The Weekend Round-Up: May 1-3

Explore the world right here in DC, get up close and personal with some of the coolest rides on the road, celebrate the season and la dia, have fun supporting local schools, enjoy live entertainment and special museum programs, opt for an outing centered around your furriest family member, or revel in the fantastic weather ahead on an outdoor adventure. There’s definitely no shortage of great ways to kick off May. Happy Weekend!

Around the World Embassy Tour
Where: More than 40 Embassies
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
You might get to hear live Australian didgeridoo music, sample Nicaraguan rum, see a Peruvian dance show, and enjoy the rich tradition of Nepalese storytelling – all in one day! On Saturday, Cultural Tourism DC presents its annual Around the World Embassy Tour, an open house to embassies from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania. The free event will showcase art, music, traditional dress, culinary delights from nations across the globe. It’s also your chance to check out the interiors of those huge mansions along Mass Ave & International Drive that you usually just admire from the street. Admission is free, but bring identification, as some embassies might conduct security checks. For more about the event, read about one of our experiences there. (And neat to note now: we actually did make it to Nicaragua, so this event could inspire your travels, too.)

Flower Mart
Where: National Cathedral
When: Friday 10am – 6pm, Saturday 10am – 5pm
Admission: Free
The annual spring festival, in its 76th year at the National Cathedral, is celebrating Asia this year, with partner representing numerous countries presenting their culture, history, and food for all to learn, experience and enjoy along with Flower Mart’s yearly offerings — plant sales, floral and horticultural displays, and boutique booths, and tons of fun for children. Music and entertainment, games and rides, tasty foods, the All Hallows Guild antique carousel, and other activities will delight the younger set. Admission is free, though concessions and some activities will cost a fee. Proceeds from other sales benefit the Cathedral’s gardens, grounds and woodlands. See the website for the entertainment schedule.

Glen Echo Family Day
Where: Glen Echo Park
When: Saturday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate the opening of the park’s beautiful historic Dentzel Carousel for its 95th season! Along with rides on the merry-go-round ($1.25/ride), guests of all ages can enjoy a loads of fun activities: Magic shows, dance performances, arts & crafts, face painting, photo exhibits, and balloon animals are just some of the usual favorites. The full schedule of events is available of the Glen Echo website.

Cheverly Truck Touch
Where: Cheverly Nursery School
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: $5 (under 18 months are free)
Little ones love Truck Touch events, and this one is always especially fun. The biggest lineup of vehicles yet, including the PGPD Helicopter back the 2nd year in a row, has been confirmed for Cheverly Weekday Nursery’s annual fundraiser. Children can sit in the driver’s seat of a fire truck, honk the horn of a dump truck, run around inside the trailer of an 18-wheeler, check out the a police car interior, stand on the back of a garbage truck, and get behind the wheel of many more cool rides. And the fun doesn’t end there—games geared toward little ones, moon bounces, concessions, balloons, and more will also be available. The event will be held in the Cheverly United Methodist Church parking lot (2801 Cheverly Avenue, Cheverly MD 20785). All proceeds benefit the nursery school. Read an early KFDC post about our take on these events here.

Show Time
Where: Local Theatres
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
* Enjoy a mix of math, science, and music at an NSO Ensemble Concert at the Kennedy Center
* Catch a performance of Sinbad: The Untold Tale at Imagination Stage
* The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is on stage at Adventure Theatre
* See a show on strings at The Puppet Co. where Jack and the Beanstalk is the current main stage production
* And Mother Goose Caboose is the featured Tiny Tots show at the puppet theatre on Sunday
* Rock out with the grandson’s jr. at Jammin’ Java on Saturday morning

Space Day
Where: National Air & Space Museum
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Space Day is a favorite at the National Air and Space Museum where visitors enjoy STEM-inspired hands-on activities, meet astronauts, and learn about space from experts from the Museum and NASA. All of the activities take place amid the awe-inspiring collection of historic aviation and space artifacts in the Museum on the Mall.

Innovation Family Festival
Where: National Portrait Gallery
When: Saturday, 11:30am – 5pm
Admission: Free
Join the Smithsonian American Art Museum and United States Patent and Trademark Office as they celebrate creativity, invention, and thinking outside the box—or container – at Innovation Family Day! Explore how containers are put to work, from shipping art and precious gems, to eco-friendly plant beds, to space suits. Make new containers from old ones in the cardboard playground or watch containers being made in a 3-D printer. Fun for the whole family!

Dog Days Bloom Fest
Where: Great Country Farms
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: $10/adult, $8/child
This adventure for dogs and their people has something for every member of the family. Canine guests can run an impressive agility course set up by Sit Stay Training and owner, Meghann Weller-Redmer. And other professionals will be providing tips for working with your dog.And the rest of the farm, which is essentially a sprawling playground, is open for all to enjoy. Explore the many acres, and opt for a wagon ride to see the orchards and farm in bloom!

Garden Guild Open House
Where: Franciscan Monastery in Brookland
When: Saturday, 9:30-11am
Admission: Free
The garden at the Franciscan Monastery is one the most gorgeous in the city, and on Saturday you can find out how that happens. The monastery’s Garden Guild will give you an inside look at everything they do — vegetable, herb and flower gardening and care; urban beekeeping; potpourri and lavender wand making; garden tours; luminaria, Easter lily and palm cross sale; annual plant and herb sale; and more. They’ll also be happy to answer your questions. Experienced and new gardeners of all ages are welcome. Read more about the Franciscan Monastery here.

Lafayette Spring Fair
Where: Lafayette Elementary School
When: Saturday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Tickets or $35 KidPass available
Support a local elementary school and enjoy a day of family fun at the Lafayette Spring Fair. They’ll have carnival rides, bounce houses, face painting, arts and crafts, a dunk tank, and karaoke. Need a new ride? There will be a bike swap to trade in outgrown bikes for a “new” one. Looking for some good reads? Shop the used book sale. There will also be tons of food for purchase, including their ever-popular bake sale. Tickets will be on sale at the fair, or purchase a $35 KidPass for unlimited rides. Event will take place rain or shine.

Arts for Families: Felt Masks
Where: Textile Museum
When: Saturday, 1-4pm
Admission: Free
Now that the Textile Museum has re-opened after its merger with George Washington University, the Arts for Families program is also back, inviting kids and their parents to explore art, history, and culture through a hands-on activity. During this session, drop in to create felt masks and transform yourselves into a superhero, animal, or whatever you imagine to be.

Frühlingsfest
Where: Heurich House
When: Saturday, 1-4
Admission: $20/adult, $5/child, under 2 are free
Frühlingsfest, translated as ‘Spring Festival’ and known as “Oktoberfest’s little sister,” celebrates the end of a cold winter and beginning of spring in Germany, and the Heurich House brings the age-old traditional to Washington, DC! Join in their annual family-friendly festival, featuring scavenger hunts, ice cream making, garden games, and more. Enjoy a pig roast from Rockland’s BBQ, beer from Old Ox Brewery, and German butter cookies from Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe. John Henry, The Guitar Playing Man, will be performing live music all afternoon. Buy tickets and get more info on the registration page.

Day of the Dog
Where: Congressional Cemetery
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Join a puppypalooza at Congressional Cemetery! Known on Capitol Hill as one of the best places to walk your dog, the cemetery typically only allows dog-walking privileges to members of the K9 Corps. However, Day of the Dog opens the cemetery to the public and their leashed pups — a special opportunity for dog lovers to experience this historic site along with local pet vendors and services. This year, they’re also debuting a Day of the Dog 5k as one of the featured events of the day. For more information about the vendors, rescues, and activities of the day, see the Day of the Dog website.

Korea Day Family Festival
Where: Freer | Sackler Gallery
When: Sunday, 11 am–4 pm
Admission: Free
The Korean Film Festival kicks off with a full day of Korean cultural activities for the whole family. Explore the richness of Korean culture through hands-on activities, an animated film, gallery conversations, cooking demonstrations, and dance performances.

Independent Bookstore Day
Where: Barston’s Child’s Play Bookstores
When: Saturday
Admission: Free
There will be parties at all four Child’s Play locations to celebrate the first annual Independent Bookstore Day. Festivities will include giveaways, scavenger hunts, an author appearance, and special merchandise. Location are in DC, Rockville, Arlington, and McLean.

Azalea Garden Fest
Where: Landon School
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Admission: Free, but fee for some activities
The Landon School in Bethesda is hosting its annual Azalea Garden Festival featuring carnival rides, designer fashions and student art, and the season’s flowers. Celebrate spring and stroll through the budding beauty of Landon’s azalea garden or take a spin on one of our amusement park attractions. Enjoy food from some of the area’s best food trucks, art and live music, and rare flowers to bring home to plant in your home garden!

Cinco De Mayo Festival
Where: National Mall
When: Sunday, 12- 7
Admission: Free
Celebrate the day with the Maru Montero Dance Company as they host the 23rd annual National Cinco de Mayo Festival to celebrate Latin American dance, music and crafts. Live performances will include salsa, Mexican folk dancing, mariachis, and other dance and music. The children’s pavilion will host arts and crafts activities where young people can make piñatas, braid hair, build dancing puppets, and enjoy a day of fun activities. For more info, see the festival website.

NAMI Bazaar
Where: NAMI Montgomery County
When: Sunday, 12-4pm
Admission: Free
The National Alliance on Mental Illness in Montgomery County is hosting a bazaar to help support and promote their cause. Along with being a kickoff for the grand reopening of their thrift shop, the family friendly event will include games, music, food, and a petting zoo. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the organization will also be having their annual NAMI Walk in Baltimore on May 16. NAMIMC is located at 11718 Parklawn Drive in Rockville, MD.

Spring Fun Fair
Where: Washington Hebrew Congregation
When: Sunday, 12:30-3:30pm
Admission: Free, but activities and food are extra
Bring your family and friends to JBSC and spend the afternoon playing interactive games, having fun on carnival rides, and creating wonderful arts and crafts projects at the annual RJWECC Fun Fair. Enjoy music from a live DJ, delicious treats at the bake sale, and amazing food trucks — rain or shine. Location is 11810 Falls Road in Potomac, MD.

Tiptoe Through the Tulips
Where: Burnside Farm
When: Saturday & Sunday, 9am – 6pm
Admission: $4/day, $7/unlimited entry
Experience Holland in Haymarket, Va! Burnside Farm’s annual Festival of Spring showcasing the season’s flowers is open and blooming. Stroll through the giant fields that contain over 50 different varieties of flowers in a rainbow of colors and pick your own to enjoy at home: $1 for 2 daffodils, $1 per tulip.) Be sure to have your camera handy.