The Nats are back!
There’s a LOT going on this weekend, from the Nats first home games of the season to a birthday party for Shakespeare to early Easter celebrations to fireworks to museum programs to live entertainment to seasonal markets and even more! If that’s not enough, you can find plenty of other ideas for activities with the kids, including the best of the outdoors around DC, on the Everyday Play page. Happy Weekend!
Ignite Your Natitude
Where: Nationals Park
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Ticket prices vary
It’s the season home opener for the Nats today, and there’s going to be baseball all weekend long – today at 1:05pm, Saturday at 7:05pm, and Sunday at 1:35pm. First opponent up is Braves, and you still might be able to score tickets for all three games. Take advantage of the Harris Teeter Family Pack and enjoy other special promos on Sunday – it’s Kids Opening Day and Screech’s Birthday. And don’t forget you can stay after for Kids Run the Bases when children ages 4-12 can loop the in field after the final out.
Spring Easter Festival
Where: Ticonderoga Farm
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 5pm weekends
Admission: $11.95, under 2 are free
With giant slides, an awesome jumping pillow, playgrounds, animals, mazes, and more, the farm in Vienna is a blast everyday (it’s open daily), but they take the fun up a notch on weekends for their annual Spring Easter Festival. Along with the permanent amusement, there are egg hunts, face painting, children’s games, and visits from the Easter Bunny. Be sure to check the website for timing of specific activities. For an idea of what’s there, see this post about their Winter Festival, which is much of the same, but with Easter instead of Christmas festivities. And this post about a class field trip has info and pics, too.
Egg Hunt & Marshmallow Harvest
Where: Great Country Farms
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Admission: $10/child $12/adult at the gate
After a long cold winter, nothing chases away the chill like a visit to the farm. Head to Great Country for the first “crop” of the spring– Marshmallow Picking! Do marshmallow peeps grow on trees? Be sure to check it out and harvest a few to roast on the bonfire with Farmer Bob. You can even purchase a s’more kit to melt away that chocolate craving. The Easter Bunny also hid some eggs, so guests can help find them during multiple egg hunts (by age – see the schedule) with over 18,000 treat-filled eggs. Plan to visit spring chicks and baby animals, check out the spring plantings in the greenhouse, take a hayride and rejoice in the new season. Don’t forget to bring your camera for photo ops with the Easter Bunny. Buy advance tickets online for only $10/adult — visit the website to purchase, and look for the schedule of events there, too.
Happy Birthday to the Bard!
Where: Folger Shakespeare Library
When: Sunday, 12-4pm
Admission: Free
Shakespeare is turning 450, and the Folger Shakespeare Library is celebrating with an Open House on Sunday afternoon. In true Renaissance fashion, there will be song and dance, jesters and jugglers, and opportunities to recite your favorite Shakespeare lines on stage. Especially for children will be fortune telling, shield making, quill writing, arts & crafts, Shakespeare portrait drawing, and a giant birthday cake with the cutting lead by Queen Elizabeth I. The event is free and will take place rain or shine. Some concessions will be available for purchase. The Library is located at 201 East Capitol Street SE.
Southwest Waterfront Fireworks Festival
Where: 600-900 Water Street, SW
When: Saturday, 1-9pm
Admission: Free
The big Cherry Blossom Festival event this weekend is the annual fireworks show at the Southwest Waterfront. It’s an all-day and part-evening affair with free live music and family-friendly festivities, including some especially for kids – think face painting, arts & crafts, and balloon art – cultural experiences, and all kinds of food. The grand finale will begin at 8:30pm when the National Cherry Blossom Festival Fireworks Show lights up the night sky.
Go Colonial
Where: Claude Moore Colonial Farm
When: Saturday, 10am – 4:30pm
Admission: $3/adults, $2/ages 3 and up, free for 2 and under
The Claude Moore Colonial Farm opens for the first weekend of its 2014 season, welcoming visitors to explore family life on a pre-Revolutionary War working farm. There is a tobacco barn, farm house, garden, orchard, and animals. Guests can also interact with a family portraying life as it was back then. Read more about it in this post (ignore the “autumn” part; it’s a great outing in the spring, too).
American Cool Family Day
Where: National Portrait Gallery
When: Saturday, 11:30am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Are you “American Cool”? Head to the Portrait Gallery for this special Family Day program and check out some “cool” music, art projects, and docent-led tours of the American Cool exhibition.
Robotics Expo
Where: National Air & Space Musem
When: Saturday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate National Robotics Week at the Air & Space Museum where several schools and organizations will demonstrate the innovative projects they have created. There will also be two sessions in Moving Beyond Earth (Gallery 113) in which each team will formally present their robotic project and will be interviewed by a Museum staff member. These sessions will take place at 11am and 1pm.
Gateway to Health
Where: St. Elizabeths East Gateway Pavilion
When: Saturday, 12-5pm
Admission: Free
Where there was an ice slide less than two months ago, will be a spring festival focused on health. Discover new foods, tastes, and ideas for healthy eating at the Whole Foods Market @ Gateway DC, shop DC’s finest food & retail vendors, see cooking demonstrations, and enjoy and fun activities for kids of all ages. And this is just the kick-off of a monthly market running the first Saturday of each month through spring and summer.
Show Time
Where: Local Theatres
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
* Catch an opening weekend performance of The Jungle Book at Advneture Theatre
* Inside Out, theatre aimed at the toddler and preschool crowd is on the Imagination Stage.
* Enjoy theatre on strings at The Puppet Co., where Hansel & Gretel is on the main stage and Snow Show is the featured Tiny Tots show.
* Mr. Gabe and the Circle Time All-Stars are playing at Ebenezers Coffeehouse on Capitol hill at 10:30am on Saturday.
* The Adventures of Robin Hood is in its second and final weekend at the Kennedy Center.
* Mr. Knick Knack will entertain the kiddie crowd at the Old Town Theatre on Saturday at 11am.
* Curtis Blues: Delta Blues is this week’s Saturday Morning at the National performance.
* The Diggity Dudes are playing the Saturday morning show at Jammin’ Java.
* The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is at Ford’s Theatre through May 17.
Cherry Blossom Yoga
Where: Washington Monument grounds
When: Saturday, 10am
Admission: Free
Join lululemon athletica on Saturday for the 5th Annual Cherry Blossom Yoga – a complimentary yoga class for all to enjoy in DC! Bring your mat, family, and friends to the Washington Monument to share an hour-long vinyasa yoga practice led by Mimi Rieger, lululemon athletica Ambassador, with assistance from some of DC’s finest yoga instructors. All ages and levels are welcome and the event is complimentary. Day-of registration begins at 9am and the yoga class begins at 10am, rain or shine. Avoid long lines on Saturday morning and register online here.
Au Pair in America Cultural Fair
Where: Spanish Ballroom at Glen Echo Park
When: Saturday, 1-3pm
Admission: Free
Are you curious about au pairs as a childcare option? On Saturday, Au Pair in America invites families to their Cultural Fair at Glen Echo Park to learn more about their programs. It’s a family affair with an afternoon of fun activities for all ages, including children’s activities, performances, visual displays, and a cultural parade.
DC MEETMarket
Where: Logan Circle, 15th & P St NW
When: Saturday, 11am – 5pm
Admission: Free
It’s Opening Day at the market in the heart of Logan Circle on Saturday. DC MEETMarket is a monthly outdoor community market held on the first Saturday of every month April through November. It’s a community event with local music, educational crafts and activities where individuals of all ages can enjoy themselves. To celebrate their first day of the new season, there will be a live painting & free raffle by No Kings Collective and Kelly Towles; live musical performances by America Hearts, Light Arms, and DJ vANNIEty Kills, hosted by Rock-n-Romp!; an interactive photo booth for all ages; and over 40 local vendors selling their goods. And as always, the market is free, open to the public, and always family and pet-friendly.
Kids’ Open House
Where: Alliance Française
When: Saturday, 9:30am – 12:30pm
Admission: Free
Bienvenue! The Alliance Française invites families to discover their programs for children 1 to 18 years old. Along with the opportunity to visit the classrooms and meet the teachers, guests can listen to stories in the library , watch a special performance created and presented by children in a Shadow Puppetry Workshop, and hear poems read by FREF students. Children can also attend a mini-class to get a taste for French language at the Alliance. And for those who are interested in registering, placement tests will be available for classes beginning in April.
Thread
Where: Union Market
When: Friday – Sunday
Admission: Free
Head to Union Market for Thread, a carefully curated collection of both nationally recognized brands and emerging, independent designers from around the country who embody an inventive and original spirit. This might be more exciting for adults most of the weekend, but you can do a little shopping, then grab a bite to eat at one of the many eateries. And if you go on Friday, you can enjoy a special FREE Boogies Babes happy hour show – at 4:30pm, Uno, Dos, Tres con Andres will entertain the kiddie crowd outside in the rear of the building, and word has it the scene will be super hip with lounge furniture, turf, and fun games for kids to enjoy.
Japanese Stone Lantern Lighting
Where: Tidal Basin NW Corner (17th & Independence Ave)
When: Sunday, 2:30-4pm
Admission: Free
The traditional Japanese Stone Lantern Lighting Ceremony, one of the highlights of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, will be held on Sunday at the newly restored plaza surrounding the historic lantern. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 360-year-old Japanese Stone Lantern, along with its grove of original cherry trees gifted from Japan 101 years ago, is a cherished symbol commemorating the friendship between the United States and Japan. Now the lantern, located at the northwest corner of the Tidal Basin, features a granite plaza with natural stone boulders and a memorial plaque commemorating the 1912 gift of cherry trees.
Art Jamz
Where: Crystal City Shops
When: Sunday, 12-2pm
Admission: $10
ArtJamz, America’s original public art studio and lounge, is headed back to Crystal City Shops to kick off Spring with a blast of creativity. There will be family-friendly sessions on Sunday for ages 3 and up. Enjoy pizza, 2 hours of studio time, a medium 16×20 canvas, unlimited to access to supplies and guidance from art-trained creative enablers.
Easter Basket Crafting
Where: 529 Kids Consign – Hollin Hall
When: Sunday, 12-1pm & 2-3pm
Admission: $20/child
The high-end consignment shop 529 Kids Consign is hosting a special Easter basket crafting workshop with Little Pincushion Studio in partnership with Little Choux Kidgoods. During the event, boys and girls ages 4 and older will have the opportunity to design and decorate Easter baskets with author, Little Pincushion shop owner and crafting extraordinaire, Annabel Wrigley. Parents will also enjoy 25% off a fabulous selection of full-price Easter attire.
Sugarloaf Crafts Festival
Where: Montgomery County Fairgrounds
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: $8, 12 and under are free
Do some shopping for arts, crafts, and more while you enjoy a family day out. The Sugarloaf Crafts Festival showcases works by more than 250 top artisans. Pottery, sculpture, glass, jewelry, fashion, home and garden décor, furniture and home accessories, and photography will be on display — and for sale! Even more, children can dress up in costumes and watch live demonstrations of copper spinning, papermaking, pottery wheel-throwing, jewelry making, and other media by the master craftspeople themselves.
Thank you, NPG, thank you very much
Where: National Portrait Gallery
When: Sunday, 2-5pm
Admission: Free
Drop in at the National Portrait Gallery for Portrait Story Days and listen to a story about a person who has influenced American history and culture and to create a special piece of art. This weekend, Elvis Presley is the king of the program.
