Winter in DC, after hours
From awesome museum programs to fantastic live entertainment (and a lots of fun in between, both special and everyday), you’ve got your pick of family activities over the next few days. Happy Weekend!
Discover Engineering Family Day
Where: National Building Museum
When: Saturday, 10am – 4:30pm
Admission: Free ($5 suggested donation)
The Building Museum always hosts great family events, and this annual festival is no exception. Celebrate National Engineers Week as you debunk the myths of engineering and discover how professional engineers turn an idea into reality. Hands-on activities allow kids to explore concepts such as thermodynamics, electricity, aerodynamics, and more, all while meeting real engineers and testing out ideas with activities designed especially for young guests. We’ve gone several years and have always had a great time. It gets crowded, but there are so many activities available, kids can always be involved in the fun. Recommended for children ages 6-12 with adult supervision.
Intersect with Family Fun
Where: Atlas Performing Arts Center
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by performance
There’s more family programming at the INTERSECTIONS Festival this weekend. Arts on the Horizon presents Sunny and Licorice throughout the weekend. Happenstance Theatre will perform Pinot & Augistine again. Catch Boogie Babes’ performer Lea as she plays a Cafe Concert. See Zip Zap Circus juggling acts and more in the Kogod Lobby on Saturday. Check the schdedule for details on all of these shows plus more (grown-up) events going on during the festival this weekend.
African American Pioneers in Aviation Family Day
Where: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free, but parking is $15
Head to the Dulles arm of the Air & Space Museum to celebrate the significant contributions African Americans have made to flight and space exploration despite the overwhelming obstacles they had to overcome. Enjoy presentations, hands-on activities, and stories, plus the opportunity to meet astronauts, fighter pilots, and others who will share stories of their challenges and accomplishments. Learn about inspiring historic figures like Bessie Coleman through reenactments and story times – and more!
Gadgets & Gears
Where: Maryland Science Center
When: Saturday, 12-4pm
Admission: $18.95/adult, $15.95/ages 3-12, free for under 3
Celebrate National Engineers Week at the Maryland Science Center as they break out the bots for Gadgets & Gears Day. Young engineers, builders and inventors can, well, engineer, build and invent all day with activities, experiments and demonstrations involving robots, drones, radio-controlled cars, 3D printing and nanotechnology. Explore different aspects of the engineering field at stations — investigate the inner workings of a smartphone, design a wind turbine, program motorized drawing robots and build circuits. There will also be GADGET talks by professional and interactive elements and demos from community representatives.
Show Time
Where: Local Theatres
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
* Encore Stage & Studio’s production of The Three Musketeers opens this weekend (look for a deal on tickets)
* Wiley and the Hairy Man is on the Imagination Stage (look for a deal on tickets)
* The Light from Inside is also at the the Bethesda theatre
* Catch a performance of Petit Rouge, A Cajun Red Riding Hood at Adventure Theatre (look for a deal on tickets)
* Rainbow Puppets’ The Really BIG Dinosaur Show is this week’s Saturday Morning at the National show
* Outside the Bachx brings thrilling dance and spoken word for family audiences to the Kennedy Center
* The Washington Ballet’s world premiere production of Sleepy Hollow is also at the Kennedy Center
* Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp are entertaining audiences at The Puppet Co. at Glen Echo Park
* And Baby Bear’s Birthday is the featured Tiny Tots show at the puppet theatre
* THEARC presents TRUTH the Musical in celebration of Black History Month
Dancin’ in the Kitchen
Where: Human Rights Campaign Headquarters
When: Saturday, 11am & 1pm
Admission: $10
Grammy winning duo Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer will play music from their forthcoming CD, “Dancin’ in the Kitchen” featuring songs that celebrate all kinds of families! Along with the show, each family will receive an advance copy of “Dancin’ in the Kitchen,” a chance to meet the musicians, and snacks during the concert.
All Aboard for a Model Train Open House
Where: Historic Vienna Depot of the W&OD Railroad
When: Saturday, 12-3pm
Admission: Free
Chug on down to the Town of Vienna’s 125th Anniversary Celebration and while you are there, visit the Vienna Depot and see model train and trolley activities that realistically depict an actual railroad that existed in North Carolina in the 1950′s, the Western North Carolina (WNC). Every hill, town, building, locomotive, rail car, and industry in this layout is modeled after those places and things as they looked in that era. Well, almost everything. To satisfy popular demand, expect an occasional sighting of Thomas the Tank Engine (and a few of his friends) chugging around among the bigger steam and diesel locomotives. The Vienna Depot is located at 231 Dominion Road NE in Vienna.
Invasive Species Awareness
Where: National Museum of Natural History
When: Saturday, 12-3pm
Admission: Free
Head to Q?rius, the Natural History Museum’s interactive and experimental learning space, for a lesson about invasive species. What are they? How do they get around? What is their impact? Find out from experts who research different types of invasive species – they’ll be on hand to share their knowledge and insight – and through interactive experiences for all ages!
Dance Your Socks Off
Where: River Park Nursery School
When: Saturday, 4-7pm
Admission: $15 or $35/family
River Park Nursery School’s annual Sock Hop is always a fun-filled, family-friendly event. Featuring entertainment by local musical celebrity Mr. Skip, food, games, and a silent auction, enjoy activities for all ages and an opportunity to support quality preschool education on Capitol Hill.
North Indian Dance Show
Where: Lisner Auditorium
When: Saturday, 7pm (doors open at 6:30)
Admission: Tickets start at $25
Enjoy some cultural entertainment as eight of the best Bahngra dance teams in North America showcase their exceptional talents at the Elite 8 Bhangra Invitational. The competition host, Emdo Entertainment, promises an incomparable audience experience along with a fantastic show.
Road to the Puppy Bowl
Where: Washington Animal Rescue League
When: Sunday, 1-4pm
Admission: Free
This all-star adoption event helps animals of all sizes, shapes, and breeds find their forever homes — for half price! Those hoping to add a playful pup, a furry feline, a bouncing bunny, or anything in between can join Animal Planet at their local shelter for a fun-filled event with photo ops, giveaways and overly adorable animals. The best part, Animal Planet is helping cover half the cost of all adoptions on March 1. Register for the event and to be eligible for the waived adoption fees. The Washington Animal Rescue League is located at 71 Oglethorpe Street NW
Speak for the Trees
Where: E.C. Lawrence Park
When: Sunday, 2:30-3:30pm
Admission: $5/child
Celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday with a reading of The Lorax and a related craft project. Guests will also learn about how trees help people – a nod to the environmental message behind the cherished children’s book.
Prepare for Madness
Where: Area colleges
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: Varies
With March comes madness, and you can start psyched up for it at local basketball game. American University men and women take on Bucknell on Saturday (tickets here). See a local match-up as the GW and George Mason women’s teams play on Sunday (tickets here). The lady Hoyas play Creighton tonight (tickets here). And I’m not forgetting the Maryland vs. Michigan game, but tickets are already sold out (Go Terps!).
Last Skate of the Season
Where: Canal Park Ice Rink
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: $8/adults, $7/kids, $3/rentals
Even though winter seems like it’s going to last forever, the skating season is coming to an end at Canal Park. It’s your last chance to glide along the meandering paths of the ice rink. Skate under the sky, take a hot chocolate and snack break in the Park Tavern restaurant, then skate some more. And for other places to glide the day away in the DC area, see this post about local where where you can play it cool.
Model Rocket Launch
Where: Goddard Space Flight Center
When: Sunday, 1-2pm
Admission: Free
Join the monthly model rocket launch at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Anyone is welcome, and if you’ve got a model rocket to fly, bring it along (though there are some restrictions – see them here). The program takes place the first Sunday of every month at 1pm. Read more about it in this post.
Portrait Story Days & Discoveries
Where: National Portrait Gallery
When: Saturday, 1-4pm & Sunday, 2-5pm
Admission: Free
Drop in at the Portrait Gallery to listen to a story about Harriet and complete a hands-on activity. The story is usually read at 1, 2 and 3pm on Saturday and at 2, 3 and 4pm on Sunday. When you’re done there, pick up a Portrait Discovery Kit to explore the museum. For more about the program, see this post about one of our experiences there.
