Beltway Bambinos

If your kids go to a DCPS school, I congratulate you, we have made it to the country’s latest spring break holiday. Several of you have reached out asking about options for staying in DC for this break. Below you will find a few ideas–

16 ways to spend spring break in DC
Beach and state park trips
Overnight trips from DC

All weekend
Sakura Matsuri
Over two days, Sakura Matsuri – Japanese Street Festival brings Japan into the heart of the Nation’s Capitol. Stretching from 3rd to 7th streets NW on Pennsylvania Ave at the base of Capitol Hill, the festival features over 24 hours of Japanese cultural performances, authentic Japanese food and beverages, handmade Japanese crafts, and so much more.

Peter Pan at The National Theatre
This high-flying musical has been thrilling audiences of all ages for close to 70 years and is now being brought back to life in a new adaptation by celebrated playwright Larissa FastHorse, directed by Emmy Award winner Lonny Price and choreography by Lorin Latarro. The adventure begins when PETER PAN and his mischievous sidekick, Tinker Bell, visit the bedroom of the Darling children late one night. With a sprinkle of fairy dust and a few happy thoughts, the children are taken on a magical journey they will never forget. This extraordinary musical full of excitement and adventure features iconic and timeless songs including “I’m Flying,” “I Gotta Crow,” “I Won’t Grow Up” and “Neverland.” PETER PANembraces the child in us all so go on a journey from the second star to the right and straight on ‘til morning – your entire family will be Hooked!

Love & Information at Imagination Stage- Student Show
Someone shares a forbidden secret, someone confronts their best friend, someone admires a snail. In this kaleidoscopic play, over fifty unrelated scenes flash by faster than a doomscroll as over a hundred characters strive to connect with each other, learn from one another, and look for love. Love and Information, written to be transformed into it’s own unique vision by every company that performs it, makes this production a once in a lifetime theatrical experience.

Friday
8:00pm-10:00pm: Star Gaze at Udar-Hazy Center
Do you ever look up at the night sky and wonder what you’re seeing? Come stargaze outside the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia. Join Museum staff and members of the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club for a view of the night sky. Experienced people will help you to observe a variety of things, including planets, stars, and the Moon. Telescopes will be provided by Smithsonian and pre-approved members of the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club. No other personal telescopes are permitted at the event.

Saturday
10:00am-12:00pm: The National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade
The Nation’s Springtime Parade is an amazing sight on Constitution Avenue! Grand colorful helium balloons, elaborate floats, marching bands from across the country, celebrity entertainers, and performers burst down the Parade route in a spectacle of music and showmanship celebrating spring in Washington, DC.

10:00am-3:00pm: Horse Expo at Frying Pan Farm
This event is for experienced riders as well as people who are new to the world of horses. There will be food trucks, speakers, demonstrations, and businesses that sell horse-related products and services. Immerse yourself in the equestrian world. Experienced riders and new horse enthusiasts welcome. Indulge in delectable treats from food trucks. Gain insights from expert speakers. Witness captivating demonstrations. Explore a variety of businesses offering horse-related products and services.

10:30am-12:30pm: April Family Day: National Library Month at The Library of Congress
Families are invited to learn about America’s national library, explore the significance of libraries in their own lives, and try their hand at organizing their own mini collection.
The April Family Day will also feature work by Library of Congress literary ambassadors, conversations with Library staff, and a take-home pamphlet with resources related to the history of the Library of Congress, and the depth of its digital collections.   Activities will be held on the mezzanine level (second floor) of the Jefferson Building from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The event is free, but passes are required for the Jefferson Building. Register for free timed-entry tickets. 

1:00pm: Jacqueline Woodson’s Block Party! at the Kennedy Center
Music! Food! Fun! Join us for another Kennedy Center Block Party hosted by Education Artist-in-Residence and award-winning author Jacqueline Woodson! Free performances, fun-filled games, and various activities will be programmed on the REACH grounds all afternoon, featuring artists with roots in the Washington, D.C. area.

Sunday
2:00pm: DC Emancipation Day Celebration
Parade begins at 2pm, followed by a 3pm concert and 8:30pm fireworks at Freedom Plaza. This year is the 162nd Anniversary of the DC Compensated Emancipation Act of 1862, the only act that stands as an example of compensation by the federal government to slave owners in the District of Columbia for the loss of their human property. On April 16, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill ending slavery in the District of Columbia. Passage of this act came nearly nine months before President Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation. The law ended slavery in Washington, DC which freed approximately 3,100 individuals, reimbursed those who had legally owned these individuals, and offered the newly freed women and men money to emigrate. It is this legislation, and the courage and struggle of those who fought to make it a reality, that we commemorate every April 16th as DC Emancipation Day.

Plan Ahead:
April 27: Carousel Day at Glen Echo Park

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