All the cool gnomes will be at Annmarie Sculpture Garden on Sunday
Link up to all kinds of ideas for 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
Earth Days @ FUTURES: A Sustainablity Celebration
Where: Arts & Industries Building | National Mall, DC
When: Friday, 5:30pm – Sunday, 3:30pm
Admission: Free
For Earth Day, the Arts & Industries Building is celebrating with a weeklong-long event that begins on Friday evening with extended hours and a guided tour. On Saturday & Sunday, explore even more big, bold, and exciting solutions for the planet and partake in all kinds of fun, interesting, and engaging activities that explore creative, hopeful, and innovative ideas to shape a more sustainable future. See details here. (FYI: The Friday evening sessions will be offered every week with new and interesting takes on FUTURES through special tours, pop-up experiences, guest speakers, and more.)
The Other Side
Where: Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: Friday, 7pm | Saturday & Sunday, 1:30pm & 4pm
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+.
GreenFest
Where: Brookside Gardens | Wheaton, MD
When: Saturday, 11am – 5pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate Earth Day at Brookside Gardens! This event offers a chance for residents, businesses, nonprofits, and neighbors, to come together, share ideas, and get involved. Plus, there are activities for all ages — art and craft vendors, an interactive electric car display, tree climbing, kids’ yoga, plant giveaways, face painting. and a variety of food trucks. Register for free here.
Fairy & Gnome Home Festival
Where: Annmarie Sculpture Garden | Lusby, MD
When: Sunday (timed-entry)
Admission: $8/age 2+
This annual festival at one of the most enchanting places will delight the whole family — and we know from experience. Join a magical day of family nature play as you travel through six realms of Annmarie to discover a variety of activities in the garden. Make new fairy friends, find hidden gnome homes, enjoy crafts and nature explorations, meet sweet baby animals, ride a unicorn (!), listen to live music, and frolic in the sweet Fairy Lolly. Food and drink will be available. Advance timed-entry tickets are required for admission and unicorn rides ($10). Read more about Annmarie Sculpture Garden and get a glimpse in this KFDC post and this one.
NASA Earth Day
Where: Union Station | Northeast DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
In celebration of Earth Day, NASA is hosting activities all weekend long in Union Station’s Mail Hall. Union Station’s main hall. Stop in for science stories, interesting trivia, hands-on activities, photo ops, a take-home kit, and more. While you’re there, grab a bite to eat and admire the grand space, one of the most stunning spaces in DC (imo).
Nats vs. Giants
Where: Nationals Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Ticket prices vary (look for discount)
It’s a weekend of home games for the Nats as they host the Giants. There are games Friday (7:05pm), Saturday (1:05pm), and Sunday (1:35pm). Check for special promos here, and plan to stay after on Sunday for Kids Run the Bases. And before you go, get some KFDC tips on doing Nats game without breaking the bank.
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.
Spring Fest
Where: The Farm @ Kelly Miller | Anacostia, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: Free
Join local non-profit Dreaming Out Loud for Spring Fest 2022, where you can dig in the dirt, plant a seed, enjoy food, and have family fun in the sun! It’s opening day for planting at the farm and youth garden, plus there will be games, music, and pony rides. Food will be provided by The Black Farm CSA and Sweetgreen. The Farm is located behind Kelly Miller Middle School.
Open House
Where: Synetic Theatre | National Landing, VA
When: Saturday, 11:30am – 3pm
Admission: Free
All are welcome to Synetic Theater’s Open House. Stop by their National Landing studio for fun activities and to learn how their Synetic Summer Camps are back. The day will feature performances of their production of The Magical Balloon, free workshops led by the fabulous team of teaching artists, free games and activities, and best of all free food!
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.
Herring Heroes Obstacle Course
Where: Peirce Mill | Rock Creek Park , DC
When: Saturday, 11am – 2pm
Admission: Free
The fish are back, and so is this fun family event! Each spring, these mighty fish travel upstream from the Chesapeake Bay to Rock Creek, where they lay their eggs. Come learn about the spring herring migration, and see if you’re as strong as a fish! Can you swim up imaginary rapids and find your way on a Rock Creek balance beam? Go up the fish ladder, and carry an egg on a spoon? After you’ve completed the obstacle course, look for herring swimming past Peirce Mill! This outdoor event is FREE, no registration required. Peirce Mill is located at 2401 Tilden Street NW. Read more about it in this KFDC post.
Kite Fest
Where: The Boro | Tysons,VA
When: Saturday, 11am – 2pm
Admission: Free
This family-friendly event celebrates all things Spring with kite performers, multiple crafting stations, giant board games and live music across The Sandlot Tysons and Boro Park. There will also be a pop-up bookstore hosted by Turning the Page, and The Gift of Language will be doing springtime crafts, storytime and face painting for the little ones!
Take a Hike
Where: Around the DC Area
When: Ongoing
Admission: Varies by locale
Earth Day weekend is a great time to hit the trail. And while there’s a link up top for a round-up of local hikes, specific recs are also helpful: Pohick Bay Regional Park in Lorton, VA (paddling ops, too!); Turkey Run Park in McLean, VA; Scott’s Run Nature Preserve also in McLean, VA; Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in Northeast DC; Quiet Waters Park in Annapolis, MD; and Patapsco Valley State Park near Baltimore, MD.
Family Bike Ride
Where: Around the DC Area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
The weather this weekend will be perfect for a family two-wheel outing, and you’ve got your pick of bike routes around the area to get rolling. Enjoy the scenery, get some exercise, and have fun zipping along the trails. This post has a bunch of pedal-worthy recs, with something for riders of all levels, this route being particularly ideal with little kids.
Go Disc Golfin’
Where: Courses around the DC Area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
Hit the links, the chain links, that is! Disc golf is a great way to enjoy some family time outdoors. Not only is it fun and challenging, many of the courses are set up in scenic places. This post has info about our favorite in College Park, and there are also great courses at Patapsco Valey State Park in MD, Pohick Bay Regional Park in Lorton, VA, Seneca Creek State Park in Gaithersburg, MD, Burke Lake Park in Burke, VA.
Spring Shopping Pop-Up
Where: Dupont Underground | Dupont Circle, DC
When: Saturday, 12-5pm
Admission: Free
Dupont Underground is joining forces with Historic Dupont Circle Main Streets to host the Dupont Circle’s Spring shopping pop-up on Saturday. Located in the old streetcar station below Dupont Circle, you can explore the cool space and shop 50 pop-up vendors.
First Plein Air Trolley Festival & Sale
Where: National Capital Trolley Museum | Colesville, MD
When: Saturday, 12-5pm
Admission: See below
Experience the beauty and history of the trolley era through the eyes of local artists during this special event at the museum. Dozens of professional and amateur artists from the Montgomery Art Association, alongside children from the region (bring their art supplies!), will be creating paintings of the world’s largest collection of original DC street cars. All original artwork will then be for sale during an art show and reception in the museum’s main hall, which is free and open to the public. Plan to make a day of it and visit the museum, too! Admission is $10/adults, $8/children & seniors and includes a tour, trolley ride, and artist viewing. Advanced reservations are strongly recommended.
United vs. Revolution
Where: Audi Field | Southwest DC
When: Saturday, 7:30pm
Admission: Tickets prices vary
Kick it at a DC United match on Saturday evening as they host the New England Revolution. I recommend taking public transportation as parking can be difficult. Or park in the Navy Yard neighborhood and plan to walk from there (and maybe grab dinner before the match — El Bebe, All Purpose Pizza, The Salt Line, and Dacha are very convenient and my top recs for family-friendly spots to eat there).
Drag Queen Storytime
Where: Unity Park | Adams Morgan, DC
When: Sunday, 11am
Admission: Free
The popular story hour series is returning to Unity park the last Sunday of every month through October, this session with Itty bitty Bat.The goal of Drag Queen Storytime is to inspire a love of reading, while teaching deeper lessons on diversity, self-love, and an appreciation of others. The DC Public Library will be in attendance with additional books, information about local libraries, their famous “Library on the Go-Go book bike,” and more. Perfect for the entire family, the event is free and open to children of all ages. Bring a blanket to sit on or small lawn chair. Register here.
Tula Family Tea + Drag Queen Cabaret
Where: BlackRock Center for the Arts | Germantown, MD
When: Sunday, 2-4pm
Admission: $30-50
BlackRock Center for the Arts, providing opportunities to explore, celebrate and engage in the arts, brings favorite childhood and musical theatre songs to life with glitz and glamour onstage with Tula’s Family Tea + Drag Cabaret, a family-friendly drag show and tea party, April 24, 2022 at 3:00 PM. The queens will be serving a selection of teatime treats and English teas and beverages to patrons who purchase a seat at one of tables. Also performing will be Seneca Valley High School Chamber Choir who fill BlackRock with their beautiful harmonizing. See a behind-the-scenes story of how they became involved here.
Exhibits to Experience
Where: Museums around DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
There are a bunch of wonderful exhibits to experience at our local museums right now, with something for all ages. One with Eternity: Yayoi Kusama in the Hirshhorn Collection is a fantastic delight! Ive been hearing great things about Afro-Atlantic Histories at the National Gallery of Art. Kiddos can hang with Thomas and Friends at the National Children’s Museum. Laurie Anderson: The Weather at the Hirshhorn is a really cool one, best for tween ages and up. Enjoy the cherry blossoms a little bit longer as you immerse in Pixelbloom at ARTECHOUSE (get a glimpse here). And, of course, the rest of our Smithsonians have permanent collections that we never get tired of seeing — see links to them and loads of other museums and indoor places here.
Mother Goose
Where: Olney Theatre | Olney, MD
When: Saturday & Sunday
Tickets: $15
Imagination Stage presents their show on the Olney Theatre stage: Mother Goose leads the audience through some of her most beloved nursery rhymes, using puppets and props to bring to life Humpty Dumpty, Old King Cole, the Eensy Weensy Spider, and more. The magical Mother Goose invites your little ones to join in with each rhyme’s story – teaching them that the very best way to do what needs to be done is to do it together.
Mean Girls
Where: Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: Through Sunday
Tickets: $45-199
Direct from Broadway, Mean Girls is the hilarious hit musical based on Tina Fey’s movie. Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. Soon, this naïve newbie falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung. Recommended for age 10+.
The Servant of Two Masters
Where: Synetic Theatre | Crystal City, VA
When: Through Sunday
Tickets: $20-50
Mistaken identities, wily servants, and madcap antics abound in this laugh-a-minute tale of the ultimate trickster. Helmed by Vato Tsikurishvili and the Helen Hayes Award-nominated team from the 2019 hit Cyrano de Bergerac, The Servant of Two Masters is a raucous adaptation of Carlo Goldoni’s classic farce.
Caps vs. Maple Leafs
Where: Capitol One Arena | Penn Quarter, DC
When: Sunday, 7pm
Admission: Ticket prices vary
Catch some sports action on the ice. The Capitals play on Sunday Evening as they host the Toronto Maple Leafs. Plan on a pre-game dinner in Penn Quarter — there are plenty of family-friendly places to go in the neighborhood. Some recs: Jaleo, Hill Country BBQ, Carmine’s, and Shake Shack.
***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* Don’t miss these recommendations for items to help you get have the best beach day from KFDC Contributor Emily Moise!
* Maybe not a family event, but this festival is happening on Saturday.
* 16 Affordable Family Vacations to Take This Summer
* 10 Practical Ways to Improve Happiness
* Currently reading and and so moved by this beautifully written book.
* On the recommendation from a friend, I recently started watching The Goldbergs, and it’s hilarious. (Anyone who grew up in the 80s will likely agree.)
* Madewell has a 50% off sale items promo going on right now.
* Then vs.Now 😂
