog and rescue animal groups. As always, the Parade will culminate with Santa’s float playing holiday music and featuring the smiling, rosy-cheeked elf, sharing his candy canes.

10:00am-2:00pm: Children’s Maker Faire at Oyster Bilingual
(2020 19th St., NW Washington, D.C. 20009)
There will be over 60 builders signed up to exhibit their projects. Admission is free.

2:00pm: The Wizard School Scavenger Hunt at The National Gallery of Art
(Enter at 6th and Constitution Avenue NW Washington, DC 20565)
Follow in the footsteps of young wizards on a field trip to the National Gallery of Art in search of art that echoes characters, places and enchanted objects in the famed Harry Potter books and movies. Be prepared to track down a powerful sorceress, a Snape-like potions master, flying owls and dragons, Hagrid-like giants, centaurs and unicorns like those you’d see in the Forbidden Forest, strange mermaids and sharks that seem straight out of the Triwizard Tournament, fierce knights in armor, and cloaked and masked figures as scary as any Death Eater or Dementor. Wizards and muggles alike can play and enjoy this hunt. The hunt is not an addition to or variation on Harry’s adventures, but instead references to the books will provide a surprising bridge to many strange and wonderful works of art. It’s a great way to discover—or rediscover—the museum. Ages 10+ Sign up online

Sunday-

5:30pm-7:30pm: Mommy Nearest Playdate at Strathmore
(11810 Grand Park Ave. Bethesda, MD 20852)
See a live music show featuring The Pop Ups

5:30pm-7:30pm: DC Nibble & Squeak at Blue Duck Tavern
(1201 24th Street Northwest Washington, DC, 20037)
Join for a special #Tykesgiving DC Nibble+squeak celebration at Blue Duck Tavern! Blue Duck Tavern is a casually-chic West End tavern, serving up the freshest seasonal foods of the Mid Atlantic.We will have an exclusive seating at the renowned Chef’s Table where we will enjoy a 3-course family style meal customized by the Chef based on regionally sources, fresh and seasonal and ingredients.

Weekend Picks

May 20, 2016

So we hear rain is coming back. Because we all missed it, right?! Welp, enjoy the sunshine today and then again on Sunday. Visit our Indoor Fun guide and Theatre Roundup if you want to try out a new spot or see a great show. If you have an urge to go shopping for your Bambinos (and Moms-to-be) and save money while doing-so, be sure you read about some consignment stores I shared with local photographer and Mom, Stefanie Harrington’s readers.

Washington, DC BioBlitz takes place Friday and Saturday. Teams of scientists, students, teachers, and the general public will join in a two-day race to discover and document the flora and fauna in the region’s national parks. During BioBlitz, participants will be able to discover the parks among the monuments and tourist attractions in the Nation’s capital.

Friday-

4:00pm-9:00pm: Turk Valley Preakness Celebration Hot Air Balloon Festival
(2700 Turf Valley Rd. Ellicott City, MD 21042)
Walk Thru Balloons: $3 per person, Balloon Glows (Dusk on Thursday & Friday), Tethered Rides – $20 per adult, $10 per child under 12, Balloon Flights Available $225 per person (register online), Children’s Crafts & Activities
and Food & Drink Vendors. 8:30-8:50pm- Watch as the balloons magically light up to choreographed music, with 25 hot air balloons!

Saturday-

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10:00am (doors open) 10:30am (show begins): Jammin with the Smithsonian: The Pop Ups at Jammin Java
(227 Maple Ave E Vienna, VA 22180)
A collaboration between Brooklyn musicians Jason Rabinowitz and Jacob Stein, The Pop Ups have been setting the standard for children’s music since 2010. Tickets are $10.
[Read more…]

Weekend Picks: Superheros, trucks and festivals

June 4, 2015

Happening all weekend:

The Green Festival – kids will have a blast at The Green Kids Zone.

Celebrate Fairfax – make sure to see their Innovation Health Family Stage line-up!

Also, we have outlined some great live music and outdoor movies to enjoy this summer.

Saturday-

8:00am-1:00pm: 8th Annual DC Truck Touch
(RFK Stadium Lot 7 Oklahoma Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002)
Come experience the high-tech equipment and vehicles used to provide vital city services. Learn how they operate to serve you better. Kids can climb aboard, work the gears, and honk the horns!

9:30am AND 11:00am: The Three Not So Little Pigs at The National Theatre
(1321 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC. 20004)
Little Yellow Pig the musician, Little Blue Pig the mechanic, and Little Red Pig the architect are fighting and not getting along. They quickly learn that cooperation is the key to success and happiness in Blue Sky Puppet Theatre’s production of this familiar tale. FreetTickets distributed 30 minutes prior to each show.

10:00am-1:00pm: Superhero Training Camp at Chevy Chase Library
(5625 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20015)
Discover your Superhero Identity! Come to CC Library for Superhero Training Camp! Kids and teens can create their own superhero identity, complete with costume. You’ll be saving the world in no time! Training camp includes a photo booth, so bring your super fast camera to capture the action.

10:00am-3:00pm:Imagination Bethesda
(Woodmont Avenue and Elm Street in downtown Bethesda)
Celebrate children, art, and all things fun at the 21st annual Imagination Bethesda. Activity tents line the streets, face painters bring butterflies and pirates to life, a stage of live entertainment will have the whole street dancing and more! Enjoy this free family fun day!

4;30pm: Here Comes Trouble CD Release Party at FNDTN Gallery and Liveroom
(3762A Howard Avenue, Kensington, MD 20895)
Led by a husband-and-wife team of conservatory-trained jazz musicians who lead double lives as successful lawyers, the beloved DC-area band Here Comes Trouble is thrilled to announce the national release of their debut kids’/family album, Goo On My Shoe, an eclectic collection of songs that celebrate the goofy and sweet things that are likely to pop up in everyone’s life. $6 in advance/$8 at door, cash only.

Sunday-

10:00am: Sunday Funday at Imagination Stage
(4908 Auburn Avenue Bethesda, Maryland 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. Story this week: Stone Soup. Best for ages 3-5. Tickets are $10.

Weekend Picks: Paper Lanterns, Innovation Festival and The Amazing Max

October 30, 2014

Take a break from the candy eating and check out most of these sugar-free activities! Remember to turn your clocks back for Daylight Savings Time on Sunday and read our post on how to spend the darker afternoons.

Saturday-

9:00am-2:00pm: The Mount Pleasant Children’s Puppet Hour hosts Paper Lantern Making at La Casa
(3166 Mount Pleasant Street Washington, DC)
We create lanterns by collaging tissue paper and other things onto pre-built paper lanterns. It makes a good activity for even the youngest kids (with grown-up help!) but it also allows a lot of creativity and craft and is great for older kids and adults. Lantern-making supplies, including battery-powered lights – will cost $5 per lantern. Lantern walk is at 5:30pm, see below.

10:00am: John Henry the Guitar Playing Man will perform at Avalon Theater
Costume party and live children’s music! Performing for the 10th year in a row, John Henry once again brings his playful musical style to the Avalon’s annual Halloween party. Children of all ages welcome! $6.50 / $5 for Avalon members.

10:00am-5:00pm: Innovation Festival at National Air and Space Museum
(Independence Ave at 6th St, SW Washington, DC 20560)
Join us for a festival for the whole family that celebrates the accomplishments of American inventors and the spirit of innovation that has led to so many of today’s technologies. Exhibits, crafts, talks, and performances will showcase ingenuity at the Smithsonian and across America. Meet inventors and the patent examiners who worked with them on their inventions, hear directly from experts about how an idea is molded into a working product, and try your hand at making your own invention.

10:30am: Rocknoceros at Jammin Java
(227 Maple Ave E Vienna, VA 22180)
As every family with youngsters in the DC area knows, Rocknoceros (pronounced like rhinoceros) is three guys: Coach Cotton, Williebob, and Boogie Woogie Bennie. They have been making award-winning music for the whole family since 2005.

10:30am: Saturday Song Circle at Imagination Stage
(4908 Auburn Ave, Bethesda, MD 20814)
You and your child are invited to a fun, interactive musical experience! An Early Childhood Teaching Artist (playing a ukulele!) 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 today is Five Little Pumpkins. Best for ages 1 month-3 years. Tickets can be purchased here.

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