Beltway Bambinos

Hopefully you have been able to walk around and see the amazing cherry blossoms and other flowers blooming in our area! We have a post with details on where to view them and many places on the list are not on the National Mall.

Matchboxcon is taking over Montgomery County Fairgrounds this weekend. MatchboxCon is a public gathering of die-cast enthusiasts, a fun convention of collectors and buyers.

Friday
6:00pm-8:00pm: Family Flashlight Egg Hunt
Enjoy games and music before the egg hunt begins and don’t forget to bring your camera to take pictures with the bunny and friends.  The cost is $5 per family member, children under 12 months free.  Children under the age of 5 can arrive early for an egg hunt event at 6 p.m. and the flashlight egg hunt event will begin at 8 p.m.  All kids are encouraged to bring a basket to collect eggs, kids attending the 8 p.m. event should also bring a flashlight.

Saturday
9:00am-3:30pm: Great Country Farms Egg Hunt & Marshmallow Harvest
After a long cold winter, nothing chases away the chill like a visit to the farm! Your family won’t want to miss the first “crop” of the spring– Marshmallow Picking!! Do marshmallow peeps really grow on trees? Your children will be amazed to harvest a few marshmallows to roast on the bonfire.  The Easter Bunny also hid some eggs  filled with treats to enchant the children, and we need you to help us find them! There will be multiple egg hunts with timed ticket entrance. Come see spring chicks and baby animals, take a wagon ride, and rejoice that it is spring! The annual Easter Egg Hunt is a $7.99 add-on per child with your paid farm admission.

9:00am-6:00pm: Bunnyland at Butler’s Orchard
Enjoy a hayride down the Bunny Trail, race the Rubber Duck Derby, hunt for colorful eggs, exchange eggs for a goodie basket to take home, visit with the farm’s very own Country Bunny, ride pedal tractors, play in Hayromp and Playground, hop in inflatables, ride the giant slides, see bunnies, lambs and chicks, get your face painted and ride a pony.

10:00am-4:00pm: Family Day: Japanese Fashion
Celebrate cherry-blossom season at the museum with a family day featuring Japanese kimono, “happi” coats and crafts for all ages. Performances of traditional Okinawan dance will showcase the colorful costume of the islands, and guests can enjoy the beautiful melodies of Japan’s national instrument, the “koto.” Design your own kimono bookmark, make a cherry blossom pendant or join us for a family-friendly tour of the galleries, including Japanese textiles on display in Irresistible: The Global Patterns of Ikat. 

11:30am-3:00pm: Cherry Blossom Family Celebration
Celebrate the season of cherry blossoms with SAAM! Begin the day on the F Street Plaza (weather permitting) with a taiko drumming performance by drumming group Nen Daiko. Then head inside to the Kogod Courtyard for Japanese pop, boogie, and more with Les The DJ. Enjoy other performances while children (12 and under) make cherry-blossom themed crafts. Face painting is available for attendees ages 12 and younger. Treat yourself with tasty offerings for purchase from the Courtyard Café. Lastly, a spring-themed scavenger hunt takes you through the galleries for more cherry blossom fun.

1:00pm: Harlem Globetrotters
Don’t miss your chance to be a part of the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters global tour as they take the court with moments of extreme basketball innovation and unparalleled fan FUN! See the Globetrotter stars LIVE as they DRIBBLE, SPIN, SLAM, and DUNK their way past their relentless rivals, the Washington Generals! You’ll be amazed by new levels of mind-blowing trick shots, expert ball-handling skills, and BIG LAUGHS with unrivaled opportunities for pre-game, post-game and in-game fan engagement!

7:30pm: Washington Spirit Homeopener
The Washington Spirit plays its first home match of the 2024 season this Saturday, March 23 at Audi Field against Bay FC. 

Sunday
9:00am-6:00pm: Bunnyland at Butler’s Orchard
Enjoy a hayride down the Bunny Trail, race the Rubber Duck Derby, hunt for colorful eggs, exchange eggs for a goodie basket to take home, visit with the farm’s very own Country Bunny, ride pedal tractors, play in Hayromp and Playground, hop in inflatables, ride the giant slides, see bunnies, lambs and chicks, get your face painted and ride a pony.

9:00am-3:30pm: Great Country Farms Egg Hunt & Marshmallow Harvest
After a long cold winter, nothing chases away the chill like a visit to the farm! Your family won’t want to miss the first “crop” of the spring– Marshmallow Picking!! Do marshmallow peeps really grow on trees? Your children will be amazed to harvest a few marshmallows to roast on the bonfire.  The Easter Bunny also hid some eggs  filled with treats to enchant the children, and we need you to help us find them! There will be multiple egg hunts with timed ticket entrance. Come see spring chicks and baby animals, take a wagon ride, and rejoice that it is spring! The annual Easter Egg Hunt is a $7.99 add-on per child with your paid farm admission.

10:00am-12:00pm: Eggstravaganza at Tudor Place
Join us for Eggstravaganza!, a favorite spring tradition. Children of all ages can take part in a lively Easter egg hunt and egg roll on the South Lawn. Afterwards, make crafts and take a picture with the Easter Bunny. The egg hunt begins at 10:30 a.m. and the egg roll begins at 10:45 a.m.

11:00am-6:00pm: Sakura Sunday
The wait is over and the springtime celebration of the season is here! Come to National Harbor’s official participating event of the 2024 National Cherry Blossom Festival, Sakura Sunday. Join for a wide array of free cultural activities including an artisanal Japanese marketplace, cultural performances, culinary delights, a Sakura Spirits Garden and more!

2:00pm-5:00pm: Purim Family Day
Join Washington Revels and the Seth Kibel Trio for an afternoon of Klezmer music, a Purim spiel (Purim comedy), costumes, and crafts. Make a grogger (noise maker) or a golden crown and celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim at this free, family-friendly event! And, while you are here, spend some time exploring the exhibitions. Crafts and activities start at 2pm. Performances start at 3pm.

3:45pm-5:30pm: Hill Family Biking – Books and Blossoms Ride
Hill Family Biking is teaming up with DC Public Library for a ride to the stunning, new SW Library for a special story time and a librarian-guided tour of the facility with Cherry Blossom peeping opportunities all along the route. They’ll start at Eastern Market Metro and weave down 3.7 miles of some of the most bikable streets in the District to SW Library. They’ll have a scheduled exit from SW Library for anyone that wants to ride back to Eastern Market as a group.

5:00pm-6:30pm: Opening Ceremony of Cherry Blossom Festival
The National Cherry Blossom Festival’s signature Opening Ceremony is an artistic celebration of the 1912 gift of trees from Tokyo to Washington, DC, and an annual tribute to the longstanding friendship between Japan and the United States. This unique, one-time-only performance will feature special performances from acclaimed artists with ties to both countries.

NSO in your Neighborhood has tons of events this weekend. The National Symphony Orchestra will collaborate with various communities in Wards 6 & 8 to amplify joy, unity, and shared humanity through music and the arts. Partnering with local schools, museums, and organizations, we will honor the history of these neighborhoods, while also building new connections and relationships. Events are open to the public with first-come, first-served seating, unless otherwise noted. Below is the schedule:

Friday
BOOMBOX Boxing Club
7:00 p.m., 1221 Van St SE, Suite 140, Washington, DC 20003
This concert will take place in the boxing ring of this black-owned boutique Boxing Gym.

Saturday
Culture House DC
11:30 a.m., 700 Delaware Ave SW, Washington, DC 20024
Housed in a former African American church, this community arts space will host a concert centered around its cherry blossom exhibits.

National Museum of the US Navy
1:00 p.m., 736 Sicard St SE, Washington, DC 20374
Established in 1961, this museum displays and preserves significant artifacts that tell the story of US naval history. The Navy Yard itself was one of the first places to employ African Americans in the city.

The Anthem
Full Orchestra Concert
7:00 p.m., 901 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC 20024
FREE full orchestra concert at this Southwest Waterfront music arena featuring local DC artists.

Sunday
Rubell Museum
11:30 a.m., 65 I St SW, Washington, DC 20024
The Rubell Museum contains an extensive collection of American and international contemporary art. The building that now houses the museum was formerly Randall Junior High School, which closed in 1978 and was a historically Black public school attended by Marvin Gaye.

Covenant Baptist UCC Church
3:00 p.m., 3845 S Capitol St SW, Washington, DC 20032
This African American congregation in Bellevue has survived racial discrimination, changing city demographics, and now gentrification. The concert will take place on Palm Sunday.

Bald Eagle Recreation Center
Full Orchestra Concert
7:00 p.m. 100 Joliet St, Washington, DC 20032
This free performance will feature ­­­­­­­­mezzo-soprano, Marquita Raley-Cooper, DC artist and native.

Plan Ahead
Peter Pan at the National Theatre: April 9-21
Bourbon & Bluegrass at President Lincoln’s Cottage: May 18-19