Family entertainment in the Atlas’ Kogod Lobby at last year’s INTERSECTIONS Festival
Celebrate the performing arts, Mardis Gras, French culture, and an early St. Patrick’s Day. See a show. Do some LEGO movie-inspired activities. Attend a healthy eating and fitness fair for kids. Catch some local sports action. Enjoy one last skate at a local rink. Details on these pursuits and others are below, and you can find even more ideas for family fun on the Everyday Play. Happy Weekend!
Intersect with Family Fun
Where: Atlas Performing Arts Center
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by activity
There’s more family programming at the INTERSECTIONS Festival this weekend. Arts on the Horizon presents Under the Canopy throughout the weekend. GALA Hispanic Theatre & Wit’s End Puppets will perform Fabulas Mayas. Catch Boogie Babes’ Bridgette and Dawn as they play a Cafe Concert for the Very Young. See the Zip Zap Circus juggling acts and more in the Kogod Lobby on Saturday. And enjoy BodyWise Dance activities both Saturday & Sunday.
Alexandria St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Where: Old Town Alexandria
When: Saturday, 10am
Admission: Free
Celebrate the Irish holiday a couple of weeks early in Old Town Alexandria. Their annual parade kicks off at 12:30pm at Alfred and King Streets and will wind through Old Town, showcasing elected officials, Irish Ambassadors, military commanders, scout troops, high school bands, and local celebrities. See the parade route, so you can plan to stake out your viewing spot.
Mardi Gras Family Festival
Where: American Art Museum
When: Saturday, 11:30am -3pm
Admission: Free
The Big Easy’s Mardi Gras is unlike any festival in the world, and the American Art Museum is bringing New Orleans’s party to the Smithsonian. With bead art created by Beadazzled’s Kathleen Manning, costumes, crafts, and zydeco music from Batimore’s The Crawdaddies, join the jubilee!
Show Time
Where: Local Theatres
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by venue
* Encore Stage and Studio presents The Secret Case of Sherlock Holmes for its opening weekend
* You can still see Rumplestiltskin on the Imagination Stage
* Catch Miss Nelson is Missing at Adventure Theatre
* Enjoy theatre on strings at The Puppet Co., where Sleeping Beauty is on the main stage and
* Uno, Dos, Tres, Con Andres! is this week’s Saturday Morning at the National Performance
* Mr. Gabe and the Circle Time All Stars are playing at Ebenzer’s Coffeehouse on Saturday morning at 10:30am
* Justin Roberts is performing two shows at Jammin’ Java on Saturday
Hometown Hoops
Where: Smith Center
When: Sunday, 1pm
Admission: Tickets start at $10
It’s a local match-up on Sunday when GW and George Mason meet on the Smith Center basketball court. So, you can support area college teams and catch some exciting sports action all at once. Tickets are available online here.
Lego Movie Building Event
Where: Barnes & Noble locations
When: Saturday, various times
Admission: Free
Head to your local Barnes & Noble store for some LEGO Movie inspired fun. Kids will have an opportunity to aid the citizens of Bricksburg by building a creative LEGO device that can defeat the evil Lord Business and his Micro Managers.They get to take home their creation along with The LEGO Movie Inspiration Guide.
Francophonie Cultural Festival
Where: Around the area
When: Throughout the weekend
Admission: Varies by event
Starting this weekend, the vibrant sounds, sights, and tastes of the French-speaking and French-inspired world will come to DC for the annual Francophonie Cultural Festival. The largest Francophone and Francophile festival in the world presents six exciting weeks of concerts, theatrical performances, films, culinary tastings, literary salons, children’s activities, and more. Celebrating the creative artistry of the French-speaking world, the Festival is a voyage of exploration, discovery, and cultural sharing that emphasizes the diversity of the French language and cultures. Events will take place throughout the area – see the website for the schedule, tickets, and information.
Kids in the Kitchen
Where: YMCA National Capital
When: Saturday, 10am – 2pm
Admission: Free
The Junior League of Washington is hosting its annual healthy eating and fitness activity fair for children on Saturday. The free event, designed for ages 3-13, showcases ways for kids to eat smart and make healthy lifestyle choices. Activities will include exercise classes (like Lava Barre, Zumba and Bar Method), cooking fun with professional chefs, and a visit from the Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures Mobile Dental Van for free dental screenings for kids up to age 12. There will also be crafts, games, goodie bags, and exciting raffle prizes – all to celebrate and promote nutritional literacy.
Women’s History Month Family Day
Where: National Portrait Gallery
When: Saturday, 4-7pm
Admission: Free
Celebrate Women’s History Month with a day of music, hands-on activities, and more. The event will take place in the Kogod Courtyard at the Portrait Gallery. While you’re there, tour the collections, too. This post has more details about the museum.
Dance Your Socks Off
Where: River Park Nursery School
When: Saturday, 4-7pm
Admission: $35/family
Have a blast and help support a local nursery school at River Park’s annual Sock Hop Party & Silent Auction, an awesome event for young families. Every kid’s favorite rock star, Mr. Skip, will be giving a special performance. There will be dancing, pizza, drinks, fun activities for kids, and an excellent silent auction for the adults. A family ticket is $35, and that covers all your food and drink at the party. Tickets are available online and at the door. The event will be held at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation located at 212 East Capitol Street NE on Capitol Hill.
Decades Skate
Where: Rockville Town Square
When: Saturday, 6pm
Admission: $8/adult, $7/child, $3/rentals
Glide through the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and now at the Rockville Town Square Ice Rink. Starting at 6pm, music from a different decade will be played for an hour. Special requests are not only allowed but encouraged. Free neon giveaways will be available while supplies last.
Last Skate of the Season
Where: Canal Park Ice Rink
When: Saturday & Sunday
Admission: $8/adults, $7/kids, $3/rentals
Even though winter looks like it’s going to last forever, the skating season is coming to an end at Canal Park. It’s your last chance to glide along the icy meandering paths of the ice rink. Skate under the sky, take a hot chocolate and snack break in the Park Tavern restaurant, then skate some more. And for other places to glide the day away in the DC area, see this post about recreation on ice.
Model Rocket Launch
Where: Goddard Space Flight Center
When: Sunday, 1-2pm
Admission: Free
Join the monthly model rocket launch at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Anyone is welcome, and if you’ve got a model rocket to fly, bring it along (though there are some restrictions – see them here). The program takes place the first Sunday of every month at 1pm. Read more about it in this new post.
Artful Adventures for Families
Where: National Portrait Gallery
When: Sunday, 12:30-2 & 3-4:30
Admission: Free
A museum tour, exciting and educational games, and hands-on activities designed by George Mason University’s art education masters students help parents and children discover connections between the artworks. While the event is free, you need tickets to attend – get them here.
