You never know who you’ll see at Awesome Con
HAPPY WEEKEND!
Tried & true ideas for all kinds of DC fun:
* Best Outdoors in the DC Area
* Local Hikes with Kids
* The Great Indoors
* Off-the-Beaten-Path Museums
* Kid-Friendly Dining
* Indoor Action
* Baltimore with Kids
* Peaceful Places
* Stunning Spaces
Bloom Town
Where: Around the DC Area
When: Varies by locale
Admission: Varies by locale
There are still some cherry blossoms around, and even more big flower displays are coming up around the DC area. Tulips are showing off their brilliant hues and bluebells are brightening the grounds around the area. And the best places to see them are fab for more than just the flowers. This post has details on where to go for those and other big blooms coming up.
Tulips Galore
Where: Burnside Farm | Nokesville, VA
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: $19-25/ages 6+
Experience a bit of Holland in Northern Virginia at Burnside Farms’ annual Festival of Spring. Tulips stretching along acres of fields in an array of colors and varieties are stunning. Even better, you can pick your own ($1/tulip or 2 daffodils) to bring the beauty home. Admission also includes bouncy fun, a playhouse area, cornhole games, and authentic dutch wooden shoes to “klomp” around in. Note that tickets are available for all time slots on Friday right now, but most are sold out for Saturday and Sunday, however they are release day-of tickets each day at 6am, so you can try for those here.
Capitals SkyRink
Where: Hi-Lawn | Union Market, DC
When: Friday – Sunday, 2-11pm
Admission: $12-18
A one-of-a-kind skating experience is coming to Hi-Lawn, the rooftop space, at Union Market through April! The synthetic ice rink offers breathtaking city views, great vibes, and a super fun time on the ice. Seasoned skaters and those who just want try something fun can enjoy skating high above the city along with food and drinks. And SkyRink isn’t just for general skating… you can also xperience hockey play with sticks, pucks, and goals provided. Try to score from Ovi’s “office”! (PS: This will be open Wednesdays – Fridays during April.)
Awesome Con
Where: Washington Convention Center | Mount Vernon Square, DC
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Starts at $65/adult, $25/child
The mid-Atlantic’s premier pop culture convention brings a three-day celebration of television, movies, comic books, science, technology and more to DC. With hundreds of hours of programming, an impressive lineup of special guests — appearances include the Ninja Turtles, Sean Austin, Liv Tyler, Orlando Bloom, and many other iconic characters — plus exciting activities for fans of all ages, this is one fun event. We’ve been and have had a blast checking out games, toys, comics, art, TV, and movie memorabilia, and more. And the cosplay is FANtastic. Costumes encouraged.
Easter Egg Hunts
Where: Great Country Farms | Bluemont, VA
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: $10-12/child, $12-14/adult, $7.99/hunt
After a long cold winter, nothing chases away the chill like a visit to the farm. The Easter Bunny has hidden some eggs filled with treats to enchant the children, and you can help us find them! While you’re there, see spring chicks and baby animals, take a wagon ride, and enjoy the season. Be sure to get advance tickets — these Egg Hunts Sell out every year!
Fairies in the Garden
Where: Annmarie Sculpture Garden | Lusby, MD
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: $5 suggested donation
Guaranteed to delight, the annual exhibit of fairy and gnome houses at Annmarie Sculpture Garden begins on Friday! This year, more than 180 homes for spritely creatures will be displayed throughout the grounds. Viewing them along with more art as you walk along a trail through the woods is a fantastic adventure for all ages. Plan for play time in the adorable Fairy Lolly, and stop in the Arts Center for more creative works. Read more about and get a glimpse of it all here and here. (FYI – Annmarie is wonderful anytime, fairy houses or not!)
Family Hoppy Hour
Where: The Hill Center | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Friday, 5-7pm
Admission: $7-14
Start the weekend with a Friday evening filled with live music for all ages! If weather permits, the concert will take place outdoors, perfect for little ones to run, dance, laugh, and play to the beat of their favorite songs. King Bullfrog is a kindie rock trio that plays high-energy tunes developmentally appropriate for kids that grownups like, too. Pizza, beer, wine, and cheese will be for sale!
Nats vs Diamondbacks
Where: Nationals Park | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Friday, Saturday, & Sunday
Admission: Tickets start at $17
Celebrate 20 years ofthe Nats and catch a ballgame as they play the Diamondbacks at home this weekend. There are games on Friday (6:45pm), Saturday (4:05pm), and Sunday (1:35pm) with special giveaways for the anniversary. The first 20,000 fans on Friday can get NATS20 Replica Commemorative Ring on Friday and on Saturday, a NATS20 2005 Replica Jersey.
Caps vs Blackhawks
Where: Capital One Arena | Penn Quarter, DC
When: Friday, 7pm
Admission: Look for tickets here
Start the weekend off with some hockey action and more fun! The Capitals are playing at home Friday evening, hosting the Blackhawks. Not only is it the 50th Anniversary Era Night with a special photo book giveaway, the watch is on for Ovechkin’s record breaking goal — which will be soon. Plan to get a bite to eat in the Penn Quarter neighborhood before or after the game. This post about kid-friendly eats in DC has suggestions for places to go.
Trains & Carousel Spins
Where: Cabin John & Wheaton Regional Parks, MD
When: Saturday & Sunday, 9:30am – 4:30pm
Admission: $4
All aboard! Montgomery Park’s Cabin John Train and Wheaton Train and Carousel open for the season starting this weekend. Go for a spin around the parks on replicas of the 1863 C.P. Huntington, a 4-2-4T steam locomotive. Or enjoy a whirl on the beautiful Ovid Hazen Wells Carousel featuring 33 jumping horses, three zebras, and two chariots! Read more about Cabin John Regional Park in Bethesda here and Wheaton Regional Park here.
Bluebells at the Bend
Where: Riverbend Park | Great Falls, VA
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: $10/advance, $15/day of, free/4 & under
Celebrate the Virginia Bluebells as they blanket the banks of the Potomac River at Riverbend Park. This annual festival features wildflower walks, live animals, exhibitors, live music, kids crafts, and concessions — all in the gorgeous park. Register in advance online to ensure your spot! Read more about Riverbend in this KFDC post.
White House Spring Garden Tours
Where: White House Grounds | Downtown DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 4:30pm & Sunday, 10am – 2:30pm
Admission: Free with tickets
Here’s a chance to see the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden, Kitchen Garden, and South Lawn at the White House. The annual Spring Garden and Grounds Tours are a tradition that dates back to 1972 when Pat Nixon first opened the gardens to the public. It’s a very“DC” activity and a lovely way to enjoy the emerging spring color — and gaining admission to the event is as easy as picking up tickets day-of. They will be distributed at a National Park Service tent located near the White House Visitor Center (1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW) each day starting at 8:30am. (That means you could be getting entry times for later in the day, so plan accordingly as best you can.) See more details and info on how to get tickets.
First Saturday
Where: National Gallery of Art | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 10am – 4pm
Admission: Free
At this session of the National Gallery of Art’s monthly series, join a fun-filled day of events inspired by the Elizabeth Catlett exhibition. Choose drop-in art making to create your own prints, or get your face painted and become a work of art yourself. Enjoy a 30-minute, guided family yoga session with children’s yoga specialists from Create Calm. And don’t miss other exhibition-related events including a gallery talk with master printmaker LaToya Hobbs, a concert celebrating Elizabeth Catlett with the Howard Gospel Choir, and screenings of two documentaries by filmmaker Juan Mora Catlett about his mother, artist Elizabeth Catlett
75th Anniversary Celebration Family Fun Day
Where: Bannockburn Nursery School
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: $25/family
Join Bannockburn Nursery School for a Family Fun Day filled with activities and excitement for everyone! As BNS celebrates its 75th anniversary, all are invited to enjoy a bounce house, petting zoo, face painting, balloon twisting, games, food trucks, bake sale, silent auction, and more. Purchase tickets via Venmo: Bannockburn-Nursery-School or through the website here.
Family Day: Japanese Culture Day
Where: Library of Congress | Capitol Hill, DC
When: Saturday, 10:30am – 3:30pm
Admission: Free with tickets
The Library of Congress hosts its annual Japanese Culture Day in celebration of the 2025 National Cherry Blossom Festival! The event features family activities, Japanese musical instrument demonstrations, storytelling, and arts and crafts. Collection items related to cherry blossoms and Japanese culture will also be on display. Read more about the Library of Congress in this KFDC post.
Earth to Space Festival Family Weekend
Where: Kennedy Center | Foggy Bottom, DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
It’s another Family Weekend during the Earth to Space Festival at the Kennedy Center when there will be extra fun for kids, including art activities in the Moonshot studio, a NASA info table, a martian spacesuit design workshop, and more free fun. For three weeks this spring, the festival brings musicians and astronauts, poets and researchers, visual artists and engineers, actors and environmentalists, architects and astronomers, dancers and scientists, filmmakers and space designers to the performing arts center.
Watkins Nature Center Community Day
Where: Watkins Regional Park | Upper Marlboro, MD
When: Saturday, 11am – 2pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate Earth Day all month long! JoinWatkins Nature Center to celebrate and connect with the people, places, and natural resources that make Prince George’s County special. Along with all of the neat exhibits and animals at the Nature Center, enjoy free nature activities, arts & crafts, giveaways, and more! Read more about all that Watkins has to offer here.
Go for a Train or Carousel Spin
Where: Cabin John & Wheaton Regional Parks, MD
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: $4
All aboard! Montgomery Park’s Cabin John Train and Wheaton Train and Carousel are opening for the season. Go for a spin around the parks on replicas of the 1863 C.P. Huntington, a 4-2-4T steam locomotive. Or enjoy a whirl on a brand new carousel at Wheaton! Read more about Cabin John Regional Park in Bethesda here and Wheaton Regional Park here.
Slow Art Day
Where: Asian Art Museum | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 11am – 3pm
Admission: Free
Bring the whole family for a day of activities to slow down the mind and body. Slow looking is the art of taking time to carefully observe more than meets the eye at first glance. Practice mindful movements, discuss works of art with expert educators, and connect with nature through forest bathing. Or pick up a slow-looking guide to sketch, write, and chat about works of art at your own pace.
Show Time
Where: Around the DC area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by show
There’s much more entertainment on local stages this weekend. Here’s where you can catch it (and you can find show details and any discount links here):
* Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster at the Kennedy Center
* Mother Goose at Imagination Stage (all ages)
* Sister Act at Ford’s Theatre (age 12+)
* A Room in the Castle at Folger Shakespeare Theatre (teens & older)
* In the Heights at Signature Theatre (age 8+)
* Bad Books atRoundHouseTheatre(teens & older)
* Waitress at Olney Theatre (teens & older)
Hands Off! Rally
Where: Washington Monument Grounds | National Mall, DC
When Saturday, 12-3pm
Admission: Free
There are going to be protests all around the country on Saturday to send a “message to the world that we do not consent to the destruction of our government and our economy for the benefit of Trump and his billionaire allies… to demand a stop the chaos and build an opposition movement against the looting of our country.” DC’s rally starts at the Washington Monument grounds, but will likely take to the streets to march, too.
Petalpalooza
Where: The Yards | Capitol Riverfront, DC
When: Saturday, 1-9pm
Admission: Free
Join the Capitol Riverfront community for Petalpalooza! This day-long all-ages celebration brings art, music, and play to multiple outdoor stages, interactive art installations, a cashless beverage garden, family-friendly hands-on activities, roaming entertainers, and more, all along the banks of the Anacostia River. The evening is capped by the spectacular Official National Cherry Blossom Festival Fireworks show set to music starting at 8:30pm.
AdMo Art Walk
Where: Around Adams Morgan, DC
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Free
Think of Adams Morgan as your own personal art gallery, thanks to this free way to experience art brought to you by the Adams Morgan Partnership BID, the DC Arts Center, local artists, and neighborhood businesses! Walk the streets of Adams Morgan and admire an impressive selection of artworks displayed in various storefronts in a self-guided tour or join the DC Arts Center for a guided tour — they’ll be offered on select weekends in April.
Dinosaur Egg Hunt
Where: Hidden Oaks Nature Center
When: Sunday, 10:30am
Admission: $10
Stomp over to Hidden Oaks Nature Center to enjoy a dinosaur-themed program and outdoor egg hunt while visiting Dinoland in Nature Playce. One adult only per registered child preferred. There will be multiple sessions throughout the day starting at 10:30am.
Art Blooms at Mosaic
Where: Mosaic District | McLean, VA
When: Saturday & Sunday, 11am – 6pm
Admission: Free
Welcome spring at the Mosaic District with a celebratory weekend featuring fun for all ages. Shop at the market, catch live entertainment and art exhibits, enjoy some kids activities, sip on a cocktail while you stroll, and more! Family-friendly activities include a kids’ game corner, petting zoo, cherry blossom-inspired arts and crafts, face painting, and painting stations.
Choir of King’s College Concert
Where: Washington National Cathedral | Northwest DC
When: Sunday, 6pm
Admission: $32
See the world-renowned Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, perform under the National Cathedral’s soaring vaulted ceilings. The concert will showcase a stunning program that merges the rich traditions of English and European choral music. This is a rare opportunity to experience one of the world’s oldest and most beloved choral ensembles in the heart of Washington, DC.
***MORE GOOD STUFF***
* If you’re going to be in DC for Spring Break, be sure to bookmark this guide loaded with ideas for activities during the week, a bunch of them new and very cool!
* The Hung Tao Choy Mei Leadership Institute offers after school and summer camp kung fu programs that help kids learn, grow, and thrive — and they’re free for DC residents!
* Check for any regularly occurring museum programs for kids happening this weekend.
* Burnside Farms’ Festival of Spring has started, and there are some tickets left for this weekend — if you’re a very early-rising family.
* From now through April 17, Astro Doughnuts and Fried Chicken is offering a special Ovechkin Mini Doughnut Box that you can preorder online.
* The most iconic dishes around DC, according to Eater.
* If you’re also obsessed with White Lotus outfits, you might like this website, too.
* And Banana Republic has a WL collab with great pieces inspired by the show, like this pretty dress.
* For kids, check out Abercrombie’s adorable selection (and sale going on right now).
* Stock up on your favorite internationally made products, like these and these, before prices likely go up.
* DC Jenga
* I bet he is! 🙂
