Tag Archives: Guppy Gala

March 7, 2011 · 3:42 pm

Plan Ahead for These Special Events

Some events are worth clearing the calendar for weeks ahead of time. A few annual favorites that merit advance planning are coming up in the next couple of months. Tickets are on sale for all of them, and I’ve found a couple of discounts and special offers, to boot!

Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus
When: March 24 – 27, various times
Where: Verizon Center
Tickets: $14 – $100 (read below for special offers)
The Greatest Show on Earth is coming to the Verizon Center for five days of circus thrills. Barnum 200 – Barnum’s Funundrum features 130 performers from six continents, almost 100,000 pounds of performing pachyderms, cowboys, pirates, and mermaids — a super-sized spectacle so massive you just can’t miss it. This monumental, once in a lifetime event celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of the legendary P.T. Barnum, the Greatest Showman on Earth, and can only be experienced at The Greatest Show On Earth, Barnum’s living legacy. Goldstar currently has a half-price offer on select seats and dates. You can also get a $5 promo code if you follow @RinglingTweets on Twitter.

NatsFest and Opening Day
When:    March 30, 4pm – NatsFest & March 31 – Opening Day
Where:   Nationals Park
Tickets:   NatsFest $10/adults, $5/children, packages also available (see below); Opening Day – starting at $20, but cheaper seats are going fast
Celebrate the start of the Nationals 2011 season on Wednesday, March 30, the afternoon before MLB Opening Day. The Third Annual NatsFest will be open to fans of all ages and will include opportunities to watch the Nationals practice, enjoy a meet-and-greet with players and coaches, and much more fun for fans, especially young ones. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12. You might also consider buying the NatsFest 3-Pack, which includes tickets to NatsFest and two other games. And if you want to experience America’s pastime on Opening Day, tickets are still available for the Washington Nationals’ home opener against the Florida Marlins.

Day Out with Thomas
When:    April 29 – May 1 & May 6-8
Where:   B&O Railroad Museum
Tickets:   $19
All aboard! Thomas the Tank Engine™ is chugging into the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore for Day Out With Thomas™: Leader of the Track Tour 2011. Thomas fans are invited to come spend the day with their favorite No. 1 engine and experience a day full of locomotive fun, including a ride on a full size Thomas the Tank Engine™, a meet and greet with Sir Topham Hat, storytelling, live music, and even more museum activities.

Guppy Gala
When:   May 13, 6 – 8:30pm
Where:   The National Zoo
Tickets:   $20 for FONZ members only
Note: This annual family-friendly event is now for FONZ members only! Dive into an ocean of fun at Guppy Gala. Bring the whole gang for a night of tasty treats, silly songs, and fun. Plus, dinner provided by Subway. In addition to exciting animal encounters and yummy food, a variety of spectacular activities such as rock climbing, face painting and specially designed, kid-friendly obstacle courses are all free with the cost of your ticket. You can also see the lion cubs at dusk — the entire pride will be on exhibit during Guppy Gala.

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Filed under All ages, Animals, Annual, DC, Deal, Live Entertainment, Maryland, Museums, Sports

Tagged as B&O Railroad Museum, Barnum 200, Barnum’s Funundrum, Day out with Thomas, Florida Marlins, FONZ, Goldstar, Guppy Gala, National Zoo, Nationals Park, NatsFest, Opening Day, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Train Show, Verizon Center, Washington DC, Washington DC Family Activities, Washington DC Kids Activities, Washington Nationals

May 14, 2010 · 12:35 pm

Weekend Picks

Sometimes last minute planning yields the most fun. If you’re still looking for things to do with the kids this weekend, here’s a round-up of some fun stuff going on around town. Have a good one!

Guppy Gala
The fun starts tonight at the Guppy Gala. The National Zoo’s annual fundraiser is this evening from 6 – 8:30pm. Amusement will include everything from obstacle courses, jugglers, and mock construction sites to rock-climbing walls, costumed characters, and mock animal check-ups (kids can bring their “sick” plush toys). Dinner and treats will be provided. Fun will be a given. A limited number of tickets wil be available at the door. Admission is $15 for FONZ members, $25 for non-members.

Strawberry Picking
‘Tis the season… for strawberries! And there are plenty of area farms where you and the kids can pick your own, an activity that’s both fun and rewarding (yum!). A few places have started their seasons, but most are opening their fields to the public this weekend. See the original post for a list of places where the pickings are ripe.

Meet Dr.Bugs
If you’ve got a bug-obsessed, nature-loving kid, too, then check out this event: Dr. Bugs is coming to National Geographic’s Grosvenor Auditorium tomorrow, May 15. Mark Moffett, as he’s otherwise known, is a photographer, naturalist, and author of the children’s book “Face to Face with Frogs” (as well as the grown-up book “Adventures Among Ants.”) His wacky sense of humor and love for small wonders of nature make him a hit with kids and adults alike as he entertains with cool stories, amazing imagery, and an all-around fun show. Get ticket details on the original post about the event.

May Fair at Turtle Park
Join a mid-spring celebration at Turtle Park’s annual May Fair this Saturday, May 15, 10am – 4pm. The carnival will include moon bounces, pony rides, games, face painting, a bake sale, silent auction, and more. Admission is free, but there wil be a charge for some events. The park is located at 45th & Van Ness NW.

International Children’s Festival
Kids can go global at the International Children’s Festival happening this Saturday, May 15. More than 20 embassies will be represented at the Meridian International Center with fun entertainment and hands-on activities to help introduce kids to different world cultures. The event is part of Passport DC, the month-long program by Cultural Tourism DC to bring the city’s local and international communities together. The festival is from 10am – 4pm, followed by the Kids World Cinema 4 – 5:30pm. Admission is $10/person.

Andrews Air Show
There’s excitement in the air! The Blue Angels, Golden Knights, and many more thrilling aerial performers will take to the skies this weekend at the 2010 Joint Service Open House Andrews Air Show. The public is invited to Andrews Air Force Base to view amazing air stunts, as well as cool ground attractions, on Saturday and Sunday, May 15-16, 8am – 5pm. And to top it all off, the show is free!

Taste of Arlington
Head across the river on Sunday, May 16, for a day of food, fun, and more food. Over 40 Arlington restaurants will be offering samples of their fare at the annual street festival in downtown Ballston. And while the food is the main focus, there will be plenty more to enjoy, including live entertainment, children’s activities, a moon bounce, and street performers. The event runs from 12 – 5pm. Admission is free, but you must purchase tickets to taste. Advance tickets are $20 per ticket book and are available for purchase here on the Taste of Arlington website. Tickets can also be purchased on-site on the day of the event until 3pm for $25 per ticket book.

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Filed under All ages, Annual, Festival, Live Entertainment, Outdoor, Seasonal, Weekend

Tagged as Andrews Air Show, Dr. Bugs, Guppy Gala, International Children's Festival, Strawberry Picking, Taste of Arlington, Turtle Park May Fair

May 9, 2010 · 10:22 pm

The Zoo After Hours

I could probably take my kids to the National Zoo every single day, and they wouldn’t get tired of it. In fact, the more we go, the more I think Owen digs it. He takes pride in knowing exactly where to find the elephants and zebras, what all the signs say (because he’s had them read to him so many times), and which vending machines sell the best treats. Of course, it’s not all about being an expert zoogoer; the kids love viewing the animals, too. And if one of them poops (the animals, not my kids), then Hallelujah! My kids’ day has been made.

Okay, I’m getting sidetracked here. The point of all this is that the zoo rocks. And not just for the everyday, ongoing animal attractions. The special events are awesome, too. And this Friday, May 14, will be no exception when the annual Guppy Gala takes place. It’s both a fun event and a fundraiser to support animal care, conservation science, education and sustainability at the National Zoo.

From 6pm – 8:30pm, there will be tons for kids to enjoy including obstacle courses, rock-climbing walls, a mock construction site, painting, live entertainment, jugglers, and constumed characters. For zoo-related activities, head to the UnitedHealthcare Veterinary Center where zoo vets will perform “check-ups” on stuffed animals (kids can bring in their “sick” plush toys). Also check out the Giant Zootrition tent for a fun lesson in animal nutrition.

Don’t worry about cooking that night—Subway will be making dinner, and Giant will be providing treats.

Admission to Guppy Gala is $15 for FONZ members, $25 for non-members. Tickets can be purchased online (with additional service fee) or at the zoo this week. A limited number of tickets will also be available at the door. Children ages 2 and older need tickets to enter.