Tag Archives: DC Story Time

June 26, 2016 · 8:03 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: June 27 – July 1

Kids (and adults!) will love the Recycled Tire Playground at Seneca Creek State Park

Monday – Experience WONDER at the Renwick Gallery while it’s still on view — the much celebrated exhibit closes in a couple of weeks on July 10. Even if you’ve already seen it, a repeat look is just as enchanting. And if it’s your first time, well, you’re in for quite a treat. Hours are 10am- 5:30pm. Admission is free.

Tuesday – See a high-energy dance show in the fresh air at Wolf Trap’s Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods. SOLE Defined will take the outdoor stage for the first performance of the week, and you can catch other exciting acts every Tuesday – Saturday at 10:30am through August 6. Tickets are $8-12.

Wednesday – Tie dye a t-shirt at A.C. Moore’s special summer program for kids! The arts & crafts store is offering a summer-long schedule of FREE “Make & Take” activities for children ages 4–12, designed to tap their creativity. Sessions will take place every Wednesday from 1-3pm, and there is no cost to join. Find an A.C. Moore location near you.

Thursday – Play the day away at Seneca Creek State Park in Gaithersburg. You’ve got your pick of activities to enjoy throughout the 6,000+ acres of lovely recreational space. Hike through the woods, rent a canoe, play Frisbee golf, have a picnic, and be sure to let the kiddos romp on the awesome Recycled Tire Playground complete with zip line and giant tire monster to clamber upon.

Friday – Spend the day at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival where Basque country and California sounds are in the spotlight. The annual celebration of living cultural heritage is full of hands-on activities, performances, demos, and much more from June 29 – July 4 and July 7-10, 11am – 5pm each day, with special events most evenings at 6:30pm. Find it all on the National Mall from 3rd-4th Streets. Admission is free.

*Plan ahead for summer weekends!* Check out Ruddy Duck Adventures packages that explore all kinds of cool fun in Solomons, MD. And KidFriendly DC readers can get a discount using the code KFDC!

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Filed under All ages, Art, DC, Educational, Exhibit, Festival, Free, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Museums, Nature, Outdoor, Park, Seasonal, Summer, Theatre, Virginia, Weekdays

Tagged as Childrens theatre, DC Kids Activities, DC outdoors, DC Story Time, DC Summer, DC Weekday Activities with Kids, DC with kids, Free Things to do in Washington DC, Fun Things to do with Kids in Washington DC, Fun with Kids in Maryland, Fun with Kids in Northern Virginia, Kids Activities, Local Playgrounds, Maryland Parks, Summer Festivals, Weekdays June 27 - July 1

June 19, 2016 · 5:09 pm

Where to Play on the Weekdays: June 20-24

Spray fun at Turkey Thicket

Monday – Catch a family-friendly performance at Folger Shakespeare Library. Gravediggers Tale, featuring comedic actor Louis Butelli, is a one-man show based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet that encourages audience participation. Showtime is 10:30am, and tickets are free — reserve yours here.

If you’re with really little ones, Rise + Rhyme at Busboys and Poets in Takoma or Hyattsville, MD. The weekly series welcomes children 5 and under with their caregivers to enjoy a morning of performances and stories from 9:30-11am. Admission is $5. Plan on breakfast, too — full service will be available while the little ones are grooving! (FYI: The series also takes place in Shirlington, VA, the last Tuesday of every month.)

Tuesday – Beat the heat in the cool comfort of a movie, a heavily discounted one!. The Regal Summer Movie Express begins this week, presenting family films for just $1 every Tuesday and Wednesday at participating theaters during the summer. See what’s playing at a theater near you — there are two movie choices every week.

Wednesday – Climb-A-Tree with Montgomery Parks Arborists. Find out how fast, how far, how high you can go when you climb a giant tree at Fairview Urban Park! Arborists will provide safety gear, assistance, and encouragement to help kids put their heads in the clouds and see our parks from a new perspective. Hours are 9am – 12pm, and admission is free. The park is located at 8900 Fairview Road in Silver Spring.

Thursday – Jump in to summer fun at a public pool, which are now open daily! Even better, they’re free (or a small fee if you’re not a resident of the District or county where it’s located). Check out the 2016 Summer Guide for links to public pools in the area and be sure to note open times, as they may vary from pool to pool.

Friday – Take kids ages 4-9 to Walls of Books for Storytime Yoga. Join Sierra Yoga and Wellness as they make stories come alive with games, songs, and yoga poses, encouraging the connection of mind and body and bringing together the best of two worlds: storytelling and yoga! The free 45-minute session starts at 12pm.

For an outing with younger children, head to the Turkey Thicket playground in Brookland, where they can enjoy running through sprays along with slides, swings, climbing equipment, and more. Admission there is free.

Where to Play on the Weekdays: June 13-17

Roam around the Franciscan Monastery grounds in Brookland

NORDSTROM - Shop Kids' Summer Shoes from Top Brands

Monday – Spend the beautiful day outdoors at Burke Lake Park. Hike the trails, go for a spin on the carousel ($2), take a ride on the miniature steam engine ($3), romp on one of the playgrounds, and enjoy more fun in the fresh air. Open sunrise to sunset, and admission is free on weekdays.

Tuesday – Explore the lovely grounds and cathedral of the Franciscan Monastery in Brookland. A DC “secret” to many, the “Oasis of Peace” welcomes visitors to stroll through the gardens and tour the church. Hours are 10am – 4:45pm. Admission is free.

Wednesday – Go to Kids Corner on The Plaza at CityCenter, where they are welcoming little ones for outdoor story time, singing, and fun with DC Public Library. The weekly series runs through September 28. Starts at 10:30am, and admission is free.

Thursday – Venture up to Baltimore to see some of the most wonderful, whimsical art around at the American Visionary Art Museum. The colorful, quirky works — some of them interactive — can be appreciated by art buffs of all ages. Hours are 10am – 6pm Tuesday – Sunday. Admission is $15.95/adults, $13.95/seniors, $9.95/students & ages 7 and up, free for 6 and under.

Friday – Rock out with local kids’ fave Rocknocerous at Jammin’ Java. Plan to eat while you’re there — the full lunch menu will be available. Showtime is 10:30am, doors open at 10am. Tickets are $5.

Where to Play on the Weekdays: May 31 – June 3

Enjoy story hour and browse the inventory at East City Bookshop (Photo by my friend Jody)

Tuesday – Take your toddlers to story hour at the new East City Bookshop on Capitol Hill, where they’re kicking off weekly children’s book readings for little ones. The session starts at 11am, and admission is free. After, stay to browse the inventory, then head next door to Labyrinth to check out their great selection of games and puzzles or grab a bite at one of many nearby eateries.

Wednesday – Head to the National Zoo to get a close-up view of a 12-foot shark, 16-foot parrot fish, an 8-foot octopus, and a 20-foot-lcoral reef — all made completely of plastic debris collected from beaches for Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea. The collection of colorful and dramatic sculptures of marine animals representing more than 315 billion pounds of plastic in oceans today and underscoring the need for wildlife conservation will be on view at the Zoo through September 5. And visit the live animals while you’re there, of course.

Thursday – Be among the first audiences to see Little Red Riding Hood and the 3 Little Pigs as it opens at The Puppet Co. There are performances at 10am and 11:30am, and tickets are $12. Read a KFDC review of the production from a few years back.

Friday – Go bowling at Pinstripes in Georgetown. From 10am – 12pm most weekdays, Tots Playtime welcomes kids to bowl for just $5 (plus $5 shoe rental), and parents are free (limit 4 kids per adult). Stay after for lunch — they have a good kids menu and a pretty extensive main menu, too. Or if the weather is nice, head to Georgetown Waterfront Park to play in the sprays (free)!