The Weekend Round-Up:
March 31 – April 2

 

 

Happy Weekend!

Go-to posts full of ideas for local activities:
* The Great Indoors
* Off-the-Beaten-Path Museums
* Best Outdoors in the DC Area
* Local Hikes with Kids
* Baltimore with Kids
* Bike Rides
* Stunning Spaces
* Peaceful Places

Cherry Blossom Season
Where: Around the DC area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies
The cherry blossoms are just past their peak at the Tidal Basin, but the cherry blossom celebration continues with loads of events and activities.  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.  And you can still view the blossoms in many places around DC — this post includes suggestions for where to go.

Bloomaroo
Where: The Wharf | Southwest DC
When: Saturday, 2-9pm
Admission: Free
The Wharf ‘s big annual cherry blossom celebration is a spring extravaganza along the southwest waterfront.  The afternoon and evening event features cherry-blossom themed art, music, fireworks, and family-friendly fun. Enjoy live music, s’mores at the firepit, a beer garden on District pier, and more. It’ll all be capped off with a blossom fireworks finale.  Read more about The Wharf in this KFDC post.

The Nats are Back!
Where: National Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: Ticket prices vary
The Nats kicked off the new season with an Opening Day game against the Braves, and the series continues with games on Saturday at 4:05pm and Sunday at 1:35pm (no Friday game).  Be sure to note the ballpark rules for bringing bags and that Kids Run the Bases after Sunday games doesn’t start until April 30. But the playground will be open, and there is always fun happening along with the on field action. And go ahead  and sign up for the Jr. Nationals Kids Club (and pick up the kits later in April) – it’s so worth it! Read about that here.

Cherokee Days Festival
Where: NMAI | National Mall, DC
When: Friday–Sunday, 10am – 5:30pm
Admission: Free
The three federally recognized Cherokee tribes—Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians—showcase the shared history and cultural lifeways of the Cherokee through storytelling, traditional flute music, weaponry, woodcarving, beadwork, traditional games, basket weaving, pottery demonstrations and music and dance performances.

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. Dozens of 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.

Weekend of Wordplay
Where: Planet Word | Downtown DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 5pm
Admission: Free
Calling all Scrabble enthusiasts! This Saturday, join the museum all about language for a day of wordplay and more activities in Lexicon Lane! Held in conjunction with the North American School Scrabble Championship, the event will feature Scrabble tactics and demos and hands-on word game exploration with friends from Labyrinth Games & Puzzles. Stefan Fatsis, author of Word Freak, will also be there to discuss “A Brief History of Scrabble” along with a book reading and Q&A. Note that timed-entry tickets are required, but some same-day walk-up tickets are available. Read more about Planet Word here.

How to Dance Bollywood-Style at an Indian Wedding
Where: Civic Center | Silver Spring, MD
When: Friday, 7pm
Admission: Free
Join The SAPAN Institute for a dance class where you will learn easy and fun steps to use on the dance floor at the next Indian wedding you attend! They will go through dance steps to popular songs that you will hear at any Indian wedding. No dance experience needed, all levels and ages welcome! Be sure to RSVP to Lisa@SilverSpringTownCenter.com.

Wizards vs Magic
Where: Capitol One Arena | Penn Quarter, DC
When: Friday, 7pm
Admission: Tickets prices vary (check for discount)
The Wizards are hosting the Orlando Magic on Friday evening. Get there early to get in on the Gilbert Arenas bobblehead giveaway for the first 10,000 fans.  And plan on a pre-game dinner in Penn Quarter — there are plenty of family-friendly places to go in the neighborhood. Some recs: Jaleo, Carmine’s, Daikaya, Shake Shack, and Hill Country BBQ.

Frozen for Free
Where: Old Greenbelt Theatre | Greenbelt, MD
When: Friday, 1pm
Admission: Free
Sing along to with Anna, Elsa, and more Frozen friends at the Old Greenbelt Theatre! The classic Disney film will be shown for free on Friday afternoon. It’s recommended for ages 5 and up.

White House Spring Garden Tours
Where: White House Grounds | Downtown DC
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: Free with tickets
Here’s a chance to see the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden, Kitchen Garden, and South Lawn at the White House. The annual Spring Garden and Grounds Tours are a tradition that dates back to 1972 when Pat Nixon first opened the gardens to the public. It’s a perfect “DC” activity and a lovely way to enjoy the emerging spring color — and gaining admission to the event is as easy as picking up tickets day-of. They will be distributed at a National Park Service tent located near the White House Visitor Center (1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW) each day starting at 8:30am. (That means you could be getting entry times for later in the day, so plan accordingly as best you can.) See more details and info on how to get tickets.

First Saturday
Where: National Gallery of Art | NationalMall, DC
When: Saturday, 10:30am – 3pm
Admission: Free
The National Gallery of Art’s monthly series has a cherry blossom theme this time — a daylong festival with all kinds of activities.   Catch some kid’s films, create a floral collage, and make a custom-designed cherry blossom screenprint with local printmakers Soul and Ink. Then, enjoy pop-up musical performances and venture over to the Sculpture Garden for a tour of outdoor art installations.

Cherry Blossom Festival Celebration
Where: National Museum of Asian Art | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 2-5pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate spring coming into bloom at Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art with free attractions for all ages. Enjoy performances, join a curator tour, do some hands-on activities like origami, see a kimono pop-up, and more!

Culture Queen Kids Hour: Create -A-Community
Where: Anacostia Community Museum | Anacostia, DC
When: Saturday, 12-1pm
Admission: Free
Join Grammy-nominated teaching artist Culture Queen for this monthly program to explore their royal powers (innate abilities). Learn how to use them to help peers, family, and community through fun, interactive and engaging music, movement, storytelling, and craft activities. Be sure to reserve a spot!

Japanese Culture Day
Where: Library of Congress | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Free with passes
The Library of Congress is hosting a day of fun especially for kids to celebrate cherry blossom season.  All ages can learn about Japanese culture through reading, writing, and craft-making with Japanese cultural and linguistic professionals. Books related to Japan and Japanese culture will also be on display.Other activities include Kamishibai (Japanese storytelling), hands-on origami lessons, Japanese calligraphy, decorative Koinobori and Japanese woodblock print coloring, tiara making with cherry blossom princesses, Kimono trial, and more. Register here! And read more about the Library of Congress in his KFDC post.

Into the Woods
Where: Frying Pan Farm Park | Centreville, VA
When: Sunday | 1pm, 1:30pm, & 2pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate the National Cherry Blossom Festival with this free event at Frying Pan Farm Park. Trek on their nature trail to experience the changes of spring. Along the way, visit stations that are peppered throughout the trail to build a fairy house, discuss woodland creatures, and search for critters in the soil and water. Plan to enjoy Japanese teas at the historic Frying Pan Meeting House, too! Recommended for ages 5+.

Stop & Smell
Where: US Botanic Garden | Capitol grounds area, DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
Stop and smell the stinky plant at the U.S. Botanic Garden. A couple of corpse flowers are now blooming (ie, open and letting off its stench). The odor is at its strongest in the first hours after it opens, but you can still smell it later, and the bloom is unique and interesting to see. While you’re there, be sure to tour the rest of the USBG’s lovely collections, see the orchid exhibition, and make time for play in the Children’s Garden.

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 and any discount link here):
* Cenicienta: A Bilingual Cinderella Story at the Kennedy Center
* This is the Rope: A Story from the Great Migration at the Kennedy Center
* The Hula Hoopin’ Queen at Imagination Stage
* Wake Up, Brother Bear at Imagination Stage
* Beauty and the Beast at Synetic Theater
* Sleeping Beauty at The Puppet Co.
* Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches at ArenaStage
* King Lear at Klein Theater (Shakespeare Theatre Company)

Spring Egg Hunts
Where: Several NoVa Parks
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by place
Easter fun is starting this weekend at several locations in the NoVa Parks system with egg and Peep hunts and more spring activities. Potomac Overlook, Meadowlark Botanic Garden, Bull un, and Carlyle House are all hosting events, and you can view more details here — they vary from place to place!

NoMa in Bloom Festival
Where: Alethia Tanner Park | NoMa, DC
When: Sunday, 11-3pm
Admission: Free
The NoMa BID welcome all to celebrate spring with a day of kite flying and kite making, local DJ Mathias Broohm, face-painting, and delicious food! Chalk Riot will be creating a unique blossom-themed chalk mural, and Neighbors DC will be curating a pop-up market comprised of local artisans. Reserve a spot!

Children’s Art Workshop: Picture Book Illustrations
Where: Hill Center | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Sunday, 1:30-3pm
Admission: $50/child
This Children’s Art Workshop welcomes kids to join author-illustrator and art instructor Joan Waites for a class using picture books as an introduction to famous artists and illustrators! Each class will include a picture book reading, brief introduction to the featured artist, and an art lesson incorporating basic art fundamentals and use of different art materials – this workshop will focus on Claude Monet!

Sakura Sunday
Where: National Harbor | Oxon Run, MD
When: April 2, 12-6pm
Admission: Free
Join National Harbor for their annual Sakura Sunday Festival. The celebration will feature cultural activities, including a Japanese market, art, music and dance performances, culinary delights, and much more! Read more about all there is to do at National Harbor here.

Trail Time
Where: Around the DC Area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by locale
There’s a link to the round-up of hikes around the area at the top of this list, but specific recs are often helpful, as some places can get crowded on weekends. And some are just great for other reasons. The bluebells should be starting to pop at Riverbend Park.  Turkey Run Park is a good place to go when Roosevelt Island is overrun. Prince William State Forest is always great for  a nice walk in the woods. And Wye Island NMRA on the Eastern Shore is a lovely place to escape the city bustle.

***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* 6 Ways to Help After the School Shooting in Nashville (Including, Not Giving Up).
* In case you missed it, there’s a new round-up of live entertainment around DC this spring, and it includes links to discount tickets where available.
* The Yards is hosting a trivia challenge for a chance to win tickets to a Nats game.
* Find a good place to watch the Final Four.
* Rural Dog Rescue is hosting a dog adoption event on Saturday, 12-2pm, at The Yards in front of Steadfast Supply.
* An interesting discussion about baseball’s new rules on The Daily.
* Such a pretty dress, and it could do double duty as a cover up and a day or evening outfit.
* A great spring home sale! (About to take advantage of a super deal on an outdoor bistro set.)
* Every Page of Goodnight Moon, Ranked