The Weekend Round-Up: May 16-18

Once the rain ceases we’re in for stellar weather! There are loads of ways to enjoy it, both listed here and in the best of the outdoors post, plus activities happening indoors, too. Happy Weekend!

Family Movie Night
Where: Hillwood Estate, Museum, & Gardens
When: Friday, 5:30-8:30pm
Admission: $5
The historic locale is hosting a Family Movie Night this evening.. Along with the “Creature Feature” film screening, guests can explore the estate, picnic on the grounds, and enjoy an art project. Tickets can be purchased in advance online.

Good Neighbor Day
Where: Kenilworth Aquatic Garden
When: Saturday, 10am – 2:30pm
Admission: Free
Join Friends of Kenilworth Gardens for their second annual Good Neighbor Day! They’ll start the day at 10am with two hours of volunteer service in the park, followed by a family friendly celebration from 123:30pm that will include music from East of the River Police Boys and Girls Steelband, local drummers, park tours, scavenger hunts, face painting and family friendly fun. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the fun! RSVP recommended for volunteering only – contact tina@friendsofkenilworthgardens.org to sign up.

Colonial Spring Market Fair
Where: Claude Moore Colonial Farm
When: Saturday & Sunday, 11am – 4:30pm
Admission: $7/adults, $3/ages 3-12 & seniors
Celebrate spring at the Claude Moore Colonial Farm’s first Market Fair of the season. See colonial farm family and community members in costume and character. Watch the colonial blacksmith and cabinetmaker at work as well as spinners and pewter smith. Learn to dip candles or turn a piece of wood. Play quoits and other games, and watch a children’s puppet theatre. Dance and sing to period music. See chickens, turkeys, sheep, pigs and other animals. Enjoy a variety of food and drink for purchase including spit roasted rosemary chicken, spring vegetables, roasted olives, fruit pies and more. Colonial Tavern offers bonhomie and chilled beverages including craft beers, mulled wine, and fresh ginger ale. Colonial style wares such as soaps and crafts as well as herbs and flowers also for sale.

Nats vs. Mets
Where: Nationals Park
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Ticket prices vary
Take the kids out to the ballgame! The Nats are hosting the Mets all weekend with an evening game tonight, a late afternoon match-up on Saturday, and another game on Sunday. Take advantage of the Harris Teeter Family Pack. And don’t forget you can stay post-game on Sunday for Kids Run the Bases when children ages 4-12 can loop the in field after the final out.

Fiesta Asia Street Fair
Where: Pennsylvania Avenue, from 3rd – 6th Streets
When: Saturday, 10am – 7pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate Asian Heritage Month at the annual street fair presented by the Asia Heritage Foundation and Passport DC. This showcase of Asian art and culture will include music and dance performances, martial arts demos, food, hands-on activities, and more. Especially for kids is the Kiddiz Cool Lounge with origami, sidewalk chalk, dragon making, story telling, Okinawan Drumming, bamboo dancing, and more. While admission is free, be prepared to spend on food and marketplace fun.

Show Time
Where: Local Theatres
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
* Catch a performance of The Jungle Book at Adventure Theatre
* Cinderella: The Remix is playing on the Imagination Stage
* Enjoy theatre on strings at The Puppet Co., where Pinocchio is on the main stage and Baby Bear’s Birthday is the featured Tiny Tots show.
* The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is at Ford’s Theatre through May 17.
* Rocknoceros is playing a Saturday morning show at Ebenezers Coffeehouse.
* Seth Kibel has a CD release performance at Jammin’ Java on Saturday morning.

Dr. Seuss Meets the Ballet
Where: THEARC
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: Ticket prices vary
The Washington Ballet is concluding their 2013-14 season with captivating productions of George Balanchine’s Who Cares? and David Palmer’s Green Eggs and Ham at THEARC Theater. The production will also feature excerpts from Lucy Bowen McCauley’s Eight and CeCe Farha’s Aladdin. This affordable family series production showcases The Washington Ballet’s Studio Company. Look for a ticket discount to Sunday’s performances here.

Living Aloha
Where: National Museum of the American Indian
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday, 10:30am – 5pm
Admission: Free
In its 8th year, this 3-day festival at the American Indian Museum showcases Hawaiian artists, performers, and practitioners of traditional Hawaiian healing and culture. Visitors can learn about living a life of “aloha” through performances, demos, and hands-on activities for all ages, including Tincluding kapa (bark cloth) stamping, Hawaiian kite-making, and traditional games.

Gaithersburg Book Festival
Where: Gaithersburg City Hall
When: Saturday, 10am – 6pm
Admission: Free
The City of Gaithersburg welcomes you to their fifth annual literary event! Festivities will include the chance to see and meet some of the world’s best writers, from best-sellers to acclaimed up-and-comers; join in literary workshops; and a full day of fun at the Children’s Village. The Gaithersburg City Hall is located at 31 South Summit Avenue. For more specifics, see the Festival website.

Art Museum Day
Where: Local art museums
When: Sunday
Admission: Free
The Association of Art Museum Directors is celebrating the importance of art museums in our world for the fifth year with Art Museum Day, where museums around the country offer free admission and/or special programs for guests. Participating museums in our area are The Phillips Collection, National Museum of Women in the Arts, National Museum of African Art, National Portrait Gallery, and The Walters Art Museum the Baltimore Museum of Art.

Taste of Arlington
Where: Wilson Blvd., btwn Glebe Road & N. Quincy & N. Stuart to 9th.
When: Sunday, 12-5pm
Admission: Free, but you must purchase tickets to taste
Head across the river for a day of food, fun, and more food. Over 40 Arlington restaurants will be offering samples of their fare at the annual street festival in downtown Ballston. And while the food is the main focus, there will be plenty more to enjoy, including live entertainment, art for sale, a beer garden and champagne pavilion, and fun for kids – face-painting, a rock climbing wall, World Pup tournament, the build-a-bug pavilion, carnival games & more. Tickets are available for purchase through the Taste of Arlington website, or you can buy them the day of the event.

World Children’s Choir
Where: Falls Church Episcopal
When: Saturday, 7pm
Admission: $20/adult, $10/seniors & students, $30/family
People of all ages will enjoy this evening of song by a choir of young singers. The concert will include a delightful variety of music including European classical vocal works by Puccini, Tchaikovsky, and Richard Strauss; songs by British composer, John Rutter and American composer, James Selway; and Broadway show tunes. The concert will conclude with an audience sing-along.