Tag Archives: Activities with Children

January 11, 2018 · 7:44 am

Where to Celebrate MLK Day 2018

Whether you’re looking for ways to teach kiddos about MLK, want to give back on the Day of Service, enjoy live entertainment that pays tribute to his legacy, or join a special event to observe the occasion, these recommendations will have you covered.

Day of Service
Where: Various locations around the DMV
When: January 15
Admission: Just your time
If you want to volunteer on the MLK, Jr. Day of Service, there are many ways and places you can do so around the area. Start here to find opportunities that suit your family.

ConSERVE DC
Where: Anacostia Park | Southeast DC
When: January 15, 9am – 12pm
Admission: Just your time
Join the Student Conservation Association as they gather to ConSERVE DC this MLK Day by mobilizing the next generation of community stewards to help restore our public lands. Join hundreds of volunteers for a massive cleanup of the Anacostia River and to honor the legacy of Dr. King and connect the issues of social and environmental justice as we help to improve the health of DC’s urban waterfront. We joined this event last year, and it was a great experience for all of us! And Monday’s event will kick-off the Year of the Anacostia, celebrating Anacostia Park’s 100th anniversary on the waterfront.

More Family Volunteer Ops
Where: Various locations around the DMV
When: Ongoing
Admission: Just your time
For more places to volunteer as a family that aren’t included in the official MLK Day of Service database, this KFDC post has suggestions. All of the organizations listed welcome kids to help out, though some have age requirements, so be sure to note them.

MLK Day Celebration
Where: Woodridge Library | Woodridge, DC
When: January 15
Admission: Free
Children aged 2-12 are and families are invited to join DC Public Libraries for a day-long celebration of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and lasting work. They’ll be showing Our Friend, Martin at 10:30am and Separate Is Never Equal at 2:30pm in the Children’s Nook. Guests will also receive a seed starting kit (supplies limited).

Artsy MLK Days
Where: Annmarie Sculpture Gardens | Dowell, MD
When: January 13-15, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King with community art activities. Each year on this weekend, Annmarie invites guests of all ages to help create a community art installation in honor of a dream. The 2018 MLK Days project is a mixed media painting led by visiting artist Dawn Tree based off the image of Martin Luther King Jr. Inspiration will come from Dr. King as well as the children’s book “Walking with the King,” written by Tree’s mother Jocelyn Scales, who marched with King while attending college in the 60’s. There will also be coloring and more art activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Visit Memorials
Where: National Mall & Tidal Basin, DC
When: January 15 (and ongoing)
Admission: Free
Pay tribute to Dr. King at places that honor his legacy. Visit the MLK Memorial, a powerful and poignant site along the Tidal Basin. From there, you can head to the Lincoln Memorial where Dr. King gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech and see if you can find his words etched in the stone there. For a guided walking tour that includes those locations, check out DC by Foot, which offers name-your-own-price tour options.

I Have a Dream Weekend Celebration
Where: Port Discovery | Baltimore, MD
When: January 13-15
Admission: $15.95/ages 2 & up
Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and legacy through hands-on educational activities exploring African-American history and heritage during Port Discovery’s “I Have a Dream Weekend.” Join in a variety of interactive programs designed to educate, inspire and help children of all ages to understand the impact Martin Luther King, Jr. made on America and the world. Learn about the history of Afircan Amrican in baseball with the Negro League Baseball, create quilt squares with the Baltimore African-American Quilters Guild, make a birthday card, enjoy a birthday tribute by The Kindersinger, and more fun festivities. See the website for a schedule of activities.

MLK Dare to Dream Day
Where: American Visionary Art Museum | Baltimore, MD
When: January 15, 10am -6pm
Admission: Free
It’s a celebration in honor of the life and dreams of one of the greatest visionaries in America’s history. Join for guided tours, birthday cake, music, workshops, and special performances at this FREE, fun-filled day! See the latest exhibition, The Great Mystery Show and tour the entire wonderland campus. Read more about the wonderful AVAM here.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Tribute & Celebration
Where: Strathmore | Bethesda, MD
When: January 16, 3:30pm
Admission: Free, but tickets are required
Montgomery County celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King’s life through dramatic readings, music, and dance performances. This will be the first time in many years the holiday falls on his actual birthday, making this program particularly significant, with very special entertainment including a choral performance by the civil rights iconic Carlton Reese Memorial Unity Choir from Birmingham, Alabama. Free tickets are required for this event, and will be distributed onsite the day of the performance. Limit four tickets per household.

KanKouran West African Dance Company
Where: Dance Place | Brookland, DC
When: January 13, 8pm & January 14, 4pm
Admission: $15-30 (1 child free with adult paid ticket)
KanKouran West African Dance Company returns to Dance Place for their annual celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr., presenting its new work BOLO, which means “Bridge of Togetherness” in Wolof. The performance will take audiences on a breathtaking journey into the influence that African dance and culture has had on contemporary dance styles and how today’s choreographers are now reaching back to bring an African influence into their work.

MLK Parade, Peace Walk, & Fair
Where: Throughout SE & SW DC
When: January 15
Admission: Free
Commemorate the life of MLK, Jr. on a peace walk and parade along Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. The Peace Walk begins at 10am at 2500 MLK Ave SE and ends at the Barry Farm Recreation Center. The MLK Parade will commence at noon from Good Hope Road near the Anacostia Park entrance and continue up MLK Avenue to the Barry Farm Recreation Center, where the MLK Holiday DC Health & Community Fair will be underway will be underway. All ages are welcome to join.

Let Freedom Ring!
Where: Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom
When: January 15, 6pm
Admission: Free
At this annual performance in honor of MLK Day, the Kennedy Center and Georgetown University host a musical celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. This year the concert will feature a special concert by Vanessa Williams and the Let Freedom Ring Choir. Free tickets will be given away up to two per person in line in the Hall of Nations starting at 4:30pm on a first-come, first-served basis.

Scenes from the Sunflower Bloom at McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area

I’m no horticulturalist or anything, but I loves me a beautiful flower bloom. It’s not just the dramatic vistas they create as brilliant bursts of color stretch across landscapes; something about the annual recurrence — the concept of renewal — is at once comforting, uplifting, exciting, and hopeful. (Why, hello, my inner cheeseball.)

This was the first time we went to see the sunflower bloom at McKee-Beshers Wildlife Management Area in Poolesville, MD. I’d actually never heard about it before and have the Montgomery County Tourism Office on social media to thank for the heads-up this year. It was one of their Instagram posts that alerted me to the peak dates, which are right now through next weekend.

So, this bloom is amazing! The thirty acres of tall yellow flowers is such a happy sight, like a big congregation of smiling emoji sunshine faces. It was a crazy hot day when Owen and I went to see it, but I’m so glad we braved the temps. We didn’t stay too long, about 20-30 minutes, but it was enough time to take in the sublime scene. I recommend wearing hats, close-toed shoes, and sunscreen, and bringing along a bottle of water.

I couldn’t find an exact address for McKee-Beshers, but put the location in my phone GPS and followed the route. It led us to a small parking lot just off River Road, and a sign there confirmed we were in the right place. (There’s no admission, just park and head to the fields.) It’s just a few minutes down the road from Homestead Farms, so I recommend planning a visit there, too, to make the most of your time while you’re out that way. We did some blackberry picking and enjoyed a picnic lunch that we brought along. Just make sure you go soon, because the bloom (and blackberries!) won’t be there for much longer.

The first glimpse beyond the trees

There’s some room to walk among the flowers,but be careful!

A shorty among the tallies

The flip side…sunflowers turn slowly throughout the day, so they’re always facing the sun

Matching bumble bee

Stop and smell, though there’s not much of an aroma

Rising high

Sunflower close-up

Still in the bud stage

Go see them…and have your camera ready!

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Filed under 2017, All ages, Annual, DC, Free, Maryland, Nature, Outdoor, Seasonal, Summer, Weekdays, Weekend

Tagged as Activities with Children, Annual Flower Blooms, Family Fun, Fun Things to do with Kids in the Washington DC Area, Fun with Kids in Maryland, Maryland Outdoors, McKee-Beshers WIldife Management Area, Montgomery County, Poolesville MD, Summer 2017, Sunflower Bloom

January 9, 2017 · 1:40 pm

Where to Celebrate MLK Day 2017

Special events and activities to honor and celebrate MLK have started this week and even more will be happening throughout the coming weekend. Whether you’re looking for ways to teach kiddos about MLK, want to give back on the Day of Service, enjoy live entertainment that pays tribute to his legacy, or join a special event to observe the occasion, these recommendations will have you covered.

Day of Service
Where: Various locations
When: January 16
Admission: Just your time
If you want to volunteer on the MLK, Jr. Day of Service, there are many ways and places you can do so around the area. Start here to find opportunities that suit your family.

ConSERVE DC
Where: Anacostia Park
When: January 16, 9:30am – 2:30pm
Admission: Just your time
Join the Student Conservation Association as they gather to ConSERVE DC this MLK Day by mobilizing the next generation of community stewards to help restore our public lands. With the support of American Express, they will be bringing together hundreds of volunteers for a massive cleanup of the Anacostia River. Join them to honor the legacy of Dr. King and connect the issues of social and environmental justice and help improve the health of DC’s urban waterfront.

More Family Volunteer Ops
Where: Various locations
When: Ongoing
Admission: Just your time
For more places to volunteer as a family that aren’t included in the official MLK Day of Service database, this KFDC post has suggestions. All of the organizations listed welcome kids to help out, though some have age requirements, so be sure to note them.

Learn about MLK
Where: Local libraries
When: MLK Week, now through January 16
Admission: Free
DC Public Libraries are hosting many events to celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Storytime, arts & crafts, songs, and exhibits are just some of the ways you and the kids can take part.

Artsy MLK Days
Where: Annmarie Sculpture Gardens
When: January 14-16
Admission: Free
Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King with a community art activity! Each year, Annmarie invites guests of all ages to help create a community art installation in honor of a dream. This year’s big MLK Days project is a collective mural titled “#WDUS4 – What Do You Stand For?”. There will also be coloring and poetry activities, and the whole family can enjoy them.

Visit Memorials
Where: MLK & Lincoln Memorials
When: January 16
Admission: Free
Pay tribute to Dr. King at sites that honor his legacy. Visit the MLK Memorial, a powerful and poignant memorial along the Tidal Basin. From there, you can head to the Lincoln Memorial where Dr. King gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech and see if you can find his words etched in the stone there.

I Have a Dream Weekend Celebration
Where: Port Discovery
When: January 14-16
Admission: $14.95/ages 2 and up
Community comes to life at the Baltimore children’s museum over the three-day “I Have a Dream” weekend. Celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with special programs, including a meet and greet with the Negro League Baseball Museum, painting quilt squares for their community quilt with the Baltimore African-American Quilters Guild, making a birthday card, a birthday tribute by The Kindersinger (Saturday), and more fun festivities.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Tribute & Celebration
Where: Strathmore
When: January 16, 3:30pm
Admission: Free
This multi-cultural program engages diverse, talented performers and award honorees who serve their communities unselfishly. Approximately 2,000 young people, including county officials and local press, participate in the commemoration in the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Limit four tickets per household.

KanKouran West African Dance Company
Where: Dance Place
When: January 15, 4-6pm
Admission: $15-30 (1 child free with adult paid ticket)
KanKouran, an integral part of the DC dance community for nearly 30 years, presents their annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in an electrifying, athletic, and family-friendly performance of traditional West African dance and drumming. During this special Family Series show, reserve one free ticket for a child 12 & under with paying adult.

MLK Parade, Peace Walk, & Festival
Where: Throughout SE & SW DC
When: January 16
Admission: Free
Commemorate the life of MLK, Jr. on a peace walk and parade along Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. The Peace Walk begins at 10am at 2500 MLK Ave SE and ends at the R.I.S.E Center at 2730 MLK Ave SE. The MLK Parade will commence at noon from 2700 MLK Ave SE and continue up MLK Avenue to Anacostia Park, where the MLK Holiday Festival and Health Fair will be underway. All ages are welcome to join.

Let Freedom Ring at Millennium Stage
Where: Kennedy Center
When: January 16, 6pm
Admission: Free
It’s the annual special Millennium Stage performance in honor of MLK Day. The Kennedy Center and Georgetown University host a musical celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. This year the concert will feature a special performance with Gladys Knight and the Let Freedom Ring Choir. Free tickets will be given away up to two per person in line in the Hall of Nations at 5pm on a first-come, first-served basis.