The Weekend Round-Up: March 2-4

Some upbeat news as we wind down the week: The National Park Service just announced peak cherry blossom bloom dates: March 17-20. Spring will be here before we know it! In the meantime, here are some great ways to enjoy one of the last weekends of winter. Happy Weekend!

Women’s History Day
Where: DAR Museum | Downtown DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate Women’s History Month at the DAR Museum and join them to recognize powerful American women who left their mark on history! Explore the exhibits, archives, and library as you learn about female explorers, scientists, artists, activists, authors, spies, and more through hands-on activities. Decorate a “Votes for Women” sash like Alice Paul. Conduct chemistry experiments like Alice Ball. Travel around the “world” like Nellie Bly. And crack a code like Mary Bowser. See the website for more details.

Intersect with the Performing Arts
Where: Atlas Performing Arts Center | H Street NE, DC
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Varies – see the website
It’s the second weekend of the Atlas’ annual INTERSECTIONS festival that presents tons of fantastic performances in music, theatre, dance, film, and spoken word with several exhibitions especially for families. See Theater for the Very Young: Inside Out. Enjoy Shakespeare for the Young with The Tiniest Tempest. Really Spicy Opera presents The Princess Pirate Party Musical. Take in Billosophy: For Kids by Dreamcatcher Entertainment. And learb about Black History through interactive music and storytelling with the Culture Queen at the Free Café Concert. These are just the most kid-friendly shows — the whole line-up throughout the Festival is worth checking out by adults.

Shake Up Your Saturday
Where: Folger Shakespeare Library | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 12pm
Admission: Free, but registration required
Join the Folger’s family program that takes place the first Saturday of every month. In this “Printer School” session, kids can learn the art of book printing. Ages 5-7 go at 10-11am, and ages 8-14 at 11am – 12pm. Go here to sign up. And be sure to read more about the Folger Shakespeare library in this new KFDC post.

Alexandria St. Patrick’s Day Parade CANCELLED due to weather
Where: Old Town | Alexandria, VA
When: Saturday, 12:15pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate the Irish holiday a a bit early in Old Town Alexandria. Pre-parade festivities, including a classic car show and dog show, begin in the morning, and the annual procession kicks off at 12:15pm at Alfred and King Streets, then winds through Old Town, showcasing elected officials, Irish Ambassadors, military commanders, scout troops, high school bands, and local celebrities.

Show Time
Where: Theatres around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
* Watch a book fave come to life with Pinkalicous the Musical at BlackRock Center for the Performing Arts
* Reserve free tickets for Traveling Lantern’s Pinnochio, this week’s Saturday Morning at the National performance
* See Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day at Adventure Theatre (Update: all shows cancelled this weekend)
* The Prince and the Pauper – A Bollywood Tale is on the Imagination Stage
* Catch a fairytale classic as The Puppet Co. presents Beauty and the Beast
* And Penguins’ Playground is the Tiny Tots performance for littles there on Saturday
* It’s a symphony for children as the NSO presents Two Divas and a Bear at the Kennedy Center

Weekend Walk-In: 3D Sculpture
Where: American Visionary Arts Museum | Baltimore, MD
When: Saturday, 1-4pm
Admission: $5
Join the museum for their hands-on, drop-in, once-a-month art-making workshop in the AVAM classroom! Education staff will help you explore new creative territory & make a project inspired by one of their beloved visionary artists. During this session, create a 3D sculpture inspired by the mystery of the heart! Supplies & boundless inspiration provided, and all ages are welcome.

Harry Potter Wizard School Scavenger Hunt
Where: National Gallery of Art | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 2-4pm
Admission: $17.50/ages 10-17, $19.50/adult
Join Watson Adventures on a unique Harry Potter-themed scavenger hunt that kids and adults will love! Follow in the footsteps of young wizards on a field trip to the National Gallery in search of art that echoes characters, places and enchanted objects in the famed Harry Potter books and movies. The hunt is not an addition to or variation on Harry’s adventures, but instead references to the books will provide a surprising bridge to many strange and wonderful works of art. This hunt is designed for kids and adults to do together (but all-adult teams are allowed to compete separately) Kids must be accompanied by an adult. Read about this super fun adventure in this KFDC post.

Lunch with Ferdinand
Where: Arlington Cinema Draft House | Arlington, VA
When: Saturday, 12:45pm & Sunday, 1:15pm
Admission: $8 (plus food & drinks)
Catch an Oscar nominated flick and enjoy a good meal at a screening of Ferdinand at the Draft House! The animated flick about young bull who escapes from a training camp in rural Spain is family-friendly and getting lots of love from critics. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

The Great Indoors
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
As the mercury drops a bit this weekend, you might be seeking out fun indoors. The Great Indoors post just hit a milestone and now lists 100 suggestions for things to do, most them mainstays around DC, and just about all of them tried and tested by KFDC.

Clifton STEM Fair
Where: Lord of Life Preschool | Clifton, VA
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: $5
Bring the whole family and solve THE GREAT STEM MYSTERY for a prize! Vendors who specialize in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, as well as Art will be there throughout the school with fun activities for kids 2-12. Enjoy entertainment by Peter McCory “The One Man Band,” and food and bake sale items will be available for purchase (cash only). GIRL SCOUTS: They will have a STEM fun patch available this year, included in the price of admission! The preschool is located at 13421 Twin Lakes Dr in Clifton, VA.

Flying in the Great Hall
Where: National Building Museum | Judiciary Square, DC
When: Sunday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Partake in some super fly activities at the Building Museum. All ages can drop in on Sunday to watch as the DC Maxecuters demo all kinds of model planes in and across the Great Hall. Of course, you can enjoy all the other NBM offerings the rest of the weekend (admission fee required for some).

Chesapeake Critters CANCELLED due to power outage
Where: Buddie Ford Nature Center | Alexandria, VA
When: Saturday,11am – 12:30pm
Admission: $15
Did you know Alexandria is part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed? Kids and their families are invited to meet (and touch!) some of the live critters living in the bay. A marine biologist will be at Buddie Ford to discuss their roles and impact on this important ecosystem! Registration required for each child – sign up here (search fro Chesapeake Critters). Parents/guardians are free. Read more about the wonderful nature center in this KFDC post.

Sensory-Friendly Purim Celebration
Where: Washington Hebrew Congregation | Woodley Park, DC
When: Sunday, 10:30-11:30am
Admission: $5/family + canned good to donate
Does your child cover their ears in a crowd? Do they avoid loud noises? We will minimize the noise and other sensory input but maximize the fun! Join us for crafts, an interactive reading of the Purim story (megillah), a mitzvah (good deed) project and treats to take home. Best for ages 4-8. Costumes encouraged but not required. Pre-register as space is limited.

The Rumpus Room: A Family Dance Party
Where: U Street Music Hall | U Street, DC
When: Sunday, 11am – 2pm
Admission: $10, $30/4-ticket pack
Hit the dance floor with the Rumpus Room, a daytime dance party for families, with sounds provided by DJs Marc Meistro and Steven Faith (who are parents themselves). Created by DJs who wanted to share the nightclub experience with their kids, the Rumpus Room adapts the club environment — think disco ball, lights, and of course music — into safe family-friendly fun. Get ready for a disco filled with little ones, parents, grandparents, aunties, and uncles. The soundtrack will be a mix of G-rated dance hits and classics, all at a kid-friendly volume. They provide the shakers, hula-hoops, beach balls and other props. You go to dance! Designed for kids 8 and under and their caregivers, but older siblings are welcome. Drink specials for adults!

Doktor Kaboom: “It’s Just Rocket Science”
Where: The Old Firehouse, | McLean, VA
When: Sunday, 2pm
Admission: $15, $10/MCC district residents
Doktor Kaboom is an over-the-top German physicist with a passion for science that knows no bounds. Sporting chrome goggles, orange lab coat, motorcycle boots and wicked cool hair, Doktor Kaboom travels the world, thrilling adults and children alike with his explosive comedic style of science experiments designed to involve, excite, educate and entertain! Recommended for ages 7+.

Purim Carnival
Where: Edlavitch DCJCC | Downtown DC
When: Sunday, 10am – 12pm
Admission: $23/family
Celebrate Purim with games, arts and crafts, hamantaschen cookies, songs, and a play! You can also give back to the community by preparing sandwiches for Martha’s Table and costumes for Only Make Believe, a non-profit that creates and performs interactive theater for children in hospitals and care facilities.

Recreation on Ice
Where: Ice rinks around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
There aren’t that many outdoor skating weekends left this season season, so take advantage while you can! Enjoy art as you skate at the Sculpture Garden; circle the rink at Washington Harbour; glide on the newest area rink at The Wharf; or do some shopping then skate at Pentagon Row, Tyson’s Corner, Veteran’s Plaza, Rockville Town Square, or Reston Town Center. This post has details on both alfresco and indoor ice skating options in the area. And a heads-up that Canal Park closed early this season!

Cool Hikes
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
Bundle up for a walk in the woods. See buds about to bloom and get excited for spring, tramp in places with scenic views, hike and explore history at interesting locales, and enjoy a day of active fun. This post has a a bunch of recommendations for good walks in the woods with the kids.

***MORE GOOD STUFF TO KNOW***
* In case you missed it last weekend, KFDC just turned 8, and I’m celebrating in some new ways.
* Looking to get a head start on some spring cleaning? Spekless Cleaning is offering KidFriendly DC readers $30 off their first service. Visit their website and use code kidfriendlydc.
* The giveaway for a chance to win a week of summer camp with RDUTennis ends this Sunday.
* The Town of Occoquan is hosting a Community Peep Contest, and anyone is welcome to build a diorama and enter to win!
* The father of a Parkland shooting victim shared his moving eulogy for his son with WaPo’s On Parenting blog.
* This news and this, too, are encouraging. This, not so much.
* As a mom of an almost-teen, I loved this post on parenting them. (Thanks to Darcy from No Monsters in My Bed for sharing it.)