Beltway Bambinos

It’s May AND Friday!!! Not sure which I’m more excited about the prospect of warmer (and drier) weather upon us or having Daddy home all weekend to help and play with the toddler. Note the first 2 picks start today (Friday). With the arrival of May comes Azalea Festivals and Flower Marts you’re sure to bring something home to brighten up the yard or a nauseous child that’s been on one too many rides. Either way this weekend is one we love because it offers so many choices. Get out and enjoy a few of them.

May 2-3 (10:00am-5:00pm): National Cathedral Flower Mart
(Washington National Cathedral, Wisconsin & Massachusetts Aves., NW., Washington, DC)
Attend the 75th year for the Flower Mart which benefits the Cathedral’s gardens and grounds. You can admire many flowers and there will also be garden tours, musical performances and delicious food. And for your kids, well there is enough to keep them busy too; rock wall, moon bounce, ferris wheel and a carousel.

May 2-4 from 10:00am-5:00pm: Landon School Azalea Garden Festival
(6101 Wilson Lane, Bethesda, MD 20817)
Enjoy this wonderful azalea festival while strolling the gorgeous land Landon sits on. Bearly Used is an enormous tag sale during the Azalea Garden Festival that offers deals on gently used treasures. There is a huge FunLand that will entertain your child for hours, live music including a Jazz Festival and food vendors. All proceeds from the festival support student financial assistance and faculty enrichment. General admission and parking are free. Schedule of events found here.

May 2-4 (various times): A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Adventure Theatre
(7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo, MD 20812)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, William Shakespeare’s most popular comedy, was written around 1594 or 95. It portrays the adventures of four young lovers and a group of amateur actors, their interactions with woodland fairies and a duke and duchess. Taking place in a mythical Athens and an enchanted forest, there is a handsome fairy king, a misguided parent, star-crossed lovers, a weaver who’s transformed into a half-donkey, wood sprites and elves. This work is widely performed around the world, and no wonder – it’s about the world’s most popular pastime, falling in love. But as Puck knows, falling in love can make fools of us all. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students. Find tickets here.

Saturday-

10:00am-3:00pm: Family Archaeology Day at Needwood Mansion
(6700 Needwood Road, Derwood, MD)
Needwood Mansion opens its doors to the public for a day of investigating archaeology. An introduction to archaeology for all ages, Family Archaeology Day features; 19th century slave quarters dig exhibit, mansion tours, simulated archaeology dig for children, storytelling, old-time games, and crafts. Bring a bag lunch and stay for the day! $8 per person | $15 family at the event

10:00am-1:00pm:Truck Touch at Silver Spring Nursery School
(10309 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20903)
The Silver Spring Nursery School parking lot will be filled with vehicles of every kind that children can explore:  construction trucks, a working recycling truck, a police cruiser, a fire engine, a school bus, a metrobus, an ice cream and cookie truck, a limo, and more! There will also be live music, food, a cupcake walk, a scholastic book fair, arts & crafts and free face painting.

10:30am (Doors open at 9:30am): ¡Uno, Dos, Tres con Andrés! at Old Town Theatre
(815 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314)
Award-winning family music favorite Andrés Salguero brings his irresistibly interactive, bilingual, movement-and-music-filled¡Uno, Dos, Tres con Andrés! This ebullient celebration of Latin culture, featuring Andrés Salguero, full band, and special guests, will celebrate both Cinco de Mayo and the release of Andrés’ debut album, ¡Uno, Dos, Tres con Andrés! The opening act will be The Uncle Devin Show, warming up the crowd with songs that showcase Uncle Devin as a dynamic cross between Fat Albert and Schoolhouse Rock. Grab tickets here.

10:30am: Lucky Stars Puppets at DC Family Fiesta at El Tamarindo
(1785 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009)
Come meet puppet friends of all shapes and colors, with puppet songs and games for your little ones. Don’t miss this fun-filled and interactive puppet show – featuring a colorful cast of animal and people puppets. Come join the fun! A great way to kick-off the weekend! Stay after the show for El Tamarindo’s delicious food and kid-friendly options. Children of all ages will enjoy the music. $4 person/3 people for $10.

10:30am-11:15am- 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 (There’s a Hole in My Bucket) with your family through song and musical instruments, and you will receive a list of all the songs to practice at home. Best for ages 1 month-3 years. Tickets are $6.

11:00am-5:00pm: Cinco de Mayo Celebration at DC MEETMarket
(15th and P St NW, in the heart of Logan Circle at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church)
DC MeetMarket is free and open to the public. We are always family and pet-friendly. Proudly sponsored by Honest Tea, Relay Foods, and Zipcar, the DC MEETMarket celebrates Cinco de Mayo with a live Mariachi band, craft projects & photo booth by Topaz + Arrow, and an awesome array of local vendors selling their goods. Check out the vendor list and activities. 

11:00am-4:00pm: Family Day at Glen Echo
(7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo Md. 20812)
This fun-filled annual event celebrates the opening of the Dentzel Carousel for its 94th season in Glen Echo Park and offers a full day of activities for families. The carousel operates from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., $1.25 per ride. Mr. Gabe will be performing (at 1:15pm and 2:00pm) as will Barry the Magician. More fun includes face painting, arts and crafts activities for kids, t-ball extreme, resident artist open studios and demonstrations and so much more.

12:00pm-5:00pm: Day Fair, Funk Parade and Music Festival: A Celebration of U Street
(16th St NW to 9th St NW along U St NW)
This event is a PHENOMENAL collaboration of over 200 local businesses, community groups, musicians and civic leaders, including the U Street Neighborhood Association, ANC 1B, and many small and locally-owned neighborhood businesses. Schedule can be found here.

1:o0pm-5:00pm: Family Festival at the Armed Forces Retirement Home
(322 Rock Creek Church Road N.W., Washington D.C. 20011- Enter gate at Randolph Street and Rock Creek Church Roads NW)
A Free Family Festival featuring the music of Herb Spice & The Cinnamonstix. 2 p.m. 60-minute Nature Walk guided by a landscape architecht. Meet at gazebo next to Soldiers Home pond. Local food vendors including Captain Cookie, Carnivore BBQ, The Big Cheese and Ooh Dat Chicken. Children’s crafts with Historic Lincoln’s Cottage, Kirov Ballet Academy. Yoga by Yoga Heights (Bring your mat!). Craft beer from DC Brau. Carnival games and prizes for kids. Toy boat races on the Soldiers Home pond. Beautiful forecast ideal for hiking and biking on the lower grounds. Celebration is a 10-minute walk from the Georgia/Petworth Metro stop on the Green Line; also accessible by H8 Metro bus; $5 charge per car for those who drive in; no dogs please.

5:00pm: 6th Annual Adams Morgan Summer Concert Series with Doug Stevenson and the Spades
(corner of Columbia and 18th NW on the plaza in front of BB&T Bank)
This is a free, family-friendly event designed to bring the community together to hear some great, eclectic music before going to
dinner, going out for the night or putting the kids to bed. We will have a dozen hula hoops each Saturday for adults and kids of all ages to shake your groove thang! Doug Stevenson & The Spades is a Baltimore/Washington combo that plays to borrow from The Blasters American music. Country & western is the main ingredient, with blues, jazz, swing, bluegrass, rockabilly, and rock ‘n’ roll flavoring the gumbo. We will have a limited number of chairs for audience members. Please feel free to bring your own beach chair.

Sunday-

9:00am-11:00am: Model Airplane Workshop at National Building Museum
(401 F Street NW Washington, D.C. 20001)
Construct your own rubber-band-propelled model airplane with the DC Maxecuters, then try a test flight in the Great Hall. Cost per plane/child: $15 Non-member, $10 Member. Ages 8 and up and Webelos Cub Scouts. Prepaid registration required. Walk out to the West Lawn of the Museum and feast on the pop-up that is back again for the summer, Hill Country BBQ.

12:00pm-6:00pm: National Cinco de Mayo Festival
(National Mall, Between 8th and 12th Sts., Washington, D.C.)
Dancing, music, arts and crafts, art and food all to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. The flyer with more information can be found here.

1:00pm-3:30pm: 3-2-1 Blastoff at Child’s Play 
(5536 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington D.C.)
A build and launch rocket workshop for kids Kindergarten-5th grade.Your child will learn about the science behind rockets, they will build their own straw rocket and then test it out.  Call 202-244-3602 to sign up/more info.

2:00pm-5:00pm: Portrait Story Days: Isamu Noguchi at The National Portrait Gallery
(Eighth & F St NW, Washington, DC 20001 – Education Center, Room E151)
Drop in to listen to a story about a person who has influenced American history and culture and to create a special piece of art. Today, learn about Japanese American artist Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988).