Tag Archives: April 2018

The Weekend Round-Up: April 20-22

We hear all the cool gnomes will be at Annmarie Sculpture Garden on Sunday



Earth Day celebrations, a fairy and gnome fest, free admission to national parks, Shakespeare’s birthday, live entertainment, lots of spring fun… and a nice dose of sunshine (we hope), to boot. Happy Weekend!

Earth Optimism Day
Where: National Zoo | Woodley Park, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: Free

Celebrate conservation success stories at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in honor of Earth Day. This year’s event features family-friendly activities, hands-on learning opportunities, and interactive demonstrations — all in the name of conservation. Hear first-hand from Zoo experts about some of the innovative solutions being used in the fight to save species, and learn how you can take action to help protect the planet.

Free Parking
Where: National Parks
When: Saturday
Admission: Free

National Park Week starts on Saturday, and it’s kicking off with a fee free day, so there’s no entrance fee to national parks that usually charge admission. Take advantage and hit the trail at Shenandoah, Prince William Forest, Great Falls, Harpers Ferry, or head up to Baltimore to explore Fort McHenry. Find even more parks to visit here.

Frühlingsfest
Where: Heurich House Museum | Dupont Circle, DC
When: Saturday, 12-4pm
Admission: Free

Welcome spring at Frühlingsfest! Translated as ‘Spring Festival,’ the occasion is know as ‘Oktoberfest’s little sister’ in Germany and celebrates the end of a cold winter and beginning of the new season. Heurich House Museum is partnering with local artisans and businesses to present the garden festival. Enjoy German sausages, art, gardening, crafts, museum tours, and an afternoon beer.

Fun at Fairfax Parks
Where: Parks in Fairfax, VA
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity

The Fairfax County Park Authority hosts all kinds of events on weekends for guests of all ages. On Friday evening, join an animal pajama party at Hidden Oaks or hear a Symphony of Frogs at Huntley Meadows. On Saturday, Build Your Own Beehouse and see bluebells at Riverbend Park. On Sunday, celebrate Earth Day at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park. Get more details on these activities and see what else is going on here.

Sensory-Friendly Movie Screening
Where: Regal Rockville Center Stadium 13 | Rockville, MD
When: Saturday, 10:30am
Admission: $6.50

Join Regal for the latest My Way Matinee movie, Ready Player One. Adventurous movie fans can enjoy the fun, action-packed universe of the film. My Way Matinee gives everyone the opportunity to experience a movie once a month with the sound turned down and the lights turned up. Watch the Ready Player One trailer here.

Wild Kratts LIVE!
Where: DAR Constitution Hall | Downtown DC
When: Saturday, 1pm & 4:30pm
Tickets: $32-52+

Animated Kratt Brothers Martin and Chris “come to real life” in a classically Wild Kratts story. The Emmy nominated duo will activate some fan favorite Creature Power Suits to confront a comic villain. Through hilarious pratfalls and amazing animal “wow facts,” the Wild Kratts team rescues their favorite invention from Zach’s clutches so the animals of the creature world are safe once again.

Show Time
Where: Theatres around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue

* It’s opening weekend for Judy Moody and Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt at Adventure Theatre
* Scrap Arts Music: Children of Metropolis at Strathmore will make for great Friday night entertainment
* Enjoy Symphony for kids at the NSO concert The String Thing
* Reserve free tickets for BOP GOES THE WEASEL – Jazz For Kids! this week’s Saturday Morning at the National performance
* It’s your last chance to LOL at a Potted Potter performance at Sidney Harman Hall. (Read a past review here.)
* Robin Hood is on the Imagination Stage
* Ease on down the road to Ford’s Theatre for The Wiz
* Catch a fairytale classic as The Puppet Co. presents Little Red Riding Hood & the 3 Little Pigs
* And there will be a Tiny Tots Sing-a-Long for littles there on Sunday
* Snow Child is the newest production at Arena Stage
* Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site, perfect for ages 3-8, will be on stage at Hylton Performing Arts Center

Weekend Tots: Welcome Spring
Where: Tudor Place | Georgetown, DC
When: Saturday, 10-11am
Admission: $5/child, free for adults

It’s a special weekend session of the (usually) Tuesday program for little ones to celebrate spring. Read, sing, and play as Tudor Place celebrates spring in the picturesque gardens. Tots will take home a craft they’ve made themselves. Register in advance.

Eloise Greenfield Day
Where: Sankofa Video & Books | Petworth, DC
When: Saturday, 2pm
Admission: Free

Join the celebration that honors author Eloise Greenfield Day’s lifelong efforts to portray positive, realistic images of African American communities in literature. The program begins with a selection of poems read by local elementary school students; a live jazz rendition of Honey, I Love , inspired by the 1982 recording by Mrs. Greenfield and Byron Morris; a tribute from renowned illustrator and longtime collaborator, Jan Spivey Gilchrist; a conversation between Mrs. Greenfield and her daughter, Monica; a presentation by Mrs. Greenfield entitled, “Words and Music,” and a signing of Ms. Greenfield’s forthcoming book, “PAR-TAY!: Dance of the Veggies And Their Friends.”

Earth Day Plogging and Fun Run
Where: Starts at New Hampshire & Kennedy St. NW | Northwest DC
When: Saturday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free

DC Parks & Recreation and Uptown Main Street are celebrating Earth Day with a Plogging event! Plogging is a combination of jogging with picking up litter. It started as an organized activity in Sweden around 2016 and spread to other countries in 2018, following increased concern about plastic pollution. A warm up and stretch will be facilitated by Twist and Turns Fitness. After plogging, help with trash and plantings at the small park on 14th & Kennedy St NW enjoying food, games, and fellowship! 

Happy Birthday to the Bard!
Where: Folger Shakespeare Library | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Sunday, 12pm
Admission: Free

‘Tis Shakespeare’s 454th birthday, and the Folger Shakespeare Library is celebrating with its annual Open House on Sunday afternoon. In true Renaissance fashion, there will be song and dance, Elizabethan crafts, and theatrical performances, sword fighting demos, special tours, a giant birthday cake, and appearances by Emily Jordan Folger and Queen Elizabeth I. The free event takes place rain or shine. Food trucks will be stationed in Puck’s Circle. The Folger Shakespeare Library is located at 201 East Capitol Street SE. Read more about the Folger in this KFDC post.

Fairy & Gnome Home Festival
Where: Annmarie Sculpture Garden | Lusby, MD
When: Sunday, 12-4pm
Admission: $7, free for member and under 2
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This annual festival at one of the most enchanting places will delight the whole family — and we know from experience. Festivities are scattered throughout the beautiful grounds, creating a charming journey of discovery for young (and old) guests. Search for hidden fairy and gnome homes and use them as inspiration to create your own special pieces. Climb, explore, build, and dream in the lovely Fairy Lolly. Get faces painting, and enjoy music, dancing, games, crafts, food, drink, and more. Oh, and don’t let little ones miss the unicorn (yes, unicorn!) rides and a petting zoo. Read more about Annmarie Sculpture Garden in this KFDC post and this one.

Earth Day Celebration
Where: Brookside Gardens | Wheaton, MD
When: Sunday, 12pm
Admission: Free

Our planet is priceless! Head to Brookside Gardens and learn ways to keep it healthy. This event offers something for everyone: a green craft fair, native plant sale, community art project, family activities and games, environmental educational alley, live music, and more. Discover how small changes in your everyday habits can make a big impact on improving our environment. While you’re there, check out the Wings of Fancy butterfly exhibit, which just opened the season – read about it here!

Garden Party
Where: Frager’s Hardware | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Sunday, 12-4pm
Admission: Free

Join Frager’s at their new garden center at 1123 Pennsylvania Ave SE for their biggest gardening event & sale of the year! Get 20% off all things gardening (Saturday, too) including pottery, plants, soil & mulch, gardening supplies, and patio furniture grilling accessories. There will be a potting station, a seed starting workshop, cheese and meat samples, a DIT terrarium workshop, opps to chat with gardening pros, giveaways, and more.

Kite Fly Day & Air Play
Where: Strathmore | Bethesda, MD
When: Sunday, 1pm
Admission: Free

All are invited to spend the day on Strathmore’s rolling campus flying kites, picnicking, playing yard games, and watching flight demos from members of Wings Over Washington and the Maryland Kite Society. At 4pm, enjoy Air Play (see below).

Air Play
Where: Strathmore | Bethesda, MD
When: Sunday, 4pm
Admission: $22-46

A whimsical, modern spectacle perfect for families, nothing is as it seems in Air Play’s fantastical stage show—the creation of husband and wife team Seth Bloom and Christina Gelsone that merges circus and street theater performance art. Flying umbrellas, larger-than-life balloons, giant kites, and an enormous snow globe captivate in this circus-style adventure that tells the story of two siblings journeying through a surreal land of air, transforming the ordinary into objects of uncommon beauty. Fabrics dance in the wind, balloons have a mind of their own, confetti become the night sky, and an enormous canopy of hovering silk forever alters the future of this sibling pair.

Spring in the Valley
Where: Spring Valley Pediatrics | Spring Valley, DC
When: Sunday, 11am – 2pm
Admission: Free

Join Stork Childbirth Education, the Spring Valley Neighborhood Association, Children’s National Medical Center, and Safe Kids DC for a family fun day. There will be food trucks, face painting, local businesses, giveaways, and festivities for the whole family.

Museum Morning
Where: Hirshhorn Museum | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: Free

There’s all kinds of fun for little ones at the Hirshhorn this weekend. On Saturday, join a STORYTIME session (10am) then celebrate spring with a Maker Morning (10am & 11am). After that, enjoy the Library + Art Pop-Up and find a cart in the galleries and check out a fun kit full of our favorite finds for kids. On Sunday, STORYTIME will feature The Lorax by Dr. Seuss at the Wish Tree in the Sculpture Garden.

Hop on the Eye Spy Trains
Where: Montgomery County Parks | Cabin John & Wheaton, MD
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: $4/ride

Montgomery Parks recently started offering Spring Eye Spy Train rides at Cabin John and Wheaton Regional Parks ! (The mini trains run during summer, too, but the Eye Spy fun is usually reserved for Halloween.) Hope on board and look for hidden figures in the woods as you ride around the park. Of course, stay to play at the park, too. Read KFDC write-ups about the Cabin John playground and the Wheaton playground.

***MORE GOOD STUFF TO KNOW***
* Gymboree Play & Music of Washington, DC, just shared some news — and a business opportunity.
* No Spectators: The Art of Burning Man at the Renwick Gallery is an exhibit the whole family will dig.
* If you’re into true crime, check out this book.
* The new Amy Schumer movie, I Feel Pretty, opens this weekend, and it’s a perfect flick for a mom’s night out (cocktails after, of course).

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Filed under 2018, All ages, Animals, Art, DC, Educational, Exhibit, Festival, Free, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Movies, Museums, Nature, Outdoor, Seasonal, Spring, Theatre, Virginia, Weekend

The Weekend Round-Up: April 13-15

See DC VIPs at the Cherry blossom parade


It finally looks and feels like spring, and you’ve got your pick of ways to savor it over the next few days. Happy Weekend!

National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade
Where: Constitution Ave, 7th – 17th St. NW | Downtown DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 12pm
Admission: Free

The annual parade just may be the pinnacle of cherry blossom season. Thousands of people line Constitution Avenue every year to watch the spectacle of lavish floats, giant helium balloons, marching bands, and a variety of performers travel down the street. Tickets for grandstand seats are available for $20, but you can stake out a spot along the curb for free. Plan to arrive early to get a good view — the crowds come out for this one, especially on a pretty spring day.

Sakura Matsuri
Where: Pennsylvania Ave, 3rd-7th St NW | Downtown DC
When: Saturday, 10:30am – 6pm
Admission: $10/ages 13+, free/12 & under

Following the Cherry Blossom parade, head over to Sakura Matsuri, the Japanese Street Festival that is America’s largest one-day exhibition of Japanese culture. There will be live music and dance performances, all kinds of Asian and Western foods, martial arts demos, Japanese art, and more. Be prepared for a crowd.

Bluebells at the Bend
Where: Riverbend Park | Great Falls, VA
When: Saturday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: $7/advance, $9/at event

The cherry blossoms aren’t the only pretty flowers to enjoy around the area. Celebrate the Virginia Bluebells as they blanket the banks of the Potomac River at Riverbend Park. Bring the whole family for fun including games, music, wildflower walks, puppet shows, wagon rides, live animals, and more. Read more about Riverbend in this KFDC post. And to see what else is going on at other Fairfax County Parks, go here.

10th Anniversary Celebration
Where: National Harbor | Oxon Hill,MD
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: Free (some activities require fees)

National Harbor has been around 10 years, and they’re celebrating with a weekend of fun festivities! It kicks off on Saturday morning with a Potomac River Cleanup (8am – 12pm).  On Saturday, there will be free carousel rides, a Beer Garden, a ticketed kid’s silent disco, an adult silent disco, and fireworks. Sunday features free Capital Wheel rides, a kids’ corner, a community parade, and live music.  See the schedule and more details here.

Cherokee Days
Where: National Museum of the America Indian | National Mall
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Admission: Free

Celebrate Cherokee culture at the fifth annual Cherokee Days. The festival showcases the shared history and cultural lifeways of three Cherokee tribes with an exhibition, storytelling, traditional flute music, weaponry, woodcarving, beadwork, traditional games, basket weaving, pottery demonstrations, and dance performances.

Living Through the Ages
Where: Patuxent River Park | Upper Marlboro, MD
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10am-5pm
Admission: Free

See, touch, feel and participate in two millennia of history, as hundreds of reenactors portray 2,000 years of the past in one weekend! Roman Legionaries, Charlemagne’s Army, ancient Irish warriors; 15th century English knights; 16th century German mercenaries; 17th century English Civil War soldiers; 18th century Highland Jacobites, American Rev War, Napoleonic forces; 19th century marines and militia from the War of 1812, American Civil War and British soldiers from the far flung Victorian Empire; 20th century combatants from WWI, WWII, Palestine, and Vietnam.  Discover the soldiers’ lives and that of the civilians who followed their warriors.  This year there are 35 camps of living historians to portray and demonstrate the real history!  

Celebrate Central Asia
Where: The Textile Museum | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: Saturday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free

Join the George Washington University Museum and Textile Museum to celebrate the art and cultures of Central Asia. Enjoy performances by the Silk Road Dance Company featuring traditional dances from Uzbekistan, beautiful costumes, and an appearance by the ikat dragon. Try your hand at watercolor painting, and create your own Ikat designs with paper. Take the opportunity to visit our galleries to see colorful Ikat fabrics in the exhibition Binding the Clouds: The Art of Central Asian Ikat. It’s a great opportunity for all ages to enjoy a museum that’s usually a bit sophisticated for young children.

Dog Days Bloom Fest
Where: Great Country Farms | Bluemont, VA
When: Saturday & Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: $8-10

This adventure for dogs and their people has something for every member of the family, but canines especially will have a blast at the festivities. Bring your 4-legged friend for a day of fun on the farm with a Frisbee competition, obstacle course, tips, and training. Plus, enjoy Bluemont Wine and Dirt Farm Brews at the event this season. And the rest of the farm, which is essentially a sprawling playground, is open for all to enjoy. Explore the many acres, and opt for a wagon ride to see the orchards and farm in bloom!

DC Emancipation Day Celebration
Where: Pennsylvania Ave., 10th-14th St. | Downtown, DC
When: Saturday, 2-8:30pm
Admission: Free

On April 16, 1862, the DC Compensated Emancipation Act of 1862 ended slavery in Washington, DC, freed 3,100 individuals, reimbursed those who had legally owned them, and offered the newly freed women and men money to emigrate. Join Mayor Bowser to commemorate the day at the 2018 DC Emancipation Day celebration with a parade, concert, and fireworks.

Show Time
Where: Theatres around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue

* Reserve free tickets for InterAct Story Theatre’s The Town That Cried Avalanche, this week’s Saturday Morning at the National performance
* LOL at a Potted Potter performance at Sidney Harman Hall. (Read a past review here.)
* It’s opening weekend for Robin Hood at Imagination Stage
* Ease on down the road to Ford’s Theatre for The Wiz
* Little ones will love Balloonacy at the Atlas Performing Arts Center
* Catch a fairytale classic as The Puppet Co. presents Little Red Riding Hood & the 3 Little Pigs
* And Jellybean Circus is the Tiny Tots performance for littles there on Saturday
* Disney on Ice presents Follow Your Heart at Eagle Bank Arena
* Snow Child is the newest production at Arena Stage
* Kids musician Matt Heaton is playing the Saturday morning show at Jammin Java

Spring Open House
Where: My Gym Potomac & Bethesda | Potomac & Bethesda, MD
When: Saturday, 12-3pm
Admission: Free

Check out My Gym’s facilities and learn about their programs as you enjoy fun and games — at both the Bethesda and Potomac locations! Expect lots of play time, plus get great discounts on spring classes, summer camps, and parties!From 12-1pm, tackle the Ninja Warrior obstacle courses (best for ages 3-10) and have free pizza. From 1-3pm, there will be free face painting and fun for all ages. Grown-ups wear socks, please!

Nats vs. Rockies
Where: Nationals Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Friday, Saturday & Sunday
Admission: Ticket prices vary

Root for the home team as the Nats host the Rockies this weekend. Be sure to check out special promos — Friday is the Sean Doolittle Bobhead giveaway (first 25,000 fans), and Sunday is Jackie Robinson and Black Heritage Day, not to mention little fans can run the bases after the game. Don’t forget to sign up ages 4-12 for the Jr. Nationals Kids Club, and check these tips on how to save at the ballpark.

Anniversary Celebration
Where: Dumbarton Oaks Park | Georgetown, DC
When: Saturday, 9am – 2pm
Admission: Free

Join the 77th anniversary celebration of Dumbarton Oaks Park. There are volunteer clean-up opportunities in the morning, and the afternoon will feature even more, including children’s activities, interactive exhibits, strolling tours, art in the park, and music. Enter at the top of Lover’s Lane near 3060 R Street NW. (Note: This is not the Dumbarton Gardens; the park is located just behind them.)

Light City
Where: Inner Harbor | Baltimore, MD
When: Through April 21
Admission: Free

See Baltimore transformed with large-scale light installations, performances, music, and innovation. Central to Light City is the BGE Light Art Walk along Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, featuring more than 50 attractions including illuminated sculptures, projections, interactive technologies, performances, concerts, food vendors and a children’s area. Light City’s innovation programming generates an ecosystem of ideas and learning during the day – while lights, performances, and live music re-imagine Baltimore at night.

Herring Heroes
Where: Peirce Mill | Rock Creek Park, DC
When: Saturday, 11am – 2pm
Admission: Free

Every April, the mighty herring make their way upstream to lay their eggs—and swim up a “fish ladder” beside Peirce Mill. Come learn about the herring run, and test your stamina in a special obstacle course for young children. Read more about Peirce Mill in this KFDC post.

Model Trains and Thomas
Where: Historic Depot of the W&OD Railroad | Vienna, VA
When: Saturday, 1-5pm
Admission: Free (donations welcome)

Take a trip down to Vienna to visit the Historic Vienna Train Station, where you can see and hear HO scale model trolleys and trains, including Thomas and some of his friends on display and in operation. It’s great family activity for the young and young at heart! The Station is at 231 Dominion Road NE in Vienna.

DC Youth Orchestra Open House
Where: Eastern High School | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Saturday, 11:30am – 4:30pm
Admission: Free

The DC Youth Orchestra Program will open its doors to the public with a day of free musical events for the entire family. Prospective young musicians (ages 4-18) can try out orchestral instruments in musical instrument petting zoos. At 12:30pm, the Youth Orchestra will give a pop-up concert, and at 3:30pm, the String Queens, a classically trained trio including DCYOP alumna and conductor Elise Cuffy, will perform pop, gospel, jazz, and R&B arrangements. Between the concerts will be a performance of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, as well as a string instrument care workshop, chamber music performances, yoga classes with One Breath at a Time, and face painting. Food trucks and other vendors will also be at the event.

The Great British Fly-In
Where: Udvar-Hazy Center | Chantilly, VA
When: Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free, but parking is $15

The British are coming to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center! Join the Air & Space Museum to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the oldest air force in the world — Great Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) — with a fly-in, presentations, and hands-on activities.

To Hill Tobacco
Where: Claude Moore Colonial Farm | McLean, VA
When: Saturday & Sunday, 1-4pm
Admission: $5/adult, $3/child

Help the colonial farm family and neighbors prepare the fields for this season’s crop. Tobacco was used as currency or commodity money in 18th century Virginia and vital to sustain the Claude Moore Colonial Farm family. Weather permitting — call ahead.

Discovery Day
Where: Green Acres School | North Bethesda, MD
When: Sunday, 1-3pm
Admission: Free

Discover progressive education at its best at our experiential open house for parents and students. Tour Green Acre’s 15-acre campus, meet teachers, parents, students and staff, and find out how they learn through teacher-led activities and lessons. Registration is required to attend. To reserve your space, please email admission@greenacres.org. 

Anacostia River Festival
Where: Anacostia Park | Anacostia, DC
When: Sunday, 1-5pm
Admission: Free

Celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Anacostia Park and the Year of the Anacostia! Festival-goers will enjoy canoeing, fishing lessons, boating, lawn games and more. The festival will feature a community bike parade, special live performance of The Wiz, family friendly arts and crafts, storytelling, and live music and performances. Line up by the bike valet at 2:30pm to join a 3pm bike parade. River activities will be first-come, first-serve, sign up at tent #1.

Ikebana
Where: National Arboretum | Northeast DC
When: April 15, 1-2pm
Admission: $10

Children can learn the centuries-old tradition of Japanese flower arranging at an ikebana workshop at the National Arboretum. The hour-long workshop is for children ages 10-13. You can also visit an ikebana demonstration and see the Ikebana International exhibit at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum Exhibits Gallery. Registration required.

A Wild Symphony
Where: National Zoo | Woodley Park, DC
When: Sunday, 1pm & 3pm
Admission: Free, but passes required

Enjoy a free family concert by members of the National Symphony Orchestra at the Zoo on Sunday. This animal-themed show features engaging and fun musical performances for all ages. Following both concerts, there will be an “instrument petting zoo” where visitors can learn about and interact with a variety of musical instruments. Same-day passes are free, but required for entry and will be distributed beginning at 11am for both concerts. Passes are not needed for the instrument petting zoo.

A Family Celebration of Yom Ha’atzmaut
Where: Edlavitch DCJCC | Downtown, DC
When: Sunday, 10:30am – 12pm
Admission: $15

Join the DCJCC as they celebrate Israel’s 70th birthday by recognizing the range and diversity of its people and landscape. Through reading and activities, we’ll bring to life the charming and colorful world created by author Leslie Kimmelman in her book Everybody Says Shalom. This program is best for ages 3-7, but the whole family is welcome!  Cost is $15/family. Register here.

***MORE GOOD STUFF TO KNOW***
* You have a chance to win a Family 4-Pack of tickets to see Judy Moody & Stink: The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Treasure Hunt at Adventure Theatre.
* There is also an opportunity to win a Day Out with Thomas at the B&O Railroad Museum.
* Pearachute is a great way to check out kids classes and events with committing to a full session, plus you can save on costs!
* This coming week Bright Horizons is hosting Open Houses at all of their Early Childhood Education Centers around the area!
* Watson Adventures’ next Wizard School Scavenger Hunt for Harry Potter Fans is on May 13 (Mother’s Day!), and these always sell out, so book soon — and read more about it here.
* This article is a must-read if you want to know more about what Facebook has on you. (Warning: It’s kind of creepy.)

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Filed under 2018, All ages, Animals, Annual, DC, Educational, Exhibit, Farm, Festival, Free, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Museums, Music, Nature, Outdoor, Seasonal, Special Event, Sports, Spring, Theatre, Virginia, Weekend

The Weekend Round-Up: April 6-8

Peep the peak





So, winter is starting to feel like those last party guests who are too trashed to realize that everyone else left like two hours ago (totally guilty of that, btw). But in an attempt to stay positive despite the crummy forecast: 1) I bet the cherry blossoms look beautiful in the snow. 2) We’ll appreciate the nice weather that much more when we finally get it. 3) There are a bunch of great indoor events going on this weekend that we might otherwise overlook on a pretty spring day. 🙂 Happy Weekend!

(PS: Be sure to check that events are still on, especially if they’re outdoors, on Saturday!)

Peak Time
Where: Tidal Basin & Washington Monument, DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free

I’ve been by the Tidal Basin, and the predictions are correct: The cherry blossoms are peaking this weekend. The Saturday forecast (snow?!) might not make for the best viewing conditions, but Friday and Sunday will be better. Expect crowds and be prepared — this post has tips for families viewing the blossoms.

Garden Party
Where: National Postal Museum | Union Station Area, DC
When: Saturday & Sunday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free

Who cares what the weather is like outside when thee’s a Garden Party indoors? Join the Postal Museum for one and enjoy all kinds of hands-on activities. Learn about the U.S. Postal Service’s stamp design process, gardens, and the Greater DC area’s native flowers and plants. All of it is designed to create awareness and appreciation of the beauty around you.

USA Science & Engineering Festival
Where: Washington Convention Center | Mount Vernon Square, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 6pm & Sunday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free

If your child has any inkling of interest in science and engineering, likes to do hands-on experiments, see fascinating live demos, or talk first-hand with the experts, then chances are very good that they will dig this event. (And so will you, parents.) Over 3,000 interactive exhibits and 30 stage shows will highlight all kinds of science-related topics in fun, engaging, exciting ways.

Nats Are Back!
Where: Nationals Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Saturday, 1:05pm & Sunday, 8:08pm
Admission: Ticket prices vary

Baseball season has begun, and the Nats are playing their first weekend at home, hosting the Mets. Sunday is Pups in the Park, so yu can bring along Fido with the purchase of a special ticket. And before you go to any games, be sure to check out these KFDC tips for doing a Nats game without breaking the bank.

Jazz Family Day
Where: Smithsonian American Art Museum | Penn Quarter, DC
When: Saturday, 11:30am – 3pm
Admission: Free

Jam at SAAM during Jazz Appreciation Month! The museum is celebrating jazz’s influence on artists with activities and performances for all ages. Improvise with your own jazz-themed crafts, complete a swinging scavenger hunt, and bop to jazz performances throughout the day. Read more about the museum and get a glimpse in this KFDC post.

Japanese Culture Day
Where: Library of Congress | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free

Get an introduction to Japanese culture at day full of hands-on activities in th eyoung Readers Center! Create origami artwork, try on kimonos, make tiaras with Cherry Blossom princesses, and more. At 11am and 1:30pm, Tad Hills, a New York-based children’s book author and illustrator, will read his books, do a book signing, and give a demonstration of his illustration technique.  At 12:15pm, the Japan-America Society of Washington, DC, will present “Japan-In-A-Suitcase,” a program about Japanese life and culture.  While you’re there, check out the Spring Fling, pop-up exhibition at the Library of Congress explores the sights, sounds, and smells of the spring season through treasures from the Library’s vast collection items. Read a KFDC write-up about the LOC.

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. Kids can try their hand at stage fighting in this “Will You Walk?” session. 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 KFDC post.

Open Studio: Cherry Blossom Festival
Where: Freer|Sackler Gallery | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 12pm
Admission: Free

Celebrate the National Cherry Blossom Festival with the Freer|Sackler! Take a family-friendly tour and learn about nature in Japanese art (10:30 am). Then, continue to explore the Freer for pop-up art-making activities and artist demonstrations inspired by the spring season. All ages welcome with adult companions.

Free Soccer League!
Where: Walter Pierce Park | Adams Morgan, DC
When: Saturday, 11am – 1pm
Admission: Free

Join the Volo City Kids Foundation on Saturday as they begin their free soccer program for kids ages 6-12. No previous experience necessary, and all materials, including a t-shirt for practices, will be included along with healthy snacks and drinks. The league will run for 6 weeks at Walter Pierce Park, located at 2630 Adams Mill Rd NW #208 in Adams Morgan and. Register your child here.

Potted Potter
Where: Sidney Harman Hall | Penn Quarter, DC
When: April 3-15
Tickets: $59-95 (look for a discount)

Potted Potter takes on the ultimate challenge of condensing all seven Harry Potter books (and a real life game of Quidditch) into seventy hilarious minutes. This fantastically funny show features all your favorite characters, a special appearance from a fire-breathing dragon, endless costumes, brilliant songs, ridiculous props and a generous helping of Hogwarts magic! Even if you don’t know the difference between a Horcrux and a Hufflepuff, Potted Potter will make you roar with laughter. This brilliant family entertainment is perfect for ages six to Dumbledore (who is very old indeed).

Show Time
Where: Theatres around the DMV
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue

* Reserve free tickets for Theatreworks USA’s Dragons Love Tacos and Other Stories, this week’s Saturday Morning at the National performance
* Ease on down the road to Ford’s Theatre for The Wiz
* Little ones will love Balloonacy at Imagination Stage
* Catch a fairytale classic as The Puppet Co. presents Little Red Riding Hood & the 3 Little Pigs
* And Jellybean Circus is the Tiny Tots performance for littles there on Saturday

Cherry Blossom Kids
Where: Room and Board | 14th Street NW
When: Saturday, 10am – 12pm
Admission: Free

Join Room and Board for a morning of creative activities celebrating the National Cherry Blossom Festival and Japanese culture. Kids of all ages can make candy sushi, listen to story time, and have an anime caricature drawn of them. Parents are invited to enjoy beverages from a special tea station.

Children’s Art Workshop & Storytime
Where: House of Sweden | Georgetown, DC
When: Saturday, 12-3pm
Admission: Free

Swedish artist Karin Lithell will lead children ages 3-10 in expressing themselves through art! Attendees are set up with everything they need to participate free of charge and are able to paint on their own easels for the day. Also, plan on hanging out in Room for Children, a library and arts studio for families, and staying for storytime at 2pm.

TechQuest: Race to the Moon
Where: Udvar-Hazy Center | Chantilly, VA
When: Saturday, 10:30am – 4pm
Admission: Free, but parking is $15

Join this free alternate reality game at the Chantilly arm of Air & Space. Set in the thrilling era of early spaceflight, the game explores the exciting race to space by the first American astronauts. Your mission in this installment: Develop a rocket to launch into space, travel over 200,000 miles to the Moon, and land safely. It’s 1969 and national pride and prestige are on the line. The U.S. is in a tight race with the Soviet Union to see who can be the first to land humans on the Moon and return them safely to Earth. NASA needs engineers and scientists with real problem-solving skills.

Fairies in the Garden
Where: Annmarie Sculpture Garden
When: Friday/Saturday/Sunday, 9am – 5pm
Admission: $5/adult, $4/senior, $3/child

Annmarie’s magicalicious exhibit of fairy and gnome houses opens this weekend. As if the sculpture garden near Solomons, MD, wasn’t already wonderful, this annual display adds extra delight to a visit there with more than 50 handmade fairy and gnome homes scattered through the grounds. Visit the Arts Building to borrow a costume (or purchase one in the Gift Shop) to get into the fanciful spirit, grab a guide, and start your journey to locate them all. Read more about Annmarie Sculpture Garden and get a glimpse in this KFDC post.

Weekend Walk-In: Cosmic Egg
Where: American Visionary Art Museum | Baltimore, MD
When: Saturday, 1-4pm
Admission: $5

Join the museum for a hands-on, drop-in, art-making workshop in the AVAM classroom! Their Education staff will help you make your own mini version of artist Andrew Logan’s Cosmic Galaxy Egg sculpture with a special clay-like material and sparkly bits! Supplies & boundless inspiration provided.

Root (root, root) for the Baysox
Where: Prince George’s Stadium | Landover, MD
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Ticket prices vary

The Nats aren’t the only baseball team in town. The Bowie Baysox, one of the local minor league teams, are hosting the Harrisburg Senators all weekend, and there’s extra fun and special promos to enjoy, too — giveaways, a visit from the Easter Bunny, a pony and petting zoo, and more. Plus, there are always fun and games especially for kids. Read more about Baysox games in this KFDC post.

Street Fest
Where: Union Market District | Northeast DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 5pm
Admission: Free

The Union Market District is kicking off spring with a street fest! Join and hang with the diverse collection of businesses, both old and new, that call the area home.The day will include, food and fun, creativity and community, and lots of live entertainment. This includes activates for kids! Go here for more details about the day.

Petalpalooza
Where: The Wharf | Southwest DC
When: Saturday, 2-9:30pm
Admission: Free

Formerly known as the Southwest Waterfront Fireworks Festival, Petalpalooza will include interactive art installations, larger-than-life games and activities, live music on three outdoor stages, a roller rink, a beer garden, a spectacular fireworks show by Pyrotecnico, and much more along the piers of the Southwest Waterfront, the “home of the cherry blossoms.”

Lattes with Lambs
Where: Piskatoway Park | Accokeek , MD
When: Saturday, 10am-2pm
Admission: $10/adults, $5/kids & members

The baby lambs at Accokeek are excited to meet you! Spend your Saturday with the newest additions to our barnyard while enjoying coffee and donuts. Bring the whole family to enjoy other activities on our farm including sheep shearing, wool crafting, face painting, and kids games. Plus – everyone’s favorite lamb, Nigel, will have a special announcement! Most activities are included in the price of ticket. Concessions will be available for purchase.

Opening Day for Trails
Where: Trails around the DMV
When: Saturday
Admission: Free

It’s Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s sixth annual Opening Day for Trails, when people across the nation will kick off the spring trail season by hitting their favorite trails for a walk, run, ride or special event. In the DC area, you can join the official Opening Day 5K, a free, family-friendly event in Arlington. In addition to walking or running the 3.1 miles on theW&OD Trail and Four Mile Run Trail in Bluemont Park, you can also enjoy giveaways, food, and entertainment — including live music from the Capitol Hillbillies!

Poe Show
Where: Walls of Books | Petworth, DC
When: Sunday, 11am
Admission: Free, but donations welcome

Walls of Books is freeing their space up for an hour or so and turning it into a neighborhood theatre. Pocket Change Theatre Company will present “Once Upon a Midnight Cheery,” a family-friendly performance in which Edgar Allan Poe is trying to write a spooky story and keeps receiving happy suggestions from his cheerful pet raven.

STORYTIME: A Trip to the Hirshhorn
Where: Hirshhorn Museum | National Mall, DC
When: Sunday, 11am
Admission: Free

STORYTIME explores contemporary art through stories and movement. Museum staff will read aloud a book, introduce children to an artist in the collection, and lead a hands-on activity. Nursing moms welcome, and stroller parking is available in the Hirshhorn lobby. Note that snacks are not allowed inside the Museum, but you can eat outside on our Plaza before or after the program.

Bubble Guppies Live!
Where: National Theatre | Downtown DC
When: Sunday, 2pm & 6pm
Tickets: $29-59

What time is it? It’s time for Bubble Guppies! Jump into a bubbly world of learning and laughter with Nickelodeon’s Bubble Guppies Live! – “Ready to Rock.” Put on your water-wings and dive in to a swimsational musical underwater adventure! The Bubble Guppies are getting ready to rock n’ roll with everyone’s favorite tunes, but when a special band member goes missing, the show can’t go on! With help from Mr. Grouper and giggly little fish, Molly, Gil, and the whole gang embark on a musical expedition as they search every corner of their bubbly world for their friend!

Cathay’s Connected World
Where: Washington Cathay Future Center | Rockville,MD
When: Sunday, 3-6pm
Admission: Free

The DMV community is invited join this free arts and cultural activities fair and community service event. It will feature, interactive educational stations, demonstration lessons from center instructors, live performances from celebrated cultural artists, community centered art projects, and more.

Lantern Lighting & Cherry Blossom Princesses
Where: Tidal Basin | Southwest, DC
When: Sunday, 3pm
Admission: Free

Cherry Blossom Princesses dressed in their pink kimonos will light 8.5-foot-tall Japanese stone lantern at the Tidal Basin as part of a truly spectacular celebration of the festival and the enduring friendship between Japan and the United States.

***MORE GOOD STUFF TO KNOW***
* DC Public Library is now offering library card holders access to Kanopy, a film streaming service with more than 30,000 titles — for free!
* Warm weather is right around the corner, so this post about the best outdoor spots in the area will be a good one to keep on hand.
* A few weeks ago I mentioned wanting to read this book…I finally did, and it’s riveting. Highly recommend!
* Who can (or should that be can’t) relate to this? (Thanks to Darcy of No Monsters for sharing it!)

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Filed under 2018, All ages, Annual, Art, DC, Educational, Exhibit, Festival, Free, Indoor Play, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Museums, Outdoor, Seasonal, Special Event, Sports, Spring, Theatre, Virginia, Weekend

Celebrate Spring with a Garden Party at the National Postal Museum

A “bouquet” of postal stamps with spring flower designs



The calendar says spring, but the weather…not so much. Luckily, the National Postal Museum has a perfect way to celebrate the arrival of the season: An indoor Garden Party!

This Saturday and Sunday, April 7-8, from 11am – 4pm, the museum will be full of festivities to welcome spring. Hands-on activities designed to encourage awareness of and appreciation for the natural beauty around us will be spread throughout the space. And special guests from Smithsonian Gardens, Smithsonian Libraries, and several local garden clubs will be on hand to share their love and knowledge of the DC area’s native flowers, trees, and plants.

Here are more details about what you can enjoy at the event:

Gardening Workshop
Learn about ecosystem-friendly planting for gardening aficionados, who will share information about the flora best suited for the region and invasive species to avoid. They’ll also answer questions and share tips to cultivate your own green thumb!

Make a Stamp “Bouquet”
An ample buffet of vintage postage stamps will be available for guests to hand-select their favorites. Use them to make a beautiful floral-themed stamp collection to take home.

Learn the Language of Flowers
In the Victorian era, the “Language of Flowers” was a popular way to communicate emotions. What did it mean if you received a purple violet from someone? What about a yellow carnation? Learn the significance of particular flowers and colors and practice this unique tradition of expression with specially-made postcards that you can mail right from the museum!

Start a Mini Garden
Get your hands dirty with soil, gardening tools, and the seeds of your favorite flowering plants! Plant a mini “garden” to take home and enjoy a lasting memory of your time at the Postal Museum as your flowers bloom!

Design your own stamp!

Stamp Design Studio
Learn the basics of the stamp design process and explore the diverse subjects featured on U.S. postage stamps. View the original artworks that inspired some of the most popular botanical stamps and design your own stamp, which can be nature-themed or anything else you envision!

The History of Gardens
Dig into the rich history and evolution of gardens over time with Smithsonian Libraries, and learn about various kinds of gardens that come in all shapes and styles. For example, Victorian gardens during the late 19th century were grand and decorative, featuring flowers and symmetry. Victory gardens, popular during WWI and WWII, were functional and efficient, using every bit of space to grow fruits and vegetables.

Recharging Station
Recharge yourself and your mobile device by our indoor garden. Enjoy a quiet break with topical books for kids and adults; relaxing music; and complimentary tea, lemonade and sweet treats while supplies last.

Visit the National Postal Museum website for even more information about the Garden Party. And read a KFDC write-up about the destination here.

This post is sponsored by the National Postal Museum, however, I only promote programs, places, and events that I genuinely believe in and think would appeal to KFDC readers.

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Filed under 2018, All ages, DC, Educational, Exhibit, Free, Museums, Seasonal, Special Event, Sponsored Post, Spring, Weekend

It’s a Cherry Blossom Dream this Spring at ARTECHOUSE



ARTECHOUSE, the Southwest DC gallery specializing in creative works that merge art and technology, has been celebrating the seasons through large-scale installations that reflect the time of year with stunning visuals and neat interactives. And it probably comes as no surprise that the newest one, the spring exhibit, features one of DC’s seasonal favorites: Cherry Blossoms.

Sakura Yume // Cherry Blossom Dream offers a new way to experience our city’s famous flowers. They might not be real in this digital environment, but they’re beautiful as they float along the lofty walls of the gallery’s main space along with colorful clouds of light created by your movements. Like past installations there, sensors are carefully placed to let you manipulate the art by waving your arms or walking along the wall where the images are projected.

More activations invite guests to interact with the art. You can virtually feed koi fish and make cherry blossoms bloom on an interactive table. There is a hall with paper lanterns hanging above that light up as you walk under them. Orange dots on a wall can be rearranged as you “move” them.

My favorite element — and the one I think will be a fave of most guests — is an interactive table that projects beautiful blossom and Japanese-inspired images and lets you play with light and color. Hands and fingers become paint brushes as you create big swaths of color or make butterflies appear out of gray backgrounds. It’s mesmerizing and therapeutic and just really delightful to see.

All ages, children and adults, will appreciate this Cherry Blossom Dream. Kids are welcome during daytime hours 10am – 5pm, but evenings 5:30-11pm are for adults only. The bar is open during these hours, serving tasty and gorgeous exhibit-inspired cocktails. And on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 5:30-7pm the Bloom Food Immersive Experience, a bento box style meal will also be available.

Sakura Yume // Cherry Blossom Dream
Where: ARTECHOUSE | 1238 Maryland Avenue SW, WDC
When: Daily through May 6, 2018
Hours: 10am – 5pm (all ages) | 5:30-11pm (21+)
Admission: $15/adult, $8/child | $85/Bloom Food Experience












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Filed under 2018, All ages, Art, Date Night, DC, Eats, Exhibit, Seasonal, Spring, Weekdays, Weekend