Corcoran Gallery of Art | KidFriendly DC

The hills are alive with the sound of Sasha...

If the alpine landscape in the photo didn’t give it away, the jacket surely did. We’re not in DC. But even on vacation in the mountains of Colorado, I remain a dedicated blogger. And with that, here are this week’s recommendations for fun with the kids FRiday through Sunday…in the DC-metro. Happy Weekend!

LEGOS Galore – BrickFair, the nation’s largest LEGO Fan Festival, takes place Saturday and Sunday at the Dulles Expo & Conference Center. From 11am – 4pm both days, guests can behold some amazing creations constructed by LEGO enthusiasts from around the world. Admission is $9/person, $30/family of 4, free for children 3 and under.

Movies Under the Stars – The 15th Annual Comcast Outdoor Film Festival began last night and continues this evening with a viewing of Tangled at 8:30pm. Taking place at the Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville, several more family films will be screened throughout the weekend, and there will on-site dining (popcorn, candy, pizza, & fare from Hard Times Cafe of Bethesda). Admission is free, but $1 food tickets can be purchased there, with a portion of the proceeds going to NIH Children’s Charities.

Mail Art Workshop – Discover the fun of creative correspondence at the National Postal Museum. They’ll provide colorful materials, canceled postage stamps, inspiration, and everything else needed to make a unique piece of mail art. Drop in, get creative, and send the mail on its way to brighten someone’s day.

Edible Color Wheel – The Corcoran is hosting a free art workshop for kids ages 4-12 on Saturday from 10:30am – 2pm. Participants will use icing to discover how to mix primary colors into secondary colors and create their own edible color wheels.

Fairfax County 4-H Fair – The fun began Thursday at Frying Pan Farm Park with an old-fashioned carnival featuring amusements, rides, and food vendors that runs through the weekend. The 4-H part of the 63rd Annual Fairfax County 4-H Fair takes place on Saturday and Sunday. See the website for schedules and more details.

Get a Legg Up – The final matches of the annual Legg Mason Tennis Classic will be played this weekend. Tickets, while not cheap, are still available for all of the sessions. Visit the official website to see who is still swinging in the tourney and to reserve seats online.

Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods – There’s only one more week to enjoy Wolf Trap’s summer family theatre series. On Saturday, Secret Agent Skidoo and Instant Opera! Will take the outdoor stage among the trees. Tickets are $8 for both shows. Read the KFDC review of the CTITW series here.

International Spy Museum – Put a little mystery into the weekend with a visit to the International Spy Museum. I know… it’s one of the few DC museums that charges admission, but Goldstar currently has a deal for half-price tickets. The exhibits would probably be enjoyed best by kids ages 5 and older.

And these KFDC posts have even more ideas for recreation with the kids:

Joys of Summer

The Best Places in the DC Area to Enjoy a Beautiful Day Outdoors with the Kids

Rainy Day Recreation (ie, Indoor Fun)

Stay Entertained Through Summer

And be sure to have a gander at last weekend’s suggestions, several of which remain relevant now.

Father’s Day Weekend

This weekend's honoree

When I asked my husband what he wanted for Father’s Day, he told me without a tinge of sarcasm, “A nap.” Fair enough. (To be honest, I kind of wish I had thought of that for Mother’s Day.) But we’ll be doing some celebrating along with his special snooze fest and enjoying quality time with our little people who make him the doting dad he is. And with so many great things going on this weekend, we’ll have our pick of fun. From kids art events to a hometown baseball match-up to loads of seasonal activities all around the area, here’s where it’s all happening. Happy Weekend! And Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads!

World Children’s Festival – All weekend long, art and creativity will be just as prevalent on the National Mall as it is in the museums surrounding it. Occurring every four years, the World Children’s Festival is considered the “Olympics” of the International Child Art Foundation. Live performances, art exhibits and workshops, book readings and storytelling, and many more activities representing art and culture from around the globe can be enjoyed Friday through Sunday from 4^th to 7^th Streets on the Mall. And it’s all free to the public. Festivities will run from 10am – 5pm each day, and a schedule of events is available on the website.

Sculpt It! – This workshop at the Corcoran invites families to check out the variety of materials that artists use to create three-dimensional art and get in the studio to design their own creations. The artistic fun takes place on Saturday from 10:30am – 12pm. Registration is $8/child for members, $10/child for non-members.

Become a Pilot Family Day & Aviation Display – The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (the Dulles arm of the Air & Space) is hosting the 7^th annual event on Saturday from 10am – 3pm. At least 50 aircraft, from vintage and recreational to military and homebuilt, will be on on display outside the Center. Visitors can get an insider’s view on flying by talking to pilots and other aviation experts, then test their own piloting skills in flight simulators. Story time and hands-on activities will also be held for kids. Admission is free, though parking is $15.

Baseball Battle of the Beltway – It’s the Nationals vs. Orioles this weekend with games this evening at 7:05pm, Saturday at 1:05pm, and Sunday at 1:35pm. On Saturday, the first 10,000 fans age 12 and under will receive a free kids jersey. On Sunday there’s even — the first 30,000 fans to arrive will get a Nats baseball cap in honor Father’s Day, select baseball players will be available for autographs at 12:15pm, and kids can run the bases after the game. Purchase tickets through the Nationals website.

Father’s Day at Mount Vernon – Spend the day with the father of our country! This weekend, the entrance fee for dads will include a meet-and-greet with “General Washington” as well as complimentary admission to George Washington’s Distillery & Gristmill, located three miles from the estate on Route 235 South. Open both Saturday and Sunday from 8am – 5pm. Tickets are $15/adult, $7/ages 6-11, free for ages 5 and under.

ImaginAsia: Echoes of the Past – Kids can explore the art of Asia at the Freer and Sackler Galleries on both Saturday and Sunday at 2pm. A tour through the museum will include a look at Echoes of the Past, which showcases the art of Xiangtangshan caves. From there, guests will head to a classroom for a project that’s part archaeology, part art. This is a free workshop.

Portrait Story Days – Drop in at the National Portrait Gallery on Saturday or Sunday from 1 – 4pm to listen to a story about a person who has influenced American history and culture and to create a special piece of art. In keeping with the Father’s Day theme, guests can learn about founding father Benjamin Franklin.

Tiny Tots – Two puppet shows for the littlest ones will be performed at The Puppet Co. this weekend: Clowning Around on Saturday and Second-Hand Stars on Sunday. Both start at 10am. Tickets are $5 and available online. Tiny Tots shows are recommended for ages 0-4.

Moma Doni Band – Tickets are still available to see a free Father’s Day family concert on Sunday at 11am. The Mama Doni Band is performing at the DC JCC as part of the Washington Jewish Music Festival, and they’re giving away family tickets. They’re going fast, so get yours soon.

Useful posts any day of the week:

The Best Places in the DC Area to Enjoy a Beautiful Day Outdoors with the Kids – The title says it all.

Rainy Day Recreation (ie, Indoor Fun) – Ideas for family fun when the weather isn’t cooperating.

Joys of Summer – Ongoing activities and events that only happen during the season.

Live Entertainment for Families – See what’s on stages this weekend.