A spectacular experience at "How to Train Your Dragon," live at the Verizon Center through Sunday
Here are your recommendations for fun with the kiddos this Friday through Sunday… Happy Weekend!
How to Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular
Where: Verizon Center
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Varies (read below) for discounts
“Spectacular” couldn’t be a more apropos term to describe the production taking place at the Verizon Center through the weekend. Our family attended on opening night, and we were all utterly captivated. State-of-the-art technology, brilliant artistry and engineering, and superb performances by actors and dancers brought the beloved movie to life and made for a one-of-kind experience. And the dragons are absolutely… well, spectacular. They look real, they breathe fire, they fly! Truly a hit, in my book. Tickets are available for purchase here, and you can get a 25% discount on Friday shows by using the code MOM in the promo box that says “Mommy Blog” when you check out.
Family Jazz Day
Where: Glen Echo Park
When: Sunday, 3-7pm
Admission: Free
Blues Alley and the Glen Echo Park Partnership are hosting a jazzy afternoon at the park featuring four different jazz bands. A different band will play each hour starting at 3pm: The Jazz Academy All-Stars and the Blues Alley Youth Orchestra are young musicians, and the Capital Focus Band features mostly college-age musicians. The thrilling finale by the U.S. Naval Academy Next Wave features seventeen of the nation’s finest musicians! Bring a picnic or purchase food at the Ballroom Café. The concert will take place rain or shine.
Lotus and Water Lily Festival
Where: Kennilworth Aquatic Gardens
When: Saturday, 11am – 6pm
Admission: Free
If you haven’t been to this gem in northeast DC, this weekend will be a great time to go. Not only will you see an incredible display of lotus and water lilies in full bloom, there will also be special exhibits, performances, family activities, art demos, tea tasting and more.
Show Time
Where: Local Theatres
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
Enjoy a play performed by youth actors as Encore Stage & Studios presents “The Pirates of Penzance.” Be among the first audiences to see “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves” at The Puppet Co. Playhouse as it opens this weekend (read the KFDC review from last year). “If You Give a Moose a Muffin” is still on the Adventure Theatre stage. “The Prince and the Troubador” is running for another week. Catch “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe” at Imagination Stage. Chris Davis, The Renaissance Man is the final performer of this season’s Saturday. And the Diggity Dudes are playing at Jammin’Java on Saturday morning.
Summer in the City
Where: Throughout the area
When: All weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Enjoy the season with a host of activities that only occur this time of year. Outdoor concerts and movies; water fun; mini trains, mini golf, and carousels; and much, much more. Find details on all of these summer pursuits here.
Living Earth Festival
Where: National Museum of the American Indian
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Free
The annual festival celebrates Native contributions to protecting the environment, promoting sustainability, and using indigenous plants to improve health and nutrition. Guests can engage directly with Native researchers and practitioners; see music, dance, and films; and participate in hands-on family activities. There will also be a food market, plus cooking and craft demos that highlight the ways the Earth’s gifts feed human creativity.
Nats vs. Braves
Where: Nationals Park
When: Friday 7:05pm, Saturday 1:05pm & 7:05pm, Sunday 1:35pm
Admission: Tickets start at $10
The Nats are hosting the Atlanta Braves this weekend, with an evening game tonight, an afternoon AND evening match-up on Saturday (the early one is a make-up game), and another game on Sunday. Take advantage of the Harris Teeter Family Pack promo and enjoy other extras on Sunday — the first 10,000 fans under 12 to arrive will receive a Nationals T-shirt, and you can stay after for Kids Run the Bases when children ages 4-12 can loop the in field after the final out.
Dragon Tales
Where: Textile Museum
When: Saturday, 2-4pm
Admission: Free
It’s an Arts for Families day at the Textile Museum, and guests are invited to join museum staff and DC Public Library librarians to hear stories about the many dragons on view in the exhibit, Dragons, Nagas, and Creatures of the Deep. Afterwards, participants can write and illustrate their own dragon tales.
Bubble Days
Where: Maryland Science Center
When: Saturday & Sunday,
Admission: $16.95/adults, $13.95/ages 3-12
The fun will be bubbling up all over the building—and outside too as the Center celebrates the art and science of bubbles. Throughout the day, learn the secret science behind how bubbles are made and possibly pick up some of your own bubble solution to take home. The feature event will be “Bubblemania” performances by internationally famous bubble artist Casey Carle on the Atrium Stage at 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm. There will also be games and contests for a chance to win great prizes, as well as workshops for some bubbling experiments.
Summer Market Fair
Where: Claude Moore Colonial Farm
When: Saturday & Sunday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: $6/adults, $3/seniors & ages 3-12
Celebrate the season at the local colonial museum and working farm’s Summer Market Fair. There will be loads of activities for all ages to enjoy: Dance and sing to period music. Play quoits and other games, and watch a children’s puppet theater. See chickens, turkeys, pigs and other farm animals. Take a fencing lesson or watch the Blacksmith in action. Order herbs and flowers from the plant vendor and browse other colonial market stands. Purchase roast chicken, fresh vegetables, fruit pies and more. Tavern offers fresh lemonade and ginger ale, wine, beer and ale. Along with the special festivities, enjoy the ongoing offerings as you stroll the living history museum grounds and see farm family and community members in character and costume.
Youth Open Mic Poetry
Where: Busboys & Poets
When: Saturday, 5-7pm
Admission: $5
Join the Anacostia Community Museum, poet Kenny Carroll, and Bus Boys & Poets Restaurant for an evening of spoken word as young poets speak about their experiences, heart, and minds. This will take place at the 5th & K Street NW location.
Superhero Baseball & Fireworks
Where: Bowie Baysox
When: Saturday, 6:35pm (gates open at 5:35pm)
Admission: Tickets start at $7
It’s the annual Superhero night at the minor league’s baseball game. Expect appearances by Superman, Spiderman, & Batman in movie accurate costumes, plus appearances by other Superheroes! Fans are welcome to dress as your favorite Superhero character. And to cap the night, there will be fireworks after the game.
Stories in Art
Where: National Gallery of Art
When: Sunday, 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, & 3:30pm
Admission: Free
Claude Monet is the subject of this week’s Summer Drop-In program for children ages 4-7. They will explore scenes of France, from its countryside to the bustling urban center of Paris, through Monet’s art in the French galleries and a reading of the book “The Magical Garden of Claude Monet.” Afterwards, guests will make a souvenir to document their adventure. Sign-in takes place in the West Building Rotunda, beginning at 11am, and will continue until all spaces for all five time slots are filled. Read a review of one of our Stories in Art experiences here. A KFDC tip: Plan for another activity between sign up and the actual session (which shouldn’t be hard, given all the museums right there). I heard they filled up fast last week, so there could be a couple of hours to fill before yours begins.
In & Out
Where: Throughout the area
When: All weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Weather will likely dictate activity preferences this weekend, so keep the KFDC post with ideas for outdoor recreation and the one with indoor suggestions handy.
