Beltway Bambinos

This marks a year of everyone pivoting and adapting as our lives changed pretty fast. Hopefully this finds you well and optimistic for the future. I’m appreciative to those who have stuck around this past year– I look forward to sharing family-friendly events throughout our city as they slowly return. Speaking of returning, many summer camps will return in-person and they are selling out quickly!

The Station at Riverdale Park has something for every member of the family. From riding along the Rhode Island Avenue Trolley Trail, to a scavenger hunt for all of the unique art on the property, like this sparkly blue bear at the center of Bear Square, and active programming like outdoor concerts throughout the year, weekends at The Station are filled with family fun and bonding. Less than one mile from the Riverdale Park MARC station and about a 30-minute drive from the heart of Washington, DC, The Station will feel like a weekend getaway without the hassle of traveling. We have many outdoor options listed on our site in addition to this outing.

Saturday 9:30am: Saturday Morning at National Theatre: Once Upon a Zoom from Arts on the Horizon
The Saturday Morning Live! At The National program is celebrating its 40^th anniversary this year and has delighted children for years with performances designed to engage and inspire the young mind. Virtual performances by nationally known educators and artists encourage children to look outside their communities and discover a world of wonder. New episodes premiere every other Saturday at 9:30 AM via Facebook Premiere. This programming is best suited for children 4-10 years, but siblings and friends of other ages are always welcome to join the fun.

Saturday 2:00pm-4:00pm: Washington Nationals to Host PLAY BALL Youth Baseball and Softball Drive-Thru Event
The Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball will host a drive-thru PLAY BALL event at Matthews Memorial Baptist Church on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE in Ward 8. To help encourage and promote youth baseball and softball participation, the Nationals and their mascot, Screech, will give away free plastic bats, balls, and other Nationals goodies to young fans within the D.C. area. This event is part of MLB’s PLAY BALL at Home initiative, encouraging fans to stay safe at home while finding creative ways to participate in youth baseball and softball activities.

Saturday 2:00pm-4:00pm: Rally to reopen DC Schools
Join at Mayor Bowser’s office to demand:
-A vaccine–now–for all teachers who want one
-An in-person education, with a teacher, for all families who want it at the start of Term 4 in mid-April
-Sensible safety guidelines that follow the CDC while still allowing a return to the classroom
-A commitment to regular school–5 days a week, in person, with a teacher in a classroom–starting from Day 1 of the 2021-2022 school year, for every DC schoolchild who wants one RSVP here

Sunday 12:00pm-4:00pm: Pi(e) Day at Maryland Science Center
Celebrate the most mathematically delicious day of the year at the Maryland Science Center! Pi(e) Day is a celebration of the mathematical constant Pi (∏), a number used to calculate the circumference of a circle, and also a celebration of the sweet, circular baked dessert! Circle up for a well rounded day of endless fun. Get creative with circle art, launch pizza pie toppings with catapults, watch pie fall from the sky, and so much more. Plus, take a free slice of pie from Dangerously Delicious Pies for the road! Can’t make it to the Science Center for Pi(e) Day this year? Join the celebration online!

Sunday 2:00pm: Celebremos Nuestras Historias con Andrea Sarralde y Claudia Yelin
Celebrate finding your place in the world with Adventure Theatre! Tune in on Facebook-live for story time with Claudia Yelin, author of De Aquí Para Allá, and a surprise special guest! 

Have a dog? Don’t you wish there was a place for you to meet up with your best friends where you can bring along your dog AND enjoy a beer (or coffee) all at the same time? Enter Bark Social! Maryland’s first dog bar has found its home at Pike & Rose.

Don’t forget about Daylight Savings this weekend!

Plan ahead:
March 15 at 1:00pm: Mo Willems LUNCH DOODLES Special Episode to Mark One Year Since the Series Debut
A Special LUNCH DOODLES with Mo Willems, marking one year since the debut of the popular series. To mark this significant moment, Mo and the Kennedy Center are releasing a special new “Episode 00” of LUNCH DOODLES, inviting everyone back into his studio to doodle, reflect on the past year, and create art together. “

March 18 – April 11: Dino Safari drive-through experience at National Harbor
More than 40 giant dinosaurs will fill the parking lot at National Harbor, transforming into a Dino Safari. A fun and educational nearly 60-minute drive through experience with audio narration.

March 20: Ice Yards is back in a brand new way and it’s coming to your favorite neighborhood restaurants down at The Yards. Participating restaurants will have an Ice Yards Outpost set up for you to enjoy!