The Weekend Round-Up: April 29 – May 1

 

Happy Weekend!

Links leading to loads of ongoing and seasonal fun:
* 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

Bon Jour, Georgetown!
Where: Book Hill Neighborhood | Georgetown, DC
When: Friday & Saturday, 10am – 5pm | Sunday, 12-5pm
Admission: Free
The Georgetown French Market returns to the Book Hill area of the neighborhood, bringing the signature European open air market back for its 19th year.  More than 25 Georgetown boutiques, antique shops, restaurants, galleries, and more will be featured. But it’s not all about the shopping!  Kids will enjoy the strolling mimes, hands-on activities, live music, plus French cuisine from Georgetown cafes and restaurants will make everyone happy. Visit the website to see the schedule of events and list of participating shops.

Afro-Atlantic Histories Festival
Where: National Gallery of Art | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 5pm
Admission: Free
The National Gallery of Art welcomes you to join the Afro-Atlantic Histories Festival, a special day-long event highlighting the arts and culture of the African Diaspora. Highlights of the festival include Jamaican cooking demonstrations and free samples, opportunities to shop from local makers, the first live performance of visionary artist María Magdalena Campos-Pons’s When We Gather, and musical performances. Of course, plan to see the Afro-Atlantic Histories exhibit, too! See more details about the festival here.

Carousel Day
Where: Glen Echo Park | Glen Echo, MD
When: Saturday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free (carousel rides are a fee)
This annual tradition at Glen Echo Park and one of the Park’s most popular festivals is back in person this year!  Along with rides on the beloved merry-go-round, guests of all ages can enjoy a loads of fun activities: Music and dance performances, arts & crafts, artist studios and galleries, and more. See the day’s full schedule here. And purchase carousel ride tickets online here.

Go, Terps!
Where: University of Maryland | College Park, MD
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
The annual Maryland Day celebration in College Park gets a giant thumbs-up from me, and not just because it’s my alma mater. This is a fantastic event for families — and we know from experience. Every year, the University hosts a huge open house for, well, everybody. There will be hundreds of family-friendly activities for varying ages, including learning games; a sports and rec area; musical performances; arts & crafts; farm animal visits; fossil digs; insect and instrument petting zoos; and TONS more. It’s spread out all over campus — and it’s a huge campus, so be prepared for lots of walking (worth every step!) and be sure to bring a stroller for little ones.

Welcome, Dorothy!
Where: Washington DC Temple | Kensington, MD
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
Those who really know this area well may have an idea of  that title refers to. For those that don’t, “Surrender, Dorothy” was spray painted on an overpass visible from the Beltway, just before the enormous straight-out-of-Oz looking Washington DC Temple. So many of us have wondered for years what the church, with its grand, imposing exterior, looks like on the inside. Well, now we can find out! The public will be welcome for tours for the first time ever starting late April.  All are welcome, just reserve tickets in advance — there are still some available for this weekend, and plenty available for future dates.

Book It
Where: Bookstores in. the DC area
When: Saturday
Admission: Free
Saturday is Independent Bookstore Day, and several local book shops are celebrating with special activities. East City Bookshop will have  in-store flash sales, giveaways, and more. Kramerbooks will be offering Blind Date with a Book — receive a surprise book for every $100 you spend at the bookstore.   Hurray 4 Books, the children’s bookstore in A;exandria will have special merch available.  And some other local stores to shop:  Solid State Books, Politics and Prose, and Busboys and Poets.

Porchfest
Where: Around Petworth, DC
When: Saturday, 2-6pm
Admission: Free
Get the best seats in the house (or on the sidewalk) as the front porches around Petworth are transformed into intimate performance spaces to be enjoyed by anyone who happens to stroll by. Featuring dozens of bands, the event celebrate the arts and the community. Access a schedule and a map of porch locations here.

Wu Fei
Where: Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: Saturday, 11am
Tickets: $20
Wu Fei is a renowned master of the guzheng, the 21-string Chinese zither. She plays in the guzheng’s language — almost 2,000 years old — by mixing Western classical and Chinese traditions with a contemporary sound. The classically trained composer and vocalist has taken her music around the world to venues such as the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing and New York’s MoMA, and collaborated with renowned artists across disciplines and genres. Recommended for ages 8+.

The Other Side
Where: Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: Through Saturday
Tickets: $20
Catch some family theatre at the Kennedy Center! Adapted from the book by Jacqueline Woodson, in this show Clover’s mom says it isn’t safe to cross the fence that segregates their African-American side of town from the white side where Anna lives. But when the two girls strike up a friendship, they’ll find a clever way to get around the grown-up rules together. Recommended for ages 5+.

NSO Family: Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs
Where: Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: Saturday, 2pm & 4pm
Tickets: $20-55
Once upon a time, there were three hungry Dinosaurs: Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur…and a dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway! That’s just the beginning of this hilarious, fractured, symphonic take on “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” as retold by Mo Willems. This new classic is presented by favorite performers and the National Symphony Orchestra, featuring original music by indie pop icon and NSO Artistic Advisor Ben Folds.

The Fantastic Tale of Rumpelstiltskin
Where: The Puppet Co. | Glen Echo Park, MD
When: Friday, 10:30am | Saturday & Sunday, 11:30am & 1pm
Tickets: $15
In a brand new production, the Puppet Co. gives you the full story of what happens after the gold has been spun and the day has been saved. This hilarious and smart comedy will be a great romp for adults and kids alike. Can you guess Rumpelstiltskin’s new name?! Recommended ages 4+. Run time approximately 50 minutes. (KFDC Tip:  Catch a show on Saturday when it’s also Carousel Day at Glen Echo Park!)

C&O Canal Boat Tours
Where: C&O Canal | Georgetown, DC
When: Starting Friday
Admission: $15/adult, $10/senior, $8/child
Public boat rides are back along the C&O in Georgetown! Starting this weekend, they will be available throughout the day, Wednesday – Sunday through October, offering one-hour guided historical tours along the first mile of the CC&O Canal National Historical Park. Learn about the fascinating history, technology, and culture of the Canal, and the surprising stories of the people who lived, worked and played nearby over the past two centuries, while you enjoy a cruise o the water and the surrounding scenery. (Note: It looks like this is sold out for the weekend, but plan ahead and book for a future date!)

Build Day
Where: Hirshhorn Museum | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 1pm
Admission: Free
Do you know a budding architect? Bring them to build with Hirshhorn Kids and friends from the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) Arts and Boolean Girl. Join them for a hands-on exploration of design and building. They’ll be celebrating student artists from DCPS, and will feature activities to get everyone building and dreaming. Find them in the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden. (KFDC Tip: Go early and try to get passes to see One with Eternity: Yayoi Kusama in the Hirshhhorn Collection — free, timed-entry, day-of passes are distributed at 9:30am.)

Truck Touch
Where: Suburban Nursery School | Bethesda, MD
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: $5/online, $7/at door
It’s time for Suburban Nursery School’s Annual Truck Touch Event! Kids of all ages can pretend to drive a school bus, explore construction rigs, delight at the sounds of the fire truck, and hop aboard many more vehicles. Along with the cool rides, guests can enjoy homemade baked goods, pizza and Kona Ice truck, games, face painting, and much more! It will all take place in the school’s parking lot (7210 Hidden Creek Rd in Bethesda). All proceeds benefit Suburban Nursery School, a non-profit, parent-run cooperative nursery school.

Spring Festival
Where: South Mountain Creamery | Middletown, MD
When: Saturday, 11am – 5pm
Admission: Free
This annual festival is super fun and a great opportunity to experience the farm and creamery. There’s a petting zoo for the kids, hay rides for everyone, live music, corn hole and bocce call, civil war reenactments, and fun farm demos, like ice cream churning and bee keeping. Shop the Farmer’s Market, plus additional food and snacks from vendors will be available for purchase.

International Family Equality Day
Where: National Zoo | Woodley Park, DC
When: Sunday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate the beauty and importance of family diversity with activities, rainbow-themed decor, and a special giant panda twist in honor of the Giant Panda 50th Anniversary. View the day’s schedule here. And for more info and to reserve free passes to the Zoo, go here.

The Literary Hill BookFest
Where: Eastern Market North Hall | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Sunday, 11am – 3pm
Admission: Free
This annual celebration of books and authors held each spring on Capitol Hill is back “home” in DC’s historic Eastern Market for the first time since 2019. since 2019! The event will feature more than 50 authors, poets, booksellers, publishers, literacy groups, and more, including people and activities for the whole family. Children’s book authors will be among the guests. And visitors will have the unique opportunity to contribute to a podcast for kids hosted by award-winning public radio journalist and children’s author Kitty Felde, partake in panel discussions, help compose a community-penned poem, enjoy activities in the Children’s Corner, and much and more. A poetry open mic will follow the main event. And while you’re there, plan to for time to shop around the vibrant flea market along the streets around the Eastern Market.

We’ve Got Spirit, Yes We Do!
Where: Audi Field
When: Sunday, 5pm
Admission: Tickets start at $25
The Washington Spirit, our local women’s pro soccer team, is playing at Audi field this weekend, as they take on Seattle’s OL Reign. Enjoy some amazing soccer play while supporting our home team and women in sports, plus see a few stars of women’s soccer (including the amazing Megan Rapinoe!) in action. Purchase tickets here.

Movie on the Potomac
Where: National Harbor | Oxon Hill, MD
When: Sunday, 6pm
Admission: Free
National Harbor’s popular Movies on the Potomac series is back. Every Sunday at 6pm through October is “family night — guests are invited to gather in front of the Plaza Screen on the waterfront to watch family-friendly film, either a recent releases and classic films. This weekend is Sing 2! Movie goers are encouraged to bring chairs and order take-out from one of the many restaurants right around the plaza. (PS: Thursday evenings are “date night” films.)

Blooming Azaleas
Where: National Arboretum | Northeast DC
When: Throughout the weekend, 8am – 5pm
Admission: Free
The azalea bloom at the National Arboretum is well known among flower enthusiasts, attracting visitors from all over every year. And for good reason: It’s absolutely gorgeous! Even more, the Arb is a great place to spend a day with the family, with something for all ages to enjoy.  Go here for scenes from last year’s bloom and info for checking it out this year.

***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* For even more ideas for things to do, The Great Indoors post lists over 100 suggestions for activities that take place inside.
* Kick back without the kids and help support a local DCPS elementary school: Maury @ the Market, the annual big event hosted by Maury Elementary, will take place May 7 at Eastern Market’s North Hall, 7-10pm.
*  Movie, anyone? There are some good flicks out right now. See what’s playing at our local theatres.
* We finally dined at Albi, the restaurant at The Yards featuring Levantine food, and it did not disappoint!
* And speaking of restaurants, Thrillist’s 19 Standout Places to Eat and Drink Outside in DC Right Now is one to bookmark.
* Digging all of the new styles of one of my favorite brands.
* Makes me laugh because it’s me.