Happy Weekend!
Quick links to loads of ideas for local activities:
* Spring Things
* Best Outdoors in the DC Area
* Local Hikes with Kids
* Indoor Outings
* Off-the-Beaten-Path Museums
* Bike Rides
* Stunning Spaces
* Peaceful Places
* Baltimore with Kids
‘Tis the Cherry Blossom Season
Where: Around the DC area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies
The cherry blossoms hit their peak at the Tidal Basin this week, and you might still be able to catch the tail end of it there. You can also seek out other places to view them — this post includes suggestions for where to go. Even more, events and activities to celebrate the iconic bloom are getting into full swing. Some are listed below, and you can find even more happening this weekend in this post as well as plan for the rest of the season.
Maryland Day
Where: Various locations in Maryland
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies
Celebrate Maryland’s birthday and enjoy a weekend full of activities highlighting the state’s heritage and culture. More than 60 events that are free or just $1 will be offered throughout Anne Arundel County. They will take place at museums, libraries, parks, historic downtown Annapolis, and more places. Find details for all of it here.
Blossom Kite Festival
Where: Washington Monument Grounds | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday 10am – 4:30pm
Admission: Free
The sight of thousands of kites in all colors, shapes, and sizes soaring around the Washington Monument truly is a sight to behold. The sails you see flying at the Kite Festival each spring range from simple to pretty darn creative. Dragons, sharks, butterflies, giant soccer balls, even some that look like big, beautiful origami works way outnumber your basic diamond. And anyone can go fly their kites, so plan to BYO. There’s a competition aspect to the event, too; expert kite enthusiasts will wow crowds with cool stunts, and prizes will be awarded to winners of various categories such as most beautiful, funniest, and aerodynamics.
NoMa in Bloom Day
Where: Alethia Tanner Park | NoMa, DC
When:: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free
This free family-friendly event will be filled with music, delicious food, kite flying, and a curated market by Neighbors DC. The National Cherry Blossom Festival has designated Alethia Tanner as a “Featured Park” for the National Kite Festival. BYOK (Bring Your Own Kite) or use one of a free kite there (while supplies last). The event is, but let tyhem know you’re going with an RSVP here.
Free Family FunFest
Where: Prince George’s Stadium | MD
When: Saturday, 10am – 1:30pm
Admission: Free
Join the Bowie Baysox for this free festival that will be loaded with fun for the whole family. Enjoy carnival-style rides and games, lots of activities from Baysox sponsors and partners, opportunities to hang out with mascots Louie and Rocko, raffles, and more. Fans can also tour the field and walk the warning track. Even more, the Bowie Police Department will be there with police cars, horses from the Maryland National Capital Park Police Mounted Unit, and fire apparatus from PG Fire & EMS.
Show Time
Where: Around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by show
There’s all kinds of entertainment on local stages this weekend. Here’s what and where you can catch it (and you can find show details here):
* P.Nokio – A Hip-Hop Musical at ImaginationStage
* Make Way for Ducklings at Adventure Theatre
* Catch Me If You Can at Arena Stage
* The Adventures of Mr. Toad at Creative Cauldron
* Mother Goose at Imagination Stage
* Grace at Ford’s Theatre
* RENT at National Theatre
* Snow White at Hylton Performing Arts Center
Tiny Tots: Tree Songs
Where: The Puppet Co. | Glen Echo Park, MD
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10am
Tickets: $15
The Puppet Co.’s sweet Tony Tots series is back! At these shows especially for little ones (2-4 years old). lights remain on, doors stay open, and running times are short (30 minutes) to accommodate smaller attention spans. In Tree Songs, Jasper and his puppet friends take you on an interactive, musical adventure. Sing and dance to your favorite tree songs, while exploring pre-school science.
Spring Cleaning (& Art Collecting!)
Where: Victura Park | Kennedy Center, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: Free
Victura Park, the great outdoor cafe and wine garden at The REACH, has opened for the season, and is hosting an art market this weekend. Over 50 local artists have been invited to declutter their studios for a Spring Cleaning sale. All DC-based visual artists, they’ll be selling work made before 2022 to make room in their studios for their next big project! All work sold will be $150, or less and 100% sales go back to the artists.
Anime Movies Days
Where: The Wharf | Southwest DC
When: Saturday & Sunday | 2pm, 4:30pm, & 7pm
Admission: $10
Enjoy some anime by the river! The Wharf is celebrating the globally popular Japanese genre of anime with an outdoor anime movie festival. Anime Movie Days includes favorites like Steamboy, Okko’s Inn, A Letter to Momo, The Sky Crawlers, and more. Screenings take place each day at 2pm, 4:30pm, and 7pm. Drinks and snacks are available at the Cantina Bambina concession window.
NoVa Parking
Where: Various parks in Northern Virginia
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
Not only are many of the locales within the NoVa Parks system great places to go for outdoor recreation, other activities within some of them are now available. Batting cages, mini golf, kayak and canoe rentals, and disc golf are some of them. And some are just beautiful to roam around. Find things to do by activity, or check out individual parks and see what they have going on. A couple of specific recs: Fountainhead, Pohick Bay, Potomac Overlook, and Meadowlark.
Blooms at the Fort
Where: Fort McHenry | Baltimore, MD
When: throughout the weekend
Admission:
DC isn’t the only city with cherry blossoms in bloom. You can see them in Baltimore, too, and Fort McHenry apparently is at peak bloom now. It also makes for a very interesting, informative, and enjoyable outing for all ages. Engaging exhibits range from historical objects and structures to multimedia displays and interactives. And the grounds located right on the Chesapeake are lovely to stroll on a nice day. Make a longer day of it in Baltimore (or even a weekend) — the KFDC Guide to Exploring Baltimore with Kids has ideas and info for all kinds of things to do.
Oxon Run Pinknic & Kite Fly
Where: Oxon Run Park | Anacostia, DC
When: Sunday, 12-3pm
Admission: Free
For a smaller kite flying fest than the big one on the National Mall, head to Oxon Run Park in Anacostia, There will be kite programming, entertainment, and more in coordination with the Blossom Kite Festival.
Petal Porches
Where: Around the DC area
When: Through April 17
Admission: Free
Check out local porches decorated for cherry blossom season! For the second year, residents and businesses around the area were encouraged to get creative and show their blossom spirit by decorating their porches, yards, and windows to spread joy and connect communities. Find a map here showing locations of all registered Petal Porches, so you can plan a walk or drive to see and share in the celebration of spring.
***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* Spots are still open for hand cut portraits with Master Silhouette Artist Karl Johnson — just for KFDC readers! The 10-minute virtual sessions will take place Monday, March 28, and Wednesday, March 30. (FYI, they make for great Mother’s Day gifts!)
* Be aware of road closures for the Rock ‘n’ Roll half-marathon on Saturday, and consider taking Metro to get around DC.
* The new Yayoi Kusama exhibit opens at the Hirshhorn next Friday, April 1 — and it is fantastic! Get a sneak peek of it here. (More about it on the blog soon!)
* And reopening next Friday: The U.S. Botanic Garden!
* The cherry blossoms aren’t the only flowers in town. See what other big blooms are on their way — and where to see them — in this KFDC post.
* Oscars this weekend! Rooting for Drive My Car for Best Picture. Other excellent films (imo): Parallel Mothers, CODA, The Lost Daughter. What were your favorite movies this past year?
* Is this going around 😆
* The way she’s looking at her mom 💕
